Lack of Class, Lots of Fun

When I lived in Indianapolis, I was a fan of a nice martini bar called Nicky Blaine's. At the time, Nicky Blaine's was located just off Indy's downtown Memorial Circle in the cleverly named King Cole building. It was a genteel place with dark walls, low lighting, and the faint hint of cigars and a light sweet sense of perfume from the gorgeous waitstaff. The martinis there were well mixed, the clientele were high class, and if you did happen to order one of their quality cigars, you were in for a rare treat.

After making your selection from the cigar list, a slender, slinky woman dressed in all black returned with a small tray. Carefully she took the chosen cigar and cut it in front of us. In the darkness of the bar her face and frame exploded in soft light as she struck a match, and lit a small flat piece of wood. She then took the burning wood, and slowly lit the cigar, careful to rotate it in an even burn as my friends and I looked on hungrily. After the cigar is fully lit - she finally presented it to us.

Nicky Blaine's was the ultimate destination for my friends coming through to Indy, especially guys from Wash U and my days in politics. Whenever we went we would dress up in nice slacks, jackets, some ties - and we just barely fit in with the older more monied crowd who filled the place.

So when I was invited to an event at Dailey's in Atlanta that promised cigars, martinis and good times - I was excited. Unfortunately, Dailey's is no Nicky Blaine's. While the martinis there are very good, the service is horrible, and the folks there - while nice, didn't excude the class I was expecting when I threw on a jacket and slacks to head out. Being the only one not in jeans made me feel like the old man in the club, never mind I was the youngest guy in the group.

While I was disappointed as I sat down, I felt better as I finished my first 007 martini and the group I was with started a game of "I Never." "I Never" is the one drinking game that must be played with bisexuals, gays, and the polyamorous - simply because the pure heterosexual experience only has so much interesting scenarios. And of course, "I Never" always turns to sex. The strangest thing was that there were two girls - a redhead and a blonde - who at first glance seem pretty, but introverted and a bit nerdy, yet they have had some of the wildest sexual experiences I have heard in a while. Like a threesome in an airplane bathroom. Then again, these girls remained relatively tame the entire evening.

However, this evening brought up the question I have been asking myself for a while. Where are the bars and lounges where people dress up, dance, and just hang out - rather than wearing the uniform of expensive jeans and stripped shirts?