Shelly's Back Room

Well, to get you a little caught up....

Yesterday I did indeed head out to the aforementioned bar... and it was good.

After a stressful day, I decided it just wouldn't be right to not give our nation's capital a fair shake. So, I headed down to the cab station, had the friendly worker hail me a cab, and went on my way. I went across the river in what I would later learn was "about average" traffic. It took perhaps 20 minutes to cover the distance, and cost me about $20. I was lucky enough to have the world's craziest cab driver, which I guess was nice. This man took me at speeds well in excess of the posted speed limit, and further more, cut off more cars and trucks then a california car chase driver on TV. (okay, what I'm really trying to say is, I was scared. I thought on at least 3 occasions that we were in a wreck for sure. Amazingly we only had one motorist threaten us.)

When we got there, the driver gave me his card, and assured me he'd be right there if I needed him. I nodded and thanked the man, and quickly put his card out of mind. I entered the bar, and I was surrounded by the smell of old leather, smoke, and beer.. this is the sort of thing I was looking for this whole time. It's a small bar, with couches, plush chairs, and a few tables scattered around in a central room. The bar is in the back, and in the front is an area with tables and booths. The host asked me where I would like to sit, and my response of, "some place quiet and in the corner" was greeted with a laugh, "The corner I can do, but quiet, I think you're out of luck." True enough. The patrons were a laughing and talking bunch, sitting in thier suits smoking cigars and drinking beers. At first I thought I was terribly underdressed in my blue jeans and dress shirt, but I was quickly assured that this was a more casual local: the ties were loose, and more then one shirt was untucked. This was a place for winding down.

I took my corner seat and was pleased with a view of "F" street and a nice widescreen TV in the corner. All the TVs were well placed, and I have a feeling no matter where I sat, I would have been able to keep abreast of the sports scene. I ordered a Manhattan, and the waitress brought me a large marble ash tray. I had brought a couple of cigars with me, and it looked like most of the other patrons had done the same. There were cigars available, but I found them overpriced. I'm sure that they can sell them for those prices, or else they would have them priced differently. I have many of the cigars that they had for sale in my humidor, or I can get them if I wanted for prices that are much more reasonable. They did have humidors lockers for rent, and I have to tell you... if I lived in DC, I would have one, and Shelly's would be a definate hangout.

Anyway, I had a cheeseburger and french fries, and they were excellent. I followed it up with another cigar and drink. The time had passed too quickly, and it was time for me to head back to the hotel. I had no trouble catching a cab, and this time I made the trip back in no traffic, with a sane driver, which took perhaps 8 minutes, with a cost that I still thought a little high, but I guess not. it was $13. maybe it was because it was a different cab company.

Anyway, that was yesterday. Today has been a good one. No activity or anything like that. I had the hotel send me up a pizza and two amstel lights for dinner.