And We’re Back: The Black Friday Martini Bar Soiree
I know. I know. It’s been ages. But I have an excuse. Honest. And it involves both men and dance and the annual Hoopers Island Black Firday Martini Bar Soiree, plus a bit of shopping, so I’m hoping that you’ll forgive me.
(It is Thanksgiving, after all, and Thanksgiving marks the official start of the Christmas season here in the good ol’ US of A so if you’d like Santa to bring you something nice, it would behoove you to be nice to me and ignore the fact that I’ve missed not one, not two, but six blog posts in the past two weeks.)
At any rate, I’m getting ready to teach my second class of the day when one of my beach balls asks, “What happened to you, Miss Kat? Did you get lost?”
I’ve been away for three days plus the weekend in order to network present at the annual conference of the Congress on Research in Dance. To a five year old, three-days-plus-the-weekend might as well be forever.
The thing with academic conferences is that they require stamina. You have no idea how hard it is to sit around drinking coffee and feigning intelligence until you’ve actually done it, and even though this is the fourth or fifth time I’ve done it, it’s not getting any easier.
Nonetheless, the conference has finally reached its conclusion and not a moment too soon: for the rest of the world, today is Thanksgiving but here at After I Quit My Day Job, it’s the day before the annual Hooper’s Island Black Friday Martini Bar Soiree.
For those of you familiar with the concept of the Black Friday Martini Bar Soiree, you’ll recall that it is THE see-and-be-seen event of the holiday season, at least on Hoopers Island. (Mind you, attendance is by invitation only, and in order to get an invite, you need to be either related to or dating an original member of the highly selective Hoopers Island Expat Community, the establishment of which would require an entire blog post unto itself).
This time last year, I was dating a lovely young man from Northern Liberties, aka Date #17. Unfortunately, right around the time of the annual Soiree, he turned not-so-lovely, by which I mean he chose to spend a weekend studying for the GMATs instead of drinking martinis with his soon-to-be-girlfriend.
Granted, in order to attend said soiree, he would have had to spend the entire weekend with my parents on a remote island in the middle of the Chesapeake, with no internet access and separate bedrooms. One could see how studying for the GMATs might seem like the better option, but had he seen the breadth and overall quality of the martini bar, I’m sure he’d have revised his opinion.
This, of course, is all water under the bridge now. Date #17 and I parted ways nearly a year ago and I now find myself in a new sort of conundrum. Last year my problem was finding someone to invite to the annual Hoopers Island Black Friday Martini Bar Soiree. This year, I’ve been struggling with who not to invite.
That’s right: this year I’ve had options.
And, being the sensible girl that I am, I’ve selected only the most reasonable course of action, by which I mean I’ve issued quasi-invitations to two men.
(Because what’s Thanksgiving without a little drama?)
Now, go eat, drink and be merry. And be thankful that your life isn’t as ridiculous as mine.
Related articles
- (Thank Goodness for) The Rehearsal Dinner (katrichterwrites.wordpress.com)
- Episode #7 – Thanksgiving: A holiday on holiday? (aimee-jones.com)
- Party Like a Plymouth Rock Star (mothermeetstheroad.com)
Fieldwork in Stilettos 
15 Responses to “And We’re Back: The Black Friday Martini Bar Soiree”
Surely Date #7 and the wedding date could both spend Black Friday with the Richters. A verbal duel or other appropriate combat could be arranged with the whole family conveniently gathered together to declare the victor. If you do decide only to take one date however, make sure to remember that absence from the other may just make the heart grow fonder.. Since we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Ireland, I resorted last year to a philosophical study of gratitude. In case you stop being grateful for having a “ridiculous” life, you can read all about the psychology of thanking here: http://katekatharinaferguson.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/cheers-to-thanksgiving/
Love the duel idea!
Wow…I am feeling really honored to have gotten an invitation to the soiree without having to date anyone in your family! Happy Thanksgiving and drink a martini for me!
I wish I could spend the weekend drinking martinis instead of working my butt off at a 5-day radiology conference. zzzzzz. Have an extra chocolate martini for me!
Yuck 😦 I had a pumpkin martini instead– hope that’s okay!
Must admit I like Kate’s idea.
You do not see many duels these days. Fighting for a fair maiden hand.
Or perhaps bringing it up to date, it could be like the X-Factor final, they can both try and convince family members as to why you should chose them and then they get to pick which one wins the grand prize. In fact I think you should invite a few more along. Only two is not really nearly ambitious enough.
You could make it a regular feature of the Hooper Island Weekend.
Hmmm… I like this idea but I am trying to get AWAY from relying on everyone else to make my decisions for me 🙂
Wow, it’s been a year since the last one? Already? I remember reading about it last year, but I just didn’t think time was passing us by that quickly?
Perhaps sometime in the future I’ll find myself in Philly and snag myself (y’know, as your Blog Boyfriend) to a shin-dig with your family. Considering how I feel like I’d get along just find with Landlord and Chauffeur and all.
Hope you’re having a great holiday!
…snag myself an invitation…
I know… it’s kind of depressing when you recount your year in dates (or rather in holidays for which you did-not-have-a-date) but last November doesn’t seem all that long ago! And yeah, I’m sure we could make room for my “blog boyfriend” sooner or later 🙂
It is so pretty and feminine now! I really like it. You amaze me…… Thanks for the share and fun Friday!
Sure thing! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
If you did have both Date #7 and TWD show up, you could always take the decision out of your hands and order a fight to the death.
That would be rather entertaining….
Yes, my college roommate suggested dueling a number of times 🙂
[…] no matter. The Black Friday Martini Bar Soiree is one of my favorite holidays, second only to the New Years Eve Martini Bar Soiree. (Are we […]