Mardi Gras playland

We thought it was going to be a low key Mardi Gras, but we stretched it out to a night of urban fun, even though it got a little Gorillas in the Mist. I had gotten an e-mail from Oliver Twist (from 80s night, my birthday, etc.) that he would be doing face painting and balloons at the Playland Bar on Polk Street for Mardi Gras and asked if we could come and join him. We thought it sounded like an adventure, and if the event turned lame there were many options to visit afterwards. And we could kick off the night with our favorite Thai place on Polk Street: Thai Spice.

At 8:00, we were early and the only couple in there. By 8:45 it picked up considerably, but we were grateful for the period of quiet, and enjoyed the incongruity of Thai dinner with a classic romantic French soundtrack.

The Money Bags were more than delicious.


And whatever their crab noodle special dish was, it eclipsed the crab noodles I love at Ploy II. I'm going to start making trips out to Polk just for that dish. Just the right amount of kick and so full of fresh crabmeat.

It took us a while to find the Playland Bar. We had never heard of it and kept looking at our iPhone maps, until we looked up. Oh—That's not Kino's any more. Playland in the old Kimo's space. And the remodel is really nice. Although I imagine the single-use, unisex bathroom makes for really annoying long lines when there is a semblance of a crowd. And with drink specials and a good DJ, we were the only people upstairs for only about five minutes and by 9:30 the place was packed. With early 20-somethings in high douche mode. They cleared out the insulation and blackout sheets from the windows, and with teh view from the perch, it felt like Playland is the straight Lookout on Polk Street. But wow is this a early 20-somethings bar. I even spotted "30" cutout confetti remnants from someone's birthday. The Marina has really moved further and further south. It was kind of disturbing. We were joined by Skot land who lives nearbyish, and we felt very much like Jane Goodall and enjoyed watching the posing, hair flitting, and bromancing. The bartender in charge upstairs, Heidi, was kind, energetic, and competent. Her cheek-pierced even younger trainee was not, and while I was waiting did not return change to the patron next to me as if she had no idea what the prices were, and never returned. He just gave up after a while. But the crowd wasn't much better. The Pretty Girls behind us didn't tip for their drinks. Sure the wells were only $3, but give the bartender four singles. That was almost offensive.

But just...wow. It's been so long since I have hung out in a "straight" bar, much less a baby bar. And heaven forbid a Marina bar. Surreal.

Skot had the best line of the night. Dutifully posted:


I don't recall Mardi Gras, the Chinese/Lunar New Year, and Valentine's Day all coinciding like this before. On the way home, we had to stop and appreciate the pretty genius advertising outside of Good Vibrations:


Give Cupid a hand. Sexy Valentine's Day gifts to make you quiver.

They say you can't love another until you love yourself. I feel like I love myself all the time.