Thanksgiving’s here. You likely have a dinner destination to get to or maybe you’re hosting like I am. Hungry hordes descend to eat, drink and be merry, maybe watch some football or binge holiday movies. Then what? I mean, besides leave a mess for the hosts to clean (I might have some feeling about that)?
Before middle age and family obligations, post-Thanksgiving dinner was time to hit the streets. There were always places open—bars in Adams-Morgan and Capitol Hill, a few mid-town restaurants, and downtown clubs. Good places to commiserate with folks missing family or avoiding them, or just wanting to get out of the house. Everyone out wants to have a good time.
One of my favorite after-Turkey day nights was at the 9:30 Club watching Kid Creole and the Coconuts. My girlfriend and I had run “The Gaunlet” which was lunch with my mom, dinner with my dad, and maybe a visit to a friend’s for an hour or so. We saw the ad in the Washington Post, said “screw it”, said our goodbyes, made a costume change and headed downtown.
The original 9:30 Club location was at 9th and F Sts, NW, and as revered as it was, it was dark, smelly, small, especially for an 8-piece band, back up singers (the Coconuts), another singer, not to mention the Kid himself. Nothing like a 40s-inspired, Zoot-Suited, group of tropical gangsters leading a conga line through the club to kick tryptophan in the ass.
So, check the club listings, call a friend, and head out into the late Fall evening. What else are you doing after dinner tonight?