The other night I went to watch William Walter and Tucker Rogers' acoustic gig at Fellinis No. 9. Good stuff. I stayed for a bit then bailed to go to the Darden Pink Party, where Darden dressed up in pink and drank in the name of supporting breast cancer research. A convoluted way to get people to donate money to cancer research, but sometimes you have to go with the flow.
Back to WillWal's show: I went by myself. I was definitely dressed up. But nevertheless alone. I see now just how uncomfortable America is with this. I was at the bar just over an hour and got no fewer than 5 offers of drinks and 7 surrendered barstools. I was perfectly fine standing alone and watching WillWal and Tucker play; but a lot of people aren't. I guess a lone woman in heels and a coat is sorely in need of companionship, a barstool, appetizers, attention, and psychoanalysis.
When I first moved to North Carolina and lost my s.o. to the rigors of a PhD, I went to movies by myself. When I told my mother, she freaked out. It's as if I was one double-feature away from slitting my wrists. She had visions of someone finding me in the back of the theatre, bleeding out into my popcorn.
Unlikely.
It's up to me to feel uncomfortable when I'm alone. Nobody else has that power. It's pretty liberating, so on Friday night that I just grooved to the music of the boys and let other people wrestle with the concept of a woman alone in a bar. High heels or not, it isn't that strange, folks.
It wasn't just me who had the idea of going out alone. T.I. showed up at the Pink Party. 
Why didn't he call me? We could've worn matching stunna shades.
9 comments:
As Janis Joplin said "Get it while you can".
My wife said it never hurts to increase your options, she then asked me for a divorce.
Be Happy
i would like to come with you for a movie next time you go ,jus let me no
i take issue with (to paraphrase) "America is uncomfortable with Mandy being at a show by herself".
5 drink offers and 7 surrendered barstools. sounds like 12 dudes trying to get in your pants.
it's not about empowerment, gender roles, etiquette, or even southern hospitality. it's about caveman-want-cavewoman. it that simple, me think. oog.
It is definitely a funny concept in the US. I've definitely done my fair share of solo partying/clubbing in Europe. You meet people and make new friends! :) But to an extent, I simply agree with Don.
I adore going out alone. Some of my favorite moments in NYC were spent exploring the city by myself.
I guess it takes a certain type of person to be ok with it.
Going out alone is definetly more frowned upon in US than elsewhere. As a guy(and me in particular) women are never drooling over or offering chairs or drinks but whenever I mention it, people frown. I did that plenty in europe and Australia earlier this year, people didn't care, it was fine. I guess here many equate it to being a 'loser' and having no friends. Oh well! I do it anyway. So what I am loser, atleast I go out and have fun.
We are such a strange society... I think that there is a bit of a social misconception that someone who goes out somewhere alone is either a loser or to be pitied. But, like Don said, there is also a lot of that whole men wanting to get with a beautiful woman who, because she's alone, looks available.
So, chalk it up to you being a beautiful, seemingly available woman. :)
Hugs to The Cat!
Just for the record, if I ever saw you out alone and offered you my seat or a drink, that offer would have NOTHING to do w/ pity...but then again (and in all honesty) being hit upon by someone like myself should qualify you for some sort of charitable tax exemption!
Good for you! I used to go to the movies all the time by myself in NYC, as well as went out for lunch alone occasionally. People definitely gave weird looks, and I don't get it either. So weird.
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