I planned my friend Jason’s birthday dinner (Jason gets birthday “dinners” rather than birthday “parties” because he doesn’t like to drink. Fair enough.); he wanted food that was cooked & I wanted Japanese (that’s what it came down to) so I thought: teppanyaki!

My sister & I used to tend bar at On The Rocks Cafe in Waikiki (now gone). We had this regular—a loud-mouthed, Jack drinking, bullseye killing (we had dartboards), party-crazed beast who used to grace us with his company most nights. When I say company, I also mean he brought all the Tanaka of Tokyo workers with him. This birthday dinner was an opportunity to go see Rich at his place.

Rich is one of the most professional guys I know in F & B. He is a veteran of old school service ideals & dogma, & I have total faith in a good experience in his hands.

Dinner was better than I had already expected. Several people ordered steak, & I, doubting that I would be able to get rare (I can’t eat it if it’s too cooked.), ordered scallops, which were wonderful. However, our chefs Todd & Peter actually achieved rare. I was impressed!

A photographer approached our table & before I had thought about it, I had taken his picture twice. He smiled nicely for the photos, but when Bobby told him it would be $20 he left. Ha ha.

In addition to cooking our food right, Todd & Peter entertained us with flying eggs & smoking onion volcanoes while Vice President/General Manager Douglas Cross charmed all the females with his origami skills. Peter was especially good at alerting me to displays which might be photo-worthy (fire!!). In a room with 6 other tables filled with tourists, I stood there with my camera & felt right at home.

Dinner ended with a rousing song-&-dance performance by Rich himself, backed by his servers. I took pictures of this but every picture was blurred. I think it was all the spinning & jumping Rich was doing. Man, that guy has talent.

But wait! It’s not over! Do I get cut off at a certain point here, or can I write a 10-page blog? I guess we’ll find out.

We went to Slammers. Nadya was one of my bridesmaids millions of years ago when I got married, & since she opened her place this year I hadn’t gone to visit her until this night. I know, I suck. I was gratified to see old friends everywhere, including Scotty behind the bar, who I have known for… billions of years. There’s something especially comforting about having an old friend pouring your drinks. One just feels safe.

I had my first Jager Bomb. I love Red Bull, & Jager is my shot of choice, & I prepared hundreds of Jager Bombs in that other life when I was a bartender but never tried one. It was either too late for caffeine or too early for Jagermeister. So anyway, I had my first Jager Bomb. I really liked it. …I feel scared now.

…And it didn’t end there. In my more malleable, easygoing Jager Bombed state, I found myself at yet another spot. Jason & those wiser than I had already fled, but I ended up in a karaoke room, which location will remain nameless. I have also omitted a few pictures for which everyone who was there including myself will thank me.

And then I ended up standing on a sidewalk chatting with Bin Yasuno until I was ready to drop, but Bin was merciful & let me go home.

The end.

Happy Birthday, Jason. I had such a good time. lol