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The Rounds February 7, 2002 (and updated February 9, 2002)
* * * * * * * * * * Running a bit late on this week's update. The Super Bowl and all that stuff. . . . * * * * * * * * * * Sukhumvit Soi 33 update: Luciano 33, owned by the same folks who own Lucky Luciano's just up the way, is shuttered. Rumor has it that Jane, formerly owner of Bacchus and Chelsea Pub, has sold out to some foreigner, though no one seems very clear about this. Brown Eyes, at the corner of the soi and the Green Route, is history. The Office Bar and Grill continues to boom. Those guys have done it up right. More than a few of their competitors could take a page or two out of their book, especially regarding self-promotion. I'll say right up front I'm them a bit with a website they intend to set up about the bar. But I was impressed with their self-promotion before that ever came up. The bar is NOT well-situated for coincidental walk-by traffic, as it faces the parking lot behind Degas Bar. But there is a "gate" at the mouth of the sub-soi in which The Office is located, and the owners of the bar have 2 signs projecting out at a 90-degree angle, lit signs with the message on both sides. Further, between those two signs is one much larger (but otherwise identical) facing the street. Down by the bar itself is a two-sided portable lit sign for the bar, a sign also advertising Jack Daniel's whiskey. That is oriented in a way such that when you approach from the mouth of the soi, you see it. Then there is a sign at the *back* of the parking area, high enough to be seen on the other side of the fence from the parking area just behind Suki market --and one of the owners told me the other evening that sign was working better than he had expected. Besides having the immediate vicinity plastered with signs, the owners also keep girls at the mouth of the soi who invite customers in, and a girl escorts you to the door. And if you don't accept the invitation, a girl will hand you a brochure. The bar also offer 59-baht draft Carlsberg from opening until closing every day, something which is a powerful draw even for those to whom the money isn't an issue. I took a friend there yesterday for his first visit, a friend who is himself a Washington Square bar owner. He hesitated when I first invited him -- he's not a Soi 33'er, normally -- but when I mentioned the cheap beer, he agreed. But when we sat down and I ordered two drafts, he interrupted to change his drink order to a gin-and-tonic, commenting to me, "If they can make money on a 59-baht beer, I reckon they'll pour me a fair measure of gin." Which they did. [That's not imply other bars don't; in the bars I go, it is a very rare day when someone barkeep tries to short a drink.] The several times -- maybe 8 or 9 -- I've been there, the bar has been doing at least reasonably well, and more often quite well, especially in comparison to their numerous facing-the-main-soi competitors along Sukhumvit Soi 33 proper. The Office's Grand Opening was slated for Friday, February 8th, but at the last minute they had to change it to February 23rd; even so, they went ahead with a party, but just didn't call it their grand opening. I went by early-ish, and they were throbbing. Definitely worth visiting; once they have their website up, I'll post their URL here. * * * * * * * * * * Noticed tonight the Global Bar -- formerly Ama Bar -- in Queen's Park Plaza was closed. Presumably, this second incarnation has bitten the dust. Two days later: Now I'm *really* confused; walking down Soi 22 last night I glanced down the walkway -- and Global Bar was open! Hadn't the time to check it out right then, but will. * * * * * * * * * * Through simple miscommunication, I thought the grand opening of The Dollhouse on Soi Cowboy was a few nights ago, but in fact that happens February 8th. The night I attempted to go turned out to be an invitation-only party so I was unable to enter to take the pictures. It is a beautiful bar, with obviously a serious investment put into it -- the sign outside alone demonstrates that. I saw that in the run-up to the private party. I also dropped by there tonight. Plenty of ladies, and, as I thought was the case, a very well-done, well-appointed place. I did enter tonight, and found it indeed quite lovely and doing a good business. When I called for my bill, the waitress signaled a gentleman who had come in shortly after I had and who had taken a seat two or three spaces away from me, asking if he and I were together; he indicated we weren't. However, the waitress brought a single bill for the other man and me -- which is fair enough, given that their "conversation" had been mostly in informal sign language and he had also called for his bill. She went off, to get new, individual bills for us -- I assume -- but returned shortly, asking each of us to pay right then. Since I was leaving anyway, it didn't matter to me (as it presumably did not to the other man, but it struck me this wasn't necessarily a good solution; what if one of us (or both, for that matter) had had a change of heart and didn't *want* to leave yet? Most people I know will leave once they've cleared a bill. The 110 baht I paid for a Mekhong-Coke is far from a bargain when I could have been sitting on even Millionaire's Row -- Sukhumvit Soi 33 -- drinking Jack Daniels for less. I know the owners have to recover their investment, but nearly double the next-highest price I pay for Mekhong-Coke is rather a stretch. In short, The Dollhouse is an exceptionally attractive place, physically, with many lovely ladies. But I doubt it will figure in on my regular private stops all that often. * * * * * * * * * * On the subject of paying one's bill, there is another angle I've been meaning to mention. That's when a shift change occurs while one is drinking and/or eating, only to have the waitress tell you you have to pay your bill now. To have this happen is a pet peeve of mine, and for the life of me I don't understand the owners and managers of establishments which practice this policy. It can reach the ludicrous. I remember one time when a guy who normally is gone before shift change was in his favorite bar, drinking away and ringing the bell for the ladies and a few of his friends -- ringing it rather frequently, at that. Shift change came, and when asked to pay his bill, the guy said he wasn't about to pay it until he was ready to go. The cashier-manageress DEMANDED he pay. He became quite angry -- and this happens to be one of the nicest guys I know, a man *not* given to anger -- and told her if he had to pay then, fine, he would pay -- and leave. Which is exactly what he did -- but not until he called the owner at home and complained loudly and at length. Most perplexing is that when he got over his anger and returned, the next time he happened to be in at shift change, he was told to pay right then, like it or not -- by the very same lady. I practice a personal policy of leaving a place immediately when this happens to me, though the *first* time I will politely request my bill be carried over, leaving only if my request is refused. If it happens a second time in the same place, that place goes off my list for personal visits. With thousands of eateries and bars to choose from, I sure don't want to be hassled to pay my bill while I'm still waiting (for example) for my drink or food to arrive. (Yes, I've had that happen.) * * * * * * * * * * See the story about Papa Chalerm winning a bundle over in Poi Pet, Cambodia? Opponents are claiming he was there to see his errant son, Duangchalerm, late of the Supreme Command and now accused of the murder of an on-duty police officer, but Papa denies he was there for any reason other than to gamble. Funny part is, no one seems to recall him having such a liking for that Cambodian border town until his youngest son got in trouble and fled the scene, in time-honoured fashion. I reckon winning several million baht is a credible reason for having been in Poi Pet, irrespective of the whereabouts of Baby Number 3, who remains on the lam, as he has been for over 3 months now. * * * * * * * * * * Everyone is relieved that the Prime Minister managed to squeeze in an 8-hour state visit (at taxpayers' expense) to India last Friday to take care of "national interests." Of course, the criticisms by nay-say'ers that the fact his potential loss in companies in which he has an interest are mere nitpicking. Of COURSE he doesn't mind losing several million [U.S.] dollars annually -- a pox on anyone who would even THINK such a thing! It was confusing that P.M. Thaksin felt it necessary to refuse to disclose the reasons for his trip, other than to assure one and all his personal financial interests of COURSE had no bearing on his decision to MAKE the trip in the first place. . . . * * * * * * * * * * All are immensely relieved that His Majesty the King, beloved Monarch of Thailand, has successfully undergone a routine prostate procedure. I wish His Majesty a speedy recovery, good health, and long life! * * * * * * * * * * The tourist season remains rather a flop, though some bar-owners are insisting numbers are up. I don't see how, though. The world's tourists sure have let the terrorists whip them, in terms of international travel. A real shame, that. * * * * * * * * * * Went to the cinema last Saturday, a VERY rare outing for me -- I've been to see a film MAYBE 6 times in the nearly 8 years I've been here. Saw Behind Enemy Lines, starring the superb actor, Gene Hackman. SEE IT. But if you have high blood pressure, take your medication first -- it's non-stop action start to finish. Some of the flying scenes will have you dizzy. And it's a darned good story, to boot. * * * * * * * * * * Friends report that Nana Plaza, Clinton Plaza, Soi Zero, Patpong, and Pattaya-Jomtien are suffering mightily from the absence of tourists. Only Phuket is reported to be doing well -- which, if true, is further evidence of tourists simply giving The City of Angels and even Pattaya-Jomtien a "Big Miss." * * * * * * * * * * It actually RAINED -- albeit a tiny amount -- Thursday morning. Weather's weird this year. * * * * * * * * * * Until next time -- Mekhong Kurt
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