Thursday Night in Palo Alto
My buddy called me up to see if I wanted to grab drinks on a Thursday night in Palo Alto. Hell yes! And perfect timing. For the past year, my custody schedule had me with the kids on Wed/Thurs night. Meaning my nights to party and paint the town red were Monday and Tuesday (laundry nights, judging from the empty seats in the bars). Last week my ex and I switched.
This would be my first Thursday night out in a year.
At 6pm we drove to Palo Alto and hit a wine bar that had recently opened. There were tons of good looking women drinking glasses of white and red. Unfortunately, they all looked 23, and I’m mid 40s. Not exactly at a similar life stage. Still, we enjoyed a flight of Merlot and some crackers and humus, and caught up with each other since we hadn’t hung out in a bit. (He’s a sailing buddy, and we are overdue.)
We bounced to another bar, the Empire Tap Room. An older set, and way too crowded. We headed across the street to a microbrewery, Gordon Biersch. Only one table open, way in the back. We headed to a nearby restaurant with a wine tasting bar. No attractive women. We walked down the street and looked into several new bars/restaurants. Plenty of couples, and hardly any singles.
Francis Ford Coppola’s wine tasting bar was sure to be happening. We went there, only to find the windows papered over. The place had gone out of business. A 60-something couple was standing out front. “What did this place used to be?” they asked. “Coppola’s,” I said. “Damn,” they said. “We were supposed to meet our friends here. Oh well. Can you suggest another restaurant?” I asked what sort of food they liked. “Anything with a bar,” the woman said.
Damn straight.
We trolled by Zibbibo, an upscale restaurant with a nice bar and Mediterranean cuisine. There were maybe four guys and no women. Finally, we headed to Three Seasons, a sister restaurant of San Francisco’s Slanted Door.
Bingo, it was packed!
With guys.
I swear, there were 100 men and only a handful of women. It’s an upscale place, and judging from overheard conversations, most of the men went to Stanford Law. We ordered drinks and appetizers. Where else would we go?
At the table next to us was a total hottie. No ring. Mega eye contact. Sitting with her parents! Can you imagine? I think she was a Stanford undergrad. (btw - I HATE when guys check out my daughter right in front of me. I know she’s beautiful and athletic, even hottie material. But I sure as hell don’t need every 15-50 year old guy checking her out. Like my buddy and I did to the woman with her parents at the table next to us. Doh!)
Our waitress was gorgeous – Vietnamese, slender, definitely enhanced (which is not my thing. But when she’s the only attractive woman in a room full of men, you sort of don’t care.) She was working me and my buddy big time – flirty, flirt, flirt routine. My buddy was convinced she wanted me. I was convinced she wanted a big tip. (Waitresses get hit on 7 times a night, on average.)
A couple of drinks, two spring rolls, one order of sushi, and a bowl of steaming fish with noodles later – we called it a night.
Ah, Palo Alto. That mecca of … horny men? I can’t imagine a more accurate adjective.
- The Apple Store – Best Place for Singles to Meet?
- How To Pick-Up a Woman in Front of Your Son
- Hot Teachers
- Lonely Housewives
- High Cost of Company
| 
Subscribe to Dad’s House | © 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.
Entries
Comment by lisaq
| September 12th, 2008
Well as the mom of 2 waitresses, I can tell you that they do get hit on all the time. Mine though while being friendly and doing their job the best they can rarely flirt with a customer unless there truly is interest on their part. I’m sure that’s not true of all servers. Many will flirt to get the tip just as you described. Hard to say what her motives really were.
lisaq’s last blog post..Sex Education
Comment by mama llama
| September 12th, 2008
Thursday Night Out! Glad you got out to enjoy.
We can never forget how important our friends–same sex friends–are to our health and sanity. In the end, those friends are the ones who stick by us. Maintenance, just as in a romantic, marital (etc.) relationship, is necessary. Nurturing time is a must.
Big tip indeed. Too bad waiters don’t flirt like that with female patrons…but I guess it’s different when the woman is older. Seems to be a bit of a double-standard in our society.
Be well.
mama llama’s last blog post..misreadings
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| September 12th, 2008
So that’s what guys do when they go out, eh? Go from place to place looking for the store of available women. Actually, I have a female friend who is single and drives me CRAZY when we go out. I think we’re going out to have a few drinks and spend some time together. But she spends the entire evening trying to scope out which place will have the most single men, in the right age group. I spend the entire evening waving my hands in front of her saying, “Hello! Guess what? You’re with me, and I’m lots of fun!” At any rate, she is rarely successful and winds up disappointed. When we do find a place where there was is a healthy “meat market,” it’s a loud, crowded place and she works up the statistics to share with me. Yelling over the music, “TWENTY PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE HERE ARE MARRIED MEN. THE ONES WITHOUT RINGS ON LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GAY. THEY AMOUNT TO ABOUT TEN PERCENT. I’M HOPING THERE ARE AT LEAST FIVE SINGLE MEN TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT I THINK MOST OF THEM ARE IN THEIR TWENTIES….” I’m on the sideline trying to add up the percentages, because I think she’s giving me a word problem. Eventually, I just wind up writing it all down on a napkin. I should have saved all the napkins. The ultimate answer to the meaning of life may just be in there somewhere!
Cathouse Teri’s last blog post..Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Comment by Me Thinks
| September 12th, 2008
Wahoo! DM’s out on Thirsty Thursdays!
I’ve been to places where its a total sausage fest (Hee!) like you encountered. Believe me, its not as fun as you’d think being one of the few women at a place like that - all eyes are on you to the point of creepiness - so if an attractive woman is hitting on you, I’d take it as a compliment regardless of motive :)
Oh I love my Thursday nights off! Its a great night to get out. Actually Wednesday is not bad here either, usually there is some big after-work gig which is good to meet people. Have you thought about heading out for happy hour? Bet you would meet lots of women in your age range and happy hour tends to be more of a low-pressure situation, especially if you are meeting a group out. Of course its harder to tell if they are dating someone. I work from home too and sometimes it feels weird to go out to happy hour but I’d give it a whirl if I were you.
Comment by T
| September 12th, 2008
Forget it, I’d be worn out by place #3. I don’t like hopping from place to place. And I agree with Teri, when I’m with my girlfriends, I prefer to enjoy them rather than scope for guys. Of course, I’ve noticed that when you have 2-3 girls enjoying each other, it tends to draw guys anyway. I guess the opposite isn’t true for men. I never thought about it before.
Happy Hour is a good idea.
Hey, have you ever tried a cooking class (not that you need one) or spiritual group or a running or cycling club? Those are your interests and who knows, maybe there’s someone there that will strike your fancy?
Oh and by the way, I hope you tweaked your ideal woman list to include available and responsive.
Have a great weekend!
*big hugs!*
T’s last blog post..Pap smears and tears?
Comment by SingleParentDad
| September 12th, 2008
This is San Francisco you’re typing about? Or is that a bit naughty following a false stereotype us brits associate with SF? ;-)
I’m with T, I’d have been beat after the first couple of bars. I’m naff at chatting to women in them anyhow. I’m either too shy (too sober), or too cockey and forward (too drunk).
SingleParentDad’s last blog post..Like Father, Scratch That, Like Mother Like Son
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| September 12th, 2008
By the way, Mama Llama, I meant to respond to your comment. I can assure you that there are male servers aplenty who flirt with their female patrons. Especially when serving them Patron! :)
Cathouse Teri’s last blog post..What does your husband do to get you in the mood?
Comment by Single Mom in New England
| September 12th, 2008
Oh my hell! So that’s where all the hot men are hiding! I am booking the next flight to Palo Alto! I’ll take me a Stanford law grad any day of the week! Lol!
Comment by Marina
| September 12th, 2008
Aww…
Cómo extraño salir así, caramba!!
No me gustan mucho las discotecas, poner mi voz a competir con la música que revienta oidos no es buena idea, pero los bares si que me gustan, tomar algo con los amigos y chismear un poquitito…;)
Well, good luck next time dh
Comment by Kitkat4real (SOLO dot MOM)
| September 12th, 2008
um, yeah, shopping, huh….at least you get some exercise, right? lol, and you have the woman of your dreams waiting out there… But I have to ask … with the shopping the bars… ever any luck at that, seriously?
Kitkat4real (SOLO dot MOM)’s last blog post..Soggy Socks & Water Parks
Comment by The Exception
| September 12th, 2008
Do you often find a store of interesting women in Palo Alto? I mean, I love Palo Alto but always thought it to be a bit on the younger side? (But, if you are just window shopping…)
Oh I love flirtatious male waiters. Granted, I figure they are just out for a nice tip, but it is always fun to flirt back.
And… lastly, Yea on going out on a thursday!!
The Exception’s last blog post..Goggles
Comment by Phil
| September 12th, 2008
It’s a waitress’ job to be nice to the customers - they aren’t hitting on you! Some guys just can’t seem to figure that out.
Comment by dadshouse
| September 12th, 2008
Teri, YOU ARE HILARIOUS! That made my morning. Thanks.
Single Parent Dad - Palo Alto is 40 minutes south of SF. The demographic is totally different. It’s a suburb near Stanford, so you get high techies, students, even families out at night (there were kids in the bar at Gordon Biersch). Not the best scene in the world, but it’s close to where I live.
KitKat - I do sometimes meet women in bars. The bars we hit in Palo Alto are upscale and not that loud. WE DON’T HAVE TO SHOUT like Teris’ friend. Plus, the area is so small, walking it is a cinch.
In general, when I head out to bars it’s for the camaraderie. I know you women are just there to enjoy your friend’s company. And there’s a bit of that with me and my buddies. But we sure have more fun when a bar is buzzing than in a bar that is totally dead.
And by buzzing - you have to remember, this is Palo Alto. There are only a few meat market bars, and we avoid them since it’s mostly college age. There are plenty of upscale bars where you can enjoy a drink and some conversation. That’s way more my speed. And if I meet a woman in one of those, I definitely get her number. Or try, at least.
Comment by dadshouse
| September 12th, 2008
T - great ideas! Tried them all. Doing those things, I tended to meet either the 20-something or the 50-something set, which isn’t really my dating demographic. (Well, for booty calls, 20-somethings love me, but that’s a different story.) Where are the 30-somethings? In SF. Or in the Google-plex. I’ll blog about that later…
Comment by katherine.
| September 12th, 2008
hmmm….I like the way those odds sound…maybe I ought to start visiting Palo Alto more often
katherine.’s last blog post..there’s a place in france….
Comment by Honey
| September 12th, 2008
What a letdown, DM. Glad you managed to enjoy yourself.
Comment by QTMama
| September 12th, 2008
Clearly I need to come to Palo Alto … ;) It seems all the places around here are filled with women and no men!
QTMama’s last blog post..Things That Annoy Me
Comment by Lance
| September 12th, 2008
DM, so what was wrong with the first, second, and third places you referenced? If it’s crowded, there’s bound to be women. Hell, there’s nothing wrong with socializing with 23-year-old chicks. Also, is the sailing buddy single and looking also, because that makes a difference when you’re on the scene.
Lance’s last blog post..Does race and size really matter?
Comment by dadshouse
| September 12th, 2008
Lance - my buddy is married. He’s not looking to meet women, but he’s great socially and enjoys helping me meet women. As for the young 20-somethings - I have no problem meeting 20-somethings for booty, but I’m stepping up my game and looking for someone whose life stage is closer to mine. It’s not an age thing, necessarily. It’s that I have kids and a home/family life. A single mom would be great, or an older woman. For dating, I seem to get along best with women in their 30s to early 40s.
The second place that had a crowded older set - by older, I mean a 40s-50s crowd. And there was no room at the bar. We would have had to stand off to the side by ourselves, nursing our drinks. It’s not a rowdy scene, it’s an upscale bar/restaurant.
The third place (the microbrewery) actually had a few families in the bar area. Kids! It was weird. We found a table there but it was way in the back away from the bar.
I really do best when I can sit at the bar and chat up whoever is near me. Irish pubs, neighborhood hangouts, upscale restaurants, wine tasting bars - those are the places where I shine. I suck in clubs and meat markets. I just don’t have my Lance-approved A-game for that!
You can come out to Cali and school me in your ways. And I’ll give you an up-close look at suburban single dad dating.
Comment by Mad Cartoonist
| September 12th, 2008
Muy lame, que lastima! Maybe try Trader Joe’s instead?
Comment by Lia
| September 12th, 2008
That’s why I hate Palo Alto! ugh.
Lia’s last blog post..Do You Remember?
Comment by Hadley
| September 12th, 2008
Rose & Crown
The Nuthouse
The Oasis on Wednesdays
Rudy’s
Too low brow for you? :)
The odds are stacked against you in Palo Alto. Your post captured that pretty well!
Comment by dadshouse
| September 12th, 2008
Rose & Crown rocks! Love playing darts there. Sunday night jazz and Tuesday night quiz note - do they still do both of those? I’ve met many a fine lass at Rose & Crown.
The Nuthouse - um, I don’t fit in. I’ve tried. Honest.
The Oasis - they have these dark wood booths that aren’t conducive to meeting people. I think it’s fun if you go with a group.
Rudy’s - very fun. Probably the best dancing in PA (which isn’t saying much). They have big screen soccer on the weekends.
Fannie and Alexander’s used to be happening.
Great list, Hadley! I guess next time I’ll head to San Jose or something. I shy from SF because the women who live in SF want to be in SF, and I want to be down here! (When it’s “winter-like” cold in summer there, it’s beautiful and sunny here. Plus my kids are here)
Comment by Hadley
| September 13th, 2008
I forgot about F&A’s. So that isn’t there anymore?
When the weather is nice, at the Oasis they have (had?) those long tables outside and it is easier to talk to people in other groups.
I hear you about the SF/Peninsula thing. So close yet so far away in terms of priorities!
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| September 14th, 2008
Dads ~ I think perhaps you need to find a woman you can be involved with, who has her own life, and may live a little bit a distance from you (like SF). This isn’t a booty call relationship I’m talking about, just one that can be in slo-mo for a bit. She may have a career she’s nurturing (or have kids she’s raising, like you do) and you have much to do in the way of nurturing your kids. I think this would be ideal for you. So don’t shy away from the SF scene. It may wind up being perfect! You can have someone to spend time with. Just not ALL the time. Cut out the whole bar-hopping-and/or-hitting-on-women-while-with-your-kids scene. You could be exclusive and just let it slowly develop into something solid.
Just an idea. There’s no need to shut out anything. It’s often hard to tell what is going to work best.
Cathouse Teri’s last blog post..What does your husband do to get you in the mood?
Comment by Tiresias
| September 14th, 2008
As a South Bay native, I read with disappointment and sympathy of your latest foray in to Palo Alto. Not to put too fine a point on it, there are very, very few attractive women in that part of the world, and the few out will have their pick of the (male) litter, and reek attitude even if their looks and personality rate no more than average. Sadly, much of Northern Cal is that way–and I am writing as someone who loves it up here.
There is another place. That place where the women–well in to their forties–are very attractive, abundant, and appreciate a guy. That place is southern Orange County, or essentially Newport to San Clemente. Having visited many times, I cannot believe my eyes. It is a very short flight but a world away. You might very well meet some nice woman who would too gladly return with you north. Are there bottle blonde, fake-boobed caricatures? Of course, but they are a minority. Mostly you will find very fit women who dress well and, most importantly, are very glad to meet you.
Good hunting.
Comment by Kat Wilder
| September 15th, 2008
Hey, here’s an idea — come up to Marin where the same situation happens in reverse. 10 attractive 40-something women for every 40-something male. I kid you not. You’ll still have to weed through the gold diggers and psychos (I can’t believe I just wrote that!), but the odds are much better.
As they say. location, location, location.
Kat Wilder’s last blog post..The Multiple Mrs.
Comment by babbo
| September 16th, 2008
Some things never change. Never a pretty girl around when you’re looking for one. Always too many when you’re not.
What’s that about?
peace,
babbo
http://www.daddybrain.wordpress.com
Comment by Tiresias
| September 23rd, 2008
With all due respect to the Marin poster, and the apparent man/woman imbalance, there is simply no comparison between the women there and those in San Diego/South Orange County. Not even close. There is much more of a fitness culture as you get to Southern California. Marin women on the whole may be more “outdoorsy.” Not the same thing.