New Houses, Old Friends, and Really Lo-oooo-ng Night

I’m exhausted. I stayed out way too late last night.

It all started when Scott and I got word that our offer on a house had finally been accepted. To celebrate the fact that soon we will no longer have to haul groceries up two flights of stairs and we’ll actually be able to paint and decorate according to our own rather mod taste, we decided to go to Swig.

I like Swig. I like it very much actually. However, last night I felt a little irritated that we had to agree to order appetizers to be seated at a cozy table near the bar. Sure, it makes sense to make people ordering drinks sit at the bar if things are super crowded, but the place was half empty! Whatever, nothing could really usurp our celebratory mood. We took our seats, ordered some bruschetta and a glass of Spanish cava for me and a Malbec for Scott.

While the bruschetta with Roma tomatoes and basil were enough for us, I thoroughly recommend almost anything on the menu. Personal favorites include the pan seared Ahi tuna, black bean cakes with cilantro and sour cream, and the crab cakes. And if that’s not enough to reel you in, they serve divine desserts by Simma’s, the bakery that made my wedding cake.

Anyway, while we lingered over a second drink Scott’s phone rang.

His friend Bill, in town from Salt Lake City, was calling from a wedding several blocks over. He tried to convince us we should crash the wedding reception.

“Nobody will notice your wife’s jeans, black suede boots and tunic top,” he responded when my husband told him we were slightly underdressed for formal party crashing.

Determined to get together for at least a few moments during in the evening, we agreed to move our party of two over to the bar at Hotel Metro, located right by the Milwaukee Athletic Club where the previously mentioned wedding reception was going on. Bill agreed to meet us at Hotel Metro as soon as he could slip away.

Turns out a massive wedding reception was happening at Hotel Metro too. Guests and members of the wedding party floated back and forth between the ballroom and bar but we somehow managed to snag a sofa in the corner where we waited for Bill.

We waited.

And waited.

And finally an hour and half later his tall frame appeared in the door and within moments of walking in he turned on his signature brand of charm and lured some ladies over to our corner where he proceeded to flirt shamelessly with them (and me). Somehow the hours passed, witty banter was exchanged, the drinks were refilled and we found ourselves facing a watch that read 1:30 a.m.

Realizing we were on the verge of actually closing the place down, goodbyes were said, promises to visit were exchanged and we went our separate ways.

So here’s to you Billy – for keeping us out way past our usual bedtime and reminding us of how crazy weekends were back when we were single!

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Scott and Billy - giving his best "Blue Steel" impression.

                     

Comments

[kelly]

I've been to Swig before. I ove the decor there. It's a great place to hang with friends before hittng the clubs for some dancing.

[wayne]

I haven't been to Swig yet. It looks a little pretentious. I prefer dive bars. Like Shepherds in Tosa.

[Kaitlyn]

Can a bar that boasts two TV's which are usually tuned to sports be considered pretentious??

[Lynn]

I love the Brucshetta at Swig.

[Erin]

Swig may be Milwaukee's best restaurant and bar, we love it too. About the TVs, I usually see food network or something. Anyway, I see it as a mostly women's favorite place and I suspect the TVs are there to keep the guys interested although my boyfriend loves the food as well.

[Kaitlyn]

That may be true - about the TVs being there to keep the gents entertained and all - but there's still something about a TV that turns the hip factor down about 5 nothches in my book.