another birthday celebration

Six of us meet downtown at Felix's: Pam, Janice, Brooke, Ronda, Zelia and I. Two can't make it. We are all here to celebrate Zelia's birthday.

Despite it being late September, the temperature is well into the 80's and the humidity is off the charts. By the time I walk from the subway to the restaurant, my hair is frizzed and my clothes are damp; I am pretty much a mess.

This very-French restaurant has only ceiling fans and all the windows are open, letting in the  street traffic, and a blanket of heavy air.

I've eaten little today and am feeling light-headed. I ask the waiter (who is Mexican, not French) for some bread for the table.  "Are you going to be ordering appetizers?" he asks. It's an odd question. What does one have to do with the other?  We are still waiting for two people, so someone responds, "Eventually, yes, but right now we just want bread."  "I can bring the bread after you order the appetizers," he responds, with a confidence suggesting that this all makes sense. It takes three requests to get some bread.

The restaurant isn't busy when we first arrive, so there's no reason why we shouldn't be getting good service. Still, ordering a bottle of wine also proves to be a challenge for our waiter. But we do end up with a more expensive bottle than the one we order because the one we want is not available. Our second bottle of the same wine, however, is charged at full price.

The food is excellent. As is the conversation. 

For the first time since we've been getting together for birthday dinners (at least six years), all of our politics are aligned. There are two Republicans among us, but this time it makes no difference. Trump has unified our little group; we all think the same of him. And it's not good.

The check arrives and despite the bad service, a 20% gratuity has been added to the bill. And then, the entire bill (including the gratuity) has been taxed.

We are all annoyed, and one is mildly outraged. A little scene ensues, and the manager gets involved. In the end, she subtracts the gratuity and we each leave our own.

Even with the drama, the bad service, and the heat, it's a fun night out. We already have a date picked for the November birthdays.