Sometimes “The Box” …
… is not just “a box” !
Rather, it’s a relatively famous NYC hotspot. Made famous for both it’s celebrity sightings and, of course, it’s burlesque show. (Not to mention recent news reports of violent assaults on women leaving the premises in the wee hours of the morning). But I digress …
Back to thinking inside ‘The Box’. The event was a private ‘Genart’ event, hosted by Hennessy, dubbed a cognac and chocolate tasting event. And taste we did! Only Hennessy cognac served at the bar, and chocolates in blends of both cinnamon and caipirinha being offered around. Can I just say, my kind of event!
The female servers were dressed as angels. The outfits were over the top, from the fake white eyelashes to the silver shoes. They were walking around with glasses of ‘Hennessy Paradis’ … I’m going to have trouble drinking any other cognac from now on. A-mazing.
The male servers were, not surprisingly, dressed as devils, painted head to toe in red paint, and wearing little else. They were offering the chocolates. They would also gather in packs and swarm tightly around you, hunch over, and stare at you for uncomfortably long periods. Then they’d come in and take a good, close “sniff”. It was a bit awkward. But they were professionals. Nary a one broke character, despite my best efforts to be a comedian. (And come on, I can be damn funny).
The most interesting part though, was the burlesque show. Modern-New York-burlesque to be more accurate. Unfortunately, I can’t provide all the details in this venue, but here’s a bit of line-up. First was a mannequin and a women … the women looking like an exact replica of the mannequin. Let’s just say there was a dance, both ended up disrobed, and then they ended up in a very compromising position. (Yes, a plastic mannequin). Then came a fire-performer. Wild outfit, wild music, wild dancing, as he ran fire over his whole, mostly undressed body. He then proceeded to eat the fire. Don’t know how else to describe it. Another favorite was a 70-year-old Texan rope lasso-er. Three sizes of rope, lots of lassos, and even some skipping, twirling, and a good ‘ole Western thumping. Loved it. Also loved the Batman-and-Robin rope gymnasts. Two fellas in skin-tights, twirling around one another <again, insert very compromising positioning here>, finally bringing an end to the age old question of were-they-weren’t-they once and for all. The closing performance is one I unfortunately can’t describe here at all. Come visit me, and I’ll give you all the details … or better yet, we can go and see it live )
That’s a quick summary. Solid credit for diversity. Only in New York could people make a living from this!
Random aside. The ad that’s been running on the trading floor tv’s for the past 5 days in preparation for V-day is titled “Show Her you Know Her”. How? Well, obviously, by buying a teddy bear that best matches the personality of your hunny … an angel, a devil, a teacher, a random teddy bear in a nightie. The best part? You can buy the matching outfit! Real size. <pause for awkward and dramatic effect> Who needs their woman-IN-a-teddy, when they can have their women-AND-a-teddy!
Americans are weird.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
