Labor Day in New York

After a whirlwind first week in NY, we decided to keep it low key and local Sunday night so we headed to our friendly neighborhood bar, Joshua Tree, to take in the late night US Open tennis match. We grabbed a couple seats at the bar and quickly made friends with both bartenders, Zimon and Brian.

The vibe of the bar seemed vaguely reminiscent of one of our favorites back home – cheap drinks and classic 80’s music, complete with cheesy music videos. We sat watching John Isner give it his best before ultimately loosing to Youzhny, all the while “Jesse’s Girl” is playing in the background. Lucy was bummed and commented how her opportunity to meet her future husband has gone out the window since he lost and would most likely be leaving NY before the end of the tournament. Trying to reassure my roommate that there was still hope, I told her that he most likely is out drinking his sorrows away from his loss.

As the bar got busier we quickly started up a round of “shoot, shag or marry?” The highlight was when our bartender, Brian, joined in and threw out Brad Pitt, lead singer of some random band (we had to Google him) and Johnny Depp. You can learn a lot about a person based on this game. For example, I ALWAYS end up marrying the nerd and I need someone who would do well in social situations. Lucy on the other hand requires someone tall J

So we are mid-round and talking with a random Aussie and his Greek buddy from Queens when Lucy screams at me, “Oh my God! He’s here!” Me, not knowing what the hell she was talking about, turned around to see a giant 6’9” guy walking into the bar. Yes, it was John Isner! Of all the bars in New York, he walked into our bar in Murray Hill. Needless to say, we both saw this as an opportunity for Lucy to make a move and land her husband.

After a mini pep talk Lucy went for the attack. In hindsight a better opening line could have probably been used, or perhaps the offer to buy him a drink but I give Lucy a big thumbs up for going for it. This will no doubt make a great opening line when they meet again….and they WILL meet again. It turns out it only took a couple minutes to see him again. We left Joshua Tree and were heading home (or at least I thought so) when Lucy pulls me into the bar next door. There is John, sitting having a drink. Lucy’s ever keen eye spotted him from the street! After staying til closing (that’s 4am on the east coast) we finally headed home. Laughing all the way at the turn of events from the evening and how our “order” to the universe had been filled. This has me wondering, where’s James Franco?? I hear he goes to NYU too…

Victoria