Shirts Optional

Part of the Double-L gang met today for our bi-monthly outing.  Our usual haunt is the Fort Worth stockyards.  But today we were persuaded by one who will remain nameless (so he won't get into trouble with his handler) to gather on the east shores of the Trinity River.  It was something different.  I'd been to the place once before, but it'd been a while.  And, I'd never been in there with the Double-L team.  As long as I have time with them, I don't really care where we go.  At least not enough to make a fuss about it.

 I had loads to do, and this place is only a couple of minutes drive time from my neighborhood, so, that was another plus.  However, it didn't turn out to be a quick get-together.  I don't know what I was thinking because it NEVER turns out to be a quick get-together.  Once it starts, it goes on and on and on.  Torres phoned shortly before I left for the meet to tell me that she had a surprise for me when I arrived.  I informed her that if the surprise was in the form of a person, who will also remain nameless, that has a habit of getting a little too comfy-cozy in my company, simply for the thrill of making me tense, that I'd not be showing up.  However, she went out of her way (after my ears were assaulted by gales of laughter over the phone) that I could relax.  It was a surprise I'd like, not the sort that would make me uncomfortable, or the sort that I'd need to show up with reinforcements to feel safe.

A bit of The Smoke Pit's wall deco.

So, today's gathering ensued at The Smoke Pit in Fort Worth.  We met at 1100.  By noon, the place was packed.  It always is.  And, always with men.  Other than our party, consisting of the nameless male, and four women, we were the only female patrons in the place for nearly an hour.  And, the three women who came in while we were there (that's right, only three), didn't stay long.  We were also the only women in the place (with exception to the owner, who is also the bar tender) wearing shirts.  The entirety of the wait staff is female, and they wear bikini tops.

The place has been there since forever, and the name of it correlates with the menu.  They're  known for serving beer in buckets and meat.  Chopped meat.  Sliced meat.  Minced meat.  On-the-bone meat.  And, it's predominantly pork and beef.  At our table, there were four orders for pork ribs, and one order of chicken strips.  I felt compelled to inform my group that they were all going to have worms before they made it halfway through their lunch.  They're a brave lot.  They dived in anyway.  D.J. gave me grief about a Kosher diet.  I'm not on a Kosher diet.  I just shy away from beef and pork, with the exception on outings to Risky's where I will occasionally order beef.

They're very big, and they're on the ceiling.

I can't comment on the food they serve because, chicken strips are chicken strips.  They taste pretty much the same regardless of where I order them.  But, by the way the rest of my party was working their way through their lunches, the food must have been impressive.

Our lunch meet went through the first hour, and then the second, and then the third, and after that, I stopped counting.  I decided to call it a day when the tea and coffee kicked in and I was having to weave my way through the crowd to the micro-scopic bathroom at the back of the building every half hour. 

Torres, D.J. and SSG Goodwin - U.S. Army National Guard

The atmosphere of the place is lively.  Lots of chatter and background music.  They have flat big-screen televisions on each wall, and of course, a bikini-clad wait staff.  So, I'd not recommend it for a date if you're easily intimidated by women running around in nearly nothing.  Torres, D.J. and I got a bang out of the fact that as soon as the lunch crowd had mostly cleared out, the wait staff was pulling sweaters on.  The afternoon staff waits tables fully clothed, and their age group is different.  The girls and I were amused in wondering how many of the guys in there inform their significant others where they're having lunch.  We also were betting that most of the patrons pay in cash.  The side of the building is costantly monitored by video cameras.  The video cam shows who's en route to the front door, via a large monitor mounted on the wall near the door, that can be seen throughout the entire restaurant, which is built shot-gun style.  I'm wondering if they have a back door for quick escapes for patrons who see someone approaching the entrance that they'd rather not run into during their fine dining experience.

D.J. and her infectious comics. 

We really did have fun.  In fact, once more, my friends and I laughed so much that my face and abs are tired.  We even had the privilege of meeting up with a soldier who was in for lunch.  He was kind enough to let me snap his pic with Torres and D.J. 

I had fun, and I love that it's so close to home, but, it still doesn't beat the stockyards.  There's just so much MORE in the stockyards.  More to do, more to see ... just more.  Therefore, I'm hoping for our next outing, we'll be back in our familiar territory.

Tomorrow is the Thanksgiving get-together for the Double-L staff.  I'd not planned on going, initially, because, my desk is overflowing with to-do lists, but I've agreed to go because ... well ... what can I say?  I have good friends and I don't get to see them often since I've switched full time jobs and am working the night shift.

Kit checking out the interior design.

When D.J. asked what I'm bringing for tomorrow's luncheon, I said whatever I could snag in a hurry that's pre-made at the grocery store, on my way to southside.  She, of course, is cooking.  I like to cook, when I have time and I'm not tired.  otherwise, I pretty much live on chicken nuggets and micro-waved vegetables.  Tomorrow won't be much of an exception.  I'm not cooking, but I will bring something that the rest of the gang will like, which means it won't be on my safe to eat list.  I don't mind.  The rest of them can enjoy it for me.  That's what friends are for, right?  To eat what you can't, and make lots of exclamations on how great it tastes? (Grin!  They're ruthless!)

That concludes what will have to pass for my review of The Smoke Pit.  I'd have included notes about the six-hour conversation covering nearly every topic from A-Z, but ... some things are just not fit for print, so I'll refrain. And, we have a policy, at least for sensitive subjects.  What's discussed during our rendevouz doesn't come home with us.  That little policy has saved us a wholeeeee lot of grief!

'Til later peeps!

Wishing all of you a great week!