We had so much fun in Mobile, AL that we’re heading back there at the end of the month. I know my car is screaming since we just put a little over 1,000 miles (1,609.34 km) on it. It has a brand new set of Continental tires to replace those that were going bald. I’m also going to replace my spark plugs and front brake pads before heading out again. It was needed work to keep my car in good shape. That car has to last me until it decides to fall apart in the middle of the road. Hopefully that won’t be for many years to come.
Even though I grew up relatively close to Mobile, in modern standards, my family never went there. My dad had a saying that “he had not lost anything there.” Yes, that’s a very asshole thing to say to your family when they want to go to the city, even to see what it was all about. The only reason for my family to get to Mobile is to be on the brink of death or need some kind of medical attention. The three largest hospitals to my parents’ home is in the city and either of them are where you are rushed if there’s more than a broken leg at the area medical clinic. That’s another bitch session for later. Anyway, I saw Mobile the first time when I went there for a Beta Club convention as a freshman in March 1993. Those from the eastern US that are old enough will remember that as when the eastern part of the country was covered in a blizzard. It snowed into Florida.
Funny thing about this weekend is that we stayed at The Admiral Hotel on Government Street. That was the hotel I was in during the blizzard of ’93 when it was called The Admiral Semmes Hotel. It brought back many memories. I remember that when it started snowing in Mobile, many of us went outside and played in the street in the snow. It was so cool for a bunch of high school kids to see so far south.
Enough of memories as we made new memories while there. We saw new places that I had never seen like Mardi Gras Park and the many statues that surround it. The Mardi Gras museum was closed by the time we arrived in the city so we’ll have to see it some other time. We saw Fort Conde and its remains. We did all that walking before the sun set and, believe me, it was hot as hell! It’s been years since I lived in south Alabama and it takes me a while to get used to the suffocating humidity. We walked back to the hotel after getting something to eat and site seeing so that we could rest and get ready for a night of frivolity.
Our first stop was at B-Bob’s and we were not let down. We paid our entry fee of $10 and got our wristbands. Some may say that’s a bit much, but the entry fee at the Atlanta Eagle if $8-10 depending on what’s happening. To be honest, I’d rather pay the $10 to get into B-Bob’s if the club here was anything like that. We had fun talking to the bartender on the roof at Next Level. We decided it would be a good idea if we got a bite to eat. We did and OMG!!! It was wonderful!
We went to a place called Box Owt that was open outside space where someone came up with the idea to build boxes and place various restaurants inside them. It was basically an outside food court. We chose Smac’s Shack BBQ and we were very much satisfied. We each chose the Pulled Pork Que-Psi-Dillas. They were filled with a perfect amount of pulled pork and with the large fries, our stomachs were pleasantly full.
We decided since we were outside, we might as well go see what the Flip Side was about. It’s the sister club to B-Bob’s and on the other side of the fruit block….which is what I guess they would call the gayborhood. It reminded us of a couple clubs here in Atlanta. It was rather small compared to B-Bob’s and the people weren’t really having the outsiders. We had a drink, ogled the bartender in his well-packed string thong, and then headed out back around the block. We made it back to B-Bob’s in time to see the drag show. That’s what Tommy wanted to get back in time to see. I was neither here nor there. I guess one or two were good. I was just there for socialization and drinks. We ended back upstairs at Next Level and talking to the bartender and others around the bar. Before we knew it, the bar was closing and we left after talking to the owner for a few minutes.
We left B-Bob’s and started walking toward the hotel. We saw Gabriel’s and wondered how it would be. Now, calling a club a “private club” in Alabama just means that your patronage has to purchase a membership. That allows the club to stay open past closing time. Being in Atlanta for as long as I have been, it seems weird for a bar to close earlier than 3am. Mobile, however, feels that you can get whatever done before 2am. Not a big difference but one has an hour to find their fun for the evening if in Atlanta. We walked into Gabriel’s and talked to a lovely lady by the door who was enjoying her chicken tenders. I was totally fine with that because it was already 2am and she was hungry. We paid out membership fee and we went in to see what was up with everyone. I met one or two people and had some great conversations. Met people that knew where I was from and some that had no idea. They were probably not from around there or had been sheltered their whole lives.
The bartender from B-Bob’s came over to Gabriel’s and I went over to his side of the bar to continue our chat. The bartenders there were fun and I enjoyed their energy. We met others around the bar that were really cool and had a great time. The owner of the bar showed me around some. He opened the back door and we walked out onto the patio. I was shook, shocked, and astounded to see that the sun was rising. What the hell had I done? I had not stayed out all night since college. We said our goodbyes and finally headed to the hotel after a couple of hours. It was nearly 6am and we were walking down a street in Mobile, Alabama. We walked back in broad daylight, went up to our room, and slid into bed for a few hours.
The drive back seemed a bit long but we managed it. We stopped in Montgomery and had Fazoli’s. I think that was my first time and it was pretty good. I’d go back. We filled up with gas once on the way back and was quite happy when we arrived in Atlanta. The city calmed us as usual and we went to the in-laws’ house for dinner. The cat seemed happy to see us when we entered the house. We sat down and truly relaxed.
I can’t wait to get back to Mobile. I love the atmosphere of the place. It’s an old city with lots of history. I don’t know if I could see myself living there, but I can surly see myself visiting as much as possible.