Date # 9, #10, & #11: The What, the Who, and the Why

Sept. 10th, 2021

If y'all read Date #6, you might remember that although Date #9 and I matched on Hinge, my first time actually seeing him was randomly at this bar. We talked more after that encounter and agreed to go out. At this point, my “DC Date” saga is going on on IG and since we followed each other he said he didn’t want to be numbered. Understood. I did not number him on my story… but secretly he was Date #9.

We went to Players Club which is this underground bar in NW DC with retro arcade games, pool tables, pinball, foosball… and whatever else you might can think of. This is the place where I found my love of amaretto sours. Pre-move, my favorite alcoholic beverage was midori sours, but every bar I went to in DC they either hadn’t heard of it or didn’t have midori. The bartender at Players Club (to no surprise) had not heard of it but said she can make me an amaretto sour. I hadn’t heard of that one, but the spontaneity and love for trying new things in me said bet let's try it out! Ever since, no matter where I go I am always ordering an amaretto sour.

Back to the date… if I could call it that. We walked in, grabbed our drinks, and beelined for the crowded pool tables. He played multiple games with whoever was down to play at the time. I didn’t necessarily want to play because I wasn’t good enough to be holding up the tables for people who were actually good at pool, so I sat on the sidelines just enjoying the crowd. At no point did #9 and I even have a conversation or play any games while there together. People probably didn’t even think we knew each other for how distant we were towards each other. Not purposely, just how the vibe was. At one point I even went to sit at the bar myself and enjoy a drink and chatted up some guy who was next to me. Not to get at him, just as another individual who was sitting at the bar alone. 

After maybe two or three more rounds of drinks, Date #9 and I left and he took me to this spot he says he always goes to overlooking the Potomac river. This is where we were a bit more touchy but nothing passed that. Although we had a nice deep conversation as he was taking me back home, I think we both knew there was nothing romantic between us.

We were always cool with each other after that though. Cool enough to the point where some time had passed and I even asked if he was down to hang out again but as friends. He informed me he would have but he now had a girlfriend. Much respect to him for telling me this! I don’t know his girlfriend but I assume she’s a good one because via his IG we’ve gone to two concerts (separately of course) of this artist that me and his girlfriend both really like (Tobi Lou for anyone wondering). Rooting for them!

Sept. 14th, 2021

Date #10 and I got some cookies from Insomnia Cookies. We walked up and down H St., another popular party spot but in NE DC. We had differing opinions on traveling as he wasn’t open to it so I was no longer interested, and I don’t think we talked after that.

Sept. 24, 2021

Date #11 and I went to El Techo – a rooftop restaurant in NW DC. It was ridiculously crowded and loud. We stood there kind of awkwardly not speaking, not that we could hear each other if we wanted to. We didn’t have reservations so it was that thing where we could find seats at the bar if any were available… absolutely none were available, and none were becoming available for the rest of the night from the looks of it. There were actually about two or three rows of people in front of the bar. And the place itself is already small and tight as is. It was a cute spot, so if the opportunity presented itself I would go back, but I personally wouldn’t go out of my way to try to go again.

We then walked up the street to DCity Smokehouse, this BBQ spot, to grab a bite. I don’t recall the food – nor the conversation – being all that good. Very average date, nothing spectacular. That was it. We still followed each other on IG but we barely talked (or not at all), until a year later he asked me out again in December 2022. We went to the Museum of Illusions (also in NW or Chinatown for the locals) and then walked to the holiday market down the street to grab some cream filled churros. I liked him even less the second time around because he would randomly comment on my booty and it was just weird vibes all around. I don’t know how he got a second date out of me, especially over a year later.