The owners of Blushes and The Main Squeeze, Kevin & Roger (“Kev” and “Rog,” of course), were together when I met them. They sat at a table in the bar area. . .
At the Main Squeeze, you walked down a flight of steps to arrive at a landing, where a little booth with a ticket taker’s window greeted incomers. To the right was a doorway that led into a bar and cocktail area, with an assortment of little tables dotting a long room (about 40 feet long). Against the wall on the far side, a long bar dominated. At the far end of the bar to the left, the kitchen door beckoned.
To the left of the kitchen door, a wall separating the bar and the formal dining area kept the drinking and eating activities segregated somewhat -- though of course you could order plainer fare at the bar. The dining room contained about eight white-tableclothed, very formally set tables. The Main Squeeze featured “silver service” dining, whereby the waiters (half of whom didn’t bathe often, spoke little English, and scowled when not smiling at customers) wore white gloves and served meat, potatoes, rolls and veggies with forks and spoons held just so in the hand. I tried it, and thought the mechanics behind silver service similar to using chopsticks. . .
Anyway, here was the underground domain of the fancier members club where Kev & Rog conducted their evening business. Rog started with the interview questions.
“Have you worked a bar before, love?”
“Yes, of course -- in New York. City. Downtown. Soho?”
“And how do you look in a catsuit?”
“Er, not sure -- what’s a catsuit?”
Kev and Rog chuckled and I think Roger rolled his eyes. “Well, love, it’s a one-piece zip up thingie that the waitresses wear who work at the Main Squeeze.” Kev explained in his smooth, dolorous voice.
“Er, sure, I guess. Can I see one?”
Roger went back to the kitchen and summoned “Nora!”
A true female force of nature burst through the kitchen door. “Roger! What do you vant? Can’t you see I’m working here, dahling?” This five-foot-two red brunette with long shaggy hair in a ponytail and beautiful, dark, almond-shaped eyes boomed in a laughing, 80-decibel voice. She was wearing a black one-piece cotton kind of boilersuit, not unshapely but not tight or form-fitting, that zipped up the front, with long sleeves that she rolled up to her elbows and pants legs that she cuffed up a little to show her white crew socks and plimsolls (sneakers).
The Main Squeeze logo, with a sexy looking saxophone and accents of red and gold, was adhered just above her left breast.
Kev coughed and said, “That, love, is a catsuit. Oh, and this is Eleanora Russell, who works here as a waitress and kitchen staff.”
“Nora, dahling -- call me Nora!” She extended her hand and gave mine a good, strong squeeze and a warm shake. . . .
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