Day Eighteen: Mom and New Friends

After my morning run with Lyla, I pack my bags, check out, load the car and drive a couple of blocks to the Loews, where I am staying with my mom tonight.  The hotel is very different than the Raleigh.  First of all, it’s huge.  We are on the 16th floor.  Everything is new and clean.  The Raleigh has character and it is serene, but it is also intimate.
Everything about the Loews is grand.  It’s beautiful but impersonal.  I am annoyed by all of the little charges here; $10 for each chair at the beach, $15 for an umbrella, $12.50 for the internet and $20 to have the dog.  I prefer the Raleigh.  I know the entire staff and chat with them everyday.  Alex and Ben at the front desk, Sammy and Ariel at the Royal and Nicola at the pool bar.  

I think Lyla may be racist.  The bellman is a large black man with dreadlocks.  I’ve never seen Lyla growl at anyone, but she won’t quit with him as he brings my bags in.  I am embarrassed. I tip him well.

I have dinner at BLT with my mom before meeting Sammy from the Royal for drinks.  We head to Lincoln Road where we join Chris and Jay.  Jay is a waiter at the Royal.  He served Kate, Julia and me on New Years.

Me, Lyla and Chris at ScoresChris and Jay desperately miss New York.  They are bored here.  Sammy is too.  They are all in the restaurant business and they crave the excitement and energy in New York. 

 Chris and Lyla at 721

After a few drinks at Scores, a gay bar on Lincoln Road, we decide to go to 721, a gay karaoke bar.  They want to meet Lyla so Jay walks with me back to the Loews to pick her up.  Lyla gets a lot of love from the gay men at karaoke.  After a few songs, Chris, Jay, Lyla and I take a nice dip in the Raleigh pool.  See more pictures

A late night dip