I’ve been bound and gagged by final exams but I found the time to sneak off with some fellow Janelle Monaè fans to celebrate her birthday. Let me start off by saying I love my apartment; it’s on Central Ave and seems to be the central launch pad everything. The Royal is a mere three blocks from my apartment— before I could say “Damn, I should’ve brought a jacket” I was paying the cover and getting patted down. We arrived early (10:00-ish), grabbed the closest booth, started chilling hard & and observing outfits. Hels & I decided to imbibe a bit. The bar was bountiful (Karen Walker Seal of Approval®). The libations were moderately priced & oxen strong. The DJ was spinning Dungeon Family and Outkast like it was 1999. It’s funny how certain songs take you back. I got super geeked when he played some COOLKids—that’s my shit. After a two rounds Hels & I ended up on the dance floor dancing to savagely to the 80’s hit “Nasty Girl”. It was lightly sprinkled with takers, and as time elapsed it slowly filled. The Royal isn’t quite like other spots I try. It’s a narrow, but huge. The furnishings are romantic with a hint of southern inspiration and just a teaspoon of Andy Warhol for a neo-contemporary flavor.
There were some notable names there like Michael Knight. The Royal is not for the gangsters or for the yuppies. It’s a bit less pretentious, I felt. It’s like a smoothie—you have a little banana, a little strawberry, one or two blueberries, and some crushed pineapple to make a delicious beverage. The crowd is diverse, laidback, and non-pedestrian. Everyone there was simply there to have a good time (good not hood) and celebrate Janelle’s Birthday. Jane was stunning and dressed to kill as usual. Her radiant glow and positive energy made my night. Plus I got to do the electric slide—that’s always a bonus. By 2:10 I was fatigued, parched, and famished but I continued to groove to the Jackson 5. Fast forward to 2:30 we said farewell to the night and found our way home in fear of too many of us collapsing at one time and not having a way home.