Bottle Service Killed New York

New York night life has changed. Although I'm sure that the true days of glamour and fabulousness went out when my mom dukes stopped wearing them mini skirts, I feel like I can still rightfully claim my authority on the subject.

Not to get all "I reminisce over you" but I remember being 15 years old in the tunnel. This little grungy Greek(ish) dude named Casper was on the street team for Flex's record pool and would look out when me and my 1-2's would roll up off the E train from queens and trek our over-grown asses to the Westside highway. We would be dipped in the flyest shit our moms (or semi-drug dealer boyfriends) could afford. Lee was always the freshest dressed of the crew, J-mills was tall and cute , Dee's peoples had mad guap so she had mad attitude (and the flyest hair cut/colors) and I was always somewhere stuck in the middle. In reflection I was probably the one who would bring the adventure, the one who was always down to car hop with some Harlem gangsters, start a fight with the one-legged Puerto Rican dude who tried to play me at the bar, just about anything to have a story to tell and a laugh to laugh.

And we had fun. Man….. we partied! I personally dubbed my ass all over Raekwon , had Biggie accidently spit on my foot (and say PARDON ME MA!), watched as my home girl got de-bo'd by the bouncer for trying to play Keith Murray too close(oh the comedy) and talked shit about fox to her face (although I privately studied every single line on 'ill nana'). The point is not to name drop but to say, we partied and not in VIP either. There was no VIP…. There was only the DJ Booth. And only but so many fools could fit up there, so the "VIP" partied with the people.

Of course there were posers or people who didn't (or couldn't – cause I don't know how a person can stand still for "one more chance", IT JUST AINT AFRICAN hehehehe) dance. But we all mixed it up….

Anyway I digress this ain't about me (or my old see-thru shirt escapades). it's about something I read on a t-shirt that made me say humnnnnn.

So I went to see Stone Love in that spot where Rawkus use to have there parties… (They really have done "WONDERS" with the place. SIDEBAR : note to all interested parties do NOT touch the bar… you might catch the Huntas virus)

ANYWAY ANYWAY ANYWAY (I GOT MILD ADD) …. This dude had a t-shirt that read "Table Service Killed New York". Fascinating. Or maybe not.

But I did some research anyway and found this little article. Enjoy… like a $500 bottle of piss

xoxo

- Kitty Hawk Brooklyn, New York City

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Bottle Service: A Brief History

By Brian Niemietz

Nowadays, no New York club opening is complete without it. Here's how we wound up paying $300 for a bottle of Stoli delivered to the table.

1941

A Wartime Convenience

In Japan, ewers of sake are served to seated soldiers. Soon after, it becomes normal for Tokyo businessmen to buy bottles and store the unfinished portion in lounge lockers.

1988

Guaranteed Access

With more customers than space, Paris nightclub Les Bains Douches begins selling table reservations, which come with a complimentary bottle.

1993

VIP Treatment

To promote a "small," 200-person VIP section of the Tunnel, Jeffrey Jah and Mark Baker offer bottle service at $90. With drinks at $6, customers actually save about $30.

1995

A Barrier to Entry

At Spy Bar, David Sarner and Michael Ault make bottle service mandatory for VIP-room access, with mixed results, then turn an entire club over to the trend at Chaos a year later (Stoli: $175). Thanks to the Internet boom, they meet with more success the second time around.

2001

Bottle Service Reigns

Pangaea and Bungalow 8 open, joining Lotus to rule New York nightlife, with Bungalow charging $500 for a bottle of Grey Goose. And the fad spreads to Miami and Vegas.

2006

Gimmicks Arrive

With seven bottle- service clubs on West 27th Street alone, owners have to get creative. At Pink Elephant, a "Spirit Tree" comes with mini-bottles of various liquors and "complimentary" sweets.