The Lush has been saving this topic for a while, but in honor of spring break's imminent arrival, I think it's finally time to share.
One of my favorite drinking buddies has a nightlife strategy entitled "The Decrescendo of Class." I can't take credit for the name or method, but let's just say it is the product of an extensive knowledge of the local bar scene and a mind keen on maximizing the fun-to-beverages ratio.
For the musically un-inclined - musically reclined? - a decrescendo looks like an extended "greater than" sign and indicates a volume decrease in the music. Translating this to the bar scene is actually rather ironic, since a byproduct of applying this strategy almost always involves an increase in volume. But apply this principle to the bar scene and think of "atmosphere" as your "volume." Simply put, you start your evening classy, and then you close out at a dive bar.
In the wake of three midterms, this weekend was the perfect chance for the Decrescendo. So, Saturday, the Lush and three locals, including the Founder of the Decrescendo, took a visiting Californian out on the town. Dinner on Newbury at Kashmir started us off, and then we began the quest for our first round of drinks. Miss California had promised us her patented llama impression but required a few rounds before she could do it in public.
The Founder marched us over to Charlesmark Lounge, and the decrescendo began in full force. A swanky start for sure, our charming waitress at the Charlesmark delivered round after round of perfect martinis - vodka, gin and blueberry lemonade all got two thumbs up. Lounging on the leather banquette, I felt a little gauche in my rain boots. But the extraordinarily well-dressed couple sitting near us spent their time just about eating each other's faces as they made out, which was all it took to make me feel a tad less inelegant.
About three rounds later, we'd all become great friends with the waitress, whose name I can't remember, and we finally got to see Miss California's incredible llama impression, with calls for an encore.
This is generally the time in the evening when it's wise to move on.
And it's my favorite part of The Decrescendo of Class: the classier your starting location is, the more wiggle room you have for the rest of your night. The main goal is to find something markedly cheaper, and after some $12 martinis, that shouldn't be too difficult. Plus, by this point you'll be gushing over the "amazing" deals, and even your $2.50 PBR starts to seem really tasty.
The Lush and crew found our closeout destination in Bukowski's Back Bay location - a new discovery for me, again thanks to the human GPS of Boston bars, the Founder. While the Cantabrigian Bukowski's is a bit more hipster-filled and often rather pretentious, this Bukowski's is its rowdy cousin. And the best part? It looks like a garish, beer-filled blister on the parking garage it's attached to.
Inside, I had a Wexford Irish Cream Ale, and when I found my new best friend in the bartender - whose name I can't remember either - he said that all food menu items were only $5 after midnight. Sweet potato fries and more beer followed. Finally, what Decrescendo of Class would be complete without a late-night stop at the Dunkin' Donuts in Magoun Square?
Here's to a safe and happy spring break - make sure to arrive home healthy so you can share your own Lush-ous tales.
Kate Peck is a senior majoring in English. She can be reached at Katherine.Peck@tufts.edu.
