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Wild weekend for Boston’s Boy. No two ways around it. Woke up Friday in D.C. for work, Amtrak back to NYC to live life in the fast lane for like 36 hours of straight New York City living, and then off to JFK at like 6 a.m. Sunday on maybe four hours of sleep to fly into Los Angeles, as I’ve got work out here all this week. And what was I to do with a full Sunday in Santa Monica? What you think I was gonna do, go to the beach by myself? For sure not. So I hit up CallMeVictoria and the two of us had a day.
Friday
What I Spent:
– 2 Glasses of Chianti and eggplant parm from Garlic Pizza Bar: $29.55
– 2 Goose Island IPAs from Lucky Dog: $16.06
– Vodka Soda from Loosie Rouge: $14.00
– Pitcher of Caipirinha and a Corona from Miss Favela: $71.00
– Cab home: $20.76
I was away all week on the road for work, so I was really jonesing to hang out with my friends, especially since I knew I’d be leaving again on Sunday for another week. So, in that spirit, we decided to just have a night. We were going to go to Dance Yourself Clean at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, but it was sold out, so instead we bar hopped until settling into a Brazilian spot to salsa our faces off.
How I Saved:
A few ways. One, I expensed lunch. Two, I got two glasses of wine at dinner but only got charged for one because the bartender at my local pizza parlor slash quiet local bar hooks me up. Or she’s incompetent. I honestly can’t tell but I get free wine from her all the time. And three, after we couldn’t get into Baby’s All Right, we went to several bars that were charging covers and I refused to go into them. Insisted we picked a spot that let us in for free. I don’t do lines, and generally speaking, I don’t do covers. When we got to Miss Favela I asked if they had any drink specials, and she proceeds to tell me in broken English that the Caipirinha is $12 but a fucking pitcher of the stuff is $55. I’m not sure this qualifies as me “saving” but damn did I feel cool walking around the bar with a pitcher of booze.
How I Should Have Saved:
I could have NOT bought a sixty bingo dingo pitcher of booze, but, ‘tevs. Anyway, saving is for nerds, like my 24-year old brother who’s getting his PhD in statistics and just bought a two bedroom apartment. But, like, does he even brunch?
Saturday
What I Spent:
– Washing machine: $3.95
– Dryer: $2.50
– Bacon, egg, cheddar, avocado, hash brown on everything bagel, XXX Vitamin Water Zero, two large iced coffees (one for my doorman) from NY Bagel: $17.73
– Grande Pike Place coffee from Starbucks: $2.67
– 3 beers (for me) and 3 glasses of wine (for the lady) at Flatiron Hall: $78.00
– Dinner at The Spotted Pig (split the check): $65.98
– Two glasses of wine at Vanguard: $35.49
Hadn’t seen the new lady friend all week, and won’t this week because #LosAngeles, and then she’s away next weekend, so we needed to get some quality NBA hang time in with each other on Saturday. After I did my laundry and packed for my trip, she came over and then we went to a bar to meet up with all her friends because it was one of their birthdays, then we went to dinner, grabbed a nightcap, and finally went back to the Fantasy Suite my apartment. High five.
How I Saved:
Um, I “let” Jen split the check with me at dinner. We also walked everywhere — from Murray Hill to Flatiron to the West Village and back to Murray Hill — all in relatively crappy weather, so no money spent on cabs. Also got like 14,000 steps in over six miles, so, hell yeah.
How I Should Have Saved
Did we have to go to an expensive restaurant for dinner? Nah, but I was craving a burger and I think the Spotted Pig has the best burger I’ve ever had, and it’s certainly worth the hefty price tag. Also, we didn’t need to stop at the wine bar on the way home, but sometimes you want the after dinner drink in the romantic wine bar. Sue me.
Sunday
What I Spent:
– Six beers (3 for me, 3 for CMV) at The Whaler: $50.00
– Dinner and drinksssssss at Enterprise Fish Co (split the check): $43.24
– Two beers at Finn McCools: $18.44
– Lyft: $7.83
How I Saved:
Ate brunch at my hotel, and I’ll expense that.
How I Should Have Saved
I could’ve just plunked my ass on the beach and listened to the Touching Base boys jibber jabber about God knows what. Could have saved my liver, saved my beer belly, and Hundo P saved my wallet. BUT, I had to have a night on the town with CMV. Wouldn’t everyone else?
So your boy flies into LA on Sunday morning, has a quiet little brunch to himself (gonna expense that) at the hotel and then bingo bango bongo it’s time to meet everyone’s favorite blogger, Call Me Victoria. So I meet up with CMV at a bar in Venice Beach that’s full of people who refuse to believe that tomorrow is Monday. Total Sunday Funday vibe. We crush three beers there, and then we went to another bar for a round (CMV picked up that tab), and then it was dinner time. More drinks (Pinot Grigio w/ ice cubes, and a few oyster tequila shooters because we like to live más), some apps, and then some more beers at yet another bar. This one more of an Irish bar vibe with some live music including an emotional cover of “Zombie” by The Cranberries that brought me to tears. Seriously, ask Victoria.
It’s true what you read: CMV loves to pop around from spot to spot. Not saying I’m not into it, far from it actually, just saying it’ll keep you on your toes and make it extra hard to keep track of all the places your hard earned bingo dingo doos are going. Anyway, best Sunday in a longgggg time, all thanks to the delightful company of CMV (who’s even cooler in person compared to the blog, if you can believe it). No ragrets on any money spent, today or the whole weekend, even if I’m terrified of adding all these expenses up.
*Adds all the expenses*
*See’s it comes in under $500*
Total: $476.90.
I had the most fun this weekend. I dare you to tell me I spent too much. .
Respond
Boston Max
Spending my retirement fund at Trader Joe's and trying to remember to check my mailbox semi-regularly
@BostonMaxG
@boston_maxg
If you say bing digno anything one more time I’m gonna lose it.
Was it a date?
Ask her
Nothing gets me going like expensing a non-itemized receipt that I know I got hammered on
$140 ER Co-pay on Friday night with my 6 month daughter. Afraid to tally up the rest of the expenses from the weekend.
Hope she feels better soon.
Diddo..just got a $350 ER bill for my 3 year old.
Gonna need a more in depth review of your time with CMV.
Your 24-year old brother who’s still in school BOUGHT an apartment? Please tell me he lives in fucking Nebraska or something or I’m gonna lose it.
Chicago
Buying is better than wiping your ass with rent money. I’m 25 and just bought a new construction house and the mortgage is half of what rent for a comparable option would be.
Yeah dude, but you have a job right? Somebody who at worst is actively accruing massive debt and at best is not making much money working part-time while in school is going to have more trouble than your or I at saving up a significant down payment or a smaller down payment plus PMI each month.
If they’re paying their own bills, that is. I was also trying to clarify he hadn’t just bought an apartment in NYC, which is a little different than buying a new house in Boise.
He was a consultant for a few years between undergrad and PhD and saved a shit ton
I hear yah, way more manageable if he’s been working full-time for a bit. Sounds like he has his shit together. When I was 24, I considered getting twenty bucks free for spending $500 at the liquor store a good financial win.
Isn’t anyone else curious how you can be a “consultant” right out of school with no real experience? What are you consulting on? Finding a shorter the bar with the best happy hour?
Kid graduates top of his class stats major at UC Berkeley and had hella internships so, no not too worried about how he got his 6digit salary job after graduation
Finn McCools, you dirty dogs
Finn’s the the classiest establishment in all of SM and if you disagree you can GIT OUT
Many college nights ended up with me black out there. love that place
$4 for snacks out of the vending at work.
Paid bills(but does that really count)
Sat: $30 at the shooting range
Sun: $2 for junkyard admission, $1.51 for Ford Escort parts.
$9 for Raisin Canes lunch.
Caniac or GTFO
Went with the sammich. It was good. My mom tried the fries and she said they were mediocre but she’s nuts. Crinkle Cut Fries for the win.
The fries are mediocre, but I’d eat an old boot if it was covered in canes sauce.
Ahhh Finn McCools, had some great night I’ll never remember there back in college
Baby’s All Right is a top 10 Brooklyn bar. Their boozy brunch is great, have yet to find a place that is so willing to give you way too much booze for way too little money. Then at night, it turns to a dance club. Never a bad time