Socially Anxious and Alone in the Big Apple
An adventure alone in NYC
While alone in New York City, in search of someplace to spend the late evening hours, somewhere to laugh or to drink or to dance, I found myself wandering into Oscar Wilde, a Victorian-themed bar. As soon as I grasped the golden mermaid door handles, I knew I was entering the Disney World of bars. From the decor to the writing-themed cocktails on the menu, no detail was left out. Every inch of the walls was covered in picture frames, clocks, and lamps. Dazzling chandeliers hung overhead, statues stood perched on the counters, and even the beer was pulled from gold and marble taps. I geeked out over Oscar Wilde’s quotes, which, like Easter eggs, were found in every nook and cranny, wrapped around the bar under the countertops, framed on the walls, and spoken over a speaker in the exquisitely-decorated ladies’ room.
The immersive-ness of the themed experience distracted me from the fact that I was all alone on a Friday night in an immensely crowded bar. It took a good fifteen minutes for me to order because I am not one to aggressively force my way into a sliver of space at the bar or to loudly attempt to grab the attention of a bartender who isn’t aware that I exist. I got a few stares as I weaved through the crowds alone, trying not to spill my nearly overflowing (and certainly overpriced) “Pale…
