I spent New Year's eve with some friends (and strippers, of course!) at Ernest's house. Everyone just left to go to Cha. But unfortunately I went out last night and drank WAY too much. I went to Esedeku, Eukliptus and Cha last night. Not many people were out but it was quite festive. While the new year rang in tonight I took a photo of the moon. It was really quite beautiful surrounded by all the stars. You can't really tell from the photo but it had a ring around it tonight that looked like a rainbow. I then find out that it was a "blue moon." Perhaps an omen to a great new year.
May everyone have a healthy, safe and prosperous New Year!Working the pole @ Ernests' on New Year's Eve
Today, Christmas Eve, is the day that Dominican families gather to celebrate the birth of Christ. In most Dominican homes there will be a lot of food, along with family and friends. Then later on tonight people will be hitting the clubs. Today is also the day to be very careful about driving, as there will be a lot of Brugal absorbed today.
The weather has been cloudy and rainy the last couple of days. I thought it would be the same today. But it has stopped raining and the sun is out shining brightly, though a few clouds are still lingering about.
Tonight the bars/clubs will open after midnight. Tonight is Chachita Rubio's birthday party at Cha. And also the re-opening of Eukliptus (special party tomorrow). I believe the curfew has been canceled this week. Every year since the curfew was implemented in 2006, it has been suspended for the week of Christmas/New Year's. Here's hoping it is.
I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. If you don't celebrate Christmas, then I wish you Happy Holiday's. If you don't celebrate anything then I wish you Peace.
The owner (who is Dominican) of Eukliptus paid me a visit today. He will be re-opening on Thursday, with a big party on Friday. He promises that it is under new management and will have security. Wishing them good luck.
Eukliptus is now closed. There has been a lot of bad blood between the owner/leaseholder of the building and the current occupants managing the place. There have been complaints about someone cutting electric wires, removing pieces from air conditioning, and general not nice behavior. This all culminated with the owner and his lawyer going to the bar, and they didn't seem very interested in talking. ALLEGEDLY, Manuel (pictured above) and one of his employees (Jeyq) were physically attacked. When the dust settled the employee was knocked unconscious, allegedly from the butt of a gun. Manuel needed 13 stitches to close the wound on his arm from a machete. At least this is what is being alleged.
Sorry for the delay in updating the blog. Just didn't feel like it.
One of the problems is that I'm having storm fatigue. It seems like they are just lining up off the coast of Africa and once one leaves, another is waiting to take its place. Fortunately, we have been spared any real damage. As always, those who live in the country take more of the brunt of the storms. We haven't gotten any direct hits, but enough already with the wind and rain. Tropical Storm Hanna just left and now we have to get ready for Ike and Josephine. August 15, until September 15, is the most active period in the Atlantic Hurricane season. Good riddance.
Last weekend there were many tourists in town because of the Labor Day holiday in the States. I hadn't been out in a while, and I thought I would make an appearance and sign some autographs. Went to Eukliptus, and the place was packed. Not a seat to be had. I had not been there in a while, and heard that they were letting Alejandro back in. As I drove up, the doorman almost fell running into the bar. I wondered what happened? They hid Alejandro until they could ferret him out without me seeing. I was given a free drink, my cigarettes were lit for me, space was cleared. They were being really, really nice to me.
I had then went to Jay-Dee's, where Friday night it was very crowded. Not so much on Saturday. CHA was having some kind of celebration and the line was out the door to the street. Now I don't have to go out (to a gay spot) for another month.
A while back I would talk about the Samana region constantly. Beautiful place to visit, but not really possible to do a daytrip, as it takes a minimum of 4 hours to get there. Now, there is a new highway that has been completed. It cuts the time to a little over 2 hours. The tolls add up to about RD$600 pesos (about $17 U.S.), but you more than make up for it in gas saved. Some friends recently traveled the highway and marveled about nice it was, and how it is now possible to go the Northeast of the country and still get back on the same day. (Photos above)
If you are in New York city tonight, Dominican author, Junot Diaz, will be at the Barnes & Noble at Union Square tonight at 7pm.
Lastly, there is a video of some people stealing a dead body from the hospital because they didn't want to pay a RD$5,000 peso bribe. The dead man was a known delinquent. His family steals his body and puts it on a motorcycle and takes it home. Seeing is believing. Amazing!
Finally made my way over to the re-opened Eukliptus. Air conditioning was pumping quite nicely and the music was GREAT! Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves. The drink prices are really reasonable and the drinks were nice and potent. I saw just one problem. ALEJANDRO. He was there lurking about looking for his latest victims.
Otherwise, very, very nice.
Please stop by and tell them Monaga sent you. And if you see Alejandro, tell them to throw his ass out!
So, this is what is being talked about on the streets ...
-- Eukliptus has re-opened again. Manual and Jeyq are the "managers/propietors." I don't know more than that. Ruskin and the previous group running it now have nothing to do with this new incarnation. I have been offered 2 free drinks to come by and see the place. I'm there! Eukliptus and Bar Friends are now going to be battling for customers. Let the battle begin.
-- There is a short light-skinned munchkin that works El Conde. I won't say his name, so as not to get into any trouble. But, let me describe him to a point that you can't miss him. He speaks English very well. He fancies himself a mister fix-it. Need a taxi? Hotel? Translator? Drugs? You name it, and he will do his best to help you attain your goals. He is short, pudgy and will knows everyone. He looks as if is eyebrows were drawn on by Joan Crawford herself. But beware. He likes to help you, but he needs you to give him the money upfront, and he is very persuasive as to the reasons why. Normally rational, intelligent people have been known to give him money to find a taxi, buy a cell phone, etc. Needless to say, said services were never given and money never seen again. Remember where you read it!
-- Have you ever thought about flying Clear? Here is what I mean in a nutshell: Clear® is the fast pass for airport security. Clear members are pre-screened and provided with a high-tech card which allows them to access designated airport security fast lanes nationwide. Clear members pass through airport security faster, with more predictability and less hassle.
Ruskin, pictured at the right, has added another option to the nightlife scene in Santo Domingo. Eukliptus, which is a restaurant serving typical Dominican food in the daytime, is now open at night. It is located in the Colonial Zone @ Calle Mercedes on the corner of Espaillat.
Ruskin said that he and some "friends" have taken over the operation only at night. They don't have any responsibility for the restaurant. Whoever the "friends" are, they have put a few pesos into the place. There is a flat-screen television and and what people like most, air-conditioning.
Stopped by last night, and there was a nice crowd there. The drink prices are DEFINITELY something to cheer. The Presidente's and Cubalibre's are RD$75 pesos.
Ruskin is a great guy, and I'm happy to give any support I can to him. Next time you are in town, stop by Eukliptus, and say hello to Ruskin.
Former New Yorker (Harlem!) living in Santo Domingo. I moved here in January 2004. I'm just following my dream of being my own boss and looking forward to the journey of where life takes me next. This blog documents the journey, warts and all. I want to encourage people to seek out a life that makes you happy.
Monaga does not claim ownership over some of the images posted, unless otherwise stated. The images remain the property of their respective owners. If you are the legitimate owner and wish to have the images removed, please email me and I will remove them. Monaga is NOT responsible, nor does it have control, over content of any external website links.
I spent New Year's eve with some friends (and strippers, of course!) at Ernest's house. Everyone just left to go to Cha. But unfortunately I went out last night and drank WAY too much. I went to Esedeku, Eukliptus and Cha last night. Not many people were out but it was quite festive. While the new year rang in tonight I took a photo of the moon. It was really quite beautiful surrounded by all the stars. You can't really tell from the photo but it had a ring around it tonight that looked like a rainbow. I then find out that it was a "blue moon." Perhaps an omen to a great new year.
Working the pole @ Ernests' on New Year's Eve
Working the pole @ Ernests' on New Year's Eve
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