Vermillion Cocktails For A Desert Owl.

My feet were sore. But I was encouraged from various angles that the rooftop bar of my hotel is the place for a cocktail.

And while view was pretty... The cocktail situation and the ambiance were far from "me" as something can get.

Trendy. Flashy. Predictable. Mass appeal. 

Thank you, no.

I left within a minute of arriving. I had no interest being where everyone else wanted to be seen. 

I turned a corner to go to the elevator and saw a group of women standing in front of a selfie station over dressed on flashy clothes.

Though it was totally possible that I was underdressed.

More stylish, regardless.

(I'm entering my ego era. More on that later.)

The elevator dropped me to the lobby in a few seconds, and I had my phone out searching for the St. Regis.

"A grand old hotel brand I can rely on for decent bar," I said to myself.

 Turning the corner on to Pennsylvania Avenue, I walked past another hotel's outdoor cafe. It was too chilly to sit outside and sip. But then I saw a couple sitting in a window up on the lobby floor, drinking Mint Juleps in silver tumblers. A gentleman in a white dress shirt, tie, and barkeeper's apron was talking to them. 

"A Master's Of The Universe Bar," I said to myself. A place that is typically quiet with perfectly-made cocktails and an air of "powerful and significant conversations happen here."

I entered the lobby and walked down the hallway to thee bar. The Round Robin. 

A round bar, indeed. 

There were maybe eight people in there. And two bartenders stationed at the round bar in the center of the room. One looked at me with a welcoming energy.

"May I?" I asked, pointing to a small table and two chairs in the window, looking out on Pennsylvania Avenue.

"Of course," he said. 

He immediately brought me a tall skinny glass of water, no ice. Exactly the way I prefer it.

Speciality cocktails (Jolly Robin) and some classic ones (Corpse Reviver) were featured. Wine list was decent - Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc! And other stuff too...

I went with the Jolly Robin, which had some color to it.

The vermillion color matched my lipstick.

An excellent choice. It was shaken perfectly and the alcohol was undetectable by me.

Over the span of 45 minutes I sipped and read a book on my Kindle. The Sun set. And the bar began to get crowded. Soon there were no tables left, and. the two bartenders had their hands full making all the Espresso Martinis that were being requested by every woman who came into the bar with her husband or boyfriend.

The bar had jumped the shark. For the evening.

And an hour of reading and sipping is good enough, I reasoned as I requested my check. I paid, and ordered a pizza to be delivered to my hotel by the time I got back.

I hadn't consumed anything since my breakfast of a croissant and a latte. It was now 6:30pm.

I'd spent the day walking through museums and outside, clocking over 16k in steps. 

I missed walking like that. 

I missed Sunny but cool Autumn days. 

And I missed the Masters Of the Universe bars.

All things I can't do or find out west.

If it weren't for the dog, I'd have moved back East - possibly DC - years ago.

I think I am a city girl. And not the quiet desert owl I've been.