jazz nights

Practically on the border of DC, Silver Spring, and Takoma Park, sits an old mansion on Eastern Avenue. Known for their Murder Mystery Dinners, the Blair Mansion is breaking into the music scene with their weekly Monday night Jazz Jam Session, attracting a wide variety of clientele.

You have your regulars, your serious musicians, your young, sloppy, yet talented musicians (who either don't order anything, or they do and want separate checks, or skip out on the bill and then play dumb the next week), your couples who are in blatent controlling relationships, and then a few randoms that you later discover are photographers or promoters who were asked to come by. My regulars (a few are musicians or vocalists) are what gets me through the night. One gentleman in particular, has come to Jazz night every Monday since it started. He comes in alone, around 8:30pm, and stays until 11. I happened to serve him that first night, and ever since, he's always sat in my section. 90% of the time, he'll order chicken tenders and one lemonade, although last night he ordered wings, and a second lemonade.

Two weeks ago, I was in the kitchen when he walked in, and he sat in Joe's section. When Joe came over to greet him, he politely replied, "I'm sorry... where's my server, Christine?" Joe informed him that I was on the other side of the room, and my guy gathered his things, and told Joe he would move to my section. :o) My first request to have me as a server. He's a sweet man with glasses, and wears sweaters. Last night he looked exceptionally put together with ironed khakis matching the subtle beige pattern of his button-down shirt. He tipped $10 on his $9 check.

You walk into the mansion and at the end of the hall sits an old man on a stool, ready to greet you. That's Mr. Moses. He takes you to the "Terrace Room" where all the magic happens. He'll seat you at a table, and at 8pm, the jazz session begins, led by the core jazz band- Gary Grainger, Eli Staples, Brian Fox, Diane Grainger, Greg Grainger, Marixelle, Sean Rickman, Ron Holloway, Torro and WaWa. I may have misspelled some names, but you get the point. Other musicians are encouraged to use the sign-up sheet to participate in the "jam session" part of the night. Usually, Brian Fox will call up people and they can contribute what they know- as vocalists, guitarists, saxaphonists, drummers, etc. Chef Milton cooks up some fried chicken, and you get to sit and enjoy the music.

And then there are happenings between some of the different customers who happened to be seated together at a large table. If you pay close attention, you may be able to notice what goes down.... notes passed between each other like high school, and carelessly discarded for me to stumble across as I'm bussing the tables. Interestingly enough... Annette is a lesbian.