Tales From the Red Light District – Red Light Party
If anyone ever told you that they started their weekend by going down to Amsterdam’s red light district you might get a very strange impression of how they spend their Friday nights. There is a natural association that comes with a statement like that. So if I told you that last Friday night I was walking through the famous sex industry area myself with a case of beer under one arm you might think this is about to turn into the kind of bizarre story you don’t want your children to read. However you would be wrong.
I was in fact on my way to a normal house warming party that just happened to be in the red light district. One of my friends had recently moved to an apartment that overlooked the area and had decided to throw a large party.
The location was an interesting conversation point and the apartment’s large floor to ceiling windows gave great amusement as party members took it in turns to strike sexy poses in view of passers-by on the street below. Those who noticed gave us strange looks that were either puzzlement due to the weird sight that greeted them or a curiosity about how much we cost per hour.
The house was also just across the road from one of the red light districts famous live sex shows where tourists can watch two people on stage getting very friendly with each other. Any awkward silence at the party was suddenly interrupted by a loud announcement of, “live shagging,” as the doorman outside tried to tempt another group of passing English tourists inside. Anyone who did not realize the voice was coming from the open window might have received the wrong impression of the party and got worried or started searching rooms excitedly when they heard the voice suddenly announce, “girl on girl action.”
It was a fun party but as the night went on the worst thing that can happen at a party eventually transpired. The alcohol supply started to run low. People were visibly worried (and drunk). The party was in danger of coming to a slow dying end. Drastic action had to be taken so a friend and I took it upon ourselves to bravely stumble into the outside world and search the red light district for more alcohol-based supplies. It was not an easy task but eventually after much hunting we found a place that would sell us what we required. We returned to the party victorious and triumphant. Everyone was happy. Everyone was inebriated. We had saved the party. We were heroes.
At least we were for the short moment it took everyone else to realize what we had not. We had just bought non-alcoholic beer.
Read about the time I almost ended up on stage at The Banana Bar in:
Tales From the Red Light District – Almost On Stage At The Banana Bar
Jodie – To be fair it was not his fault. It was a bring your own party and a lot of people didn’t….. what am I say. He should have been ready for the emergency.
Oil – It’s a place everyone should go at least once.
I hope he learns before his next party :)
On the Gravatar subject: I think Jodie is right. Images that where working the other day for other users have suddenly stopped working. Sadly they have no help forum at the moment but I will continue to see if I can find anything out. Out of curiosity, can anyone else see my Gravatar? It seems to be the only one working now on my screen.
Heineken is from Holland, isn’t it?? Why not go straight to the source???
Ash- Heineken is cat piss! Really! ;) Grolsch is better [I wonder how you guys pronounce that *evil grin*] Stu did you get the files?
Hey Stu!
I’m loving the new site and all the extra info. Still, I’ll be coming back primarily for your hilarious stories. They’re always great to start of the day with. I changed the link in my blogroll, but uhm, is there any chance you might one day return the favor..?
You can avoid this problem of non-alcoholic beer in the future by buying wine instead. Non-alcoholic wine is generally known as “grapejuice” and, no matter how drunk you are, you’ll be able to tell the difference. (Won’t you? You’re accident prone, so who knows…)
I’ll stop being all reasonable now.
Oh the horror! I remember getting to drink “Near Beer” when I was a kid. It was some of the nastiest tasting stuff, but I was thrilled to be drinking a replica of an adult beverage.
Sounds like a fun party. Wish I could have seen you through the window. How entertaining!
“It was not an easy task but eventually after much hunting we found a place that would sell us what we required.”
– Is there a double entendre here?? :P
Us Dutchies are cheapskates – hugely embarrassing really but we manage to sell it to ourselves as ‘practical’. Nasty nasty habit….
I used to live in the red light district – for the record as a student flatsharing, not as window girl – and at that time you could still buy alcohol, together with girls and drugs of course. They changed that because of the bloody foreigners would couldn’t handle their drink.
Just have a guess which were the worst offenders…
Funny twist that….
I’ve turned off Gravatar for now until I can find out why they are not all displaying
Ash – It’s a good idea but Tess is right
Tess – Yeah. Thanks. I’ve not had much free time lately I’ll put them into use today.
Roxanne – How much would you offer?
Emiel – I hope I would be able to tell but you never know.
ChickyBabe – Trust you to ask that :p
On my two recent trips to Amsterdam prior to moving here, I stayed in the redlight district. I think the most annoying thing about the place (apart from not being able to get booze after hours, of course), is being constantly accosted by posses of men trying to sell you drugs. I felt like swatting them. Still do when I’m in that part of town at night
A case of non-alcoholic beer. :P
Elle – No they just ‘can’t handle their drink’ over the rest of Amsterdam.
Alan – I’ve noticed that in that part of town everyone seems to think my name is Charlie. It’s nice that they want to be friendly but they could at least get my name right.
Roxanne – People from the party still remond me of it.
An innocent mistake, but you should feel lucky to be alive.
Where I come from it’s better to show up empty-handed than with non-alcoholic beer.