여의도 (Yeouido Park) and 이태원동 (Itaewon)

My Korean friend Judy planned a picnic at Han River Park (part of Yeouido park) this Saturday. The turnout was much larger than expected (due mostly in part that I invited 10 people, expecting one or two, not all ten to show up :).  We flew kites, ate fried chicken and played Catch Phrase for two hours after dark with a few frustrated Koreans and one possibly brain-damaged guy from Minneapolis.


Marina.

Cass. The Miller Lite of Korea.


Sophia, Marina and Franklin.
After leaving the park for Itaewon and a terrible experience at a "Mexican" restaurant (I've said it once, I'll say it again, New Yorkers can't make Mexican food), Jon and I went to get double espressos to try and facilitate a second wind. We took our coffees back to the bar where everyone was but the doormen wouldn't let us in with outside drinks. A sign for an 80s bar "Footloose" upstairs intrigued us so we nonchalantly waltzed in and snooped around. We were amazed with how intimate, ornate and empty the place was - albeit ignorant of the strange looks we were receiving from the bartenders.

When Jon started giggling and gyrating near a gold pole in the middle of a bar, a tiny Korean woman in 4-inch stilettos approached him and the following conversation ensued.
Woman: "Excuse me....[pointing at me] she cannot be here."
Jon: "Why?"
Woman: "No women allowed here."
Jon: "What? Why not?"
Woman: [quietly] "We are working women here."
Jon: "Ohhhhhh. I see." [Commence non-stop laughter.]


Needless to say we bolted. Some pretty hilarious stuff happens when you can't read/speak a language.

Jon. Mastering the Canadian hipster hobo look.