After a year-long hiatus, I returned to First Friday this past weekend. In my absence, they've begun charging $2 per person for entrance. WTF?!? While entering through the gate on Casino Center near Charleston Blvd, I was told, "Two dollars, please."

"What? It costs to get in now," I asked incredulously.

"It's been optional the last couple of months. We've been trying it out. It was a donation before," explained the man with the metal money box. He smiled and held out a tiny sticker that read, I Love First Friday, but with a heart instead of the word, Love. Apparently this sticker would not only put on display my undying affection for this sub-par monthly street festival, but it would prove I paid to get in, and allow me to return if I left for a bit.

"Wow. I'm not sure it's worth two dollars."

The man's smile held. "You get a free little pamphlet." It was just a few pages of slick color adverts for sponsors of the event.

"I don't know that it's worth it even with that pamphlet and sticker."

But I was holding up the line, and I had come to be social with the friends, so I paid my $2 and stuck the round badge of shame to my shirt for all to know that I, too, had surrendered my cash to the man with the smile.

Luckily, the drinks were sharp. The Jack and coke cut my throat on the way down and I inhaled sharply. It was warm in the belly. The bartender had offered me Jack and Sprite after informing me they had no sour mix. I laughed. Jack and Sprite? What the hell?

Christian, Marshall and I browsed the various displays of artwork for sale. There was some cool stuff-- Christian bought several things. I'm saving my money for gasoline and food. I won't comment on how terrible the bands were. I don't want to remember it.

Karsten and Marshall at First Friday

Christian and Karsten at First Friday

After a couple hours of strolling, we headed for coffee at Starbucks on Maryland and Sahara, to meet up with other friends. It was nearly 10pm. The place was closing, so we gathered up one new member to the group, Trent, and said goodbye to the other guys and headed to the twenty-four hour Starbucks at Paradise and Flamingo. There we met another friend, Devon, and had coffees. We walked around outside for a bit, then decided we needed food, and so we drove across the street to Bouganvillia Cafe, the all night eatery in Terrible's Hotel & Casino. The food there is not that great, but it's cheap. After dining, we decided we needed more alcohol, and after we all said we couldn't host a drinking party at our respective homes, we rented a cheap room right there at Terrible's. We drank. We slept. We woke up to a hot and sunny Saturday.

Fun times.