I got picked up on Friday night

Literally, by this guy, at the Albatross Bar. Tall drunks always have a point to prove when there's a shorty like me in the house. Grotesque violation of my dignity aside, I kind of enjoyed it.

I have written off the Albatross more times than I can remember, and things were looking bleak during the overlong tenure of the last drag queen hostess, Vanessa Valtré, who delivered the same witless banter and performed the same tired songs week after disappointing week. She had nice wigs though, I'll grant her that.

Now Friday karaoke is in the capable hands of Jeremy Hovies, who understands the night isn't about him but rather the patrons. He sings better than Vanessa too. I've noticed that more people have been participating and that the night goes on longer since he took over.

A guy named Spyro performed Patti Smith's "Because the Night," which I thought was a splendid choice (I downloaded it the next day, after my hangover passed). He sang it as Cher might, which is the new trend in karaoke. I thought it was just the shtick of a certain Irish guy here in Astoria, who can perform any song in the key of Cher, but apparently it is a widespread phenomenon.

So I'm enjoying my neighborhood gay bar a lot more again, meaning I get shitfaced more often, and I guess that's a good thing.