Paddy’s Bar With a Friend.

At Paddy’s Bar in Ventura, the music was playing so loud that my voice had become hoarse from yelling, just to be heard. My best friend Anthony had showed up roughly an hour earlier, and by the time 10:30pm had rolled around, we were jamming to the sweet notes of Lady Gaga’s Chromatica album as New Year’s Eve 2023 progressed.

Paddy’s technically has two dance floors, but Anthony and I ended up gravitating toward the one that was helmed by our favorite DJ, known as Nick. We obviously weren’t able to complain about the fact that the second dance floor was more out of the way, because Nick happens to be very cute.

Donning my complimentary NEW YEAR’S 2023 paper cap, during a lull in the music, I moseyed over to the bar with Anthony and ordered a virgin Roy Rodgers. I could not help but utter an audible “Ah,” in satisfaction, as the twin flavors and smells of Coke and cherry syrup flooded my tongue and nostrils.

 Normally, I tend to leave Paddy’s at around 11:30, to get to bed. I happen to be on prescription medication that is very sedating, so anything stretching beyond 11:30 is usually pushing it, for me. However, this night was New Year’s Eve, and this time was incredibly special. Ignoring the glaring white lettering on my Apple Watch, which displayed 11:45, I danced and swayed to the music, incredibly elated to ring in the New Year with one of my all-time favorite people, and the magic of Paddy’s.

 Too distracted to chat with people and hand them one of my business cards, which I often do when Anthony introduces his friends to me at Paddy’s, I instead joined Nick in counting down to the new year. Before I knew, or was even able to process, it, the year 2023, with all its anticipated travails and blessings, was surely and finally upon us.

 Paddy’s is extremely special to me, made even more relevant and topical because of the unique bond Anthony and I have, especially while dancing to Dua Lipa under the strobe lights of the often-frequented, and sometimes overcrowded, primary dance floor. That institution is so near and dear to my heart, that, last time I was there, I decided to spring for a Paddy’s shirt—the same one that I always glimpse the employees wearing.

 I am looking forward to visiting Paddy’s in the future, hopefully with Anthony again. For every holiday, the place is completely and entirely decked-out, and I eagerly anticipate drinking another Roy Rodgers, possibly under a giant shamrock for Saint Paddy’s Day.

All in all, my New Year’s Eve this time around was incredibly special, especially because I was able to spend it with Anthony. I unfortunately missed watching the ball drop in New York City on TV at 9 o’clock Pacific Time, but what I did not miss out on was a live countdown from Nick, and an experience at Paddy’s that was unlike any other.