Show and Tell, Just a Game You Play

After a harrowing day at the runners’ office, I headed downtown for some wine and some nosh. (Nosh-a horrible word)
I was meeting a fellow GPer who was very excited about going to Centovini.
As I passed through the double glass doors of the mini mall like building and parted the ridiculously thick half circle of gray curtains that proceeded the doors, I was bombarded by a short man with slicked back hair and an overzealous Italian accent who thrust a rectangular plastic card with a number on it in front of me.
What’s this?
For the umbrella, he said.
And another for the coat.
In another awkward moment that happened at lightning speed, another short man with slicked back hair grabbed my backpack as I started to disrobe of my coat and hand over the offensive umbrella.
I looked at yet another person, a woman this time, who was staring at me and I quickly said, I am just going to go to the bar to wait for my friend.
Once at the bar with wine menu in hand, my disappointment and awkwardness continued. As two women bitched about another woman, a friend, who "has simply lost it. I mean have you seen her lately?" I was actually surprised by the menu that has been applauded by so many other food writers. It was boring and obvious (obvious cheese choices, meats and the standard antipasti).
The wine choices by the glass were not all that interesting or affordable if you like the bolder reds, either. Prices by the glass in the heavier reds category start around $15.
The Italian cheeses were nothing special and the Italian sausages that our bartender convinced us to order were a bit precious and redolent of mint, of all things.
So, as we finally prepare to leave, the wrong coat is brought to me. And my umbrella is lost.
It’s just then when I thought, the image of you is what I hoped you’d be. Isn’t that always the case in life, love and precious wine bars that everyone is talking about?