This is something I know I will miss--being able at a moment's notice to step out the front door and insert ourselves into one of an infinite range of backdrops. It helps having friends who know their way around the obscurest establishments, like these two from last night.

The first will be memorable for the smoke from the kitchen which was vented directly into the dining area, and the big screen TV which undoubtedly cost more than the furnishings. You can't buy ambience like that! Finally though the combination of kitchen and cigarette smoke sent us teary-eyed into the street and on to the next hidey-hole.

This one was accessed by a somewhat dodgy elevator and a secret door I couldn't see even though it was right in front of me. I half expected to be asked for a code word. I will remember this place for the tall ribald English-woman smoking cigarettes, drinking beer and belting out old time jazz tunes. Sorry about the poor picture quality, it seems I forgot that the camera has a flash.