Saturday night after having seen a live sketch comedy show called "The Grapes of Ralph" at some theater called St. Marks Theater or Theater St. Marks (which both exist, and are entirely different and are only a block from each other) my girl Friend and I strolled down to Jack Dempsey's on 2nd Ave and 3rd or 4th looking to have a pint before calling it a successful night out. We had no idea what we were about to stumble into.

Finding a table at any bar or pub in New York on a Saturday night can always be something of an arduous task, especially since, in a city of 7 million people, there have to be enough like minded citizens that not only agree that your pub of choice is a good one, but to fill it long before you arrive. Such was almost the case two nights ago when we stood at the entrance. There were a few seats open though, at a group table, near the back, surrounded by people who all seemed to be having a good time.

After seating ourselves and being asked by several jovial people who we were, we found out that we sat down smack in the middle of a group of BBSers from the Straight Dope bulletin board. The closest feeling to what we were thinking is that achieved only by walking into the middle of a wedding reception as the bride and groom prepare to cut the cake and ask, "Hey! What's the party for?"

Never-the-less, everyone was more than friendly and after being introduced around the table as, "Not from the board," we got along quite well. Of course, we met everyone by their real names while they talked to each other using their screen names, and it proved to be far too confusing.

Moral... next time you stumble into something like that, just claim to be a lurker. Sure, they're outsiders, but with an inside track.

EDITOR'S NOTE: spudWorks does not endorse fraudulent activity of any sort.