Tuesday after work the plan was to race home to throw on some more Broadway-appropriate attire before meeting up at 6 with a few of Shrek’s friends for happy hour and the premier of Broadway’s Legally Blonde downtown. First, am happy to report that I finally found a bona-fide happy hour that doesn’t end at 6 pm. This standard end-time has always puzzled me since most of us working stiffs don’t leave the office ’til 5 or later making it difficult if not impossible to take advantage of happy hour.

Tanq is located in a small corner of the Marriott Hotel downtown on the corner of South Market and San Carlos and their happy hour goes ’til 7 pm. The downtown destination is one of the newer additions to the San Jose bar/lounge scene and bills itself as “hip,” “sophisticated,” and “exciting.” Others claim it the ”the place to see and be seen.” After checking it out in person I have to disagree with this “hip…see and be seen” description, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In my book, to go “see and be seen” makes me think “swank” and “pretentious” so I leave that tag line for Santana Row’s lounges and Dio Deka in Los Gatos. (Which, if you follow my blog you know full-well that I have fun frequenting these, too.) Tanq, though sleek and modern, instead draws a good unassuming afterwork crowd. An impressive turnout, too, for a Tuesday evening. Or maybe it just appeared that way because the space is so small. It’s really more a fish “bowl” than a “tanq” if you ask me. (Hah! Sorry, I couldn’t help it. They have an aquatic theme going on with the menu and decor.) At any rate, their cocktails, once we were able to order*, are also impressive. I had the Mango Tango pictured below. Wowza! was it sweet but it’s potency won me over. It packs quite a punch!

Something that didn’t win me over: their burgers. They’re just about the greasiest things I’ve ever seen and are stingy on flavor. Ironically, their “duck-fat fries” were quite tasty and not all that greasy.

*Finally, the service. I touched upon the fact that it was difficult to order. Our server just wasn’t attentive. Shrek and I were the last to arrive in our party of six. Food and drinks were dropped off several times and not once were we invited to order while sitting sans drink in hand or on the low table in front of us. Granted, we were chatting each time they came around and didn’t meet them halfway, but I still feel it’s their job to notice and inquire. Once we finally got their attention and I ordered my drink, our server returned to say they were out of a key mixer, which is how I ended up with the Mango Tango. Later when they offered to refill my drink they brought me a Lemon Drop. Not even close.

Despite, I wouldn’t object to giving it another try. Could’ve just been an off-night for the server and I like that their happy hour goes ’til 7. And their strong drinks. The company, too! Strong drinks and good company override most small customer service mishaps in my book.

One final note. Tanq’s bathrooms are ill-conceived. There is only ONE for women and ONE for men to be shared with Arcadia steakhouse, also in the Marriott. There were definitely lines outside of both which is a pain to face during happy hour.

Okay, on to Legally Blonde.

I totally enjoyed it! I grew up watching Broadway and Rogers & Hammerstein musicals along with girly movies including Legally Blonde upon which the Broadway musical is based, so I was right at home. (If you’re unfamiliar with the plot, go here.) The Broadway version actually reminds me of Grease with the catchy fun songs and how the story is propelled by the girl’s desire for the guy. Only, Legally Blonde has a better life lesson: To thine own self be true. NOT Morph into a skin-tight leather-clad ho to get the guy a la Sandy from Grease. The show’s very entertaining and I think appropriate for most ages. I think much of the whore, slut, and Gay or European? lines, since they are sung, will fly over most kids heads as the sexual refs in Grease did me when I was younger. (Now I can’t believe I was watching Grease during school and dancing around, lip-synching to it in 2nd grade!)

As for technicalities, I thought the actors, the singing, the choreography, and the orchestra were spot on – for the most part. Personally found Elle a bit nasally, but could see it as part of her valley girl charm. The lyrics, the set and costume designs were clever and colorful. Scene transitions and costume changes were almost magical. The stage seamlessly transformed from a sorority house to a restaurant, a beauty parlor to a trailer park, a prison to a courtroom to a bathroom. I also thought they did a fine job showing the passage of time as Elle studied for her law exams, which is not the easiest thing to convey on stage. As a fan of the movie, I say that Broadway did Reese Witherspoon’s movie justice as it stayed true to the original while adding the fun of song and dance that Broadway does so well.

A few notes on codes. Specifically, dress and fire. For dress, there really is none. It was entirely unnecessary for Shrek and me to change out of our work attire. As we discovered while climbing over half the audience to get to our seats in the dead center of the theatre,  San Jose-ers do not dress up for Broadway show premiers. Jeans would’ve been just fine. Also on that climbing note, it seems the SJ Center for Performing Arts doesn’t have a fire code. I say that flippantly. I’m sure it does, however, you could never tell since there is NO CENTER AISLE. If you are “fortunate” to snag a center seat you have to CLIMB over, well, this:

That’s to the right. Remember, we were in the center. We would have to climb over just as many people to exit left. Or to the rear or front. Completely ridiculous and DANGEROUS. I’m one of those people who likes to know the escape route before I make myself too comfortable. In case of emergency here, I shudder at the thought. Fortunately, that shudder was overtaken by chills from the fun performance!