p1020231.jpgWednesday night’s Justin Timberlake concert was probably the best night of my life. Okay, maybe I’m slightly exaggerating. Okay, maybe I’m not.

But the whole evening was memorable, from dinner to the random limo ride.

My girlfriends and I wanted to go out for some pre-concert drinks and small plates but couldn’t figure out any fun places around Madison Square Garden. The options are limited to skeezy Irish pubs on 8th avenue or soju bars in Koreatown.

We decided to go to Boqueria, a Spanish tapas bar on the border of Chelsea and the Flatiron district. I absolutely love Boqueria. The atmosphere is convivial and buoyant, the staff friendly and knowledgeable (except for the stank hostess, more on that later) and the music is fun and lively. It’s the perfect spot to go and get revved up before a pop concert.

Resplendent in our finest teeny bopper attire (sequined tube tops and body glitter), Vic and I arrived around 6 but the hostess wouldn’t seat us until our friend arrived despite the fact that the entire restaurant was EMPTY. The servers were still having a meeting in the back. I know some places have stern seating policies but sometimes hosts should just use their judgment and not pull a freakin Jet Blue. Even Mcnally’s restaurants like Schiller’s and Morandi will seat you before your entire party arrives (unless it’s a busy time or it’s Pastis).

Our friend soon arrived and we were finally seated at a great little booth in the back where we had a view of all the action…which at the moment was non-existent because the entire restaurant was EMPTY. But this soon changed around 7/730 when the post work crowd came in droves.

We started off with a bottle of rose that was recommended by our waiter Mr. Hottie McWaiter. We wouldn’t stop calling him that all night. Well, not to his face at least. Then we proceeded to have:

Spanish tortilla (potato, onion, egg)
Patatas Bravas (spicy and hot…just how I like it)
Razor clams with jowls ( I don’t think I like jowl)
mushroom croquetas (creamy goodness)
chorizo (salty and tender)
fried eggplant
fried seabass (I think it was sea bass)
dates stuff with almond, wrapped in bacon (AWESOMENESS)
baby squid salad
two more bottles of rose vino (the Artazuri …delicious!)
and for dessert…churros with hot chocolate sauce!

After dinner, our car service arrived and whisked us off to MSG. This was my first time going to a concert at MSG and I was blown away by the intensity of that place. I mean, imagine tens of thousands of people cheering and screaming. You get chills just from sitting in that place. It’s amazing.

So JT finally comes on and we are all screaming like 14 year old girls. I am saying things that I never thought I would ever say at the age of 27: I LOVE YOU JUSTIN!!!! MARRY ME JUSTIN!!! TAKE IT OFF, JUSTIN!!!!

I really felt like I was 14 again. I even had to ask some dude to buy me a beer because they wouldn’t accept my expired driver’s license. The dude even asked, “How old are you? You look like you’re 18.”

I had to convince him that I really was 27. I know I’m wearing a sequined tube top and at a JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE CONCERT…but, seriously, I’m almost thirty.

I finally got my drinks and danced my ass off for nearly two hours.

After the show ended, we headed outside to try to catch a cab but they were all occupied so this limo driver said he would drive us for 10 dollars per person. Holla!!!!

Being 27 is better than being 14 again. You can buy booze and stay out till 1 AM on a school night.