Numbers in LA

[+ Lucky]

Once a great hustler bar on Sunset Boulevard, Numbers lost much of its charm and clientele after it moved to a nondescript location in West Hollywood. Over time, the boys and their admirers just stopped coming, and the food suffered as well. After a closure, it reopened as Digits, and that was a place whose number was soon up.

 

Recently, however, talk has been that Numbers is trying to regain its former luster, improving the food and the atmosphere. So, last night I checked it out.

 

If you are in the area, you should probably check it out for yourself, because opinions do differ. We got off to a good start with our effervescent waiter, Jonathan. He did push the booze pretty hard, but he was attentive throughout the meal. There were numerous young guys in nothing but briefs milling about, but none of them was at all attentive. It wasn't so much that they were just window dressing, but rather a cliquish atmosphere prevailed throughout the whole place. Of all the shirtless guys and the various young men coming through, the three of us drew not as much as a single glance. Jonathan was the only one to give us attention, other than a busser asking to remove plates.

 

And he couldn't remove mine quickly enough. I had made a specific point of asking if the steaks were indeed cooked to order. Jonathan assured me vigorously that they were. I asked because on my last visit, before Digits, the food was completely inedible and my steak covered in gunk.

 

Well, Jonathan was wrong. My medium steak was cooked to a shoe leather consistency. I decided to eat it rather than waste a piece of meat, which was my mistake. I only was able to eat half of it, but Jonathan told me that since I did, they wouldn't take it off of the check.

 

The soup and the shoestring potatoes were good, however. But if the place is wanting to bring in the silver haired men who appreciate needy young working men, the music level seemed determined to force us oldsters out. We were shouting at each other to be heard, often cupping our ears to hear better. I saw only one other older man in attendance and the crowd was definitely much younger than Numbers used to be known for.

 

So check it out. Just don't expect to be treated as Number One.

 

Footnote: I had a chance encounter with legendary escort Kristian before I went to Numbers. He sure is looking good, and had a very satisfied customer with him.

[EXPAT]

I was also at Numbers last night in West Hollywood. I alsowanted to check out the new hosts!! It's a very interesting concept. Hot guys in briefs like dancers go around and socialize with the guests. Jason joined me for dinner. I know him as a dancer at MJ's, Rage and the old Boom Boom room. We had a nice dinner together and I also chatted up a few other hot guys one blond in particular that was sporting the hottest butt cleavage.

 

I also saw Scott Adler there last night as well as the famous Brandon Baker in a bus boy uniform. His escort friend Rusty was also there as was Jason Seacrest. I had the crab cake and lobster ravioli which were excellent.

 

Their new concept definitely has potential. I'll be back.

[rentingdad]

wow the famous Scott Adler is so desperate he's now having to hustle and a hustler bar. Tina is a very bad woman.

[seeker630]

More gratuitous vitriol!

[+ Lucky]

There was no evidence that Scott was working at the bar. He was there, in Halloween costume, with friends.

 

EXPAT- if you know people there, you have a head start. When we went, none of the skivvie boys mingled at all. They seemed focused on people that they knew. I did see Jason in his costume, as well as Scott.

[rentingdad]

Lucky come on. I spent a lot of time at Numbers, Rounds, etc., years ago and non-working guys rarely would just hang out at those bars if they weren't looking to turn a trick at some point. Glad they did of course, just interesting that the almighty Scott is now doing the hustler bar scene - assumed he thought he was above that.

[Greathands]

Rentingdad ... no disrespect intended ...

 

Earlier today you called out Rick Munroe on another thread for making a demeaning comment.

 

Seems to me your comment about Scott Adler isn't much different.

[+ Lucky]

Thanks, Greathands. I would like to keep the thread about Numbers, not anyone person.

[Rick Munroe]

>Earlier today you called out Rick Munroe on another thread for

>making a demeaning comment.

>

>Seems to me your comment about Scott Adler isn't much

>different.

 

Well, it is very different, because there was nothing demeaning about my post.

[+ Lucky]

Returning to the subject of Numbers, was anyone else there this weekend? Did you know people there or go in cold?

[SoCal]

rentingdad - you assume a *lot* from a posting just mentioning seeing Scott out on Halloween night? Seems to me like an unnecessary and mean spirited addition to this thread.

[+ Lucky]

So why do you keep it going and give it more attention?

[+ ArVaGuy]

>Returning to the subject of Numbers, was anyone else there

>this weekend? Did you know people there or go in cold?

 

Oddly enough, I was in LA on a brief vacation and was considering going to Numbers on Thursday evening. Instead I made plans with a hot escort from Man 2 Man and will soon have a review pending. :9

 

My vacation was very brief in LA so I did not post any notice in the travel section. Now I regret that because it would have been an opportunity to meet Lucky. Next time I'll make sure to give notice and make an effort to meet some of the LA locals.

 

One reason I did not go was the clique element issue and I did not want to be a single guy all alone. Strange how gay bars can feel so unwelcoming at times for outsiders.

[EXPAT]

Lucky - you are right about the cliquish nature of the boys. I actually went because Jason (Zeus) told me he was one of the hosts. I told him that I'd stop in to see their new concept and he could join me for dinner if he could, which he did. Of course having him at my table helped many others stop by periodically which was nice (especially the hot blond guy with the hottest butt cleavage ;-)). But if you do go in again, ask for Jason. He is a really nice guy. He isn't a working boy but nice to socialize with and he has a fantastic chest ;-)

 

I think it is an interesting concept that could be a lot of fun. We should have a group night out there again soon.

[dfw2sfo]

Is this an occasional set up or is this how it is now every night?

[EXPAT]

At the very least it will be happening on Thursday through Sunday night. It might be on other nights too, but so far it going on those nights. Their local ads also say that on Saturday all of the boys are "working boys" and some of them aren't on the other nights, just dancers socializing.

[SAdler]

>Is this an occasional set up or is this how it is now every

>night?

 

Brandon Baker at Rentboy.com is trying (and doing an excellent job) to strengthen the Rentboy community. It's hard to find friends you can open up to given social judgments and such so having friends to relate to is certainly an asset.

 

Every couple Fridays (occasionally Thursdays) Brandon sends out the email suggesting cocktails and dinner to get to know one another. There are always "potential clients" at Numbers because the restaurant's reputation precedes itself. It's very reminiscent of the HooVille dinners ... just initiated by the escorts this time around.

 

No matter what everyone has a happy fun time, no expectations or requirements.

 

Rentingdad ... thanks for the PR ... get a life. LOL.

 

Lucky, sorry for almost running you over; between the wig and that damned cane my pre Halloween costume was too much to work with.

[SAdler]

>There was no evidence that Scott was working at the bar. He

>was there, in Halloween costume, with friends.

 

Anyone check out http://jasoncurious.com/desk/ ? ;-)