Minibar Madness: A Wild Night of Thievery in New York, 1993

Back in 1993, I had quite the experience that I shared on the Steve & Vikki morning show in Atlanta a many years ago. Over the years, I have told abbreviated versions of the story and I've been asked to elaborate on it, so here it goes. As I've mentioned before, I was a hustler in New York when I was 16. Toward the end of my time being a big ol' ho and homeless, I found that the easiest marks, aka "Johns," were the out-of-towners.

I was wearing something that looked like this, in January

One night, I noticed a sad, alcohol-ridden couple partying it up among themselves at the Ninth Circle on a slow night. They ended up gravitating towards me—well, the woman did, really. She started talking to me for her friend, her breath reeking of Frangelico. She then asked what I thought of her friend. I said something like, "His shoes are small and don't match his outfit," which she apparently thought was the most hilarious thing ever said. Next thing I knew, her tongue was in the back of my throat. LADY, BACK OFF! I ONLY ALLOW DICKS THERE!!! Apparently, this warranted her friend to troll over and feel me up. Then she asked the question, "Are you a hooker?" and I replied, "Me? Why would you think that?"

Perfect casting if my story were made into a movie

Next thing I remember is my friend Sunny Oz yelling across the bar, "Have fun with the breeders," as we made our way up the stairs and outside into a cab. What the bloody hell have I done? I am in a cab heading to a hotel in the financial district, sandwiched between the two oddest people I could ever have met in a gay bar. I had visions of blowing the Iron Sheikh driving the cab to get out of this mess.

We ended up at the Marriott Hotel in the financial district and into the elevator we all went. When the doors closed, the elevator went up and stopped. She got off and screamed, "Have fun!" He and I went up another floor and into his room. He passed out almost instantly. I was bored and hated the Marriott TV channels. I looked around and saw the minibar. It's like a vending machine—you pull, it dispenses, and apparently charges the room. I found this out by flipping channels to the room info screen on the TV and seeing $375 in charges to the minibar after I'd filled my backpack with random crap like candy, nuts, and airplane-sized liquor bottles.

A few hours later, I showered before he got up. Once he was up, with a hangover from hell and ready for his shower, I told him I needed to get home before my parents realized I didn't come home. I loved the fact that he didn't know I was homeless and could use the "I'm in high school" approach to get out of there quickly. He said he thought I was at least 21 up to this point and offered me "hush" money. Who knew being underage could be so lucrative? I hit the door ASAP without the contents of my bag clinking together and power-walked out of the hotel and down the street to the train uptown to hang out and blend in with the rest of the city.

I often wondered if he disputed the charges and how he explained it all. There was a little more to this story, though it will be in the final draft of my book. Anyway...Good times for sure, but definitely not for someone over the age of 18.

I hope you enjoyed this wild tale from my past. Do you have any crazy or memorable experiences you'd like to share? I’d love to hear about them in the comments. Your stories make this journey all the more special. If you enjoyed this post and would like to support my storytelling journey, any small token of appreciation is always welcome. Let’s keep the joy of sharing memories and stories alive together!

A New York Holiday: An Unexpected Date and 'Home Alone 2' Adventure 1992

Home Alone 2 Lost In New York

This story is part of a chapter from my book. It recounts a sweet moment during a time when I wasn't getting along with Erik, who was more of a friend but sort of my boyfriend. In this story, I meet a random man in an arcade, lie to him about being stood up by a blind date and he steps in as my date for the night. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed living and reliving the moment while writing it.

In December of 1992, I found myself in the heart of New York City, a place brimming with holiday magic and bustling energy. Amidst the bright lights of Times Square, I was on my own, in my own personal Winter Wonderland. While playing pinball at the Playland Arcade, an older gentleman kept coming over to watch me play and try to converse. I had no clients for the night and wasn’t interested in hanging out at bars or doing any sort of "work," so I told him I was there for a blind date who never showed.

I had seen this man around the village a few times. My crackhead friend Tim had even smooched at him once as we passed by him on the street. While he wasn’t the best-looking guy in the village, he was attractive and seemed nice. He asked what my date and I were supposed to do, and I told him we were meeting at McDonald's and then heading to the Loew’s movie theater to watch "Home Alone 2." I don’t know what possessed me to share a bit of the story about seeing the first movie with my mom during a time when we weren’t getting along well, but he listened.

Though not exactly, AI got pretty close to my date.

Since my date missed out on the company of a nice guy, he offered to take me to see the movie instead. Maybe this was a sign. Maybe it was my duty to make Tim's wrong my right for the night. I had no intention of being disrespectful to this man. Perhaps he was the one that Biscuit and Shane told me to look out for as an unexpected "Sugar Daddy." But here I was, picked up by a sort of random man in a video arcade that I’d seen around the city, and he was treating me as if we were on a proper date, not just dumped.

Let me just say for the record, there was no blind date—it was something I made up because I thought it sounded good. So this gentleman not only held my hand and led me to the movie theater, but he also bought us tickets to see "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" at the Lowes theater, along with two tubs of popcorn, a huge Sprite for me, and a Diet Coke for himself. I was on an unexpected date with a man who took pity on me and stepped in as my fake date’s understudy to my actual, not-really, fake date.

Years ago, while watching the first "Home Alone" movie, I never would have imagined there would be a second or that it would be set in the city I now call home. Not with my mom or even TK, who I felt was embarrassed to be seen with me, but with a sweet man who treated me as a proper date. Despite my initial disinterest in his company, thinking he would try to pull some funny business, we ended up having a pleasant time together. It was unexpected, and I think the hand-holding on the way to the theater was a sweet touch. I’m not sure if it was to give me the full effect of an actual date or if he was just affectionate with anyone.

When the movie began, he settled comfortably in his seat, watching the screen intently. As the film progressed, I found myself leaning my head on his shoulder. Surprisingly, he didn’t pull away or seem uncomfortable. Instead, he seemed to welcome the gesture, snuggling just a little closer. It felt unexpectedly sweet and genuine, almost as if he enjoyed the simple act of closeness as much as I did. His warmth and patience made me feel safe and cared for, turning what could have been an awkward situation into a comforting and memorable experience.

"Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" follows the misadventures of Kevin McCallister as he finds himself stranded in New York City during Christmas. The film captures the spirit of the city beautifully, with iconic landmarks and festive decorations setting the perfect backdrop for Kevin's escapades. Watching the movie while being in the very city it was set in made the experience all the more magical for me. It felt as if I was wandering the same streets alongside Kevin, sharing in his wonder and excitement. The film itself was a delightful blend of comedy and heartwarming moments, with Kevin once again outsmarting the bumbling burglars, Harry and Marv. Macaulay Culkin's performance was as charming as ever, and the addition of Tim Curry and Rob Schneider added an extra layer of humor to the film.

As I watched, I couldn't help but think back to when I saw the first "Home Alone" movie in Pensacola with my mom shortly after its release. The memory of that special time, filled with laughter and joy, added an extra layer of nostalgia to my experience in New York. After the movie, the man took me to a place that served pancakes bigger than your head, around the corner from the Townhouse Bar. We enjoyed our pancakes, which we could barely finish, laughing and talking about where we were from. He was really interested in where I was from because my accent, at the time, had become a hybrid of Southern, mid-Atlantic, and a bit of New York thrown in. The whole experience was surreal, almost like living in a movie myself. Here I was with this strange man, showing me kindness just as Kevin and the bird lady found friendship within the city by chance. They were both exactly what each other needed at the time.

"Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" is a sequel that truly stands on its own, capturing the essence of the holiday season while delivering plenty of laughs and touching scenes. The movie beautifully showcases the magic of New York City during Christmas, from the grand tree at Rockefeller Center to the bustling stores. It highlights the importance of finding others to share the joy of the holiday season, even amidst chaos.

Though I never saw the man who stepped in as the alternate to my fake date again, I often think of his kindness and hope he found someone to appreciate him the way he deserved. To this day, I look back on that night with a smile. The combination of being in New York City, watching a movie set in the same place, and the festive atmosphere made it an unforgettable experience. For a few hours, though I was really just a kid, I felt like a kid again, filled with wonder and excitement.

"Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" remains one of my favorite Christmas movies, not just for its entertainment value, but for the cherished memory it created during my time in the city. It was a brief respite from the complexities of my life at the time, and the film, intertwined with that personal memory, has a special place in my heart.

Buy New & Used movies like this and others on DVD, VHS & Blu-Ray at eBay

A Movie Night to Cherish: 'Home Alone' and Motherly Love

Home Alone

Growing up, going to the movies was a rare treat for me. My parents preferred the comfort of home, where TV shows were free and movies often aired without the need for a ticket purchase. At the time "Home Alone" was released, my mom worked during the day at Hackbarth Delivery Service, and she had her evenings free. My dad, on the other hand, worked with Team, Inc. and spent his evenings at Murphy's Lounge on the Pensacola side of Escambia River. Their relationship was strained, their marriage on the brink, and their disagreements frequent.

During this tumultuous period, I was dealing with my own struggles. I found myself in the midst of a complicated friendship, wanting for it to be more. My friend, who I'd known since a bullying incident in the 6th grade, only wanted to keep things casual and secret due to fears of being "out" in our conservative area. I also suspected that he might have been embarrassed for people to know we were boyfriends, let alone friends. This added to my emotional turmoil, leaving me feeling isolated and misunderstood. My mom, in a misguided effort to help, had me attending Alateen meetings and counseling sessions, but all I wanted was to be left alone or to be comforted by my best friend.

In the midst of our constant bickering, my mom decided to treat me to a night at the movies. She went to the bank and withdrew money for our tickets and whatever snacks we wanted at the concession stand. We drove to Cordova Mall, parked near the cinema and bought tickets for "Home Alone," the new Christmas movie everyone was raving about. Despite our troubles, that night, something magical happened.

"Home Alone" was a breath of fresh air. It was entirely different from the other Christmas classic we loved, "A Miracle on 34th Street," but it brought us joy and laughter. Kevin McCallister's antics, as he defended his home from bumbling burglars, struck a chord with us. We laughed together, forgot our worries for a couple of hours, and simply enjoyed the film. After the movie, we wandered around the mall, savoring the rare moment of peace between us. For the first time in a long while, we didn't argue. The next day, we returned to our usual disagreements, but something good had come from that movie night. We had found another Christmas movie to cherish, and it gave us a memory of shared laughter during a time of unhappiness.

"Home Alone" remains a beloved holiday classic for many. Its blend of comedy, heart, and the timeless theme of family makes it an enduring favorite. The film's portrayal of a young boy cleverly outwitting would-be thieves while learning the importance of family resonates with audiences year after year. For me, it will always remind me of that special night with my mom, a night when we found common ground and shared a much-needed laugh.

Save on NEW & used copies of this and other great movies on VHS, DVD & Blu-Ray at eBay