Friday morning, we were all sitting around the dining room table having breakfast and Taygete started to excitedly talk about her evening plans “I’m really looking forward to the Freshman Welcome Party Tonight. The class rented out an entire barakia night club that has music and the whole Freshman Class should be there. There will be free drinks and food, a trendy band, and it should be a good opportunity to meet new people, make friends, and build social connections.”
Supportively I asked her “Building friendships and connections is a big part of the Academy experience. Hopefully the event will be enjoyable and engaging, creating positive memories. I can tell it’s fostering a sense of excitement in you about your Academy experience. So what time is the Welcome Party and where are they holding it at?”
Thinking for a second, Taygete replied “The location of the venue is the Verve Music Café in Psiri and it starts at seven in the evening.”
Reflecting, I expounded “It’s interesting they chose Psiri neighborhood, although it is buzzing with youthful energy, and has a variety of bars, tavernas, and live music venues. I would have thought they would have chosen Exarcheia instead which is popular with students and a bohemian crowd.”
My younger brother Ariphron Jr. chimed in “The Student Council members that planned it probably got tired of the area, since they always go there. I myself spend a lot of time hanging out with my friends in Exarcheia at night. We really like the alternative character of the neighborhood and that there are numerous bars and tavernas with a lot of variety.”
Nailing down some details I asked her “Did Father give you any spending money in case anything comes up? Also, are you going there alone or with any friends?”
“I asked Father last night for money and he gave me some, also he said I was going to start getting a weekly allowance too. As for the Welcome Party, I’m going with three other girls from my class that live in the Academy Dorms.”
“At any rate, I’m going out drinking with Alcibiades and the girls tonight. Tell your friends to meet up with us at Deinomache’s house around twenty till seven, and we’ll all walk over to Psiri together.” I directed her.
— ◊ —
At lunch I talked with Deinomache, Alcibiades and Hipparete about our drinking plans for that night “Hey guys, this morning I found out my little sister is going to the Freshman Welcome Party tonight in Psiri. I think it would be a good idea if we escorted her down there along with the friends she is going with, and hang-out at a taverna nearby so that we can be able to help if something goes wrong.”
Alcibiades spoke up in agreement “Yeah, I remember what it was like when you and I were Freshmen going to those events. I’d hate for Taygete to learn the hard way what the world is really like.”
Hipparete sternly demanded “And what exactly were you like as a Freshman, you weren’t cheating on me, were you?”
Alcibiades raised his hands up defensively “No, no Honey, I wouldn’t think of it. I’m just saying that Freshmen boys wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of innocent, gullible Freshman girls, and try to have their way with them.”
Interjecting before the situation went from bad to worse, I suggested “Anyways, I think we should meet up at the rental house a little before seven and all walk down there together. I know the perfect place right down the street from the Verve Music Café, which is the venue, that has reasonable, good food and musicians playing at night.” With everybody’s agreement our plans were set.
— ◊ —
At half past six after dinner Taygete met me down in the living room where I had been waiting for her sitting on the couch. She wore a cool blue, cobalt tight-fitting Strapless bodycon Mini Dress with a fitted bandeau neckline with a strapless top, with a straight line across the chest, showing her cleavage and leaving her shoulders and upper back exposed. The form-fitting dress hugged her body, accentuating her curves creating a sleek, figure-hugging silhouette, and terminated in a short skirt showing her toned thighs. The cobalt dress and matching shoes complemented her orangish golden hair, the strong contrast making both colors pop, and accentuating her purple eyes.
Taking in Taygete’s appearance, I complemented “You look fantastic in that dress Taygete, you’re surely going to break some Freshman boy’s heart.” Causing her to blush shyly.
Confirming Taygete had everything, I escorted her over to Deinomache’s house after dinner finding Alcibiades already there. Upon arriving I found Deinomache dressed up in a body hugging, black party dress with a deep V-neck, an open back and short skirt slitted on the side showcasing her toned thighs. Hipparete next to her was looking sexy in a red party dress with a short skirt that matched her hair color, also accentuating her cleavage and showing off her luscious thighs. The roommates Rion, Rita, and Chinatsu also were dressed up, ready to hit the town.
Appraisingly, I complimented “You all look great in your dresses and ready for a Friday night out. I want to introduce to you my little sister Taygete. Taygete this is Rion, Rita and Chinatsu.” At which point they all exchanged greetings.
Indicating her roommates, Deinomache then brought up “Rion, Rita and Chinatsu want to go out on the town with us to hangout and maybe even meet some guys. You don’t mind, do you?” to which I acquiesced.
The three other Freshman girls showed up shortly thereafter and Taygete introduced them “Everyone, these are my friends Yuuka, Nikke and Chisato who are going with me to the Freshman Welcome Party.” Then she went around the room and introduced the rest of us.
— ◊ —
With that we headed out and along the way I gave the girls the background behind the Psiri neighborhood “During the daytime Psiri is deceiving with the streets filled by the working-class people of the leather and textile industries, with a variety of open practical shops and businesses involved in making clothing. The only clues that the area is a hotbed of nightlife are the shuttered storefronts of cafes and restaurants that look like they have been closed for years.
“Many years back a wealthy noble, who owned many buildings in the neighborhood, managed to get a law passed through his connections removing the restrictions that allowed Psiri, a working-class neighborhood filled with workshops and factories, into an area designated for nightlife. Consequently, the noble’s landholdings became more valuable, though the leather and textile workers who had been there for generations were not too pleased. The end result was a neighborhood that was suddenly alive at night as well as during the day.
“At night, Psiri transforms into a food and entertainment mecca with the streets filled with tables and chairs, and what were bustling streets during the day become dramatically lighted outdoor dining areas for restaurants. Each establishment has its own style, from traditional taverna, café or ouzeria, to bright, music filled night clubs.”
As we arrived at Protogenous street, the easiest way to enter Psiri, I continued my discourse “Psiri has always had a reputation of being anti-establishment from the very beginning when people began migrating from the provinces and countryside, to settle here. Many got jobs and became respectable citizens, but some stayed and made up the underworld of Athens. They were known as mangas: Opium and Hash smokers, petty criminals and people discontent with society, their ranks constantly being replenished by new immigrants.”
Walking down the poorly lit, narrow road between building, the area seemed dangerous and dark, with loads of graffiti, some of it quite ominous. Her fears getting the better of her, one of the girls squeaked out "This can't be the place."
Trying to give her confidence, I urged “The graffiti can't jump off the walls and bite you, so be brave and let’s continue on. This area is renowned for its vibrant street art scene. If you wander around the narrow streets and alleyways of Psiri, you’ll discover colorful murals, thought-provoking graffiti, and hidden artistic gems. Anyways, as we follow the small streets towards the center of the neighborhood, it will get livelier and better lit until you suddenly realize you’re there!”
As we walked in, turning right on Miaouli street, we passed by several cool cafes on the way until we arrived at Psiri Square the heart of the neighborhood. I went on to explain “This is also widely known as Heroes' Square, sometimes serving as a derogatory reference to koutsavakides, a group of small-time gangs who used the square as their hangout. The square was also known as the location of "stone wars" which entailed rivalries with men from neighboring areas. Those who were injured during the fights were considered local "heroes," lending the square its name.”
Heading down Ag Anargiron Street we walked past a couple restaurants and an ouzeria until we came to Taverna Nikitas on the left. Soft music could be heard wafting out from the musicians playing inside and the tables out front were already occupied by diners and partyers. I told my sister and the other Freshman girls “We’ll be hanging out, drinking and listening to music inside. When your party gets done, meet us back here and we’ll all walk home together, and that especially means you Taygete.”
While the others went in to get a table by the front window, I continued to escort the Freshman girls down Ag Anargiron Street till we arrived at the Verve Music Café on the right.
Out front were green canvas director’s folding chairs and foldable tables set up on the sidewalk on both sides of the street in front of the beige, unassuming, three-story building. Looking into the entrance flanked by two large windows with a couple stone steps leading up into the place, I could see several booths to the side with leather backed benches and raised tables with bar stools around them throughout the cafe as well as a large, long, dark wood bar at the back of the establishment. Several members of the Freshman Class were already inside milling about, and a band was playing in the back.
Trying to give them a last bit of wisdom, I advised “Stay together girls, and look out for each other. If you don’t run off, we’ll all walk home as a group, you know where to find us. Taygete, I want you to find me regardless.”
Impatiently, Taygete brusquely replied “Sure Big Brother. Girls, let’s grab that open booth over there while we still can.” And then she bolted away into the café with her friends.
— ◊ —
Having seen the girls off, I made my way back to the others at the Nikitas which calls itself a psitopolío grill house featuring grilled meats, but they’re really a proper oinomayerio taverna specializing in home-cooked dishes. Reliable, friendly and cheap as any you will find in Athens, they always are ready with several dishes of the day usually including some good eggplant dish. I couldn’t help but think that tonight’s food should be good.
Walking down the street I arrived at the Nikitas Taverna and its deep olive-green storefront with many light olive-green wooden chairs with wicker seats neatly arranged by their erected fancy folding tables lined up on the side walk out front. Heading into the restaurant, I took the only open seat, next to Deinomache, at the traditional round wooden table by the open front window with everyone else. Deinomache had ordered me a beer which was in front of my spot, and then informed me that they hadn’t ordered any food yet.
Taking a sip of my beer, I looked at the menu and then placed my order along with the others when the waitress came back to take our orders. Everybody at the table mostly ordered the basic Village Food Salad, with tomato, cucumber, pepper, onion, olives, feta cheese, and olive oil dressing with spices, or the Tomato Salad, also known as Horiatiki, a vibrant and refreshing dish featuring fresh, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, red onion, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese, dressed with olive oil and a sprinkle of dried oregano.
For myself, I went with the Dakos Salad since I hadn’t had it for a while, which incorporates hard, dried barley rusks pieces of bread briefly soaked to soften them, then used as the base of the dish, with fresh, ripe tomatoes chopped and placed on top of the softened rusks, releasing their juices and adding flavor. Feta cheese then gets crumbled over the tomatoes, and the dish is finished with olive oil, oregano, salt, pepper, olives, and capers.
For the table, I additionally put in orders for a couple appetizers of both bread and Talagani, a cheese handmade from sheep's and goat's milk, grilled retaining its strong, full flavor, rich aromas and the hint of mint that give it its distinct character. Cooking without melting, the Talagani retains its shape while its texture becomes chewy, a perfect accompaniment to the bread.
Shortly after, the salads, bread and Talagani came out, with everybody happily chatting and enjoying their salads. At this point in the evening the crowds of carousers and merrymakers had swelled with all the tables outside having filled and most of the ones inside as well. The musicians had also changed their location, moving to just outside the door so as to be heard equally well by the customers inside as well as those at tables along the sidewalks.
While we were finishing up our salads, the waitress came back and took our orders for another round of beers and the main dinner course. Rion, Rita and Chinatsu respectively went with the daily specials of Braised beef in tomato & onion sauce, Pork cooked in wine lemon sauce, and Soutzoukia, spiced meatballs made from a mixture of ground beef and pork, and flavored with garlic, onion, and other spices cooked in a tomato-based sauce, and served with steak fries.
Alcibiades surprisingly went with the grilled beef burgers and steak fries, while Hipparete ordered the grilled beef steak and fries, showing the difference in their class and maturity. Deinomache went with the grilled pork steak and fries, while I, having already had dinner, ordered chicken Souvlaki which comes with pita bread, onions, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce.
The beers came out first, with the waitress taking the opportunity to clear away our salad plates, followed soon after by our dinner plates. The chatter at the table actually died down for a bit while everyone dug into their food.
After dinner we were all contented leaning back in chairs, lightly chatting, and hanging out listening to the music, and then it happened. The waitress came over and served two visually appealing mixed drinks in elegant glassware and colorfully garnished with fruit, adding a refreshing aromatic touch, placing them in front of Deinomache and Hipparete. The waitress then humbly stated “The gentlemen over there, bought these drinks for the two of you in admiration of your great beauty.” Pointing to two rough looking guys in the tavern that had been eyeing our table on and off all evening.