Mark's Birthday at the Morrocan Restaurant

To celebrate Mark's birthday Lisa came up with this crazy idea to eat at a Morrocan restaurant and watch belly dancers. What we experienced was "magic".


Enter Menara's Moraccan Restaurant in San Jose, CA and cue up the Disney's Aladdin soundtrack.


Traditional decor, hukas, camels, etc. Check! Smell of Pine Sol... Check!


Enter... the "magic". Morrocan Magic made with 5 kinds of juices, 2 kinds of RAM, er I mean rum, Jimmy and... well "magic".

Meet the belly dancers... wow, Morrocans bear a striking resemblance to California white folks.

Belly dancing is an equal opportunity employer. Even yo nana got a job.

Mildred and Jimmy let the "magic" begin.


And soon, the guys are part of the belly dancing entertainment.


Mark poses with the Belly Dancer's magic stick (of course we don't know where the magic stick has been.)


And now it's the ladies turn to learn the art of belly dancing.


Mark and Lisa playing out a fantasy with the magic stick.


Mark poses with the stick.


The ladies strike a pose.


Marvin and Juan demonstrate balancing the "magic" - Juan on his enormous pecs, Marvin on his enormous belly.


Marvin's belly holds up well, but Juan's pecs lose balance and some "magic" is lost.


Mark and Lisa after a few glasses of "magic".

When the magic kicks in, the homies get crunk.

At this point, things start to get crazier. The table across from us is also celebrating a birthday with a pirate theme.

Mark posing with his birfday fez.


And now, the pirates have joined forces with the magicians.


What's crazy about this picture is the guy in the pink shirt is holding a vial containing a sample of his friend's cremated remains. Is that nuts or what? Later, pink shirt guy did the splits!

Now the dead guy in the vial is in Clevelands!

Magic makes you happy.


Rumor has it that this particular Morrocan restaurant has often turned from innocent belly dancing and dinner into sinful orgies. We begin to see signs that the rumor might prove itself true.

More signs of orgyanization in the dark depths of the pirate caves.

More evidence that things are going downhill quickly. Some dude puts the pirate mustache in his crackalacka.


Mark graciously accepts his autographed bottle of pure Morrocan authentic... something or other.

Mark outside makin' off with the fez.

Colleen shows the pirates' pinata, before performing a baton routine.

Meanwhile two delinquents push each other down the street in an office chair. You know this is a great neighborhood for a classy Morrocan restaurant.

Lisa squats.

Time to go. Party's over.