Thank God for my girls... affectionately known as Las Chicas, The t'Arts, or The Biyotches... depending on the occasion. They keep me from going off the deep end...

OK, I've been known to sleep with four guys in one night. Sometimes my bed seems like a Metro train car at rush hour; dudes high-fiving as they pass each other getting on and off.

Now, don't be a hater. You're probably thinking I'm that kind of girl. (So what if I was?) True, I've enjoyed my share of popularity, and I've got more men in my life than I can handle, but it's not like that...

It's just that my 3 sons don't sleep through the night. Instead they are somnambulant and seek refuge in my bed, like sleep-robbing snakes, arms coiling around my neck, knees pressing into my spine. And we've got enough wood in the morning to stoke a four alarm fire. I'm surrounded by... testosterone.

So believe me, my once a month Girls' Night Out is sacred ground for me. I start humming Kool and the Gang for a few days, then I move on to Cyndi Lauper as the anticipation builds. I can endure folding mountains of laundry and sorting through piles of unpaid bills, without a single sigh all week long. I can cook 21 meals like an iron chef and carpool all over town-- no problem. Then the night finally comes and I slide plates of food down the table toward my hungry, beautiful boys, dab my lipstick and get the hell out of Dodge. (Their father, one of the best men on the planet, knows a happy wife means a happy life. He's glad to see me go.)

Last GNO we all jumped on the Metro Gold Line and headed for China Town. Yes, this seems rather tame, but it's a great Thursday night escape. Our first stop was Yang Chow, arguably one of L.A.'s best Chinese restaurants. One must-order item is the Slippery Shrimp. This is a mountain of thinly battered, flash fried shrimp, lightly doused with a tangy, spicy sauce-- crisp on the outside and succulent on the inside. Ask for extra spicy and you'll be ordering extra Tsing Tao to put out the fire in your mouth.

The dried long beans and asparagus is another standout dish. These veggies work incredibly well together, sautéed in a savory miso sauce and tons of garlic. And contrary to popular belief, Chinese food isn't always greasy. It certainly isn't at Yang Chow. We also ordered the chicken and snow peas, which is a standard choice, with very generous slices of tender chicken and snow peas that haven't gone limp. Dinner and drinks for six was about $80 with tip.

Better than the food, which is hard to beat, is the conversation. Our posse is composed of a couple women in their early 30's and a bunch more that lie about their age shamelessly. Some of us are married with children, some no longer or never been married with children. We come from different walks of life, but are bonded through our kids and Girls' Night Out. Besides being really smart, my friends are beautiful, and we've all been given certain monikers. But which one fits-- Cougar, Kitten, MILF or Yummy Mommy?

Cougar can be troublesome. In nature a cougar is a wild cat on the prowl. So doesn't one need to be hunting some big game to be considered a cougar? (Like I said, I've got more men than I can handle.) Kitten? That is a category reserved for the 20-somethings, we can agree on that. MILF? We all hope to be regarded in this light at least every once in a while. Who doesn't like to know they are the object of someone's desire? I think yummy mommy fits the bill for most of us. We have agreed on this G-rated version of sexy mama that someone wants to F... (feed? finance? fool around with?!-- fill in the blank) It works just fine. Me and my girls like being yummy mommies.

From Yang Chow it's a short walk to The Mountain Bar. On Thursdays, DJ's Freedom and Sleeper are spinning Hip Hop, Funk and Soul. The drinks are strong, the beats are good, and if the mood strikes us, we can dance-- it's dark enough to be completely unselfconscious. There is also a lounge upstairs, and if you're really lucky, like we yummy mommies were, you might get escorted up to the roof for a spectacular view of the city. The Mountain Bar attracts lots of Art District types and fashionistas, so the people watching is grand. Just make sure you don't have too much fun and miss the last Metro train home.

It's always good to get back home, tiptoe down the hall and see my guys tucked in their own beds, at least for the moment-- especially after a night out with the girls.

Yang Chow
819 N. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 625-0811

The Mountain Bar
473 Gin Ling Way
Los Angeles, CA 90012
http://www.themountainbar.com/

Photo credit (The Red Umbrella)
Cynthia Perez
http://www.cynthiaphotomaker.com/

kat@la2day.com