- Title: USA: NEW YORK NUDISTS BARE ALL AT CLOTHING OPTIONAL DINNERS
- Date: 17th February 2005
- Summary: (L!3) NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 17, 2005) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JOHN BARRY'S RESTAURANT (2 SHOTS) MAN TAKING OFF PANTS WOMAN REMOVING SOCKS VARIOUS OF NAKED PEOPLE DRINKING AT BAR (5 SHOTS) MCU (English) JOHN ORDOVER SAYING: "There's no stains. You personally are wash and wear. So you can eat something with a red sauce and not have to worry that it's going to get your nice, white shirt all messy." VARIOUS OF NAKED PEOPLE MINGLING (4 SHOTS) MCU (English) SANDY ALDRICH SAYING: "No, I got over that many years ago. I got over being embarrassed about my body a long time ago. And I think that's a good thing." MCU (English) GEORGE KEYES SAYING: "I feel there's a better communication between people without clothes. You have no mask to hide what you really are." VARIOUS OF NAKED PEOPLE EATING (5 SHOTS) MCU (English) JOHN ORDOVER SAYING: "You can just put a napkin over any place you're worried food might fall. Some people like to say our motto is, 'try to keep the peenie out of the pasta.'" NAKED PEOPLE DRINKING AT BAR
- Embargoed: 4th March 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA936SMK04D5CN8HA34AC9MFXH8
- Story Text: New York nudists bare all at Clothing Optional Dinners.
A group of New York City nudists have put a new twist on raw food with the creation of Clothing Optional Dinners (COD). Hosted every month by various restaurants, the CODs allow for a rare expression of naturalism in the heart of a metropolitan mecca.
More than 30 nudists gathered on Thursday (February 17) at John Barry's Restaurant to wine, dine, and mingle in the nude. Although anyone is welcome to join COD, the restaurant closed its doors and covered the windows to maintain the privacy of the affair.
After stepping out of their street clothes, guests step up to the bar and relax with a drink - being certain to place their towel on their perspective bar stool. Within minutes, everyone is laughing and drinking, and letting it all hang out, literally. The relaxed atmosphere, and casual ambience, almost make it difficult to distinguish this bar from any other bar, although the dress code is decidedly more liberal.
The CODs are the brainchild and project of John Ordover, who decided that New York City nudists needed a place to socialize in the winter months when nude beaches are too cold for gathering. He said there are several benefits to dining in your birthday suit. Said Ordover, "There's no stains. You personally are wash and wear. So you can eat something with a red sauce and not have to worry that it's going to get your nice, white shirt all messy."
While everyone makes light of the minimal attire, there are serious rules by which all members of the CODs must abide. For example, no one is allowed to hit on another member. While the act of being nude seems sexual to most, Ordover insists that the CODs are anything but sexy. Their goal is not to meet a future lover, but instead to dine comfortably in the presence of good-friends with common interests.
Body types are diverse at the COD, and any self-conscious thoughts m ust be checked with the clothes.
Said member Sandy Aldrich, "I got over that many years ago.
I got over being embarrassed about my body a long time ago. And I think that's a good thing."
For member George Keyes, being naked is the only way to truly connect with another person. He said, "I feel there's a better communication between people without clothes. You have no mask to hide what you really are."
After a few rounds at the bar, guests are seated for a three course meal - always without soup, as spillage could pose particular problems. But as for the rest of the meal, Ordover says there is just one rule of thumb, "You can just put a napkin over any place you're worried food might fall.
Some people like to say our motto is, 'try to keep the peenie [penis] out of the pasta.'" - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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