Revisited: My Big Fat Greek Hangover
I wrote the below story 2 years ago for a Barstool Magazine Assignment. It’s always been one of my favorites. Given the Greek Festival is taking place this weekend, thought I’d revisit the story. Entirely true life events. 
My Big Fat Greek Hangover
by Monica Danna
Originally Published: Barstool Magazine, Nov 2006
As the hot Houston heat subsides and the autumn temperatures creep in at a snail’s pace, one thing Houstonians can look forward to is the Fall festival season. Art festivals, the Italian festival, Turkishfest; we even celebrate Dia De Los Muertos for our neighbors south of the border. And all this before Halloween festivities even begin.
Being Italian, I’m fairly familiar with Greece and Greek culture. My knowledge goes a little bit beyond Mary Kate and Paris Hilton’s ex-lovers, but I am still always anxious to partake in any “cultural studies” especially when food and drink are involved. So I headed down Montrose to check out the 40th annual Greek Festival.
Armed with a posse of fearless friends, we were for some reason filled with the urban spirit and decided to take the bus. YES-the Houston Metro. After walking halfway down Montrose (which would prove to not be my only trek down Montrose this night) we looked for a bus stop. We must have looked like Oprah Winfrey in a Wal-Mart. We had no idea were one was or what to do once we found one. I’ve lived in Houston for 28 years and have never been to a bus stop, much less on a Metro Bus. Wait, does the Rodeo Shuttle count? After finally finding one, waiting for 30 minutes for the right bus, we seceded our valiant environmental efforts and as a friend pulled up, “To Greece!” we shouted at our still-confused chauffer, and thus our Dionysian worship began.