Women, Discussing Oysters and Men

This bivalve-heavy addition to the Mermaid empire -- there are Mermaid Inn restaurants serving a broader seafood palette in the East Village and on the Upper West Side -- packs them in with a smart, successful trick: $1 oysters at the bar from 5:30 to 7 p.m. (Sundays from 5 to tiffany silver pendants p.m.). Located at 79 MacDougal Street, next door to the ever-mysterious Italian Rifle Club, the oyster bar tends to draw a downtown crowd, including four women who recently got their business degrees and now work together at American Express.

IN THE SEATS Members of this year's freshman crop at Amex (managerial track): Shanika Strings, 33; Erin Seo, 27; Jane Gu, 28; and Raiquel Cole, 27.

ON THE PLATES A bicoastal mix of a dozen of the house's finest oysters: two Blue tiffanys (that day's $1 special), two Cherrystones ($1.25 each), two Chef Creeks ($2.50 each), two Hog Islands ($3.15 each), two Wellfleets ($2.75 each) and two Royal Miyagis ($2.25 each.)

WHY THEY CAME Ms. Seo, the group's social coordinator, heard about the $1 special and with the help of Ms. Gu -- her designated attendee at all events -- organized an after-work excursion, especially because there were two oyster virgins in their midst: Ms. Strings, who tends to be the life of the party, and Ms. Cole, who tends to pay. After much anxiety over whether to chew or swallow, Ms. Strings, for one, could not make up her mind. "I've been thinking about it, but I'm just not brave enough," she said.

WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT tiffany oyster etiquette, guys. Ms. Gu was squared away: She got married this summer. Ms. Cole was right behind her: She's been dating some dude from Washington long-distance for the last three years. Which left Ms. Seo ("All of my friends are" -- sigh -- "married except for me") and Ms. Strings (who said with candid humor, "I'm old and still single.") Another dozen, please ...