Right well.

Monday was spent relaxing at Mado Turkish Restaurant, just towards the far end of little Stanley Street. Cam, Jerath and I gorged on vegetarian options, the Eggplant boat with vegitables was to die for. The real highlight, however, was the Double Apple Hookah. For about $30 (on top of the baclava or meal you have to order) will get you a ready made hookah to savour and share. I've always loved the Hookah. To share one is to "Share the breath of my breath and the life of my life" as the old Turkish proverb goes. All in all the evening was a treat and it was unanimous that it would be repeated on a week- fortnightly basis.

Last night Jess D and I popped up to Peasant, at the Barracks. FINALLY! I've been curious about it since I first saw a snap of the decore in this year's Good Guide. It's a restaurant with an excellent wine list, great food and cosy atmosphere! I suspect this maybe the beginnings of a great love affair. The Chorizo was perfect, complimented with tart green capsicuns and roasted garlic. The salad perfectly dressed. For wine I had the 2008 Jed Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina). It was a pleasant, subtle wine that didn't overpower the light tapas we were nibbling.


Dessert was spent at 16th on Park. I waived my usual gobsmacking Soy Chilli Hot Chocolate in favor of the chai Hot Chocolate. It was nice, but as is often the case with Brisbane chai late's, was a little too heavy on the sugary syrups for my tastes. Jess' amorous overtures of "mmmm...mmmmm", "Yum" and "This is amazing" directed at her Parfait, suggested to me that she was loving every finger licking morsel of her dessert.

 Oh my. Bloody BRILLIANT weekend.

Friday I kicked back with SeaBass watching much Castle and getting hooked on DC Universe. Flying cat for the WIN!! HARLEY <3

Saturday I started the day making Sushi and lounging in the Pool with Chris (aka Birdman). Much nom nom's was sampled. His gusts started arriving and I politely took my leave.

Next I was off to Paddington for Sean, Tomo (mike) and Tim's house warming. My my what a crowd. There was Reno, the 21 year old who was producing and redefining music in his basement, Joyce and Luke the Graphic designers working down the coast, Zac, delightfully random. Clancy, just started studying and her sister Marnie.
 

After a hard day of playing -- I mean working-- with the Sega mocap team, Sal and I hit up the city, stopping to pay homage to every fashion shrine along St Paul's Terrace. Making our way down to river side, I chanced upon a ramen bar, Taros Ramen Cafe, which boasts the best Ramen in Australia. *note to self* - EAT THERE.

After some sightseeing and pleasant conversations, we finally trudged into the CBD and spent a good half hour or so salivating over the latest Kitten D'Amour line.

Next was Vapiano where $20 will get you a full bowl of pasta that will blow you away. Made before my eyes, the Gamberi pasta was a mouth-watering compilation of prawns, carrots, spring onions, white wine and tomato sauce. The decore is pop-organic with wooden benches acting as tables and bold solid black and red decore nestled about the room. An adorable feature is the fresh Basil and Rosemary plants acting as table centerpieces, and I particularly took a shine to the tongue-in-cheek of the Italian photographs adorning the walls.

After, we popped into King George Square's, Groove train for a coffee to kill some time before the "One year Later" gig. Upon arrival I was blown away by the high standards of entertainment these guys did. The gig joint, Rosie's was a little worse for wear, with decades of stale beer and cigarette smoke soaked into the carpet, it was charming and quite the upstarting band establishment.

Terry was on Lead Vocals & Bass, Kurto Lead Guitar, Dean Rhythm Guitar & Brent rocking out on the Drum kit.

To finish the evening Mark, Chris and I caught a cab to Park road for the ever enjoyable, La Dolce Vita. Dolce is Italian for sweet dessert while I believe Vita refers to the South Sicilian town. Caught up with Nick, the ever attentive server and had a great chat over my usual peppermint tea (the boys struggling through european hot chocolate).

Carl Jung - What a cool dude.

I feel my weekend shenanigans warrants an entry.
Friday. What a night!
The evening started in the delightful company of Jess K. for cocktails and tapas at Glass Bar in the Valley. First in was the Mint Julep. This silver spoon cocktail of the Kentucky Derby has always been a personal favorite of mine. As an avid Race goer, the mint julep sets my imagination afire with horse ranches, green pastures, porcelain Southern Bells and heavily accented gentlemen adorning my favorite male garb, the morning suit.

Similar to the mojito, it's traditionally made with four ingredients: mint, bourbon, sugar and water. ( More About Mint Juleps )

$35 will get you a Carnivores share plate for 2 (that would comfortably feed 3), that simply tantalizes the senses. Feast like a roman as you select and nibble on prosciutto, chorizo sausage, perfectly cooked calamari, rare beef with pesto and rocket, chicken skewers, pork and rosemary meatballs and cheese, manzanilla olives, and more. The atmosphere is a trendy combination of polished comfort and the first tuesday of every month will see you at Dr Sketchies Art School with burlesque models posing as you sketch their portrait.

( Drinks to try at Glass Bar )

http://www.glassjazz.com.au/main.htm

Next on our list was cocktails at The Bowery. Here we met up with Bec, Sally, Anusha, Chris, Mark, Jeff, Scott and Randal. My world renowned drink of choice is the Old Fashioned. Composed of: Woodford reserve Bourbon, Sugar, Angostura Bitters and orange zest, stirred. It was originally created at the Pendennis Club, Louisville, Kentucky. Obviously that glorious Southern state and I have a lot in common. The boys at the Bowery certainly know how to do this classic justice.

( Other Bowery Favourites )
After many introductions, chit chat and sampling of cocktails it was off to Laruche. Opulence. The entire space is a dizzying array of colour and glamor that can only harmonize in the capitulating magic of night. Here I found a potential new favourite: The KENTUCKY ROSE OLD FASHIONED - MAKER’S MARK, PUNT E MES, ROSEMARY, HONEY. Made by the adorable and rather charismatic "Ewen", who was flown in from lord knows where and is soon to be shipped off to Japan in the near future. His associate Zac, was just as much trouble-I mean-fun.

We concluded the evening with some dancing at the Family - a sad shadow of it's formerself that I have so many fond memories of. Finally we finished up at Ric's. Open till 4am, great atmosphere for cheeky wind down beers late at night. More of an "Indie?" feel it's got pumpin beats, plenty of out door seating and dodgy washrooms to boot.

I'm in Brisbane. And it feels right to be home. Comfortable, safe, secure with enough excitement and activity to keep a raging Yippie like myself happy for a few years at least.

Last night (being Sunday) was spent in West End for some quiet drinks. The afternoon kicked off with Lucas, Chris, Geordie, and Sara chilling out at "Beer o'clock Sunday's" that kicks off at Archive at 3pm every Sunday. Sara got me hooked on SUNSHINE COAST GINGER KEGS. An excellent light beer that leaves a sharp ginger zest at the back of your throat and is not too heavy on the sugar. It's great for designated drivers.

No matter the evening, Archive always has an outstanding atmosphere. Light, airy and open with just enough overstuffed armchairs and homey creature comforts to make it ideal for conversational camaraderie. And if the current topic doesn't take you, you could always instigate a game of pool with the cuties hanging by the tables.

Other Archive beers to remember:
HOLGATE CHOCOLATE TEMPTRESS - Yes it's chocolate in beer form
3 Raven's Dark Smoke beer - Bacon beer!

http://www.archivebeerboutique.com.au/

After Archive we trotted on down to BurgerUrge. Great fries. Loved the Lamb burger and drooled over Chris and Sara's Portobello Mushroom Burger. Vegetarians rejoice! Minted yogurt, Haloumi, red capsicun and a bucket load of other goodies, makes me loath the lactose intolerance.

http://www.burgerurge.com.au/

For dessert, Sally and Anusha joined us for Max Brenner down at Southbank. As always, I went for the Mexican Soy Hot Chocolate but was a little disappointed in my usual favorite as it was less of a raging, Mexican with a severe after bite and more of an over tanned Italian. Dark, rich and a little too sugary for my tastes. In all fairness though, the line was out the door, the service was efficient and friendly and the atmosphere fun, light and cheery. Frape's to die for, European Hot Chocolate's to make your socks melt and a dessert pizza that with one bite will transform you into your 10 year old self again. All in all a great establishment.

http://www.maxbrenner.com.au/

According to Chris I must watch "Castle" as it's got Mal from firefly as the lead.

Well hello LJ. My it has been a while....

Hope to write to you soon.

Renee could very well be getting herself into trouble....

Is single and feeling like I have a phantom limb.

Otherwise I'm peachy. Fancy Pants cocktails tonight with the Gang! *^_^* I love Southampton....

But how do people deal with the QUIET of empty houses?

It's so strange..... I can't remember the last time I had a chat with Me....

Gah.... I feel terrible..... and nervous..... but right now mostly terrible..... though excited too.... I'm so cuffuddled!!!!