August Rush!

Time is quickly slipping through my fingers and it’s already mutha fuckin’ September.August came in like a giant gust of wind and swept out just as quickly.  I mean, where has the time gone?  I feel like summer is running away from me and it’s running super fast.  Sprinting if you will.  Anyway, I’ll admit that I have been quite the slacker recently with the blogging but I blame it on the heat. It’s hot…all I want to do is drink beer and cocktails and just chill out. Besides, that’s the basis of this blog isn’t it?  What happens when we’re not at work…which, more times than not, involves at least one if not all three of those things.  So if you really think about it I wasn’t slacking at all. In fact I was hard at work on stories for all of you!  August was a busy month full of birthdays, friends visiting and friends leaving.

Click here to see all that was August…

 

 

 

Over the top.

Nothing says “classy” like arm wrestling in a restaurant.

Sun is shining, the weather is sweet

August 2 2009, Lolita’s Annual “Beach” Party

Every year, on the Sunday of BC day long weekend and the end of gay pride, Lolita’s throws a big beach party in their back parking lot. They get a huge truckload of sand, stock the makeshift outdoor bars, crank the tunes and pack the place with kiddies from the restaurant industry. I’d always heard about this epic party but could never get to one because of work. This year though…fuck yah! I made it bitches and what a party it was! I had worked brunch that morning and left without eating any of the staff meal. So with an empty tummy (except for a cup of coffee and a bite of croissant), I walked into Lolita’s and filled my grumbling belly with a shot of tequila and a quick beer chaser. This, my friends, is how you start off a night to remember….unless you black-out that is (ahem! Tara!)

Enter here for photos…

The only way to beat a heat wave…

is to drink lots and lots of beer

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? I mean, fuck, this heat wave is nuts. Even though there’s abit of a breeze tonight I am still stinking hot. I put my shower on cold and the water is still warm! What the fuck?!!? Even as I type this I’m breaking a sweat! Man what I would give for an ice cold beer right now…why don’t I have any in the fridge?

Shot-gunning….it’s a gentlemanly sport

Sorry for the shitty quality but it’s my first attempt at posting a video

You say goodbye and I say hello…

He’s gone in 2 weeks friends…let’s make the most of our time left together.

So there it is folks. Ben has given his notice at Maenam and is moving on to help open The Corner Suite Bistro Deluxe. I had the privilege of working with Ben at Gastropod turn Maenam and let me tell you this man is awesome. Not only does he make a mean cocktail and keep me in bourbon but he is also one of the nicest people I have ever met. Don’t let the tattooed dirtbag exterior fool you, he’s a genuinely nice man that gives great hugs. I’ll miss you at Maenam Benny, but while you’re saying goodbye I am saying hello to my new watering hole Corner Suite Bistro Deluxe. I will follow you wherever you go kind sir….as long as you keep me in bourbon that is.

The rumor mill…

Shhhh…this is just between us.

Oh rumors, you’ve gotta love them huh? I’ve always wondered how rumors get started. I guess someone says something to someone, then that someone says that something to someone else and then so on and so on until eventually everyone is talking about it. The latest rumor that’s going around is that Lumiere is going to close down. Actually, I think the story is that Saturday was supposed to be it’s final night. Funny that that was the rumor and they were smoking busy that night. Anyway, I just started working at db Bistro/Lumiere and understandably I might not quite be in the loop yet but I think if this were true I might have somehow heard about it. Man, this rumor is so big that it even reached the heights of the almighty restaurant scene blogger Andrew Morrison who commented on it at chefstabletalk.ca. It’s all bullshit. At least I hope so. But anyway, what are all your thoughts on this or any rumors in general? Do you think everyone’s just freaking out because of recent restaurant closures like Chow and Lucy Mae Brown? I want some dirt man. Someone give me some dirt. I know! Let’s start our very own rumor here! On second thought let’s not. I don’t want to get myself in trouble…..

The times they are a-changing…

And I’m not sure if I like it! 

So last night while having an after work drink at my old place of employment, Maenam (more about that later), two things were brought to my attention. The first being that apparently I’ve been slacking and everyone is sick of reading about my birthday over and over again. Yeah yeah yeah (a good band by the way) you try helping to open a new restaurant, then starting a new job and see if you have time to blog! Whatever. And second that the last three girls that we in the industry have come to know and love at Bin 942 have quit! WHAT?? Where oh where have you all gone to? Gone are our welcoming hugs, the knowledge of our drink preferences, and just knowing that after a long day at work and a crazy service those girls would be there for us. Bin will never be the same without you girls!

Anyway, to commemorate them leaving and one of our favorite watering holes being foever changed here are a few random pictures from over the years at Bin. Good-bye girls and good luck with whatever you’re doing now. As for the rest of us…I guess it’s time to break in the new girls.

Click here to see the photos…

It’s my party and I’ll blog if I want to!

May 11, 2009…Oh God, I’m getting old.

Are you fucking serious? 30 fucking 1!!!

So it was my birthday on Monday and fuck me I turned 31. Don’t get me wrong, in the grand scheme of things 31 isn’t that old, but it hit me kinda hard this year. It just sounds so much older than 30….ugh…31!!!!

Usually I start planning my birthday months in advance. Ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you that by January plans will already be in motion. Not this year though. This year I couldn’t be bothered. I think it was depression from aging. My friends were even worried and kept asking what was going on. So a couple of weeks ago I quickly threw an idea together, invited some friends and BOOYAH! The night was a success. I totally underestimated the number of people that would come out on a Monday night though, so in the off chance that they’re reading this…ABIGAIL’S PARTY, YOU GUYS ROCK! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

I guess without further ado….let’s get this fucking party started!  

And the results are….

Oh Pub Golf, I think you’ve ruined my life…

So the day came, the game was played and what a bunch of drunken fools we were. It sounds like a lot of fun, this pub golf, doesn’t it? Well don’t be fooled…it isn’t. Ok ok…maybe I’m being overly dramatic, but WOW! I don’t know what ever posessed me to think that I could keep up with a bunch of dudes at a drinking game. I think next time, and I’m sure there will be a next time, we need an LPGA tour. 

Anyway tee-off was at 3:30 (I was late. Unfortunately they were nice enough to wait) and we started at The Whip….

Click to tee-off!