We ordered a dozen raw oysters, the steamed mussels, garlic butter prawns and oysters Rockefeller.
Bread was served first – baked with cranberries, scrumptious. Can’t fault anything we ordered, it was all delish!
Had a pinot noir, it was average but it was a cheap one. It was poured in a short cup too – unusual.
The best thing is the atmosphere. I actually asked if I could get the soundtrack when I left it was so good! I love the layout of the place, we sat at the bar and it’s very social dining.
Great T-shirts you can purchase too! “‘Suck me off’ … the half shell at Rodney’s Ouster Bar”
Great place, I would def go back again!
I’m on a bread ban however so I’m writing this in the cardio bike to work it off – multitasking!
I had almost decided to stay home for the night when my friend, Rachel called me with tickets to the Vancouver Shangri-La Hotel event. The tickets were $100 each and I’d actually considered going to the event so I didn’t take much encouraging.
Merica had something to celebrate and had saved a bottle of Veuve Cliquot for two years to celebrate with. We popped that and got ready at hers then grabbed a taxi into town.
At just before ten we were the first people there! I thought people would arrive earlier with an impending deadline on 12pm but I guess not.
We met some lovely people and was invited upstairs to a Dom Perignon party. It was packed shoulder to shoulder. We had the count down up there then went back down to the other party to see Rachel DJing.
Took a taxi to Cabana to see everyone I know there and a boogie then home to bed.
Actually I was eating celery sticks and hummus when Scott got in about 3am and gave me a fright!
All in all, a good night but nothing special, not that New Year Eve often is.
Got up at 9 – which was exceptionally difficult on a Sunday – and got ready to hit the snow. And no, I don’t mean snowboarding. After my experience falling down the mountain I’m still aching. In fact I think the pain is worse. Certainly in my pecks and arms.
Anyway we cruised up to Mt Seymour for Ka Lei & I to go tubing & Kieran to go snow boarding. Both tubing & the runs were both closed due to lack of snow so we decided to try another mountain. Luckily Vancouver is surrounded by them, spoilt for choice.
We went to Cypress – they had the most snow and the activities we wanted to do. We dropped Kieran off snowboarding and we took the new pimp mobile (massive new Ford Explorer that I love) down to tubing at Nordic.
We finally got our tickets and grabbed a tube. They tow you up the mountain (you can walk but why would you when you can be towed) then you line up for about 20mins before its your turn.
We went together first, it was awesome! We went pretty fast, spinning down the hill. Ka Lei copped a massive ice spray in the face, I was good.
In an hour and a half we managed to go down three times. By the time We were waiting on our second, Kieran had already done seven runs! There’s quite a bit of waiting involved.
The next two times we went down solo on the faster runs – was great fun! Only $18 for 2 hours too which is really good I thought.
We met Kieran back at the pub for lunch and a hot apple cider around 3pm. I love the hot apple ciders there, they’re delicious. Ka Lei had a hot apple pie (alcoholic cider beverage) which tasted amazing!
The food was all pretty average. Kieran and I both had a salad while Ka Lei had the chilli which was more like a beef stew with veggies.
Kieran went off for some more runs while Ka Lei & I chilled by the fire. My toes had gone numb from the cold earlier so I was happy to sit inside.
We were going to go to The Parlour for dinner then to a movie but realised we wouldn’t have much time with the movie beginning at 6.50 so we decided to grab a quick dinner then catch the movie.
Chipotle was quick, delicious and almost healthy! We got to the cinema in time, only to realise all three movies we had looked at had sold out.
Home for an early night, skyping my parents and reading.
I didn’t really fall down a mountain. But I may as well have! Friday night I attempted (key word there) to snowboard. No lessons, no idea.
Boots, board, bindings, let’s go.
Merica said I’d learn as I go and I was basically pushed down the top of the mountain. I then proceeded to fall down as I could barely stay up.
I sucked. I really did! I was exhausted by the time I got to the end, I was shaking and could not wait to get my boots off, my feet were killing me.
Huge thanks to Merica and Steve for persevering with me!
Massive thanks to everyone that managed not to hit me while I lay/ sat in the middle of the mountain mustering the courage and energy for my next fall!
On reflection, I had a great time. However if you’d told me that at the time I would have never believed you. Was one of the most difficult things I have attempted. Ever.
Props to snowboarders!
I’m going to try skiing next. When I can lift my arms above my head and my ass isn’t a shade of purple!
I loved, loved, loved!!! My first Ice Hockey game.
The game was great, the Vancouver Canucks lost against the Tampa Bay Lightening but it was the atmosphere that got me.
The lighting, the music, the signage. I loved the nets that came down in the 4 corners of the rink that were projected onto. The whole stadium was buzzing, so much energy!
Every second person was in a Canucks jersey – at $200 a piece that’s a well sold garment.
My seats in the nose bleeds was $105 – they must make a fortune. I answer why people return though. Even from the nosebleeds you get a great view, see them all scattering around the ice, you can hear the puck smashing against the stick and the players being crashed into the wall. It’s exhilarating.
Shame I can’t make it to another game before I leave. I wish I went to more of them.
Having worked in sports I was awestruck. The sponsorship initiative and activations, the brand placement, charity & community involvement, grass roots incorporation, their match day videos, kiss cam, giveaways, member thank you, they even changed the signage around the rink in the break!
Reminds me how much I would love to work for a sports team again.
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