9/8/2009

4/5 stars

Oh. My. Now I understand. People had told me it's fun. They had mentioned the people watching, the costumes, the smiles (and the bar).

I wasn't in any sort of costume. Did it matter? No! I felt just as welcome and relaxed hanging out as anyone. And the costume wearers were not at all shy about showing off their gear. The costumes ran the gamut from over-the-top steampunk to (ahem) Leeloo's white tape wear.

Even if you don't go to the bar or the con, go to the parade. It rocked! Seeing the costumes in full daylight (thankfully not so bright) was great.

From what's been passed along, the conference tracks themselves were great. Shatner and Nimoy's exchange over the word "fascinate" is only one soundbite.

The fifth star is being held in reserve for next year. I need to budget time & money so I can attend for real rather than as a gawker. I'm betting the mighty fine shindig would have been fun. And I didn't even know there was an Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) track covering the latest events and works regarding freedom in the digital era. (Yeah, now I feel guilty for not helping. erk.)

Yelp tags: Arts & Entertainment

9/15/2009

5/5 stars

Beer. BBQ. People. Party. And plenty of room for all of the above.

DBA's pork was moist and delicious. Not a fan of the cheese on the corn, but that's the only thing of theirs I had that wasn't very good. The folks working the tables did a great job moving us through with a smile. We had been warned there would be snacks, and here's a full meal!

And the beer… It's Sweetwater. It's good. Really good. They use quality ingredients, even down to hand-picked blueberries. I actually like their blueberry beer; it lacks the artificial, astringent quality I've tasted in others. The Sweetwater Blue doesn't have much of a blueberry *taste*, but rather a blueberry smell atop a good IPA. Their dank tank beer right now also has touch of blueberry in an interesting wheat + Belgian yeast. No direct berry at all, but all around great. And the Motor Boat is a nice ESB.

The tour convinced me they're moving upwards without sacrificing their standards. Good stuff. I wish them continued success.

Great finally putting real people with names & avatars. Kathleen knows how to throw a party…

Yelp tags: Local Flavor

9/20/2009

2/5 stars

I let this one sit in my mind and… macerate? marinate? Some word that fits.

I was with friends and stopped by here late-ish one Friday evening a bit ago. Hopes were high for a 24-hour place. Hopes were dashed against the sharp stones of vicious reality. I might remember the service… No, wait, there wasn't any…

Why two stars? Well… The evening we were there, this definitely could be classified as a fetish bar. A somewhat main-stream fetish, but still a fetish. Not to my taste, and I couldn't fit into this fetish even if I wanted to do so. Fetishes have their place, and if the Fridays here fit your taste, go for it. Now I know.

The atmosphere really could be nice. The elements are there, good location… sigh. Perhaps I'll try this place again during some more neutral time.

Yelp tags: Mediterranean

9/26/2009

5/5 stars

The Eagle was wonderfully relaxed, laid-back, and fun last night. Perfect for a Friday wind-down after a nutso week. Strong drinks, friendly people, and plenty of space. I didn't know they had an area out back… Feels like a great place to hang out where people can just be.

Yelp tags: Gay Bars

10/1/2009

5/5 stars

Crawfish. Instant 5. Everything else starts nudging it higher (Sublime? Yogurberry? Bourbon? Giddy-gasm on aisle 6.), and the people push it all the way to 11. Everything seemed so effortless. Excellent event, venue, entertainment, food, drinks…

Yelp tags: Local Flavor