Its been a wonderful and very busy past few days. Since it was Valentine's weekend Greg and I decided some adult time was definitely in order. So on Saturday we ventured downtown Christchurch for a few drinks and some live music. We had intended on checking out a Jazz club called Sammy's Jazz Review but after tracking it down we found that despite having web presence it had gone out of business and an Asian cafe was in its place. Undaunted we ventured on exploring Christchurch's nightlife and came across an Irish pub called Sullivan's. Greg told me that he has found these everywhere in his travels. In every major city there is an Irish pub serving up Guinness. Since I had never actually been to one, a tragedy since I'm half Irish, we decided to give it a try. I actually had my very first Guinness and managed to drink it and a second, an amazing feat since I generally don't like beer. But I have to say, as many people have told me, Guinness is different. So we had a few drinks, some talk, enjoyed the rowdy atmosphere and finished up the night with some BK which was insanely good after a few beers.
On Sunday, officially Valentine's Day, I took Celia downtown to the Art Centre to get hand made stuffed animals she saw down there last weekend and decided that she must have. The weather was beautiful and we wandered around the markets enjoying the arts and crafts. Unfortunately I was wicked tired and forgot the camera. But after wandering the markets we both had a craving for ice cream so we hunted down a street vendor selling sundaes. The sundaes were ok, good enough to satisfy the craving, but the ice cream was definitely missing that rich creaminess we find back home. Regardless, we enjoyed it and sat on a park bench watching other tourists punt down the River Avon.
After returning to the beach house for a few hours Greg and I headed out to enjoy another adult evening. We sought and successfully found a great bar and restaurant called Fat Eddie's. The entrance was a bit hard to find being off a courtyard in an alleyway. Strangely Christchurch seems to like to hide their night life. Once we found it though it was great. The courtyard had a Mini Cooper stuck to one wall, rows of bicycles on another and another building covered top to bottom in music bars with notes. A very kewl and creative atmosphere indeed. Fat Eddie's itself was up a narrow set of wooden stairs on the second floor.
Once through those doors one finds a charming and eccentric place filled with rough tables, long couches loaded with pillows, glowing candles, decorative lights, and loads of old music and movie posters. One wall held a plasma tv showing Casablanca on mute. In another corner was a roaring fireplace surrounded by couches. And in the center of the main floor was a grand piano, lit up and awaiting its performer. We were immediately charmed. We grabbed a spot with a good view of the piano and couch for Greg, which was very comfy, and browsed the menu. They had great service and great food. Greg got all you can eat buffalo wings and was in heaven. I had a philly cheese steak to die for and some really great wine. At twenty after 8, Stig, the entertainment for the evening took his place at the piano. Stig, with his panama hat and long white beard fit in with the great bohemian atmosphere of the place and was a wonderful singer. We very much enjoyed his renditions of American favs, and of course my diligent darling remembered the camera so here are some pics. Over all the very best Valentine's Day ever!
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