How Embarassing

To think that I was once proud to be a Vikings fan, happy to hate our arch-enemies the Packers and, of course, Brett Favre. And I thought I was a typical Viking fan, non-swerving in my loyalties and hatred.

But no, I find that the vast majority of Vikings fans are spineless lickspittles who now embrace Favre as their new-found savior.

And I truely believed I would have to endure this kind of behavior only once in my life, when my fellow Jets fans did the same thing and turned their back on Chad Pennington, who went on and turned the Dolphins around and took them to the play-offs last year. This while our savior at the time threw as many interceptions as touchdown passes during the season including eight interceptions versus two touchdowns in the last four games. But at least the Jets fans didn't have a history of hating Green Bay and Brett. They just somehow got sucked into Brett's vortex of glory or, as I refer to it, Brett's glory hole.

Oh, but now Favre gets a standing ovation when he comes onto the field in Minnesota and then goes 1 for 4 for 4 yards against the Chiefs. And their loyal quarterback, Tarvaris Jackson, gets booed when he comes in to replace Favre.

Then Jackson goes 12 for 15, 202 yards, and two touchdowns, one a 64 yard pass to Darius Reynaud and the other a 13 yard pass to Visanthe Shiancoe.

I am betting that with Favre at the helm the Vikings don't even repeat as Division Champions this year, let alone make it to the Super Bowl.

Remember, you read it here first, and my track record with Favre is 100%, predicting last year that Miami would have a better year than the Jets and that Miami would win the last game of the season against the Jets to go to the play-offs. You can look it up.

I saw Inglourious Basterds yesterday, a very good movie. Of course I couldn't help but think that, not unlike the Nazis in the movie, Brett can take off and burn his Green Bay uniform. But he should be marked for life as a Packer.

Actually, the Nazis didn't wear Green Bay uniforms, but you know what I mean.



The scars will never heal.

Yum Yum Zum

Well, not really much yum yum. Aside from a cheese plate and a potato pancake that the people we sat next to gave us we really didn't eat at Zum Schneider. But we did drink beer, lots of beer.

A Party Is In Progress


You have to love New York. It is the juxtapostion of a roasting pig and a taxi that just kind of cries out to you.

Only In New York


Ready For My Closeup


We had a great time and loved the entertainment.

Oompah Oompah Oompah Pah


I wouldn't exactly call it a flea market, but there were authentic German radios for sale.

Well, One


They did have some good looking food here, and our new friends at the table with us seemed to be enjoying their meals.

Digging In


The Mysterious Chinese Woman and I got here around 5:00 PM but were going to wait until Jim showed up before we ordered any food. He didn't get off work until around 7:00 PM or so and then it took him about an hour to get here and find a place to park.

Ah, Together At Last




By the time he arrived I was kind of full from the numerous beers I had consumed (don't ask me how many) and heavy German fare didn't really appeal to me. On the walk from the Astor Place subway stop we noticed a large number of Japanese bars and restaurants along St. Mark's Place (8th Avenue). Most of these have sprung up fairly recently too. We decided to head to one of them for a lighter dinner.

On the way we passed the infamous and elusive Holiday Cocktail Lounge. Elusive because this is how it typically looks.

The Usual State


Despite the fancy name, it is more of a dive bar than a cocktail lounge and, because it was late enough, it was open.

Kind Of A Seedy Clientele, Though


Really Seedy


After a quick couple of gin and tonics for me and a beer for Jim we picked out a nice looking Japanese place.

Not Sure Of The Name


We walked in and I promptly fell off of my little stool while trying to sit down. Luckily nobody had their camera out and only my dignity was injured.

We opted for some kind of a sampler platter and weren't disappointed.

Plenty For Everyone


The Mysterious Chinese Woman, daintily dug in.

So Dainty


Bar Man was begining to regret his over-consumption of beers because he just didn't have that much of an appetite. I did manage to sample everything and I will certainly come back and do it again.

Regrets, I've Had A Few


Of course my regrets did not stop me from sharing a bottle of saki with Jim. All and all, we had a great time.

It Came From The Grave

I cannot believe it, Brett Favre is like:

The Quarterback Who Will Not Die

Just when I thought it would be safe to enjoy watching a Vikings game now and then, here he comes, crawling out of the grave to plague me once again. And don't tell me that Vikings management didn't have this planned out well in advance. They already have the bobble head dolls ready for opening day:

What next, Stephon Marbury to the Timberwolves, again?

Bond, Hazeltine, and Oompah Bands

"He's not a very good caddie. Golf is not yet the national game of Korea, eh?"

That was Goldfinger making an excuse to James Bond about Oddjob's poor caddying ability during a golf game in the movie "Goldfinger."

How times have changed. And Yang won the 2009 PGA Championship in my home state of Minnesota.

Pig roast and ommpah bands at Zum Schneider tomorrow afternoon to celebrate their 9th anniversery, and I will be there.

I think Goldfinger looked like he was German.

You see how it all comes together? Well, quite frankly, neither do I.

Got Extra Money And Like To Drink?

Hey, start saving your pennies for this exciting offering by Thirsty Swagman:

http://www.worldsbiggestpubcrawl.com/D14-3-around-the-world-in-80-pubs-2011.html

I figure if I can only get one hundred and twenty of you faithful readers of my blog to send Bar Man $100 each I could afford to go and you could enjoy reading about my adventure. Sounds like a great deal. Well, doesn't it? Huh?

Nah, I didn't think so.

Bringing Home The Bacon

Be still my beating heart. Brooklyn Brewery is coming out with a Bacon Beer. Here is a blurb from http://www.newyork.grubstreet.com/, an interesting site I follow:

Holy mother. On Diner’s Journal, Pete Wells hears incredible news from Brooklyn Brewery’s Garrett Oliver. Dude is currently working on a beer that (1) takes barleywine made from malt that’s smoked in the same room as Allan Benton’s bacon and (2) combines it with brown ale that’s been infused, via “fat washing” (mixing a melted fat with alcohol, then chilling the mixture into a solid and skimming it off), with the taste of Benton’s bacon fat. As much as we roll our eyes at gimmicks like bacon vodka, we’re also fans of the brewery's Sorachi Ace (served at Brooklyn Bowl), and we’d be lying if hearing about this new bacon beer doesn’t make our heart flutter, our pulse quicken ... It's like we just drank the stuff! Final word from Oliver: “Either this will be the most amazingly disgusting thing you’ve ever tasted in your life. Or I shall rule the earth.”

Knowing Garrett, I am betting on him ruling the earth.

As an aside, I had several pints of Brooklyn Brewery's Sorachi Ace at Pete's Waterfront Ale House and it is a very tasty brew.

The Grande Finale

On Tuesday the Mysterious Chinese Woman and I took a stroll along the Plains of Abraham, site of a defining battle between the French and the British (the British won) and visited an art museum. Most of the exhibits were free, so it was an inexpensive way to spend the afternoon.

The Museum


Despite the modern looking entrance, it is combined with a former prison that was opened in 1867. This gives it kind of an interesting ambience. They still have some of the original cells and, believe me, you wouldn't want to spend much time in them.

Not Too Comfy Looking


The museum had a very nice restaurant, and that is where we decided to have lunch. It looks out on an open deck where a lot of people were eating, but it was a bit too warm out there so we opted for the air-conditioned dining room.

The Outside Deck


Air Conditioned Comfort


On the way home from the museum we stopped at that same cafe where we bought the coffee. This time I got a shot of the exterior.

Best Coffee In Town


As we continued our way home we passed by this sculpture which reminded me of my days growing up in Minnesota, going to school in the harshest of blizzards, uphill both ways, being chased by wolves.

Ah, The Memories


Yesterday we headed back down to the market and the Mysterious Chinese Woman wanted to visit a large 'flea market' next door.

First though we decided to have breakfast at a marina across the way.

That's It In The Distance


A Closer Look


And Here Is The View Looking Back


We had a nice little breakfast and posed for our picture by the bay, or inlet, or dredged marina.

Ooh, So Cute


We headed back to the 'flea market' which was anything but. Mostly high-end items, lot's of jewelry, clothes, and stuff like that. Even the souveniers were really expensive. I actually wanted to buy a belt but couldn't find anything decent for under $45 Canadian or about $40 U.S. I think will wait until I get to Mexico, if my pants stay up that long.

The Un-Flea Market


The other day I saw a cruise ship in the harbor and I would bet my bottom dollar that a lot of people shopping in that market came from the ship. They just had that look about them, similar to what you see in the over-priced jewelry stores in Puerto Vallarta.

After buying some supplies in the market, cheese curds, pate, dried fish, sausage, we headed on home via that little Ecolobus. It has a stop right in front of the market and another right across the street from our hotel. Kind of convenient and it sure beats walking up the hills. In fact the last two times we were down by the river I actually sprung for the $1.75 to take the furnicular back up. Bar Man is gettng old. But, before you laugh, you try climbing those hills and steps for a week.

I decided to just spend the afternoon reading a book so I stopped at a nearby deli and bought a couple of interesting beers.

Route des epices


This was a peppercorn rye beer, or so the label said. It was a mild 5% and did have a distinct aftertaste. Kind of like you had just taken a bite of a spicy sausage. Not bad at all.

I followed that up with a India Pale Ale.

Corne du diable


This was a more robust 6.5% and so dry it pulled my cheeks in. Not sour or bitter though, just exceptionally dry. And the hops, surprisingly, were not overpowering.

Both of these beers were very good and were $2.09 Canadian or just a bit under $2.00 U.S. each. I would buy them again but, not unlike New York, the delis here tend to stock a wide variety of beers so I will probably try something different next time.

A Typical Selection


Later, after making sandwiches, we headed out for the Grande Finale of the fireworks.





Canada won the competition, but I think the fix was in. Both the Mysterious Chinese Woman and I thought that Spain had the best display. They may have judged just individual displays set to a given piece of music, though, because they re-did the Canadian display set to 'Diamonds Are Forever.'

Today I think we are just going to buy a couple of all day bus passes and see where the buses take us. Kind of a fun way to explore the city and get to spots that are too far to walk. We just have to make sure we don't get on one of those express buses that take you way out of town.

A Fun Day, And A Sad One

Another day of exploring, and we were once again able to score a free ride on the Ecolobus. Not as easy as you might think. The maps that they have in the bus are not completely accurate, but we are starting to get the hang of it.

On The Road Again


Who says disco is dead? Certainly not in Quebec City.

Waiting For The Village People


Right across the street from the world's largest disco ball was a little pizza place and it was getting to be about that time.

Street-side Dining


I wasn't sure if I wanted pizza, but the Mysterious Chinese Woman saw that they were doing a fashion shoot outside and I think she was hoping to be discovered.

Maybe It Was For A Deodorant


Are They Looking, Are They?


Sadly, she remained undiscovered. Possibly because she kept her armpits hidden away.

I Just Ignored The Whole Thing


As we continued our walk I got a new appreciation for the term 'pissing like a racehorse.'

No Racehorse, But I Got The Picture


Just A Picture Of A Scenic Street


I did manage to get some souvenier shopping done, and also picked up a tee-shirt for myself. And no, it doesn't say 'Baby Aboard.' The Mysterious Chinese Woman thinks 'Repellent All The Time.'

Stubborn And Rebellious, I Think


On Monday evening we headed down to the river area again for our rabbit and duck dinner. We stopped for a pre-dinner cocktail on the way down what I think they call the Breakneck Stairway.

An Apricot Brandy And Something


A Stinger For Bar Man, An Old Favorite


We got the same table we had the last time in the restaurant and the Mysterious Chinese Woman decided to take some 'artistic' shots.

Bar Man Preening For The Camera


We started out with what the waiter said was 'A little gift from the chef.' Kind of a black olive thing with pieces of toast.

The Chef's Gift


It went well with a beer, though. But, then, what doesn't.

Everything Goes Better With Beer


And then we had our mighty meal. Rabbit sausage, rabbit confit, shredded rabbit, duck confit, smoked duck tongue, duck pate, a nice mixture of greens and condiments, a most excellent selection. Accompanied by a nice bottle of Canadian red wine, you couldn't have asked for much more.

More Than Satisfying


Yesterday we visited a museum and tonight is the Grand Finale of the Fireworks Competition. I should be able to get caught up on my posts tomorrow. I think we are also going to go to the big market to pick up sandwich fixings for tonight and there is also a flea market there to check out. And we want to check on getting tickets for Cirque du Soleil. So much to see and do and only a few days left. It will be nice to get back to Brooklyn, though. Lot's to see there as well.

On a sadder note, a very good friend of mine and the Mysterious Chinese Woman, Fred Stabbert, passed away the other day. You may remember him if you have been following my blog. He and Shirley are the ones who live up in Callicoon. We have spent many an enjoyable day at their get-togethers and I have posted about many of them. We will miss him terribly. He was 81 and lived a very full life. I am sure he left many happy memories behind.

Here is Fred, to the right, with his good friend Art and his daughter Kathy at Fred and Shirley's Doll House Bar, number 675 on my trek towards 1000.