Shaw, Bernard Shaw ⇒
When the VP of Sales left Epic, he let me know that I had a credit with Air Canada. The good/bad thing about AC credits is that only the original ticket holder can use that credit, so last weekend I used that credit to go see my friend Clay in Portland. I met Clay in first year university when we both lived on the same floor in rez and we have managed to stay in touch since then, even though we have rarely been in the same city.
Friday night we went to a John Barleycorn's and had a nice dinner with some great microbrew. Saturday afternoon was a tribute to excess and how much we want it. First we stopped at an exotic car dealership to drool over the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys and Aston Martins. I think my favourite is the Aston Martin Vanquish, though the Ferrari Modena Spider is a close second.
Next up was the local Mac mecca, to price out Clay's new computer(s) and drool over the super sexy looking computers that Apple continues to make. After that we were all drooled out, and we needed to replenish, so it was off to Jack's Famous Crawfish for an amazing dinner. Jack sure can make some fine seafood.
We had some time before our next event, so we stopped by Powell's Books. I have never, ever seen a bookstore like that before. A WHOLE CITY BLOCK, 4 STORIES HIGH, of nothing but new and used books on every conceivable topic!! I could spend a week in there just wandering around and reading. Wow. Truly The Mecca of bookstores.
And lastly, we went Portland's brand new (in September) Port Center Stage to see George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance. This was my first GBS play and boy, was I ever impressed. This play was soooo funny; it had the entire audience was laughing the whole way through. It was extremely well cast and well acted and I couldn't recommend the play and the venue enough. If you are ever in Portland, make an effort to see a show in the theatre...you won't be disappointed.
Sunday was much more leisurely, with only a movie in the afternoon. We went to see the latest Bond flick, Casino Royale. I had heard that it was much more true the books, and "they" weren't lying. Bond was as he should be, ruthless and deadly. The opening chase scene is one of the best I have ever seen and I really like they way they changed the important card game from Chemin-de-fer to Texas Hold'Em. Daniel Craig makes a great Bond and the think the franchise's fortunes just picked up.
A fine way to start the year.