The Swamp

Good chance I'm headed to Minneapolis for a night or two next month. Luckily a Wild game is happening one of the nights. Any suggestions on restaurants/bars?

Giff wrote: ↑Thu Jan 03, 2019 6:06 pm Good chance I'm headed to Minneapolis for a night or two next month. Luckily a Wild game is happening one of the nights. Any suggestions on restaurants/bars?

I could go down the rabbit hole on breweries/spots in Minny. Are you gonna be in St Paul the whole time or just for the game?

Giff wrote: ↑Thu Jan 03, 2019 6:06 pm Good chance I'm headed to Minneapolis for a night or two next month. Luckily a Wild game is happening one of the nights. Any suggestions on restaurants/bars?

Surly Brewing...it's near UM. They have a large new-ish production facility and restaurant that's pretty nice.

Wholeheartedly second the Surly rec.

Best food I've ever had in a brewery and the beer is damn good as well.

Just to be a contrarian dick, Furious was one of the most disappointing (hype-to-enjoyment) beers I've had in a pretty long time.

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Jan 04, 2019 3:43 pm Just to be a contrarian dick, Furious was one of the most disappointing (hype-to-enjoyment) beers I've had in a pretty long time.

I don't disagree...it's a fine beer there are better.

Their Coffee Bender is my favorite coffee beer if anyone else is in to that sort of thing.

I don't think their IPAs are anything more then solid to very solid. I'm much more into their stout/dark beer game.

Would have been nice if you all told me this 18(?) months ago when I didn't ask.

I believe Ike's is the classic place to get a drink. We had a few there. Also had a great dinner at the steak house next door (Murray's) Pinball bar called Tilt also had folks recommending it.

Headed to Aruba for a week on Sunday. Any of you guys ever been? Can't miss stuff?

BSF21 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:47 am Headed to Aruba for a week on Sunday. Any of you guys ever been? Can't miss stuff?

Did a cruise that spent a day there. Mostly just tooled around Oranjestad, which isn't really very interesting. Heard good things from people that explored the beaches on the northwest of the island.

Also RE: MSP breweries to check out.

Fulton (right by Target Field) -- Great hangout spot, variety of beers
Indeed Brewing -- Some of the most unique sours I've ever had. Go for the Strawberry Fields, stay for everything else.
Dangerous Man -- Very small brewpub and feels like your neighborhood place. Seemed heavy on the darker stuff when we were there.
Able Seedhouse -- Half hippie commune half brewery. Neat space. Beer was 7/10 but it's over near Indeed if you want to stop in.
Bauhaus -- Very cool place. Had a couple great beers there.
Wild Mind Ales -- Has some neat kinda off the wall stuff. Our friends live down the block here and it's their go-to.

brian wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:59 am

BSF21 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:47 am Headed to Aruba for a week on Sunday. Any of you guys ever been? Can't miss stuff?

Did a cruise that spent a day there. Mostly just tooled around Oranjestad, which isn't really very interesting. Heard good things from people that explored the beaches on the northwest of the island.

Neat. We're staying on the west side of the island so that should be good. Trying to find some hiking/exploring to mix into the snorkeling/drinking which seems to be most of what you do there.

BSF21 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:47 am Headed to Aruba for a week on Sunday. Any of you guys ever been? Can't miss stuff?

Do you windsurf? We have some friends who are diehard windsurfers, and they claim that Aruba is a world-class location for that. That's all I got.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:21 pm

BSF21 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 11:47 am Headed to Aruba for a week on Sunday. Any of you guys ever been? Can't miss stuff?

Do you windsurf? We have some friends who are diehard windsurfers, and they claim that Aruba is a world-class location for that. That's all I got.

Do you windsurf? Feels like a very 80s question. Do people still do that or has kiteboarding taken over? I know it was big when I was growing up but feels like a fad that just did not stick with a large population.

Look at this asshole rollerblading in to call you hobbies lame.

Friend of my wife is going to London and is looking for nice and budget-friendly accommodation.

Anyone have any ideas?

Pruitt wrote: ↑Thu Jan 24, 2019 11:36 am Friend of my wife is going to London and is looking for nice and budget-friendly accommodation.

Anyone have any ideas?

Hostel an option? Airbnb?

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:08 pm

Pruitt wrote: ↑Thu Jan 24, 2019 11:36 am Friend of my wife is going to London and is looking for nice and budget-friendly accommodation.

Anyone have any ideas?

Hostel an option? Airbnb?

Air BnB for sure.

Last time I was there was 12 years ago or so. Stayed at a really nice, surprisingly cheap place right on the edge of Hyde Park.

The site is now a massive condo project.

Just bought tix to go to London in May 460$ round trip from Denver! Only one layover on the way there and non-stop coming back.

Rush2112 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 24, 2019 4:06 pm Just bought tix to go to London in May 460$ round trip from Denver! Only one layover on the way there and non-stop coming back.

Which airline?

United, but when I was searching there were some on AirCanada, British Airways, etc. Ended up with United because it had the best itinerary.

We just got back from 10 days in Mexico, and it was fucking awesome.

We were in Merida for 4 days for a wedding. Went to a Hacienda where they still make hennican rope (and learned a bunch). Went to Chichen-Itza and then swimming in a cenote. Ate way too much amazing food, and drank a ton of mexican beers and margaritas.

The wedding was bananas. Held at a hacienda about 45 minutes outside of Merida. So much fun.

Then we went to an all-inclusive resort (Secrets Akumal) in Akumal, which is between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum. Sat around the pool a bunch. Did a really cool 'eco-friendly' of the Tulum ruins and then more cenote swimming.

I'd never done an all-inclusive resort, but this was great. We spent a little more to make sure we were at a place with high quality food, and it paid off. Every meal we had was great.

One observation: We became pretty convinced that they a) make their drinks during the daytime really weak, and/or b) water down their alchohol, because we would drink a bunch of cocktails in the afternoon in/at the pool, and not really catch a buzz, but would have to go to the bathroom a ton. I should not be able to drink 3 cadillac margaritas in about an hour and not have much more then a buzz.

Anyways....great trip. Highly recommended.

Leaving tomorrow evening NJ and landing Wednesday morning in Dublin, staying for 9 nights. The first two will be in Dublin, then we're heading North to Co. Down for a yet to be determined (3 or 4?) number of days to spend time with my wife's extended family, and then we'll wander around a bit after that. We haven't really made set plans for the back portion of the trip since we don't know exactly when we are setting out from Down. We want to try to see Belfast, since it was still a little dicey there last time we were over in Ireland in 2001. My wife wants to make it over to Donegal because she's never been there. We spent a lot of our last trip in Kerry, specifically the strut of land surrounded by water on three sides that starts with the fourth letter of the alphabet, so we'll probably not wander too far South.

Anyway, I haven't driven a standard transmission in 4 years or so, and didn't drive at all the last time I was over there, so wish me and our rental car luck.

rass wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 1:52 pmAnyway, I haven't driven a standard transmission in 4 years or so, and didn't drive at all the last time I was over there, so wish me and our rental car luck.

Good lord, shifting gears with your left hand? Sounds like a nightmare.

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 2:43 pm

rass wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 1:52 pmAnyway, I haven't driven a standard transmission in 4 years or so, and didn't drive at all the last time I was over there, so wish me and our rental car luck.

Good lord, shifting gears with your left hand? Sounds like a nightmare.

I rented a car for a weekend in Australia, and shifting wasn't too bad once I got used to it, but it took me a long time before I stopped turning on the wipers every time I tried to use the turn signal.

Will probably be raining anyway.

Other than kissing a couple of curbs, so far so good.

Belfast is a great little city with a fascinating recent history, and very eager to please its tourists. Highly recommended, wish this was more than just a day trip.

rass wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:35 am Other than kissing a couple of curbs, so far so good.

Belfast is a great little city with a fascinating recent history, and very eager to please its tourists. Highly recommended, wish this was more than just a day trip.

Thanks for coming! Whatever you need! It’s no troubles!

A_B wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:41 pm

rass wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:35 am Other than kissing a couple of curbs, so far so good.

Belfast is a great little city with a fascinating recent history, and very eager to please its tourists. Highly recommended, wish this was more than just a day trip.

Thanks for coming! Whatever you need! It’s no troubles!

Fucking brilliant.

A_B wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:41 pm

rass wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:35 am Other than kissing a couple of curbs, so far so good.

Belfast is a great little city with a fascinating recent history, and very eager to please its tourists. Highly recommended, wish this was more than just a day trip.

Thanks for coming! Whatever you need! It’s no troubles!

Dude, some of the shit we saw even on a tour. It’s a super low heat, and Belfast in general is full steam ahead as if it’s never coming back, but it’s still there. Under the wrong circumstances...

rass wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:26 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:41 pm

rass wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:35 am Other than kissing a couple of curbs, so far so good.

Belfast is a great little city with a fascinating recent history, and very eager to please its tourists. Highly recommended, wish this was more than just a day trip.

Thanks for coming! Whatever you need! It’s no troubles!

Dude, some of the shit we saw even on a tour. It’s a super low heat, and Belfast in general is full steam ahead as if it’s never coming back, but it’s still there. Under the wrong circumstances...

You mean like Brexit or something similarly paradigm-changing?!

brian wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:32 pm

rass wrote: ↑Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:26 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:41 pm

rass wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:35 am Other than kissing a couple of curbs, so far so good.

Belfast is a great little city with a fascinating recent history, and very eager to please its tourists. Highly recommended, wish this was more than just a day trip.

Thanks for coming! Whatever you need! It’s no troubles!

Dude, some of the shit we saw even on a tour. It’s a super low heat, and Belfast in general is full steam ahead as if it’s never coming back, but it’s still there. Under the wrong circumstances...

You mean like Brexit or something similarly paradigm-changing?!

What???

rass wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:35 am Other than kissing a couple of curbs, so far so good.

After that heavy petting the curbs took license to just fuck me raw on Monday. Disastrous. But we’re back in NJ, safe and...

Holy shit - almost forgot how completely awe-inspiring the mountains are.

Just back from a week in the Alberta Rockies and went from looking out the bedroom window at hikers walking towards the mountains to seeing old guys in black suits walking to synagogue for morning prayers.

I want to go back already.

I don’t think I could live anywhere without mountains any more. Wouldn’t want to at least.

brian wrote: ↑Sun Jul 28, 2019 3:40 pm I don’t think I could live anywhere without mountains any more. Wouldn’t want to at least.

Drove through blue ridges and smokies over vacation and really enjoy them even though they aren’t the size of what you cats are talking about. Growing up with a “mountain” across the river spoiled me a bit but now I try to appreciate the forests and the gorges.

Pruitt wrote: ↑Sun Jul 28, 2019 11:09 am Holy shit - almost forgot how completely awe-inspiring the mountains are.

Just back from a week in the Alberta Rockies and went from looking out the bedroom window at hikers walking towards the mountains to seeing old guys in black suits walking to synagogue for morning prayers.

I want to go back already.

But you have lakes and cottages.

Blue Ridge Mountains are awesome. That’s plenty big for me.