OK, my birthday was last week, but I think I get a week to celebrate. :) It was a lovely birthday as well. We were supposed to be home for it but had to change our plans to accommodate a wedding (and by going home at a different time, I get to see my sister). Anyway, it was a good birthday. John got me lots of presents and was very good to me. He even gave me one early. :) I got not one, but two knitting stitch dictionaries/pattern books (one from John and one from friends), a Vogue knitting "how to" book (from one of John's sisters), a book on stained glass, two Avoca cookbooks from a friend, two necklaces (from John), and kitty earrings from a friend. Oh, I also got a green tea scented candle and a picnic set backpack. The backpack is really cute. It has service for two with a place to store food and keep it cold as well. :)
So for my birthday, John took me to Il Posto for dinner. We hadn't been there before but it was wonderful. Excellent food, good service, and an all around nice place. It is a pretty small place but I quite liked that because it made it cozier.
On Saturday, we went to the Porterhouse with friends. John and I got there early so that we were able to get a table. A good group of people came and we stayed out until about 2.30 AM! I hadn't been out that late in ages. After leaving the Porterhouse, we went to get Indian food at our favorite place. It was tasty as always. On Sunday, I had lunch with a friend who I hadn't seen since May. It was lovely to see her and hear that she is doing well. And she is pregnant so I think I have more knitting to do. :)
Showing posts with label Porterhouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Porterhouse. Show all posts
Friday, September 07, 2007
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Ahh, the Porterhouse
On Friday, J rang me and asked if I wanted to go to dinner with her sister's in-laws since they were back in town and insisting on taking the three of us to dinner. John was out drinking with his coworkers because he had a tough week and I wanted to go out drinking so I suggested the Porterhouse. So, the Porterhouse it was.
I arrived there earlier than the others to get a table. Unfortunately, there weren't any tables so I managed to get three stools by the bar. I ended up sitting next to a lady from Canada who was there on her own also. She was in Dublin for the weekend because she was studying biology in various places in Europe. We chatted a bit and I gave her suggestions about what to do while she was in town. Finally, J and the in-laws arrive and we happened to get a table. Well, sort of stole a table from some guys who kept leaving for 30 minutes or more to go have cigarettes but didn't leave drinks or the universal sign of a coaster over the beer to reserve the table. They did leave their coats. We moved them.
So, we had our dinner and were chatting. About 9:30 John finally arrived from drinking with his coworkers. As soon as he arrived, the others got up and left! The in-laws were basically falling asleep and looked ready for bed about 8:00! Oh well.
On Sunday, J send me a text message asking if we fancied an afternoon pint at the Local. Of course we did and made it dinner too. We sat and drank for a while until J decided it was time for her to go home. Well, really to our place to book a cruise for herself and her boyfriend and then go home.
On her way home, she got distracted by live music at O'Sullivans. She phoned us and of course we went over. The musician had a guitar plugged into an amp and played audience requests. It was a lot of fun. The music was in a tiny area up in the front of the pub. There is a huge area downstairs that is pretty nice. I think we will definately go back since the guy plays every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There was also a nice local feel to it since some of the regulars knew the bartenders' names and vice versa. That is probably pretty rare in city centre. One of the bartenders recognizes J and myself, though, at the Porterhouse.
I arrived there earlier than the others to get a table. Unfortunately, there weren't any tables so I managed to get three stools by the bar. I ended up sitting next to a lady from Canada who was there on her own also. She was in Dublin for the weekend because she was studying biology in various places in Europe. We chatted a bit and I gave her suggestions about what to do while she was in town. Finally, J and the in-laws arrive and we happened to get a table. Well, sort of stole a table from some guys who kept leaving for 30 minutes or more to go have cigarettes but didn't leave drinks or the universal sign of a coaster over the beer to reserve the table. They did leave their coats. We moved them.
So, we had our dinner and were chatting. About 9:30 John finally arrived from drinking with his coworkers. As soon as he arrived, the others got up and left! The in-laws were basically falling asleep and looked ready for bed about 8:00! Oh well.
On Sunday, J send me a text message asking if we fancied an afternoon pint at the Local. Of course we did and made it dinner too. We sat and drank for a while until J decided it was time for her to go home. Well, really to our place to book a cruise for herself and her boyfriend and then go home.
On her way home, she got distracted by live music at O'Sullivans. She phoned us and of course we went over. The musician had a guitar plugged into an amp and played audience requests. It was a lot of fun. The music was in a tiny area up in the front of the pub. There is a huge area downstairs that is pretty nice. I think we will definately go back since the guy plays every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There was also a nice local feel to it since some of the regulars knew the bartenders' names and vice versa. That is probably pretty rare in city centre. One of the bartenders recognizes J and myself, though, at the Porterhouse.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Great Sugarloaf
Last Sunday, M, John and I hiked up the Great Sugarloaf Mountain. The "Hiking in Ireland" book that we have said it should take 2 1/2 hours to hike. It took us 3 1/2 hours. We hiked up the difficult side, though. When we got to the top, we saw a much easier trail going up the mountain than we had taken. Since M's car was parked on the difficult side, we hiked down this side also and had to make our own trails for part of the way.
After hiking, we were hungry so we drove over to Johnnie Fox's. It is really nice there but since the wait was over half an hour for food we went to the Porterhouse North instead. Yummy!
The hike was intense but we stopped frequently to admire the view. It really is a beautiful walk and surroundings.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Random thoughts
This Friday was my friend J's 30th birthday. She was dreading it but ended up dealing pretty well, or at least it appears so. Her boyfriend came out for a long weekend, which definitely helped. On Friday another coworker hosted a little get together for her. We then went to the pub next door to their place. It was more of a traditional Irish pub. It was dark, chairs didn't match, and it had sofa type seats in one area. I liked it.
On Saturday, we went to the local. It is different than more traditional pubs but I still like it a lot. Their beer selection is excellent and it has a character of its own. They also have about 5 different ciders. I decided that I should try them all. I have one left to try. While there, we saw the guy who sells the only decent Mexican food that we have found so far in Dublin. He sells food and salsas at the Temple Bar Market on Saturdays. He was there with his family so we had the waitress take him a drink. It was fun because she was obviously flustered by us. First, we fight over who should pay for drinks, then we buy a seemingly random guy one. It was fun and he recognized John as a customer. He thanked us on his way out.
On Saturday, J and her boyfriend went up to Howth to wander around. They went in and out of pubs since it would suddenly downpour for a few minutes and if you were outside, you got soaked. Anyway, they said that they were in this pub and it was playing American music over the speakers. They stopped playing the music a couple minutes before a tour bus pulled in. They then had some musicians (I think) play traditional Irish music. The group had a drink, left, and the regular music went back on!
On Sunday, I had to get a prescription filled. I used to pay about $40.00 a month for this medicine at home. It was available in generic for about $25.00 but my doctor didn't want me to take it because it is slightly different. Anyway, I got four months worth here for 7.50! That raised the question that I ask myself a lot (and is a huge political debate in the States): why are drugs so expensive back home? Ok, this is an older medication and my doctor told me that it had actually been taken off the market because it was too cheap (why didn't they just raise the price then?). All of my medications are cheaper here but comparatively, this one is far less than the others. I wonder why.
On Saturday, we went to the local. It is different than more traditional pubs but I still like it a lot. Their beer selection is excellent and it has a character of its own. They also have about 5 different ciders. I decided that I should try them all. I have one left to try. While there, we saw the guy who sells the only decent Mexican food that we have found so far in Dublin. He sells food and salsas at the Temple Bar Market on Saturdays. He was there with his family so we had the waitress take him a drink. It was fun because she was obviously flustered by us. First, we fight over who should pay for drinks, then we buy a seemingly random guy one. It was fun and he recognized John as a customer. He thanked us on his way out.
On Saturday, J and her boyfriend went up to Howth to wander around. They went in and out of pubs since it would suddenly downpour for a few minutes and if you were outside, you got soaked. Anyway, they said that they were in this pub and it was playing American music over the speakers. They stopped playing the music a couple minutes before a tour bus pulled in. They then had some musicians (I think) play traditional Irish music. The group had a drink, left, and the regular music went back on!
On Sunday, I had to get a prescription filled. I used to pay about $40.00 a month for this medicine at home. It was available in generic for about $25.00 but my doctor didn't want me to take it because it is slightly different. Anyway, I got four months worth here for 7.50! That raised the question that I ask myself a lot (and is a huge political debate in the States): why are drugs so expensive back home? Ok, this is an older medication and my doctor told me that it had actually been taken off the market because it was too cheap (why didn't they just raise the price then?). All of my medications are cheaper here but comparatively, this one is far less than the others. I wonder why.
Friday, March 31, 2006
BYOB
Last night, J phoned me to see if I wanted to go to the Italian place for dinner. I of course was interested. When she got to my place, she decided that the local sounded better. I also agreed with this. So, about 7:00, we headed over to the local. We had our dinner and drank a bit. Since I didn't have to work today (I took the day off because I could), I didn't care how late we stayed out.
So, we had our dinner and were drinking when this group of people came and sat at a table near us. One had some blueish/greenish hard liquor drink, another had Corona, and the third had Heinekin. Two more people joined the group. The ones who were already sitting told the two newcomers that the beer at the Local was horrible and the only good things were in bottles. They said this like bottles were a bad thing. Anyway, they had a house weiss beer and gave one of the newbies a drink as evidence that they had bad beer on tap. The newbies liked this beer and both went to the bar to order and came back with glasses (no bottles). Later in their conversation, one of them said our Local was a manky pub! I guess there really is no accounting for bad taste.
Anyway, later in the evening, I walked by a large group of people sitting in a different area on my way to the toilet. They had bottles inside paper bags! They brought their own bottles into the pub! Earlier, I had seen them eating food there and had also noticed the bottles but they left them there when they left. They BYOBed (bring your own beer/bottle) to a pub!!!!
So, we had our dinner and were drinking when this group of people came and sat at a table near us. One had some blueish/greenish hard liquor drink, another had Corona, and the third had Heinekin. Two more people joined the group. The ones who were already sitting told the two newcomers that the beer at the Local was horrible and the only good things were in bottles. They said this like bottles were a bad thing. Anyway, they had a house weiss beer and gave one of the newbies a drink as evidence that they had bad beer on tap. The newbies liked this beer and both went to the bar to order and came back with glasses (no bottles). Later in their conversation, one of them said our Local was a manky pub! I guess there really is no accounting for bad taste.
Anyway, later in the evening, I walked by a large group of people sitting in a different area on my way to the toilet. They had bottles inside paper bags! They brought their own bottles into the pub! Earlier, I had seen them eating food there and had also noticed the bottles but they left them there when they left. They BYOBed (bring your own beer/bottle) to a pub!!!!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Porterhouse again
Last night J and I went to the Porterhouse. She needed to relax after moving a bunch of her stuff and I needed dinner. I had just gotten back from picking Caineal up from the vet. I took her to a different vet for a second opinion since the first one wouldn't x-ray her heart to check the state of her heart murmur. This one took x-rays of her heart, her backbone, and scanned her heart. She has really severe heart problems and currently is dehydrated and has fluid in her lungs (but none on them). One of the valves in her heart is blocked almost completely. Basically, she probably has about 6 months or less. That makes me really sad but I know that I have given her a good end of life and she seems pretty happy even though she can hardly walk sometimes from the arthritis and disc degeneration.
So, both of us needed a bit of a cheer up. We got there and since there was a football (soccer) match on, the place was pretty full. We ended up sitting by two guys from Frankfurt, Germany. They go away every year at this time because Frankfurt has a Carnival long weekend like Mardi Gras and they don't like to be there then. So, we chatted with them all evening. We had some interesting conversations about politics, which of course J tried to avoid and would go to the bathroom whenever it got to be too much for her. At the Porterhouse, they are having a stout festival. J tried the chocolate truffle stout but didn't like it. I tried the chocolate truffle stout with Tia Maria in it. That was tasty. It was fun to watch the two German guys drinking stout. One of them winced when he took drinks of it because he is used to lighter German beirs.
As we were walking back to my place, J told me that we have to broaden our bar repertoire. I am sad by that but she is probably right. We can go to the other Porterhouse but we have to start going to pubs outside of Temple Bar. I hope she has some good ones down by her or maybe there are some good ones between where she moved and where John and I live...
So, both of us needed a bit of a cheer up. We got there and since there was a football (soccer) match on, the place was pretty full. We ended up sitting by two guys from Frankfurt, Germany. They go away every year at this time because Frankfurt has a Carnival long weekend like Mardi Gras and they don't like to be there then. So, we chatted with them all evening. We had some interesting conversations about politics, which of course J tried to avoid and would go to the bathroom whenever it got to be too much for her. At the Porterhouse, they are having a stout festival. J tried the chocolate truffle stout but didn't like it. I tried the chocolate truffle stout with Tia Maria in it. That was tasty. It was fun to watch the two German guys drinking stout. One of them winced when he took drinks of it because he is used to lighter German beirs.
As we were walking back to my place, J told me that we have to broaden our bar repertoire. I am sad by that but she is probably right. We can go to the other Porterhouse but we have to start going to pubs outside of Temple Bar. I hope she has some good ones down by her or maybe there are some good ones between where she moved and where John and I live...
Sunday, January 22, 2006
good weekend
I had a good weekend. I don't really want to go to work tomorrow, I'd like my weekend to continue. On Friday, J and I went out to dinner at Toscana. It was yummy as usual and I had part of my meal boxed up to take home. I had ordered cheesy garlic bread and only ate one of the two pieces and asked them to wrap the other one. When I unwrapped my garlic bread on Sat to eat it, there were two pieces. :) The waiter gave me a fresh order!
When we got back from Toscana, my landlord and a handyman were in my (very messy) apartment trying to figure out what was wrong with my water heater which I had told her wasn't working properly earlier in the day. She is very effecient. A plumber is supposed to come out tomorrow to work on it!
Ok, back to Friday. My friend Cot got a different job so she had a little drinking night out at the Porterhouse North. This is a different Porterhouse than I go to. It is about a 10 minute bus ride but 40 minute walk away. Anyway, a few people showed up and we had a lot of fun. We even got a free drink because Cot knew someone who was there for a company party and got free drinks he wasn't using so he gave us some! Happy days! E and I also decided that Cot should do a shot. I don't know where we got this idea from. I think it was her idea and because she is only 22. :) So we drank a lot, talked a lot and danced a little. It was an excellent night.
On Saturday, John and I slept in and relaxed. I got my hair cut Saturday morning. That will be a different post. :) I like my haircut, though. So we relaxed most of the day and then J sent a text asking if we wanted to go to the local later. Of course we did so we went for dinner and left about 11:00. We then came back home and the three of us chatted and played a game of Fluxx. It is a brilliant game but confusing at times since the rules change constantly.
On Sunday, we slept in again. Not too late today, though. I vacuumed the floor, mopped, and cleaned the bathroom. Then we went grocery shopping. Just after we got home and I was about to start making the lasagna, J buzzed and I invited her to stay for dinner. She did and we had lasagna and garlic bread. Then instead of walking the dog, I offered to make dessert. John agreed and I made very rich chocolate brownies.
So, it was a good weekend. Good food, friends, good conversation. No exercise, which would have probably made it perfect. 4 days until we go to Barcelona. Oh, and John is taking this week off work so I get to see him every day for over a week!
When we got back from Toscana, my landlord and a handyman were in my (very messy) apartment trying to figure out what was wrong with my water heater which I had told her wasn't working properly earlier in the day. She is very effecient. A plumber is supposed to come out tomorrow to work on it!
Ok, back to Friday. My friend Cot got a different job so she had a little drinking night out at the Porterhouse North. This is a different Porterhouse than I go to. It is about a 10 minute bus ride but 40 minute walk away. Anyway, a few people showed up and we had a lot of fun. We even got a free drink because Cot knew someone who was there for a company party and got free drinks he wasn't using so he gave us some! Happy days! E and I also decided that Cot should do a shot. I don't know where we got this idea from. I think it was her idea and because she is only 22. :) So we drank a lot, talked a lot and danced a little. It was an excellent night.
On Saturday, John and I slept in and relaxed. I got my hair cut Saturday morning. That will be a different post. :) I like my haircut, though. So we relaxed most of the day and then J sent a text asking if we wanted to go to the local later. Of course we did so we went for dinner and left about 11:00. We then came back home and the three of us chatted and played a game of Fluxx. It is a brilliant game but confusing at times since the rules change constantly.
On Sunday, we slept in again. Not too late today, though. I vacuumed the floor, mopped, and cleaned the bathroom. Then we went grocery shopping. Just after we got home and I was about to start making the lasagna, J buzzed and I invited her to stay for dinner. She did and we had lasagna and garlic bread. Then instead of walking the dog, I offered to make dessert. John agreed and I made very rich chocolate brownies.
So, it was a good weekend. Good food, friends, good conversation. No exercise, which would have probably made it perfect. 4 days until we go to Barcelona. Oh, and John is taking this week off work so I get to see him every day for over a week!
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Closing the Porterhouse
After a tough week, J and I decided that we needed to go to the Porterhouse. Ok, it is common for us to go there. One day this week I had a migraine and couldn't sleep at night for a few days. I got some good ideas and work done when I couldn't sleep, though. I figured out a budget and planned some lessons.
Anyway, that threw my week off as did having to take Caineal to the vet. She passed out late Wed. night and was out for probably about a minute. It took a few minutes for her to get her strength back. The vet thinks that her heart murmur has gotten worse and she has some fluid around her heart. She is now on two medicines, a heart med and one that keeps fluid from building up. I think that she is already starting to feel better and has a bit more energy than she has had for a couple weeks.
So, J and I went to the Porterhouse for dinner and drinking. We got there about 7:30 and it was already pretty full. There was a guy sitting alone at a table with a couple stools by it so we asked if we can share his table. He says sure as long as we don't talk to him. He was reading the paper and doing the crossword puzzle. Or so we thought. So J and I are chatting. J goes to the bathroom and a guy at another table starts talking to me by asking where I am from. He asks a couple questions and then my friend comes back and we stop talking. Later, the guy at our table "reading" the paper asks what time it is and then I go to the loo. When I get back, J is at the table next to the one we were sitting at and a bunch of guys are at the table we were at. Apparently while I was in the bathroom, the guy "reading" the paper asked J a bunch of questions she didn't want to answer. He also was waiting for friends who happened to show up while I was in the loo.
So, now we were at a table with three guys. I ended up sitting next to the guy who had talked to me while my friend was in the bathroom. We start talking about politics because a lot of people like to ask what I think about Bush and American foreign policy. J hates these conversations so she starts having her own with the other two guys. It was an intersting conversation and the guy I am talking to knows a lot about American history and foreign policy. He was almost like an encyclopedia and had an intersting prosody (little flat/monotone ish). So, the night goes on and we seem to be having fun and OK conversation. Then one guy leaves. I go to the loo again and a few minutes after I come back and we had a new round, my friend suddenly says she has to leave now. I had no idea what happened. She was just really angry and she NEVER wastes any beer. She gets mad if the waiters/waitresses take her glass with a sip left. The other guy calmed her down. What I found out later was that the guy talking to me had asked her a politcal question about the Iraq war. I had specifically told him not to ask her political questions becuase she doesn't talk politics. J is fiercely loyal to America and doesn't like it when people diss the country or policies, even if she disagrees with them.
So, we get her calmed down and later the band starts and J and I go downstairs because it is too loud where we were. It was also a bit uncomfortable because only the guy talking to me and antagonizing her, J and I were there (and he was trying to hit on me which made me uncomfortable). So, J finds different seats and I go and join her. Then John comes and we order more rounds. Then my friend C and her friend come after getting done watching "Brokeback Mountain." They start flirting with a few guys and gets a German guy to ask John a question in German to test John's German. We also wonder why a different guy at the bar was cranky (he had left his seat near us to go to a different part after one of the barentders was tapping on the taps). The bar closed at 2:30. That's when we left since they asked us to.
After leaving the Porterhouse, we see the pizza place across the street is open. We go there and have pizza with chips. I missed the late night diners because I think pancakes make much better drunk food than pizza. It soaks up the alcohol better.
We finally headed home about 3:30 AM! I haven't stayed out that late since I was in college. It was a good night. We had fun and definately let off the stress. I wonder if J made it hiking like she wanted to today. John and I had a pretty lazy day. We are planning on going back to the Porterhouse for dinner tonight with our friend M and her boyfriend
Anyway, that threw my week off as did having to take Caineal to the vet. She passed out late Wed. night and was out for probably about a minute. It took a few minutes for her to get her strength back. The vet thinks that her heart murmur has gotten worse and she has some fluid around her heart. She is now on two medicines, a heart med and one that keeps fluid from building up. I think that she is already starting to feel better and has a bit more energy than she has had for a couple weeks.
So, J and I went to the Porterhouse for dinner and drinking. We got there about 7:30 and it was already pretty full. There was a guy sitting alone at a table with a couple stools by it so we asked if we can share his table. He says sure as long as we don't talk to him. He was reading the paper and doing the crossword puzzle. Or so we thought. So J and I are chatting. J goes to the bathroom and a guy at another table starts talking to me by asking where I am from. He asks a couple questions and then my friend comes back and we stop talking. Later, the guy at our table "reading" the paper asks what time it is and then I go to the loo. When I get back, J is at the table next to the one we were sitting at and a bunch of guys are at the table we were at. Apparently while I was in the bathroom, the guy "reading" the paper asked J a bunch of questions she didn't want to answer. He also was waiting for friends who happened to show up while I was in the loo.
So, now we were at a table with three guys. I ended up sitting next to the guy who had talked to me while my friend was in the bathroom. We start talking about politics because a lot of people like to ask what I think about Bush and American foreign policy. J hates these conversations so she starts having her own with the other two guys. It was an intersting conversation and the guy I am talking to knows a lot about American history and foreign policy. He was almost like an encyclopedia and had an intersting prosody (little flat/monotone ish). So, the night goes on and we seem to be having fun and OK conversation. Then one guy leaves. I go to the loo again and a few minutes after I come back and we had a new round, my friend suddenly says she has to leave now. I had no idea what happened. She was just really angry and she NEVER wastes any beer. She gets mad if the waiters/waitresses take her glass with a sip left. The other guy calmed her down. What I found out later was that the guy talking to me had asked her a politcal question about the Iraq war. I had specifically told him not to ask her political questions becuase she doesn't talk politics. J is fiercely loyal to America and doesn't like it when people diss the country or policies, even if she disagrees with them.
So, we get her calmed down and later the band starts and J and I go downstairs because it is too loud where we were. It was also a bit uncomfortable because only the guy talking to me and antagonizing her, J and I were there (and he was trying to hit on me which made me uncomfortable). So, J finds different seats and I go and join her. Then John comes and we order more rounds. Then my friend C and her friend come after getting done watching "Brokeback Mountain." They start flirting with a few guys and gets a German guy to ask John a question in German to test John's German. We also wonder why a different guy at the bar was cranky (he had left his seat near us to go to a different part after one of the barentders was tapping on the taps). The bar closed at 2:30. That's when we left since they asked us to.
After leaving the Porterhouse, we see the pizza place across the street is open. We go there and have pizza with chips. I missed the late night diners because I think pancakes make much better drunk food than pizza. It soaks up the alcohol better.
We finally headed home about 3:30 AM! I haven't stayed out that late since I was in college. It was a good night. We had fun and definately let off the stress. I wonder if J made it hiking like she wanted to today. John and I had a pretty lazy day. We are planning on going back to the Porterhouse for dinner tonight with our friend M and her boyfriend
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Porterhouse!
Last night for dinner John and I went to the Porterhouse. It is a bar/restaurant and is pretty big with a comfortable/lodge type atmosphere. The food was good and John got a German beer that he liked. While we were there, we saw a group of women getting ready for a hen party. They dressed up like nuns! Ok, not really, they just wore the head dress and the thing around the neck with a cross. I think it was actually a Sound of Music theme because when one of them came in, the other ladies sang the theme song from the movie. We took pictures of the whole group for them.
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