RECOMMENDED LEISURE ACTIVITY: MINIATURE GOLF

I've always been a proponent for getting in touch with your inner child, and what better way than a round of mini-golf? The thrill of watching a ball (mine was bright yellow!) bank off the wall and then fall for a hole-in-one still manages to create such a rush... by creating, I suppose, a sense that, for a moment at least, there's some sort of order and perfection with the world. Another plus is that I can safely say that mini-golf is an activity which will always induce laughter. The spazzy shots that end up bouncing off and onto a different hole will always manage to make me laugh. And then there's the flirtatious flounderings with your competitor. The somewhat more mature aspect of the game - but then there are some friends who would disagree...

X: "I feel like we're on a date, playing mini-golf and all..."

?: "Yeah, maybe if it was like 15 years ago..."

After a sweet round of 18 holes, we tied - which seems to have provided us with another lesson for the day. Not to take things too seriously. To enjoy the moment for what it's worth - to enjoy the game and not worry about who wins or who who loses... a tie - a perfect ending for perfectly lovely afternoon.

I did give her an extra mulligan on the 15th hole, though.

821

Another quality place to go in San Francisco. 821. It's small, quaint and the bartender plays some killer music. It used to be an unknown neighborhood bar, but it's now starting to get some more attention. The drinks are reasonably priced, and they do some funky things to champagne.

Tip of the week: all that sugar in champagne can cause some serious hangover symptoms - IMOL recommends several glasses of water before you go to bed OR one glass of Emergen-C.

ANOTHER TRIP THROUGH NORTH BEACH

LaDe came to town from snowy Colorado. I haven't seen her since the Foggy Fest, but like the late parrot of yesterweek, she has the distinction of being part of the very first blog entry.

In a word: whirlwind.

I picked her up from the airport, we dropped off her bags, had a drink at MoFo's pad, and then proceeded to hit 1) Tony Nik's; 2) Columbus Cafe; 3) Gino & Carlo's; and then 4) the Savoy.

For once, MoFo did not accompany us on this jaunt through North Beach (she has a job). Personally, I don't know how she keeps up with me as often as she does and still maintain a 9-5 legal position. If there was a night to take off, though, it was this night with LaDe.

Why? In another word: vodka.

I've known LaDe since first year of law school in New Orleans. When I moved to San Fran after finishing school, she was the first to follow. We've drunk many a daiquiri together, let me tell you... amongst other things. There's a certain, special bond that forms between people who have lived in the Big Easy. For instance, take MoFo - didn't even know her when I lived in NOLA though we were in the same class (LaDe introduced us in SF), but because we've NOLA in our blood, it's like we're...

Connected.

MONTE CARLO OR BUST!

In my first post, I mentioned how I wanted to make it to Monte Carlo to play baccarrat with Sean Connery... well, I haven't made it overseas yet, but at least I made it to Vegas again - AND to the Monte Carlo Casino! The casino was not so nice to me, however. All the $$ I made at the Hard Rock and the Luxor, I lost at the Mirage and at the Monte Carlo... and then some. Oh well, doesn't really matter because I had a hell of a time:

For one, I had one of the best dinners of my life at Michael Minna. MoFo and I had a four course seafood extravaganza which included tuna, caviar, lobster and halibut. I ate the food so quickly, I forget how it was prepared... but I do remember it was all delicioso at least. Thank you camera for maintaining a record for posterity's sake.

Also had a very respectable meal at Simon at the Hard Rock Hotel before hitting the Killers/Louis XIV concert which, if I may say, rocked. Two of my favorite bands on stage together - it was like seeing NIN and Bowie all over again.

The other amazing highlight of my weekend was the Cirque de Soleil Beatles LOVE show. The mash-up re-mixes on the music were extraordinary - the visuals overwhelmingly outstanding - the athletic acrobatics amazing - the choreography... crazily kinetic.

"the 5th Beatle" - photo by MoFo