The benefit of staying outside of Seattle for three days is that we get to see what’s outside of Seattle, for a change. Downtown has so much to offer, the temptation is never to leave. There is a world of food, drink, and stuff to do outside of downtown, and arguably some of the region’s…
On Mexico: Preliminaries, Previstos…
Leaving for Mexico in a few days, our first trip really (I was there many, many years ago, it really doesn’t count). We are going for 7 weeks, so quite a chunk of time, and spending most of it in a relatively small geographic region. Focusing on the capital, what D.F has to offer, then off…
Top Breweries Visited in 2014
Here are some of the most outstanding breweries we visited in 2014, while we were based in Vancouver, BC. The list is based on beer quality but also atmosphere and role in the community. 49th State: Denali, Alaska Fitting well with my theory that cold places brew best, Alaskan beer is generally of high quality. However, one…
So About the New Look…
“Drink Vicariously” has been reborn as “Love and Barley.” The inspiration for the new name is from a collection of poems by the Japanese haiku master Basho, who eschewed material possessions and devoted his life to traveling. The new name pinpoints our passions: barley, travel, and writing. Befittingly, the compilation “On Love and Barley” begins with poetry…
They got Vancouver wrong.
http://gawker.com/this-is-the-williamsburg-of-your-city-a-map-of-hip-ame-1460243062 What’s the Williamsburg of your city? The Bushwick? This crowdsourced list is generally good, they nailed most of it. But Vancouver’s is wrong. Although Gastown and Strathcona are correct, no one who knows this city would put Yaletown into either category. The Drive has always had this type of culture/status, so is not a “Bushwick”…
2014: This is what gathering moss looks like.
It seems like just yesterday we wrote about the insanity that was 2013. To create balance in the universe, 2014 has been THE YEAR OF STAYING PUT. At least by our standards. We visited the Canadian Rockies, Alaska, Hawaii, and Portland. And staying put has its own rewards: like spending time with family and reconnecting with old…
Squirreling away for the winter
As we were hiking in Alaska, we saw a mushroom high up in the tree. It turns out a squirrel put it there as part of its overall winter-proofing strategy. Good job. What are you good at squirreling away? How do you maintain a balance between saving and stashing for a long winter and unhealthy…
Spoiled Brat Tourists
We’ve all been disappointed. A hyped movie wasn’t what we expected; a vouched-for restaurant’s food seemed bland. It happens with places too. A few places I’ve been didn’t live up to my expectations, though certainly not as many places as surpassed them. One thing I would never ever do is stoop to the level of these self-entitled…
Proof that whisky carols are the best carols there are.
Ah, brings back good memories.
Southern Mexico Upcoming Trip: Got Tips?
ISO: Your tips! Dates: January-February 2014 (7 weeks total) Methods: Car Key Points: Mexico City Puebla (with possible deke to Xalapa) Oaxaca and surrounds Oaxaca coast (Puerto Escondido and Huatulco) Free/Flex Time: About One Week. Would like to visit Chiapas and Palenque.
6 Candidates Show You Why Vancouver is Special
Vancouver’s civic election is happening now, and all these amazing candidates are floating to the surface like turds in Lost Lagoon. It’s beautiful, really, to watch the process of democracy in action. I had to share some of the best candidates with you, because they are too good to Bogart. 1. Would you vote for…
Easy Sichuan Popcorn
Sichuan mala peanuts are one of the greatest junk foods in the world. We first encountered these in Beijing, at Great Leap Brewing. Luckily, we were able to find the product here in Vancouver. It looks like this: Toward the bottom of each bag will be quite a bit of Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilis,…
Love and Barley 