Velvet

It's about time!

Damlog, Stardate 051309 After an uncomfortable overnight slightly drunken flight that wielded little sleep but a virtual a-list of movies, I landed in Amsterdam at 9am. Waltzed through the non-existent ‘Nothing To Declare’ customs queue and found the exchange office where I redeemed my Holland Pass. I was clever enough to think ahead on this one – I knew there was a distinct possibility that I would spend the next five days sitting on my ass and not get around to seeing any of the touristo sites here in Amsterdam, so I prepaid for a pass that gave me entrance to several attractions. I’m too cheap of a tourist to let it go to waste. I hopped the train to central station and took the tram to Liedesplien where I had a hotel room booked through priceline. A five star for under $100cdn a night, split between two turns out to be not much more than a hostel would cost. The NH Amsterdam Centre is a nice looking place with an amazing location, and I was happy to find I could check in immediately, though my request for a smoking room dictated an hour and-a-half wait. No problem, checked my luggage and stepped into the sunny day. I had pre-arranged one of two meeting places and settled on plan B, which had me sitting in front of Rookies Coffeeshop. As a first-timer, I was overjoyed when presented with a smoking menu. I bought a hash joint and a coffee. Enjoyed that on that patio and immediately ordered the same again. Halfway through my second joint the narrow streetscape became utterly two-dimensional. People grew large as they walked towards me and seemed to shrink as they walked away. I felt completely at ease and was quite sure I was unable to stand. A guy pulled up and delivered two trees and a large box, which by the sound of it contained a monkey and perhaps a cannonball, improbably pulling it all out of the tiniest little car. They took the box inside the coffeeshop and set up the two trees outside, one right next to my table. Soon the tree fell on me and I found I could indeed stand up, so I took this as a sign to check the plan A meeting place on the way back to the hotel. Did so just before noon and found no Bradm, so I checked in, drank a hundred duty-free rye and cokes, and around 2pm Bradm arrived after missing me by minutes and waiting at plan B. We cheersed to a good vacation over several rye and cokes and a few joints he had found along the way and headed out to a coffeeshop for beer, snacks, and hoolies. Found all this at the Bulldog, where you buy your smoke from a desk downstairs marked by a sign that says: “Officer On Duty.†Turns out the place was a police station for about eighty years before becoming a coffeeshop several decades ago. We got pretty loaded and stumbled around looking for dinner. Got even more loaded over a burger and fries and found our way to Paradiso. The Paradiso is a very well run venue in a converted church. We arrived just as PJ Harvey was ending her show in the large, main room. We battled our way in against the out crowd and up to the room upstairs, where the opening band was just overcoming amp issues before starting their set. Sleepy Sun is from San Francisco. They have two great lead vocalists, one of each gender, and they sludged their way brilliantly through a swampy, tectonic set that touched on the Doors and The Allmman Bros., with a ‘Babe I’m Gonna Leave You’ Zeppelin-like attitude. I kept pounding the Heinekens and they kept pounding my ears with harmonica inflected trance rock. Even when they played fast, they sounded slow. The headliner was Pink Mountaintops, the solo project for one of the dudes in British Columbia’s Black Mountain. He had assembled a co-ed quintet to back him up, with keyboards/ percussion and violin in addition to the standard rock fare. They played an hour and-a-half of two chord vamps occasionally punctuated with a contrasting four chord chorus. It was vibey and very drunk, but not overwhelming. Pink Mountaintop’s set blended well with Sleepy Sun’s, but frankly I liked Sleepy Sun’s two chords better. I escaped the ear-splitting but otherwise great sounding room (I stood under a digital decibel reader that was often cruising at 106db) for a smoke halfway through the set, and was reminded of the old Whipping Post days. This is definitely as things should be. Hammered and pleased with my first day, I staggered back to the hotel (I guess), wolfed down some food purchased earlier at the grocery (I guess), and went to sleep. Quote of the day: “When in Rome, buy a plane ticket to Amsterdam.â€

Out.

Facebook shmacebook.

Oh, they're here on my stupid laptop and I don't know how to upload them. I also don't want to cross the border with them so I think I'll be deleting them today. Amsterlog: Amsterdam is fun!

Ditto, except I've only seen 14 of the bands listed.

Happiest of birthdays!

#25 this morning. Let's keep the momentum happening! I'm sure others are gonna make a big push in the last few days, and I'd hate to see this slip through Jay's fingers.

My dad has told me the same thing. Apparently back in the day lobster was used mostly as fertilizer.

25th tonight!

You're in 32nd place and two more votes from me.

Yep, 36. Same question: When does this contest end?

I'm trying, I'm trying!

#39.

Even more info: The Metropolis show was fantastic on Saturday night. The Hip are soooo back. They even did an acoustic mini-set to start the second set: new song, Fiddler's Green and Greasy Jungle. If you are at all a fan try ad catch a show on this theatre tour!

Flight cost a little over $800. I've done some research and found that if I book my ticket for Anne Frank house online it's a dollar more but you get to skip the line. I will go first thing in the morning. I should still be up. Already booked a room. I decided on 4-5 star and will be at NH Amsterdam Centre, near the Van Gogh Museum. I will be doing everything, including Van Gogh museum, high. I will eat any deep friend land meat. Thanks for the tip daveyboy. Also thanks for the tip about getting a coffee in the coffee shops. I hadn't intended to. They're $5 aren't they? I will definitely rent a bike. 100% on the to-do list. Alphasmart will be coming along so you'll all be able to read up on what me (and to a lesser extent bradm) will be up to.

I go next week. I don't hit the duty free when I go to the US, 'cuz booze is cheap there. What's croquettes?

Hey all, Got a vacation coming up and maybe you can help. -Is Amsterdam one of those cities where liquor is expensive? Like, should I hit the Duty-Free on my way to Amsterdam and bring myself a bottle of rye or would it be cheaper to buy it there? -Any suggestions on best coffee shop? -Any other overall touristo suggestions? I plan on hitting Van Gogh Museum, Anne Franks house, Heineken brewery tour, and the Vodka house, but I am open to suggestions.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2009/05/05/obit-deluise-dom.html Actor and comedian Dom DeLuise, who developed a reputation as an avid amateur chef along with his prolific entertainment career, has died at age 75. DeLuise died in his sleep in Santa Monica, Calif., on Monday night following a long illness, according to his son, Michael. Born in New York, DeLuise discovered his love of performance early on and eventually graduated from the famed School of Performing Arts in Manhattan. He got his start in theatre — off-Broadway and, later, Broadway — and moved on to TV comedy-variety shows, with his affable nature helping him develop a busy acting career. He became a regular foil for actor friends such as Burt Reynolds and Dean Martin, as well as for director Mel Brooks. Brooks called on DeLuise often for his comedies, including The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. The portly actor was also often cast opposite his friend Reynolds, appearing in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Cannonball Run, its sequel and Smokey and the Bandit II. Missed by Reynolds "Dom always made everyone feel better when he was around. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. I will miss him very much," Reynolds told American celebrity show Entertainment Tonight. DeLuise's prolific career spanned movies, television shows, cartoons, Broadway plays and even a regular gig as Frosh the Jailer in the Metropolitan Opera's production of Die Fledermaus. Food was also a passion for DeLuise, who made morning TV appearances demonstrating his favourite recipes and wrote two successful cookbooks: 1988's Eat This — It Will Make You Feel Better! and 1997's Eat This Too! It'll Also Make You Feel Good. However, his love of eating also led to a longtime battle with obesity. DeLuise is survived by his wife, Carol, and his three sons, Peter, Michael and David — who all became actors.

Please remind me, who is Ice Cube?

Ranked #45 at this mornings vote. When does this contest end?

Rad

Mostly because people are arguing that the best ABB lineups don't include Duane Allman.

It's so close I decided to vote again with a different email address. I will do so again tomorrow.

Done.