Cocktail Corner – Money Maker

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One of the greatest thrills in life is finding money. Sure, that means someone else has carelessly lost that same cash, but let’s celebrate the wins, rather than the losses. Here are some of the Sip Advisor’s memorable stories of coming into money:

Toy Story

When I was younger, I collected pro wrestling action figures. This led to many trips to toy stores, particularly when travelling in the U.S., where more variety was available. Anyhoo, on one shopping stop at KB Toys, as I went to pay for my haul, what did I find in the impulse bins by the cash register, but a crisp $20 bill. I had to retrieve the money in covert fashion, so as not to alert the cashier to it. Yes, a teenager Sip Advisor was already quite crafty.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Nugget Dinner

On my first adult trip to Las Vegas, I had just cleaned up pretty well at the electronic poker machine – you know, up a whole $60 because I’m the highest of rollers! – and on my walk back to our room to grab a drink, I happened across a $20 bill, just lying there in the middle of the hall. With currency conversion, finding American money was like winning the lottery.

Found Money

A Walk to (Sort Of) Remember

There’s nothing better than a fun night out with friends… until you find some cash on your walk home. Sure, it was only a fiver, but I celebrated the occasion like I’d won a sports championship. After all, that covered half of one of my brews (thanks Vancouver pricing!). This was among many great memories that came from the time in our lives when Jimmy’s Taphouse was our preferred local watering hole.

Yacht Clubbing

Friends of ours were members of the Vancouver Yacht Club when we were all living wonderful childless lives. As we partied one night, I stumbled across a bill sitting on the ground, but this was no ordinary piece of currency. No, it was 20 Swiss Francs, which translated into $50 Canadian when I went to exchange it. This was a fantastic way to end one of our many evenings along the water.

Cocktail Corner: Money Maker

Money Maker

  • 1.5 oz Gin
  • 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
  • 0.25 oz Limoncello
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

I once thought the Sipplings would never get to experience the high of finding money, what with the general elimination of cash and coins, but we have found the odd nickel, dime or quarter when out and about. What are some of your memorable found money moments?

Love & Hate – BLT Cocktail

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One of my favourite things in the world to eat is a sandwich. I like sandwiches so much, I don’t mind making them myself. I mean, I prefer others to do the work, but this is one particular area where I’ll make the effort myself, if needed. Here are sandwich options I love:

BLT/Clubhouse

These relatively basic masterpieces are a highlight of any menu and something the Sip Advisor searches out, particularly at diner-themed eateries. Lays once released BLT potato chips and I loved the limited edition product. As for the sandwiches, I prefer turkey or chicken to be part of Club, over ham, since you already get some cured meat with the bacon, but I won’t be picky over the subject.

Peanut Butter & Jam

Since I was a kid, PB&Js have been a favourite lunchtime meal. It saddens me I can’t really get my kids into them with all the peanut allergies and school bans on nuts. I mean, I love PB&Js so much, I’ve even bought a vodka version and made PB&J cocktails. As for my preferred jam/jelly, I’ve always been a raspberry guy, but am open to other options, such as strawberry.

PB&J

Pulled Pork

A pub favourite, I have enjoyed many Pulled Pork Sandwiches over my life. These sandos seemed to come out of nowhere – or perhaps a younger, pickier Sip Advisor just wasn’t paying attention – but when they did hit my radar, I was all for the blend of barbecue sauce, pork, coleslaw, pickles, and crispy onions. I’m also down for the slider variation of this meal, allowing for sharing the joy.

There are so many honourable mentions I could include: Beef Dip, Grilled Cheese, Cheesesteak, Reuben, Smoked Meat, Lobster Roll, Po’ Boy, among them. Also, international menu items, such as the Cubano, Torta, Bahn Mi and Bifana deserve mention. Sadly, some despicable sandwiches lurk in the shadows. Here are the sandwiches I hate:

Tuna Salad

While I’ve recently become more of a fan of tuna dishes – poke bowls, in particular, becoming part of my preferred meal list – it would take a desperately hungry Sip Advisor to ever have a tuna salad sandwich. Same things goes with a tuna melt. Heck, anything with ‘salad’ in the title should remain a salad and not become a sandwich. I’m looking at you egg salad and chicken salad.

Mayonnaise

Cucumber

I love cucumbers, but they should not be the focal point of a sandwich and I would argue they shouldn’t be served between bread in any matter. They belong as part of a salad or on their own. I mean, you might as well just be eating bread. Mrs. Sip contends that Cucumber Sandwiches are a nice addition to afternoon teas, while I counter that afternoon teas are a tool of the devil.

Ham and Cheese

As noted above, I rank ham low on my meat hierarchy. Combine it with cheese, which a young Sip Advisor deplored and an adult Sip Advisor merely accepts, and you aren’t really appealing to my appetite in any way. I’m also down on sandwiches loaded with salamis, preferring those types of meats to be placed on crackers. And while I’ve never had a Bologna Sandwich, I don’t intend to.

Love & Hate: BLT Cocktail

BLT Cocktail

  • 1.5 oz Bourbon
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Top with Tonic Water

While there is a drink that calls for you to blend bacon, lettuce and tomato with vodka, I went with this BLT recipe instead. After all, what truly makes a BLT great is mayo (or other sauces) and I don’t plan to put that in any beverage.

Sip Trips #233: Playoff Fever

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April was a very uneventful month, as far as outings go. We were trying to behave ourselves following our big Spring Break vacation and stayed in more than usual. That said, we did get up to a few things:

Upon arriving home from our epic Escondido road trip, we had dinner at Boston Pizza. I ordered the Royal Hawaiian pizza, but didn’t pair a drink with it, as it was finally time to do some post-holiday detox… I mean, at least for a day or two.

In the middle of the month, I took Girl Sip to our last regular season Vancouver Canucks game. As part of our daddy-daughter evening, we had a nice dinner at White Spot, where I ordered a pint of Bridge Bourbon Blood Orange Wheat Ale to go along with my Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad. Upon realizing that our game didn’t start until 7:30pm, instead of the typical 7:00pm, I added another beer to the tab in the Twin Sails Dat Juice Pale Ale.

Playoffs

The following week, the Canucks were in the playoffs and Mrs. Sip and I attended our first ever post-season contest. We also brought along each of our dads, as early Father’s Day gifts. Prior to the game, we had an amazing feast at Devil’s Elbow Ale & Smokehouse. We arrived just before happy hour ended, so I squeezed in an order of the Crosstown IPA. I would later add a pint of Neighbourhood Way of Life IPA. To eat, we got The Platter for FOUR, which includes pulled pork, beef brisket, sausage, back ribs, and wings, along with four sides, where we elected to add the sauteed mushrooms, coleslaw, fries and mac ‘n cheese cornbread. I particularly enjoyed the smoked wings and fries dipped in a grainy mustard they offered, but the whole spread was spectacular.

That’s it for the month. Shocking, I know. May should be a little more adventurous, including another getaway to Great Wolf Lodge in Washington. Until then, I guess I’ll have to continue (reluctantly) behaving myself!

Cocktail Corner – Moscow Mule

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The Sip Advisor loves food. I’m not a foodie, per se, as I don’t care to know the ins and out of my meals, but I do like eating. For various reasons, though, sometimes a place you visit just doesn’t live up to the hype. Here are my picks for the most overrated restaurants I’ve tried:

Chipotle

I prefer a chain such as Chronic Tacos over Chipotle, if I want to get a quick burrito or taco fix. And any true Mexican eatery is better than all the chain ones combined. My preferred menu choice at fast serve places – an Al Pastor Burrito – is completely bland at Chipotle. In particular, the sauces they offer aren’t very interesting, which combined with the other uninspired ingredients, leads to a very underwhelming experience. I’ve also found service to be particularly slow on the few occasions I’ve tried Chipotle. Perhaps I need to try an American location, before passing final judgment.

Chipotle

White Castle

I was so excited to finally eat at a White Castle location in 2013, while visiting New York City. This was years after Harold and Kumar introduced me to the chain with their wild misadventures. Boy, was I disappointed. I found the steamed burger experience to make buns soggy in quick order and a lack of any flavour substance to the experience. I’ve since tried the restaurant again, giving it another chance to wow me. Once again, I came away questioning why the company is so popular it was used for the movie franchise. Apparently Krispy Kreme was offered the role first, but declined. I do appreciate White Castle’s fascinating history of inventing many fast food concepts, but I’m not sure I’ll ever spend my time or money at one again.

In-N-Out

This burger chain is so popular that long lines course through their locations. And the wait just isn’t worth it. I expected to be blown away by the California-based icon, but found it to be nothing special. On our most recent trip to the Golden State, we contemplated visiting an In-N-Out, but with no chicken option on their menu, Boy Sip would have nothing to eat and so passed on the opportunity. I think part of my annoyance with In-N-Out is that I don’t know what exactly to order and their not-so-secret secret menu just complicates the issue for me even more.

In-N-Out

Cheesecake Factory

I’ve had some good meals at Cheesecake Factory and others that were disappointing for one reason or another, whether it be a long wait to be seated or my meal being lackluster. The restaurant’s menu is so massive, it takes a fair bit of time to narrow down your order and I personally never remember what I previously had and whether or not I enjoyed it. It’s one of those things where they do a lot of things in average fashion, rather than focusing on fewer items and doing them all well… or at least better. One thing can’t be denied, the cheesecake they offer is fantastic.

Little Caesar’s

When Little Caesar’s first came to my hometown as a young kid, it was the pizza to get for sports team gatherings. Crazy Bread was practically a revelation for my generation. Today, the Sipplings also love Crazy Bread (or Silly Bread as they call it), but let’s be honest here, the pizza at Little Caesar’s is not very good. Sure, I’ll grab a Hot-N-Ready offering when I’m at the store (because I’m a top notch dad, of course), but I’m typically disappointed with the pizza, even at the cheap price. For me, their pizza sauce just isn’t very good, lacking any flavour. And that lack of flavour continues throughout the rest of a slice. Drowning my ‘za with ranch dressing is really the only way to get through a Little Caesar’s pie.

Cocktail Corner: Moscow Mule

Moscow Mule

  • 2 oz Vodka
  • Top with Ginger Beer
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Garnish with a Lime Slice

Other places that seem to come up in lists of overrated restaurants, but I can’t comment on, as I’ve never sampled their wares, include Chick-fil-A and Whataburger. For a few others (Olive Garden, Panera, etc.), I’ve only visited once, so feel I haven’t given them a fair enough shake to comment. As for today’s drink, the Moscow Mule comes up on many lists of overrated beverages. While I’ve made a number of the drink’s variations for this site, I’ve never made the original, a cocktail I do enjoy.

Love & Hate – The Spudtini

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Potatoes are so versatile. They can be used in tons of different dishes, many of which the Sip Advisor enjoys and others… eh, not so much. Here are the potato creations I love:

Chips

I’ve made it very clear over the course of this project that the Sip Advisor is a Chippy Monster. Rarely a day goes by – for better or worse – that I’m not eating these amazing snacks. I even had a potato chip-themed party as part of my 40th birthday celebrations. To say the Sip Advisor is one with the chip would be an understatement. They are my spirit food!

Hash Browns

I like all things hash browns, whether they be diced, shredded, patties, etc. One of my favourite meals that Ma Sip often serves up is Breakfast for Dinner, featuring bacon and hash browns. This turns the Sip Advisor almost animalistic, as I try to shovel as much of the feast into my body until I’m bursting at the seams. Even the Sipplings, picky as they can be, rank this meal highly.

Hash Browns

Fries/Tater Tots

I’m going to lump these two together because that’s how they’re listed on my phone grocery list note. If I have fries, I don’t need tots and vice versa. Both go great as side dishes to a variety of main courses. Burgers, sandwiches, chicken, fish, steak, I could go on and on. They can also both be used as focal points for meals such as casseroles, poutines and nacho-like spreads.

Narrowly missing the cut are Greek potatoes, potato salad, pierogies and fried potatoes. Not all that fries is gold, however. Here are the potato servings I hate:

Baked Potato

I just don’t get the appeal of baked potatoes. First, they take forever to make, needing 45-60 minutes to cook. Once made, they’re pretty bland, unless you load them up with excessive toppings. This isn’t so easy, given the shape of the dish, unless you do the work to pull all the guts out. It is much simpler – and tastier – to work with fries or tots to achieve far better results.

Baked Potato

Mashed Potatoes

In a similar vein to baked potatoes, I find mashed potatoes to be fairly boring, even spiced up with gravy or other enhancements. If sauces and other toppings are needed to make something even somewhat tolerable, why bother!? I will give credit to mashed potatoes as a gateway spud dish, as kids can enjoy playing with their food and they’re easy to eat for young ones.

Scalloped Potatoes

I’m not sure exactly why I dislike these cheesy, saucy taters, but if I see them served at a function, I almost have a gag reflex to them. Perhaps it dates back to my dislike of all things cheese-related as a youngster. Although my tastes have evolved as I’ve grown up, I still find this dish to be too slimy for my liking and don’t like that the potatoes are soggy and limp.

Love & Hate: The Spudtini

The Spudtini

  • Rim glass with Potato Chips
  • Muddle Cucumber Slices
  • 2 oz Potato Vodka
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Dash of Simple Syrup
  • Pinch of Salt
  • Garnish with Cucumber and Lemon Slices

Regardless of how I feel about various potato dishes, one thing will always remain true: the crispier the better for the Sip Advisor… unless they come in liquid form, of course!

Cocktail Corner – The Corner Store

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Sometimes I’m caught reminiscing about the stores that have come and gone in my life. Places that provided me with various levels of joy, but no longer exist. Here are some of those businesses:

#5: HMV

A favourite store of a young Sip Advisor, HMV was the place to get the latest music, movie or even poster. I never knew until now, but HMV stood for His Master’s Voice, taken from a painting of a dog listening to a phonograph, which became the company’s logo. After all, the company first existed as a one of the earliest recording companies, founded in 1921. Some HMV locations can still be found in the U.K. Similar companies, such as Suncoast Motion Picture Company (only five locations left in the U.S. as of 2021) are also deserving of mention in this category.

HMV

#4: Playdium Arcade

When Burnaby’s Metrotown Mall added its Metropolis expansion, one of the feature tentants was Playdium Arcade, complete with arcade games, fun food, motion simulators, and the other typical arcade fare. Today, the space is occupied by a Winners store. How the mighty have fallen! Reasons for the mid-2000s closure vary from mismanagement to rent increases. Apparently, The Rec Room, which has opened a location nearby the Sip Advisor, is a spiritual successor of Playdium, so Mrs. Sip and I will have to check out the place sometime.

#3: Future Shop

It used to be that any time of friend or family member’s birthday approached, a simple trip to Future Shop provided ample opportunity to get a gift for whoever was being celebrated. It was also a one-stop destination for Christmas presents. Future Shop was acquired by Best Buy, once the chain moved north from the U.S. While the Best Buys still exist, I just don’t have any reason to go in them anymore, as I haven’t bought anything they offer in years. In a similar vein, I should include Circuit City, which was visited on countless trips to the States as a teen and young adult.

Future Shop

#2: KB Toys

Toys R’ Us (which many Americans would include on a list like this, but the store still exists in Canada) may have been the king of toy stores when I was growing up, but there was a certain charm to KB Toys stores, which were stocked as high as can be with toys of every type in small, narrow-aisled facilities. I have many memories of finding wrestling figures and other treasured items at the Bellis Fair location in Bellingham, Washington. I also remember once coming up to the cashier at another location and finding a $20 bill laying right in front of me. I got my toy and got some cash, so it was a big win on all accounts.

#1: Rogers Video/Blockbuster/Jumbo Video

The video rental store has gone the way of the dodo, which makes me sad in that I’ll never get to share that experience with the Sipplings. Before Blockbuster finally arrived in Canada, other options such as Rogers Video and Jumbo Video provided me and my friends with countless hours of enjoyment. It all started with the thrill of perusing the thousands of titles available and deciding on what you wished to view on any given night. Then, the actual watching of the movie, TV show or other form of media was almost secondary. Mrs. Sip and I often reminisce about this amazing part of our childhoods and early dating years.

Cocktail Corner: The Corner Store

The Corner Store

  • 2 oz Whiskey
  • 0.25 oz Absinthe
  • Top with Club Soda
  • Splash of Cherry Syrup
  • Splash of Lemon Juice
  • Dash of Yuzu Juice
  • Dash of Ginger Beer
  • Garnish with Maraschino Cherries

An honourable mention goes to Payless Shoes, which provided me the opportunity to get my shoe shopping done quickly for minimal cost. That’s all I’ve ever asked from my shopping experiences!

Cocktail Corner – She’s Paying

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Let’s be honest, nobody really likes paying for anything, but it’s a necessary evil of our society. Here are some things in particular the Sip Advisor hates having to pay for:

Sauces at Eateries

You ever complete a food order and ask for some packets of ketchup or something, and the place tells you that will cost extra? I also hate when you’re at a place and they give you the tiniest little sauce container and upon asking for more, you get dinged some silly charge. The Sip Advisor is a sauce guy, through and through, so if I ever ran a joint, I’d offer up as much of the good stuff as a customer needed to complete their meal.

Unnecessary Tips

First and foremost, I believe in all workers making a living wage and appreciate places like Australia, where servers and others don’t need to rely on tips. I’m tired of places like fast food restaurants and other stores having a tip option pop up when I’m paying. Well, I haven’t been served in any way, and in fact, I’ve done all the work for you. Sure, it’s easy to skip past leaving any tip, but you feel kind of bad doing so. At a fast food place, does that mean they’ll do something to your food or not prepare it to the highest of quality because you didn’t leave a little something extra?

Tipping

Parking

I loathe all types of pay parking, even going extra distances to not pay. Some lots, where you’re forced to pay is just insulting, adding salt to the wound. This includes hospitals and schools, among other establishments. I also can’t stand going into a pay parking lot and all the spots are reserved, even though they remain empty.

Service and Processing Fees

All the behind-the-scene costs that can occur with a transaction are ridiculous. They can best be seen with airline and event tickets, which puts companies such as Air Canada and Ticketmaster near the top of my dislike list. It’s not just that fees are charged, it’s that the fees are so unbelievably exorbitant and absurd.

Luggage

Speaking of airlines, I can’t believe the rates they charge for you to check a bag or sometimes to even carry one aboard the plane yourself. Sure, if you’re packing a few suitcases and other items, you should have to pay up, but we often travel with one or two bags for the entire four-person Sip Family. They should be paying us for being so considerate of others.

Luggage Fees

Medical/Dental/Vision Procedures and Items

Why some things, such as contacts and glasses, certain therapies, etc. are not fully covered – or sometimes even included – in medical plans is beyond my comprehension. As Mrs. Sip argues, these treatments can decrease more expensive costs in the future, but I guess medical plan providers hope you age out of their system by the time you really need coverage.

Toilets

Frankly, I think this act should be illegal. It’s exploitation and if you’re in a rush to use the facilities, say for yourself or with a young child, who has time to fumble around for payment. In a similar vein, but at least you can access a washroom in an emergency, is situations where a bathroom attendant waits near an exit to collect money after you’ve used a facility. And you have to wonder what exactly this attendant does, because every bathroom I’ve encountered with this set up is typically amongst the filthiest I’ve ever seen.

Bags at Stores and Restaurants

At some grocery stores and fast food restaurants in my neck of the woods, you can be charged for a paper bag for groceries and take out orders. I refuse to pay 25 cents for a bag I’m going to immediately recycle, so I’ve often carried my items out, which can look odd. Ah, the price I’ll pay to not pay!

Cocktail Corner: She’s Paying

She's Paying

  • 1 oz Vodka
  • 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
  • 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
  • 0.25 oz Amaretto
  • Garnish with Money!

One last item I hate paying for is sex. Fellas, whether we like it or not, we’re all paying for sex in one way or another, even if you’re not going the hired companion route!

Sip Trips #232: Escondido Escape

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The bulk of March was spent travelling to and staying in Escondido, California. Here’s what we got up to on our road trip to the Golden State, as well as the lead up to the Spring Break getaway:

Early in the month, following one of Girl Sip’s ringette games, the Sip Family had dinner at White Spot. I had the Legendary Burger with Caesar Salad, paired with the beverage version of a Caesar, which is typically a Sunday special in these parts.

A couple days later, my work treated us to lunch at Catch 122 in North Vancouver. I ordered the Bulgogi Steak N Egg, which was a fantastic dish. Unfortunately, given it was a work function, only water was consumed during the meal.

Work

That weekend, with our vehicle in for servicing, Mrs. Sip and I had lunch at Milestones in Langley. I tried the Steak Sandwich with Cajun Fries, combined with a pint of Blue Moon. I loved the flavours going on with the sandwich, but the steak was really chewy. The fries were also quite good.

That night, Mrs. Sip and I had a Canucks game to attend and discovered that you can get cheaper drinks in the SportsBar Live! portion of the arena and even ask for them to be put in to-go cups. We plan to utilize this more often in the future.

Next up, we hit the road for my first ever long distance driving trip (ie. multiple stops to get to our destination) behind the wheel. We left early in the morning and got a really good start, finally making our first stop of the journey in Salem, Oregon, at For Tomorrow We Die Brewing. There, I had the Hootenanny Herb & Spice Beer, while Mrs. Sip ordered the Kiss the Girl Amber Ale. To share, we had the BBQ Pork Sliders and Samosas, which made for a good feast.

Road Trip

Another hour of driving and we were at stay one of the trek in Springfield, Oregon. For dinner, we met up with Ma and Pa Sip – who were also driving to Escondido – at Hop Valley Brewing. Mrs. Sip and I shared again, going with the BLTA with Tater Tots as our side. The sandwich was absolutely loaded with bacon, which I appreciated. To drink, I enjoyed the Stash Panda IPA.

Our next stay was in Dickson, California, so we could visit the nearby Jelly Belly Tour and Museum the next morning. The experience was very good, especially for the Sipplings. My only complaint was I wish their café offered beers and other beverages, which would have been nice to enjoy as Pa Sip and I got the kids set up with lunch, while Mrs. Sip and Ma Sip did Wine and Chocolate Tasting offered.

Stay three was spent in Kettleman City, California. We had dinner at Wild Jack’s Tex Mex BBQ, which allowed the kids to run around and play as we ate, drank and all enjoyed time outside the vehicle. Our meal included the Brisket Sandwich, Beer Battered Cheese Curds and some other sides ordered by Ma and Pa Sip. My beverage of choice was a bottle of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Driving

On our final day of driving, I made a point of visiting the Rainforest Café in Ontario, California, so the Sipplings could experience the restaurant. My Modelo Especiale came in a souvenir glass, which I didn’t really need, but there didn’t seem to be any glassware option. Mrs. Sip got the Mongoose Mai Tai, also in a souvenir glass. To eat, we split the Tuki’s Turkey Club.

Finally, we arrived in Escondido and it was time to kick back a little… after a thorough supply shopping excursion, of course. For drinks, I picked up the White Claw Variety 24 Pack, which I greatly enjoyed, given it had a fantastic variety of flavours (Watermelon, Blackberry, Black Cherry, Mango, Peach, Tangerine). I also snagged the Lagunitas VarietI-PAck (IPA, Hazy Wonder IPA, A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Wheat IPA, Island Beats Tropical IPA) and a bottle of Trader Joe’s Rum of the God’s Amber.

The next day was Boy Sip’s fourth birthday, so we spent the occasion at Legoland. For lunch, we dropped into the Knights Smokehouse BBQ, where I had the Tarantula Hill Cali Day IPA. The Sip Family shared the delicious Smoked Haven Platter (Brisket, Pulled Pork, Ribs), along with sides of Fries, Potato Salad and Cornbread. We also got some Chicken Strips for the table, which were so good I went back for them on our next visit (the Sip Family bought year passes, given they had a buy three, get one free deal going on). Best of all, a side of Chicken Strips were only $5. The eatery’s Smoky BBQ Sauce was also tremendous.

Lego

After a few days off to enjoy the Welk Resort we were staying at, we visited the nearby Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum. There, as most of our group enjoyed some of the vineyard’s wares, I sat down to a can of Mother Earth Cali Creamin’ Vanilla Cream Ale, reminding me how good this beer is.

Looking to restock some of our supplies, Cousin Sip and I did some more shopping at a Vons grocery store. There, I picked up a 1.75-litre bottle of Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum (for only $20!!!), along with the Mother Earth Cali Combo Mixed 12-Pack (Peaches & Cream, Vanilla Cream Ale, Orange Creamsicle) and Ashland Hard Seltzer case (Raspberry Lemonade, Watermelon, Mango Strawberry, Tropical Cherry).

On the last day for some of our group, we travelled to Temecula to hit up some of the breweries there. Boy Sip and I played a number of games at Black Market Brewing, as I enjoyed an Enemy Within Dragonfruit IPA. We also stopped at 8-Bit Brewing, where I had The Oregon Pale Hazy Pale Ale. We had tried to go to Garage Brewing, but minors weren’t allowed because they don’t have a food menu. This was too bad, as we had a couple good trips to their previous location in 2018, when they offered a great pizza menu.

Drinks

One other brewery stop we made was to Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, which is a massive facility. This was Boy Sip’s 100th brewery, so celebrations were in order as I loved my Wagyu Luxe Burger, paired with a Space Bar Friends Altbier. The bistro has an interesting online ordering system, which practically eliminates the need for a server.

A few days later, we returned to Temecula, this time to the Old Town area, so we could enjoy some Mexican fare. Mrs. Sip selected Landeros Mexican Grill + Cantina for our lunch, where I had the Tacos de Queso Birria and a pint of Pizza Port Chronic Ale.

Sadly, it was time to pack up and make the haul back home, starting on Easter Sunday. Along our way home, we had dinner at Pea Soup Andersen’s in Santa Nella, California (also our stopping point for the night), where I ate the “Rich Boy” Triple Decker Club with Potato Salad. This is another place I would have loved to enjoy an adult beverage, but that wasn’t an option in the dining area.

Returning Home

Our last stay was spent in Eugene, Oregon, where we went for a meal at Red Lobster so Mrs. Sip could partake in Lobsterfest. I really enjoyed what’s become my usual order at the chain, the Sesame-Soy Salmon Bowl, along with a pint of Blue Moon.

That wraps a pretty epic March. April doesn’t have nearly the same content on the calendar, but I’m sure we’ll find a way to have fun, as we always do!

Cocktail Corner – Titanic

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While I’m far from a cinefile, I’ve seen my fair shares of flicks. I haven’t managed to see everything out there, though, particularly some very popular films and franchises. Here’s a collection of movies the Sip Advisor has never seen:

The Godfather Part II

I really enjoyed The Godfather, but have not viewed the follow up, despite it being universally called the greatest sequel ever. Of all the films mentioned here, The Godfather Part II is the one I wish most to cross off my watch list. I guess I’ll be sitting down to a serving of mafia madness soon. That said, I’m not sure if Part III will be part of my viewing, given its mixed reviews.

Fast & Furious Franchise

Despite countless movies, I have never viewed a single scene of this high-octane series. While I enjoy some chase scenes, I’ve never been a ‘car guy’ and I suppose that’s part of what keeps me from sitting down to these films. I also can’t make sense of who’s good and bad within the franchise, with characters perhaps changing roles over the course of the long-running story.

Fast & Furious

Schindler’s List

You have to be in the right frame of mind to watch this heavy film, one I believe everyone should view for the lessons it shares. Mrs. Sip and I even bought a special edition DVD release of the movie years ago, but have never even opened it. I suppose I’m more likely to lean into comedies and such, rather than dramas this serious.

Gone with the Wind

Frankly, my dear, I DO give a damn… but that doesn’t mean I’m falling over myself to dedicate 3.5 hours to this historical classic. I imagine the film moves fairly slowly, as was the style back then, so that 3.5 hours could feel a lot longer. The movie may provide an opportunity to drink some southern cocktails and other classics, so perhaps I can work up my excitement level.

Titanic

My heart will NOT go on for this tragic romance tale. I find the real life Titanic story to be fascinating, but try as Mrs. Sip might, I have firmly put my foot down that I will never, EVER watch this movie. I don’t care about its Oscar success. I don’t care that it stars Growing Pains alum Leo DiCaprio (that’s where we all know him from, right!?). Hell, I don’t even care about the nude Kate Winslet scene… after all, I can find that anywhere on the internet, if I so choose.

Titanic

Citizen Kane

What many call the greatest movie ever made, is one that these eyes have not viewed in full. I tried watching the film a couple years back, but fell asleep early into the drama and never gave it another go. At this stage, if I try to view it again, I’ll have to start from the beginning, meaning I previously wasted some precious minutes.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

The cult classic has been on my and Mrs. Sip’s Halloween watch list for some time, but each spooky season passes without us seeing the musical. Part of the delay is Mrs. Sip wants to go to one of the theatre showings of the film, where folks really get into it, while I’d be happy sitting on my own couch for our viewing party. I’m even willing to wear one of the characters odd outfits to complete the experience!

Cocktail Corner: Titanic

Titanic

  • 1.5 oz Vodka
  • 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
  • 0.5 oz Galliano
  • 0.5 oz Blue Curacao
  • Garnish with a Lemon Slice

Which movies have you not gotten around to viewing? There’s just so much content out there and new stuff coming down the pipe every day, it’s hard to go back and get some of the classics checked off.

Love & Hate – Toy Story

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Through my experiences with Girl and Boy Sip (aka the Sipplings), I’ve come to love and hate a variety of toys that have come into my life, as a result of being a parent. Let’s start with the toys I enjoy seeing my kids enjoying:

Marble Works

Growing up, a young Sip Advisor was such a fan of Marble Works sets that Ma Sip remembers me tracing the paths of the toy in catalogues. Boy Sip is particularly fond of playing with tracks his dear ol’ dad builds. My only issue with these sets is all the marbles I have to dig out from under the couch.

Lego

Another toy that the Sip Advisor was quite into in my own youth. I love seeing the Sipplings creating and imagining with Lego. It’s fascinating to see how the brand has evolved since my days of enjoying the bricks. Now, there seems to be a line of sets for every property in entertainment and I’m here for many of them.

Lego

Outdoor Equipment

One of my more recent favourite pastimes, is hanging out at Ma and Pa Sip’s place, drink in hand, while the Sipplings ride bikes, trikes, scooters and other vehicles around their cul de sac. Sometimes, we bring out Boy Sip’s remote control car, and I chase the Sipplings with it, as they fly around the neighbourhood.

Let’s give an honourable mention to tablets because sometimes you just need your kids the shut up and leave you alone for a bit! On the flip side, here are some items the Sip Advisor dreads seeing the kids get their hands on:

Play-Doh

I understand that Play-Doh and similar products are practically a right of passage for kids, but man do I hate this stuff. I hate the way it feels, smells, crumbles, hardens, etc. Every time the Sipplings sit down with Play-Doh, it means I will have a messy cleanup on my hands and will likely threaten to ban the junk from use in the home.

Playdoh

Slime

In a similar vein to Play-Doh, I greatly dislike slimes and goop products, which have become popular in recent times, thanks to all the bozo online influencers out there. These substances always seem to get into kids’ hair and clothes, as well as on household furniture and is not easy to remove.

Chalk

What a vile substance. I once had a kid come up to me at a playground, wipe their chalky hands on my pants and giggle the whole time they did it. Worse yet, I’d never met this child in my life, so giving them hell or walloping them was certainly not an option. Even schools realized that chalk sucks and boards have disappeared since.

Also worth mentioning is any toy without an off button, particularly ones that make noise and have no volume adjustment or way of shutting down. Throw musical instruments into this category, although Boy Sip asking for and receiving a mini trumpet for Christmas was quite entertaining.

Love & Hate: Toy Story

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  • 2 oz Peach Schnapps
  • Top with Club Soda
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Garnish with a Lime Wedge

Which weapons of destruction – they can all be classified this when in the hands of a child – do you love or hate? Time to go throw out all the Playdoh, slime and chalk I can find around the house!