Category Archives: Beer

Bi Nuu

I have to say that I was very impressed with Bi Nuu, a really cool music venue pretty much underneath Schlesisches Tor metro station. 

We were there, of course, to see Mr William McCarthy. Despite some major technical issues, he put on a great show, with lots of Augustines’ stuff, some new material and a couple of covers. 

As always, he showed himself to be a true artist – and a gentleman. 

Before the gig, we briefly explored the area, finding a nice Indian restaurant with a pretty extensive vegan menu (and a huge vegetarian one). There was a vegetarian/vegan cafe opposite too. The whole area was packed with bars and cafes, and had a good atmosphere. We plan to return when next in Berlin. 

During and after the gig, we met a bunch of nice people, with whom we enjoyed some decent beer. 

A couple of short video clips from the evening. 

Rathaus Spandau

I believe that Spandau metro station is the most beautiful of all metro stations. I still recall being taken with it at first sight several years ago. 



However, all of this metro travel is tiring, so we’re having a sit down with a nice beer.

TNG

many years ago, my eldest grandchild believed that I was Patrick Stewart. There’s a family thing round my mother’s most Saturdays and, years ago, there would be old episodes of Star Trek, the Next Generation on TV while people were there. 

Nowadays, it tends to be 60 minute makeover, but at the time there was a lot if TNG stuff. Anyway, my eldest grandchild used to point at the TV and exclaim  grandad whenever she saw Captain Picard. 

A drawing appeared. I may have mentioned this previously. Me in my Captain’s uniform. 

Yes, that’s me, although the picture was cropped a long time ago, so you can’t see my uniform. 

The original drawing included my second in command, so for completeness I shall show her picture too. I think she’s quite beautiful both in this portrait and in real life. 

Her picture’s nicer because it’s a straight copy from the original, with no attempt at editing (well, she didn’t need any airbrushed hair). 

So, this evening, in town, in the Box Social, I became engaged in conversation with a gentleman while my second in command went to have her nails done. 

Said gentleman mentioned that he lived in Heworth, so I told him that I live in Sheriff Hill. On hearing this, he questioned whether my name was Gary and, if so, I look like my picture on Twitter. 

It turned out we’d been exchanging messages fot a while on Twitter. And he turned out to be a nice bloke. We parted company after a couple of beers, but I’m sure we’ll keep in touch. 

Apparently my eldest grandchild is pleased that her drawing so accurately depicts her grandfather. 

Bikes & trains & kip

Whenever I travel by train in Europe, which isn’t often enough, I’m reminded of the poor state of the UK’s rail network. Trains in Europe are more modern and, because they have no Victorian track legacy, larger. 

They’re significantly cheaper too. When recently booking trains in Germany, I found tickets to excellent value, with first class a lot cheaper than the UK standard fare. And then today, with a return from Ostend to Ghent costing only €10.80.

That’s €10.80 for a 120 mile round trip, on a shiny new train with tons of leg room. 

Another thing which has impressed me about our long weekend in Belgium has been the number of bikes on the road. And cycle lanes, lots of cycle lanes. Another thing in which the UK is deficient. 

Anyway, in Oostende, Brugge and Gent there were a lot of bikes. 

Moving on to a different subject, Belgium is something of a vegan desert. That’s desert, not dessert. I’ve eaten a lot of crisps in Ostend. People eat a lot of kip here (dead bird).

Ghent, though, was different. While we only found a few places, apparently there are more vegetarian/vegan eateries than in London. We found pizza in a mental converted church. 

The Holy Food Market was mad, but amazing. Imagine a huge old church full of eateries and bars. 

So today wasn’t about beer. The cultural stuff kept getting in the way. 

We did manage to stumble across Belgium’s only comic bar though. 

Also mad. 

I did love the emerging veggie revolution in Ghent. Here’s an example on a wall of a meaty restaurant.

Verloren in brugge

Last year we had something of a mishap in Bruges. Our phones had proven to be an unreliable method of navigation, as did our joint sense of direction. 

An unplanned stopover was the result, although the experience was pleasant at the end of the day. 

We found a great hotel and, an essential, a nice local bar. So a return visit had to be made. 

It’s a local bar, so the beer was decent and cheap. But a trip away isn’t just about beer. 

Yes, there’s the architecture too. And table tops. 

Schneeweisse

An important discovery was made in Ouseburn last night. 

Erdinger Schneeweisse; I’d never heard of the stuff and only stumbled across it in the Cluny. I had to resort to the website to learn more. 

Unfortunately, though, it’s a seasonal beer which will soon be unavailable until winter. 

Wingate

I once cycled from Stockton to Washington. It hurt a bit. 

An essential stop-off when legs went all wobbly was Wingate. I’d never been before and have only been there once since. 

When seeking calories, we found a cafe. The coffee was great and the crisps were … well, crisps. 

The place was amazing; a plastic fronted cafe with gorgeous victorian/edwardian booths. Long, narrow tables and mirrors. Ok, so there was a little bit of graffitti. But the place was gorgeous. 

A few years later, I heard that the owner had died and his son wasn’t interested in taking over the business. 

This afternoon though, in the Euston Tap,  I came across a man from Winton (who now lives in Camden). We had an excellent conversation about the old cafe, which sadly is no more. 

Now, in my post train state, I can reflect on a nice conversation. And wonder about the fate of the gorgeous booths of the cafe. I can’t imagine. I heard that landfill might have been involved. 

I’d have bought the lot.