Northern Ireland Confidential

wish it was saturday night

There's a song by Dave Alvin called "I Wish it Was Saturday Night," and I would add a verse that says, "I wish it was Saturday night when people wanted to go out, not Friday or Sunday afternoon."

Hey, I've had some pretty great Fridays and Sundays here, but I can really think of just a few memorable Saturday nights.

I had an absolutely brilliant Friday night, so it's perhaps a bit ungrateful to moan that Saturday night went bust a bit pear-shaped. I had put on my face and new shoes and even earrings (!) for nothing. So I went to the movies.

Therefore I was delighted to get a text this week from new friends inviting me to a Christmas event this Saturday night with some very fun people. But I cannot make it. It's our annual Christmas party do at work. But I cannot make that either. (When it rains, it pours!)

I'm going to Amsterdam for the weekend. I feel so continental writing that.

Let's see if Saturday night plays better there. My big plan? Going to the movies.

 

festivi-tea

I changed the banner at the top of the page because DMJ made so many good ones and because it's a picture of the ornamental ironwork outside the Merchant Hotel, where my workgroup recently had Christmas tea (or, as I like to call it, a strategy session).

What's more special than afternoon tea at a posh downtown hotel? Nothing, in my opinion. It's so feminine and formal and dainty. I always enjoyed "strategy sessions" with my Nashville team at the Hermitage Hotel, which seemed lavish, but it's a bit wan compared to the opulance of the Merchant's Great Room. We booked a couple weeks ago -- a good decision given the busy Christmas season -- and were ensconced at seats with velvet pillows cushions and crisp white linens.

Little cherubs looked down from the high ceilings and held gilt-covered objects. This used to be a bank? Even the ladies' room was amazing. (I didn't take pictures of that.)

vox populi

We talk a lot at work about SMEs -- Subject Matter Experts. Now I turn to you, Northern Ireland readers, for expertise in this subject matter:

The Antrim Coast.

My sister and JFA are visiting for 2 weeks in late December and we've decided to spend a few days based out of Bushmills. We intend to keep a vigourous schedule of sleeping, walking and eating and drinking.

So what are the don't-miss walks, restaurants and pubs?

Is Rathlin Island worth a visit?

Now the very tough question: New Year's Eve in Belfast. Any pub recommendation?

(1) We are old. Read as: We don't want to go to a club.

(2) Traditional music is grand.

(3) Hats and horns hooters optional.

personal artistic director

I like to think I have taste and discernment, but it's always nice to have an authorised agent back you up on some things. When I lived in Nashville, I always took an absurd pleasure in seeing musician/critic Peter Cooper show up at a concert or club. Now in Belfast it's playwright/director Martin Lynch who is my personal arbiter of culture.

When EMH and I were at Tedford's last week, he was there. (I mentioned to her, "Hey, that guy's a respected theatrical director," but she might have thought I was making it all up taking the mick.) Then, there I was Friday at the John Hewitt, and your man walks in. He was very gracious, even to my rambling sycophantic remarks.

Wonder what's on for next weekend?