Driving down Josepehine Street after school I had to pull over, take this picture. The light on the Cathedral was  reflected just before the sun set.

Just before sunset, November afternoon.

Unlucky Horseshoe

http://www.mywrigleyville.com/index.cfm/act/Read-Article/i/216/article/Budweiser%20Building%20WHAT?

Let me try and understand the facts here around Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs and the Wrigley Field Rooftops.

First, you have a team with the worst run in all sports. It’s been 101 years.

You also have a Wrigley Field rooftop owner who refuses to pay the Chicago Cubs previously agreed to royalties. This ordeal becomes an ongoing and public legal saga between the Wrigley rooftop owner and the Cubs.

This very same rooftop owner then acquires the Wrigley rooftop with the Budweiser logo on it that’s been there since baseball was invented.

Next, the new rooftop owner, in litigation with the Cubs, puts a tarp covering the Budweiser logo during a playoff game because of a failure to receive payment.

This is then followed-up with Horseshoe Casino replacing Budweiser as the advertiser on the Wrigley rooftop for the 2009 season.

Now, the Cubs are blocking Horseshoe because they refuse to pay and the Cubs say they are “keeping Wrigley Field pure and enahancing the experience” for Cubs fans with silly green boards? I’m sure it has nothing to do with the rooftop owner.

Yep, it all makes perfect sense.

This weekend I had the opportunity to hang out over at the rooftop bar of The Wit Hotel appropriately named, ROOF.  Twenty-seven stories above the intersection at Lake and State, ROOF has amazing views of the city.  Entering into The Wit, we were directed up to the second level where a host was taking names.  Providing our names, we had about a ten minute wait before we were able to take the elevator upstairs.  The bar is roomy enough and does serve food.  Drinks of choice seem to be variations of martinis and other cocktails.  They have a very limited beer option available, and the price for a Stella was $8.00.  Keeping in mind it was November when we were there, the locale has many heat lamps and firepits. Even outside, we were very comfortable in the heated areas; outside temperature otherwise was about 45F with a slight breeze.  A great mix of people and age groups (mostly young professionals in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties), just about anyone would have a great time here.  Pricey drinks, but what can you expect at a rooftop bar in the Loop.  I give ROOF at The Wit Hotel a B.  I’m not much for waits and over-priced drinks, but with no cover and a great atmosphere, I’d recommend heading here and enjoying some time with your friends.

A prendre avec pincettes, il s’agit d’un classement britannique…

Mes préférées :

Jackson Pollock en pleine action :

Karajan drivant la 5e symph’ de Beethoven :

L’inénarrable Rooftop Concert des Beatles :

Bar restaurants everywhere are beginning to lift their game – once again, I underestimated this little bar restaurant’s food quality. And boy, did I feel like I disrespected the place. The exterior of this place isn’t quite the most impressive – there’s a big black door, minimal signage and your black suited security guards casually within the diameter of the door – had I not noticed the crowds gathering outside on a Friday or Saturday night, I would have never guessed to look up to see the signage.

As you walk up the dark black stairs and enter through Cookie, you feel as though you’ve been transported back time. The restaurant is lively with subtle music, cheerful wait staff in Alice in Wonderland inspired dresses, straw hats and knicker bockers. We’re seated at a wooden table sporting a floral tablecloth with a lacy white doily. This place has amazing character.

Thai green curry with corn & chicken dumplings served with coconut rice and Chicken & lime leaf fritters served with cucumber& chilli

The Royal Flush

We happily choose a main and an entree to share and ask for the drinks menu and our jaws dropped by the thickness of the drinks menu – it takes us over ten minutes to skim through and pick two drink choices. I settle for the Royal Flush which was served in an overly tall, tall glass – it may have looked like a task to accomplish but the blend of refreshing flavors and touch of sweet and sour was a treat for the hot and humid evening.

The food begins to roll out and the green curry was one of the best I have ever had – smooth, the right balance of heat, and flavoursome. But the coconut rice is a genius, the rice is light and fluffy infused with coconut flavour – I could have devoured a entire bowl of plain coconut rice if I could. The fritters are moist on the side and super crunchy on the outside with a nice kick of chilli – it would have been better enjoyed with a cooling dipping sauce.

After dinner we venture upstairs to the Rooftop Bar. There should be a health warning of how many stairs you actually have to go up to reach this bar, but the accomplishment at the top is quite worth the endurance. Gorgeous city lights, faux grass, deck chairs and chillable music.

Cookie
Level 1, 252 Swanston St
Melbourne
www.cookie.net.au

Rooftop Bar
Level 7, 252 Swanston St
Melbourne
http://www.rooftopcinema.com.au

Por Maurício Belfante

A cada dia tomando mais presença no espaço musical, o Stereophonics vai sendo inspiração para as novas bandas de britpop ou que tentam fazer um estilo mais original. Sem mais delongas, vamos aos conceitos e ao álbum mais ousado desta banda.

Conceito

Stereophonics é uma banda galesa e foi criada em 1992. Com seu estilo virado para o britpop,a banda é composta por Kelly Jones (País de Gales; vocal, guitarra, piano e compositor), Richard Jones (País de Gales; baixo e vocal de apoio) e Javier Weyler (Argentina; bateria e percursão).

O álbum Just Enough Education to Perform, feito em 2001, é um dos mais queridos pelos seus fãs (inclusive por Wayne Rooney, jogador do Manchester United, que até tatuou o nome do disco no braço) e um dos mais bem sucedidos desta banda. Além de ser um dos álbuns mais lentos, ele ainda tem uma pintada de folk e contry. Mas o ‘lento’ não é aquela coisa cansativa, pois a voz rouca e berrada de Kelly faz a música ser um algo inédito e prazeirosa de se ouvir.

Faixas do CD

1.Vegas Two Times (4:27) – Faixa de abertura. E que abertura. É umas das melhores música do disco. A guitarra é bem forte e a voz de Kelly no melhor estilo, bem rouca. Acordar com essa música de manhã é ter bom humor certo.

2. Lying in the Sun (4:31) – Kelly Jones sabe o que é fazer música. Essa faixa conta com a belíssima voz e guitarra de Jones, mas com a percursão de alto nível de Javier, deixando a música muito gostosa.

3. Mr. Writter (5:19) – Simplesmente o hino do disco e da banda. É muito difícil explicar essa música, já que ela tem muitos recursos, como piano, refrão ‘chiclete’, fora outras características. Que tal ouvirem e tirarem sus próprias conclusões?

4. Step on My Old Size Nines (3:59) – Música linda. Eu acho ela meio country, mas com aquele toque britpop, original do Stereophonics. Ela é bem diferente que as outras e tem muitas paradinhas que ressaltam a voz de Jones. Recomendo.

5. Have a Nice Day (3:29) – Música ao melhor estilo britpop. Vocal de apoio fazendo a parte grudenta, que mesmo que as pessoas não saibam a letra cantem a parte. Digamos que ela é uma música incansável de ouvir. Uma das melhores faixas do álbum.

6. Nice to Be Out (3:06) – Outra música com aquele temperinho de country e folk. Violão diferenciado com a voz de Kelly no seu estilo.

7. Handbags and Gladrags (4:46) – Faixa mais dramática e bonita do álbum. Ela foi single do Chris Farlowe, em 1967. Ótima regravação e ótima música. Vale a pena conferir.

8. Watch Them Fly Sundays (3:30) – Outra música bem britpop, mas com o violão bem solto. Esta faixa é uma das mais brisadas de todo o CD.

9. Everyday I Think of Money (3:22) – Faixa drámatica, coisa fácil com a voz rouca e berrada de Jones. Mas também tem uma parte bem alegre, que acaba cortando a ‘bad’ do começo. Ótima música.

10. Maybe (4:32) – Adoro o violão desta música. Bem ritmada e empolgante.  Vocal de apoio muito bom fazendo um ‘lálálá’.

11. Caravan Holiday (3:11) – Folk fazendo presença novamente, mas não em tanto peso quanto antes. Música maravilhosa, não tem muita descrição. Faixa para brisar, certeza.

12. Rooftop (6:15) – Se o CD começou bem, terminou com chave de ouro. Rooftop é uma das melhores música do álbum e uma das mais animadas. Ela é um pouco grande, mas o tempo passa rapidinho de tão boa que é.

We started a long over due project for this crazy rich guy.  He made an ass load of cash on some website and built these insane super modern condos.  Theres four in this one building, and none are sold.  I think each one is probably over a million dollars.  Bad time to sell.  It’s a shame– it’s easily the sickest building on the block, the nicest, the tallest, the best hands down.  The place is amazing.

In the mean time the building owner hired us to paint his roof.

He wants something to be seen from the GOOGLE SATELLITE map photos!

The final message will be World Peace, with a globe to symbolize the Earth and a peace sign icon.  We will ultimately tie in the dudes’ web URL and put a big THE STATUS FACTION on a side roof panel (so it can be read from the street).

Here’s some photos from the jump-off of this project.
We hammered out the monster scale PEACE SIGN on saturday.

Mixed some really great GREEN tones.

STAY TUNED TO SEE HOW THE FINAL PAINTINGS TURN OUT!

Phone: 954 603 8772.
Please leave a message and you will be contacted ASAP.

A/C not fixed = $20 (diagnosis/service)
If your air conditioning (A/C) is not fixed, the charge $20 to diagnose the problem.

A/C fixed + No parts = $50
(If your A/C is fixed and no parts are needed, the charge is $50 total.You will not pay more than $50 unless parts need to be purchased.)

A/C fixed + Parts = $50 + Cost of parts.
If your A/C is fixed and parts are needed, the charge is $50 + the cost of the parts.

Please note: Freon/refrigerant is a part and is not included in the service fee.

This is not an hourly fee – the labor fee is $50 no matter how long the repair takes. The charge is $20 if the A/C is not fixed.

Please note that the following services are not currently being offered: 1) coil change-outs, 2) compressor change-outs and 3) installations.

Here is a list of cities currently being serviced:

Boca Raton
Coconut Creek
Coral Springs
Deerfield Beach
Fort Lauderdale
Hillsboro Beach
Lauderdale Lakes
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Lauderhill
Lighthouse Point
Margate
North Lauderdale
Oakland Park
Parkland
Pompano Beach
Tamarac
Wilton Manors

South Broward, West Broward and Miami-Dade County are not currently serviced.

Here is a list of some of the units that may be repaired…
- Commercial A/C units
- Residential A/C units
- Split A/C units
- Package A/C units
- Wall A/C units
- Window A/C units

Please note: Personal Checks and Business Checks are not accepted as payment at this time.

If you can’t call, feel free to email your phone number to the email address at the top of this listing and you will be contacted ASAP.

Any and all air conditioners have a possibility of repair.

Here are some (but not all) brands that repairs are possible for..
Goodman, Trane, Carrier, York, Rheem, Ruud, Fujistsu, American Standard, Lennox, Mitsubishi, Bryant, Payne, Duchane, Fedders, Heil, Janitrol, Armstrong, GE, General Electric, Honeywell, Amana, Comfortmaker, Tempstar, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Guardian, Generac.

License # CAC014666

URL : http://www.flashgame-girl.com/Sports/Rooftop-Skater-1.html

Game description :

Jump over rooftops and create some killer stunts.

Game controls :

Use arrow keys to move and make stunts.
Space bar to jump.

Boundary is 120 yr old Victorian warehouse in Shoreditch, East London that has been restored into 3 restaurants and bars (including rooftop drinking space), 12 boutique guest rooms, 5 suites, a bakery (Albion café/ awesomeness) and a food store.

Aside from locally sourced organic produced served and sold in the restaurants and food stores, the unique environmental aspect is the 120m bore holes that have been drilled below the floors of the ground floor restaurant.

One hole collects water and energy from the natural artesian reservoir that flows beneath and the other hole returns the same untainted resource after it has been used to operate the air-conditioning, refrigeration systems, ice-machines and various other equipment.

Aside from the environmental aspects the aesthetics, atmosphere and panoramic rooftops views makes this spot a great early evening haunt for food, drinks and a bed if needed.

via remodelista

European Hotel Design Awards – The Boundary – Hotel of the Year

Renovated Ashmolean by Rick Mather Architects

Pictures have emerged of the Ashmolean Museum following its £61m renovation by Rick Mather Architects. As a recent Wallpaper article says, “The Ashmolean museum in Oxford, once a dusty old labyrinth of higgledy piggledy rooms and illogical corridors, has been transformed almost beyond recognition.” It’s true — the pictures are stunning. (Click here for a slideshow.)

Good news for those who seek shelter in museum cafe’s was buried in the final paragraph of the article:

The renovation has also brought the city of dreaming spires its first rooftop restaurant, reached via a cascading staircase that runs up through the new atrium.

No more details are available. We’ll try to find out. In the meantime, we may simply have to wait until November 7th, when the museum opens to the public.

Hasselblad 500 C/M | Tri-X @ 400 | f8

Don’t you wish you had a bath with a view?

Our Outdoor Daybed from Dodaz has a unique and innovative contemporary design that features a padded bolster cushioning. Two people can easily stretch out comfortably on the 6′ x 6′ mattress. Enjoy the Dodaz Outdoor Bed poolside, on the patio or in the garden.

The quick dry outdoor foam cushion is soft and comfortable and covered with a Sunbrella® weather resistant fabric which is extremely moisture resistant and colorfast against sunlight. The rust and corrosion proof aluminum frame has a superior quality powder coated finish available in several colors. Choices of frame colors and fabric tones are offered, as well as your own custom fabric can be used.

Home Infatuation offers everything required for distinctive outdoor living. We address the wish lists of homeowners and businesses with a diverse menu of products for the Outdoor Room, from decorative outdoor lighting, area rugs and accessories to luxurious sofas and dining furniture.

Home Infatuation offers international shipping, delivering a high level of customer service worldwide. For more information, call 877-224-8925, or visit www.homeinfatuation.com.

We invite you to join our fan club and receive the latest updates on home décor trends by following us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/homeinfatuation.

Home Infatuation offers a leading variety of outdoor fountains that can be used on a tabletop, wall and even large fountains for the patio and garden.

The calm sounds of flowing water, birds chirping and a beautiful garden scene set the stage for the ultimate outdoor area. An outdoor fountain gives an added element of charm to an outdoor area in all seasons of the year.

By using outdoor fountains in key areas throughout an outdoor space you can easily create many lovely and unique “garden rooms” with each one having a dramatic focal point. Home Infatuation’s selection of outdoor fountains varies in all shapes, sizes and color. Ranging from just inches high to well over six feet, you will find the right sized fountain for your space.

An outdoor fountain that is used all year will also attract wildlife to your yard and garden as it acts as a reliable water source.  Home Infatuation’s fountains are produced from durable materials that make this an excellent long-term purchase for the homeowner.

If creating a beautiful home both indoors and out is one of your desires, let Home Infatuation help make this a reality. Contact us today by visiting http://www.homeinfatuation.com to view our current products and also to receive a free outdoor room designer consultation on the creation of your new space.

My monthly girlfriend happy hour without wine is like an awards show without Kanye West making an irrational outburst–practically unnatural.

So, I’m happy to report that View Ultra-Lounge and Nightclub located in the Gateway District has a new wine concept that’s enough to get my girlfriends as excited as finding out who’ll survive the Seattle Grace and Mercy West merger (for the guys out there – that’s pretty electrifying).

Called Vinebar Tapas and Tastings, this unique experience allows visitors to delight in their own wine tastings in a chic, cosmopolitan ultra-lounge. And, between us girls, the mystery behind Julie Mayer’s unsolved strangulation just got some competition.

Here’s how it works:

1. PAY: Upon entering this trendy lounge and nightclub, you’ll want to head right to the bar to purchase your Vinebar VIP Tasting Card in increments of  $20, $50 or $100 (there’ll be a $10 deposit that is refunded after you turn the card back in). You’ll be handed your tasting card and a wine glass.

2. BROWSE: Head over to the two Winestation Islands, which are the two, large machines containing  16 visible bottles on each. Take a look at the 32 enclosed bottles of wine and bubbly to find your first selection. Each bottle is perfectly preserved to its ideal temperature (cool whites and temperate reds) to ensure maximum taste. And, if you’re just not sure where to begin, ask one of the friendly bartenders for a little run-through of your options.

3. SELECT: After you’ve selected one of the many unique vintages, you’ll then need to decide what sort of portion you’d like to try. Vinebar makes it easy to choose between the following portions: Casual Taster (2 oz. taste), The Dabbler (3 oz. half glass) or The Drinker (6 oz. full glass). Prices are clearly marked above each option.

4. POUR: Okay, so now you’re ready to get busy. Insert your card into the Winestation next to the variety you’ve chosen. Tip your glass under the spout of your selection and press the portion you’d like to try. Instantly the machine pours you a perfectly portioned glass and the Winestation has charged your Vinebar card. Then, remove your card.

5. ENJOY: This is the fun part. Find some prime real estate for you and the girls – maybe a seat in the hip lounge, or (if whether permits) a spot on View’s famous terrace rooftop that boasts some of the most exquisite views of the city. Then, drink up with, of course, some conversation sprinkled with a little reality television critique and some friendly gossip.

6. RINSE AND REPEAT STEPS 2 – 5.

Vinebar, which opened in August, was the first in the country to offer this “perfect taste” environment. I found the experience to be extremely easy and FUN! The concept allows you to avoid fighting for a bartender’s attention, while managing the amount of money you’d like to spend in an evening. Personally, I preferred pouring only tasting portions so that I could taste a wider selection of wines for the amount of money on my card.

Complementing this awesome experience is a full menu of tapas including flatbreads, cheese and meat boards, dips, bruschetta and pairings.

And, if you’re new to View Ultra-Lounge and Nightclub experience, don’t be a stranger to their 80s Alternative Wednesdays, La Petite Coquette Thursdays, Sexy Saturdays, Red Carpet Sundays and their famous Salsa Fridays. View features Vegas-style LED lighting, state-of-the-art sound, well-known DJs, a flexible dance floor and upscale VIP suites and bottle service.

And, I would be remiss to not recommend that visitors (ladies and gentlemen alike) snag a seat on the View’s rooftop for a night of good views, great friends and some fabulous wine. –Submitted by LRH

Point of View, Curtesy of MetroMix

While we Washingtonians aren’t as easily impressed by political celebrity as most, this city certainly does have its Capraesque moments that get our hearts beating just a little faster.  The view from Point of View at the W Hotel (formerly the old Hotel Washington), neighboring the US Treasury and the White House on Pennsylvania Ave., is one such example.

In a new article, the New York Times captures the buzz that has surrounded Point of View’s opening concurrent with the arrival of the Obama Administration.  Given its prominent location, the rooftop bar has always been a prime attraction for government officials, lobbyists and Hill staff, but with a new, swanky decor that has traded wicker tub chairs for tufted leather sofas, Point of View has begun to attract a younger and trendier crowd.

We’ll be making a beeline for POV soon, but send us your reviews!

Chicken chorizo, mushroom & white wine fettuccine with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc

It was refreshing to enjoy a lunch and glass of wine on a warm afternoon instead of being cooped up inside the office. For a $10 meal, the pasta was satisfying; but a tad too creamy and heavy for my liking but the kick of spice from the chorizo sausage and generosity of button mushrooms kept me well satisfied.

East Village Hotel
234 Palmer St
East Sydney
www.eastvillage.com.au

…and, then there will be days like this after several weeks of rain, rain, grey, cloudy, rain…

These are the days that feel like the angels have decided to come out and take a look around. “Hey, Angels, … why don’t you stick around for a few months!”

Roofs over Chorlton

An unusually bright winters morning over Manchester. The weather has definitely changed now, the leaves are gone and roofs are dark and wet.

A conversation I had last night has brought Climate Change to the fore in my mind. My protagonist doesn’t believe in climate change, his belief is that earths history is too long to take account of anything man could produce. The earth has massively long cycles which continue with or without our influence, gettting progressively hotter over millions of years, and then cooling over equally long timescales.

His point was that anything we’ve produced or damaged will recover and continue and climate change is purely a money making exercise.

I had to disagree.

Even if climate change is a marketeers dream and the accountants cash cow the scientists have found overwhelming evidence which proves that the damage we are doing is creating irrecoverable harm. The planet will surely survive and continue its low march through space and time. We however won’t. The damage we do to our home will hurt us most and at some point there will be a reckoning.

An analogy I used to get my point over was the current recession and credit crunch. We’ve lived beyond our means now for almost a generation and finally the debt has to be paid. households can’t live beyond their income indefinitely and when they start to pay back the money, it hurt’s.

Whether climate change is happening or not, and I believe it is. The human race has lived beyond its means for far too long. Resources are running out. Seas without fish, skies without birds and ground with minerals and trees. A world unable to support our wasteful existence is fast becoming a reality.

Whether Climate change is happening or not, for the sake of our children’s future its imperative to act now!