Mosaic Tapas Bar – Ocean Springs January 30, 2007
Posted by Ken in Me, Restaurants & Bars, Travel.add a comment
This was one of those nights when I found myself in a really cool place in a somewhat unlikely location.
The location was Ocean Springs, MS and the place was Mosaic Tapas Bar. Now, I have to say, I love tapas bars. They are typically pretty hip and you get the opportunity to try out a variety of dishes in smaller portions. So last week, when I was searching for a good place to eat in the Biloxi area, I drove into this cool, Steveston-esk village in Ocean Springs in search of this sushi bar I found online. I had sushi on my mind that night so when I walked by Mosaic, I took note and tonight, I got to go back.
The bar was set up with couches with big fluffy pillows, soft lighting, and hip music – a fine atmosphere. In addition to tapas, they had a small wine list, a martini and cocktails list, as well as a hookah pipe menu. Tonight, I chose the pear saketini (a vodka martini with pear flavoured sake) and my favourite, a chocolate martini. For food, I chose a house salad, fish tacos, chicken quesadillas, and beef empanadas. Delish! Then arrived Patrick, a live musician who played acoustic guitar and sang to familar tunes. Apparently, this was his first time playing there. Lucky me. He was quite good! However, once again, the only thing missing was a good group of friends to share this with. I did get a chance to chat with Robbie, this cute guy that sat at the next table who grew up in Ocean Springs but seemed quite open minded and mature for someone who was around 25.
All in all, a fun night. If you ever find yourself on the Gulf Coast in the Biloxi area, go check this place out… and bring your friends. You won’t be disappointed.
Mississippi Earning January 27, 2007
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Well, I’ve been in Mississippi for the past couple of weeks, trying to make a living and catch up from a month of worklessness. I was hoping to have escaped the unusually horrible Vancouver winter but it seems Mississippi hasn’t been much better. There were a few days when it was just as cold as it was in Vancouver and today, it was absolutely pouring. I guess I could say that it reminds me of home but that would just be wishful thinking.
I started this trip with my friend Adele. We were fortunate enough to have a few 
great evenings to spend together. We were also “close” enough to Leeann so the three of us went out for a fantastic dinner in Tuscaloosa, AL… and last night, I drove to New Orleans, LA and had dinner with Jesse, another photographer in the area. So cool to be able to spend time with friends while on the road and now be able to say I’ve visited another three states that I had never been to before. Good times can be had on Wyndham trips!
Here are some photos of Adele and I being complete dorks on the road (as usual). I think we were scaring the locals but who cares – they talk funny down here. “Yer not from ’round here ‘re ya?” How lovable? I admit it does grate on me sometimes!
Well, as I mentioned, yesterday I met up with Jesse in New Orleans. I’d never been to New Orleans but what a cool town. The French Quarter (what I saw of it) was really facinating and Bourbon Street was party central. Really great. I wish I had more time to spend there. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of New Orleans to share but take my word for it. If you’ve never been to New Orleans, you should go check it out. Nice to see that the French Quarter wasn’t too damaged by Katrina.
Biloxi Blues – A Year and a Half After Katrina January 27, 2007
Posted by Ken in Me, Travel.add a comment
Hey, what’s with the movie titles in my headings today?
Anyway, speaking of Katrina, I think it deserves a separate post. I’ve been in the Biloxi, MS area for the past few days and have had the opportunity to drive down Beach Boulevard, which is right on the Gulf of Mexico. I’m sure it was beautiful a couple of years ago but because of Katrina, it now looks like… well, a hurricane hit it. You hear on the news about the devastation in New Orleans. Well, Biloxi is only about an hour from New Orleans and Katrina pretty much passed right over it as well.
A year and a half later, some of the bridges are still out, power hasn’t been fully restored in some areas, the beach is still closed, and many of the buildings along the coast still lie in ruins. What a mess! I can’t even fathom what it would have looked like the day after the hurricane. Here is a glimpse. These photos were taken on two separate days (some sunny, some rainy):
iPhone, uPhone, we all Phone for iPhone! January 10, 2007
Posted by Ken in Technology.1 comment so far
Holy crap! Apple today announced what is probably the coolest, portable electronic gadget/device I’ve seen to date! This is the new Apple iPhone, a multifunction device that is a camera phone, and video iPod, and a portable Internet browser, all in one. Hmmm. “Aren’t there other cell phones that can take photos, play music and surf the net,” you say? Well yes. However, none of them do so as elegantly and as well as the new iPhone. You see, the large 3.5″ LCD is also a touch pad, the interface is extremely intuitively designed, and each of it’s features seemlessly work with one another. There are not the dozens of buttons that most competitor devices have. Everything just seems to flow. I can’t describe how cool this thing is in it’s function. If you haven’t already, you should check this thing out on the Apple website or watch the Macworld Keynote address to see Steve Jobs put this thing through its paces. Amazing! I WANT ONE!
Happy New Year! January 3, 2007
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For New Years, 12 friends (some new) and I rented a couple of cabins Cushean Lake Resort on Salt Spring Island and “took it easy”. We arrived to surprisingly nice and well equipped cabins with pretty much everything we needed to just have fun. The previous day’s Costco and liquor store run meant we were ready for a feast, and thanks to Filip’s and Cindy’s cooking, we ate very well! Mother Nature was even kind enough to treat us with decent weather for most of the weekend. It was filled with great conversation, games, food, drinks and the associated silliness. Oh, and can’t forget to mention the iPods galore. Ahhhh, what more could we ask for. Check out my New Years 2006/07 page for some cool photos.
For a rather disturbing but entirely amusing photo series from New Years, visit my buddy Art’s blog. He’s even added a soundtrack!
