Happy Hour :-)

So, its been over a year since I had an entry in this, my second blog - but I'm ready to start back up again doing all sorts of reviews and tips and other random bits of info. I'll use my other blog for more of my personal updates. We'll see if anyone actually realizes I started this blog up again...
Being that with my new job and new schedule, I have 1/2 days every single Friday - one of my summer goals is to find the best happy hours all over the city.

Happy Hours seem to be the late twenties/early thirties/next generation's version of "going out" on a Friday or Saturday night. We have become smarter in our old age and go for the deals after a long day at the office.

So far, here are some of my suggestions for different happy hours around the Minne Cities.

Best Patio: The Liffy
By far, the best patio seating in town, IMHO. The patio is higher up - not exactly a "rooftop" but high enough to feel like you are above the crowd and street. The seating is unique and the views are excellent. To the west, the Cathedral. To the east, the river. On a nice sunny day, it is the best place to kick back - enjoy a Guiness, Jameson or whatever suits your fancy. I prefer a tasty Strongbow or Snakebite (half cider, half harps). Definitely get the appetizer or full meal of the fish and chips - what else tastes better at an Irish Pub?

Now this might not be the cheapest Happy Hour in these tough economic times, but if the mood and the weather suit you - it is one of the best!

Best Sushi: Koyi Sushi
If anyone pays attention to my favorites - then you will definitely know what Koyi Sushi is. Koyi, again IMHO, is the best sushi and best happy hour in the city. A little hidden gem within the madness of downtown Minneapolis, Koyi is located on 4th St in between 1st and 2nd Aves. The happy hour is from 4:30-6:30pm Monday thru Friday. It can sometimes be difficult to find a happy hour on a Friday, especially one that goes as late as 6:30pm. In the past year and a half, I cannot even count how many times Rian and I have gone there for Happy Hour. I think only once we have actually gone during non-happy hour hours and that was for Valentine's Day.
During Happy Hour, Koyi has $4 rolls - maybe 8-10 different ones to pick from including rolls w/o fish, as well as select appetizers for $3-5. Drinks are on special as well - $4 glasses of wine (which is what I usually indulge in), $5 tall japanese beers (great deal on those bad boys) and $4 mixed drinks (the tokyo rose is delish).

Between two people, Rian and I would usually get maybe 5-8 rolls depending on how hungry we are and maybe one or two drinks each. All together, our bill is between $40-60. Which, if you are eating enough sushi for a full meal, is an excellent deal.

One of the downfalls of sushi is the consistancy of flavor and taste. Since sushi is a particular art form and is made by different chefs, a lot of times you can keep going back to the same place but the sushi tastes different every time.
That is NOT the case for Koyi. Everytime I've been there (and trust me, it's been A LOT) the sushi has had the same amazing taste. Incredible.

The plates are always beautifully decorated and come complete with a side of wasabi and a side of ginger. Although, when Rian and I eat sushi together, we turn the plate so that the side of wasabi is facing him and the side of ginger is facing me. Fresh ginger is like candy to me - it has an amazingly unique taste, and it is so good!
One of my favorite things about sushi is that when you are eating it, it tastes so fresh. You really feel like you are putting good, natural, healthy things in your body. Depending on what kinds you get (excluding any deep fried tempura), the rice and seaweed, fish and veggies make for mouth-watering, fresh meal.

My favorites include:

Spicy Shrimp Roll
Salmon Avocado Roll

Rainbow Roll

IF anyone is willing/wanting to try this place - just let me know and I'll be there with you, chopsticks in hand!

More Best of...Happy Hours to come...

Movie:

The Believer

This was a very interesting movie--much like the movie "American History X." Starring a very multi-talented Ryan Gosling as mid-twenties Danny who is part of some underground Nazi groups in New York City. But Danny has a dark secret that could ruin his credibility for life...He is a Jewish Nazi.
It was so interested to see the struggle between two worlds that are both deeply a part of who he is.
I highly recommend this movie with all of the different dimensions it has and the internal conflict that Danny goes through throughout the movie.
One of Goslings earlier movies showcases the depth and range that he has already started to form.

Movies:

Thanks to the Blockbuster movie rental thing that is comparable to Netflix, I am able to get movies that I'm not exactly sure about and not willing to spend the $4 or whatever it is these days to rent a movie...so with blockbuster, I'm able to be a little risky and go out on a limb with movies.
Some are a hit and some are a complete flop but luckily, last week, I found one that was a great hit for me...

First of all, I LOVE Molly Ringwald in any movie, so that was a plus right there.
But I really recommend this movie to anyone who has ever worked in the restaurant. The basis of the movie is all of the waitstaff at a restaurant and the different things going on in their lives. Most are only subjecting themselves to the horrible shifts and bad sections until they are able to do what they really want to do: whether it is to be an actor or writer.
It is classic to see all that happens behind the scenes at the restaurant because it truely does happen like that at all restaurants. The drama, the fights, the hook-ups and so on. It is a charming movie that I surprisingly loved...maybe you will too.

The next movie I watched in my laundry/wine/movie night was called
Big Nothing. David Schwimmer (obv of Friends) and Simon Pegg (from the movie Shawn of the Dead--hilarious)
I wasn't sure about this movie at first but it turned out to be a really funny dark comedy and murder and mayhem and definitely not being prepared for the unexpected.
It pokes great fun at a blackmail plot gone haywire. Ironic murder at its best.
Funny stuff--definitely.

My Contribution...even if nobody cares...

Since I started more of a personal blog, and even if I just write for my own amusement to hear myself talk, I've been interested in started a blog of my own opinions and ideas about What's happening in the now.
For example, I would love to write about the latest and greatest things that I've experienced.

Such as:

Restaurants
Films
Music
Plays
Happy Hours
Shops
Books
Accessories
Places
People

Things that are happening and going on in the here and now.

So here goes.....if anyone is out there listening....