Social & Backyard Comedy Club

Yesterday - yes, back with Meetup! This time, it was the New Year Social co-hosted by the London Movie Club (LMC), the Hideout, and London Hot 100! all of which are run by the same people. I just booked with the LMC myself, which was the first to advertise it. Back at the BFI.

Where to eat.. I've eaten in a few places around there, fancied something different from what I've had recently - happened upon Azzuro, booked that. Almost the whole way there on the bus, I had an elderly woman practically sitting on me - sure enough, I had to ask her twice to let me up when I needed to get off. And when I did, the cold that assailed me.. I was very glad to reach the restaurant.

I'd been conservative with my booking time, and actually ended up being slightly early - never mind, they already had my table set up! (for one). I must say, service was excellent - due, in no small part, to the two American-sounding ladies on my table.  Say what you will about the States, they have terrific service! even if there was a delay with my wine..

I thought I'd try the garlic bread with mozzarella and caramelised onion, as a starter. I wouldn't honestly have it again - it was interesting, but the onion was so messy! Plus, I prefer the garlic flavour, I've discovered. Well, if you never try, you'll never know. Had my usual carbonara for main - with some pepper. And decided it was excellent - if extremely filling.

Just as well I was too full for dessert (and there was nothing much to tempt me anyway) - I was preparing to leave when our organiser messaged us to say he was already there. Notice earlier on the day - we weren't in the bar we had been in before, we were in the Riverfront Bar (upstairs). Gee, I'd never even known there was a bar upstairs! Well, I didn't know where exactly to go, but headed for the Riverfront Bar, and sure enough, found a staircase leading to the "Balcony Bar". Which had a "closed" sign on it - for a while. As we were to remark to each other - doesn't it give you a nice, exclusive feeling to walk past a "closed" sign..?

There is a bar counter upstairs - there was a rope barrier across it while we were there, but I observed a couple of snaps taken behind that same bar, that evening. ;-) However, by and large, we had to repair downstairs for our drinks. When I went down for the second time, I said - sod it - and bought a bottle, saving myself more trips down and up. Which, interestingly, turned out to be more expensive than buying it by the glass.. never come across that before..

The night, however, just as the last one, was excellent. Better last night, really, with more mingling of people - I saw plenty of familiar faces, and plenty of new ones. And it was interesting to have the horror folk mingling with people who wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.. some interesting conversations were had. Not least the one I had with a U2 fan! Oh, I'll take any excuse.. so anyway, a great night was had. As several of us agreed, we hope this is a sign of a regular event now! It's happened two months in a row - it'd be lovely to keep it going.

I couldn't blog last night, had to be up for the office today. And was too busy all day.. hard to get to it sometimes, you know!

Tonight, Helen was supposed to be in town - and suggested we have dinner, and head to the Canary Wharf Winter Lights! Excellent idea - I was thinking of seeing them, but didn't have a specific date in mind. We were heading to Amerigo Vespucci for food.. but her schedule has changed. So it was back to the Backyard Comedy Club, with CT as usual, for me and my laptop! (Perhaps just as well, in this frigid weather..)

Ah, they know me now - the Irish guy behind the bar predicted my order, and David Whitney recognised me: just couldn't remember my name, tsk. Such a shame I won't be back there for a while, just as they were getting used to me.. Anyway, I arrived earlier tonight - they open at 6, and I was their first customer. So I'd finished eating by the time the house opened. Legged it in, and did manage to get a table - had to be at the side though, if I didn't fancy the front. I had a lady join me at the table for a while - lost her when she departed to chat up some guy..

Funnily enough, for once, the best acts were at the beginning, I thought - Alan Francis started with an excellent anecdote about being a Scottish bloke in a rough London pub when a fight breaks out.. and he was followed by a young lady called Frances Keyton, who claimed her father was in The Devil's Elbow! Anyway, she brought out her fiddle, which I have to say, she worked most skilfully into her set. Sadly, nothing after those two made as much of an impression on me - but it's still a great venue, and highly recommended! even if you have to freeze going to/from.

Tomorrow, back with CT - for a show called The Gods, The Gods, The Gods, at Underbelly Boulevard. New venue, it seems!

Saturday is when I'm trying to catch up with all those ex-colleagues.. Ivan can't move his rehearsal from that day, so three of us are meeting for lunch in Cambridge Heath, so he doesn't have to lug his equipment too far. The Approach Tavern, to be precise. Then he's off to play music, while the other two of us will head down to Victoria and see what pubs look good around there - James is headed home from there. Martin will probably join us there - it's a handier venue, and a better time, for him.

On Sunday, I'm back with London Walking Tours, Art & Culture Explorers for Jane Austen's London Walk..

On Monday, back with North London Friends for the first time in ages! They had one remaining ticket for Cold War, at the Almeida - otherwise completely sold out! So I bit the bullet and bought theirs - albeit above my normal price range, including a Paypal fee, and with a Meetup fee on top.. it was that or not see it at all! It'll be good to see them again, too..

On Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Blood on Your Hands, at Southwark Playhouse - for which I used the second of my theatre vouchers, bought under their Pay as you Go scheme, where you get them at a discount.

On Wednesday, another CT ticket - this is for The Gorgeous Diva & Katie Norris Double Bill, at the Pen Theatre. Somewhere else I've never been, hmm..

Helen is now coming next Thursday, so we're doing the planned programme that day.. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

And on the 29th, I'm headed to The Hills of California, at the Harold Pinter. Another of those great value Seatplan vouchers..