New Pub--"Ye Old Mitre"

Very appropriately named public house for an Anglican student! This place at 1 Ely Court down the street from my job was established in 1546 and is decorated with portraits of the "previous owners"--Henry VIII and Elizabeth I! (Queen Mary Tudor, who was VERY concerned about old miters, apparently did not find them appropriate for a pub!). I had a Hop Back Summer Lightning Ale, brewed year round and actually quite mild for a stocky Irishman accustomed to Guinness like myself. Although I did end up taking the Tube home instead of walking! Also got to spend some time "networking" (in the best Bridget Jones sense of the term) with an MBA professor just starting out. Horror of horrors, they don't really have "tenure" in England!

New Pub

Clock House, very cool, Old World atmosphere with a strangely mirrored ceiling. The important thing is, I feel like one of the cool kids.

Going 'Round the Pub

Had my first pub experience last night, a great time at this very posh bar, not the "90 pence pub" I was expecting. No pints at all actually, just bottled German and UK lagers and of course the mixed drinks of the moment. Great time talking to colleagues.

Two Buck Chuck Wins Wine Award!

Wow. Charles Shaw Chardonnay 2005, known to Trader Joe's shoppers as "Two Buck Chuck," has won a prestigious wine award. I am not a huge fan of Two Buck Chuck myself, but I tend to drink reds far more than whites, and Chuck's reds tend to be a little ragged on my palette. But clearly the Grad Student Code requires that I immediately buy a case of this!