New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam

Joe, Marie, Sarah and myself in the back room of Susie's Saloon in the Red Light District in Amsterdam.
Joe, Marie, Sarah and myself in the back room of Susie’s Saloon.

A little New Year’s Eve Tale!

Sarah and I met up with friends from Bermuda, Joe and Marie Bento in Amsterdam on New Year’s Eve and had a blast. Joe is, amongst other things, a great singer and guitarist and I am sometimes able to persuade him to play a set at my gigs! :)

We met at Oriental City at 11:30 am and had a great Chinese meal and then went to Susie’s Saloon in the Red Light District for a few drinks and spent some time in the back room. Woo hoo!

View from the patio at SkyLounge at Amsterdam Doubletree Hilton.
View from the patio at SkyLounge at Amsterdam Doubletree Hilton.

Then we went to the Doubletree Hilton by Centraal Station and watched the sunset from the SkyLounge. Here are a couple pics from the patio at sunset.  What a nice place it is. Excellent drinks and food in a contemporary atmosphere.  We even had the Amsterdam version of the Dark and Stormy called, Stark and Dormy!  It was an interesting twist on an old favorite.  We also had some potato balls, cheese spring rolls and crispy chicken bites.  It was all delicious!

Happy New Year from Amsterdam from Sarah and me.
Happy New Year from Amsterdam from Sarah and me.

Then we went to hear a live, classic rock band named, Southern Comfort at The Waterhole in Leidseplein til we kissed at midnight (Sarah and I, not Joe. ) and said Happy New Year.  Thankfully, our hotel is very close to the last stop so we walked home when the band stopped at about 12:20.

Ingredients for a Stark and Dormy.
Ingredients for a Stark and Dormy – fresh sage and honey water, shaken with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, fresh lime juice and topped with Fever-Tree ginger beer
Ya, right. Like I would need a menu at this place. Oriental City!
Ya, right. Like I would need a menu at this place. Oriental City!
A photo by the skating rink on the Leidseplein on New Year's Day. Here's to everyone having a great 2016!
A photo by the skating rink on the Leidseplein on New Year’s Day. Here’s to everyone having a great 2016!
We were some of the first customers this afternoon at Susie's Saloon. It's a great place to have a drink and a puff at the same time!
We were some of the first customers this afternoon at Susie’s Saloon. It’s a great place to have a drink and a puff at the same time!

Southern Comfort at The Waterhole.

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