So The Block has expanded. Every woman/girl/female I know loves this store, and now there’s more of it.
Last night the store celebrated its 10th anniversary. Unlike previous years, I didn’t win anything (last year I took home a gift certificate won in a raffle ticket draw), but I did try on some hooded sweatshirts with plaid lining that I was sure the Texas Twister would hate. (She hates my plaid shoes.) But one was too small, the other too large.
Block owner Jennifer and sales manager Meegan.
Eugene O... yes, ladies, he's available!
Arrived somewhat late to the party, but that was because we’d gone to the opening of a new Earl’s restaurant. For those of you unfamiliar with the chain, it’s along the lines of Moxie’s and Cactus Club—nothing too adventurous on the menu, sugar-y cocktails, pretty servers paying off student loans. This Earl’s has the bonus of opening up in Yaletown, which is probably the neighbourhood with the most singles and disposable income per capita in the city. (Okay, I don’t have exact statistics at hand, but trust me on this.)
Although I’m not the hugest Earl’s fan in the world (for one thing, I’ve been to a couple of the restaurants with my family, which is enough to turn me off any place), I have to admit they did up the grand opening party for Earl’s V (as it’s called) right. A wristband for media types got us free drinks upstairs in the V Lounge until we couldn’t see straight, and a couple of ice bars (bars made out of ice, natch) in the V Lounge offered P. Diddy’s vodka brand and Ketel One vodka with added condiments of your choice, from fresh ginger to lemongrass to strawberries. Servers brought along a steady supply of canapes, including sushi, seared scallops, and “short-rib sliders” (mini-burgers, which seem to be all the rage from here to Newfoundland) from the kitchen. (I don’t even want to mention the cheese and chocolate fondue station for fear of getting in trouble with the girlfriend, who wasn’t there.) A DJ played tunes that seemed to have been lifted from my record collection (for instance, Jesus and Mary Chain’s song with Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval, “Sometimes Always”, just over two minutes of beautiful fuzz and melody). Perhaps most impressively, the restrooms are outfitted with the latest in hand drying technology, Dyson airblades, which do to your skin what bathing suit dryers do to bathing suits.
I interviewed a couple of staff, including server Sarah Massie and “lounge leader” Tatum Govender. I’ll be adding those interviews later: in the meantime, some pics:
Earl's staff Jennifer, Amanda and Emily.
V Lounge leader Tatum.
0 Responses to “Block anniversary party and Earl’s V opening”