HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I had a New Year eve in Yellowknife and am now a veteran. Went to the bar early and it was dead so went home to prepare for celebrations and then went back later and it was busy.

The Top Knight bar served until 3am at which point those of us left standing were left to our own devices. Mark and I needed food pretty bad. So we walked to some place called Bruno's Pizza -known for its late operating hours and selection of fine pastries and cold cucumber salads. There's also a big fish tank full of Beluga and you can pick your own caviar - and im a liar. This place was closed as it was in fact after 4am by this point (to the best of my knowledge).

On our way to Bruno's we had passed a lively stretch of crowded 50th street where revellers spilled from bars to waiting cabs and fights. As we stumbled on by many of these people were waiting in line for chinese food at the restaurant that never seems to close. This place called the Leisure Cafe is probably a good place for OCAD prissy students to go and get over themselves. We had passed on this venue due to the huge line.

After the lengthy stumble to Bruno's we retraced our steps to the Leisure Cafe which was at this point without a line and without an open door. In fact there was not a person on the entire street, not even a car - just empty bars. Upon further inspection of the premises there was a sign taped to the wall next to a windowless green plank door that said "Ring Bell for service". Without hesitation and with thoughts of sweet and sour chicken egging him on, mark rang the bell. A portal swung open in the centre of the door and a wizard of oz experience was had.

Some wizened chinese lady stuck her head out of the portal and said "What you want?" Startled, I responded "2 Combo A's". Without pause she replied "You get combo B, 25$ now." That seemed like a deal. But despite marks protestation to the opposite, we had to wait outside. Slam went the portal. 5 minutes later she was back and asked for one more dollar. I gave her one.

15 minutes later after freezing, being entirely weirded out by an empty street that minutes earlier had been over-run with the after bar crowds, and badly wanting some chinese food - we got chinese food. Then the fuzz buzzed us and we went home to eat what is the best chinese food ive ever had.

I will let the pictures speak for themselves as they do a better job of it than I do. Also, i look retarded in some of them. Pretty good.