LHR: La Tasca Restaurant

La Tasca Spanish Tapas Restaurant and Bar
30–34
James Street
West End - London
W1U 1ER
La Tasca (James St)

My crew left me to fend for myself at the Hilton, saying that they were going to a Tapas bar. They gave me directions to 'La Tasca', and I told them I'd meet up with them and a bit.

Since it was raining, it was a good day to go forth with purchasing an 'Oyster Card' (blogged). Once I got that all straightened out, I was on my way. I got on at Edgeware Rd Station for the Circle Line, and changed over to the Jubilee line at Baker Street. Get off at Bond Street. You'll walk west on Oxford for just a tad and then right (north) on James Street. La Tasca is just a few hundred feet down on the right, directly after you pass an outdoorsy cul-de-sac street. Apparently, this street is quite a happenin' scene for the pre-theater crowd. The rain on the day I went put a damper on the festivities on that day unfortunately. Here's a Google Map Link.

My buddies had decided to walk and got caught in the rainshower. Aside from the wetness, they didn't mind the walk. Plan on strolling about 30 minutes or so from the Hilton Metropole.

I got there after most of the food was already eaten. It got high marks from 3 of the 4 pilots. The fourth, who is into culinary arts, gave it passing grades saying it was fine for thawed out freezer food. But he probably knows too much...

The staff was extrememly friendly and helpful. I was a bit caught off guard when the waitress turned out to be French. I see that quite a lot in London. You go to an ethnic eatery, and the employees are often far removed from that ethnicity.

A very nice American couple sat across the aisle, and they ordered the same dish. They were kind enough to allow me to take the picture of it for blogging purposes. The man was an old Navy vet, and got a big kick out of my harmonica and my rendition of "Anchors Aweigh!"

I did get there in time for desserts. As a group, we ordered the Flan and the Orange Cheesecake with pleny of spoons to go around. The two dishes were very good!

So, if you feel and urge to nibble on some Spanish tapas while sipping a pint, head on over to La Tasca. You'll especially appreciate when the weather is nice towards the weekend, as the entire street gets into the aciton.

Enjoy!

Tim









A palatable table wine according to the regulars...

LHR: On Anon Club

If you're up for a night of dancing, On Anon Club is the place to go. It's huge! With eight dance floors playing various genres, you will be sure to find the beat that fits you.

http://onanon.co.uk/location has all the data you need to plan your trip.

Take your fave Tube line to Picadilly circus. For us UAL Hilton Metropole types, its the Bakerloo. Once you exit the stairway at Picadilly Circus station, the building to your left is the London Pavillions. Backtrack just a tad to Shaftsbury, and head NE and you'll see the billboards for On Anon. Below is a Google sattelite pic centered on the triangular London Pavillions building.


View Larger Map

On Anon is open every night, but on the slower nights, they won't open all the levels or dance floors. The last time I was there was a Sunday, and only the main floor was open, but it still was a good time. If you want variety and the ability to pick the DJ that's spinning your tunes, go on a more active night.

If you wanna save a few bucks, go before they start charging admission. Refer to the link above to be sure of the schedule on the time and day you're going.

If you don't want to walk home, be sure to check out and know the last tube that you can catch. Go to this first and last tube stop link then click on the line that you are gonna ride. For the Bakerloo, it's 23:54 M-F, 00:31 on Sat. and 23:47 on Sunday (if I'm reading the chart correctly).

If you miss the tube (like I did the last time) and decide to walk, it'll take about 40 minutes to walk from Picadilly Circus to the Hilton Metropole. Definitely doable in a crunch. Cabs are tres expensive, but if it's raining or cold, whatcha gonna do?

Have fun!!

Tim

go to http://www.onanon.co.uk/gallery/ to see an impressive collection of shots of the different dance floors.

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NRT: The Cage

The Cage is a virtual icon in Narita nightlife.

Karaoke is alive and well in Japan, and if you want to try out your pipes, pop on over. The Cage is really easy to get to. If you're staying at the Mercure, if practically stumble out of the hotel, you'll wind up at The Cage. If you're staying at the Hilton by the airport, follow the map below. Basically after exiting the Kensai train station, hug the left hand sidewalk, and after it turns left, the entrance to The Cage will be in front of you on the left.

Here's a map...

(link to Google satellite image)

The music selection is very large, and you'll be sure to find something that you'd like to belt out. The accompanying videos are, of course, very asian, and sometimes they don't quite go with the song, but who cares.

The Cage does not start to get hopping until after 10:00pm. It goes on into the wee hours of the night, but for us Hilton guys, that means a cab ride back to the hacienda. You'll pay about 20,000¥, or about $20, so best to carpool with some of your buds if you can. The last free bus back to the Hilton leaves at 11:15, so it's pretty much not an option unless you're a sing 'em and leave 'em kind of guy.

There is only one unisex bathroom, so women might want to have someone stand guard if you're shy.

It can also get very hot in there in the summer, so don't bundle up too much.

There is not much room for dancing, but after a while, you'll see everyone kickin' dust around.

The mic cords are pretty long, and if you're lazy or timid, you can actually sing from one of the booths.

If my memory serves, beers were about 700¥, but they were pretty big bottles. If you plan ahead, you'll remember to bring your own bottle of water, cause you'll want to stay hydrated with all the singing going on.

When you wanna head back, just go to the taxi stand around the corner. You may see taxi's right in front of The Cage, but they're in the queue. Go to the front of the queue by the train station to get the next taxi in line.

Enjoy!!

Tim

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American Idol in training...

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Booth singing: lame but effective...

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That's me with my goofy dance (apparently the only one I know)

Discounted Hotel Rates for Aircrew

"Airport Accommodations," or the pink hotel slip, has been saving hotel needing crewmembers for quite some times in IAD.

It's been a while since I've used them, but each time I did, I was very pleased. Ask a die-hard Dulles commuter, and they'll probably know about the 'Airport Accomodations' pink slip.

It's really easy. Just call the number on the slip (1-800-705-2189) and you'll speak with an operator who can reserve a hotel room for a very good rate. I don't think I've spent over $70 for a night, which is not bad in the D.C. area.

You must be a crewmember to get this discount, as the hotel desk will check your crew ID upon check-in. Also, the sooner you call, the better. The really good rates get snagged pretty early, leaving the higher rates for the late-comers.

There are many other cities where Airport Accommodations serves:
Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Orlando, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Tampa, and of course, Washington D.C.

If you need a pink slip and you're near a printer, you can click the scan below, and then right click and select 'Print...' The real tickets are 8.5" x 3" printed on both sides. Hopefully, no one will care that they are not originals, since you have your crew badge and all...

Good Luck! Tim

NRT: Flyer's Lounge

Stop on by the Flyer's Lounge for a great aviation themed getaway! The bar has the ambiance of a classic fighter pilot hangout, complete with chalk grafitti and aviation photos galore.

Apparently Flyer's has been a well known hangout for quite a while, but I happened to discover it quite by accident. On my visit to Papa's the other day, I noticed that on his little orientation map to find his place, it mentioned a bar called the Flyer's Lounge. Well, how could I pass up a name like that?

After dinner, I sauntered over and checked it out. I really liked what I saw and on my return layover (from Singapore) I talked my old buddy Steve Edgar into hanging out with me and grabbing the first cold pints of the night.

The prices were about average by Narita's standards. The TV's played continuous aviation related videos. There were a few crews in there already shooting down their watches, so be prepared with stories to tell...

Use the map below to guide your walk.

From the bus stop, take the overhead walkway and up a few escalators to get to the train station's street level. Exit the train station mostly straight ahead (maybe 20degrees left). Follow that road as it curves past the Japan Railway station and continue on it. The road is not as well lit as the other main drag, but it's a nice departure anyway. The Flyers Lounge is on the left marked by a street level lit white sign. Head on upstairs and enjoy!!

Tim

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A Toast!

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Bar Selection...

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Me and Steve

NRT: PaPa's Bar Restaurant

Upon the recommendation of Vincent, the owner of the Jet Lag Club, I decided to wander off for dinner at Papa's restaurant.

PaPa Maki's Bar Restaurant
5pm - 11:30pm (closed Monday)
858-1 Kami-Cho, Narita
Tel: 0476-22-3986
http://papasbar.at.infoseek.co.jp

This is nice restaurant with a very homely atmosphere. Papa (and Mama, I assume) has a strong attachment to airline folks and caters to the crews very well.

The eating area is small but very intimate. Bench seats with pads line the walls and there are 3 tables. Chairs line the bar area for countertop eating.

I had the combo plate for ¥15, which gets you a pint of beer, an appetizer and a main course. The dumplings were scrumptious, and the spicy chicken was very well prepared.

Mr and Mrs Maki have a daughter that lives in NY. With much pride, he will describe his new grandson in great detail!

They are closed on Mondays.

So, stop by Papa's restaurant. You'll be treated very well and have a great dinner!

Appetizer:

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Counter Seating

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Small friendly dining area, complete with aircrew...

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