July 29th, 2006 - Coal Harbour Martini Tour

The Coal Harbour Martini Tour is always one of the most popular Tours.  July 29th was no different, as a cool 100 martini lovers descended upon Lift Bar and Grill on a beautiful summer night, where we enjoyed classic dry Grey Goose martinis and other tasty delights on our private dockside patio.  The Martini Crew then strolled down the seawall to Cardero's; the pub served up delicious Banana Popsicle Martinis and refreshing Current Affair Martinis, both perfect summer sippers.  After we watched the sun set from Cardero's, the happy crowd headed over to the Show Case Bar at the Marriott Hotel on Hastings, where our private bartender and mixologist shook some fruity Sour Apple Martinis and some lychee-infused Red Lotus Martinis for the thirsty group.  It was then a quick two-block jaunt back down to the water to the Mill Marine Bistro, where we ended the night chilling to some great music and even greater cocktails.  A perfect night, made even more perfect by the fact that partial proceeds from the night's event were donated to BC Children's Hospital.

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

May 27th, 2006 - Robson Street Martini Tour

Over 90 well-heeled martini drinkers gathered for the 2nd annual Robson Street Martini Tour, which began at the sumptuous Gerard Lounge at the Sutton Place Hotel.  We kicked the night off with some Espresso Martinis and some dirty olive Martinis, and then it was off to the new Saltlik Restaurant and Lounge.  We enjoyed some Blueberry Cosmos at our private bar on the reserved upstairs level, and then the Crew traveled next door to the Tokyo Lounge.  We had the funky Lounge reserved to ourselves, and the Crew began to sway to the beats as we sipped on Sake Martinis.  Back to Robson to Savory Coast Restaurant for some fantastic fresh pear Savory-Tinis, and then a quick hop across the street for some celebrity-gazing at Cin Cin Ristorante & Bar.  The Tour ended with late-night cocktails and hospitality at the jumping Earl's On Top.  A fantastic night overall.

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

May 6th, 2006 - Heritage District Martini Tour

Almost 100 jeans-clad martini lovers gathered on May 6th for the first ever "casual" Martini Tour.  The Martini Crew explored the funky new bars and lounges of the Vancouver Heritage District, starting at the brand new Century Lounge on Pender and Richards.  At the Century, the Martini Crew sipped on old-school Dickens Gin Martinis and other house specialties, and then it was on to Yagger's for some Jägermeister-infused Vanilla Ice Martinis.  The Crew crossed the street to the hip Cassis Bistro, where the restaurant closed for the Martini Tour and served all their martinis with delicious house-infused vodka ingredients.  Off to Club 686 in the middle of the Hastings Heritage District for some Crystal Method and Blue Haze Martinis accompanied by retro hip hop and dance tunes.  The highly successful Tour ended at the Mexican-themed Gecko Club, for some late-night Tequila Sunrise Martinis and dancing until 3:00 am.

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

April 1st, 2006 - Granville Street Martini Tour

The 2nd Granville Street Martini Tour was a tremendous success, as over 90 martini lovers gathered in the funky Granville Room to sip on Sour Apple Martinis and flirt while drinking some delicious flirtinis.  After enjoying some appetizers, the Martini Crew walked a few doors down to the Tonic Drink Room, where the bartenders surprised the group with some tasty unnamed unique martini creations.  It was then on to another restored theatre-turned-bar, the Caprice Nightclub, where the Crew tried some Alize-infused martini concoctions while swaying to the sounds of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.  It was then a short three-block stroll to Crush for some Snapple Apple and Red Dragon Martinis.  The night ended at the fabulous Ginger 62, where the group drank martinis and danced until 3 am.  A great time, from what most of us can remember...

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

February 18th, 2006 - Waterfront / Gastown Martini Tour

100 Martini lovers gathered on a cold, clear night at the elegant Cascade's Lounge at the Pan Pacific to kick off the 2nd Waterfront / Gastown Martini Tour.  After sipping on some delicious Cosmopolitans and Mondotinis, the Crew headed across the street to the beautiful Heron's Lounge at the Fairmont Waterfront.  There, the Crew enjoyed fabulous Lychee Happiness Martinis and appetizers, all served by our private bartender and server.  2 or 3 martinis later, the Crew was able to ignore the cold as they trekked 2 blocks to the Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant, where we drank Sour Apples while enjoying the 360 degree view of Vancouver.  The night ended with late-night sipping and dancing at Aubar.  One of the most classy tours to date!

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

November 26th, 2005 - James Bond Martini Tour

The normal Martini Crew was joined by a great contingent from Vancouver Sport for the James Bond Martini Tour.  The Crew started out at the Gerard Lounge at the Sutton Place Hotel, where James Bond Martinis (shaken, not stirred, of course), along with the delicious, but strong, Ripper Martinis, were poured by Gerard's famous bartender, Ripper himself (see picture at bottom).  After we left our private room at the Gerard, the Crew, about 120 strong, headed over to the classic 900 West Lounge at Hotel Vancouver.  It was then around the corner to Diva at the Met, where the Martini Crew took over the joint and enjoyed such delicious concoctions as the Strawberry Lemonade Martini.  The James Bond ended with some of the crew jetting off to the Stanley Park Pavilion for the JetSet Crew's annual James Bond Party, while others danced the night away and drank more martinis at Aubar.  One of the largest Martini Tours yet.

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

October 15th, 2005 - Yaletown Martini Tour

The one-year anniversary of the Martini Tour took place on October 15 in Yaletown, the area where it all began.  Over 100 martini swillers, dressed to the nines, met at the luxurious Opus Bar at the Elixir Hotel.  After some award-winning Opus 97 martinis, the group split into two.  Half headed off to Glowbal for some cocktails in the bouncing Afterglow Lounge, while half relaxed with some Grey Goose Cosmos at the swank Blue Water Cafe.  After switching after an hour, the group reunited and sauntered to Capone's Jazz Club, where we tasted some Gangster Martinis and sipped on Rubytinis.  The night ended at Yaletown's packed Bar None, where most of the group drank and danced until three or four in the morning.  One of the best Martini Tours, period.

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

 

July 16th, 2005 - Granville Island Martini Tour

The sun shone for the July Granville Island Martini Tour.  45 well-dressed martini aficionados converged at the popular Sandbar Restaurant and Lounge, where the first few sips of straight gin martinis and cosmopolitans were enjoyed.  After a few cocktails and some seafood appetizers, it was on to the Cat's Meow, where the Crew swilled down a few more martinis on the back patio.  It was then on to the busy Bridges Pub for some superb lemon drop martinis (and the occasional shot)!  The night ended at the Backstage Lounge, where the Crew danced the night away to the sounds of the Hip Hop group Tara Green.  Another successful Martini Tour overall, and everybody managed to get home safe! (although a few were nursing headaches the next day...)

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

 

June 4th, 2005 - Coal Harbour Martini Tour

The skies on the morning of June 4th threatened rain, but the sun managed to come out in the afternoon and evening for the elegant Coal Harbour Martini Tour.  The Martini Crew met at the swank new Lift Restaurant, where we enjoyed a few martinis and some excellent food on our private front patio.  Then it was on to the Seawall Grill at the Westin Bayshore to watch the sun set before we headed to Cardero's to swill some Sour Apples and some dirty Gin Martinis.  After Cardero's, the Crew took a stroll down the seawall to the Mill Marine Bistro for some Chocolate Martinis and some desserts.  The Crew, now about 65 strong, ended the night with martinis and dancing at Aqua 1066.  A fantastic night overall!

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

 

May 7th, 2005 - Granville Street Martini Tour

It was a debaucherous night as over 90 Martini Aficionados converged on the legendary Granville Strip.  We began the evening in the rooftop VIP patio lounge of the glamorous Skybar at 6:15 pm.  After some tasty martinis and some appys, the Martini Crew headed across the Strip to the Tonic Drink Room, and then up the Strip to the swanky Ginger 62.  The Crew enjoyed some more classic martinis and cocktails while lounging on the couches in the funky atmosphere of Ginger 62, and then at 9:30 pm, we headed across Granville again to Crush, where the ladies enjoyed the Wrath Martini as the gentlemen sipped the Lust Martini.  The evening ended at Bar None in Yaletown, where the Crew danced and swayed, drinking Pussy Galore martinis until the wee hours of the morning.  A tremendous success overall, as was noted by the headaches experienced by many the next morning.

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

Numerous thanks to Todd from Todd Duncan Photography for many of the photos below.

April 9th, 2005 - Robson Street Martini Tour

The Robson Street Martini Tour started off in the funky Zin Lounge at the Pacific Palisades hotel.  After the passports were handed out, the grand door prize was awarded - free drinks all night went to the lucky Michaela, who did manage to make it through the whole tour.  From there, up we went to the newly renovated Earl's On Top, where we polished off some Red Bull Martinis along with some complimentary appy's.  At 9:00 pm we headed to the reserved heated patio of Joe Fortes to enjoy more cocktails and cigars, and then it was off to Cin Cin to end the night with some more fabulous martinis.

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

 

January 15th, 2005 - Waterfront / Gastown Martini Tour

By all accounts, the January 15th Martini Tour was the most successful tour to date!  The Martini Crew started at the Herons Lounge at the Waterfront Hotel at 6:30 pm.  The heavy snowfall that started at 6:00 pm only made the view of the nighttime Vancouver skylines that much more magnificent.  By 7:30 pm, our Crew had swelled to over 80 guys and gals, and we marched across the street to the Cascades Lounge at the five-star Pan Pacific.  After a few martinis there, the Crew had grown to accommodate over 100 buzzed, beautiful cocktail drinkers.  As the snowfall was getting heavier, and our next stop was three blocks away, we traveled en masse at 8:30 pm through the underground mall and Skytrain tunnels to Steamworks, where they welcomed us in their private Über-Lounge.  At 9:30 pm, we took over the Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant, where the spectacular views from their lounge were matched by their delicious martinis.  Now over 100 strong, at 10:30 pm we headed over to the late-night nightclub Aubar, where the martinis, dancing, and other debauchery continued until the wee hours of the morning.

If you have any pictures of any of these tours, kindly e-mail them to us by clicking here.  Thanks!

November 19th, 2004 - Downtown Hotel District Martini Tour

The second Martini Tour took us to the swanky hotels and cocktail joints of the downtown hotel district.  The Crew began with some classic three-olive martinis at the Terrace Bar of the classy Four Seasons hotel at 6:30 pm.  At 7:30 pm, it was on the 900 West Lounge of the Hotel Vancouver, where our Crew of over 40 enjoyed live cocktail music while swilling some of the best martinis in Vancouver.  It was then a short walk at 8:30 pm to the Gerard Lounge at Sutton Place, where the Crew had our reserved section, complete with pre-chilled martini glasses and  their famous Chocolate Buffet.  9:30 pm took us to the hip new restaurant Relish, where a few of us, egged on by the $4.75 martinis, ordered a few rounds of shots for the whole Crew.  Those who could still walk ended the night at 11:00 pm at Skybar, where we sipped Cosmos and danced the night away.

 

September 10th, 2004 - Yaletown Martini Tour

The inaugural Martini Tour took place at the beginning of the fall cocktailing season, where over 50 martini afficianados met to sample the best of Yaletown.  The mood could not be dampened by the very heavy rainfall - the largest Vancouver had seen in years.  Nevertheless, we met at the new Coast Restaurant at 6:45 pm, where the Crew started off with their fantastic BC Berry Martinis.  Then at 7:45 pm it was on to Elixir at the Opus Hotel, where the 50 of us sampled their award-winning martinis among the beautiful and chic of Yaletown.  At 9:00 pm we moved to the reserved back area of the jazz club Capones, where a few us, fuelled by the cocktails that had been consumed, began dancing and grooving to the live jazz.  9:45 pm saw the Crew, now over 60 strong, brave the monsoon rains and stroll on to the Afterglow lounge, one of Yaletown's best cocktails joints.  At 10:30 pm we sampled the classic martinis of the Blue Water Cafe, and then at 11:15 pm we ended the night dancing at Club Vibes.  All in all, the first Martini tour was a resounding success!