A few things came out of this past week (1) I’m no angel. (2) There is always room for 1 more. (3) Pasha pulls the punters even on school nights. (4) All after parties have similar traits. (5) Going to “The Races” is still fun. (6) Hamilton is a very unique place. (7) Great parties can erupt in the most unlikely of places. I’ll explain what I mean.

I’m not sure of the ratio of you out there who read the newspaper, compared with those, like me, who just look at the pictures over eggs Florentine at brunch on Sunday. You see, normally when you are mentioned, or pictured, you get a thrill and cut the item out for posterity. This week I didn’t. I got the first iffy press I have ever received (as far as I am aware), however if you look at it in another light it could be all good. I’m still deliberating.

Last Tuesday the latest bar in the inner city opened in Ponsonby. Magnum is a 90 seater bar/restaurant that oozes quality; you can instantly tell it’ll be around for years and will give the Ponsonby bar zone a glitzy boost. The success staples of friendly-alert service, a well organised (not too pricey) menu and great design once again ring very true.

Another quality establishment is Pasha. It continually does well despite sordid weather, high oil prices and new watering holes popping up seemingly weekly. Last Wednesday Pasha hosted the launch of Hennessy’s latest cognac. All the regulars were there and it raged on well into the wee hours with opulence, making it Rachel Glucina’s party of the week.

With Brooke away watching the AB’s annihilate the opposition his bar is in the doldrums. The once cosy, happy buzz that came as a given at Pony Club appears to be fading. Even with Vicky-Lee’s harem of hotties last Thursday it sadly was lacking fire, fame and finesse. The same musos played the same songs, and when a fight erupted outside at 1.30am, and a punter was thrown into a phone booth, it was chicken teriyaki kebab time for me, and most of the people inside. I’m sure it’ll be back headlining again before long.

Well rested, after a relatively tame one, Saturday started with a hiss and a roar. I stopped in at an after party on the way home, as I have a severe permanent case of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out); I was fully recharged and, still glowing after my work-out, I was greeted with glee, and sparked instant friendship with people I had never seen before (thumbs up Davina ). I had always wondered what an after-party looked like from a non-participant’s perspective. Hilarious hyjinx. Seeing an opening I took it, slipped out, spruced up and headed to Ellerslie for Whips n Spurs.

Arriving fashionably late (or so I thought) we nuzzled into the complimentary Stoli Black Russians. I was informed that another 700 punters had yet to arrive so the huge 3rd floor room was about to get even more crammed. It didn’t matter, as the afternoon wore on, we continued to do laps of the giant room and kept bumping into happy faces. I saw a couple of races, but I was like the majority, more interested in the candy and entertainment. This year Whips n Spurs was a sell-out and an utter success. The next one isn’t too far away so stay tuned and don’t miss out.

For once I left before being asked to. We rattled down the runway to Hamilton, bound for The Great Race Masquerade Ball. I expected grandeur and I got it Great Gatsby style. Matt Taylor, and his team, had created a dream in honour of The University of Waikato versus Harvard University annual rowing race. You had to keep moving in order to not miss out on any shows or commotions. I found most of the masked attendees a little taken back at my exuberance and snap-happy ways, but then there was the odd nutter who was well up for antics.

The Tron is not a place in which I would really want to spend any more time than is ultimately necessary. As a tourist I found it uninviting, bland and against my grain. One rose was The Hamilton Gardens, what an amazing place. Because of my alcohol/lack of sleep induced frail legs, I could only manage a circuit of a cute lake, but if I ever do pass through the Tron again, I’ll make more of an effort to explore.

Who out there has heard of The Face Place? I hadn’t. But after Monday night’s impressive opening in Albany it’s ingrained in my mind. They have a clinic in Vulcan lane in town, but I reckon it couldn’t be as flash as Albany’s. I felt like I was in someone’s home, it was a restful setting and could see that this is a place that means business, but in a nice way, highly skilled professionalism all the way. The superb catering and live jazz music reinforced my initial impression; classy.