What's up for the weekend?

[El Presidente]

With Australia Day MondayJanuary 26th...it is the Australia Day Long Weekend in Australia! 

Prep and chore day today Saturday as I pot around garden, house. Will visit mum and dad for a coffee. Reminder to buy a french vanilla slice at the bakery for dad. Will swing around the fish market for some green prawns, scallops and squid. I have promised Di a seafood mango salad for dinner. 

Big day tomorrow as we have our Oz Day celebrations at PJ's house starting early afternoon. It is going to be a cracking party! Pool, boat, BBQ, cigars, wine, cocktails  repeat...except the boat bit. 

Monday we have the Parallel Burns Vid where our FOH tasting panel puts the MOFOH Robusto Trinity up against the Hoyo Epicure 2. It will be fun! 

What's up for the weekend? 

[barrygoodvibes]

It’s absolutely freezing here in Chicago. The wife and I went out yesterday to stock up on food and we will be cooking and staying inside all weekend watching movies and eating good food. 

[Wookie]

Working on a winter oil pic. Cooking with kids. Watching NFL. Have a great weekend! 

[JohnS]

I'm participating in a Blind Champagne tasting today with my wife and friends. I'll be watching NFL (obviously) and participating in that aforementioned Parallel Burns panel. Yeah, life's good, can't complain!

[riderpride]

The boy has soccer as usual, and we're aiming for some time at the batting cages and toss the ball around in the yard to warm him up for the upcoming ball season. Daughter will be riding again - it's cooled off here as well, but not nearly as bad as the Midwest for the next few weeks. She and the money-pit love the heat lamp, and here she is hoping to not burst into flames (it's a redhead thing) 🤣. Life is good.

Have a great weekend all!

[Cigar Surgeon]

Saturday morning I'm doing a guest spot on KMA Talk Radio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPcGz3p747s starts at 10am EST

Late in the day I'm onto the third blind cigar review and catch up on some TV from the week.

Sunday back to back blind cigar reviews and some NFL football.

 

 

[loose_axle]

Working. And prepping to apply for a new role at work. Ah the joys... 

[riderpride]

1 hour ago, loose_axle said:

Working. And prepping to apply for a new role at work. Ah the joys... 

Good luck!

[Cigar Surgeon]

2 hours ago, loose_axle said:

Working. And prepping to apply for a new role at work. Ah the joys... 

Good luck, I hope you get it! 

[tbelle7]

Nice to be back in South China away from all the snow and ice in the midwest USA.

[rckymtn22]

Starting travel to Melbourne tomorrow to assist with fighting their wildfires (bush fires). Spending all weekend in airports and on planes. Hope to catch the NFL games in Vancouver during our long layover there. The plan is to be in Australia for a month. Will be nice to go from the cold to the heat. Packing a few cigars for the days off.

[WestCoastSmokin]

Heading to Monster Jam tomorrow. Afterwards will watch whatever I can of UFC324! 

[Drguano]

This is in Celsius. The high will be -18°c. Happy Australia Day!

[westg]

19 hours ago, rckymtn22 said:

Starting travel to Melbourne tomorrow to assist with fighting their wildfires (bush fires). Spending all weekend in airports and on planes. Hope to catch the NFL games in Vancouver during our long layover there. The plan is to be in Australia for a month. Will be nice to go from the cold to the heat. Packing a few cigars for the days off.

Much appreciated brother. !! Be safe 

[westg]

Beach gym Saturday. Out for dinner with my partner's daughter - a little Japanese feast. Sunday am gym and beach. 9.30, a friendly chess tournament in a 60's style Cafe, which is so cool. I always donate my first place prize and I will do the same today 😎. I wish we could smoke cigars, it would be amazing. It is  Australia day here in Aus on Monday, so it's a public holiday long weekend. So, I'll be crabbing first up Monday morning. Have a great weekend folks.🌴

[LaoFan]

Gaethje v. Pimblett early fight of the year candidate.

Happy Australia Day to the crew down under.

Enjoy your Sundays gents.

[Fuzz AI]

On 1/24/2026 at 9:30 AM, JohnS said:

I'm participating in a Blind Champagne tasting today with my wife and friends. I'll be watching NFL (obviously) and participating in that aforementioned Parallel Burns panel. Yeah, life's good, can't complain!

Yes indeedy! Had our annual blind champagne tasting at my my place yesterday. Was a fantastic day, though a bit of a hot day. Good food, great champers, plenty of laughs!

Standout were the Roger Manceaux Premier Cru Brut Cuvee De Reserve, Devaux Cuvee D Brut, Piper Heidsieck Vintage 2018 and Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut. We did have the Aldi exclusive Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru. For the price it is a decent champagne, but I found it wanting. For me, there are plenty of other sparkling wines in the same price category that would be better. For me, my top choice was the Devaux, closely followed by the Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, then the Piper Heidsieck Vintage 2018 and Roger Manceaux tied for third. 

[Ford2112]

21 hours ago, LaoFan said:

Gaethje v. Pimblett early fight of the year candidate.

Happy Australia Day to the crew down under.

Enjoy your Sundays gents.

Paddy took an a** whoopin'.

[JDoughty]

On 1/23/2026 at 4:39 PM, El Presidente said:

What's up for the weekend? 

Snowed in, roads covered in ice. After finishing storm prep, smoking some Davidoffs and refreshing the Bond Roberts and Fabrica 005 sites to see if those tasty new sticks can be obtained yet. 😋

[loose_axle]

17 hours ago, Fuzz AI said:

Yes indeedy! Had our annual blind champagne tasting at my my place yesterday. Was a fantastic day, though a bit of a hot day. Good food, great champers, plenty of laughs!

Standout were the Roger Manceaux Premier Cru Brut Cuvee De Reserve, Devaux Cuvee D Brut, Piper Heidsieck Vintage 2018 and Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut. We did have the Aldi exclusive Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru. For the price it is a decent champagne, but I found it wanting. For me, there are plenty of other sparkling wines in the same price category that would be better. For me, my top choice was the Devaux, closely followed by the Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, then the Piper Heidsieck Vintage 2018 and Roger Manceaux tied for third. 

Very cool! Thanks to this forum I started digging into Andre Clouet in the last year. It's been a hit with family and friends, even those who find sparkling/ champagne unsettling to their digestion.