Time for a recap of 2024 highlights! It was a busy year as I attended and reviewed 25 shows/events! I am not sure how many pics I posted, but I know that I took over 5000 on my DSLR plus another 2000+ on my phone over the course of the year. My personal “highlights” pic gallery has about 600 pics, which is too much to re-post here (you can see them throughout my various reviews). Instead, here is a list of my favourites/the most interesting things that I saw in each category.

Guns: HK MP7, Glock 45 ETF spec, Chiappa Tmodel, Akdas Masterkey, Canuck Wrangler Blackout

Knives: Noveske Strider, Microtech Halo, Rob Simonich’s personal knife, Todd Bolce build-along, Nicolas Bayley/Farmboy Customs Metro 2033, Murray St-Amour stag-handle filet

Watches: Omega Ultradeep, Rolex Deepsea, IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Lake Tahoe

Pens: Sailor 1911L Wicked Witch of the West, Fellhoelter TiBolt Mud Flap Lady

Audio: JBL 4329P, Epos ES-14N, Michell Gyro SE, Nagra Reference Turntable and streamer, Focal Utopia headphones/Naim Atom amp, Audiovector Trapeze

Cars: Pagani Huayra R and Zonda R, Bentley 1929 Blower, Singer, TVR Sagaris, Lamborghini Sterrato and Murcielago, Cybertruck, Ferrari GTO, F40, F50, and Enzo

Boats: Zodiac police boats, Nor-Tech 400 SuperSport, Donzi Classic 22, Hewescraft Alaskan

Motorcycles: MV Augusta Superleggara, Honda Africa Twin, Harley Fat Boy & CVO

Clothing: Retro Rifle, 221B tactical jeans, Silver Cedar Studio fur

Store visits: Urban Tactical 10 Year Anniversary, 416 Tactical, Prefair, Camouflage

Experiences: Aquino Gulf-War tank battle re-enactment, Banksy exhibit, axe throwing, finally trying APNVG panoramic night vision goggles

Celebrities: Mr. Nobody/The Tracker from John Wick 4, Richard Hammond, Mate Rimac, YouTube influencer Audiophile Junkie

Food: Lancaster Smokehouse, Camp31, Duff’s,  Zet’s, Zorro’s, Blessed Love Café, Bar Isabel, Shake Shack, Sushi Rock, Rolltation, 8 Mile, Dic Ann’s, barBURRITO, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Duke’s Refresher

Drink: Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton’s, Screwball, Teremana, Black Hole, Maple Cider

What are your highlights?

RL

My birthday celebration started right at midnight by watching the co-main event of UFC 310 at Urban House!

I was rooting for Shavkat Rakhmonov and he did end up winning.

For the main event, I had high hopes for Japanese star Kai Asakura but alas he lost to Pantoja

Thank you to the generous patron for the Jameson birthday shot

I popped over to say hi to my friends at Duke’s Refresher where I was treated to another great birthday shot, this time Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey mixed with Chambord. It really did taste like peanut butter and jelly!

Now for some rest before the real celebrations begin….

I met Steve from Bad Llama Forge at the Great Lakes Custom Knife Show and later learned that he is one of the coaches at Bad Axe! He graciously invited me to visit and I thought my birthday would be a perfect time to try axe throwing for the first time!

Even better when accompanied by a real bad axe, Morgy!

My first few throws didn’t go so well as the axe bounced off the target without sticking. I soon realized that taking a step forward as I throw made a HUGE difference! I managed to hit five shots in the 5 ring and even a 6 in the bullseye!

Once they stick, they stick

A few more target pics for perspective

Meanwhile, Morgy was doing two-hand overhead throws

Note to self, do not piss her off

She got some in the 5 ring too

In fact, we both did so at the same time! This is not staged or AI, we really hit these simultaneously!

We set a target score of 100 to end the match and I was at  99 so needed to hit the one ring …

Success!

Thanks for throwing with me Morgy!

And now for some pics…the Queen of Blades

I felt like Crom from Conan the Barbarian

I clearly wore the right shirt for this

Once again, thanks so much to our host Steve from Bad Llama Forge and his lovely fiancée Mayu (holding one of his custom throwing axes)

After a brief wardrobe change, we had some time before dinner so back to Duke’s Refresher for a quick snack. Duke’s did an amazing job with the Christmas decorations

And the Jalapeno Popper Dip was amazing as usual! This is one of my favourite dishes and I have had it many times including with meat added as well as with some of the ultra hot sauces that I keep at home.

Now on to our dinner at Bar Isabel, number 44 on the list of Top 100 Restaurants in Canada!

We got a nice end table for some relative privacy in a packed place

Being a Spanish tapas-style resto, we ordered several appetizers to sample.

First the Boquerons En Vinagre, which had a very pronounced lemon flavour. Don’t get me wrong, I love lemon, just letting you know this is more lemon than vinegar.

Next the Hand Cut Jamón Ibérico, billed as “The best Jamón in the world.” It is like a cured meat or at least it has a more dry/solid texture than a greasy salami, if that makes sense. Again, very good.

Finally, what turned out to be imho the best dish of the evening, the Roast Veal Bone Marrow! They serve it unseasoned but do provide a green sauce as well as sea salt. I tried it every way and it was best with the sea salt. Just awesome and what a visual presentation!

On to our main dishes. I opted for a ¼ Octopus. It was great and I am not sure what the white sauce was but I liked it!

Morgy had the Grilled 10oz Picanha Steak and it was great too!

We also shared a side of Patatas Bravas. Note you can add Boquerones to these and I would probably do that next time.

Last but certainly not least, the Basque Cake with Hot Sherry Cream (incidentally a $1 from each cake is donated to charity). This was awesome! Morgy said it reminded her of a dessert her Grandmother used to make and it was her favourite dessert she has eaten this year.

You would think we were done here but on the way out I stopped at the bar to check out their selection. Lo and behold, Pappy Van Winkle 20-year! I have wanted to try this for a lonnnggggg time and hey, it’s my birthday! That is some good stuff!

All in all Bar Isabel was great! It certainly lives up to its reputation and I would definitely come back.

I had a great day and thanks to Morgy for making it more memorable!

RL