Mel Carson: Blog, Reviews & Photos on Tech, Taste & Travel June 2011 » Mel Carson: Blog, Reviews & Photos on Tech, Taste & Travel

June, 2011

Supping Dark Lager via the Roslyn Brewing Company

Supped this little beauty en route to Cave B in Eastern Washington a few weeks ago.

Seattle and the surrounding area prides itself on “micro-brews” and, although I find most of them to be a little too much on the bitter side, this Roslyn Dark Lager seemed to come as close to English “real ale” as I’ve come.

It’s also one of the first bottles I’ve come across that shouts out the alcohol volume on the label. In the UK it’s law I think, but over here I often don’t know how much I’m drinking which would be a pain if I ever passed my US driving test!

Peter Vesterbacka & Angry Birds on Branding a Phenomenon

Another video from Cannes. Met Peter through Amanda Groty and Poppy at Hill & Knowlton.

Loved their approach to building their brand, and especially the suprise at just how successful they’d been.

Adore the “simple people….” mantra!

Thoughts?

Kudo Tsunoda Interview on Xbox 360 and Kinect at Cannes Lions 2011

Got to spend 8 minutes with the creative director for Xbox 360 – Kudo Tsunoda – at Cannes Lions 2011 this week.

Quite a force in person – I’d sneaked into watch his session rehearsal – and quite the demoer, Kudo has a presence and articulation quite unlike anyone I’ve ever met.

Check out us talking about Kinect, why it’s sold so well, and listen to the advice he gives to creatives on how to get the most from the Xbox platform.

Video………PLAY!

Pretty Standard New York Pork Chop

Pretty Chop from The Standard Hotel

Have a few Taste posts backed up now because of all the hectic travelling, but this was one of the best meals I had in NYC this month with the fabulous Kristen and Jamie from MediaVest.

New York’s Standard Hotel, Restaurant and Beer Garden down near Soho House does these enormous chops, with a delightful fruity (mango I think) accompaniment.

Look at the size of it!

Seriously the more I eat out in America, the more I realise how stingy UK eateries can be with their portions, especially when it comes to meat and seafood.

Thoroughly recommend going there. Don’t expect to be able to get the draft beer the beer garden patrons are sipping though, because they don’t serve it in the restaurant……which was the only shame about the place!

Video: Jess Greenwood from Contagious Magazine on 365 Marketing

Just loved getting a few minutes with Jess Greenwood from Contagious Mag at Imagine 2011.

She talks a lot of sense, especially about the move from 360 to 365 marketing thanks to digital and social media.

£15,000 for a Beach Hut in Seaford

Yes, that’s right! Over £15K or $25,000 for an 8ft by 6ft wooden hut by the sea that you can’t even sleep in by law!

A………..mazing!

But there is free parking so that’s a bonus huh!

Ashley and Rattlesnakes at the Columbia River Gorge

Will write up a review of our stay at Cave B this weekend, but just HAD to get this photo up of Ashley on top of the cliff at the Columbia River Gorge.

She looks AMAZING!

This photo was taken at the same viewing point off the I90. Someone on Facebook smartly suggested that surely you should “listen out” for, rather than look out for these slippery fiends!

We didn’t come across any…. ;-(