Michael 84

Samsung NX Mini Review

Tech Blog
Friday, 8th August, 2014

Samsung NX Mini UK Review

I have been in need of a new pocket camera for a while. Over Four years ago I got the Sony HX10 which was an amazing camera, really good quality, it fit in my pocket and went with me on many journeys including London and Stockholm, as well as countless nights out.

I’ve been using a DSLR for 2 or 3 years now, and I love it, I don’t think I could do without one, and even thought of getting myself up the DSLR ladder with a new camera. But first thing is first, and I wanted to get a new compact camera.

My iPhone is pretty decent when taking snaps when I have no other option, and it’s always with me, but the quality is lacking. Is there still a market for a camera which sits in-between a camera-phone and a DSLR? I think so.

I have been looking around for a long time for the perfect camera with the qualities I need. First of all I want great quality images. Second it has to fit in my pocket; I’m not talking jacket pocket, I’m talking about it fitting in my jeans comfortably. Those two features are what I am looking for, and everything else is a bonus. I decided on the Samsung NX Mini, and I have to say it’s really good! 🙂

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Tiger Hornsby Coming To The Quayside This Month

Newcastle Nightlife
Wednesday, 6th August, 2014

Tiger Hornsby Coming Soon To The Quayside

I remember being a 17 year old on a student night out, and trying to go to Julies 2 nightclub; When the bouncer asked for ID which I clearly did not have, he told me it was a 21+ and we went on to another place, probably Sea across the road. We went down the quayside a lot, back in 2002 it was the cool place to drink. Not that I’d have first hand experience of, but Julies nightclub was quite the place to be, as was most of the quayside, frequented by footballers like Keith Gillespie. Years later it became know as Blue, and since I was a lot older (around 21-22) I used to go. I loved the place, the layout was good, cool people, lots of drinks, friendly, great music and an all round good time. There were many great nights spent here, but then the place closed. It became Stein Beer Keller, which was a completely different kind of bar, I went once, it was not terrible but I only went the once so not great either.

Now it’s coming back, with a new name which in inspired by an old regular of the infamous Julies. Tiger Hornsby will be opening this month, with the promise of bringing back the good times with cocktails, new décor and first class service.

The quayside is having somewhat of a rejuvenation, with a brand new hotel replacing Chase, The Hop and Cleaver opening, the new Popolo is coming soon and now Tiger Hornsby.

Indigo Bar In The Gate Is Forced To Close Down

Newcastle Nightlife
Wednesday, 16th July, 2014

indigo bar newcastle forced to close down

Indigo…Indi-gone. Indigo Bar in The Gate is the latest in the long line of bars to close in Newcastle, as they’re told to make way for a more “Family Friendly” place. Owners of The Gate complex (Crown Estates) have called time on the bar, citing it is to “Rebalance the occupier mix to cater for a wider cross section of consumers, including families“. The popular and much missed Mood Bar and nightclub closed down quite a while back, and turned into a restaurant. The Gate still houses bars such as Keel Row, Opera, Beyond, and Players, with the latter not being very family friendly. It leaves you wondering if Indigo will be the first of many of the bars to go.

We used to go to The Gate a fair bit, especially in the early days. It was pretty fun, but we always referred to it as the shopping centre, because it does have that sort of feel. In fact, whenever we were planning on going, the line was always, “Are we going shopping?!” :mrgreen:

The owners want a more “Family friendly” place, However I am not so sure what kind of families are out at 11pm and later; Not to mention that other bars such as Tiger Tiger, Sinners and Sam Jacks are within spitting distance.

Indigo was always the loudest bar in The Gate when it opened, you did not have to go in or in fact near the door to hear the music blasting out the doors, but was a decent place in the gate if you happened to be in that area.

What’s the best bar in Newcastle? Check out the Best Bars In Newcastle

 

Newcastle Cocktail Week – Monday 14th July – Sunday 20th July

Lifestyle, Newcastle Nightlife
Friday, 11th July, 2014

Lovers of cocktails should clear their schedule for next week, as Newcastle Cocktail week returns to the cities hottest establishments. Lovers of cocktails will be able to experience cocktail master classes, as well as getting a taste of some of the best cocktails and non-alcoholic mocktails at unbelievable prices, starting at only £3. This year over 50 venues across the city are taking part, and I have the best deals for you below.

Alvinos Bar – £5 on all Cocktails

Alvinos are offering any cocktail from their menu for only £5.

Barluga – 3-5-7

Barluga are offering a selection of cocktails for £3, £5 and £7.

£3 cocktails include: Gin & Basil Smash, Caipirinha and Raspberry Caipiroska
£5 cocktails include: Tom Collins, Planters Punch and Kiwi mojito
£7 cocktails include: Poinsettia, The Classic and Watermelon Bellini

Bar Beyond – £3 Cocktails

Bar Beyond are offering Dib Dab or Skittles cocktail for only £3 each!

Bonbar 3-5-7

Bonbar are offering a selection of cocktails for £3, £5 and £7 each.

£3 cocktails include: Bonbar Gin & Tonic, Sugar Snap Daisy, Amaretto Sours, Raspberry Collins
£5 cocktails include: Disco Pisco, Amelia, Barrel Aged Negroni, Why Aye-land Ice Tea, Honey Margarita, Cosmopolitan
£7 cocktails include: Locomotive, Big Fat Sazerac

Browns Bar – £5 cocktails

Browns have a selection of cocktails available for £5 including Frog on the Tyne, Grey Street Collins, Ladies Day and Great North Rum

The Cocktail Project @ Fat Buddha

The Cocktail Project have their special Rum Three Way promotion with three cocktails priced at £3, £5 and £7 which include:

£3 – Lychee or Strawberry Frozen Daiquiri
£5 – The New Fashioned
£7 – Give me S”more

Floritas 3-5-7 Cocktail Week

Floritas  House Of Smith & Madame Koo are doing a range of cocktails starting at £3 each.

£3 cocktails include: Morello Cherry Sour, Double Cush Wor Kid and Whay aye!
£5 cocktails include: Mango and Lychee Collins and Seven Seas Mai Tai
£7 cocktails include: Zombie Nation, Gorgeous Geisha

Harry’s Bar – £5 cocktails

Harry’s Bar have a few cocktails for a fiver, including Lemon Merangue Pie, Raspberry and Apple Collins and Rock n Rolla.

Jalou – Cocktails for £5

Jalou have a range of cocktails for £5 including Raspberry Collins, Salted Caramel Colada, Tropical Caipirinha, Toothpaste Mojito, and Rhubarb & Custard.

Mimo – £3 cocktails

Mimo are offering any cocktail for £3 between 4pm – 8pm

Nectar – 20 cocktails for £5

Nectar have a selection of 20 cocktails for £5, ranging from classics to their own creations, which include:

Cherry Drop Amaretto, Cosmopolitan, Tom Collins, Black Forest Martini, Long Island Iced Tea, Gummi Berry Juice, and Black Russian.

Opera – £3 cocktails

Go to Opera in The Gate and you can get either a Stag Old Fashioned or Strawberry Cosmopolitan for only £3 each!

Revolution

Revolution cocktails are £5 and mocktails are £3 (excludes after 7pm on Saturday).

Mushroom – £3, £5, and £7 cocktail offers

A wide selection of cocktails for all price ranges are available at Mushroom, including:

£3 cocktails: Pink Lemonade, Tequila Sunrise, Cherry Bakewell
£5 cocktails: Singapore Sling, Long Island Iced Tea, Mojito
£7 cocktails: Derby Daiquiri, Mojitarita, Blackberry Caipirinha

The Town Wall

The Town Wall are doing £5 all day and all night, including the following cocktails:

French Martini, Bloody Mary, Margarita, Daiquiri

Tiger Tiger

Tiger Tiger have a selection of £3 cocktails , and £5 Mojitos on offer, which include:

£3 cocktails: Cosmopolitan, Woo Woo, Long Island Iced Tea, Miami Beach Breeze, Margarita, Jack Your Body, Mai Blue Tai, Pom Pom, Caipirinha and Club Colada
£5 Mojitos: Classic, The Royale, Pineapple, Strawberry, Raspberry and Watermelon.

Tokyo

Tokyo Cocktail Week offer includes cocktails for £3, £5 and £7.

£3 cocktails: Banana Heaven, Mojito, Grapefruit Twist, Lemon Sherbet, Fruit Fusion
£5 cocktails: Singapore Sling, Bramble, Margarita, Peter Piper, Rum Punch
£7 cocktails: Martini, Manhattan, Mint Julep, Carnival Caipirinha, Hemmingway Daiquiri

Terms and conditions apply to all offers, which may include time restrictions.

CK Eternity For Men Review

Men's Grooming
Thursday, 10th July, 2014

Calvin Klein Eternity For Men Review

Released way back in 1989-90, CK Eternity For Men is a fragrance you have probably heard of, if not tried. In a simple but chunky glass bottle, this Calvin Klein scent will take you back to the 90s and is not as refined as some of the fragrances of the modern day, however that is not necessarily a bad thing.

The citrus hits you as you spray it, with a mixture of aromatic and spicy notes making it an intriguing style of scent. Since I am rather young and was not wearing aftershaves or EDTs in the early 90s, this is an interesting style of scent which you don’t get very often these days.

It’s quite raw the way the citrus and spice is combined, with a hint of fresh notes and an even smaller hint of a woody scent. A great overall old school fragrance if you want to go for that style, but I prefer the more updated fragrances.

Read the best Calvin Klein Fragrances if you’re looking for comparison among the collection, and discover which CK fragrance is best.

Best season to wear – All rounder
Scent type – Citrus/Spicy/Fresh
Age Recommendation – 30+
Best Worn – Casual, Daywear, Evening, Retro

Top Notes – Mandarin, Lavender, Green Botanics.

Middle Notes – Jasmine, Basil, Geranium, Sage.

Base Notes – Sandalwood, Vetiver, Rosewood, Amber

What do you think of Calvin Klein Eternity for Men? Let me know your thoughts, and as always, you can read my aftershave reviews if you’re on the hunt for a new scent to wear this season.

Other Calvin Klein Fragrances

Givenchy Pour Homme Blue Label Review

Men's Grooming
Thursday, 3rd July, 2014

Givenchy Pour Homme Review

Introduced in 2004, Givenchy Pour Homme Blue Label is quite a refined smelling scent. encased in a glass bottle, it has a blue surround which takes most of the shape of the bottle, complete with a carved out back near the sprayer to make application easy.

It is a little citrus-like but it is more refined, with fresh notes coming through and a hint of spicy ones too. It has quite an elegant smell too it, and is not over-powering and a clean cut grown up scent. If you are in the market for something which is not going to be too over-bearing for those around you, yet you want to smell good, try this out. Recommended for the spring or summer, it’s perfect to wear during the day in the office or at Uni.

Best season to wear – Spring/Summer
Scent type – Citrus/Fresh/Slightly Spicy
Age Recommendation – 16+
Best Worn – Daytime, Formal, Casual, Uni, Work

Top Notes – Grapefruit, Hedione, Bergamot

Middle Notes – Cardamom, Davana, Pepper

Base Notes – Olibanum, Vetiver, Cedar

Other Givenchy Fragrances

Nivea For Men Sensitive And Sensitive Cool Range

Men's Grooming
Thursday, 12th June, 2014

nivea for men launches new sensitive range

Nivea for Men have launched a new cooling collection alongside their sensitive range of men’s skincare products. Additions to the range are a new cooling shaving gel and cooling post shave gel, which contains 0% alcohol to help prevent burning, reddening and skin irritation.

Included in the sensitive range are a shower gel and antiperspirant stick, as well as a face wash, hydro gel and moisture cream. I am a big fan of using post shave balm, and I have used many over the years. Not every man uses one, but it’s a product I swear by, and I cannot imagine not including one in my shaving regime. The Nivea for Men cooling post shave balm has a slight green and citrus scent, and is cool on the skin. The antiperspirant stick works quite well, and is quite odourless which is something I like in an antiperspirant. It’s said to last for an effective 48 hours, so I will have to conduct further tests to see how well it holds up in a hot and sticky office situation, something many of us are all too aware of. The shower gel works well, and has that similar citrus-like scent to it.

All the products are available to buy now from the usual places, priced at the following…

NIVEA MEN Sensitive Post Shave Balm – £7.10
NIVEA MEN Sensitive Shaving Gel – £4.50
NIVEA MEN Sensitive Shower Gel 250ml – £2.00
NIVEA MEN Sensitive 48 hour Sensitive Protect Stick – £2.49

Boss Bottled Unlimited By Hugo Boss Review

Men's Grooming
Tuesday, 10th June, 2014

boss bottled unlimited by Hugo Boss

Boss Bottled Unlimited is the latest fragrance from Hugo Boss, inspired by the BOSS man’s determination and drive for success. This limited edition energizing scent is available to buy now, but be quick, because it is only on sale for a limited time. It’s a real summer style of scent, so would be perfect at this time of the year for Father’s Day.

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Spain World Cup 2014 Home And Away Kits – I Am Ready!

Lifestyle
Monday, 9th June, 2014

spain-2014-both-kits-full

The World Cup is only a few days away, and I am ready, armed with all of my Spain kits 😀 I have the full home and away kit, with shorts and socks, as well as the home and away goalkeeper shirt. My blue (home) goalkeeper shirt has printing on the back, with a number 1 and Casillas. The rest I have not got printed yet, although I think I might. I have also bought the white training shirt, Spain look set to play in a white shirt against Netherlands in the opening game, after FIFA have demanded Adidas make them a third kit.

spain-2014-home-away-training-shirts-1

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Top 50 Best Dressed Male Bloggers By JJ Threads

Lifestyle
Thursday, 5th June, 2014

best dressed male bloggers

How amazing!

I got an email a couple of days ago from the lovely people at JJ Threads, informing me I had made their Top 50 Best Dressed Male Bloggers! 😀

Here’s what they said about me:

Michael84 – Michael Adams is considered one of the most prominent men’s fashion bloggers in the UK. He provides fashion & grooming advice, and highlights the latest style trends, tech products, and beyond.

Thank you JJ Threads 🙂


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