twenty-one

The Husband accompanied me to the official launch of a new bar in Skycity last week. Previously known as Bar3, it has been renovated and rebranded as twenty-one, and is possibly one of the chicest, more glamorous new bar in town today. Worth a visit if you want to feel like a million bucks. Or perhaps if you have a million bucks, as the Skycity casino is right upstairs.

We had a great time sipping on Moet champagne, red wine from Waiheke Island and Central Otago, and there were even shots of something potent going around, which we wisely avoided.

There were casino tables with 'Learn to Play' Black Jack (Twenty-one), Roulette and Baccarat where the excellent and extremely patient croupiers guided newbie players on rules of the games, while providing insider tips and tricks to the already seasoned ones.

It was a fun way to learn how to play and bet, without actually using real money. Definitely a good tactic to help people get comfortable with the game before they head for the actual casino one floor above (which, we also wisely avoided). I think I made $5,000 at one point, and proceeded to lose it all within the next half hour.

Hubby was amused at my aggresive playing and decided to take a picture for posterity.

Hmmm.. not quite sure what happened to my cards.

We ended up staying much later than we'd planned, playing hand after hand at the Black Jack and Roulette tables, and cheering on the other players with their fake money, who were betting thousands of dollars at a go.

I will be heading back next week to do an interview with the Bar manager for my magazine, and perhaps this time I'll try my hand at some Baccarat?

Yes, I am obviously very efficient and proficient at my job.