Aug 2016 showcase

It's showtime! Prepare to be amazed as we march around the restaurants of some of my lovely neighbours and feast our eyes on the glorious designs which have been conjured up.

This particular showcase has five participants, with two first timers joined by three old hands. There's a nice spread of diners coming up here as we approach the end of the summer, so let's hit the road and get rolling!

And after a lazy lie-in, all roads lead to the beach at A Quilted Café.

A Quilted Café

At the time of her last appearance in the showcase, A Quilted Cafe was using the title A Chilly Corner, but has now reverted to the original. Given the presence of that huge table knit quilt, I think this is quite right!

That quilt has taken on iconic status in the game, with just about every table imaginable woven into a massive sheet. The customers amass all around the edge and have quite the view across the quilt. I love how the Snowman Table is right at the centre of it all - it's almost like he's the superior table here and has used that fact to justify giving himself the prime slot!

Running adjacent to the quilt is a beautiful and brilliantly selected Sliced Wood Floor boardwalk which leads down to the beach. This is the place to grab your late breakfast, and considering the growing queue, it appears the Ice Cream Truck is the most favoured seller (ice cream for breakfast is acceptable when you're on holiday I reckon!) The Lemonade Sign indicates that drinks are also offered by the truck, and there are even some Coconut Chairs facing the sea so that holidaymakers can enjoy their cone with a view.

But the Boardwalk Dog Stand is looking to rival the Ice Cream Truck, and the Hot Dog Vendor has a queue of his own. However look at the face the Jock is pulling here - looks like the Hot Dog Vendor didn't catch his request not to have mustard with his dog!

Heading on to the sand, this is a busy beach. The Hula Girl is twirling to the tune of the Island Durmmer's beat, the Deck Reader is chilling as only she can and the unflappable Fish Butler is keeping everyone's glass of wine full. But it's the pair under the Beach Umbrellas whom I wish to focus upon.

Grassy island at the beach in a Quilted Café

They may have a football behind their deckchairs but this couple have no intention of moving an inch. The Fish Butler has already attended to their drinking needs, and now they can unwind in peace. Well, I say that, but the apparent grin on the guy's face may be more of a dash of hysteria at the Beach Bonfire smouldering near his feet!

Even a nearby fire can't pull the girl's attention away from the paradise a little way out from shore. Set on some healthy looking Summer Grass, this small island is flanked by Flower Trophies (four of them - that's impressive!) and is home to the so-called Nature's Dream, a sparkling tree so vibrant and glorious it can produce rainbows. And yet the Amethyst Heart somehow trumps even this. With a huge pink heart catching the sunlight, I think the girl on the deckchair may be planning a very romantic boat trip.

Seeing an island out at sea is nothing new when players do a beach theme, but I've never seen anyone keep said island as simple and uncluttered as A Quilted Cafe has here. And it's all the better for it - this paradise would undoubtedly be quiet and peaceful, which is certainly everything that I'd want from my island of bliss.

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As the day reaches it's hottest stage, I recommend we head inside and get ourselves some lunch. And there's no better place to do that than at Dana's.

Dana's

Dana is making a showcase debut, although his wife - Dingo Diner - actually appeared in the last showcase!

This is a pretty special diner. I've always been quite afraid to go wild with some of the less subtle floor tiles and tables, but Dana has not held back, and the result is a massively effective and distinctive restaurant.

Towards the near corner, the Bombay Tables are set on a Nature's Dream Tile floor, and despite these not being released together, they make quite the double act. Both have a circle at their respective centre, and the blue on the corners of the floor tiles link nicely with the blue of the table edges.

Then there's the Modern Asian flooring towards the right corner which has been accompanied by Zen Tables and Zen Chairs. There's a really fresh and serene feel to this section, with so much green really bringing out the theme of nature. And with the Fancy Waiter and Parisian Waitress dragging around a Fine Cart and Cheese Cart respectively we're not going to go hungry here!

In the outdoor left corner the Mosaic Tables and Charcoal Patio Tables continue the trend of loud patterns, with the Stone floor tiles beneath them. But on this occasion it's the Wall Hedges I'm drawn toward. The slightly darker tone of this area highlights the hedge that bit more, and it's cleverly positioned in front of the Bourbon Street wallpaper. Those are posh homes along there so it makes sense for the owners to require some privacy - a leafy hedge does the job perfectly.

All that remains is the bar section towards the top corner, which is some scene.

Bar section at Dana's

The ambience here is just perfect. The Spanish Terracotta flooring works so well with the Dotted Wooden Tables, and when you add in the Spanish Knife Wall there's a great blend of colours. The Old Saloon wallpaper lines the back wall really neatly, with Hanging Rakes dangling around Flat Screen TVs which are showing live sport. This is definitely a bar well suited to sports fans - in addition to the live action there's also memorabilia to indicate that this is no ordinary pub.

And the food's not bad either. Barista Phoebe is in charge, and that can only mean lots of fine grub. She's working the stoves, while the Swedish Server assists with the Carving Station. Add in the Cask and Barrel (which itself is probably full of drink) and it looks like we'll be getting merry at lunchtime. That doesn't bode well with three places still to visit, but ultimately I can't think of a better place to relax with a super chilled beer.

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Topped up on grub (and booze) let's spend the afternoon doing a bit of shopping. And Fleet Street is a real hot spot when it comes to going on a spending spree.

Fleet Street

This is the second time Fleet Street - owned by regular commenter Jantiene Witzen - has starred in the showcase, and plenty of the units have changed since we last trooped around the stores. The gift shop in the middle along the right wall is stuffed full of trinkets that tourists will lap up, including sculpted Bird Poles and a variety of Wind Chimes. There's even some large carvings of a Wooden Bear and a Wooden Wolf, although fitting them in your suitcase may be troublesome!

Out in the square there's a great atmosphere around the Rock & Roll King statue. A mainstay of Fleet Street, this monument, lit at night by French Lanterns, currently stands between two Fallen Trees which give a stark reminder that colder weather is coming. It's a worthy centrepiece to the area, and I love how no space goes to waste, and yet it doesn't feel cluttered.

A relatively new store is the antiques shop, where Hanbok Phoebe has all manner of rare and valuable decor on sale. The Curio Crate has been put to fine use here, and that's great to see given that this was a box I never thought anyone would find use for - proven wrong again! The wooden browns of the cabinets work so well with the Hardwood floor and the Fancy Wood Dividers, and even the slate grey of the Side Curio matches smoothly with the Venetian flooring around the edge of the shop.

It's already clear that Fleet Street has some excellent speciality outlets, but there are another couple which deserve a closer look.

Photo and clothes shops at Fleet Street

The photo shop is a hive of activity. Not only can you get your pretty face snapped in the Photo Booth outside, but you can also get a professional job done inside. Old Fashioned Cameras are set up, and with Camera Lights in place you can look fabulous in a frame. However patience will be necessary as the Classic Chef is currently in a shoot, with the Mad Chemist developing some of the efforts on the spot. And it looks like he'll be there a while considering that the Date Night Drinks are on ice - this is a very suave photo shop!

Next door is the clothes store, which has a particular focus on hats. There are hats everywhere you look, stored on the Cowboy Hat Rack and Tea Hat Stands. There are also Witch's Hats and Derby Hats available, meaning there really is something for everyone. The Cowboy Greeter, Captain Phoebe and My Fair Gran-Gran are all trying out various caps, and I think they've all made good choices.

I've been fortunate enough to see many shop fronts at Fleet Street over time, but the collection in place right now might just be the best yet. There's something happening everywhere you look, and no item has been placed without a great deal of thought and precision. A marvellous shopping experience!

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After that frantic afternoon in town, I recommend a visit to the more relaxed surroundings of the Renaissance Faire at Nibbles and Noms for another bite to eat.

Nibbles and Noms

Right from when you pass between the Gold Columns to be welcomed by the Rose Queen, there's a grand yet friendly feel to proceedings here. All of those operating stands want you to try out their delicacies, and given the busyness of the Apple Festival it looks as though the punters are obliging. But there's some opulence here as well, with the King and Queen watching over all the fun with interest.

The Scarecrow has a range of organic dishes advertised on the Maple Leaf Special sign, with these including some piping hot Tomato Bisque. All the ingredients are sourced fresh from the Produce Stand and Vegetable Display, so this is a super healthy option.

Next to this stall we have Gourmet Chef Santa's meat feast. He's a busy man with the Smokers all releasing some extraordinary smells. You can even see the smoke rising from the juicy meat lined up on trays. It all comes to a crescendo on the Carving Station where the food is sliced up and presented wonderfully with veg and berries.

Across the green the Parisian Waitress is dedicated to desserts. And we're talking about the tantalising sort of dessert that you can't get enough of. There's Golden Leaf Cake and Golden Lotus available, or if you'd rather just have a taste then the Cake Samples may be the one for you.

And competing with the waitress is the Mexican Dancer who spins her way to great dishes. She's got no shortage of sweet Honey Stools, and combining that with the pick of the ingredients on the Wagon of Pumpkins gives delicious food such as Honey Bites and Honey Ribs. But be quick - the Playful Parasol looks like she has a crazing for honey and might polish everything off very soon!

The remaining two stalls deserve a closer inspection.

White Knight and Bobbing for Apples areas at Nibbles and Noms

Bobbing for Apples was a popular pastime during the Renaissance (I reckon!) so it's no wonder it's been brought back for this special fair. Two kids are getting into the spirit, and both have successfully wedged a shiny apple between their teeth. Don't worry though, there's plenty more to take the plunge for, with a Barrel of Apples quite literally overflowing.

I've saved the White Knight's corner for last. This warrior is strong and lean, and that's partly down to his excellent diet. Now he's encouraging others to jump aboard with some of the explosive spices and seasoning that has made him so powerful. The Stuff a Chicken stand consists of rows of chickens filled up with tasty herbs and other yummy treats, while the Aromatics Displays show some of the adventurous spices used to give an extra kick to the food.

As ever, I'm pretty much gobsmacked by the attention to detail Nibbles displays, especially when it comes to cooking. Every recipe - whether simmering away on an appliance or exhibited on a counter - has been carefully selected to fit the surroundings, and these really help bring together the fair gloriously.

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It's now early evening and our tummies are full again. There's no better way to finish this great day than by taking it full circle and returning to the beach at cafe lula.

cafe lula

Lula is another making a showcase debut, and has really got into the summer spirit with this seaside layout. Situated a little further along the coast than Dana's, this beach is home to the best sandwich shop in town. Manager Phoebe runs the show, with the likes of Tuna Sandwiches and Turkey Sandwiches prepared to order.

It's the ideal evening snack (because we haven't eaten enough today!) to take down to the sand. And there's plenty of activity down there, with the Hut Bar and Lemonade Stand providing nice options for ending your night in style. We've also got the Ice Cream Stand and his Gelato Display which like Dana's Ice Cream Truck appear to be attracting a queue of kids. And those kids are able to have a good play in the Sandbox, which has the Cruise Playground attached. The latter of these is a pretty rare box item, and I've never seen it positioned next to the Sandbox - what a brilliant combination!

But let's be honest, not all kids are young enough to be capering on climbing frames. That's not a problem though, because over on the right there's some good entertainment for some of the hip teenagers who are out to party. The Fire Dancers brings with it fire juggling girls who have no fear. The Island Drummer has hotfooted over from Dana's beach (he must be in demand, and tired!) and has brought his brother along for double the noise. And the fire theme continues with the S'mores Campfire. I like how Lula has combined these fire based decorations, and the group around the fire pit look right at home on the beach with their wooden deckchairs.

So we've seen the kids and the teens, but where are the adults? Well, it's no surprise that after a detour to the Hut Bar they've headed down to the sea, and that's we're going to zoom in.

Seaside at cafe lula

The Desert Sand makes way for Sandy Shore as we approach the water, and lined up are a number of Lounge Chairs which give the perfect view out into the ocean. The Deck Reader is making full use of the Patio Drink Cart's close vicinity, and I love the Towel Elephants dotted around. There's also an adorable titbit involving a Rustic Turkey seeking the shade of a Beach Parasol. Only in Restaurant Story!

But it's in the water that things get really interesting as this is no ordinary sea. Lula has used Tranquil Waters and the Ocean Floor to differentiate between the shallows and the deeper stuff, with the Little Love Boat and Innertube sticking close to the shore. Things get more adventurous further out, where the Mermaid Reef is inhabited not only by the pretty mermaid and her range of corals and seaweeds, but also a pair of Sea Turtle Tables.

And there are a couple of cracking features which can only be seen by anyone daring enough to paddle out to the reef. The Pirate Treasure Chest is stacked full of glittering golden coins, but if you want to get your hands on them you'll need to prise away the slimy pink octopus. Not only that but you'll have to negotiate the Loch Ness Decor. It appears that Nessie takes her holidays in this part of the world, although given past sightings which turned out to be a big disappointment, this may be nothing more than an odd shaped log...

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Wow. Once more my neighbours have done the business. Initially when I decided to do these showcases every other month it was with a view to having each one centred on a theme relating to the season. But given the diverse quality of decorating you can get, particularly outside of the holiday season, I'm glad that I left it open.

 Previous showcases

 02/07/16 July 2016
 30/04/16 April 2016
 14/02/16 Valentine's Day 2016
 27/12/15 Christmas 2015
 02/11/15 Halloween 2015

In this case we had two wonderful yet different beach scenes which encapsulate summer superbly, but also three other diners which were not fixed to any particular time of year and yet were extremely worthy of being given the showcase treatment. So thank you to these five fantastic players for allowing me give the world a glimpse of their mega creative talents.

Just to look ahead (and contradict myself somewhat!) the next three showcases are scheduled to fall in October, December and February. So it's only right that these come with a hint of Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day respectively. That's something we can all look forward to!