XMAS Dinner and Staff Lunch

Christmas Eve is a time to celebrate and enjoy life with family and friends and we at Sharkys did exactly that. With Big Al creating great eats as always, along with the Bar’s 2 great and old talented cooks themselves – Taco Bill and Larry Luchok (formerly Chef/GM at Cali 2), the experienced 3 Musketeers cooked up a Gourmet Storm for Sharky’s “Invitation Only Christmas V.I.P. Appreciation Dinner”, with 14 dishes appearing after a full days’ preparation as a “Labor of Love.”

The Gourmet “Chefs’ Choice” Christmas Dinner was headlined by 2 huge perfectly-cooked Turkeys – 1 deep fried Southern style, and the 2^nd Tradition Oven Roasted with Herbs and basted with care and precision every 5 minutes until golden brown, tender, and stuffed with a special Larry’s secret recipe. The Large Baked Ham with Vermont Syrup Glaze was the next Eye Opener for all as it was being carefully carved up by Taco Bill and Larry the Iron Chef.

As this event was by Invitation Only for Sharky Bar’s 50 best customers and friends, there are always a few gate crashers. But Sharky Mike ( his eyes may be small, but they see far ) was on the case as Maitre D’/Bouncer and welcoming all a hearty “Merry Christmas and Welcome to our Christmas Dinner” . Christmas Eve is not a time to have to put body blocks on people who had partied too hearty at other Bars ,not on the List, eyeing the food and the large VIP crowd, and doing their best to grab some delicacies.

Our gracious and greatful friends all brought wine and booze, so there were many many rounds of “Cheers” and “Merry Clistmaas” (native speak) and a great time was had by all. As usual, a small contingent of satisfied VIP’s continued their partying and boozing way past dinner time, and were last seen stumbling their way out with very large smiles on their face, but with very large and satisfied appetites wishing all a “Merry Christmas and to all a Good Night..”

A Big Thank You to all of our Sharky Bar Family of Friends who continue to support our efforts and business every year, and especially to those who have been around since the beginning of Sharky Bar in 1995.

Sharky Mike

Sharky Bar’s 15th Anniversary Rock Party Weekend

It’s hard to believe that 15 years can pass so quickly for the life
of a Bar in Phnom Penh, but we are still here and still thriving !!

When Sharky’s opened its doors in 1995 by Bob King and “M.I.A. Dave”,
Cambodia was a much different place from today, and especially Phnom
Penh.

When I joined the Bar in 1997, there were still U.N., NATO, and U.S.
troops assisting the Cambodian Government in keeping peace after the
Civil War ending that year, the streets were loaded with not endless
SUV’s, motos, and BMW’s, but with Cambodian Army troops setting up
roadblocks every several hundred meters and stopping every moving
vehicle on the relatively empty streets. Lots of bicycles, fewer motor
scooters and tuk tuks, and dominated by cyclos.

Then with the Thai riots, more internal political fighting, another
mini Civil disturbances in the late ‘90’s to early 2000’s, it wasn’t
easy to be able to get around town without armed personnel carriers
taking us from place to place.

Anyone remember the Eagle Firing Range where for $50, you could rent
an Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher, 1 RPG Shell, and for another $25
buy a cow as a target? Throw live hand grenades for $10 each? The Bad
Old Days for sure...

Who would have imagined the endless traffic jams these days with
increasing prosperity fueled by hundreds of Barang NGO’s, Korean,
Vietnamese, Malaysian, French, European and U.S businesses? Also by
increasing increasing infrastructure building by Cambodian Government
funds?

Sharky’s was the 3rd Expat Bar in Phnom Penh in 1995, and now almost
reaching 2011, there are well over 300 + Expat Bars around town.
Well, here we are still Rockin’ after all these years!!

Friday night, December 17, the Bar rocked with the legendary Curtis
King Band taking center stage to kick off the Rock Party Weekend. And
rockin’ it was as C.K. brought along Phnom Penh music veteran Davis
Zunk to play with his Band, and Guest Appearance by the famous
Rapper,Conn’s Dogg, who mixed his Rapping with Classics like “GLORIA”,
MUSTANG SALLY, and even the Rolling Stones “TUMBLING DICE”. With the ultimate Rock Music Frontman and true Rock and Roller “a la Rod Stewart” style – LeROI, in from London for the Event, Sharky’s was
definitely the place to be and it was tough to get even near the Stage
with hundreds of loyal Sharky Expats, C.K. music lovers, packing our
large Bar.

Then on Saturday night, the relatively new local Band, Captain Jack
(formerly The Stone Daddies) , led by the incredible voice and vibes
of Karen singing Mick and Keith’s leads, J.J. on Lead and Slide
Guitar, Tim on Bass, Dylan on drums, and everyone’s favorite local Rock
Scene Blogger and Musician, Steve Goodman, playing a Tribute to the
Stone’s “Exile on Main Street” album, along with a few extra Stones
songs not on the Exile album, they were just perfect and almost as if
Mick and crew were playing in front of another packed, raucous, and
jammed Bar.

After their set, who comes back on to the delight of the crowd that
was shouting “More, More, More” to J.J. and Karen, Curtis King, LeRoi,
and Gang came back for a surprise and unscheduled 2nd Set which
brought the House down! Truly a great musical experience for all rock
and roll lovers lucky enough to be around for 4 hours of hard driving
music….

On Sunday night to wrap up the 15th Rock Anniversary Weekend, about 25
musicians from approximately 8 local Bands showed up to Jam together .
The first Band was led by the infamous Ian the Punk and backed up by
Sharky’s own Music Manger, Dave the Punk, and then joined by Kenny
White of Cambodian Space Project/Hellhounds/etc, Stevie Goodman, Dan
the Swede, Conn’s Dogg, Curtis King, LeRoi,Tommy Nicks of Lost
Highway, Tim, J.J., Karen, and a surprisingly great new sounding Band
in town, Martin and the Choppers, and lots of other famous locals
playing another 4 hours of combos of Rock, Blues, Soul, Jazz, Punk,
and Funk.

Who could have asked for a better way to celebrate Rock and Roll at
Sharky’s Bar of Cambodia, the longest running Rock and Roll Bar in
IndoChina?

Stay tuned for the Famous PLAN B Band, from Australia (lots of Brass
and Crass) playing at Sharky’s on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Another weekend of the Rock and Roll in Phnom Penh.
ONLY AT SHARKY’s !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike Sharky

100's of more photo's of our Anniversary here

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=23764&id=100001455738238&l=55bec45086

Sharky's 15 Year Anniversary Party Weekend 2010

Sharky's 15 Year Anniversary Party Weekend:
Live music from Curtis King Band, Captain Jack & Sharky Jam

Friday Dec 17 - The Curtis King Band @ 8pm
"A bit of jazz, a touch of soul, a whole lotta rock 'n' roll!" from the coolest band in Vietnam

Saturday Dec 18 - Captain Jack @ 8pm
Phnom Penh’s Rolling Stones Tribute Band play tribute to Sticky Fingers & Exile on Main St. albums

Sunday Dec 19 - Sharky Jam @ 8pm
We are rounding off the weekend with a Jam @ Sharky’s. All musicians welcome

Lucky Door Prizes & Crazy Cocktails

Come and enjoy the fun!

Live Music @ Sharky's Dec 10: Lazy Drunks

Live Music this weekend @ Sharky's

Friday Dec 3 @ 8pm- Stiff Little Punks
Saturday Dec 4 @ 9pm- Lost Highway

Packo and his crew in Nigeria - Nice Hats!