The great thing about Liverpool is that there were about half a dozen events I could have gone to last night.
There was Chinese art and fireworks at the docks, wine tasting in Castle Street, a workmate's band at Barfly, the reopening of the Picture House in Woolton, or a 'farewell' concert at the Phil.
Choices, choices.
In the end I opted for a quick tour around the new Contemporary Art from China exhibition at the Tate followed by the Philharmonic, while my fellow workmakes mopped up the rest of the options.
Very Capital of cultural.
The Tate exhibition, which goes on show from today, includes what one artist claims is the top of Everest which was 'sawn off' on an expedition a couple of years ago.
It certainly prompted discussion last night, although the general concensus seemed to be 'pull the other one'. There were a few jokes about planting a flag on top, and at least one person suggested it could be nothing more than a pile of polystyrene.
To me it looked like a giant rock cake covered in icing sugar. But then, I worry that my cake obsession is getting the better of me AND my waistline....
Having bumped into the editor and his wife in the Tate foyer, I hopped in a hackney for the trip up to Hope Street and the RLPO concert.
I was reviewing it for Liverpool.com which I've been 'editing' in my colleague Rachael's absence this week.
Golden boy Vasily Petrenko (he of the Timotei ad hair) was conducting, which almost guarantees a capacity crowd.
Apparently it's been noticed that there is a lot of hanging around in the bar after Petrenko concerts. One person said - in amazed (and amused) tones: "they're almost like groupies."
Groupies at the Phil? What is the world coming to.
Still, don't knock it - classical music needs a bit of rock 'n' roll.
In fact, as pointed out to me by the MD of Classic FM who had come up from London for last night's concert, there were a lot of 'young' people in the audience.
That was largely due to timpanist Ian Wright who was retiring after an amazing 41 years with the Phil.
He's described as the 'father of the house' and it was an emotional evening for him as he was called out from behind his kettle drums to accept the cheers and applause of the audience and his fellow musicians.
There was a party in the bar afterwards at which he was presented with a mini-kettle drum, and tales were told about life in the orchestra including Wright's ability to sleep through rehearsals, only waking to come in for his cue - and about the items which have been lobbed at his kettle drums over the years, including apparently a clockwork hamster.
I thought it was only the brass who had a reputation for bad behaviour (although apparently it was a trombonist doing the lobbing so perhaps that's the case after all).
There was so much timpani and percussion on the Hope Street stage last night that they threatened to take on the Chinese fireworks at the Albert Dock.
One friend who lives round the corner to the Phil reported hearing a thundering noise and wondered what it was.
It's a toss up and to which fireworks she may have heard.
And those who went for the wine-tasting/Barfly combo? Well, let's just say there are a few sore heads around in the office this morning.
