Pros:
Oh hell yes:
Off to sunny Mexico to witness El Lopez tie the knot. I'll be back in a week: tanned, relaxed, and brimming with swine flu and explosive diarrhea!
Over the last couple weeks or so I've had the inestimable pleasure, due to a confluence of fortunate events, to enjoy the company of a wide variety of friends - from high school, college, friends-of-friends, and more - that rarely happens in such a short timeframe and in such disparate circumstances. At the risk of being one of those melodramatic, egocentric bloggers, I just want to say how awesome it is that you all keep Ol' Big Bear laughing.
Getting a bit dusty in here...
(Just got that song from the new Target ads - "Brand New Day" by Tim Myers ft. Lindsey Ray. Upbeat and infectious - much like yours truly.)
I don't have to tell you that watching the Sox sweep a two-game series in the Bronx on a drizzly evening in early May is not a bad way to spectate. Big props to 45 for organizing yet another great event in which things were to be had. 30 pts. Guess it's always gonna rain when I watch the kids play Satan's team. The new stadium is nice, certainly, but I have to say it scores a goose egg in the character department. Of course it's hardly fair to compare anywhere to Fenway in this regard. No beer lines, if you're eager to spend nine bones on one.
The "Yankee Clipper" - definitely the way to travel from Hoboken to the Bronx.
Megabus - definitely the way to travel from the Hub to Gotham. Functionally it's very similar to the Fung Whoa but get your tix in advance and you can pay almost nothing. The poor man's Limoliner.
MFNYY fans - abhorrent in general, but exceptions do exist.
Taking Megabus - $15.50 round-trip* - down to NYC this AM in order to watch the Sox play the Yankees in the new stadium this evening. Dunndee's in line for a big dime's worth of points for setting this up.
Here's hoping the rain cooperates. The last time I saw the Sox play the Bombers at their old house there was a 2-hour rain delay in the middle of the game. Of course this was in 2004 during the ALCS and featured the Sox winning it off Rivera's blown save in the 9th.
So that was fine. But let's kill the rain by gametime, shall we?
*Prices vary depending on when you book.
I'm glad that I rediscovered this entry because of a fortuitous search that led to my blog ("death to peeps"). Because it's the season, and because I despise peeps, I decided to repost this gem:
Click here to make your own Fyrebug game
Because I mentioned it.
"Ode to Hash"
Ere the break of dawn we came
Upon a place so warm and cheery.
Fort Lou's was this restaurant's name
A beacon in a night so dreary.Embattled and inebriated
Grouped together with ravenous lust
The waitress was not castigated
In her greasy fare we placed our trust.To each of us was given one
Of the menus; quite comprehensive.
They foretold gustatory fun
So many foods; we were right pensive.For her, some eggs; for him, some bacon.
I sat and pondered my digestive fate.
Thank goodness we did not bring Sakin,
His company is not that great.At last, my eyes did set upon
A glorious dish which I could eat.
Hold on a minute; I must visit the John
And sit upon that porcelain seat.Back to the table I came with speed,
Still fumbling with my beltlike sash.
No longer could I postpone my need;
I ordered up Poached Eggs and Hash!Awaiting the arrival of said vittles,
Fraught with anguish I became.
Where is my food? I can't dine on Skittles-
Oh wait...Praise God! It finally came!Before me the waitress set a mountain
Of provender of regal state.
From my eyes there gushed a fountain;
Tears of joy for such a plate!Imagine, resting on a platter,
An enormous mound of gourmet hash.
Although such grub doth make me fatter,
Remove it and I'll give you the lash!Upon the meat (onions mixed in)
Were set two orbs of perfect form.
Twin eggs poached - what esculent sin!
Such late-night victuals are hardly the norm.Poached eggs are the best compliment
To a hash: hearty, beefy and bold.
A gourmand's favorite aliment,
Its gastric appeal never grows old.One taste of this edible bliss
Surpasses even a petit mort
I would forego a maiden's kiss
As long as I get more, more, more!I sincerely hope I have related
My yearning for this fabled fodder.
And for the record it should be stated,
"Man X" soiled a hot Cape Codder.Now off to Lou's ere break of dawn
After we get our boozing on!
Today, in Amanda's words
Jeremy & LB's meticulously planned birthday bar crawl, which stretches a staggering 3.2 miles, covers 2 cities and 15 bars, starts at noon and supposedly ends at 2am.Here we go.
Date: 3/13
Locations: Billy Tse's & Club 259
The Gipper: 40
Jenny: 20
FMBs: 10
Ridiculous Used Car Salesman/Waiter from Billy's: 5
Freddie: 2
Three-piece suit: 2
MRhé: 2
JCB: 2
DD45: 1
TP: 1
Scooter: -4,998
Although Amanda surprisingly hasn't written about it yet, I checked out the trivia scene down in Tha Quinz last Thursday evening. Our team "Vandelay Industries" came in 2nd (by 2 points!), but that isn't the important part.
The important part is that I nailed this question from the Seinfeld category:
"What is the name of Jerry's dad's neighbor who gives Jerry the astronaut pen?"
If anyone besides my bro knows this, I will be impressed.
A somewhat belated post-New Year's "Happy New Year!" post to my fellow blogospherians. Some highlights from spending the final night of '08 and early days of '09 in the Empire and Garden states:
About to brave this blizzard in Dunndee's dirty Jerz sled to kick it in NYC tonight and the rest of the weekend.
Happy New Year!
A few weeks ago we had quite the feast here Chez MRhé. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving. The 1L was in town and the Pats were playing on Sunday (although let us not speak any more of that tragi-comedy against the 'Burgh) - reason enough for a big jam. 45 contributed his specialty - bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers. Utterly delicious. I did up some littlenecks in white wine, butter, and garlic sauce and then did an impromptu version of clams casino stuffed with diced bacon, shredded italian cheese blend, and panko bread crumbs. I also happened to have a giant turkey carcass lying around - Thanksgiving leftovers - so I made turkey soup from scratch. Worked out well and it was a great, fun meal, football ineptitude notwithstanding.
Last night I went to see Covers Night at Club Passim along with Rhode and Pickin' Baines Johnston. The act was packed with the star power of Jake Armerding, Zachariah Hickman, Mark Erelli, and Lori McKenna. For the last several years this group of artists has delighted the patrons of Passim with an annual show of covers of music from a myriad of genres and time periods. The musicians themselves come out of the bluegrass/folk/country tradition, and incorporate these flavors in their own renditions. Armerding, Erelli, and McKenna took turns singing lead vocals on their choice songs while Hickman provided upright bass, pump organ, backup vocals, witty one liners and inspired yelps throughout.
The show was fantastic. Not only was the music excellent, but it was an entertaining couple hours with the performers cracking jokes, playing off each other, and demonstrating a comfort with each other that made for a fun show.
Regular readers know that I've been a fan of Armerding and Hickman for the last couple years. I think I saw Erelli play at one of many shows at the Cantab - probably with those two. Very talented, great voice.
McKenna was a complete unknown to me, but she's a Commonwealth native with several folk albums who's toured with Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, among others. Erelli toured with her as well. She was incredible - a tiny woman who has some shockingly serious pipes. Beautiful, powerful voice that worked wonderfully on her selections. She has a wistful sound. One of the best female voices I've heard, up there with the likes of Krauss.
The set list, from what I remember:
JERRY: Hey. How's the new place?!
GEORGE: Gone. (Moves over to a chair in the living room. Kramer takes the carton of food to the table, and begins eating) The tenant association made me give itto this guy because he was an Andrea Doria survivor..
ELAINE: Andrea Doria? Isn't that the one they did the song about?
JERRY: (Correcting her) Edmund Fitzgerald.
ELIANE: I love Edmund Fitzgerald's voice.
JERRY: (Gives Elaine a look) No, Gordon Lightfoot was the singer. Edmund Fitzgerald was the ship.
GEORGE: (Talking about his would-be apartment) You could fit 15 people in that bathroom..
ELAINE: I think Gordon Lightfoot was the boat.
JERRY: (Sarcastic) Yeah, and it was rammed by the Cat Stevens.
KRAMER: (Like a teacher) The Andrea Doria collided with the Stockholm in dense fog 21 miles off the coast of Nantucket. (Makes a clicking sound with his tongue)
Last night I saw Jake Armerding perform at Club Passim in Harvard Square. Passim is a Folk Music and Cultural Center celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Passim is also home to Veggie Planet, a haven for vegetarians, vegans, and everything else non-animal and non-alcoholic (a disturbing, if not altogether unexpected, revelation upon glancing at the menu upon sitting down). The crowd leans perhaps a bit too left/crunchy/psyched-about-soy for me (the opening act, Seth Glier, waxed disdainfully about his 98 year-old Republican grandma and played an unflattering emo-ish tune written from the perspective of George W. Bush - "I Just Want to Make My Daddy Proud"), but the venue is actually pretty cool. About twenty or so small four-seat tables, additional chairs lining the walls, and a decent sized stage up front. Low ceiling, intimate setting, very friendly staff, great sound system, and a much-appreciated quiet, respectful (read: sober) audience.
I attended with Pickin' Baines Johnston, Lydia, Amanda, Josh, and Laura. We had all seen Jake play at the infamous Cantab Lounge on several occasions. This evening, as he often does, Jake was playing with his father, Taylor, the "Old Lonely Train," the "Ol' High & Lonesome," who plays a mean mandolin and has an ethereal high croon the likes of which are rarely heard in the northeastern metropolises. Zack Hickman, he of the three-piece cream suit and waxed 'stache, plays the stand-up bass like nobody I've ever seen. It's impossible to describe effectively, but he simply jams on it, dancing around it, strumming and plucking with frenetic energy, slapping it viciously at times, occasionally yelping out an emphatic "Yeah!" or "Come on!" when the group is playing an up-tempo instrumental bluegrass number. Quite the talented character. This trio forms the core of Jake Armerding's band, but he often cycles in other people - an additional fiddler, banjo or guitar player. Last night he had Kevin Barry - evidently somewhat of a local Boston pro - on the lap steel and electric guitar. A truly amazing sound. The mellisonant, smooth twang of the lap steel is simply mesmerizing and Barry had a few stellar solos. Jake himself is a tremendous fiddle player, but also plays the guitar and mandolin and has an excellent voice. His sound is hard to qualify - inspired by traditional bluegrass, folk, and country but very bluesy with a touch of rock.
They played half the tracks off Jake's 2007 album Walking on the World, including "Hole In The Sky (Mandolin Man)," "The Fleece," "Keep The River On Your Right," "Assassination Blues," "Critical Eye," and "My House." I have this excellent album, and hearing these tracks performed live with certain elements changed or added was great. Jake played some of his older songs and threw in a few classic bluegrass tunes, including a "Hallelujah"-type song in which he and his dad held looooong notes and produced beautiful harmony.
Fantastic show. Well worth the $15. A long set - all the better after seeing their gigs at the Cantab which always end too soon.
Jake said that he, his dad Taylor, and Zack are going to hit the studio next month to record an entire album. I am really looking forward to this one.
Jake's back playing at Passim on 12/18 with Mark Erelli and Lori McKenna - back-to-back cover shows. I think I might have to check that out.
Support local music!
I attended the God Bless America party at Cruftlabs this past Saturday to celebrate Lydia's Election Day birthday and our new President-elect. Scottotools Buildsalot constructed a "voting booth," complete with a lever that, when pulled, takes a digital photograph and automatically uploads it. You can see the booth and read about the intricate technical details here and check out the entire gallery of pics here. Great stuff - as always - from the Scotticus-elect (four more years!) The party was a blast, and I was happy to have had the chance to meet Governor Palin in person. She's quite charming without the filter of the liberal gotcha media!
Sarah Palin & MRhé 
Dr. Mal Pragtiss, MRhé, Jef with one F, Mandy
Scottospecs Niceframes, Jef avec une F, MRizzle, Rooroo
(Photos and fun courtesy of freedom and a distinct lack of sobriety.)
I made a roasted butternut squash & portabella mushroom risotto for Laura's Fall Potluck Extravaganza this evening. Judging by the results - a container with just a few grains of risotto remaining - it was very well-received. At the Goose they had a package of pre-cut organic squash. I tossed that with some olive oil and salt and pepper in a baking pan and roasted that at 400 for about an hour. In the meantime I prepared risotto as per usual, including adding red wine (Ruffino chianti this time, which worked very nicely). I mashed up the squash in a bowl after it was done roasting and then mixed it into the risotto toward the end of the broth-adding phase. It added a nice orange color and flavor in keeping with the fall theme of the event. I added a fair amount of turmeric (?!? not sure how this even got in our spice cabinet), mainly for color, as well as a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg. Boom.
I was standing at the sideboard, adding a bit of Caribbean delight to my hot mulled cider, when I overheard one young lady comment to another about how delicious and amazing my risotto was. So I pulled the old "take a long time making my drink while I shamelessly drink in praise from afar" bit. Also these people evidently had never heard of spiked cider before, so I also introduced that to the sober, thirsty, huddled masses.
The best part is that I have another big rig of the risotto left over, along with my baked cellentani. There's gonna be some good eatin' chez MRhé this week!
*That's me, ladies!
