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we're not kids anymore.
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@kreweofdistraction
Written by: Brandi R. Harkness-Bruce
It happened.
I never thought it would. Honestly, I believed that the appearance of this magical brew last year was a once in a lifetime event. I had been burned so badly by Samuel Adams when they took Infinium from the market. However, a little trust goes a...
— J.K Rowling
I know I haven’t been on lately - you’ve probably missed me filling your heads with nonsensical ramblings. I’ve put a lot of my personal thoughts and opinions on here, but kept them on the private setting. I am trying to maintain professionalism and trying to use other outlets for...
Bullying. That’s what this is about.
Let me begin with some background info for you all. My childhood wasn’t the best, it was actually something I try to forget. I never let on that it was something terrible, I just pretended it was all a dream. I went to school during the day, not making a peep...
Wonderful blog post! Check it out!
Written by: Brandi R. Harkness-Bruce
For those following my current crisis, I have been temporarily relocated to North Carolina. During the few months leading up to this move, I was freaking out. I couldn’t find anything that would supplement my chosen paid profession (tattoo artist) and the...
TGIFucking Worthless
I know it's been a little while since we posted. Our primary blog holder just recently relocated. But while she's unpacking and working through all that jazz, we found this lovely article for you to chuckle at, and quite possibly start following the blog. It's a good one!
Original article posted at http://thebitchywaiter.com/2014/07/tgi-fridays-just-got-even-worse-to-work-at.html
That deafening roar you heard across the land on Monday afternoon was the sound of every TGI Fridays server bemoaning the new promotion that started at their jobs:Endless Appetizers. Yes, that’s right, someone who works in the corporate office of TGI Fridays probably got a two million dollar bonus when they sharted up this idea. Beginning on July 7th and running until August 24th, customers can pay $10 and get an endless amount of loaded potato skins, pan-seared pot stickers or some other fried piece of crap until they are bursting at the seams with MSG and other Sysco products. Don’t worry about the server not getting tipped by people who are eating a lot of food but not spending a lot of money because marketing officer Brian Gies says that sharing is discouraged. Ummm, yeah.
I can see it now, can’t you? Four teenagers show up but “only two of us are eating” they say. They sit down at your only money maker, Booth 5. They ask for for four waters and one asshole orders an endless order of boneless buffalo wings and another asshole orders mozzarella sticks. The server spends the next three hours running back and forth from the kitchen as all four teens shovel handful after handful of defrosted food into their eating holes. “At the end of the day, our servers aren’t policemen,” says Gies. “We’re not going to slap someone’s hand if they reach over and share someone else’s mozzarella sticks.” In other words, “We don’t really care if the servers get totally screwed by our customers and make no fucking money. As long as we have people in the restaurant and we can continue to sell sub-par food to them, we are satisfied.” When the four teens are finally too bloated to stuff one more cheese stick into their bodies, they get their check which is for $21.65 and they leave the server three dollars. Hurrah.
I also predict that parents will bring in their brood of five kids and order one endless app for the table and easily feed five kids on ten bucks. Of course they will only do this if they can’t find someplace where kids eat free. “Well, it ain’t free, but it’s only two dollars a kid,” says Ma Kettle as she sucks down her third Blackberry Long Island Tea Shaker. “And if I only gots to pay ten bucks for all them children to eat, that means I can afford to get the Jack Daniel’s® Sirloin and Grilled Lobster Tail. Thanks, TGI Fridays!!”
Some analysts think that the bold move will destroy the TGI Fridays chain, but let’s be honest. Wasn’t TGI Friday’s pretty much already a big piece of crap? Who the hell even eats there anymore? I guess that’s the reason they are desperate enough to try this approach. It might bring in new business, but it’s not going to be quality business. It’s scraping the bottom of the fast-food chain barrel and it’s only going to make TGI Fridays go the in the same direction of Bennigan’s, Fuddruckers and Friendly’s and that direction is the toilet.
The Endless Appetizer Promo will end on August 24th, but I would like to suggest some other ideas for them to try for their next bid for relevancy:
No Tip Tuesdays: Come in on Tuesdays and order whatever the fuck you want and then stiff your server. We don’t care. (This offer is also good on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.)
TGI Fridays Frequent Diner Program: For every dollar you spend you get a point. The more you spend, the more points you get and once you reach 10 points, you can redeem those 10 points for a free party for 200 of your closest friends. The party will consist of unlimited pitchers of water and three orders of Tostado Nachos (you must pay extra for the toppings of refried beans, seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, salsa, sour cream, house-made* guacamole and jalapeños.) You don’t really have to tip your server, because we don’t give a shit. [*house-made is not really house-made. It comes in a big plastic bag that we cut open and squeeze into ramekins.]
Buy One Dessert Get Five Free: Yep, you heard right. All you have to do is pay for one crappy ass Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie and you get five more for free. We are happy to put them in a to-go bag for you or you can stay all night and eat them, we don’t care. And don’t bother leaving a tip, it doesn’t matter to us.
Complain On Facebook: If you go to our Facebook page and leave a negative comment about anything at all, we’ll make sure to send you a gift card to make up for the fact that you found a piece of plastic in your birthday cake or that the bartender took too long to make your drink and it ruined your Girls Night Out. We also give you a “Get Out of Tipping” card to give to your server so that you don’t have to bother with that pesky extra 20%. We hate our servers.
Your Weight in Food: Step on our TGI Friday scale and whatever your weigh is how much food you get for free. If you weigh 250 pounds, you can get 250 pounds of whatever you want. 250 pounds of Jack Daniel’s® Ribs? Sure! 250 pounds of mashed potatoes? No problem? 250 pounds of Parmesan Meatballs? You betcha! The more you eat the more you weigh and the more you weigh the more food you get for free. It’s terrific! The only tipping you’ll do is the that of the scale. In fact your server will leave you a tip, because we totally don’t give a shit about our servers or if they make any money whatsoever.
Good luck, TGI Fridays. And my heart goes out to all those servers. As if it wasn’t already bad enough to work at TGI Fridays.
How much does a full sleeve tattoo cost?
Great article on tactics in determining one of the largest investments you can make!
http://www.tattoosnob.com/submissions/much-full-sleeve-tattoo-cost/
Visit the post for more.
As a fellow CHIVER, I highly encourage everyone to check them out (charity for a good cause, humor, and hot girls... something for everyone). However, I found this great gallery they posted in regards to some of my favorite Move Easter Eggs. It was awesome, so enjoy! -- BB
Written by: Brandi R. Harkness-Bruce
For those of you keeping track, American Craft Beer Week kicked off May 12th and lasted through the 18th. Bars around the country raised support for American Craft Breweries by dedicating business, beer sales, specials and giveaways to the consumers....
You can’t go wrong with Midwestern Beer, and the same can be said to many of their local vineyards. I know that this might get me shot in certain parts of the world, but I do prefer a good Midwestern wine to a California. I can say that California whites are better than their reds. They lean towards a red blend, and sometimes that can be a recipe for disaster!
Somerset Ridge Vineyard and Winery is located in Miami County, Kansas. They offer their Buffalo Red as their premium semi-sweet and boast of their raspberry and cherry aromas. They recommend slightly chilled, I recommend a full chill as I feel like the spiciness comes out better from a little time in the fridge.
www.somersetridge.com
TRAVEL BYTES: Molly MacPherson's Pub and Grill
Dining Review: Molly MacPherson's Pub and Grill
Location: Savannah, Richmond Hill and Pooler, Georgia
Lang may yer lum reek (may you live long and stay well) with Molly MacPherson’s
It’s no secret – I’m Scottish. My family is directly descended from the Harkness clan found in the Scottish Highlands, and I married into the legendary Bruce’s. My husband and I are both interested and active about learning our personal histories, want to one day tour the country and enjoy light debates on our clans.
I love whiskey. Scottish beers make me smile, and traditional food fair from the region is one of my weaknesses. So when I found Molly MacPherson’s Scottish Pub and Grill in Savannah, Georgia, I was in paradise.
Picture from Molly's Tumblr page of inside of the Savannah location
The business started when the current owners’ great-grandmother Molly and her daughter Bernice relocated from Scotland to Nova Scotia in the 1890s. Once there, her love for her home was so great that she decided to open a pub. When Molly’s daughter Bernice grew up and moved to New England, she decided to go into the same business, sharing all of her traditional Scottish recipes with her children, who in turn opened up the first Georgia location in 2005. Molly MacPherson’s has three locations in the state – the original on Congress Street in downtown Savannah, one off the highway in Richmond Hill, and their latest location in Pooler.
Steak and Guinness Stew
The menu reads somewhat like a map. The dishes guide you through traditional food like Neeps and Tatties or Scotch Eggs and also provides you with some more modern pub favorites like cheese sticks or their take on a burger – Toasties. The selection offers an intimate glance into what Americans might find if they were to ever stay with a long lost Aunt in Scotland. Bangers and Mash (Scottish sausage and garlic mashed potatoes… if that doesn’t make you drool, I don’t know what will) are listed right above Steak and Guinness Stew - rich broth from a Guinness braised sirloin engulfs slow cooked vegetables that can only be tamed by the delicate balance found in a roll from Molly’s. This makes it hard to find comfort as it’s listed next to the Shepherd’s Pie. The section ‘Pub Grub’ sums up this restaurant: comfort food served in a gourmet style, in an intimate pub atmosphere. I wish I could pick a favorite but I can’t. I recommend going with a large group and ordering one of everything.
Scottish Meat Pies
The appetizers are diverse enough to appease any eater. There is lighter faire if you are there to indulge in mainly drinks, such as Cheese and Fruit Boards featuring their Baked Brie and Whiskey Sauce, or Salmon Fingers, which is Scottish Salmon, stuffed with cream cheese and chives. If it’s your first time there I recommend trying Molly’s Scottish Combo that features small portions of their favorite appetizers. These include the always-delicious Scotch Eggs. These are hard-boiled eggs, which are encased in sausage and than fried. What’s better than that? How about a homemade pastry filled with pork and beef and topped in rich gravy? The Scottish Meat Pies are a must!
The perfect compliments to these Scottish delicacies are the vast Scottish beers on their menu. Molly’s always has the latest concoction from Innis and Gunn’s Brewery. This Scottish beer brewer is known for their barrel-aging process. The rich malts are complimented by being aged in bourbon, oak and other various barrels. This pub is one of the only places in the entire South that you can get your hands on this award-winning beer.
Beer Flight
Not in the mood for a beer? Molly MacPherson’s boasts having the best selection Single Malt Whiskey on the East Coast. They offer tastings and flights from various regions to help expand their public’s knowledge and taste buds. Between the three locations, they offer 270 variations of whiskey.
Collectively, the bars offer different weekly events. This is everything from live local music to trivia nights and even open mic nights. Savannah and the surrounding area are home to parts of the Airforce and Army, along with various colleges. It’s a mecca of culture and diversity. Needless to say, Molly MacPherson’s has become a hub for these differences to meet, come together, play some trivia, eat some comfort food and raise a pint.
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Molly MacPherson’s Scottish Pubs and Grill
311 West Congress Street
Savannah, Georgia 31401
912-239-9600
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3742 South Highway 17
Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324
912-459-9600
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110 Towne Center Drive, Suite 300
Pooler, Georgia 31322
912-348-3200
Written By: Brandi R. Harkness-Bruce
It’s crawfish season.
I know that this might not be a big deal to those around the country who may be more concerned with the severe weather season that’s off to an intense start. But winter has come and gone, Mardi Gras passed by the way side, and that...
100 Albums Everyone Should Listen To Before They Die... Episode 7
Episode 7: Jerry Reed - The Essential Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed: the writer, the guitarist, the semi occasional actor
>>> I think this week I will throw a bit of country music your way. I’m not talking about any ‘badonkadonk’ shaking, stained white t-shirt wearing, hangout all day drinking margaritas country music. I am talking about old school, good country; where there was usually a slide guitar, banjo or fiddle involved in the composition. The ‘70’s to early ‘80’s probably produced some of the best country music performers ever. Hands down, Jerry Reed has to be my favorite from this era - due in part mainly for the movie roles he entertained. Let me tell you, entertain he did! I loved Jerry the actor because he usually played along side life-long friend Burt Reynolds and - being a young gear head in the making - this was right in my wheelhouse. From movies where boats are intertwined in a high speed bayou race with police boats, to truck drivers making a friendly wager with a couple of guys bootlegging Coors beer in as little time as could be imagined, it wasn’t until much later that I grew to love the music and style of playing from the great Jerry Reed.
The background on Jerry Reed goes a lot like you would think a young, budding country music artist would. Born in 1937 in Atlanta Georgia, Reed’s parents separated just months after his birth. He was given a little guitar on his eighth birthday, his mother taught him a chord or two, and the rest is Honky Tonk history. During his teens, he was writing songs and playing for just about anyone that would listen. I don’t know what it is about entertainers, but the trend seems to be something in their DNA that at a young age it just fits them. I myself couldn’t speak publicly if there were anymore than five people listening to me until much later in life. I’ll be the first one to say that I respect that.
Getting back to Jerry, he signed a record deal at age 18 but, like so many others, really didn’t go anywhere. He then served two years in the U.S. Army and, shortly after his discharge, he and his family moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music. At the time Nashville was alike to the L.A. scene for rock music, except there was a lot more cowboy hats, barbecue and tassel jackets running around. It was in 1961 that he linked up with legendary guitarist Chet Atkins (look up Chet one day and check him out. You will not be disappointed).
In 1967, Jerry cut “Guitar Man” which met with some success, but midichlorians were about to shift and turn his world up on its side. Elvis Presley just happened to love the song and decided to cut it. But there was a problem. No one could replicate the sound that Reed had at that time. This was mainly because he had a particularly unique style which would be labeled “The Claw.” From thus forward, you could not mention the words ‘Jerry Reed’ without mentioning his claw technique. Reed tells the story that he was fishing on the Cumberland River when he got the call from Presley’s producer about wanting him to sit in on the session. I’m not sure how he was contacted while fishing… but let me tell you, from any of the stories about Elvis, when he wants something, it happens. Maybe there was a submarine (or carrier pigeons) involved, who knows. All I know is that after that little piece of history was made, Reed became a grand success story.
The album at hand is a bit of a greatest hits album. This is not the first nor will it be the last you see one of these. I feel that I am cheating you out of so many other great songs the man performed, but in this day of attention deficit disorder, I feel that I need to hook you quick or you will move on to the newest ‘Lil Shady’ record. Rather than go into each individual track (because there are so many) I will pull out some gems and talk a bit about them. “Amos Moses” is a great place to start on this, and right out of the gate, you understand that this guy can tell some tales. This is probably due, at least in part, to his love of fishing. I will get into that a bit later. “Amos Moses” tells the story of a young man who grows up in the Louisiana bayou catching alligators. This song has been covered a few times. The one that comes to mind right off the bat is the one Les Claypool and Primus covered. You can tell right from the beginning that this is story-telling like so many folk singers of the time, but Jerry makes it fun. He makes you feel good inside. After listening to one or two you feel like you just had a grilled cheese sandwich dipped in tomato soup.
“A Thing Called Love” shows a much more emotional side of Reed. It begins with a story of a rather large fellow brought to his knees by love. These slower tempo songs of life are magic to me. As I stated in my article on Jim Croce, these tracks put emotion front and center. It’s quite easy to spout about letting bodies hit the floor and screaming into a microphone. To me, it takes more cojones to put deep emotion in a song, and then be able to throw it out there for everyone to hear and criticize.
Most of the other songs are comedic in nature. He sings about poker playing, divorce, and country-music-singing-birds with such vigor that after each one, you would think you knew the guy. I personally never met Jerry Reed, but in my world, with the way the guy writes, I feel like he is my uncle’s best friend who would come over every weekend and pick up his guitar and entertain the family. Song writing… well, writing in general… is tough business. To tell you the truth, I would rather deploy back to Iraq than to put my inner feelings out there for actual people to read, but to me, this is therapy. Writing and music both center me so the natural progression in my life is to write about music. And hey, if along the way I sway someone to try a new artist or album then that is just the extra cheese on top of the nachos.
“East Bound And Down” is the last song that I will write about. For the most part, this song is the theme song to Smokey and The Bandit. I cannot say how well this movie is received in the Midwest, but here in the South I think you can find this movie playing on some channel near every weekend. The director repeatedly asked Reed to get the track completed and, in classic Reed fashion, he kept delaying it and delaying it and if you believe the stories, he came back two days later with three tracks for the film. This track basically tells the entire movie in the span of a few minutes, minus all the hilarious Jackie Gleason one-liners.
As for the album, that’s it. Listen to it and let me know what you think. As I said, Jerry Reed played in a few movies. One in particular is a very dark role where he plays a small-town thug who extorts businesses for cash. He is just a down right asshole. I do not know how he pulled that one off. He probably deserved the academy award for the performance though. It was just so far off from who he was. Another thing that Reed did was become a huge part of a television show: Bill Dance Outdoors. If you aren’t familiar with it, it is a fishing show that has been around for seemingly forever. Each episode features fisherman Bill Dance on a remote lake doing what he does best. There would always be a sort of ‘fishing/nature montage’ close to the end and it always featured a Jerry Reed song. “Today Is Mine” is the song that stands out to me that was used the most. There may have been more, but I cannot remember them. This song always stood out to me. I would watch the show with my father, so when I hear the song, it puts me right back in front of the television in the living room with him. “Today Is Mine” is not on the album that I wrote about today, but please, please check it out. It is a touching song that I listen to almost every morning on my way to work these days.
Well, that’s it people. As always, look me up on Music In The Key of Ott on Facebook if you want to talk about this album, a previous album, or just any music in general. I love nothing more than to sit down with a glass of bourbon and talk about music. Thanks guys!
This wine is a traditional Bordeaux Claret that pours a dark ruby color. It takes a spin on ripe fruits that is characteristic of Merlot. This shows its complexity and length. The aromatics display fruit with a hint of vanilla. Overall, it is well rounded with a luscious, long finish. There is an earthy undertone representative of classic Claret – normally this is because vines will burrow roots deep into the soil to absorb its minerals and nutrients. I recommend decanting and letting breathe for a while and drink slightly cooler than room temperature.
These particular grapes are 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. Wine math states that when the Merlo predominates in a Claret, the winemaker gets a softer wine that becomes more rounded and rich in fruity flavors. This is probably what causes Chateau les Graves de Barrau to have it’s surprisingly velvet smooth finish.
As stated above, I recommend Bison, but any meat dish will pair beautifully with this wine.
TRAVEL BYTES: Mimi's in the Marigny
Dining Review: Mimi’s In The Marigny
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Dive bar plus exquisite cuisine? I’m all in.
After years of exploring, I think I found my ‘spot’ in New Orleans.
I’m a certain type of bar hopper. I’m not into the crowded, hipster martini spots. I can’t stand nightclubs – I honestly only like them if I’m fully loaded and want to shake my booty. I like sitting at a high-top, old wooden bar and enjoying a beer and if I meet a new friend while there, great. If not, I certainly don’t mind enjoying the atmosphere by myself. I guess you could say I like the ‘dive bar’ scene.
Another thing that I lean towards when I am out searching for a good watering hole is food. Being a self-proclaimed foodie, I like to experience different ideas and selections of foods. I have traveled around the United States trying to find the ideal taste experiences. And Mimi’s might just have everything I’ve been searching for.
Mimi’s In The Marigny is located down Royal Street, close to the levees in the Bywater. My husband and I walked there from our usual hotel that we stay at on North Rampart, the French Quarter Suites. One of the great things about this city is walking and enjoying the atmosphere. Now, if you’re a tourist and unfamiliar with the city, I certainly don’t recommend walking through the Seventh Ward late at night. As we practically live there, we don’t mind it as much.
The atmosphere itself is relaxed. An old pool table sits toward the back of the room. Your typical ‘New Orleans’-style bar takes up most of the rest of it. The high wooden shelving lies home to not only your common house liquors, but also to a few premiums, and your most comfortable seat would be perched on one of the high-back bar stools. They do have a few very small tables scattered throughout the room, along with a ‘leaner’ when you first walk in, but the bar is definitely the highlight. Dive not your scene? Mimi’s actually holds a secret… Upstairs there is a bar that has live music and a dance floor on certain nights of the week, loaded with bar and food service as well.
The biggest reason why Mimi’s is getting a write up is not because of their drink list or their wine selection, which is decent. No, they’ve got my heart – and my stomach – because they’re ingenious and talented chef’s take on Tapas. Tapas are appetizers, or snacks, or (my definition) just small plates of deliciousness. They can be cold (ranging from olives or cheeses or meats), or hot (we’ll get to that in a moment), but basically, here at Mimi’s, they blow traditional Tapas out of the water. They hold true to the idea that Tapas leads more to conversation, which is perfect in a bar setting. They were designed for people who are not so much focused on a huge meal, but small bites that blow your mind and spark a discussion on what you’re experiencing.
Chorizo and Creamed pasta with fresh bread? Delic!
The last time I stopped in, I placed my tapas order at the bar. I prefer the hot tapas, as it seems to ooze with creativity. One of my staples are the Goat Cheese Croquetas. They’re three golden balls of goat cheese, which have been doused in honey and served with pickled onions. They are soft, delicate and a cheesy take on fried ice cream. I was nervous about the idea of mixing that much honey with a pickled onion, but the combination was superb.
Little golden balls of awesome
On the cold side, they’re meat and cheese plates are traditional and delicious. Mimi’s chef is mixing Spanish-style meats such as chorizo and jamon serrano with popular cheeses. They also offer almond-stuffed dates with figs, honey and blue cheese which are often served with seasonal fruits.. This is seriously gourmet cuisine, where the chef obviously knows his stuff.
Mmmmm... spanish meats
Which brings me to my usual.
I have only had one bad experience with the food here, and I shouldn’t even say it was bad. It was delicious. But boy, did I get trust issues after my order showed up.
Trust me with a side of tears
Mimi’s offers a dish called the ‘Trust Me’. This can be hot or cold; it’s completely up to the chef. The only consideration they take is if you are a vegetarian or if you have any food allergies. The dish is exactly what it says. You put your food experience entirely on what the chef feels like rustling up for you. I completely adore this spin. The first time my husband and I ordered it, we got the opportunity to try slightly seared oysters in a delicate wine sauce with a slice of bread to sop up the left over. It was so good; we were on the verge of tears.
However, the second time I indulged in the ‘Trust Me’, I received a $9 plate of broccoli.
This is why I have trust issues...
Now, let’s rewind. I don’t mind spending money on good food. I believe food is more of an experience than many other opportunities we are given when we travel. Mimi’s is not overly priced. Au contraire; I find the price of their menu to be extremely cheap to the quality of the food. And, I love broccoli. And, this was great broccoli. The waitress let us know that it was locally farmed from a spot about 30 miles north of New Orleans. It was steamed, and than seared, and sprinkled with a little goat cheese. Delicious.
However, I don’t like paying $9 for a plate of broccoli - especially a Tapas-sized plate of broccoli.
That being said, the last time I was in Mimi’s, I was riddled with trust issues. Should I get my usual, or not? Do I dare chance my taste buds to another disappointment in a menu I love?
I did dare, and I wasn’t disappointed. The plate in front of me not only looked gorgeous, but it set off so many pleasure receptors in my mind, that I was worried I would faint. The ‘Trust Me’ was a Goat Cheese and Mushroom Brushetta. Mixed with Louisiana greens, and spread on some crusty French bread, the texture was above and beyond. They had dusted the concoction with a duck glaze that added a slight density to the sweetness of the goat cheese.
Mimi's back in my graces with this tasty little ditty
The sweet taste of redemption.
Mimi’s In The Marigny has it all – atmosphere, decently priced drinks, and a menu that could compete with any high-dollar competitor. Whether you’re looking for something small with a glass of wine, or like me, looking to stay a few hours and indulge, this is a must-stop in the Big Easy.
Mimi’s In The Marigny, 2601 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70117
Bar open from 4pm-late, seven days a week. Kitchen open Sunday through Thursday from 6pm-2am and on Friday and Saturday from 6pm-4am
I picked this up for probably one of the dumbest reasons to buy a wine. This riesling bears the name of one of my favorite childhood games I played with my father. Let me also let you know - this was an adult game featuring an awesome black tower, electronically powered to pick your destiny around the realms. Pretty nerdy, right? I loved it. Upon researching the winemaker, I became even more excited. The wine was made in 1967 and they cleverly explained: “Elvis Presley gets married, America struggles with Vietnam, The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band hits No.1 and a true wine icon is born – hello Black Tower!” Sold. Anytime you feature a wine and you mention The Beatles, you have found yourself a customer.
I popped the cork, and instantly noticed the aromatics. They seemed strong, slightly fruity with a hint of spice. The taste on your tongue is slightly drier than some of your bigger names in Rieslings, but it definitely finishes with a slight sweetness in the back of your throat. Its more dry than crisp, which downplays me wanting to pick up another bottle. Not bad, but definitely not my preference with this style.
When to drink: I recommend this one as a dinner wine, with seafood or a meal that’s slightly rich such as alfredo pastas. They recommend as an aperitif, but I would skip that. If you don’t want to use it as a compliment to your entrée, it would definitely go well with a mega dessert featuring dark chocolates, mousse, or anything else on the decadent side.
Written by: Brandi R. Harkness-Bruce
I have always kept New Belgium on the back of my mind, but it’s never really ‘impressed’ me until this year. Sure, you’ve got your Fat Tire - the staple that every person on the street knows about. But it seems that, until this year, they’ve kept a pretty low...
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...
The 2014 Grammy Awards
>>> Well dear friends, another year of ‘Grammy Award Winners’ have come and gone. For good or bad, we don’t have to think about them until next January… when the network starts boasting ‘incredible performances’ and ‘even better awardees.’ As I do every year, I fall for this hook, line, and sinker. I’m serious; every year I say ‘screw you Grammys’ and by the next year I have forgotten all about it. I think to myself ‘this is the year they will finally get it right.’ And this year? Nope. Honestly, I feel like I was just punched in the groin by the end of the show. Nothing changes - the same old crap happens and you stay up until all hours of the night waiting for that last act, all to be utterly disappointed by what you get.
L.L. Cool J hosted the event this year and all I have to say is ‘what the hell happened to you?’ You used to have an edge to you. I guess NCIS Argentina or whatever the show you are on has turned you into mush. The only thing I agreed with was the generalities he said about music. The first live act we got was from Lorde and it was junk (the performance was a rhythmic version of her hit song ‘Royals’). I actually kind of liked the song she performed; however, the girl has no showmanship whatsoever. It was painful to watch, and I am not talking about a getting-a-shot-in-the-arm painful. I am talking about ripping fingernails out painful. The girl seemed to be trying way too hard to make a first impression on the viewers. It seemed to be a cross between a Japanese horror movie with all of her semi ‘herky jerky’ movements and an awkward conversation with those emo-kids in school you had to have because they were put in your group to dissect frogs. I have listened to her album about five times and I still don’t get it. To me, she seems to be a bit of a one hit wonder. I am sorry to label her as this, but there is nothing on that album that impresses me.
Next up, this kid Hunter Hayes performs a song titled ‘Invisible.’ Well guess what kid - you accomplished that because nobody even knew you were there. He starts off at a piano. Which, the piano seemed to be the trend of the night and - well you guessed it -nobody cared or remembers what he did. There were quotes from more famous musicians on the screens behind him and the only thing I can remember about his performance was a quote from Lady Gaga that said, “There is no difference between the bully and the victim.” What the hell does that mean? There is a huge difference and that is that one is a complete asshole and the… yeah Gaga, you got that right… the victim! Please, somebody explain this quote because, for the life of me, it is utter nonsense! Katie Perry was up next. All I can say is that it seemed like a cross between the B-movie The Beastmaster and a bad version of Cirque Du Soleil. I honestly would not have been surprised if two men dressed up as ferrets would have ran across the stage. Go on Youtube right now and look up The Beastmaster if you have no clue what I am talking about.
In between these ‘whimsical’ live acts, there were actual awards given out. The governing body that is the Grammy Recording Academy did a pretty good job this year with the winners. For once, the awards were decent. On the other side of the coin, the live performances were the let down. Lorde won a Grammy and during the acceptance speech she talked about being completely surprised by the results. Well let me tell you lady, that makes two of us. This freaking show has turned into a variety hour and I do not like it. Hey, here is an idea: let’s put Ronin Thicke and legendary band Chicago together and see what happens. Again, pain and suffering. Thicke covers a few Chicago songs and then, of course, he goes into his Blurred Lines song. At that point, I lost interest and started playing Angry Birds. Why in the hell I stuck around, abounds me. Oh yeah, I remember: the hook at every commercial break that kept you around making you think an artist you wanted to see was right around the corner with an epic performance.
Pink was up next and I think she did the same performance as last year. If not the same, then pretty damned close. Again it feels like a dadgum Cirque Du Soleil show. Up until this point, it was the most exciting thing that had happened all night. I’m an hour into this show and she’s the one act that scored a six out of 10 on my ‘like meter’. Ringo Starr you’re up next, and even though I love you and I love the pictures that were displayed behind you during your performance, please, oh please stick to the drums. You cannot sing.
Why do I do this to myself? If I seem totally negative about the evening then I am doing a very good job at writing about my emotions because I was indeed that negative and upset. When Muse is a nominee for best rock song, you know there is a problem in the music industry.
It is, at this point, where I see a commercial for Pepsi flipping the script and having pro-football analysts do a sort of ‘half-time’ performance for the Grammys. If you can even believe this, up to that point in the show - that was the highlight. I felt like Taylor Swift was ripping my love of music from my very soul while repeating the lines “Finish Him (ala Mortal Kombat)!” in the background.
The next performance was basically a newer version of the Highwaymen. This is a sort of Highway Men 2.0 if you will, which includes Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson. Merle Haggard and Blake Shelton. I noticed during the performance that many a young artist and Grammy-goer looked bored, giggling and, at most, disengaged. I was hoping that one of the three “Bad Boys of Country” would have gone down into the audience and pimp slapped some dejected artist. Oh well; a guy can dream can’t he? What more can you say about country icons than that they did a good job, but are starting to show there age a bit? Damn. All I wanted to do at this point was wipe the drool from my lip and take off my football helmet!
However this is a turning point. The show takes a turn off the interstate and begins to head down an old country road that feels warm and inviting, ushered in with performances by Daft Punk, featuring Pharell and Stevie Wonder. Next, there was a follow up by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis with their hit song “Same Love.” Both performances were outstanding except for - dare I say - an appearance by the elephant in the room that was Madonna during the Macklemore song. Something is missing… Oh wait. There it is: that sinking feeling in my stomach that this is about to get stupid again. Why was Madonna even there except to show off her pimp cane and let everyone know that in fact she was still alive? Yes, indeed lady; if not from the sheer power of witchcraft, we all know you are still kicking. The result of this was Madonna and the breakout vocalist from “Same Love” Marry Lambert in a very uncomfortable back-and-forth that I can only compare to a polar bear and seal sitting together debating global warming.
Metallica was up next and all I could think was ‘you had better slay it.’ Nevermind - I forgot what you guys have become. As my brother told me later, it seemed like James Hetfield looks more like Garth Brooks these days than the thrashing lead vocalist of the great Metallica. Let us all stand in silence for a brief moment as we mourn the loss of this great band. You put a freaking pianist into the song ‘One’?! What the hell are you thinking and were did your manhood go? Hold on, hopes have risen… a commercial touting a breathtaking performance by Trent Reznor, Queens of the Stone Age, Lindsey Buckingham and Dave Grohl. Nevermind, Metallica. You are forgotten about in the midst of my anticipation for this power performance by some actual rock and roll artists.
The performance I had been waiting for all night - the coup de gras if you will… The mixture of a little Nine Inch Nails, Dave Grohl, the King of the Mac, Foo Fighters, and Queens of the Stone Age. I was about to be in Candy Land. My token had just made it through the Lollipop Woods and I was well on my way to the Gingerbread House. See, the Grammys aren’t so bad. There is still hope… oh wait a minute why is there a commercial on?
Why did the music stop?
Wait, the show is back on but now there are only credits.
I don’t understand what has just happened.
Did I just land in the Molasses Swamp?
Did they seriously just end the show two minutes into the performance that I have waited four hours to see? My heart sank to my toes as I realized that yes; they had cut the best performance of the night short (later we would find out - after Reznor tweeted in a rage ‘music’s biggest night… to be disrespected. A heartfelt F&*K YOU guys’ – that the song originally was slated for six minutes. They cut the performance by a minute and a half!). My jaw was on the floor. I could not believe what had just happened. The Grammys had just duped me yet again into thinking there would be a ‘button of hope’ in the world of crap that these shows have become.
I was saddened and distraught, but alas, music will still continue to be made. Some will be good and some will be bad, but at the end of the night, do not let any governing award body tell you what good music is. If you like it and it touches you, inspires you, makes you cry, makes you work out harder, or makes your heart race, then it is indeed award winning music. As always, look me up on Facebook at Music In The Key Of Ott if you want to discuss the award show or just music in general. In closing, I will share with you a simple Facebook message between a dear music-loving friend and myself. I will do my best to clean it up a bit, as it was pretty profane-ridden:
(In reference to the last act of the night starring Trent
Reznor, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters and
the great Lindsey Buckingham)
Me - Alright, here we go.
Friend - WTF. There gonna cut it off!
Me - WTF
Friend - Effing A$$hats.
Me - Eff you Grammys and your effing commercial!
You’re effing out.
Friend - I’m so effing pissed.
Me - Was the 10 bucks they made worth it? I’m effing
furious!
Friend - I can’t believe that. I am in disbelief.
Me – Well, should have effing known. That is effing
perfect.
