Inside the Loop

Sunset & El Tracks

2008-03-08T16:29:00.002-06:00

Winter Chicago River

2008-02-27T20:39:00.003-06:00

Sunday at Millennium Park

2007-12-16T14:20:00.000-06:00

Snow: Chicago Style

2007-12-01T18:18:00.001-06:00

Chicago Marathon 2007

2007-10-14T13:19:00.000-05:00

(pictures taken from my apartment balcony--third mile marker)

Museum and Skyline Pictures

2007-09-18T19:46:00.000-05:00

(Shedd Aquarium, downtown skyline, Cool Globes exhibit)

Sunday Walking Tour

2007-08-27T15:14:00.000-05:00

(Chicago Food Planet Walking Tour: Gold Coast & Lincoln Park neighborhoods)

Chicago at Night

2007-08-19T20:35:00.000-05:00

(pictures taken from a boat on the Chicago River)

Sidewalk Sights

2007-08-02T18:19:00.001-05:00

(Some sights from Milwaukee Avenue in Bucktown)

Saturday in the Park

2007-07-22T18:28:00.000-05:00

(a few pictures from Lincoln Park)

Chicago Images

2007-07-18T16:22:00.000-05:00

(The L station that I take to school & the Loop)

"I'll send an SOS to the world..."

2007-07-09T14:55:00.000-05:00

If you can identify that song lyric, then you know where I was Thursday night at Wrigley Field.

Yes, that was the Police concert.

Sitting on the field of the Friendly Confines. I can't tell you what a thrill that was. Sitting in left field at one of the best ballparks EVER for a concert. Wasn't sure how many songs I would know, but I recognized almost all.

That was Day 2 of the move to Chicago.

Day 1 consisted of eating at Milk & Honey, a tasty cafe on Division close to the Ukranian Village. Good food & tunes. In addition to a sandwich, I tried their ice tea which for my southern friends was unsweet.

On the evening of Day 3 I took the train up north to Ravinia which is an outdoor venue for concerts, events, and activities. The weekend's theme was classical composers, so vistors were guaranteed a pleasant evening; picnic baskets, wine, and small tables were everywhere. Kind of reminded me of football season in the Grove at Oxford, MS. I hope to go again this summer to see other concerts.

The rest of the weekend consisted of going to the following restaurants:
*Hot Chocolate (owner is a Kendall graduate & James Beard winner)
*Jerry's Sandwiches (opened 7 days ago & has 100 sandwich options--they need an eating contest similar to the Flying Saucer)
*Meritage (several pronunciations, but I think it rhymes with "heritage")
*People Lounge (tapas bar in Bucktown)

PS: this city will put me in the poor house if I continue to go out to eat.

Moving Thoughts

2007-06-29T17:06:00.001-05:00

There has to be an easier way to move from one state to another.

I'm not sure what the solution is, so here is a soap box to stand on if you have a suggestion.

Its an odd exchange of handing over your possessions to strangers who might not take the best of care. And, you don't receive anything in return except paperwork & an empty house. Your things ride along (for who knows how long) in a hot truck and arrive (fingers crossed) in their original condition.

I sure hope that my stuff makes it without delay or breakage.

If not, welcome to Crate & Barrel!

Smart Transportation

2007-05-25T15:29:00.001-05:00

As I prepare for the Big Move to the second city/city of big shoulders/city with deep dish pizza, I found two companies in which to rent cars. ZipCars & I-Go are car sharing businesses that position cool cars in neighborhoods for people to use for a day or days at a time. Gas & insurance are included in the price & reservations are made online. The environmental benefits are too numerous to list; in fact, I-Go is a non profit agency partnering with the state government to reduce vehicle emissions & encourages ride sharing as well as public transit.

Renting a Mini Cooper would be a sweet way to spend the day running errands or sightseeing around town.

Memphis Farmers Market

2007-05-01T18:02:00.000-05:00

Its time again to make the Saturday morning drive to the Memphis Farmers Market this weekend. I am sure that it could be crowded with Memphis in May in full swing, and hopefully the weather will be decent.

*********************
Here is my post about the market from July 2006:

Saturday morning/afternoon was spent at the new farmers market in downtown Memphis. If you like fresh vegetables, flowers, fruit, and other odds & ends, head to the South Main area to Central Station. You will find local purveyors selling their food out of their trucks & cars.

There is a bit of a strategy to this form of shopping: if you go early in the day, you get a better selection of product because the crowds have not passed through; but if you come later in the day, you can bargain a bit more. For example, I arrived an hour prior to closing. For $10 I got a pound of cherry tomatoes, a box of fresh arugula, three HUGE sunflowers, three cucumbers, & a bunch of bright orange zinnias. If the same items were purchased at our fine local grocery stores, the quality (& availability) would not come close.

So, next weekend I recommend getting up a little early, grab some coffee or morning bev of choice, and make the drive downtown. Its worth it.

Instant Food

2007-04-16T17:36:00.000-05:00

I caught a few minutes of the Food Network Awards last night. A company called MooBella won the entrepreneurial award. MooBella created an automated ice cream machine with a variety of flavors and mix-in options. Low carb ice cream is also available. You make your selection from a key pad & in a matter of seconds, a cup of ice cream drops out of a window.

Only a couple of locations exist, but I hope that they take more on the road.

Another cool automated food company is called BAMN! located in Manhattan. According to their web site, its the return of the automat, "a vending machine covered in windowed compartments that display hot, fresh food." Everything is under $2 & the food is typical American fare with an Asian twist.

I think the next time I go to NYC I will be checking this out.

Red Sox Nation

2007-04-09T21:58:00.000-05:00

Last night I was watching ESPN's broadcast of the Red Sox vs. Rangers game.

One of the commentators mentioned a blog authored by Curt Schilling. Its called 38 Pitches and while its Curt's way of discussing each game, its also an outlet to publicize Lou Gehrig’s Disease to the mass audience.

Not sure how many baseball players have blogs, but this one is an enjoyable read.

Sweet Tea

2007-04-05T21:50:00.000-05:00

My passport says that I am from the South which means that I should like iced tea. Or should I say, sweet iced tea. Well, I really don't. Some of my friends have a list of the best restaurants to get said tea; if a place doesn't have it, then we don't go.

I have always written the drink off, until....

Last summer, I discovered a tea called Sweet Leaf, and let me just say that I am hooked. My local Fresh Market sells it by the half gallon. Peach, mint & honey, and original are my favorite flavors. Can't get enough of the stuff.

Run out & try it. Might give the local iced tea favorites a run for their money.

Flickr's Photo Map

2007-03-11T19:51:00.000-05:00

Check out my photo map of pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eolson80/map/

24 Hours in Boston

2007-03-10T20:30:00.000-06:00

This week's travels brought me to Boston for about 24 hours. A quick trip with not enough time to do everything that I want. An exhibit at the MFA closes this weekend, and alas, I did not make it.

I did, however, manage to have two great meals.

Little did I know that "restaurant week" was happening in Boston until I opened the menu at Sel de la Terre, a restaurant across from the Aquarium. In February I lunched at SDLT & knew that dinner needed to happen the next time I was in town. Not to disappoint, the food was excellent. To quote the menu, I ordered braised boneless beef shortribs with celery root whipped potatoes, roasted Provençal vegetables and crispy onions (sorry non-meat eaters) as the entree, and for a starter, a roasted tomato soup with a crab fritter.

The next day I needed a place to go for lunch. I found Rachel's Kitchen on a Chowhound board. By the way, Chowhound is addictive and has never let me down. Just look up a city and BAM! lots of recommendations. So, Rachel's Kitchen (RK) is this tiny cafe on a corner in the Bay Village area of Boston. It is a quiet neighborhood just off some busy streets. The owners of RK actually work there (wow) and cook the food (wow squared) in a kitchen thats about the size of a bread box (kidding, sort of). Breakfast (all day) & lunch are served. Highly recommend the quiche du jour & salad. The chai latte could rank up there with my all time favorite from Teaism in Washington DC (see the post from December 2006). One item that I want to try next time is the brioche with Nutella. Free wi-fi & local music completes the friendly atmosphere. In the future when I own my own restaurant, I would definitely model it after RK's.

Word of the Day

2007-03-06T19:41:00.000-06:00

Courtesy of Google.com:

jeroboam:(noun) A wine bottle holding 4/5 of a gallon (3.03 liters).

Synonyms: double-magnum

Usage: In 1725, winemakers in Bordeaux were already referring to larger bottles as “jeroboams," after the founder of Israel who ruled between 931 and 910 BC.

*thats a lot of wine*

Denver

2007-03-01T15:39:00.000-06:00

Its always fun to go to the same city twice in seven days. While the flight to Denver is not short, its nice for a change of scenery.

Whats even better is going to the same restaurant twice & ordering a different item. At the recommendation of two Colorado-loving friends, Illegal Pete's (IP) made the cut for lunch. Totally non-chainy & local, it was a great choice for downtown Denver. Located on 16th street, IP plays great music, sells groovy t-shirts, and makes a nice taco plate. The cheese dip is a winner as well. And how can you not like a place that serves New Belgium products on tap.

The second recommendation is Vesta Dipping Grill. Kind of a funny name, but you get to choose your entree & mix & match sauces. I had the grilled venison, ginger ale mushrooms, and fries. Very delicious, but I really didn't care for the three accompanying sauces. The menu has a wide variety of meats, but not a lot for the veggie eater. Nice wine list too.

My only complaint about both trips is the Denver airport: the distance to the rental car facilities, the trams between terminals, and the security line for frequent fliers. Very time consuming.

Chicago's Loss

2007-02-10T15:16:00.000-06:00

Da Bears.

What can I say.

They should have won considering the weather elements. Seriously...Indy plays in a dome.

They should have won because of the dramatic opening kick return a la The Ohio State University. But, we know how that game ended.

They should have won for all of those Bears fans wanting the victory. Now some dude in the 'burbs is changing his name to Peyton Manning.

All I can say is better luck next year.

Interim: New Memphis Restaurant

2007-01-28T18:42:00.000-06:00

I have recently spent two nights at the newly opened Interim in East Memphis; the previous space belonged to Wally Joe. The article from the Memphis Flyer can give more details about the ownership, kitchen staff, and other details. The burger was fantastic and could give other popular burgers in town a run for their money. My favorite dish was the mac & cheese for the following reasons: its baked in a little red Le Creuset dish, it contains bacon, and it is delicious. Other dishes that looked tasty were the white bean puree & crab cakes. The caesar salad was not very impressive considering the Wally Joe version had a baked quail egg with brioche. Yum.

Overall, I would recommend it for a nice neighborhood meal.

For those that have also visited Interim, please post your comments.

Go Bears!

2007-01-21T18:13:00.000-06:00

Looking forward to the Super Bowl in two weeks.

With the Bears' good fortune, maybe this will inspire the Cubs to reach for the post season...

First Anniversary

2006-12-31T18:33:00.000-06:00

Inside the Loop is one year old!

Heres to more blogging in 2007!

Chicago Hotel

2006-12-11T16:45:00.000-06:00

I am sharing my hotel room with a goldfish.

Maybe its supposed to remind me of home, but I don't have any pets, including things that swim. Or maybe its just a reward to returning guests.

I just wonder how long my roomate is going to stick around.

Washington DC

2006-12-03T13:34:00.000-06:00

I spent about 36 hours in our nation's capitol. On the morning I was to travel home, I walked to DuPont Circle & the Mall. Attached are photos of the National Christmas Tree & World War II Memorial. Glad I made time for the latter. Such a spectacular sight on a nice, winter day.

Other highlights:

Teaism: located near DuPont Circle, this cafe was a great choice for brunch on Saturday morning. With a wide variety of teas, I settled on a mug of hot chai; probably the best I have had. Along with the drink, I ordered a ginger scone (actually you get two per order) & a steaming plate of cilantro scrambled eggs. Quite satisfying!

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe: a short walk from Teasim is a local bookstore called Kramerbooks located on Connecticut Avenue. Its not your typical, corporate bookstore thats found on every corner. No music to buy, no magazine section, and no gift table. Just books.

Neat Web Site

2006-11-30T17:33:00.000-06:00

A short time ago, I started watching a web video called Rocketboom. It's a daily news piece about an interesting topic kicked up with some humor. Today's video showed an open source holiday gift guide.

Salt Lake City

2006-11-18T19:42:00.000-06:00

My first trip to the state of Utah was a result of a conference for work. Not sure what to expect from the Olympic host city, I went armed with a few restaurants.

Here are my recommendations

Squatters Brewery: a popular brewery with several beers made in-house. The dinner menu includes a range of choices, so the decision was tough. I ordered a pint of hefeweizen & the grilled ahi tuna tacos which came with a side of black beans & rice. The tuna was wrapped in corn torillas and topped with shredded cabbage & a tastey sauce. Squatters is located in the downtown section of the city.

Fun Travels

2006-09-26T19:01:00.000-05:00

(left to right: Cape Cod, MA; Newport, RI)

Since Lollapalooza, I have traveled a few times...and I officially have Gold Elite status with Northwest. Not sure if thats a good or bad thing...

Cities:

Los Angeles

Boston (Cape Cod, Salem, Newport, RI)

Richmond

Chicago

Chicago
Chicago

Lollapalooza 2006

2006-08-10T20:02:00.000-05:00

I spent last weekend in the great city of Chicago participating in Lollapalooza.

Here is a list of the bands I heard:

Eels
Stars
Ryan Adams
My Morning Jacket
Death Cab for Cutie
Andrew Bird
The Shins (sort of, their music was not properly working so it was hard to hear)
Nickel Creek
Matisyahu
Ditty Bops (performed at the Old Town School of Folk)

For more in-depth commentary, photos, and video/audio, please go to Zack Perry's web site.

Memphis Farmers Market

2006-07-16T15:43:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning/afternoon was spent at the new farmers market in downtown Memphis. If you like fresh vegetables, flowers, fruit, and other odds & ends, head to the South Main area to Central Station. You will find local purveyors selling their food out of their trucks & cars.

There is a bit of a strategy to this form of shopping: if you go early in the day, you get a better selection of product because the crowds have not passed through; but if you come later in the day, you can bargain a bit more. For example, I arrived an hour prior to closing. For $10 I got a pound of cherry tomatoes, a box of fresh arugula, three HUGE sunflowers, three cucumbers, & a bunch of bright orange zinnias. If the same items were purchased at our fine local grocery stores, the quality (& availability) would not come close.

So, next weekend I recommend getting up a little early, grab some coffee or morning bev of choice, and make the drive downtown. Its worth it.

Did you miss me?

2006-06-19T17:20:00.000-05:00

A posting is long over due. I apologize. Seriously. My travels have lead me away from blogging.

Lets see..since the post about Italy, I have been to the following places: Scottsdale (twice), Boston, Kansas City, Washington DC (twice), Richmond, and Chicago. Thats a lot of frequent flier miles & room service charges. Upcoming travels include San Francisco & Chicago (again).

On the bright side, that means I have been to several cool places.

In Scottsdale, I went to Organ Pipe National Park to look at the cacti & desert creatures. Even posed for a photo (see below) with a snake & dinosaur in Gila Bend, AZ..they were made of iron. Oregano's & Salty Senorita are cool, casual places for good eats. The dessert at Oregano's is out-of-this-world.

Boston was a weekend full of rain. I think a canoe was almost a necessity. However, Fenway Park & the MFA were on the list of sights. Both are HIGHLY recommended. A good place to check out for dinner is called Gargoyles in Somerville, MA.

Kansas City was not really eventful except for a tasty dinner at an Italian restaurant called Lidia's; there is another location in NYC.

DC: most of the time was spent inside a ballroom..working. The Hay Adams & Mayflower Hotels are quite nice. Olives & DC Coast are also recommended eateries.

Richmond..not even going to mention because I was only there 12 hours...at the most.

Chicago had great weather & along with a new favorite place in Lincoln Park called Tarascas on North Clark. Nothing beats outdoor seating with a margarita in spring time in Chi-town.

Until next time..

Top Five Things...In Italy

2006-04-10T20:53:00.000-05:00

So, its completely impossible to write five favorite things about the country shaped like a boot. The food, scenary, people & history are all overwhelming & captivating. Here is my attempt to describe my favorites in no particular order:

1. Il Fratellini: located in Firenze (Florence) a few blocks north of the Piazza della Signoria; you walk up to the counter to place your order & then sit on the sidewalk to eat & people watch; what a great concept to franchise in the US; what's better than a salami & goat cheese sandwich on hot, fresh bread with a bigletto (glass) of chianti...and all for 4 Euros.
2. Harry's Bar: located in Venezia (Venice) in San Marco Square; so, this is not your typical American bar; Harry's created the famous drink, the belini, & they also developed the best ham & cheese sandwich I have EVER had; thinly, sliced white bread piled with ham & cheese & sizzled in butter until golden, brown, & delicious. Yum. The rest of the menu is a little pricey, but if you want a snack, go for the belini & sandwich.
3. St. Peter's Basilica: located in Vatican City; one of the largest churches in the world, St. Peter's is a sight to behold; you could fit several mini churches inside; Michelangelo's Pieta is on your right upon entering; you really must go because its hard to describe in words.
4. Tuscany: even though this is a general favorite, its worth a ride through the countryside; Tuscany really looks like it does in photographs, movies, commericals, etc.; the air is different, the citizens in the small towns are friendly, and of course, the wine is out of this world; if you want a bicycle tour, I chose Bicycle Tuscany
5. Osteria Ponte Sisto: located in Roma; maybe this was my favorite dinner because it was my first night in Italy, but the food was so good; the restaurant is across the Tiber, so the area is more like a neighborhood and less like a busy city; proscuitto & mozzarella kicked off the meal, spaghetti alla carbonara followed, and panna cotta de chocolat was the finale. A bottle of chianti was the vino of choice.

2006 Baseball Season

2006-04-07T15:03:00.000-05:00

Its a new season for baseball. Wrigley has a new look with more bleacher seats; the Red Sox have Josh Beckett..

This weekend is a three day series with the Cubs & Cards. So far the Cubbies are leading 5-0 top of the 7th with Maddux still in the game. Hopefully the W flag will make an appearance.

Track Your Travels

2006-02-23T17:04:00.000-06:00

Wayfaring.com is a site to track your adventures. You can create a personalized map (courtesy of Google) and email the map to your friends & family. You can also search for topics ranging from favorite winerys to weekend taverns to bookstores.

Winter Weather

2006-02-18T12:59:00.000-06:00

This is the second consecutive weekend of a wintry mix; last Friday & Saturday a few inches
of snow fell, and last night we got another dose of ice & sleet. Here are some pictures of last weekend's snow.

Start Your Engines

2006-02-14T11:10:00.000-06:00

Its the start of a brand new NASCAR season, & I must say I am pretty excited. A year ago I did not consider racing a sport...it just does not compare to baseball or college basketball. However, I after going to a few races, meeting drivers, and watching the pit crew change tires, I have become a fan. Be sure to tune in this weekend for the Daytona 500!

Top Five Things In...Chicago: January

2006-01-26T23:48:00.000-06:00

So I was in Chicago the past few days for work, and it was my first trip in the Second City with snow & ice. It was not too cold, but the wind was the worst!

1. Pat's Pizza: originally located on N. Sheffield for over 50 years, the family decided to move to a building on N. Lincoln Ave.; the thin crust pizza is good, but the pasta is better; I recommend the gnocchi

2. Mr. Beef: if you want a legitimate Italian beef sandwich, go to this small restaurant in the River North area; I was the only person that did not work at a construction site placing an order; they also have hotdogs, burgers, and chicken sandwiches.

3. Delilah's Bar: this small bar on N. Lincoln (just a few blocks north of Pat's) is a what a dive & a punk rock place look like; local artists have their works displayed along with some "adult" films on the TV....definitely not your sports hangout! The best feature is the daily specials board. My favorite night is Friday: $2 Maker's Mark! Delilah's also claims to have 200+ and numerous bourbons.

4. The Bourgeois Pig Cafe: I was a bit confused by the title, but this coffee shop (actually, it serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tea snacks) appeared to be a crowd favorite for the large population of DePaul University students. I had a chai tea latte that I must admit is better than Starbucks. The cafe is located on Fullerton near the intersection of Halstead & Lincoln.

5. Willows Hotel: due to the fact that all hotels in the Loop were booked (thanks convention attendees), this quaint hotel in Lincoln Park was surprisingly nice. I would consider staying there in the future. Its a four story building on a street called W. Surf about 4-5 blocks from the Diversey el. Their elevator is the kind with a cage & you have to "call" it to your floor. They also serve a complimentary breakfast w/a newspaper and coffee & cookies at night.

Bonus: the WC (a.k.a Wiener's Circle): great char-dogs, cheeseburgers, & fries with a side of a-t-t-i-t-u-d-e by the kitchen staff; my idea of a fun Friday night: a long stay at Delilah's followed by a Chicago dog at the WC. And it has to be after 1.00 a.m.

My Life Line is in Trouble

2006-01-23T10:39:00.000-06:00

From The New York Times

Supreme Court Won't Hear BlackBerry Appeal

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 23, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from the maker of the BlackBerry in the long-running battle over patents for the wildly popular, handheld wireless e-mail device.

The high court's refusal to hear Canada-based Research In Motion Ltd.'s appeal means that a trial judge in Richmond, Va., could impose an injunction against the company and block BlackBerry use among many of its owners in the United States.

The justices had been asked to decide on whether U.S. patent law is technologically out of date in the age of the Internet and the global marketplace.

At issue was how U.S. law applies to technology that is used in a foreign country and allegedly infringes on the intellectual property rights of a patent-holder in the United States.

The justices were asked to decide whether Research In Motion can be held liable for patent infringement when its main relay station for e-mail and data transmission is located in Waterloo, Ontario, outside U.S. borders.

RIM was challenging a ruling by a federal appeals court that found that the company had infringed on the patents held by NTP Inc., a tiny northern Virginia patent-holding firm, because its customers use the BlackBerry inside U.S. borders. The panel said it did not matter where the relay station is located.

Since its introduction in 1999, the BlackBerry has revolutionized communications, allowing business travelers and government employees to send and receive e-mail outside their offices and away from their stationery computers.

The BlackBerry almost instantaneously transmits data through radio frequency technology that Thomas Campana Jr., an engineer, says he developed in 1990, long before the Internet became an integral part of American life.

The dispute not only has resonated with BlackBerry users who worry that their lifeline to their offices could be severed. The U.S. and Canadian governments also are concerned, as is Intel Corp., the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer.

U.S. officials worry about the loss of BlackBerry use for law enforcement and health workers in a crisis, while the Canadian government is concerned that research and development in other industries will be stifled if RIM loses on all fronts.

In a filing with the Supreme Court, Intel's lawyers said the company is torn. As an investor of billions of dollars into research and development, the company is among the nation's leaders in obtaining patents and wants to protect itself against infringement.

At the same time, Intel also is frequently accused of infringement and wants clearer rules that protect it from small patent-holding companies that have little infrastructure and produce no products.

Attorney Herbert L. Fenster, who represents RIM, said the company is fighting the injunction. But he said an injunction would not end BlackBerry use among at least 1 million of its 3 million users in the United States.

Fenster said he believes federal law prohibits U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer from cutting off BlackBerry service to federal, state and local government users and others who rely on the devices to communicate during a public emergency.

Spencer has set a Feb. 1 deadline for filings on the injunction issue.

The legal fight began in 2001, when NTP sued RIM for infringement. The next year, a jury in Richmond decided that RIM had infringed on patents held by NTP, awarding the company 5.7 percent of U.S. BlackBerry sales. Spencer later increased that rate to 8.55 percent. At last count, the tally of damages and fees had exceeded $200 million and it continues to grow.
Last year, attempts to resolve the case fell apart when Spencer disapproved a settlement in which RIM would have paid $450 million to NTP.

The case is RIM v. NTP, 05-763.

Local Band to Support: The Central Standards

2006-01-22T16:40:00.000-06:00

Last night I went to the local Borders Bookstore to check out a local band called The Central Standards. Their songs are all original with smart lyrics and hip outfits. Their sound reminds me of They Might Be Giants with a bit of Barenaked Ladies.

Here is a review in Friday's Commercial Appeal

Sorry its been so long...

2006-01-18T19:44:00.000-06:00

A co-worker of mine is developing a book club based on favorite high school books. Feel free to post your top three favorites to add to the list. Hopefully, this club will kick into high gear this summer.

On another note, I participated in a training class today offered by my employer. The subject was "corporate grammar". Did you know that the current trend in punctuation is to have only one space after a period....I was shocked...after all these years of double spacing!

I realize that what I just typed probably makes me a dork. :)

Viva Italia

2006-01-03T23:44:00.000-06:00

Happy 2006!

I am excited about my first international trip and busy making plans to visit the great country of Italy. Since this is a vacation, I plan to eat, drink, shop, and take as many pictures of the sights as possible.

Places I plan to visit: Rome, Florence, Venice (before it sinks), Cinque Terre, and Siena; might throw in a day trip to Pisa to lean.

This week's to-do-list: start learning some of the language

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere

2005-12-30T12:01:00.000-06:00

I attended a champagne tasting a few Saturdays ago (yes, drinking in the afternoon is acceptable), and here are my picks for New Year's Eve bubbly:

Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne--a little pricey, but worth it
Veuve Cliquot La Grande Dame--REALLY pricey
Banfi Rosa Regale (Italy)--an under $20 sparkling rose; probably my favorite of the group

For those Memphians (or visitors) looking for a nice dinner tomorrow night, head to Encore, a new French bistro downtown. The chef from the Peabody Hotel's Chez Philippe is manning the kitchen. The restaurant is offering a three course menu with a glass of champagne. Off the regular menu, I recommend the steak frites with bernaise on the side, butternut squash soup, and bread pudding.

Go Tigers: Part Deux

2005-12-28T10:38:00.000-06:00

Last night, the Tigers were able to pull off an 11 point victory over Gonzaga. The crowd was rowdy, and the Blue Crew did not sit down the entire game. FYI: the Blue Crew is a group of students that have a special seating section and learn cheers for each game. There was also a fight in the first half!

Note: if Ashton Kutcher decides to quit show business, he needs to call Adam Morrison as his replacement; the resemblance is scary.

The only disappointment of the evening was the absence of barbeque pork nachos..I was slightly upset at the lack of this concession stand item. For those residing outside of Memphis, this dish is fabulous, messy, and quite popular in the city. I suggest that you try it.

Check out this link and video from ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=253610235

Go Tigers!

2005-12-27T11:36:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to the Memphis Tigers for winning the Motor City Bowl last night.

Tonight, the #4 Tigers play #8 Gonzaga in a highly anticipated basketball game which happens to be sold out at the FedExForum. I will be cheering from the cheap seats. Tune into ESPN to watch this exciting match up.

Top Five Things....in New York: December

2005-12-26T16:15:00.000-06:00

I hope to make "Top Five Things...." a regular posting about my travels. The first one highlights my trip to New York during last week's transit strike.

Note: the absence of the subway & high taxi prices limited my sightseeing and gastronomic adventures.

1. Teany-a tea shop owned by the musical artist, Moby, located on the lower east side of the concrete jungle. I recommend the Teany Special: a pot of tea, scones with jam, petit fours du jour, and two tea sandwiches...without the crusts!
2. Bowery Ballroom-a cool concert hall on Delancey Street also on the lower east side.
3. Rain-Thai/Asian fusion restaurant on the upper west side; Columbus & W. 82nd to be exact. Their drink menu lists a "trio of tinis"-three tiny martinis in a variety of flavors. Yum!
4. Rockefeller Center at Christmas- really gets you in the holiday spirit with the tree, the ice skating, and the decorations.
5. Peculier Pub- the largest beer list I have ever seen. Located on Bleeker between Thompson & LaGuardia in Greenwich Village.

Welcome to the Party

2005-12-26T16:00:00.000-06:00

I decided to join the rest of the Y-Generation and created a blog to comment on everyday life. Be on the look out for postings about food, travel, wine, happenings in Memphis, and all-things interesting to a twenty-something.