(Title a quote from the title song of Jack Johnson's new album, Sleep Through The Static)
I'll make this short.
I was driving away from the Brookline Village Starbucks listening to the Jack Johnson album In Between Dreams this afternoon when I had a revelation. In order to find someone with whom I can happily spend the rest of my life, I need to find someone who can love as infinitely as I can. I have a lot of discretion regarding who gets a place in my heart, but once someone's there, I give them the best of the best, everything I've got.
I need someone with intensity and passion like that. Someone who can grasp a concept or find an interest and pursue it relentlessly. Well, anyway, someone who can at least understand my intensity and occasional detachment when I do that.
This is probably the most important thing. Other characteristics will factor in, but this is the most crucial.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Spontaneity.
When you plan on something, you have time to anticipate all of the details. Any feelings of excitement are drawn out in the process of planning, having time to ebb and then return with a nearly hormonal fever as the event approaches.
On the other hand, when something enters your life spontaneously, you get to experience all of those feelings of excitement at hyper-speed.
Surprises are usually so nice. Even if the surprise itself isn't very nice, the rush of adrenaline sure is. Spontaneity runs along that same vein. Making decisions in a heartbeat can be so exhilirating.
On the other hand, when something enters your life spontaneously, you get to experience all of those feelings of excitement at hyper-speed.
Surprises are usually so nice. Even if the surprise itself isn't very nice, the rush of adrenaline sure is. Spontaneity runs along that same vein. Making decisions in a heartbeat can be so exhilirating.
Monday, March 10, 2008
What an Arrogant Bastard.
One of my favorite haunts is Parish Cafe, located at 361 Boylston, close to the intersection with Arlington Street. I am in the process of completing a beer card there, which means I have to drink about 75 beers over the course of a year. Once I finish the card, the establishment presents me with a huge beer mug engraved with whatever I want on it (I've chosen "The Texan"), and I only have to pay for a pint (but get a whole mugful) when I go in for a beer. Anyway, they require you to drink a variety of beers, some more obscure, some expected staples. It's a good introduction to the world of beer for those who never really drank beer before or people who found one beer they liked and have habitually ordered it since (like me).
One of the beers on the list is called Arrogant Bastard (click here for the official web site). It is everything that the name implies, though most of the arrogance and bastard qualities are on the label, not in the bottle. It is a remarkably strong-flavored beer, but if you drink beer on a regular basis (and when I say "beer," Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bud Light, etc. are not included... they're putrid water, not beer), it's not anything you shouldn't be able to stomach. I've watched a couple people force the last bits down their throats, but I did not have to force myself to finish it. It's huge, it has a 7.2% alcohol content, and it's very flavorful. At first, the flavor kind of kicks you in the tastebuds, but once you get over the initial potency, it can be an enjoyable beer. It's not smooth. It's not easy. It's not polite. This is what the brewing company (Stone) means by "Arrogant Bastard," I guess. Personally, I'll prefer a beer that errs on the side of being flavorful to one that doesn't have enough flavor (arrogant bastard as opposed to inchoate bastard, perhaps?), but too much flavor can be a bad thing. I would say that Arrogant Bastard is somewhere close to crossing that line, but does not. In other words, it's extremely flavorful, but not so flavorful that it's a bad thing.
Now, for the shocker... it's good with vanilla ice cream. I guess the two flavors balance each other out well, but seriously, it's good. I just had a craving for ice cream while I was drinking the beer. When I told the bartender, Jess, how good it was, she wanted to try it. She did. She said that from now on, if she was ever going to drink an Arrogant Bastard, she'd do so while eating vanilla ice cream. What a strange combination. I had been eating a man's sandwich (the meatloaf club) and drinking a man's beer (Arrogant Bastard), and then added vanilla ice cream.
Anyway, try an Arrogant Bastard. If you're man enough.
One of the beers on the list is called Arrogant Bastard (click here for the official web site). It is everything that the name implies, though most of the arrogance and bastard qualities are on the label, not in the bottle. It is a remarkably strong-flavored beer, but if you drink beer on a regular basis (and when I say "beer," Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bud Light, etc. are not included... they're putrid water, not beer), it's not anything you shouldn't be able to stomach. I've watched a couple people force the last bits down their throats, but I did not have to force myself to finish it. It's huge, it has a 7.2% alcohol content, and it's very flavorful. At first, the flavor kind of kicks you in the tastebuds, but once you get over the initial potency, it can be an enjoyable beer. It's not smooth. It's not easy. It's not polite. This is what the brewing company (Stone) means by "Arrogant Bastard," I guess. Personally, I'll prefer a beer that errs on the side of being flavorful to one that doesn't have enough flavor (arrogant bastard as opposed to inchoate bastard, perhaps?), but too much flavor can be a bad thing. I would say that Arrogant Bastard is somewhere close to crossing that line, but does not. In other words, it's extremely flavorful, but not so flavorful that it's a bad thing.
Now, for the shocker... it's good with vanilla ice cream. I guess the two flavors balance each other out well, but seriously, it's good. I just had a craving for ice cream while I was drinking the beer. When I told the bartender, Jess, how good it was, she wanted to try it. She did. She said that from now on, if she was ever going to drink an Arrogant Bastard, she'd do so while eating vanilla ice cream. What a strange combination. I had been eating a man's sandwich (the meatloaf club) and drinking a man's beer (Arrogant Bastard), and then added vanilla ice cream.
Anyway, try an Arrogant Bastard. If you're man enough.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Important asparagus + cream sauce update.
There's a necessary update I've been neglecting for weeks.
Last year, I posted a recipe for making asparagus with cream sauce. The update: add a little chardonnay to the saucepan as you are making the sauce. Serve with chicken marinated in the same chardonnay, and you have a winning meal. Seriously, it's delicious. You can even use your cream sauce leftovers on the chicken, which I found to be also delicious. Just add small amounts of chilled chardonnay to the sauce to taste. It gives the sauce a nice little poignancy, a bit of a kick, that it hinted at before but develops nicely with the wine.
Last year, I posted a recipe for making asparagus with cream sauce. The update: add a little chardonnay to the saucepan as you are making the sauce. Serve with chicken marinated in the same chardonnay, and you have a winning meal. Seriously, it's delicious. You can even use your cream sauce leftovers on the chicken, which I found to be also delicious. Just add small amounts of chilled chardonnay to the sauce to taste. It gives the sauce a nice little poignancy, a bit of a kick, that it hinted at before but develops nicely with the wine.
Flour Bakery & Cafe
The problem with this post: I'm going to have a hard time completing it without walking over to Flour to buy lunch. Seriously. Their menu speaks volumes about the creativity, talent, and care that goes into every morsel. You can view this menu at their web site, www.FlourBakery.com.
I'll start with the sandwiches, because they are what hooked me first. From my first bite of the fresh mozzarella sandwich, I knew I was in love. This sandwich ranks in my top five sandwiches ever eaten by me. That is not an easy feat. Other sandwiches from Flour that I love:
-Smoked turkey, Vermont cheddar, and cranberry chutney
-Applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, and tomato (known affectionately around my office as The BLT)
-Roasted lamb, tomato chutney, and goat cheese
Now, those are just my favorites. They have ten sandwiches, about all of which I have heard wonderful things. It would not be an exaggeration to say that a sandwich from Flour can drastically improve one's day.
Not only do they have the regular sandwiches, they also have specials every day, including quiche, soup, stuffed bread, pizza, and usually a different sandwich. I LOVE their quiche. No, really, this is the best quiche I've ever had, and my mother made some darn good quiche when I was growing up. My favorite of all the quiches I've had there (probably a few dozen different types by now) is the salmon, herbed cream cheese, and scallion one I had the first time I ordered quiche. The ingredients change day to day, but there are a few common ingredients/combinations that you see a lot of the time - even once a week. My coworker had the soup today (told you I couldn't make it through this post without going), and this is what she had to say about it: "Not only did that taste like homemade soup, it tasted like the best homemade soup I've ever had." Yes, it's that good. I had some of their chicken soup a few weeks back, and though I don't have the nutrition facts on it, I was surprised by how little sodium I tasted. It seems like most soups these days pack in so much sodium, all you can taste is salt. Not so with Flour's soup. It was delicious.
Now for the bakery part... I think you know what I'm going to say here. Delicious. As an introduction, try their oreos. It's like the ones that come in the blue package from Nabisco, but freshly baked, bigger, and far more tasty. One bite, and you'll wish you had a big glass of milk to go with it. Fortunately, Flour's staff is more than happy to provide that, too. Look for it on the kids' menu. Some of the cookies have strange names (I still cannot pronounce the name of the chocolate chip cookie), but they are delicious. I have tried all of them. Also good: the raspberry crumb bar. Similar to a lemon bar, but with raspberry - what could be better? Try the mini tartlettes to get a taste of the pastries you see in the glass case. The Boston cream pie, a staple in this city, is delicious, though not the best I've ever had (I prefer the very unique style of Legal Seafoods' Boston cream pie). The sticky buns are every bit as delicious as the ones my mother used to make every Christmas morning. If you're there earlier in the day, try the cinnamon cream brioche. Don't ask questions, just try it. The bottom line on Flour pastries: they are freshly baked with care, they are deliciously conceived, and they are well-loved by patrons all over the South End and Fort Point. It kills me to go and not get a pastry of some sort, especially since the line snakes right past all of the delicious pastries.
One thing to keep in mind about their specials and food in general, though: they err on the side of gourmet foods. Much of the time, I have had to Google the ingredients just to figure out what's on the pizza or in the quiche. Stay open-minded and foster some trust in the talent of the chef, who is an absolute genius at pairing different flavors. He comes up with some things that you would not expect would be delicious, but I have never been disappointed.
If I move out of Boston, I can tell you that Flour is one of the things I will miss the most. Finding a combination of food this delicious, a staff this friendly, and an environment this warm and welcome is a rare thing. They capture a love for food while being a friendly part of the neighborhood. It's no wonder that Flour has developed a dedicated following. I can hardly resist making the walk of several blocks for a sandwich or quiche. With its variety, Flour has never met a palate it could not satisfy.
I'll start with the sandwiches, because they are what hooked me first. From my first bite of the fresh mozzarella sandwich, I knew I was in love. This sandwich ranks in my top five sandwiches ever eaten by me. That is not an easy feat. Other sandwiches from Flour that I love:
-Smoked turkey, Vermont cheddar, and cranberry chutney
-Applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, and tomato (known affectionately around my office as The BLT)
-Roasted lamb, tomato chutney, and goat cheese
Now, those are just my favorites. They have ten sandwiches, about all of which I have heard wonderful things. It would not be an exaggeration to say that a sandwich from Flour can drastically improve one's day.
Not only do they have the regular sandwiches, they also have specials every day, including quiche, soup, stuffed bread, pizza, and usually a different sandwich. I LOVE their quiche. No, really, this is the best quiche I've ever had, and my mother made some darn good quiche when I was growing up. My favorite of all the quiches I've had there (probably a few dozen different types by now) is the salmon, herbed cream cheese, and scallion one I had the first time I ordered quiche. The ingredients change day to day, but there are a few common ingredients/combinations that you see a lot of the time - even once a week. My coworker had the soup today (told you I couldn't make it through this post without going), and this is what she had to say about it: "Not only did that taste like homemade soup, it tasted like the best homemade soup I've ever had." Yes, it's that good. I had some of their chicken soup a few weeks back, and though I don't have the nutrition facts on it, I was surprised by how little sodium I tasted. It seems like most soups these days pack in so much sodium, all you can taste is salt. Not so with Flour's soup. It was delicious.
Now for the bakery part... I think you know what I'm going to say here. Delicious. As an introduction, try their oreos. It's like the ones that come in the blue package from Nabisco, but freshly baked, bigger, and far more tasty. One bite, and you'll wish you had a big glass of milk to go with it. Fortunately, Flour's staff is more than happy to provide that, too. Look for it on the kids' menu. Some of the cookies have strange names (I still cannot pronounce the name of the chocolate chip cookie), but they are delicious. I have tried all of them. Also good: the raspberry crumb bar. Similar to a lemon bar, but with raspberry - what could be better? Try the mini tartlettes to get a taste of the pastries you see in the glass case. The Boston cream pie, a staple in this city, is delicious, though not the best I've ever had (I prefer the very unique style of Legal Seafoods' Boston cream pie). The sticky buns are every bit as delicious as the ones my mother used to make every Christmas morning. If you're there earlier in the day, try the cinnamon cream brioche. Don't ask questions, just try it. The bottom line on Flour pastries: they are freshly baked with care, they are deliciously conceived, and they are well-loved by patrons all over the South End and Fort Point. It kills me to go and not get a pastry of some sort, especially since the line snakes right past all of the delicious pastries.
One thing to keep in mind about their specials and food in general, though: they err on the side of gourmet foods. Much of the time, I have had to Google the ingredients just to figure out what's on the pizza or in the quiche. Stay open-minded and foster some trust in the talent of the chef, who is an absolute genius at pairing different flavors. He comes up with some things that you would not expect would be delicious, but I have never been disappointed.
If I move out of Boston, I can tell you that Flour is one of the things I will miss the most. Finding a combination of food this delicious, a staff this friendly, and an environment this warm and welcome is a rare thing. They capture a love for food while being a friendly part of the neighborhood. It's no wonder that Flour has developed a dedicated following. I can hardly resist making the walk of several blocks for a sandwich or quiche. With its variety, Flour has never met a palate it could not satisfy.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The problems of a sober artist.
I have had ideas in mind for new posts a dozen times over the last few weeks. Instead, you only get the last post (about my car almost being towed) and this one, which is set to be a strange conglomeration of news and various commentaries about things I have seen and done lately. When I admitted to a customer and another partner at the Brookline Village Starbucks last night that I had a lot of material but could not get it out onto paper. The customer laughed and said it was the problem faced by an artist. My response: "I suppose it's more the problem of a sober artist."
I guess I like to think I am that rara avis, and that you would not be able to get my viewpoint anywhere else. So I should write, because I have something unique to say. However, there are thousands, or millions, of other blogs out there, and I doubt those people would also be writing if they did not also feel they had something unique to say. So, if thousands or millions of other people also have something unique to say, well, then we are not very unique, are we? When I was younger, I wanted to write novels but was discouraged by the idea that I could not tell any stories that had not been told before. I suppose the difference in and point of writing that story now is quality - how well one writes, so that the story is better - or worse, depending on the authors, I guess.
Anyway, on to other things. I visited Texas last weekend (flew into Austin on Friday, drove to Dallas on Sunday, drove back to Austin on Monday, flew into Boston on Tuesday), and I left my heart there for safekeeping. It was a wonderful weekend (aside from one brief aberration), and I want to go back. Friday night, we went to Pluckers after the hockey game. I had fried pickles, Dr. Pepper wings, spicy barbecue wings, macaroni and cheese, and a Psychedelic Frog. It was an amazing meal. Pluckers isn't exactly good for you, but it is really delicious, and it beats any wings I have had on the east coast. If you visit Texas or Louisiana, you must visit Pluckers (http://www.pluckers.com). The variety of flavors for wings, as well as the delectable appetizers, sandwiches, and mixed drinks (my favorite being the Psychedelic Frog) make for an enjoyable meal, and the atmosphere makes it fun. The restaurant started as a freshman year business project at the University of Texas at Austin. Let's just say they got an A.
The rest of the weekend consisted of Jenny & Jason's engagement party (excited for them), the Irish Festival in Dallas (I've never seen so many people who look alike crowded into one area... I've also never seen a midget expertly dressed as a leprechaun - this guy hit the nail on the head), dinner at Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse (another Texas dining favorite), a visit with Mom, brunch at the Original Pancake House (delicious pancakes... so much better than IHOP), Marc's flag football game, and my first visit to Hooters (still love Pluckers wings more). It was so good to see my family. I feel a lot better.
We played Rock Band at Jenny & Jason's party on Saturday, and I think I'm addicted. I've even created a new playlist on my iPod just for the songs on the game (click here for a list of songs). I couldn't help but feel some pride over being able to nail songs like the Red Hot Chili Peppers's Dani California and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs's Maps as I felt my rockstar tendencies satisfied for the first time. I would love to be a musician, make awesome music, and watch people react to it positively. I can't imagine how it feels for a band to perform live. I need to buy Rock Band and make friends who like to play it.
I also created some other new playlists on my iPod. I revisited my days in Dallas and downloaded a bunch of radio hits from the Edge (http://www.kdge.com) and sought out new music I saw featured in Spin Magazine (http://www.spin.com) and Starbucks (http://www.starbucks.com, http://www.hearmusic.com). The results of this search for new music were mixed, but I'll share some of my favorites:
Jack Johnson - Sleep Through The Static - The entire album is good. It still has the surfer feel that Jack Johnson always has, but the lyrics have a tone that is darker than anything else he has produced before.
Beans - Thorns - This is a rapper with heart, style, good beats, and music that makes you want to move your body but not necessarily dance like you're having sex. His rhymes are thoughtful, though sometimes hard to understand. My favorite tracks include No Thrills, Sudden Death Academics, and Razor Boss.
Bob Mould - District Line - The former Husker Du and Sugar frontman returns with a solo album with no screaming - just songs of high intensity. He sounds deeply emotional but not too mellow. Some of my favorites are Stupid Now, The Silence Between Us, and Very Temporary.
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? - This is a very chill-sounding album. I thought the album title kind of ironic, because this is not what I would characterize as rock music. My favorite song of the album: A Trip Out.
Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creations Dark - Country crossed with alternative rock is not typically my thing, but this band has a unique, heartfelt sound. Listening to You and Your Crystal Meth broke my heart; That Man I Shot was another favorite.
Nada Surf - Lucky - Unremarkable overall, but more entertaining than previous music I've heard from them. Tracks worth trying: Weightless, I Like What You Say.
Vampire Weekend - Self-titled - This band has a quirky, energetic sound, but I did not feel compelled to buy much of their music. It just did not come together the way hit music does, and they did not sound especially talented. I did enjoy Oxford Comma.
Well, I suppose that is it for now. I know I had more things in mind when I started this post, but that was more than a day ago, and I've since forgotten them. Sorry. I should be posting something soon on my favorite lunch place ever, Flour Bakery & Cafe.
I guess I like to think I am that rara avis, and that you would not be able to get my viewpoint anywhere else. So I should write, because I have something unique to say. However, there are thousands, or millions, of other blogs out there, and I doubt those people would also be writing if they did not also feel they had something unique to say. So, if thousands or millions of other people also have something unique to say, well, then we are not very unique, are we? When I was younger, I wanted to write novels but was discouraged by the idea that I could not tell any stories that had not been told before. I suppose the difference in and point of writing that story now is quality - how well one writes, so that the story is better - or worse, depending on the authors, I guess.
Anyway, on to other things. I visited Texas last weekend (flew into Austin on Friday, drove to Dallas on Sunday, drove back to Austin on Monday, flew into Boston on Tuesday), and I left my heart there for safekeeping. It was a wonderful weekend (aside from one brief aberration), and I want to go back. Friday night, we went to Pluckers after the hockey game. I had fried pickles, Dr. Pepper wings, spicy barbecue wings, macaroni and cheese, and a Psychedelic Frog. It was an amazing meal. Pluckers isn't exactly good for you, but it is really delicious, and it beats any wings I have had on the east coast. If you visit Texas or Louisiana, you must visit Pluckers (http://www.pluckers.com). The variety of flavors for wings, as well as the delectable appetizers, sandwiches, and mixed drinks (my favorite being the Psychedelic Frog) make for an enjoyable meal, and the atmosphere makes it fun. The restaurant started as a freshman year business project at the University of Texas at Austin. Let's just say they got an A.
The rest of the weekend consisted of Jenny & Jason's engagement party (excited for them), the Irish Festival in Dallas (I've never seen so many people who look alike crowded into one area... I've also never seen a midget expertly dressed as a leprechaun - this guy hit the nail on the head), dinner at Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse (another Texas dining favorite), a visit with Mom, brunch at the Original Pancake House (delicious pancakes... so much better than IHOP), Marc's flag football game, and my first visit to Hooters (still love Pluckers wings more). It was so good to see my family. I feel a lot better.
We played Rock Band at Jenny & Jason's party on Saturday, and I think I'm addicted. I've even created a new playlist on my iPod just for the songs on the game (click here for a list of songs). I couldn't help but feel some pride over being able to nail songs like the Red Hot Chili Peppers's Dani California and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs's Maps as I felt my rockstar tendencies satisfied for the first time. I would love to be a musician, make awesome music, and watch people react to it positively. I can't imagine how it feels for a band to perform live. I need to buy Rock Band and make friends who like to play it.
I also created some other new playlists on my iPod. I revisited my days in Dallas and downloaded a bunch of radio hits from the Edge (http://www.kdge.com) and sought out new music I saw featured in Spin Magazine (http://www.spin.com) and Starbucks (http://www.starbucks.com, http://www.hearmusic.com). The results of this search for new music were mixed, but I'll share some of my favorites:
Jack Johnson - Sleep Through The Static - The entire album is good. It still has the surfer feel that Jack Johnson always has, but the lyrics have a tone that is darker than anything else he has produced before.
Beans - Thorns - This is a rapper with heart, style, good beats, and music that makes you want to move your body but not necessarily dance like you're having sex. His rhymes are thoughtful, though sometimes hard to understand. My favorite tracks include No Thrills, Sudden Death Academics, and Razor Boss.
Bob Mould - District Line - The former Husker Du and Sugar frontman returns with a solo album with no screaming - just songs of high intensity. He sounds deeply emotional but not too mellow. Some of my favorites are Stupid Now, The Silence Between Us, and Very Temporary.
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? - This is a very chill-sounding album. I thought the album title kind of ironic, because this is not what I would characterize as rock music. My favorite song of the album: A Trip Out.
Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creations Dark - Country crossed with alternative rock is not typically my thing, but this band has a unique, heartfelt sound. Listening to You and Your Crystal Meth broke my heart; That Man I Shot was another favorite.
Nada Surf - Lucky - Unremarkable overall, but more entertaining than previous music I've heard from them. Tracks worth trying: Weightless, I Like What You Say.
Vampire Weekend - Self-titled - This band has a quirky, energetic sound, but I did not feel compelled to buy much of their music. It just did not come together the way hit music does, and they did not sound especially talented. I did enjoy Oxford Comma.
Well, I suppose that is it for now. I know I had more things in mind when I started this post, but that was more than a day ago, and I've since forgotten them. Sorry. I should be posting something soon on my favorite lunch place ever, Flour Bakery & Cafe.
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