We spent close to 12 hours in Westport Saturday, and I must say it was a lovely time.
11:30am: Lunch at one80 with a good friend/archivist.
12:45pm: Movie at Tivoli (Some Like It Hot). They are doing a "Movie and a Meal" promotion for the next three weeks - go see a matinee of Casablanca, Duck Soup, or Breakfast at Tiffany's, then take a coupon to just about any Westport eatery and enjoy a discount meal before or after the show.
2:30pm: Hot, caffeine-abundant drink at Broadway Café.
2:50pm: Antiques store stop with aforementioned friend/archivist and his friend. He bought some more crap to archive; she bought a Luke Perry 90210 doll. Both left happy.
3:45pm: Stopped by the high-end kitchen store just north of the Riot Room to get ideas for our remodel that should take place any decade now, but we had to window shop because the place closed at 3pm.
4:00pm: Went to a very busy World Market to buy various snacks and miscellany for the family holiday visit.
4:40pm: Went to the Foundry, met up with good friends to have food, drinks, and candy.
7:30pm: Started drinking.
Sometime around 8pm: First group of good friends dispersed for the evening, but second group began to form at the tables directly behind us.
Sometime around 9:30pm: I had consumed enough Winter Warmers to start talking a little too loud and a little too much. Who cares; I was happy.
10:30pm: Went home.
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Drinking For the Cycle
For the uninitiated, “hitting for the cycle” in baseball involves a batter recording a single, double, triple, and home run in one game. It’s fairly rare; there have been 43 cycles in the nearly ten full seasons starting in 2000.
That’s roughly once every 546 games.
I’ve never really thought much of the accomplishment, to be honest. I think it’s because it’s more of a statistical anomaly than any real measure of skill. Sure, George Brett’s hit for the cycle, but so has Neifi Perez.
The closest I’ve ever come to witnessing one in person was in September of 1999. I was doing a ballpark tour, and I made sure to catch Detroit’s Tiger Stadium and Milwaukee’s County Stadium as they were in their last years of existence.
(As it turned out, the Brewers played another season in County because this tragic crane collapse delayed the opening of their new park, but I digress.)
Steve Finley of the Diamondbacks had a homer, triple, and double in his first three at-bats. A few people I had been talking to started to leave in about the 6th inning, and since I was keeping score I mentioned Finley was a single away from the cycle. They thought it would be cool to witness such a feat, and since he had the three more-difficult hits out of the way it seemed fairly likely it would happen.
Instead, the game dragged on for nearly four hours as the two teams used a combined 15 pitchers (I was listening to the radio broadcast, and you should have heard Bob Uecker trashing the managers for that) and Finley didn’t get his single. Box score here, if you care.
That’s a convoluted way of getting to a much more rewarding cycle experience: the Belgian beer cycle.
Two friends and I happily completed that cycle Tuesday. One friend did not.
As the Brain Trust met at Dish Pizza in Liberty, I was again impressed with the beer selection (click on link for menu).
I realized it was time to achieve. Here’s how it went:
First AB (Absorbed Beer): Dubbel (Grimbergen)
Grimbergen Dubbel was everything a dubbel should be: rich brown color, a little caramelly-sweet, with that nice alcohol warmth at the end.
Second AB: Tripel (Westmalle Trappist)
A true trappist ale, the strength of this style is deceptive: it pours light, almost pilsner-like (the style has its roots there) and comes through with a rich, crisp flavor with that nice funky sweet finish. By this point, my body knew I was in the midst of something special.
Third AB: Quadrupel (St. Bernardus Abt 12)
It was time to power up. Seriously—this is one of the best beers you’ll ever have. Dark brown, yeasty, fruity, great syrupy mouth feel…it’s just luxurious. Do yourself a favor and pony up for a bottle of this next time you see it.
Fourth AB: Single (Caracole Amber Ale)
This was the only beer in the cycle I hadn’t tried before, but it left me quite happy. Don’t be deterred by the non-descript “Amber Ale” label. This is a lovely Belgian, rich in hops but with that distinct finish.
The cycle was complete. By my count, my slugging percentage was 2.500, but my BAC wasn’t far behind. At 6.5%, 9.7%, 10.5%, and 8.0% respectively, Belgians do NOT play around with weak beer.
The best part? This cycle cost $15.
You read that right. All four super-premium beers for $15.
Dish has all their bottled beer on special Tuesday nights, and if you look at the list you’ll see how ridiculous the prices are.
Their pizza’s quite good as well, whether you go deep dish or thin crust.
So, if you happen to be in the NE corner of the metro, stop by Dish and have a beer and some pizza. No, they don’t have individual stemware from each brewery, but they have the beer.
And that’s what's important.
That’s roughly once every 546 games.
I’ve never really thought much of the accomplishment, to be honest. I think it’s because it’s more of a statistical anomaly than any real measure of skill. Sure, George Brett’s hit for the cycle, but so has Neifi Perez.
The closest I’ve ever come to witnessing one in person was in September of 1999. I was doing a ballpark tour, and I made sure to catch Detroit’s Tiger Stadium and Milwaukee’s County Stadium as they were in their last years of existence.
(As it turned out, the Brewers played another season in County because this tragic crane collapse delayed the opening of their new park, but I digress.)
Steve Finley of the Diamondbacks had a homer, triple, and double in his first three at-bats. A few people I had been talking to started to leave in about the 6th inning, and since I was keeping score I mentioned Finley was a single away from the cycle. They thought it would be cool to witness such a feat, and since he had the three more-difficult hits out of the way it seemed fairly likely it would happen.
Instead, the game dragged on for nearly four hours as the two teams used a combined 15 pitchers (I was listening to the radio broadcast, and you should have heard Bob Uecker trashing the managers for that) and Finley didn’t get his single. Box score here, if you care.
That’s a convoluted way of getting to a much more rewarding cycle experience: the Belgian beer cycle.
Two friends and I happily completed that cycle Tuesday. One friend did not.
As the Brain Trust met at Dish Pizza in Liberty, I was again impressed with the beer selection (click on link for menu).
I realized it was time to achieve. Here’s how it went:
First AB (Absorbed Beer): Dubbel (Grimbergen)
Grimbergen Dubbel was everything a dubbel should be: rich brown color, a little caramelly-sweet, with that nice alcohol warmth at the end.
Second AB: Tripel (Westmalle Trappist)
A true trappist ale, the strength of this style is deceptive: it pours light, almost pilsner-like (the style has its roots there) and comes through with a rich, crisp flavor with that nice funky sweet finish. By this point, my body knew I was in the midst of something special.
Third AB: Quadrupel (St. Bernardus Abt 12)
It was time to power up. Seriously—this is one of the best beers you’ll ever have. Dark brown, yeasty, fruity, great syrupy mouth feel…it’s just luxurious. Do yourself a favor and pony up for a bottle of this next time you see it.
Fourth AB: Single (Caracole Amber Ale)
This was the only beer in the cycle I hadn’t tried before, but it left me quite happy. Don’t be deterred by the non-descript “Amber Ale” label. This is a lovely Belgian, rich in hops but with that distinct finish.
The cycle was complete. By my count, my slugging percentage was 2.500, but my BAC wasn’t far behind. At 6.5%, 9.7%, 10.5%, and 8.0% respectively, Belgians do NOT play around with weak beer.
The best part? This cycle cost $15.
You read that right. All four super-premium beers for $15.
Dish has all their bottled beer on special Tuesday nights, and if you look at the list you’ll see how ridiculous the prices are.
Their pizza’s quite good as well, whether you go deep dish or thin crust.
So, if you happen to be in the NE corner of the metro, stop by Dish and have a beer and some pizza. No, they don’t have individual stemware from each brewery, but they have the beer.
And that’s what's important.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Recap
What’s been happening:
-Two weekends ago we got to visit our friends Corey and Mo in Chicago. We had a fantastic time, saw the current incarnation of The Union, and enjoyed a beautiful Chicago day on Saturday.
Some recommendations: go to Hot Doug’s (featured yesterday on CBS Sunday Morning) for some yummy encased meats. Choose whatever you want, but make sure you also get a corn dog. On Friday and Saturday, they offer French Fries fried in duck fat. Also, unless you have some time on your hands, don’t bother showing up between 11am and 2pm. It’s a popular place.
Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is delicious, and it goes great with sketch comedy at a BYOB theater. The beer selection in Chicago puts ours in KC to shame, as their geography puts them in the distribution networks of all the East and West Coast breweries.
Speaking of, try the Hopleaf on Clark to satisfy your beer geekery needs. They focus on Belgian styles, but their beer menu is a 16-page pamphlet of all things hoppy, malty, and happy. From Dogfish Head to Urthel, any beer lover will find plenty to like there.
We had outstanding Indian food at Viceroy. Located on Devon Street, which is packed with Indian businesses, Viceroy served up some delightful cuisine. We sampled over a dozen things among us and we liked them all.
And go to Millennium Park. Just go.
-This weekend, we remodeled our bathroom. It’s amazing what a couple hundred bucks in paint, flooring, and lighting can do to a room. Now that the house is exactly as we want it, it’s time to sell it. From what I understand, that’s the way it always is.
-The Red X wine tasting never fails to satisfy. We attended with our friends Alan and Amy (it was Amy’s first time) and had a great time. And Stone Canyon Pizza does a really good job.
-We ate at Blue Koi last night with a group of friends and had a great time catching up. Try their current special—“Spicy Buns”. You’ll feel dirty ordering them and happy eating them.
-Wyoming. I went there last week (no ex-girlfriend sightings); I'll be there once a month through September. *sigh*
-Two weekends ago we got to visit our friends Corey and Mo in Chicago. We had a fantastic time, saw the current incarnation of The Union, and enjoyed a beautiful Chicago day on Saturday.
Some recommendations: go to Hot Doug’s (featured yesterday on CBS Sunday Morning) for some yummy encased meats. Choose whatever you want, but make sure you also get a corn dog. On Friday and Saturday, they offer French Fries fried in duck fat. Also, unless you have some time on your hands, don’t bother showing up between 11am and 2pm. It’s a popular place.
Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is delicious, and it goes great with sketch comedy at a BYOB theater. The beer selection in Chicago puts ours in KC to shame, as their geography puts them in the distribution networks of all the East and West Coast breweries.
Speaking of, try the Hopleaf on Clark to satisfy your beer geekery needs. They focus on Belgian styles, but their beer menu is a 16-page pamphlet of all things hoppy, malty, and happy. From Dogfish Head to Urthel, any beer lover will find plenty to like there.
We had outstanding Indian food at Viceroy. Located on Devon Street, which is packed with Indian businesses, Viceroy served up some delightful cuisine. We sampled over a dozen things among us and we liked them all.
And go to Millennium Park. Just go.
-This weekend, we remodeled our bathroom. It’s amazing what a couple hundred bucks in paint, flooring, and lighting can do to a room. Now that the house is exactly as we want it, it’s time to sell it. From what I understand, that’s the way it always is.
-The Red X wine tasting never fails to satisfy. We attended with our friends Alan and Amy (it was Amy’s first time) and had a great time. And Stone Canyon Pizza does a really good job.
-We ate at Blue Koi last night with a group of friends and had a great time catching up. Try their current special—“Spicy Buns”. You’ll feel dirty ordering them and happy eating them.
-Wyoming. I went there last week (no ex-girlfriend sightings); I'll be there once a month through September. *sigh*
Friday, March 27, 2009
LeBron Rittmaster
This video reminds me of the show we did in the Windsor, Missouri high school gym years ago.
Two notable things happened at that show:
1. During our last game, when soliticing a suggestion, a high school kid sitting in the bleachers yelled, "SUCK A DICK!" When everyone turned and glared at him, he said, "I'm outta here!", and ran across the gym floor and out the door. "Suck a dick, I'm outta here" has since become a catch phrase that has persevered among our circle of friends.
2. As the crowd started heading home, some of the kids stayed and shot some baskets. Corey took the ball and heaved it from beyond half-court. As soon as he released it, he turned, walked away, and announced, "It's good."
Swish.
The kids thought he was God. We kinda did too.
Two notable things happened at that show:
1. During our last game, when soliticing a suggestion, a high school kid sitting in the bleachers yelled, "SUCK A DICK!" When everyone turned and glared at him, he said, "I'm outta here!", and ran across the gym floor and out the door. "Suck a dick, I'm outta here" has since become a catch phrase that has persevered among our circle of friends.
2. As the crowd started heading home, some of the kids stayed and shot some baskets. Corey took the ball and heaved it from beyond half-court. As soon as he released it, he turned, walked away, and announced, "It's good."
Swish.
The kids thought he was God. We kinda did too.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Throwback
I did some stuff last night that I haven’t done in quite some time.
1. I drank mass-produced beer at a bar. I honestly can’t remember the last time I ordered a Bud Light. Why would someone who vigilantly tries to convert the macro-drinking masses do such a thing? Well, I looked at the taps and the best thing there was a Boulevard Wheat. I hate to say it, but I think I’ve bombarded my palate with enough imperial stouts and quadrupels that a Wheat may as well be a Bud Light. Factor in a price that was almost double (the Bud Light was on special), and I went with the macro.
What struck me was the weakness of the Bud Light. Not just the flavor—I had three 25oz. mugs and felt only the vaguest of buzzes. I mean, that’s a hair over a six-pack! I guess I’ve spent too much time at the Foundry getting used to those crafty Belgians and their ABVs, or having sadistic bartenders pick something out for me (yeah, I’m looking at you Rachel, what with your Samichlaus malt liquor biscuit-scented-battering-ram-in-a-bottle).
2. I sat in a smoky bar. It’s true—some areas of the metro haven’t yet passed the purity law. I would guess 75% of the people in the bar area were smoking (including some d-bags with cigars), and we were the only table who didn’t have at least one person lighting up. My thoughts on the issue? I personally like to go home and not take a shower before bed. I can tell my sinuses are a little irritated this morning. You know what? It was my decision. No one put a gun to my head and made me sit in a smoky room. The libertarian in me also thinks it’s the business owner’s right to decide whether to allow smoking, and it’s the employees’ right to decide whether they want to work there, and it’s the patrons’ right to decide whether they want to spend their money there. Next time I’ll probably suggest a non-smoking venue, and that’s my right too.
3. I got to hang out with three good friends, two of whom I don’t see nearly enough, and I had a great time. I have added reminders in my calendar to make sure the gap between catching-up sessions doesn’t grow so large.
1. I drank mass-produced beer at a bar. I honestly can’t remember the last time I ordered a Bud Light. Why would someone who vigilantly tries to convert the macro-drinking masses do such a thing? Well, I looked at the taps and the best thing there was a Boulevard Wheat. I hate to say it, but I think I’ve bombarded my palate with enough imperial stouts and quadrupels that a Wheat may as well be a Bud Light. Factor in a price that was almost double (the Bud Light was on special), and I went with the macro.
What struck me was the weakness of the Bud Light. Not just the flavor—I had three 25oz. mugs and felt only the vaguest of buzzes. I mean, that’s a hair over a six-pack! I guess I’ve spent too much time at the Foundry getting used to those crafty Belgians and their ABVs, or having sadistic bartenders pick something out for me (yeah, I’m looking at you Rachel, what with your Samichlaus malt liquor biscuit-scented-battering-ram-in-a-bottle).
2. I sat in a smoky bar. It’s true—some areas of the metro haven’t yet passed the purity law. I would guess 75% of the people in the bar area were smoking (including some d-bags with cigars), and we were the only table who didn’t have at least one person lighting up. My thoughts on the issue? I personally like to go home and not take a shower before bed. I can tell my sinuses are a little irritated this morning. You know what? It was my decision. No one put a gun to my head and made me sit in a smoky room. The libertarian in me also thinks it’s the business owner’s right to decide whether to allow smoking, and it’s the employees’ right to decide whether they want to work there, and it’s the patrons’ right to decide whether they want to spend their money there. Next time I’ll probably suggest a non-smoking venue, and that’s my right too.
3. I got to hang out with three good friends, two of whom I don’t see nearly enough, and I had a great time. I have added reminders in my calendar to make sure the gap between catching-up sessions doesn’t grow so large.
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