Hello friends!
I was going to make a post about last weekend’s Forecastle festival and prepared by taking photos and videos and notes in my new iPhone but my phone was stolen. So sadly, I have given up that post. Maybe I will revisit it when my memories are not tainted with thievery. Until then, I am looking for your input! I have been gathering things to listen, taste and see (get it!) in Louisville and the surrounding area since moving here and want to know what is a ‘must’ for you in regards of places to visit, restaurants and just overall good times.
ALSO, I am going to make a more valiant effort to post more regularly and have decided to include a week of pictures. I will be taking a photograph everyday but instead of posting them EVERYday and boring the pants off you, I will save them for Monday and post what I have found photo worthy throughout the week. Some of the photos I have seen from people doing these daily picture challenges are great! So I am hopping on that bandwagon like six months later of course.
I will tide you over until next Monday with this photo I took in Asheville, NC of a cow.
As a moderately avid festival goer, Forecastle is one of my favorites for several reasons. Mainly, because it’s easy and it’s in my backyard. Its small enough to be manageable and laid out in a way that makes it convenient. It is also a reunion of sorts for me as many of my Lexington friends come to the festival. That is probably my most favorite part. There is a kinship that comes with music and being at festivals with people of like thought. It’s something that has been missing for me since moving here, so when I do get to share it with those dear to me…I’m elated! I remember looking around during The Flaming Lips performance at the 2010 Festival and thinking ‘how amazing is this?!?’ with my heart bursting. The videos of that performance still give me chills especially ones like THIS of the incredible Do You Realize?. And this year should be even better! The lineup is outrageous. Something for everyone. Although for me, I would love more bluegrass but I think I will survive.
On Friday this year, I will be in the VIP area serving up drinks benefitting The Forecastle Foundation. Come see me and learn more about the focus and work this Foundation is doing!
Somethings I am looking forward to hearing this weekend…
Abigail Washburn (she is a bad ass. She is one of my favorite sounds. oh yeah, and she is gorgeous)
My Morning Jacket (so in love with this song)
Galactic (Century City is my fave but I couldn’t find a video)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band (so Del McCoury wont be be at Forecastle…but oh snap this is my dream!! Amen.)
Neko Case (sigh)
Wilco (I love these lyrics)
Andrew Bird (I’m a new fan to Andrew Bird. A friend played this on our way back from New Orleans and I was like WHO IS THIS?)
Sleigh Bells (such a creative band! Looking forward to seeing this chick live.)
Atmosphere (my Atmosphere song)
Also, here is a link to a great article by ACE Weekly about the festival. Don’t forget sunscreen and a poncho!!!
So I was going to write a post about all the fun things I did this weekend in Chicago. Review the food, post pictures and talk about how I could easily fall in love with Chicago if it were not for the winters but what this is going to be about is the fact that seven girls thought they were going to die last night.
I am sparing the details because I am mentally exhausted thinking about it but all you need to know is: bad storms. circling Louisville. need more gas. flying through terrible storms. screaming. puking. crying. luggage flying from overhead compartments. stewardess freaking out. land in Indianapolis. drive back to Louisville. life spared.
Have you ever seen a movie where a plane crashes and it shows the passengers before it goes down? Some people flip out and lose their mind while others pray silently and you wonder ‘How would I act? What would I do?’ I am here to tell you that what is shown in the movies/tv is as close to real life as it gets. Some get mad and yell, some cry out, some zone out and detach (ummm… this would be me) and some actually try to get out of their seats in panic. I don’t know how close to crashing we came in all reality but I know that we all thought for over an hour that an ugly, horrible death was near. And what I know for sure right now is that I can’t imagine a better group of people to go through that experience with. Everyone of us reacted differently, had our own thoughts but we all stepped up, took care of the ones that needed it, held hands, hugged and had our wits about us. And when we did not, someone was there to reel us back in. I love these girls and it gave me comfort to know that they were with me if we did not end up walking away, that none of us were alone. I feel very blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.
* this title is a quote from the stewardess, who later lost her god forsaken mind when shit got real, to my friend Amberlee who had an emergency trip to the restroom during the first signs of turbulence.
One Sunday afternoon, on one of those hot, humid March days this spring, I dragged myself down to the Penn Station at the end of my street. This was my usual Sunday deal. Get up, make some coffee or tea, put some laundry in, love on my dog, drink coffee while watching Gilmore Girls, get starving around 12-1pm, walk to Penn Station (sometimes in my pajama bottoms), get fries and a lemonade to go (maybe a Philly cheesesteak), walk back home, eat, read, Gilmore Girls. I love my Sundays. But as I reached the storefront of Penn Station that day, my heart dropped. CLOSED. MOVED TO A MORE CONVENIENT LOCATION. Really? Convenient to who? I stood there, staring at the sign for awhile, took a picture of it with my phone and posted my sadness on the Twitters and Facepage.
Then about a month later…hope came in the form of a Coming Soon sign. Tom + Chee it read. Tom + Chee? After researching, I found out this restaurant combines Tomato soup (Tom) and Grilled Cheese (Chee), but with some twists and this would be the business’ fourth location. The other three in Cincinnati and Northern KY are booming. I began counting down the days until my Sunday ritual was back on track. I love grilled cheese and I love tomato soup, this was going to be amazing! The first Sunday it was open, there I was. I took my time scanning the menu (it is extensive and very unique), carefully making the best choice for me. Fancy Grilled Cheese, Make Your Own, Grilled Cheese + Potato Chips (potato chips ON the sandwich), Salads, Soups and finally…Grilled Cheese Donut. Cheddar cheese (you may sub another cheese) on a glazed donut. This is their signature sandwich. The Today Show named it one of the best sandwiches in America. No joke.
I didn’t want to make my own, I wanted something Tom +Chee created but not yet brave enough for the Donut Cheese. After what must have seemed like an eternity for the staff, I chose the Spicy Beef from the Grilled Cheese + Chips section and a cup of the Chucky Tomato Basil soup. I sat down at a table and waited and waited and waited some more. I was one of three people in there. I counted 11 Tom + Chee staff and I waited 25 minutes. I believe this is normal for a new restaurant and by the second time I went, they had worked this kink out. When I did get my order, my first impressions was: the sandwich looked small and the cup o soup even smaller. My heart sank. After finishing my impression was: I want more. The Spicy Beef has jalapeno chips+roastbeef+hot peppers+pepperjack cheese+cheddar on sourdough bread and was for sure spicy but not in an outrageous way. The Chunky Tomato Basil soup was sweet and savory with large chunks of tomatoes. The food was delicious albeit a little on the pricey side. I have been back twice since then and every time it gets better. The staff, although seemingly always overstaffed, is friendly and patient. One thing missing: fresh cut fries with malt vinegar and employees who always knew my order and smiled at my pajama pants. I enjoy you Tom + Chee but I still miss Penn Station.
The Tom + Chee menu board
Read this article about The Today Show’s choices for 7 Best Sandwiches including the Grilled Cheese Donut!
Listen Taste and See 