Record Store Day @ Vintage Vinyl

I'm not really crazy about crowds, so you'd think I'd avoid events like Record Store Day (Featuring FREE SCHLAFLEY BEER), but I do like music. Papa Ray was a good host.

Via Audio @ Cicero's

Jukebox the Ghost @ Cicero's

Allison Funk at the Regional Arts Commission

Julie & I raced over to the RAC after work Friday and made it just as Allison started to read. This book sounds great.

A Delicious Dinner of Appetizers @ Riddle's Penultimate

When were feeling decadent, Julie & head to Riddle's in the Loop. Usually nothing can distract JD from their Cajun Cavatelli, but last week we decided we wanted a selection of little plates. The descriptions are straight from Riddle's ever-changing menu.



Shrimp Cocktail – Big wild, Gulf Shrimps served with the traditional American tomato cocktail sauce, this one made with fresh Southern Illinois Horseradish ground fresh for us at Rothman’s Deli, 4720 Delmar.



Smoked Copper River Salmon - This is not lazy slacker farm-raised Salmon. No. This is beautiful, wild, swim-for-your-life Salmon harvested sustainably from the cold,
clean waters of the Copper River in Alaska, smoked in our own kitchen, and served chilled, with pumpernickel toast points, capers, onions, and cucumber.

Crostini Harrisburg - Crostini (“little toast” in Italy) made with crusty, just- baked Breadsmith Baguette spread with Fresh Herb-enhanced Chèvre-style Goat Cheese from Harrisburg, Missouri and an excellent Italian Sun-Dried Tomato on top.



Crab Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms - Crab is the operative word here, held together only with Homemade Cornbread Stuffing and a prayer, these are like little Crab Cakes stuffed into the ‘Choke Bottoms.

Crawfish Stuffed Mushroom Caps - Large caps piled high with a rich stuffing of Crawfish Newburg, spiked with dry sherry and a good shot of cayenne pepper.

Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushroom Caps - Big caps stuffed with a mixture of Blue Cheese and quite a good shot of Avery Island, Louisiana Tabasco Sauce.

I'd tell you more about how good these were, but I've made myself hungry. I think it's time for breakfast.

Adrian Matejka at the RAC

After a warm introduction from Michael Nye, Adrian Matejka read from his new book, "Mixology."





Marley, a younger guest, assisted with the last piece Mr. Matejka read.

Friday Night @ the Holga Polka

This was insane. The Regional Arts Commission gallery was wide open and full to bursting. I'll have to go back again to actually get to see any of the art.







To celebrate the little plastic camera highlighted by the exhibit, I took all my pictures with my cell phone - what I've been calling my Helga, the electronic Holga.

Ben Folds at The Pagent

Good piano-stompin' fun.
Yes, we sat so we could watch the keyboard.

Movie Night in the Loop

Okay, time to take a break from vacation pics and get caught up with what we've been doing since we got home...

Have you seen Chris & Don: A Love Story? Have you heard of it? I don't know how widely it's been released. I stumbled across its listing at the Tivoli website, and Julie & I decided we had to go. I have a documentary weakness. Anyway, we enjoyed it.



I don't know who left it there, but there's something right about leaving a Confederacy of Dunces next to the Gone with the Wind dolls. (For the record: no I never did finish reading GWTW, and I refuse to waste my time with the movie.)


Julie assures me popcorn & beer are a great combination.