My #1 amigo and I decided to treat ourselves to dinner this past weekend.  One of our favorite past times, besides the actual action of stuffing our faces, is to try new restaurants!  Considering that we moved merely a month ago, we have been encountering mucho food in suburbialand….

Friday, we decided to try Zed’s.  The outside is beautiful and surrounded by water – reminding me of a Wright building, and it’s a peaceful place to walk into.  The interior is a nice combination of Houston’s and The Macaroni Grill.  There is a fabulous (full) bar excluded from the restaurant with giant televisions for the sports fans.  There is a heated patio and small (lap) dogs are welcome! 

We started out with the Baby Bellas (8.5), baby portabella mushrooms stuffed with herbs and goat cheese served over baby spinach with a warm tomato vinaigrette.  In my opinion, there was too much spinach.  I would have been much happier with a light bed of arugula!  Other than that one complaint, the mushrooms were properly cleaned and grit-free and the goat cheese was perfectly tangy and creamy.  For dinner I had the vegetarian pasta (12), a gemelli pasta with diced winter vegetables in a light lemon butter sauce.  IT WAS DELICIOUS!  Amigo had the Big Pig Pork Sandwich (14) - smoked and pulled pork drenched in Shiner bbq sauce, topped with a vinegar slaw, and served on a hoagie bun with a choice of two sides.  My pal ordered french fries (perfect) and……..I forget what else.  The portions were large enough to create two meals from the one I ordered – munchies!

There is a lunch and dinner menu, and soon they will add a brunch menu.  They just hired a pastry chef, so watch for them to revamp their current seriously lackluster dessert menu.  They have live music on the weekends and may eventually expand the stage hours. 

It’s a privately owned restaurant with the well-oiled staff of a large corporation – GOOD JOB, Zed’s!!

…..now, if I could only do soemthing about the name…..

Ugh, where to start. Wednesday, St Patty’s Day, ( I don’t have a lick of Irish in me, but they do make fabulous whiskey) was a night thing because I had to work all day. After work I went downtown and drank my face off by myself, well, not by myself – with the other 120,000 people there (and the verizon network). I was rollin solo and decided to fake an English accent in order to get free drinks. Guess what, it worked! I weaseled my way into someone’s audio interview and then decided to head home, work @ 7am on Thursday was quite painful.

Thursday – I got off work at 3:30 and hung out with my homegirls (i love you guys). They drink whiskey, we are the hot mess express. That night I saw The Gary, GLITTERBILLIES, The XX, The Great Nostalgic, and a Memphis Rap showcase – including Lord T and Eloise…who I fucking adore! I got some heart to heart in with my girl LA Cameron and that was precious. Ate dinner that night at a sandwich trailer. I love trailers.

Friday – Baby Robots played at the Leisure Tourniquet Equinox Mish Mash day show…my girl Henna scored me free pair of Keen shoes and I drank waaaaay too much beer. Mind you, it was only 2pm. Went home to welcome my parents. They came in because Friday night I sang with the legendary ST 37, who played with Houston’s Rusted Shut and Future Blondes, and Japan’s Acid Mothers Temple. I think all of my friends were there, it was insane. (Ella – where the hell were you?) I was positively hammered, but kept my shit together to get work done!

Saturday – I got a very very late start, 8:30pm. I drove to my friend’s record store, Trailer Space, and left car there and hoofed it downtown. It was cold as fuck, but a beautiful night none-the-less. Got downtown about 10, gave Wendy some warm clothes, and then headed to the “bounce” showcase at Submerged. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, “Bounce” is a new, to me, genre of music out of New Orleans that is African American transvestite rappers. (You know – like those ST 37 old fuckers that have been playing since ’87, but people are just figuring it out) And holy hell, Katey Red was HOT! Also saw Bowling for Soup – I am so not into them, but they did an improv audience karaoke deal at the end of their show that was super fun. And, they have fun and they are pros, so I respect their craft. Katie (not sure about this first name) Flay was rad. Solo act. And now…I’m tired. My honey couldn’t remember where he parked (this is not the first time, mind you) so we walked around the parking garage for far too long. However, I had some stickers on hand so I decided to decorate some cars. So, if you were rollin in a BMW station wagon this weekend…and you find a “Defend New Orleans” sticker on your car. Yes, that was me, and yes, you are welcome!

Oh wait – I forgot to mention that there were two people FUCKING on stage at the trannie show, they got kicked out…and I got a fabulous story. I did not see cuz I’m so god damned short, but…still. Food, eh…I was infatuated with the empanada trailer earlier in the week, but to be honest – after all the recreational indulgence I encountered over the past 6 days…not all that interested! SXSW, you have done me right yet again. I’m getting too old for this shit.

Who sucked: (bands not to waste your cheese on) – She and Him, he who is talented and she who needs to stick with her day job.  Broken Bells – er, boring combo.  Hey Dangermouse, you lucked out with Gnarls Barkley – don’t push your luck, pal.  The XX – heard it about five years ago, it’s called My Morning Jacket.  Surfer Blood – rich Florida parents = even if you suck you can still be famous…sigh.  Cymbals Eat Guitars – Hey Joe, you ripped off my friend Matt and he plays in my garage for free.

That being said, I still wasted my time watching all these assholes…and I plan to do it again next year!

For real, guys. Today it was drizzling, dark and cloudy on my way home from work. I turned on the radio for the weather forecast, and low and behold, there were like 20 accidents in town…Ok, so, Texans (along w/ women, asians, and drunks) are known for our inability to drive…so how come, whenever the weather gets shitty out, we still feel the urge to one up each other?  Come on kids…catch a fuckin drift!

Thank you, and good night.

GBJ

I worked very hard yesterday. I needed something to write about so I decided to get my lazy ass off the couch and hit the pavement.
If you happen to be headed to the ATX for some SXSW fun, these two precious locations should be high on your TDL. (to do list, duh)
The afternoon started off at Nomad. The Nomad won the Austin Chronicles “Best of”…poll, for the best neighborhood/dive bar. While it is indeed a neighborhood bar, it’s a far cry from a dive. (i cant find the link icon, but you can find them at, www.nomadbar.com). Anywhoo, they have a catered brunch every Sunday from 11a-2p. There is no kitchen at the bar, so the brunch is catered by a company called The Traveling Bistro. The brunch menu changes weekly and is a phenomenal accompaniment to the $10 bottomless mimosas! They also host a full bar, but the mimosas are where it’s at. The buffet costs $13 for an all you can eat. On the menu this week was banana nut belgium waffles, hash browns w/ cheese, quiche, sausage links, biscuits w/ sausage gravy, fresh fruit with mascarpone cheese, a cesar salad, and an assortment of pastries. Whew. We stayed for about an hour and a half. After several trips to the bar for a mimosa refill, and a full belly, we decided it was time to continue our day.

Next, we headed to The Blanton. The latest art museum on The University of Texas campus. The current showing is”The Birth of the Cool”.  A show dedicated to music, art, design and culture of the Californian mid-century modern era. There were listening stations where Miles Davis and Ray Charles piped through personal headphones, original pieces of modern art, and a collection of Eames furniture and photographs. It was delightful.

The best part of the museum?  The mimosas I had at Nomad! 

Come to Austin.  Don’t move here…just visit!

GBJ

SXSW
Thursday March 19th
11 noon – 12:30 pm Carpark Records
Adventure
Ear Pwr
Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez
1 to 5pm SC Distribution
1pm – We Were Promised Jetpacks (FatCat Records/ Glasgow)
2pm – DM Stith (Asthmatic Kitty)
3pm – Desolation Wilderness (K Records)
4pm – Odawas (Jagjaguwar)
5pm – Maserati (Temporary Residence Ltd.)

Friday March 20th
1pm – Eat Skull (Siltbreeze)
2pm – Crystal Stilts (Slumberland)
3pm – Gary War (shdwply records)
4pm – Cursive (Saddle Creek)
5pm – Homosexuals (UK)

Saturday March 21th
11am – It’s Casual (Southern Lord)
12noon – Eagle Twin (Southern Lord)
1pm – Donkeys (Dead Oceans)
2pm – Renderers (New Zealand)
3pm – Tiny Vipers (Sub Pop)
4-6 TBA

Sunday March 22nd
2:30pm – Powell St John (Tompkins Square)
3:00pm – Frank Fairfield (Tompkins Square)
4:00pm – Wooden Birds (Barsuk)

No questions asked, kids.  just go!

Stay tuned for regular updates and photos of the madness.  I will be posting from rehab…

When my boyfriend starts emailing me gossip stories, it’s time to get back into the game. I started a new job…(career)…a couple of months ago and it has been kicking my fucking ass! However…I will vow to post at least one amusing post a day for you guys for now on…today I am making that promise to you…just like I am going to go back to Bikram, and start eating more salad…yada yada yada…Anyways, I am feeling much more comfy w/ my job, and feel like I have the ability to post while at work again! I love the public sector!

So, let the fun continue…and thanks for being so damned patient and cutting me some much needed slack!

GBJ

Jul 4 2008 8:00P
Albuquerque, NM @ Atomic Cantina w/ Of God and Science, and Oktober People

Jul 5 2008 8:00P
Tucson, AZ @ Plush w/ El Ten Eleven, and Saint Rorschach

Jul 6 2008 7:30P
Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts w/ BACK TED N TED, CABLE CAR CRASH, & MILO (doors @ 7:30pm)

Jul 7 2008 8:00P
San Diego, CA @ the Beauty Bar

Jul 8 2008 8:00P
Los Angeles, CA Live Sunrise Film Score @ The Silent Movie Theatre (8pm)

Jul 9 2008 8:00P
San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock w/ Ad Hawk

Jul 10 2008 8:00P
Arcata, CA @ Jambalaya

Jul 11 2008 8:00P
Portland, OR @ Towne Lounge w/ Logs, and Pacific UV

Jul 12 2008 8:00P
Olympia, WA @ The Voyeur w/ A Room Called Remember, and Derek M Johnson

Jul 13 2008 8:00P
Seattle @ Funhouse EARLY SHOW 4pm Start time w. Joy Wants Eternity, and You.May.Die.In.The.Desert

Jul 15 2008 8:00P
Missoula, MT @ The Palace

Jul 16 2008 8:00P
Denver, CO @ Old Curtis

Jul 17 2008 8:00P
Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge w/ This Alibi, and Lethe

Jul 18 2008 9:00P
OKC @ the Conservatory w/ Traindodge

Jul 19 2008 3:00P
Good Records – instore (3pm)

Jul 19 2008 9:00P
Denton, TX @ Hailey’s w/ Zanzibar Snails

Visit their MySpace page for a sample of what you could hear if you are lucky and they come to a town near you!

Many Birthdays, Baby Robots, The Diagonals, and BASIC!

Do yourself a favor and buy all of the CDs! All of them, assholes…every single one of them…at least The Diagonals!