Sunday, August 28, 2011

"When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you"

 This weekend we had BIG plans! My sister and her boyfriend were going to join John and I for a weekend at Possum Kingdom lake. I had it all planned- golf, boating, and plenty of blog material. Unfortunately, we got a call Thursday that because the lakes are so low from our Texas drought- that we were unable to get the boat off the lift and into the lake. Bummer! So, we decided to forgo the lake-since we couldn't actually get in the water- and stay at home in Fort Worth.

Me and John
Terri and Chris











******Last weekend when we were listening to music with our friends, Katherine and Jason, they were telling us about an amazing performer who sings Frank Sinatra tunes and Rat Pack music. That is MY favorite kind of music and I instantly looked up when and where he played.  He came to Fort Worth once or twice a month and happened to be playing this weekend.********

So, when the lake plans crumpled, I knew exactly what our back up plan would be. So, last night we headed to downtown Fort Worth for some fun. First stop, Mi Cocina- a tasty Mexican delight. Next and final stop, Scat lounge.



Scat is an underground jazz bar that has live music nightly. It is tucked away in an alley and you take an elevator down to get to the bar. The bar takes you back to another time. There are small tables everywhere- and if you don't have a seat- you can't come in. I love this- not super packed, and easy to see the show from no matter where you sit. Their cocktail list is a mile long where mixed drinks and martinis are a must.

One of these things is not like the other...guess which is mine?


And then there was Ricki. My heart went pitter, patter when he and the band hit the stage and brought back the music of old. Ricki Derek is a great performer who not only sings, but is very entertaining between songs. The Vegas 6- the band he performed with- gave me more appreciation for the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and bass. This is a group to see if you love this music.

Ricki Derek


And the people watching, oh the people watching. How do I always end up places where the people watching is such fun. Bonus! There were old and young, good and bad, over served and, well- over served.

All in all- this was a night that will repeat itself! I am his #1 fan and look forward to being a groupie! Thanks Ricki Derek for a great night and fabulous music!




Saturday, August 20, 2011

My thoughts on the barcode....

" God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy"

- Billy Currington

I couldn't have said it better myself!







What's in a Barcode



Last night John and I met our friends Katherine and Jason out for dinner and music in Grapevine, Texas. Since they live in Dallas and we live in Fort Worth, we thought this would be a great place to meet. There are tons of restaurants and great places for live music. We started at a little restaurant called, Into the Glass. There are about 10 little tables in the place and serve amazing food. Katherine and I each had a pork tenderloin salad and the guys had french dip and chicken and waffles. We had some nice wine and I thought the atmosphere was great. The only complaint was the price. We got the check and nearly choked- it was price of a fine dining restaurant- without the white table cloth.



Next up, we wanted to try a bar that we had never been that has live music. We went to Willhoites. This place was packed and the band was awesome. They had a great mix of cover songs that we could all sing or dance along to. And the people watching! Wow!






We sat next to a gentleman with a barcode tatoo on his head. I had to get a picture of this! I asked him if I could- he was happy to oblige.




Well, we HAD to know what the barcode was----get this, it was of his favorite beer. Ha! I thought a beer blog was dedication- nope- that's nothing. His commitment to his favorite beer is inked on him forever. And what might that beer be..... Corona. (Must say- was hoping it might be a domestic beer of some sorts or something with a little pizzazz).




So, all in all, a great night with friends, food, music, and cold beer. Well, that and the barcode!

Friday, August 19, 2011

I knew it, I knew it!!!

"Don’t be afraid to knock back a cold one. Beer actually has a number of surprising health benefits.

Despite beer’s bad reputation, it contains numerous natural antioxidants and vitamins that can help prevent heart disease and rebuild muscle. It also has one of the highest energy contents of any food or drink. Of course, this means you need to set limits: one beer gets you going, four makes you fat.

For those concerned about dehydration, keep in mind that beer is 93 percent water. According to a Spanish study, beer may actually provide better hydration than H2O alone when you’re sweating under the sun.

Dark beers tend to have the most antioxidants, which help reverse cellular damage that occurs naturally in the body. A recent study has also found that dark beer has higher iron content, which is essential for producing red blood cells as well as for muscle and brain function.

Another thing to keep in mind is that microbrews are typically healthier than mass-produced cans, because they have more hops. Hops contain polyphenols, which help lower cholesterol, fight cancer and kill viruses."

-Dr. Manny

Guess we don't have to feel guilty about having a beer this weekend! I will drink to that!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun


Meredith, Katie, Lee-Taylor, Me, Terri


My friend and co-worker Meredith just moved back to Texas from Kansas and had never had a proper night on the town in Fort Worth. So, Katie, Lee-Taylor, my sister Terri, and I decided to plan one to remember.

We started at La Familia for dinner- the best Mexican in Fort Worth. The place was hopping- they have expanded the restaurant and have an awesome ice bar. We had a 30 minute wait that was well worth it. I ordered a Bud Light and got out the thermometer.  ( I love that my friends take the thermometer so seriously- it is a very important tool for my blog.) I was SHOCKED! The beer was some of the coldest I may have EVER had. It was 28.9 degrees!!! That was the coldest beer of the night and quite delish. Now- 2 great reasons to go to La Familia- great mexican and cold beer.

COLDEST BEER EVER!!!
 

From there we headed next door to the "M" Lounge. This place was dark and smoky so we only stayed there for one drink- plus the service was lacking.  And trust me, the way we were bar hopping one drink was plenty at each stop!

 Next on the list was the Durty Crow. This bar is about a year old and I really like it. It is totally open with concrete floors and large barrels act as tables. They have a pool table as well as some some video games for the guys and a few T.V.s for game day. I really like this bar a lot- it is a little smoky too and the beer is not the coldest- but a super fun atmosphere.

The gang at Durty Crow


Our last stop in the 7th street area was a staple to Fort Worth and has been around forever! Freds! This place is a greasy spoon with huge burgers and cold schooners. They pride themselves on serving "Cold Ass Beer". However, as we learned that evening- the coldest beer was at the most unexpected place. The beer was OK at 35.2 degrees. But, the atmosphere and people watching totally make up for that.  This place is one of a kind!







 Outside Fred's





 Beer Temperature at Fred's









Overall- it was a great night on the town. After all, girls just wanna have fun- and fun we did have!







Saturday, August 13, 2011

Wine, it does a body good!



There have been many reports through the years discussing the health benefits of wine. I am always looking to be as healthy as possible- so when John and I decided to plan a trip this summer out of the Texas heat San Francisco kept popping up in our discussions. I had never been there, we love walking cities, 60 degrees sounded like a slice of heaven, and the wine country was a hop away. Sold! We packed our bags at the end of July whisked ourselves away for the weekend. It was a fabulous weekend. We started our adventure in Sonoma- heck- what better place to start. And I traded my Bud Light in for a nice glass of Chardonnay, Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel....we tasted them ALL!  And it was such a great time.




We traveled all around the town of Sonoma as well as went to the Russian River area. The Russian River area has lots of Pinot Noirs which are some of my favorites and the views there were amazing! We had a great driver who was born and raised in Napa and did a great job getting us to the best of the best. Some of those included were:

  • Merry Edwards
  • Arrowood
  • Hartford Family
  • Little Family
  • Gary Ferrell


We stayed right on the square in downtown Sonoma and got to enjoy the evening weather after a fun filled day of tasting.



From there, we headed to the city and began our tour. I love, love walking cities- I think one day we clocked about 15 miles. And with that weather- amazing!

San Francisco was a total win. Overall- a super healthy weekend where walking and drinking wine were a priority. I should try this at home....