Missing a Trend

When it comes to trends, I usually like to just keep up just enough to stay relevant. I read a lot of blogs and online opinions, so I like to think that I know what's "in," but I don't always indulge and follow the trend. This summer it became clear that Birkenstocks and ugly sandals in general were definitely in. I had every intention of following the trend and speculated for months over which pair I should get. Black, white, rose gold? The possibilities were endless.

 

Clearly, I have waited too long to hop on this trend as all of the colors that I want are sold out in my size and fall is nearly upon us, which isn't really sandal weather. Then upon further research, I realized that I'm extremely behind the trend as Vogue said that Birkenstocks were popular last year. What a complete let down! What trends should I hop on next?

Dave Chappelle and Hartford

I'm a standup comedy nerd, so I got a kick out of this one.

A year ago, a friend of mine...we'll call him Trayne...went to see Dave Chappelle in his doomed headliner slot at the Funny or Die Oddball Comedy Fest tour stop in Hartford, CT. Chappelle, who's best known for his performance as Achoo in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (not really), walked out on stage and started his performance, many audience members heckled him with trademark catchphrases from Chappelle's Show, he got pissed, and sat on stage angrily for a while before finally storming off.

Angry fans blamed Chappelle, people questioned his mental health, ticket holders demanded a refund. Chappelle blamed unruly and disrespectful fans, and the population of the city of Hartford. He went on a "Fuck Hartford" tirade, and swore he'd never come back. I can't say I blame him; as "New England's Rising Star," Hartford is about the dimmest thing I've ever seen.

Fast forward 1 year, to very same tour, in the very same city. This year's lineup looked pretty ridiculous: Aziz Ansari, Louis CK, and Hannibal Burress, to name a few. As Redditor mariaavap tells it:

Every comedian killed it and Louis Ck had a great set that overall left everyone in the crowd pretty satisfied. So Louis says goodnight and everyone starts to get up. Then he turns around and adds in something like "Oh yeah. Everyone, Dave Chappelle."

The man who'd swore he'd never come back came back. He came back and he did 15 minutes of hysterical material mixed with self-reflection, apologizing, and reinforcement of his previous observation: fuck Hartford. Famous friends stood by to watch the man work. Aziz, Louis, Jim Norton, Sarah Silverman, Hannibal, Amy Shumer and some others seemed enthralled from backstage (h/t Shullmaster3000)

Hannibal and Amy, where do I get one of those jumpsuits???

You can watch a crappy cell phone video of the surprise performance below. I'm glad one of my comedy idols has rescinded his vow to keep clear of the Nutmeg State, but I would suggest his next visit be to NHV...because fuck Hartford.

Delaney's in Westville

The news that Delaney's Restaurant and Taproom has burned down is just devastating. Not only is it a great restaurant/bar in a neighborhood that doesn't have much else going on, but Delaney's is a New Haven institution. Amazing food and more beers on tap then one could possibly need.

Personally, my New Haven story started at Delaney's. When I moved to New Haven after college, I didn't have a job. I was going on interviews nearly every day and nothing was working out. After about a month, I was so broke that I realized I needed to get something. Delaney's hired me and I started working there full-time. The money was good and the clientele and my co-workers were awesome. Shift drinks were a great perk and shots of Tully after a long day were nearly mandatory. After another month I finally landed a full-time 'real' job, but decided to stay on at Delaney's. For the next year I waitressed part-time and spent a lot of time there with new friends.

I'm so sad that this place is no more, and only hope that there is some way they can rebuild. Where else can I get a chicken caesar roll-up and a craft beer?

Oysters & Beers at a Baltimore Market

I spent last weekend in the Charm City visiting a friend, an ex-New Havenite who now lives in a really fun part of town called Federal Hill. One thing I've always found fun about a city larger than my own is the open-air market; like Redding Terminal Market in Philadelphia, or the Ferry Building Market in San Francisco, or La Boqueria in Barcelona. They are cultural melting pots where you can spend an entire afternoon wandering amongst fresh produce vendors and butchers, shell out a couple bucks for some fresh, local cuisine, and share a few beers with the locals.

Baltimore has a few, including the World Famous Lexington Market, which has been around since 1782.

Historic Lexington Market

I've visited my friend in her new neighborhood a few times now, but had yet to go explore the Cross Street Market, a few doors down from her place, at Light and Cross Streets.

It was just before a pre-season Raven's game, and the place was packed.

I quickly found myself standing at an oyster bar, eating fresh-shucked Marylands and Bluepoints, drinking gigantic beers out of a 32oz. plastic cup.

I ate like 10 of these.

I met some friendly folks eager to share a laugh, and tell me all about the years they've spent pre-gaming at the market much like they were that day. Apparently, it's the place to be before a football game, and the next time I'm in town, that's where I'll be. If you're ever in the area, be sure to stop by. I really wish NHV had something like this.

Shuck yeah!

August

Did everyone see The Daily Nutmeg today? They exposed one of my favorite/best kept secrets in New Haven, August: Upscale Bar and Eatery. They have been open for a few months and are currently my favorite place to grab a drink and a small bite with friends or on a date night.

To say this place has it all is an understatement. The owners treat you like you are old friends and the decor is amazing. It's small, cozy and the perfect place to grab a glass of wine. So basically, go there now before everyone else in the Elm City takes your spot!

Here's What

Something about this week has me in a grumpy mood, which is pretty ridiculous since it's a short week for me work-wise. I'm trying to shake it off and focus on the positive, so here are a few things that I'm happy/excited about:

My Gallery Wall:

Thanks to reader comments and a little hard work on a Sunday morning, my gallery wall is finally complete. I think it turned out really good and I'm excited to add on to it as the years go on.

New Haven Road Race:

I'm not someone who loves exercise or even running races, but there's something about the New Haven Road Race that feels different. It's on a flat course through the city and is the perfect end to Labor Day weekend. Also, with all of the cool weather we've been having, training has been super easy and even somewhat enjoyable.

Black Hog Brewery Tasting Room:

 

Event alert! Black Hog Brewing Co.'s tasting room is opening on August 30! I have been a fan of everything Jason Sobocinski has done, from Caseus to Ordinary and everything in between. While I haven't had the pleasure of tasting Black Hog beer yet, I have no doubt it will be amazing.

Baltimore:

Selfishly, I'm excited to get out of the Elm City for a little bit and head down to Baltimore to see a dear friend. A short break from work and the doldrums of summer is exactly what I need!

What are you excited about in the coming weeks?

I Once Had a Comic...

...in the school newspaper, UConn's Daily Campus, while I was in college. It was called Death by Lunchbox, and it stood out because I couldn't draw, so I used my awesome Photoshop skills to collage images together into jokes, puns, and topical observations.

Here's a sampling (sorry for the poor scan quality):

This one was probably my biggest hit.

This one fell pretty flat, but I still laugh at it to this day.

George W. Bush was President at the time. This was an actual question someone asked at a press conference.

Uggs were just getting hot. The big question on everyone's mind was "should I get Uggs?"

Campbell Crawl

It's that time of year again. What time is that, you ask? Well, it's that time when I join some friends of mine in barhopping down an infamous stretch of road in West Haven, CT in what will be this particular group's 9th Annual Campbell Crawl. 

This year's shirt designed by @eikuous. Perseus is ready to get turnt.

Like any other bar crawl, a Campbell Crawl consists of a group of merrymakers idling away the hours by walking from one watering hole to the next, savoring any combination of beers and shots at each before moving on to the next. The defining feature of a Campbell Crawl, though, is that it takes place at the bars that line Campbell Avenue, the main commercial stretch in the suburban town of West Haven. This poorly-written student newspaper article, dated 2009, confirms what many of us already knew; a Campbell Crawl is a tradition amongst friends (search #campbellcrawl on instagram). Sometimes they occur for charity, sometimes they occur for no other reason than to get plastered with people we hope like us. What makes Campbell Avenue so special? According to that same article, West Haven is known for having the more bars per square foot than any other city in the United States. I found zero other sources online to back this up, so I'll just defer to the golden rule that if one guy writes something on the internet once it must be true.

The stomping ground: everywhere, USA.

This particular crawl starts at Pete's Tavern, a splendid dive tucked into a shopping center at the base of Campbell Avenue on Captain Thomas Blvd.

Last year's list.

Pete's is great because the locals are encouraging and excited for you. "You guys doing the crawl?!" We are typically asked by a nostalgic, pony-tailed, old hippy type. That we are, old man, that we are. The air at the beginning of the night is electric. Jubilation can be felt, as the crowd gathers and grows, and the first beers are downed and we're off!

Look how happy and sober everyone looks!

From there, we'll make our way up the Avenue, stopping off at any dive, tavern, pizza joint, disco, or fine dining establishment that serves alcohol. Classic, quality places like,

Z's might have a live band for you to make out to.

and the ever-popular,

You will dance at Boku. Even if you don't dance, you will dance at Boku.

Eventually, somewhere along the trail, our numbers will dwindle, our steps will stumble, and our resolve may be questioned. Then, late into the hours of the night, things will get weird.

T-Bone getting weird.

Hold on, though, because you're nearly there. Just a few more Miller Lites, and you can cruise into the finish!



When you're finally done, you climb the steps of the victory podium that is Duchess Dineraunt, and claim your runny eggs prize. Now get home safe, pass out, and sleep in tomorrow. You've deserved it.

Part diner, part restaurant. 100% Dineraunt

Gallery Walls

I started off with the best intentions. After getting married this May and receiving all of my digital images from our amazing photographer, I decided that I would get a few printed and hang them on my wall. Upon thinking about it I realized that I rarely ever get pictures printed anymore. I take billions of photos a year on vacations, with friends, and let's be serious--I mostly take pictures of my cat, and never take that extra step to actually get them printed up. Am I the only one who misses the old days of bad photos taken on disposable cameras?

So, I took the plunge and got a bunch of photos printed up. But what to hang them with? Pinterest and general research told me that a gallery wall would be so cute. It seemed easy enough, get a few frames and mash them together in a cute, haphazard shape. What I didn't realize was how ridiculous this whole project was going to be. My first mistake was in thinking that I didn't need to buy a pre-set "expensive" gallery wall from places like Pottery Barn. I don't have a crafty bone in my body so I don't know what I was thinking. Frames are expensive and getting things that would look remotely good together aren't going to happen at Goodwill (not with my patience levels at least). So here I am, about $100 in the hole and my gallery wall looks not so good.

Anybody have any ideas on how to resuscitate this project? Maybe one more frame without a mat? Help!

3 Sweaty Summer Hacks That Have Done Right by Me

Some people are truly blessed; they can walk clear across the city in the wretched New England summer heat and humidity and arrive at a business meeting looking as clean and dry as a fresh cotton ball. If you are one of these people, congratulations, go enjoy a frozen yogurt, this post is not for you. This post is for the rest of us, the people like me, who take 20 steps to the conference room down the hall and drip in like I've just finished a half-marathon. If you're a sweaty beast, you know my pain. You know what it's like to wake up on a warm, humid summer morning, sweaty, and get into the shower, only to commence sweating again once you've toweled off. If you walk to work, even worse.

"Yes, it is going to be a hot one today."

Here's a couple tricks I've learned over the years to get some relief over the course of the long, hot summer.

1. Freezer Burn Baby Burn

Morning routines are tough to alter. It's just by the grace of God that I can get up, clean, and out of the apartment having remembered my pants. However, once June hits, I make it a habit to pick out my outfit before getting into the shower, and then stuffing it into the freezer on my way to the bathroom. A shave, a shower, and a whatever else you do later, voila, nice cool cotton to your nice clean skin. Enjoy that for the next half hour, or so, depending on just how bad your condition is. Be aware of what you have going on in your freezer, though, as you might drag something else to work with you.

2. Dry-Fit Underwear All The Time

Wicking wear isn't just for exercise any more, folks. I have co-workers who get away with wearing performance golf polos every day. More important, however, is what's going on below the waste. So, during the especially hot times, I'll rock the dry-fit boxers everywhere, everyday.

 

3. "No You Can Go Ahead of Me, I'm Still Deciding What I Want"

At mid-day, like most folks, I like to get out of the office and re-charge a bit with some caffeine. Everyone knows one of my summer addictions is a nice tall iced coffee. What people don't know, though, is that the relief of going out for iced coffee is two fold. Not only does every coffee shop offer up a nice sweet glass of chilled energy, but most even have a nice built in ball cooler to stand by while you're waiting in line.  

Ball Cooler.

Folks might wonder why you look so relieved hovering over the pre-made sandwiches, but they'll certainly appreciate it when you let them go ahead of you because you're still considering the beverage menu.

This guy knows what I'm talking about.

Connecticut Wineries

I made a huge mistake. In posting my favorite things about NHV Summer, I completely forgot about one of the best things about summer: the Connecticut Wine Trail. I probably forgot about it because I don't indulge in it quite enough. Living in New Haven we are so lucky to have so many beautiful, tasty, and fun wineries just a short drive away and I am clearly spoiled by it. This past Saturday, I went to Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford.

Seriously, this place is so stunningly beautiful I can't believe it's a ten minute drive from downtown New Haven. Even cooler is that they allow you to bring in any food of your choosing, so you could literally camp out there all day enjoying snacks and drinking their wines.

You can do a tasting, but I stuck with their Pinot Grigio, which is pretty good and very easy to drink (too quickly). While enjoying their beautiful property, we were surrounded by tons of other people who had spreads of food that would make anyone jealous.

Steph and Jeff

If you haven't been on the CT Wine Trail, go now. I'm kicking myself for only going once so far this summer and am already trying to plan my next visit. There is no better way for a group of friends to spend the day then eating, chatting, and enjoying tasty local wine.

Cheese: A Simple Guide

This post may help with tomorrow's post, as you're going to want a snack and (spoiler) cheese pairs well with wine. As with all things craft, lately, cheese has certain seen its fair share of popularity growth. I generally like to get cheese for special occasions from a cheese shop where you can try stuff and someone can walk you through a major decision like picking out a cheese, like Caseus in New Haven. In the past few years, though, I've noticed that the selection at larger grocery stores is not too shabby.

Texture

There are four main categories of texture when dealing with cheese.

• Bloomy: Soft, creamy, with a soft rind. Think Brie or Teleggio.
• Hard: Stiffer, crumbly, often times more flavorful or sharp, often aged. These are the fattier of the cheeses. Think Cheddar, Parmesan, or Gruyere. 
• Blue: We all know blue cheese; stinky, moldy, can be creamy or hard. Think Gorgonzola or Stilton.
• Fresh: Soft mild cheese, usually not aged. Think Ricotta or Mozzarella.

Milk

While cheeses from every type of milk exist, I'll keep it simpler and focus on the three most common, that you'll be able to find examples of at most grocery stores: Cow, Goat, Sheep. While the thought of eating a dairy that comes from anything but a cow might seem off-putting to some; I think that some of the best and also some of the least adventurous cheese are goat's milk and sheep's milk cheeses. Here's what I would go with for a typical get-together with some wine and friends:

Cow: Delice de Bourgnone is a bloomy French cow's milk cheese with something for everyone. The inside is buttery and creamy, while the rind is a little more pungent and flavorful.

Creamy goodness.

Goat: Humboldt Fog is a semi-soft (between bloomy and hard) cheese from Cypress Grove in California. I like it because, like Delice de Bourgnone, it's got several different layers with different qualities. The inside is creamier and more spreadable, while the outside is more crumbly. 

Layers.

Sheep: Manchego is an aged, hard sheep's milk cheese from Spain. It is available at different ages, the younger cheese being semi-soft and lighter in color, and the older cheese being harder and more crumbly with caramel color. I like older Manchego, myself, and I think this offers a nice contrast to the creamier and softer cheeses I've chosen above.

Pairing

I'm not talking about pairing wine with cheese, because I don't really know that much about it. There are not really any "rules" governing it, and the qualities of each cheese react differently with the qualities of each type of wine. It's more about finding what you like and sticking with it until you are drunk/full.

What I am talking about is pairing cheese with meats. Because yes.

Different people like different kinds of meats, and you can't always just eat bacon, so I think it's a good idea to have one of each of the following types of meat to snack on:

Dry-Cured: Like Prosciutto or its more delicious smoked cousin Speck

Mmmm...speck.

Salami: Something fun like Soppresseta or a dry, hard salami

Wild boar salami by Creminelli is bomb.

Take a Walk

In an attempt to shed some extra pounds, I have fallen to the craze and am attempting to take more steps throughout the day. I wasn't having much luck with pedometers (after breaking two), so a few weeks ago my husband surprised me with a FitbitFlex. I haven't broken it yet, and it has definitely made me more cognizant of how inactive I am in a given day, so now I make more of an effort to "get my steps in" and walk/run. As I traverse New Haven on foot, I have seen firsthand the good, bad, ugly, and weird. Here are a few things that I have run into:

Cute Pets:

I love animals and particularly cute puppies, so running into an abundance of animals on my walks has been awesome. Frequent stops to pet dogs and watch them frolic is completely necessary.

Panhandlers/Drifters/Grifters/Lurkers:

I can say with authority that this town certainly has no shortage in this category. I can walk down Crown Street and be asked for money by 6 people in a row. (Don't they realize no one carries cash anymore?) Perhaps I'm the not the only who has noticed this as Milford is currently considering outlawing panhandling.

The Weird:

This painting is an example of the weirdness I have seen on my walks. To be honest I didn't even have to walk far to see this, it was across the street from my apartment. The jury is still out on whether this painting is serious or in jest.

Beauty:

To be fair, this is also a lot of beauty in New Haven. From plant life, buildings, people, and just overall charm. Particularly with the nice weather we have been having, we are a lucky group.

New Haven:

Obviously I have a lot of pride in my city and I'm happy that I'm not the only one. What is your favorite place in the Elm City?