sin sobras

Mum gave us some red snapper that she caught in the Gulf (of Mexico).  To be honest, my experience with cooking fish is limited to fish tacos and fush + chups.  My favorite way to enjoy fish while in Perdido Key is grilled and blackened.  With fingers crossed, I decided to try something new and make a Cajun rub and pan fry the snapper in duck fat.  The end result looked very pro and was absolutely delicious.  I love it when I nail a dish on the first go.

Simply coat the fish in the rub:

Pan fry in smoking hot duck fat.  Do not overcook it!  It is ready when it flakes with a fork:

Bon:

I recently got a new app on my phone that allows me to take panoramic photographs.  It's so neat!  Here is one of my office (with idiot roommate; also, please note jar of mustard by computer monitor) and one of the courtroom.  Swivel chairs make it easier:

Earlier in the week, ATM & I met our friend Henry for lunch.  We had a lot of time to kill, so we went to Mount Holly Cemetery.  It's truly a nice place to go for lunch time disappearing.  Also, with the changing seasons, it's hard to say what's causing that shiver up your spine:

Saturday Elegante

A real decent Saturday yesterday. ATM, Brittany, and I went to Hot Springs for lunch and some resale/retail therapy.  

Lunch @ Taco Mama's:

After our meal, we went to Mexico Elegante, because I just can't get enough, but mainly because I wanted to get a new home for my Schlumbergera:

From there, we went to the Central Station Flea Market where I scored these:

Before leaving town, we drove up the West Mountain scenic drive and I took some panoramas that turned my people into ghosts:

Later that night, after quiet times and no supper, we went to a surprise birthday party for Micah.  I gave him some roman candles as a gift:

209 Victory:

This Sunday will be spent doing housekeeping.  That's ok for this gray, cool, rainy day.

long hair music

New album release 9 October 2012

my church

Last Sunday was sublime.  Brittany called to see if I wanted to sit in the sun with her at the park.  Yes, obviously, to-do lists be damned.  After procuring some iced tea, we went to the Clinton Library/Junction Bridge area.  The weather was gorgeous.

Little Rock is so cute from here:

Facing east down the Arkansas River:

After plenty of fresh air & sun, we decided to pop in on a friend's yard sale (On a Sunday?!), but they had already disassembled the whole thing.  As we were leaving that neighborhood, I noticed that David Family Kitchen on Broadway was open and nearly wrecked the car with excitement.  It's one of those places where you never know when they will reopen after being shut down for not paying taxes.  We immediately pulled over and got ourselves some chicken dinners to go.  It was really fun to bring ATM home this surprise:

That evening, we attended the Reel Civil Rights Film Fest segment with  Olympic gold medalist Tommie Smith.  The turnout was dismal, which is disappointing, but, on the bright side, it was extremely intimate.  I really hope to see more people I know at these kinds of things though.

Look, Tommie Smith will never have to explain to me why he did what he did on the Olympics medal stand in 1968.  I get it.  However, he (and John Carlos) ended up striking fear in the hearts of everyone who was not ready for change.  Up until about 10-15 years ago, they hardly received any respect.  In fact, the men and their family's lives were threatened and they were practically unemployable for many years.  It essentially ruined their lives.  These men who repped the US in the'68  Olympics and actually won medals (gold and silver; and broke many records), were beyond shunned.  It's all pretty disgusting in my view.  Listening to Tommie retell the story is inspiring, but it's also very painful and even though I know some things, it turns out I don't know shit.  Despite the horrible backlash for this one incredibly meaningful silent gesture, he would do again, not because he wants to, but because he has to.  I really wish I had half his courage:

Tommie Smith and Juan Carlos also stepped up on the podium shoeless with black socks and wore beads to protest black poverty & lynchings.  Obviously, it was a thought out gesture and not spur-of-the moment.

Tommie w Craig Renaud:

I wonder what church will be like tomorrow.

Chicago, Pt. III

We've got it down.  Traveling via automobile to Chicago and back is a cinch. 

There's no decent food or coffee on this particular route.  We've remedied this by packing lots of food, instant coffee, and the electric kettle.

The first thing we did when we rolled up into Chicago was go to Hot Doug's .  It's obviously good!

We got two Chicago-style dogs, the Elvis, cheese fries, and duck fat fries:

I said to ATM that though not many people have heard of Django Django or listen to them at all, they are surely sick of me talking about them.  Well, my condition has worsened after seeing them live.  I was curious how they'd pull it off live, but they did -- I was surprised that my favorite song they would perform would be Skies Over Cairo as opposed to album-favorites Hail Bop and WOR.   And they are adorable to boot.  I mean, they use a comically large tamborine, coconuts, and a vibraslap as percussion.  UK art-school cuteness coolness.

Schubas Tavern:

The Djangos:

Comically large tambo:

The only shot with all four:

They had a lot of stuff and they used every last bit of it:

Great great show. Didn't take them long to warm up the crowd for dancing.  I appreciate that you can tell that between the four, they listen to everything including house, techno, and other electronic music.  And hip hop.  And Monty Python. And Rawhide.  And Carl Sagan.  You know.  ALL . I adore them.  They make me want to play a little music myself.  

The next morning, Chicago was cold and windy, which made it really easy to want to leave.  We did stop by 206 S Jefferson, the birthplace of Chicago house music.

I could spend a lot of time taking snapshots of old signs & buildings in Chicago.

Homeward:

My cousin gave us a gift certificate from Sur La Table as a wedding present last year &  I've only recently got around to using it .  It's been awhile that I've been this excited about an online purchase.  A pro kitchen knife, smoked salt, and duck fat.  Now that we're beyond the horrible heat of the hottest summer ever, it's time to kitchen.

A group of us were going to go camping last weekend to celebrate our first year anniversary, but because of the rain, we didn't.  I mean, we could've, but it's neither fun nor comfortable to constantly battle the elements like that.  On Saturday evening, we, along with KMHD and Everett, went to Hot Springs to have dinner at Rolando's & drinks at the Arlington instead.  I love Hot Springs; I wish I was there right now.  I can't quite explain my affection for that weirdo town, but it's been there for a long time.  Maybe it's because when Dad took us on vacation, this was about all he could afford -- a one night stay in Arkansas' resort town that was already pretty shoddy -- but, we had the best time.  That was when Dad was still fun, too.

Once, when we were of drinking age, KMHD and I drove from Little Rock and met my father, stepmum, & grandmother (visiting from Interlaken, NY) in Hot Springs.  We - my grandmother, sister & I - were royally pissed and annoyed with Dad and Mayumi for treating us like small children.  I don't think they realized how condescending and boring everything that we did was.  Eventually, Gran was like, "Fuck this" and we went to the Arlington lobby to drink drink drink a lot of Cape Codders, much to my parent's dismay.  Eventually, they gave in and joined us.  My Gran is the coolest.  I really miss her.  She understood her grandchildren and had a wicked sense of humor.  Here's her with KMHD pretending like they are having the grandest time.  Acting!

And here is what KMHD and I affectionately call the "Plastic Draheim Band" promo photo:

Arlington lobby:

Views from the Arlington's great, big porch:

Moutain Valley Spring has one of the best preserved and utilized buildings on Central Avenue:

Formerly known as the Downtowner:

After our next Chicago trip, we've got a lot to plan for.  Lots of general autumn hangings out, a Halloween party, art house film night @ Victory St., and a Thanksgiving trip to NOLA.  Too, I feel like working on the house some -- need to show the 3519 some love.  This is my favorite time of year, I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest extent.  I will be exhausted come Xmas.  I'm not complaining.

h o n o r a b l e   m e n t i o n s

Homemade biscuits & gravy:

I say without hesitation that Flying Fish makes the best fish tacos I've ever had:

Monsters:

A recent score:

Las Delicias:

Watching mum work: