ABC Beer Co.

As we were walking into Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, Albert and I noticed a beer store next door.  We thought nothing of it at the time (after all, there are beer stores all over the city), but when we finished supper, we noticed there were people inside.  It was a little late to be shopping for beer and, besides, they didn't look to be shopping.  They were just hanging around having an all around good time.  At that point we realized ABC Beer Co. is much more than just a beer store.  It's a hangout.

It reminded me a lot of Good Beer because both places sell a ton of different craft brews in the front (make your own 6-pack style + growlers) as well as offering 12 rotating beers on tap.  And make sure you look at the taps themselves here.  They were custom made by a vendor found on Etsy.  The clip on tags are a great way to note the always changing selection, along with the beer's origin, ABV, date tapped, and price.  The difference between the two places is that while Good Beer may have more actual beers to take home, ABC Beer Co. has a stronger emphasis on the bar part.  They may not do beer flights like at Good Beer, but they stay open later and there is more space in the back for casual drinking - enough space to throw a party, even.  They also have a nice menu of snacks like meats/chesse plates and sandwiches.

 

3 on Thursday

Labor Day came at me fast this year.  I didn't realize until Monday that we had already reached our four day weekend.  I'm not complaining because I could certainly use the time off, but it does make me a bit sad to realize that my summer this year was dreadfully short.

1. A couple weeks ago we discovered a bar that stocked plenty of games to make the drinking experience even more enjoyable.  My Jenga skills were pretty good...I guess that's because I'm just a big kid at heart. 
2. After a Friday happy hour in the Madison Square Garden neighborhood, Albert and I decided to take the walk directly across town towards my apartment since it was nice out.  Since Koreatown is at the halfway point on the walk I thought it would be the perfect place to stop for a fun supper.  I seemed to have forgotten how easy [Korean alcohol] Soju goes down so I paid for my fun with a pounding headache on Saturday.  I still think it was worth it. 
3. I am a BIG fan of going to see movies in the park during the summer.  My favorite is the Central Park Film Festival.  The screen is big, the lawn is slightly sloped for somewhat stadium style viewing, and it is just the right amount of crowded.  Unlike the other movies in the park, which show one movie per week, the Central Park Film Fest shows one movie every day for a week, set to a theme.  This year's theme was "Scenes From Our City" and the movies spanned decades.  The Friday flick was Hitchcock's Rear Window, which I had never seen.  Hitchcock is a master of suspense, but don't worry because this one isn't too scary.  Grace Kelly was perfection.  Now I see why she was courted by a Prince.  Like last year, we attended the movie with Seth and Danielle, but this year Matt, Karina, and Rebekah also joined us so we had a great group.  We also had a picnic spread that was the envy of everyone else in the park.   

Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter

The menu is small at Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter.  They're pretty much telling you "get the fried chicken, dummy!...but in case you're a vegetarian we got catfish, too."  So that's what Albert and I did.  We both ordered the fried chicken platter (only $11.50), which comes with three pieces of chicken, a biscuit, and some really good cole slaw (and I am picky picky about my cole slaw).  We also ordered sides (average $4) of mac and cheese and collards to split.  The mac was nice and creamy and the collards were good, though they could have used a teensy bit of vinegar (I still ate all of them).

The food is great and the prices are pretty cheap for such a large dinner.  But the best part was just a small little thing that most people probably won't notice; and if they do, they may find it strange.  Before our meals arrived, the waitress brought a bottle of hot sauce and a bottle of honey to the table.  Albert, bless his heart, is a Yankee and was very confused by the honey.  The hot sauce can go on the chicken, the collards, pretty much anywhere...but what to do with the honey?  It's great on biscuits, obviously, but that, my friends, is the condiment that will make your fried chicken better than it's ever been.  You get sticky and crispy all at once.  If you don't eat your fried chicken like this, you are missing out.  Just bringing honey to the table made Bobwhite one of the most authentic Southern spots in the city.

30 Before 30: #4 - Get My Hair Done at the John Barrett Braid Bar

A few years ago, the fancy pants John Barrett Salon began offering braiding and ponytail services.  I always thought it would be a great way to do something different before a formal event and a great way to make something like a simple LBD stand out and command attention.  The problem was I didn't have too many local events that call for fun hairdos.  As a Southerner, most of the weddings I attend are out of town and the weddings that have actually been in the city are ones I was in and therefore had no control over my hairstyle.  Since I don't have too many any red carpet events, I figured this wasn't going to happen and I would just end up always wearing my hair down.  Boring!

Just before starting this list, I went to John Barrett for a blowout courtesy of a friend.  Though I knew I probably would not have the opportunity to ever utilize the service, I was still curious about the braid bar and started asking questions.  The receptionist told me that as long as I came to the salon with my hair already washed and dried the price was a set $50.  No matter what.  $50 for a basic side braid.  $50 for a milkmaid style updo.  $50.  That's just $10 more than a blowout from Drybar, which people must think is cheap based on Drybar's rapid expansion across the country.  And it can be way more intricate than a blowout!  How this exists in such an expensive salon, I don't know, but when I realized a fun hairdo was well within my price range, I decided I had to get this done, even if it meant creating an event just so I could get my hair done.

As luck would have it, I was not attending the rehearsal dinner for one of the weddings Albert and I had on the calendar and would be taking the train to Connecticut day-of.  This was my perfect chance!  I woke up on Saturday with a few ideas in mind but nothing set in stone.  The salon had an inspiration book that I flipped through as I spoke with the stylist about the kind of look I wanted.  If I'm going to be geting my hair done, I wanted to make the most of that $50 and wear it up because weddings are the few times you can get away with an updo (also I didn't want anything falling flat in transit).  I knew I didn't want it too tight or "done" because I didn't want to look like I was trying to be in the bridal party.  I had never had a fishtail braid so I said I'd like to incorporate that into the look, perhaps in the crown style, which I was gravitating toward.  I told the stylist I trusted her and to just do what she thought would look best with my hair type.

She totally got me.  Sue, the stylist, was incredible.  She created the whole phenomenal look in 20-25 minutes.  She understood that I wanted something slightly bohemian but needed structure so it would last all night.  Honestly, this could have lasted the whole next day, too.  It looked totally light and free, without a pin in sight, but I found out the next morning that there was enough hairspray and about 40 bobby pins holding it all in place.  If we weren't going to a cookout with all the other wedding guests on Sunday, I totally would have worn the hair again with a maxi skirt for a totally different look.

I loved how my hair looked so much that I may still just create an event so I have an excuse to do this again.  Also, a thanks to John Barrett Salon for setting me up with complimentary makeup touch-up upon realizing that I was heading to an event.  My eyes looked fabulous!

Date of Completion: 8/9/2014

Monday Reads

1. I try my best not to curse but appreciate this chart depicting the evolution of swear words.
2. A group of college guys is creating a nail polish that will change colors when it comes in contact with a drink that's been drugged with Rohypnol or GHB.  Though I've been lucky enough not to have been slipped a roofie, my boyfriend likes to remind me how easy it can happen and that I may be a bit too trusting.  We should always remain on high alert, but any help detecting nefarious deeds in the bar is welcomed by me.
3. The 6.0 level quake that struck California this weekend (the worst in over two decades) will result in an expensive recovery since 88% of Californians don't have earthquake insurance. Bloomberg Businessweek examines why people living in such a high risk area are choosing to chance it.
4. $1,000 may sound like a lot of money, but it's really not in the grand scheme of things.  Here are 35 things you could do with just that amount that could have major long term returns.

Pesto and Sausage Bake

When you think of baked ziti, it's always marinara and mozz.  You'd be amazed at what a difference switching to pesto can make.  It's still the same process of opening up a jar of store-bought sauce...the only difference is the sauce being green instead of red.

Cook up 1/2 a box of ziti (this recipe should probably fill a 2 qt. dish and serve 4-6).  It will take about 9 minutes to cook, which is exactly how much time you'll need to get everything else prepped.  Slice up three links of pre-cooked chicken sausage.  Just about any flavor will work except the jalapeno type ones.  If you want yours to be on the meatier side, slice up all four sausages in the pack, I won't judge.  To the bowl, add grated mozzarella.  I grated a ball of fresh mozz and I like to think it made a difference, but who really knows these things.  When the pasta is ready, toss it with the sausage, mozz, and pesto sauce to taste.  Pour it all into the casserole dish and then top with a mixture of melted butter, panko breadcrumbs, and grated parmesan or asiago.  Stick it in a 325 oven for about 30 minutes, til you see the breadcrumbs start to brown.

I didn't put a ton of mozzerella in there so mine wasn't as glued together as it could have been, but that's because I just wasn't feeling an extra cheesy dish that night.  More mozz = more glue.  The reason baked ziti is one of the most popular Italian side dishes is because it is so simple to throw together.  This version is just as simple but a little less predictable.  Also, adding sausage makes it appropriate for a full meal instead of just a side.

Book Review: Cyrano de Bergerac

If you ever want to read a classic but don't want to devote all the time and brain power needed to digest a stuffy and old novel, I recommend a play.  "Cyrano de Bergerac" was my choice when I found it in the discount bin at The Strand for $0.48 ($0.52 with tax - big spendah).  Cheapness aside, I was interested in reading this play for a while since it is constantly resurrected and modernized.  (The movies "Roxanne," "The Truth About Cats and Dogs," and "The Ugly Truth" are all based on it, to name a few.)

Sure there's tragedy.  Some of the main characters die at the end, but the parts leading up to it are cute and funny and even the deaths at the end come with closure for the characters so it's not too sad.  If that was too much of a spoiler for you, I'm sorry but this play was written over a century ago so I don't think it's a big deal.  It's also not the most important part.  Here's the stuff to care about:

Cyrano is a gallant guy who can take on 100 men in a fight, no problem.  But he's also a real softie.  He's got the makings of a real catch.  Except he's got this huge shnoz.  He's pretty self conscious about it, which keeps him from declaring his love for Roxanne.  It doesn't really matter, though, because Roxanne and [another dude] Christian see each other across a room and fall in love.  When it comes time for introductions, however, Christian is worried he'll come across as a fool because he's not really good at expressing himself.  Cyrano, convinced he has has no chance with Roxanne, helps out his boy Christian because he's got a way with words.  When she hears Cyrano's beautiful sentiments coming from beautiful Christian, Roxanne is all the more in love.  As the men go to war, Cyrano holds onto his love in secret, confident that he is doing the right thing by bringing two people together even if it means he will never, himself, know love.

3.5 out of 5 stars.  (I think I would have liked it better in its original French where the verses rhyme.)