Mark Your Calendars : Bazaar Bizarre Cleveland 2007

For those of you who love arts and crafts/DIY creations and want to support local artists go HERE for more info!

(mp3) Frente! - Bizarre Love Triangle (New Order Cover)

Our power has gone out 10 times since we got home from work....

It's been a few days. . .Since we last talked, we went to The Browns game on Sunday (with an amazing view, as seen in our picture taken above), witnessing a great game as they went on to beat Houston 27-17, making our record 7-4 for this season. Neither of us can believe the Browns are doing this well, it is awesome that they stopped sucking -- and it was about time too!! While on the subject of Cleveland sports, we've been watching The Cavs game this evening and are hoping they can do what the Indians could not do and actually BEAT BOSTON! **Update we beat the Celtics 109-104 in overtime!***

While enjoying this intense Cavs-Celtics battle, we have been calming our nerves to the sounds of our itunes set to shuffle and these are some of the great songs we have heard in no particular order:

(mp3) My Latest Novel - Boredom Killed Another

(mp3) Zookeeper - I Live In The Mess You Are

(mp3) Pilate - In Your Hideout

(mp3) Old Canes - Taxi In Vermont

(mp3) High Drivers - How Long

(mp3) Persephone Bee's - City Of Love

Tonight: Go To Sunset Lounge for 1/2 off Sushi

Top 5 Songs Of The Week (Is it really almost December? Edition)

This past weekend we didn't have the opportunity to post our Weekly Top 5 Songs because we simply did not have the time. Last Saturday we went to check out Artscape 2007 @ MOCA and we went to The Cedar Lee to see Control. While we were at Artscape 2007 we both were reminded of a similiar event we went to last winter @ the 1300 gallery (RIP) called Bazaar Bizarre. We had been wondering whether they were going to have that event again this year and thanks to a woman @ Feisty, who happened to be selling her merch at Artscape 2007, who told us that Bazaar Bizarre will be happening this year on December 1st in downtown C-town on the corner of East 4th and Prospect right by The Corner Alley and Lola (for more information see their site).

For now, we hope you enjoy these Top Five Songs of the week and have a wonderful day:

5. (mp3) Wakey! Wakey! - Say It Ain't So (Weezer Cover) Throughout the last couple of weeks we have been enjoying weekly covers sent to us by Wakey! Wakey! This New York based artist plays and sings the piano much like Ben Folds putting his own stamp on this song.

4. (mp3) Sondre Lerche - Dead Passengers This song is from the album Faces Down, sharing the same name as Sondre's backing band who were not present when we saw him on Wednesday. Sondre was solo that night and didn't miss a beat. The only downside of the evening was the fans from Pittsburgh felt the need to say "Go Steelers" and "Browns Suck"... that was not cool.

3. (mp3) The Killers - Shadowplay Another excellent song off Control's soundtrack that we can't seem to shake.

2. (mp3) Neko Case - If You Knew The other evening we were loving being able pick and chose a variety of NPR's interviews and live concert series to listen to while cooking (ie - Thurston Moore, Kevin Drew, and Neko Case)

1. (mp3) Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me One of the catchiest songs off their lovely album, We Are The Pipettes.

Bonus: Check out our fairly decent pictures from The Pipette's show in Cleveland this past Tuesday at The Beachland Tavern :)

Tonight: Sondre Lerche

Who: Sondre Lerche performing solo and being opened for by Dan Wilson

What: Theatrical Swede (oops!) Norwegian who tells charming stories in between lovely little ballads

When: Tonight at 9pm

Where: Cleveland's House of Blues

Why: Because it is the day before Thanksgiving you need to go out!

(mp3) Sondre Lerche - Happy Birthday Girl (from the new album Phantom Punch)

(mp3) Dan Wilson - Baby Doll (this guy is the lead singer of Semisonic)

Tonight @ The Beachland : The Pipettes!

Who: The Pipettes are playing with Monster Bobby and locals The Afternoon Naps

When: Tonight @ 9pm

Where: @ The Beachland Ballroom in The Tavern because Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings are holding it down in the main room tonight

Why: Because last month they had to cancel their date in C-town and you should come out tonight and see these cute British chicks in their polka dots in person.

(mp3) The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes

(mp3) Monster Bobby - The Closest Experience To That Of Being With You Is The Experience Of Taking Drugs

Louis Latour Wine Tasting and Pairing*

Last Tuesday, we had the pleasure of attending a Louis Latour Wine Dinner at The Union Club. Below you can view all five courses of carefully prepared French-inspired food perfectly paired with a selection of spectacular Louis Latour wines.

First Course:
Roasted Oysters
(butter braised leeks, tomato concasse, liquor foam)
Simonnet-Febvre -- 2005 "Vaillons"
Premier Cru, Chablis

Second Course:
Pan Roasted Rabbit
(mustard spaetzel, rabbit reduction, braised greens)
Louis Latour -- 2005 Chassagne Montrachet

Third Course:
Seared Foie Gras
(apple-lavender salad, caramel nut sauce)
Louis Latour -- 2002 "Vignes Franches", Beaune

Fourth Course:
Roasted Colorado Lamb Loin
(barley risotto, harvest squash medley, red wine lamb reduction)
Louis Latour -- 2002 "Lavaunt Saint-Jacques", Gevrey-Chambertin

Fifth Course:
Petit Suisse Duo
(honey infused petit suisse, petit suisse brulee, quince chutney)
Simonnet-Febvre -- Cremant de Bourgogne

Feeling beyond content after an exceptional dinner

Congratulations, Michael Symon!

After spending yesterday afternoon perusing The Fabulous Food Show, where we had the privilege of watching Giada De Laurentiis (live and in person!) cook delectable italian food, we came home and watched the season finale of The Next Iron Chef. We had a particular interest in watching the outcome of this competition because Cleveland's own, Michael Symon, was one of the two finalists. Both being *huge* advocates of his restaurants, Lola and Lolita, we were glued to the tv while we watched and waited. . .


Needless to say, we were absolutely ecstatic when Alton Brown (who we also happened to see cook yesterday) announced that, "The Next Iron Chef Is: Michael Symon!"

We are so happy that Michael Symon is getting the national recognition he deserves yet are definitely preparing ourselves for booking reservations to his restaurants weeks in advance ;)

Bonus: Check out Michael Symon's Blog and this Cleveland Plain Dealer article

Tonight @ The Grog : Immaculate Machine

Who: Sea Wolf (unfortunately, they cancelled due to being stuck in Canada -- we just checked The Grog Shop's website explaining that an accident occurred with something "involving beer and hockey sticks"). However, the show will still be a good one with Immaculate Machine as well as locals Tightrope Kaleidoscope and JJ Magazine opening.

When: Tonight @ 9pm

Where: The Grog Shop!

Why: It is only $7 to see some of the best new indie rock out there. The only excuse for missing this show is if you are going to The Beachland to see A Place To Bury Strangers, otherwise you don't!

Check out the quirky and fun video for Immaculate Machine's song, Broken Ship:



(mp3) Immaculate Machine - Jarhand

(mp3) A Place To Bury Strangers - To Fix A Gash in Your Head

Mahna Mahna

Beaver.com is not a real website, *however* BeaverS.com is. . .

We came to this profound conclusion just now -- yeah, it's weird, we know. . .

This is what happens when it gets dark early, which causes you to be somewhat mopey and bored, which in turn causes you to start looking for domain names that don't exist. Guess you could say that it's a downward spiral of sorts.

So, today was dark and rainy here in c-town. . .The Browns had an amazing victory but somehow that didn't make us as happy as we would have hoped. We know that we should definitely get over this (and get used to it) but with winter weather and the Indians hangover still affecting us, we feel rather flat :(

However, this Muppets clip starring Mahna Mahna has seemed to lift our spirits for the moment :)

Movie of the Moment = Wristcutters: A Love Story

This evening we are laying low. Early in the day, we both had to work and then run some errands. So by the time mid-afternoon rolled around, we decided to reward ourselves for being productive by hitting up the Cedar Lee and seeing Wrist Cutters: A Love Story. It was an extremely enjoyable dark comedy about the place where lost souls go when you commit suicide. The characters form of punishment for killing themselves is to exist in an afterlife where everything is bleak and everyone is miserable. It had a great cast with Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sassamon, Tom Waits and John Hawkes (the guy from me and you and everyone we know). The movie also featured several songs by Gogol Bordello and one of the characters in the movie who's name was Eugene was partly based on the lead singer of Gogol Bordello, Eugue Hutz, who is a friend of the director, Goran Dukic. Neither of us had ever been fans of Gogol Bordello but thanks to this movie that has changed.

Here is a sampling of the film's music:

[Mp3] Gogol Bordello - Through The Roof 'n' Underground

[Mp3] Tom Waits - Flower's Grave

Bar Cento Is Good!!

Hey, it's Friday!

We can't even tell you how wonderful it feels on this crisp, clear Friday evening. At the moment, we are sipping on some dry (yet very slightly sweet) Gurtzemener Gewurztraminer, which makes for a perfect aperitif to compliment pita chips and garlic-y hummos. While we happily drink and chow down, the ethereal, blippy, and glitchy sounds of DNTEL's latest offering, Dumb Luck, hums from our speakers. . .

Our plans for the evening include eating at the *much* anticipated new restaurant (and extension of Bier Markt), Bar Cento, following our viewing Arabella Proffer's final showing at Asterick Gallery.

[Mp3] DNTEL (ft. Jenny Lewis) - Roll On

[Mp3] DNTEL (ft. Arthur & Yu) - The Distance

[Mp3] DNTEL (ft. Lali Puna) - I'd Like To Know

Tonight: Tori Amos*

Who: The one and only, Tori Amos

Where: Cleveland's Playhouse Square in the State Theatre

When: This evening, at 7:30pm

Why: Just watch this incredible live performance of Tori singing one of my all-time favorite songs of hers, Here In My Head, captured on youtube below. . .