Tuesday Bouillabaisse

Blog post Bouillabaisse! When I see something cool that I think might be blog worthy I drop the link in a folder fro safe keeping or until I have nothing to say then need to post about something. for some reason I just need to post sometimes. So here are a few items and thoughts that I have been sitting on over the past week. 

I'll start with a piece of gear I thought was worth passing on. The BrentBasket by Faris Elmasu. At first glance it looks like another piece of Swedish mod garbage but then I saw how well it held a six pack. It seems pretty versatile and stylish, but those are two things that probably don't add up to longevity, but who knows.

Speaking of beer, I was at The Royal Mile in Wheaton on Saturday to watch soccer when I happened upon Loose Cannon. A hoppy beer with hoppy flavor what has a hoppy finish that leaves you feeling hoppy, but not too hoppy. Seriously though, this beer tastes great and has a citrusy herby flavor going that is quite good. 

"wonderfully  drinkable" indeed

Next up is Camp Bacon. I read about this in USA TODAY and was stunned...  and hungry.

Camp Bacon is located in Ann Arbor Michigan and boasts tons of bacon related activities and games for today's bacon lover, and yes, there's a video.

Thinking about camp always takes me back to those warm summer days, not a care in the world, sitting in my house watching Meatballs over and over again. Ah...  the good ole days.



Just to make this blog bouillabaisse complete, here's a video that I can't stop watching.

via stevil

mmm... that's does smell good.

Silver Spring Farmer's Market: All Grown Up

Saturday the family went to the Silver Spring farmer's market to pick up some local veggies and play in the fountain. We used to only go the the farmer's market in Tacoma Park but this season the SS market seems to have caught up a bit. It was a good outing; we got to talk to and buy some goods from Charlie Koiner, who was recently the subject of a Silver Doc Short entitled "Corner Plot". Just one of many photo opps that I missed.

The bikes having a shnug while we play in the fountain and I test the waterproof properties of my GoPro Hero HD. Video to Come.

Click the image. It's bad ass.

This fully loaded Surly Big Dummy  was set up to carry two little girls and all the groceries home, making this father drool... some day It will be mine. I mean I'll buy one, I'm not going to find this guy's and take his. 

Lastly, I want to give a shout to Ari Natter who recognized me and the LHT (yeah you know...   me). He and his girl (who's name I forget) were off to bike to a party down the CCT. Good for you two, and thanks again.

Since I missed yet another photo opp I will represent Ari and his better half with the following image.

This is pretty much exactly what they looked like. I know right?

Layin' Down Some Beets - OR - Channeling Dwight Schrute

I harvested my beets last night and ended up with enough for the veggie course in a dinner for two. This was my first time growing beets and I think they came out pretty well. I planted the seeds as soon as the Snowpocalypse melted. They aren't that big and I'm sure it's my fault. I let my daughter disperse the seeds so they came up in a cluster that was packed way too tight. Many of the beets grew right up against their neighbors which made them smaller and flat on one side. I didn't do any research on what kind of soil they like either. They were delicious none the less and I'll try again next year for sure. Maybe by then the little one will be able to plant nice rows by then, although that's hardly the point. 

Thank You Landon Donovan!

That was a crazy match. The USA out played Algeria deserves to advance.

Try as they might the refs couldn't keep us out of round two!

USA! USA! USA!

Tour Divide: Leaderboard Check In

This is a reminder to check in with the Tour Divide Leaderboard.

You can also get the latest news as well as listen to rider's call-ins on the Tour Divide Blog.

Pub Review: In Philly Gettin' Silly

I was in Philadelphia on Saturday and happen to wander into The Standard Tap. An unflattering name for a pub in my opinion but none the less a very cool spot. The beer list was not huge but where it lacked in abundance it made up for in quality.  I didn't get a picture of the interior but just look at the photo above and imagine what you would expect the inside to look like and that's probably a pretty accurate picture. Lot's of worn in wood and brick, tattoos, beards, and the occasional chalk board adorned with food and beer lists. It's also pretty huge inside with two levels and a rooftop patio.

The food was good and the fact that most of it was local made it even better.

The folks inside seemed nice and the bar tenders were friendly. Let there be no doubt you'll be knee deep in hipsterland if you make it The Standard Tap. The tell tale signs were everywhere...

If the streets lined with fixed gears don't clue you in, the bike parking laced with a  freshly knitted cozy should be a dead giveaway.

Scratching your bike every time you lock it up does suck. I thought this was a very thoughtful gesture on the part of the neighborhood.

Bottom line: Highly Recommended.
Go there if you like good beer, good food, good people, and you give a damn about local food.
Don't Go there if there was too long of a wait at the Applebee's and you've got a hankerin' for a Wedge Salad.

USA vs. Slovenia: As Seen From Ireland

Having missed the first USA world cup match due to an unfortunately scheduled unbelievably cool social event I made sure my calendar was cleared for this morning's USA vs. Slovenia match. McGinty's in Silver Spring was holding a fundraiser breakfast to benefit Catholic University's men's soccer team.

I was running a little late but I made it to McGinty's, locked up my bike and ordered breakfast just before game time. It was 10am and I was ready to dig into my Irish breakfast.

For the first half of the game USA looked like crap. Slovenia scored twice and the mood in the bar was low.

The second half was dominated by the USA who managed to equalize with enough time to win it. Here is a video I shot of what should have been the game winning 3rd. Note the mood change as the ref makes a ridiculous off sides call. 

Slightly pissed and full of calories, I stepped out into the sunlight and made my way to my LHT (yeah you know me) only to find that in my haste to make it to the game on time I did this.

A tie game that should have been a win is aggravating, but a bike to ride that should have been stolen makes everything better.

Have a good weekend everybody.