Austin ModHouse

#2 son just can't do things the normal way, he insisted on wearing his BDay crown upside down. I don't tell him he can't.

After weeks of debating, he finally settled on having a party here at the house, with a "bounce house". We sent out regular paper invites we made at home the week of the party. We didn't even request any RSVP.

He has always chose Plucker's for his birthday meal. He surprised us by choosing Tapasitas. But we gladly obliged. They always treat us well there and it's easier/nicer than Plucker's.

Was he excited about his gifts? YES! I think so.

He also got an Original Penguin backpack for summer travel and camping trips. It matches his luggage. I think he was expecting me to ask him to wear the sunglasses correctly, it didn't bother me.

It took us a while to explain that we don't eat marshmallows, they are ammo for the bow.

it's just the right size!

give a boy a bow and sack full of ammo, and he will want to use it right away. I had to ask him to stop aiming at the people at the next table.

#1 son enjoyed oysters on the half shell. So much, that we had to order a second round.

Fantastic service and food from Tapasitas, on west 6th near Whole Foods Flagship store.

The morning of the party, I made three batches of pizza dough (makes 9 dough balls).  #1 son asked if he could learn how to press them out and make the crust (I parbaked them ahead of time). He did a great job. I certainly appreciated the help. 

We thought it'd be fun to have a sack race, replicate the success from the 4th grade end of year party we hosted last summer. Turns out, kindergarteners are not the same as 4-5th graders. Some tears were shed, but #2 son came in first and he got to choose the prize he wanted really badly, so he was happy...

oh, and this alien came over to enjoy the party as well.   

We enjoyed Pizza well into the night. Paradigm Cab from Oakville made a nice pizza pairing. 

6 consecutive meals, 5 of them were pizza (we even had pizza for breakfast sunday morning). The pie above is Saint Agur cheese, caramelized onion, Iberico ham and a drizzle of honey. 

"I'm a SUPER ARCHER!"

Posted by paul at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kat and I spent the weekend working in the yard (and doing 2013 taxes). We have a one acre lot, mostly overgrown with brush. We continue to clear and our efforts are rewarded with what appears to be a large yard (it's mostly weeds). In the future, we'll ask one of my Landscape Architect friends for some professional help.

Kat sent notice to get the European cheese set out for Happy Hour! She came home early (early for her is any time before 7PM)

#1 son played piano for the Friday school assembly moment of silence (video at end of this post)

#2 son hams it up with friends.

I came across this bowl of sea salt and crushed pequin peppers I'd stashed in the pantry on 7-23-2013. I made a note to let it ferment at least 6 months. The time has come to unveil!

These peppers grow wild all over our lot. They are tiny, but pack a BIG kick.

I added the fermented pequin peppers to vinegar. We'll have spicy (SPCIY PICANTE!) Pequin sauce by the end of this week. 

#2 son has agreed that he is finally large enough, and old enough to start learning music. He certainly has his pose and facial expressions ready.

Prime rib night (and happy hour) Sunday at Abuelo's, one of the most satisfying and cheapest eats in the area.  After spending all day working in the yard, we cleaned up and treated ourselves. Kat looked great in her Skinny Puppy leggings. 

She asked the daughter to take a pic with me. 

#1 son looked so dignified, deep in thought, under his hatdog. I explained that it's normally impolite to wear a hat inside a restaurant, but since his headwear IS food themed, we'd include it in our ceremony.

OTHER NEWS:

I've been trying to clean out the garage. The original intent was that I'd have a work space in there. Instead, we've allowed it to fill up with things that skirt the fine line between value and junk. 

I'm building storage shelves for all the other stuff (totes mostly). 

I often have "photo-booth" pics laying around. Often left in jacket pockets etc. I scanned a couple leftover from SXSW. I think I'm finally caught up on sleep from SXSW 2014. 

Posted by paul at 10:24 AM | Permalink

Sunday... I can do it.

We started with a good brunch at Whole Foods. We are near the flagship store. It has at least 6 sit down restaurants inside the store. It's always fun to go, even if it's just for an easy meal out.

and this pic inspired "friends" that are hundreds of miles away to comment about us being hungover. We were not. tired? yes, very tired and sore.  #socialmedialessonlearned #facebookmakespeopleassumptive

food was good. 

UnOfficial Brazilian Showcase at Tapasitas

Mente Clara played at the 6th annual Brazilian Showcase (unofficial sxsw) at Tapasita's

Owen Summers (keyboards) is our piano instructor.  #1 son played with members of this band a few weeks back (video below)

The boys were really looking forward to seeing Peelander-Z at the Chicken Ranch Records UnOfficial sxsw picnic.

The McCallum High School Samba band on stage with The Octopus Project. I linked a full size pic if any of you samba people want to grab it.

I didn't realize what was going on till I was editing the pic. The guitar player has a broken string and Peelander Yellow is offering him his yellow flying-v guitar to play. 

Posted by paul at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the best shows we saw at SXSW 2014: Gary Numan

Gary Numan took the stage like he had something to prove. And here in the US, he sort of does. Many people here only know him from the one song that got radio play, Cars. Mr numan has a vast cataolg and has remained active in music. He came to SXSW and made some lasting impressions. There was a lot of press related to his energetic performance. They sounded great!

Like an animal just released from the cage (the man is 55 years).

He twisted, controted, prowled and howled. 

some stomping too.

took a brief water break and finished the set.

He pleased the crowd with many old favorites and his new material fit right in.

Posted by paul at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This was a big surprise!

There are sorts of products and brands at SXSW begging for your attention with free stuff everywhere. But I don't really want free doritos, monster drink (Ok I did drink one when I needed to keep going) and I don't care for Dorito's or Lady Gaga. BUT! We do like a good sinky cheese!

They offered free wine (1 oz pour) and free buffet featuring cheeses from Europe. They even had cute french girls there to help us navigate the stinky gooey goodness spread before us like a beautiful banquet. Kat was so happy!

We sampled them all! some more than once. Roquefort on toast with honey drizzled over? sure! again? ok!

They served us melted Camambert in cups with fresh veggies for dipping, or you can just DRINK the melted Camembert. SXSW certainly can be about over indulgence! We drank Camembert cheese from Normandy France!

They even had KRAI (the worlds only cheese sculptor) do a live cheese sculpting performance...

Kat noticed insulated canvas travel bags lined up on the wall. One of the servers gave her one and offered to let her buy cheese, at a discount. Of course she did!

They were so happy to serve us, they even filmed kat making her fromage purchase from Affinage

I think this was Kat's favorite SXSW party.

Posted by paul at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I managed to wake up and get out of bed, again. OMG how can SXSW NOT be over? I was in a bit of a fog, literally, it was foggy out.

I had aches all over my body. I managed to pull myself together, again.

I may have offended my friends, but Kat still loved me.

We had a fantastic brunch at the Snack Bar, restorative properties were ingested and applied right away. Our friends arrived, I said I was sorry for the night before, and we watched other friends perform their set for SXSW 2014

The Fun Part:

Then we took off, on foot. We'd managed a free parking spot near the Continental Club. Figured it'd be easier to walk a few miles to our next show than to try and find parking closer (not easy to find and likely costs $25)

We crossed the Congress Street bridge.

That was enough walking. We stopped for brunch #2.

drinking lots of water when we can find it.

Stopped by Canada House and caught The Wilderness of Manitoba. They closed their set with a real burst of energy!

Saturday had lots of free swag (earplugs and such) at the Canada House, but no more free drinks (probably a good thing at this point). We DID find this laying on the bar at the Canada House...

The SXSWFROMAGE party was an unexpected treat. Kat said it was her favorite part of SXSW 2014! (more pics on separate post)

We ducked into the Jackelope to catch Urge Overkill, but we opted to find seats where we couldn't actually SEE the show. It was plenty loud enough from where we were. We were starting to drag a bit.

GARY NUMAN!

We stood in line to see Bright Light Social Hour. Many young people from out of town brought many tobacco smokers to town. Kat started to feel ill as we waited in line from the second hand smoke. Siner's Saloon was PACKED and BRSH had the whole house jumping along.  but we were at the end of our day... had a few miles to walk back. This was the end of our (official) SXSW 2014

Weather was nice, we dropped the top and drove to meet my mom and the kids for dinner, as I usually try to do for sxsw. We posted this pic to FB and some people wrongly assumed we'd been drinking all day, shouldn't be driving, and some people assumed we were hung over the next morning... the truth was, that over a period of over 7 hours, I think Kat had maybe two drinks? and us boys had a few beers throughout the day, but long before driving and that way before walking several miles back to where we parked in south austin. 

next year, I won't try to do as much. I'll try to balance more time with my family and not attempt two days in a row or trying to do a night and day together. Instead of trying to see as many bands as possible, I'll concentrate on a few. 

a few lessons were learned: #sharetoomuchonsocialmedia #peopleassumetoomuch #donttellyourfriendstofuckoff #whatisfunnytomemaynotbefunnytoyou #postlessbeerpicsonfb

Posted by paul at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

remembered to grab the camera, forgot to grab the battery from the charger, all this sxsw is starting to wear me down. how can there be more? (more crappy phone pics)

We were first in line for the Pandora Discovery Den party.

The Mowgli's

We noticed this guy dancing, on the outside of the venue fence, accessible only by the ditch. Security didn't like it, at all! But they couldn't get to him. They eventually did crawl down the ditch and back up. But this dancing guy wasn't having any of their stop nonsense. He just kept dancing and trying to avoid their grasp. It took three guys to eventually pin him down. but why?

Swear and Shake

Calvin Love

Sons of Fathers really rocked the Shiner Saloon

Jess Williamson

Wild Child

Danny Malone

SXSW is not a traditional music festival, where access is mostly equal and shows happen in a central location. SXSW events can be miles apart from each other and often require RSVP week in advance and/or standing in line.  I make lists of potential shows and bands I might be able to catch, pages of info for each day.

and on this day, I had a group of friends come in town "show us the fun stuff". but they hadn't rsvp'd, didn't want to wait in a line and night parties are really hard to get into w/o a badge...

Then I was issued a lecture, something I posted to FB was deemed inappropriate (I realize I post innappropriate things, but I'm always happy to delete, my sense of acceptable behavior may not be the same as others, I'm not trying to be normal) anyhow... I might have been a bit frazzled and stressed out at this point of SXSW, the last two days had been exceptionally long and hard. THEN, I was mocked for it being my birthday...  I QUICKLY decided I'd rather spend dinner with my wife. So I pulled a Cartman,. I stormed out in a big huf, walked from Rainey St to W. 6th, where my wife met me at Tapasita's

(I did appologize to everybody the next morning)

It really was my birthday and Tapasita's treated us well, as they always have. We really appreciated their effort to make it a special evening for me. 

Posted by paul at 03:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I ran out of the house w/o my camera. iPhone pics is all I have to show for my day/night.

it all started at the GSD&M Bloody Mary Brunch. Free breakfast tacos and free Tito's Bloody Mary's... THIS is why I do day parties. not a big crowd, great music and it's all free.

Grace London

The Silver Palms (they listen to a lot of the stooges)

I thought they said this was James Fitz?, from Nashville. He was a surprise act, not listed on the schedule...

you probably already know I love PHOX.

I was glad to see Monica again. She assured me "Paul, I'm sure I'll see you at least eight more times this SXSW". But that didn't get to happen this year. This was the only PHOX show I was able to stumble across.

Melissa Etheridge! I wasn't really a fan before, but she put on a great show. She talked to the crowd and told us stories. I like her.  She was good to us.

In The Valley Below at the Applauze Green Room

and then we made it all the way to the Under The Radar party , on foot we knew better than to drive. 

Small Black

The Mary Onettes (clever name!) from sweden

yeah, we really get THAT CLOSE! LOVE the day parties.

WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS (from Scottland)

then we took off again.... one foot in front of the other...  miles to cover.

brief photo reinactment from 20+ years ago in DC

Brass Bed, missed their set but had my pic taken with this guy. Kat noticed we have some similarities... he looked at me and said "people are gonna think we're related." You should check out their tiny desk concert over at NPR

The Defibulators at the Tequila Mockingbird Back yard bash (free beer and BBQ)

We got some food and saw "Dad-Jim" at the Hole in the Wall, and asked a friend to drive us home. 

Posted by paul at 02:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wednesday March 13, 2014: the first official day of the SXSW Music Festival. The previous week was Film+Interactive SXSW. It all sort of blends in together.

Haley Bonar

The Autumn Defense

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART

EMA

we sought brief refuge at Parkside, then a quick BEST WURST and I went home. Doing good at pacing myself, so far on my 6th day of SXSW.

Posted by paul at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Sons of Fathers played the Dulce Vida Barreled 2 event, also last year. I also saw these guys at Shiner's Saloon for sxsw 2014 and they really knocked it out of the park at that show. The Barreled event was not that rowdy.

A Tom Collins was awesome, really liked their music (sounds like they were inspired by early Tom Waits)

The Epilogues

They had several food trucks offering eats. We've always enjoyed that Short Rib Grilled Cheese with Pepper Jam from the Seedling. Kat loves their shiitake mushroom soup. 

Thanks again to Ducle Vida!

Posted by paul at 05:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SXSW tech week has all sorts of free parties, often hosted by startups. Some have bands, some have rooftop views. 

The Silvercar Rooftop party had a great view, free drinks from Deep Eddy and Dulce Vida as well as free food (I enjoyed the shrimp).

Posted by paul at 04:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We all need to eat, we took a break from SXSW and dined at La V.

This is easily one of the most beautiful rooms you could dine in near Austin. It's on the East side, next to Takoba, and they have complementary valet.

THE FOOD PICS:

Farm egg & mushroom raviolo, consommé ($13) and the Wood oven bouillabaisse, squid, clams, blue prawn, rouille ($29) -both amazing. 

We couldn't figure out the escargot. We debated the odd, almost bitter taste not usually found with the snails. I thought it might be cumin, mace was also suggested. We quized (harrassed) our very patient server and she revealed curry powder (probably had all the spices we were considering). Not sure how curry powder got on the French escargot... this did not work for us.

The highlight of the meal.... Janina O'Leary! I'm not really into sweets, but as a great pastry chef should, her offerings draw from a wider palate than sugar alone. 

chocolate delice: laV earl grey ice cream, cocoa nib ($9) 
 
warm brioche doughnuts: vanilla bean pastry cream, berry jam ($9)

The wine list was a poor fit for me. They DO have an impressive collection with some real valuable gems in there. I'll admit I don't know a lot about French wine. BUT! I did bring a French wine collecting friend along to help navigate the list. 

His reaction was priceless, "WOW! that bottle I brought to your house for dinner a couple weeks ago? According to this list, it’s worth $3200! We had a $3200 bottle of wine with that cassoulet you made. I have three more of those bottles at home! THAT'S ALMOST TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OF WINE!"

We struggled to find a bottle under $200. I even requested the sommelier make a suggestion, the best she could do was $250. I explained that this was just a regular weekend meal, not celebrating some life changing event (wedding, graduation etc).

I ordered a wine by the glass and I did order the cheapest one on the menu at $11. I didn't care for mine and the wife refused to drink hers she disliked it so much.  I'm sure they are decent wines, and our palate is used to an American style of wine. In conclusion, I'd like to see some table wines added to the list. I don't need something rare, I just want to enjoy it. 

Posted by paul at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

That Ketel one party was so generous, and good to us, we came back the second day and brought friends with us.

Echo Friendly

Caveman

Posted by paul at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SXSW isn't all free booze and loud bands (well, mostly it is, but not all).  I took the kids to the SXSW Gaming Expo. It was such a hit, we went early the next day. Lined up to be the first in the door. They kids LOVED it!

The vendors don't talk down to the younger gamers. They all speak geek. Several companies had working games that have not yet been released. 

#1 son parked himself in the LANFest area for a long time. 

The Daughter is actually dressed as some video game character. Many people did the Cosplay.

TARDIS!

we were exhausted! walked across the street for some eats.

Kat and I also attended the LA Tech meetup sxsw party, but it was fairly uneventful (too crowded) and no bands. 

Posted by paul at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

DJ Michael Selman played old soul 45s, did a great job.

Ketel One provided craft cocktails and food by East Side Kings (celebrity chef Paul Qui)

Thumpers played first

The Octopus Project put on one of the best shows we saw this year. 

Wild Cub closed down night one at the Ketel One party.

Nespresso made us free coffee across the street. It was good! I want one of those machines. 

Posted by paul at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've been working during the day, and trying to keep up with SXSW stuff at the same time.

a few highlights before I run to work:

The Octopus Project at the Ketel One party:

La V: much anticipated opening of a new French Restaurant

SXSW Gaming Expo was a BIG hit with the kids.

#1 son parked himself at a computer for the SXSW LANfest

Video below is from Octopus Project.  the audio is all wonky (blow out) but it does a good job capturing the energy of their performance. 

Posted by paul at 09:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Justin Elliot hosted a Metaxa fueled Happy Hour at Tapasita's. The Porron was applied. 

We also enjoyed the Salmon Tartare. Somebody just asked me "what's your favorite restaurant". I struggled to come up with an answer, and finally concluded that Tapasita's is the only place we seem to be going back to regularly.  It has a good combination of comfort, value, quality and friendly faces. The location is also convenient for us. 

Kat has been feeling under the weather. Her go-to self remedy is always a big bowl of soup. She applied the kimchi pork ramen from ESK at HIW ( East Side Kings @ Hole In the Wall).

We stopped by Blanton B scene, free entry for museum members with members only lounge.  The members lounge didn't really amount to much and we quickly relocated downstairs to be close to the stage. 

It may appear we are out partying late into the night, the truth is I hadKat home, and asleep in her own bed by 9 pm.

We did get to catch some of the Shivery Shakes. 

is this the FOURTH ARCTIC BLAST?  it was 84 degrees the other day, Sunday night had temps drop to the mid 20's! This is TOO MUCH!

It was too cold to grill outside. Kat cleaned out the fireplace, I loaded it up with hardwood charcoal and put the grill grate on the log holder.  We enjoyed Sunday even family dinner around the charcoal fueled indoor grill (fireplace). 

#1 son LOVES grilled mushrooms. I stuffed some with garlic, Vermont Smoked Pepperoni and parsley.

The salmon was marinaded in a mixture of OJ, Sriracha, soy sauce, brown sugar and kosher salt.  (also some fresh ginger garlic and I sometimes add miso paste). I let it marinade for 30-45 minutes before skewering and grilling.  Much longer in the marinade and the acid from the OJ starts to break down the Salmon. 

If you have to endure another arctic blast, this is a good way to do it.

Posted by paul at 09:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)