Friday Night is All Right
Wow, what an amazing Friday!
It all started with lunch. I went for a late lunch with a friend, and we sat on a patio overlooking the Yahara for two hours, chatting happily about work, food, kids, books, flying dreams, power tools, etc. The Bourbon Street Grille is a funny little place in Monona, that usually has terrible service and merely edible food, this time being no exception. It's major draw is that patio. The sun was high in the sky and the temp was pretty warm, but we were comfortable under our umbrella and loath to leave. Alas, RL beckoned and we headed our separate ways, which fortunately for both of us did not involve returning to work.
I got home to find that DH and Rupert had already returned from their matinee of the Simpsons Movie. They enjoyed it at least as much as Mavis did last week. DH looked ready for a nap, and since I woke up a full hour earlier than I had wanted to, I suggest we nap together. The AC was running and made lying on the bed with bare skin a lovely treat. After awhile, we got dressed and headed out for the first Dane Dance of the season at Monona Terrace.
The Dane Dances started eight years ago, right after we moved here, and we've attended at least one every year. They're held every Friday in August from 5:30-9:30, and since the Concerts on the Square season ended this week, Dane Dances will be our weekly free music fix. Last night's opening bands were Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans and David Hecht and Primitive Culture. Both were excellent. The weather continued to be absolutely perfect for hanging outdoors. Lake Monona was smooth as glass, the sunset was reflected in the eastern sky while the sun was sinking down behind the capitol dome. Hundreds of Madison's beautiful citizens converged on the rooftop garden, eating, drinking, dancing, laughing and generally loving life. This year, the food vendors are much improved. We selected a "Sweet Latino Chicken" plate from Cuba Cafe. It was a delicious combination of rice and beans, fried plantains, a hunk of melting chicken in a bright yellow sauce and a little lettuce/tomato salad for $8. It was a generous portion, and well worth the pretty darn reasonable price. After awhile,
bzdchrisand
busman1994showed up with some other friends and we really enjoyed the company. David Hecht played until about 9:45 and then everyone wandered away.
Walking the two blocks back to the car, DH and I discussed the merits of stopping at the Great Dane on the way home. I couldn't decide if I was actually hungry or just craving french fries. Well, as we approached, we decided we'd drive through the parking lot to look at the patio. Since it was just after 10, the majority of the staff was off duty and hanging out at 2 tables in the corner, so of course we had to say hello. We each had a beer, shared a plate of fries, and watched Greg Maddux deny Barry Bonds his record-tying homer. Way to go Greg! (Bud looked a little disappointed.) Being responsible adults, we only stayed about an hour before heading home, even though the weather was STILL perfect and I wanted to linger in it, just soaking it in through my skin.
Upon arriving at the house, DH noticed that neighbor Matt had another late night fire going out back, so we decided to pop over and say hello to him, briefly extending our lovely evening. Ha. Matt said, "it's about time you saw the smoke signals and came over!" We were joined shortly after arrival by
sweetpea0304who claimed she was wearing her PJs, but I thought she was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt dress. Matt said he had a bottle of Cristalino in the fridge, and he knew his DW wanted a glass so he went to fetch it. I thought, "well, one glass won't hurt. It's such a beautiful night...." Matt's pours were big enough to drain the bottle in one round. While sipping, we got to hear all about the neighbors' week-long camping trip to Colorado (which sounded wonderful) and we told them all about Foie Fest. There was much discussion of books and art and WisCon.
sweetpea0304thinks she'd like to come with next year :) Somewhere in there, Matt brought out a bottle of Pinot Grigio, and made it last for two rounds this time. When it was gone, he leaned over to me and said conspiratorily, "I've got a bottle of Muscato chilling in the freezer."
"Do not bring that out here! We do not need a third bottle of wine tonight!"
"But," he pouted, it's already in the ziploc bag."
"Oh. Oh, all right. But if you're bringing that out, I'm bringing over the last flan for you guys."
Translation: We taught the neighbors a quick chill trick for wine. You pour a bottle into a ziploc, and put it on ice for 15-20 min. I prefer to put it in a container with ice and water. Matt prefers to stick it in his ice bin in the freezer. The last time he did this though, we all left before getting the last bag-o-wine out. The next morning, when he went for ice from the door dispenser, nothing came out. Upon inspection, he found the bag of nearly frozen wine slush twisted up in the ice auger, making a terrible mess of the freezer. So of course, I couldn't let that happen again, LOL.
When I ran home for the flan, I noticed that it was 1:30. We put the one little flan in their giant oven, but there was no timer evident. The men assured us they would let us know when ten minutes had passed. Then Matt poured the Moscato. More discussion of books and movies and whatever ensued. Suddenly, I yelled, "Oh my god! The flan!" sweetpea and I ran inside to find it very nicely puffed and completely cooked through. She wanted to eat it out of the ramekin, I wanted to turn it out, but neither of us wanted to wait the 15 min. for it to cool. Just so you know, if you don't wait, the flan will fall apart and look like smashed custard. It still tastes good though ;) Matt got probably 2 bites, because sweetpea commandeered the plate. I think she liked it.
Finally, I had to be the party pooper and drag DH home to bed even though the weather was STILL too nice to believe. If we'd had a tent set up, we definitely would have slept outside. We hit the back door, and he started laughing.
"What?"
"It's 3:00 am!"
"OMG. I guess this means we won't be going to the farmer's market in the morning."
We hit the bed with ashes and soot all over us still, but it was a good sleep.
Next week's Dane Dance features Mama Digdowns (N'Awlins brass) and BBI (danceable motown). Maybe we'll see you there, but we won't be out afterward because next Saturday is the annual Day of Public Drunkenness. I can't wait!
It all started with lunch. I went for a late lunch with a friend, and we sat on a patio overlooking the Yahara for two hours, chatting happily about work, food, kids, books, flying dreams, power tools, etc. The Bourbon Street Grille is a funny little place in Monona, that usually has terrible service and merely edible food, this time being no exception. It's major draw is that patio. The sun was high in the sky and the temp was pretty warm, but we were comfortable under our umbrella and loath to leave. Alas, RL beckoned and we headed our separate ways, which fortunately for both of us did not involve returning to work.
I got home to find that DH and Rupert had already returned from their matinee of the Simpsons Movie. They enjoyed it at least as much as Mavis did last week. DH looked ready for a nap, and since I woke up a full hour earlier than I had wanted to, I suggest we nap together. The AC was running and made lying on the bed with bare skin a lovely treat. After awhile, we got dressed and headed out for the first Dane Dance of the season at Monona Terrace.
The Dane Dances started eight years ago, right after we moved here, and we've attended at least one every year. They're held every Friday in August from 5:30-9:30, and since the Concerts on the Square season ended this week, Dane Dances will be our weekly free music fix. Last night's opening bands were Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans and David Hecht and Primitive Culture. Both were excellent. The weather continued to be absolutely perfect for hanging outdoors. Lake Monona was smooth as glass, the sunset was reflected in the eastern sky while the sun was sinking down behind the capitol dome. Hundreds of Madison's beautiful citizens converged on the rooftop garden, eating, drinking, dancing, laughing and generally loving life. This year, the food vendors are much improved. We selected a "Sweet Latino Chicken" plate from Cuba Cafe. It was a delicious combination of rice and beans, fried plantains, a hunk of melting chicken in a bright yellow sauce and a little lettuce/tomato salad for $8. It was a generous portion, and well worth the pretty darn reasonable price. After awhile,
bzdchrisand
busman1994showed up with some other friends and we really enjoyed the company. David Hecht played until about 9:45 and then everyone wandered away.
Walking the two blocks back to the car, DH and I discussed the merits of stopping at the Great Dane on the way home. I couldn't decide if I was actually hungry or just craving french fries. Well, as we approached, we decided we'd drive through the parking lot to look at the patio. Since it was just after 10, the majority of the staff was off duty and hanging out at 2 tables in the corner, so of course we had to say hello. We each had a beer, shared a plate of fries, and watched Greg Maddux deny Barry Bonds his record-tying homer. Way to go Greg! (Bud looked a little disappointed.) Being responsible adults, we only stayed about an hour before heading home, even though the weather was STILL perfect and I wanted to linger in it, just soaking it in through my skin.
Upon arriving at the house, DH noticed that neighbor Matt had another late night fire going out back, so we decided to pop over and say hello to him, briefly extending our lovely evening. Ha. Matt said, "it's about time you saw the smoke signals and came over!" We were joined shortly after arrival by
sweetpea0304who claimed she was wearing her PJs, but I thought she was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt dress. Matt said he had a bottle of Cristalino in the fridge, and he knew his DW wanted a glass so he went to fetch it. I thought, "well, one glass won't hurt. It's such a beautiful night...." Matt's pours were big enough to drain the bottle in one round. While sipping, we got to hear all about the neighbors' week-long camping trip to Colorado (which sounded wonderful) and we told them all about Foie Fest. There was much discussion of books and art and WisCon.
sweetpea0304thinks she'd like to come with next year :) Somewhere in there, Matt brought out a bottle of Pinot Grigio, and made it last for two rounds this time. When it was gone, he leaned over to me and said conspiratorily, "I've got a bottle of Muscato chilling in the freezer."
"Do not bring that out here! We do not need a third bottle of wine tonight!"
"But," he pouted, it's already in the ziploc bag."
"Oh. Oh, all right. But if you're bringing that out, I'm bringing over the last flan for you guys."
Translation: We taught the neighbors a quick chill trick for wine. You pour a bottle into a ziploc, and put it on ice for 15-20 min. I prefer to put it in a container with ice and water. Matt prefers to stick it in his ice bin in the freezer. The last time he did this though, we all left before getting the last bag-o-wine out. The next morning, when he went for ice from the door dispenser, nothing came out. Upon inspection, he found the bag of nearly frozen wine slush twisted up in the ice auger, making a terrible mess of the freezer. So of course, I couldn't let that happen again, LOL.
When I ran home for the flan, I noticed that it was 1:30. We put the one little flan in their giant oven, but there was no timer evident. The men assured us they would let us know when ten minutes had passed. Then Matt poured the Moscato. More discussion of books and movies and whatever ensued. Suddenly, I yelled, "Oh my god! The flan!" sweetpea and I ran inside to find it very nicely puffed and completely cooked through. She wanted to eat it out of the ramekin, I wanted to turn it out, but neither of us wanted to wait the 15 min. for it to cool. Just so you know, if you don't wait, the flan will fall apart and look like smashed custard. It still tastes good though ;) Matt got probably 2 bites, because sweetpea commandeered the plate. I think she liked it.
Finally, I had to be the party pooper and drag DH home to bed even though the weather was STILL too nice to believe. If we'd had a tent set up, we definitely would have slept outside. We hit the back door, and he started laughing.
"What?"
"It's 3:00 am!"
"OMG. I guess this means we won't be going to the farmer's market in the morning."
We hit the bed with ashes and soot all over us still, but it was a good sleep.
Next week's Dane Dance features Mama Digdowns (N'Awlins brass) and BBI (danceable motown). Maybe we'll see you there, but we won't be out afterward because next Saturday is the annual Day of Public Drunkenness. I can't wait!