keep your expectations low and i will rise to the occasion.

___________________________________

Friday, April 16, 2010

friday's random music video vol. XII

well today you are in for a real treat! a double feature. is there a reason for this gracious gesture? not really. just couldnt decide between two videos and i think both are awesome. they remind me of the original season of 729 with our "rock" band always be closing, watching "ultimate fighter" until 2am every wednesday night and of course, new movie night with all our friends on tuesdays... in blu ray of course. to dj rylo and dropkick, cheers homies.





new found glory - "dont let her pull you down" and "listen to your friends"

these... are.... incredible.

these are the best commercials by far. if i wasnt an already loyal old spice user, i would immediately throw my current and terrible deodorant on the floor, smash it, collect its pieces, smash them again and throw them out a window, preferably from a six stories up or more. then i would buy 15 of whatever old spice deodorant i want, and place one in each room of my house and in my car, that way i am always within arms reach feeling completely bad ass.


the weird-faced talking tiger really makes it.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

i cant help but be exicted... FREE HAPPY HOUR TONIGHT!!

the people at what's the deal dc are unrelenting... they wont stop having fun happy hours and giving away free drinks...

taken from the wtd website...
"How's about you and me head over to Town Tavern on Thursday, April 15th. How's about we also get Two FREE premium drafts or rail drinks just for showing up?

It's quite confusing, but apparently you all really enjoy this free drink thing, so we're keeping our weekly happy hour series going strong. Show up from 6:00 - 8:30 pm for your free drink tickets and hang out with WTD and friends! Also, stick around for Town Tavern's incredible $2 PBR and Bud Light Tall Boy specials!"




all the cool kids are doing it.

RSVP here!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

"lay my bones at the feet of the ministry
i need the guilt and the company
i need the chance to be judged
and then long forgotten

lately, i just can't shake it
i count the days and seconds and minutes
hours and hours as subtle as shards of glass
in the skin

so lay with me i could use the company
you could help me ease these bones
are like maps and keys
where they took their hits
and they felt those teeth
theres a story hidden underneath
if you dig in deep
will you find relief of these bones
shudder all night long
the hammer drops
another scar of these bones
but i know they're only my second home

naked under the cover of night
it's just a matter of time
til i'm counted and measured and filed
and then long forgotten

forgive my manner of speaking
i know it's quick
but the clock is still ticking
i've got a few words left
burning holes on my tongue
i've been saving them

so lay with me i could use the company
you could help me ease these bones
are like maps and keys
where they took their hits
and they felt those teeth
theres a story hidden underneath
if you dig in deep
will you find relief of these bones
shudder all night long
the hammer drops
another scar of these bones
but i know they're only my second home

cause i know that you won't go down alone"


dashboard confessional - "these bones"

new spill canvas ep!!

follow the link below, stream the five songs for free and most importantly, enjoy.

http://www.purevolume.com/thespillcanvas

"our song" is awesome. devastatingly catching...

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Update: The Nation, In Fact, Tastes Good

A food coma should not last 24 hours. However, when surrounded by 60 of the best restaurants in DC all handing out samples of some of their most creative and exciting dishes... it suddenly seems reasonable.

On Monday night, I attended Taste of the Nation: DC Edition at the National Building Museum and it was an incredibly delicious experience. As someone who lives on Taco Bell, Subway and the always popular food court chinese food, I was a little apprehensive about trying recipes from the likes of Michel Richard from Central or Clayton Miller of Trummer's On Main, named one of Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs of 2010. However, it was for a great cause, to end childhood hunger, so I decided to suck it up and venture into the unknown.

After walking around the entire National Building Museum, looking for the entrance, I finally broke down and asked someone who quickly pointed to a sign that simply read "Event Entrance." So far, so good. The registration process was a breeze but I could not help but be distracted while checking in by 1. how beautiful the National Building Museum is with its big golden columns 2. the dj spinning some silly jams infused with a little techno pumping a feeling of excitement into the air 3. how many people were already there! It quickly dawned on me that with all these people, the food may run out. I knew I had to be strategic. I only have two hands and obviously one was full with some of the free wine, liquor and beer being handed out. I moved quickly and made sure I got to each table... at least once.

I obviously cannot go into great detail about all the dishes I tried but there were a few that truly stood out:

* Flamed & Spiced Courvoisier Beef and Shrimp Skewers, by Executive Chef Darren Hendry of Bobby Van's Steakhouse
Delicious!! Anytime you mix a little meat with a little liquor, you are bound to create greatness. Definitely my favorite dish of the evening

* Burgers with Special Mojo Sauce from BGR: The Burger Joint
So simple. No frills. Just chalked full of taste. Because of my fast food background, I felt very comfortable holding a little slider burger. However, this was not your ordinary slider burger and the mojo sauce was off the chart

* Vanilla-Infused Pork Bellies from Executive Chef Clayton Miller of Trummer's On Main
Not big on pork but I ran into one of the Trummer's On Main chefs while at another table and he convinced me try it. Um... thank you kind sir for you are so very wise. If evolution is real, may we all hope that pigs begin to have the flavor of vanilla occur naturally within them.

* Cheesecake lollipops from Co Co Sala
Again, not big on deserts but when in Rome...(there were columns and everything! bad joke?). Thank goodness I did. Who doesn't love lollipops?!


Those are just a few notables but literally everything I put in my mouth was delicious. I had some octopus, crab, shrimp, lamb stew, foie gras, steaks, andouille sausage hot dogs and even beef tartar. However, it wasnt ALL about the food. There were a lot of wines and liquors to be had. My personal favorite was the Hibiscus Drink which included Grand Marinier, Woodford Reserve, some sour mix and of course, a little bit of Hibiscus flower. After two, I cut myself off. I didn't want to be the guy that falls into the fountain that is dangerously unassuming in the middle of the room.

Other than the food and drink, it was also a great event in terms of all the fun people there. I ran into a good friend from high school, a next door neighbor (who helped me remember where I got my favorite dishes! Thanks Kim!) and, of course, the star from The Top Chef, Bryan Voltaggio, who was really nice and let me get a picture with him and some of my friends.

All in all, the event was really a good time. I even got a great little goody bag full of coupons and fun paraphernalia from sponsors. The best part about the whole thing was that it was for a great cause. Special thanks are definitely in order to Share Our Strength, the organization who was responsible for this delicious and exciting event.

Now I need to go and lie down... Someone wake me up when its time for dinner... on Thursday.

Monday, April 12, 2010

new single from b.o.b. feat hayley williams (from paramore)



hayley williams is the hottest woman in punk rock. you can now go ahead and add rap as well.

a decade under the influence...

below is a press release regarding taking back sunday's new album and their new(old) lineup. s-t-o-k-e-d.


"TAKING BACK SUNDAY BEGIN WORK ON THEIR FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM
Reformed Line Up From Band’s First Full Length Release Set To Return
for a New Album, Touring

Burbank, CA – Warner Bros Records artists Taking Back Sunday have
begun work on their fifth studio album. The acclaimed New York rock
band has reformed, returning to the original line-up from their 2002
debut Tell All Your Friends, which has sold over one million records
worldwide, spawned breakthrough anthem “Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut from
the Team)" and launched the band as one of the most influential of its
generation.

Vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist Eddie Reyes and drummer Mark
O’Connell have reunited with vocalist/guitarist John Nolan and bass
player Shaun Cooper, who departed in 2003 after the release of Tell
All Your Friends. “This crazy idea came up and once we started
exploring it and talking on the phone it was almost like all that time
hadn't passed between us,” explains Lazzara. “Given the history and
the years that had passed, I don't think any of us really knew if
hanging out again let alone writing and playing together would
actually work. For it to feel so comfortable and effortless so quickly
made us realize that we had to give it a chance.”

Nolan describes his thoughts in a similar way. “I never would have
imagined that this group of people reuniting would be possible. Since
we parted ways we all went down very different paths and somehow
everything we've experienced individually over the past seven years
has brought us back to a point of genuine appreciation and love for
each other as people and musicians. There's a shared excitement and
enthusiasm within this group that I haven't experienced since the
early days of the band.”

Of the departure of bassist Matt Rubano and guitarist/vocalist Matt
Fazzi, a statement from Taking Back Sunday’s website sums it up;
“Sometimes it takes some time to remember where you were headed in the
first place and the people you intended to go there with. There are
no hard feelings, just the future.” Drummer O’Connell expressed that
the band has nothing but kind words for the departing members. “I wish
nothing but the best for Matt and Matt in the future. I know that they
will succeed in whatever they choose to do.”

Taking Back Sunday will be recording their fifth studio album in Los
Angeles this summer with producer Eric Valentine, who worked on their
previous album Louder Now. Plans are in the works for a handful of
exclusive preview shows in the near future and extensive touring as
soon as the album is finished. “I’m so glad this is happening,” says
Reyes, “because I can already hear something in the songs that reminds
me of why all of us were so passionate about this band to begin with.”

Just the future indeed."

Sunday, April 11, 2010

fantasy is the new reality: fantasy baseball 2010 baby!!


yes yes im well aware that this commercial was regarding fantasy football... but at the end of the day, im extremely obsessed with both and the idea is the same.

this week is big. its week one of my fantasy baseball league. im am so pumped. i will say though that fantasy baseball is a little intense, more so than football because there are so many games always going on. each team usually plays 5 to 6 games a week. that means every day something may have happened like an injury or a dramatic lead change requiring your attention. thus, you are forced to check your team multiple times a day.

is it annoying? absolutely not. im addicted and i love it.