My blog n'at

(click to watch on youtube)

This is probably the last year before they beat each other up over candy.

Anytime my hometown makes me do a *facepalm* I need to talk about it. Not saying we don’t do enough stupid things down here but you know… its home.

It’s no secret that WalMart loves the Erie area and I guess the people of Erie love it back. That would be the only reason why WalMart is now constructing a new $40 million Super WalMart less than 1/2 mile down the road from a current one. Shocked? Don’t be. A few years ago they did the same thing on Upper Peach in Erie.

According to GoErie.com the location will be 1/2 between Millfair and the Wegman’s driveway. Well that leaves a lot of land so thankfully the folks at YourErie.com have a more precise location. One that is right by the lovely The Cab bar. Wouldn’t shock me to see WalMart buy it and level it so they can keep their clean wholesome image *cough cough*.

I just don’t get it. Just about every WalMart in Erie is a Super WalMart except this one. The current building is next to a Wegman’s (which if you haven’t been to one is a fantastic grocery store) and since the zoning wouldn’t allow expansion to give them competition, because god forbid there is upscale shopping anywhere, Walmart is going to abandon yet another huge storefront and build a new one.

Before WalMart does this they should be required to find a tenant for the previous location that isn’t a Spirit Halloween or some fly by night Christmas store.

This is going to be the first Christmas with both boys and while I am looking forward to them opening gifts I stood in my basement tonight wondering where we’re going to fit everything.

Winter is starting to creep up which means their outside toys will be coming in and i need to find room in a basement that still has boxes we haven’t touched since moving.

I’ve been saying since the day we moved that I would work on the basement to throw out what I didn’t want or need. Problem now is that we keep accumulating stuff and just put it down there to look at later.

First thing I need to do is invest in more plastic totes since the cardboard boxes are falling apart. We don’t really have junk ourselves but the mess that Captain Obvious left us in the house is still there. I really would like to rip out the workbench to build an area for my recording equipment or I can wait about 6-12mo for Baby O to move into Teaspoon’s room. Realistically I know I’m never getting that room because Lushie will find some use for it.

I’d like to sat that if I had a week off of work I could get everything done but I know with the kids and wife here that can’t happen without someone having a meltdown.

For those of you that own houses and have kids, how do you make more room  or find time to go through the boxes already there?

Its videos like this that make me geek out when I think of what to brew.

La Citrueille Céleste de Citracado is a collaboration ale between Stone Brewing, The Bruery and Elysian Brewing made with pumpkin, yams, toasted fenugreek, lemon verbena and birch bark.

If you still drink the beer your dad did then you’re probably thinking to yourself  ”wtf spoon, why can’t you drink beer flavored beer”.  To which I say “leave me alone mom”

How on earth would anyone think that toasted fenugreek or lemon verbena would be a good idea? Easy, you start with a few simple ingredients and think of what will compliment it from there. These guys had an idea of what hey wanted to bring to the table and I applaud them for not making the same tired pumpkin beer that seems to have taken over the shelves.

Will we see any of this in Western PA? Probably very limited since beer doesn’t make it past Philly often but never fear because I’m sure that if anyone close does get it in you’ll have to travel to Vintage Estate (which if I haven’t told you before is WELL worth doing and making a day out of it in this craft beer shrine).

If any of my readers are homebrewers what’s the craziest thing you’ve made. If anyone says Durian I’m banning you right now.

Did you think I was kidding?

Last Friday I opened the fridge at work and found 4 cups of various meats. I asked around and found out the collection of pepperoni, capicola, salami and mystery meat came from a leftover meeting.

Not quite sure what the deal was but by lunch time I had so much sodium in me I was delusional which could only mean one thing. The 4th cup was unicorn meat.

The only thing that would have made this better would be…

(You Tube link NSFW – swearing)

He has a long career of making root beer in front of him.

I first met Jim a few years ago as a member of the elite softball squad known as Yinz Team and little did I know that the KDKA weather traffic reporter would become a great friend. When my kids were born Jim made sure we were OK. When times were tough during my layoff he was there as a shoulder to lean on and a bud to have a drink with.

Jim is Pittsburgh. He represents what makes this this city great from his charitable acts to all around kindness.  This city is truly losing a son and Boston is gaining a kickass person.

Thank you captain for always being kick ass and make sure I have a couch to crash on when St Patty’s day rolls around up there.

cheers!
spoon

Here is video of Jim’s sendoff from today

I need your help on something. “Should I Drink That?” is a finalist for the 2011 Podcast Awards and I need your help bringing the hardware home.  This is our 4th time in the last 5 years as finalists and have been honored that our fans have gotten us that far. Now its time to finish the job and here’s how,

1. Click the banner above or go to podcastawards.com
2. scroll down to Food & Drink and select Should I Drink That
3. go to the bottom and click submit

Tuesday was a day of burger enlightenment. It started with my observation that Consol Energy Center was was selling a $12.50 burger at a hockey game. Its bad enough that fans get gouged by high prices at sporting events across the country but even this seemed excessive.

At least this is what I thought.

Price is relative to your personal enjoyment and this burger changed the way I think. Most arena burgers are mass produced meat disks that even chains make fun of. That’s not the case here.

Commercial description:
8oz. Peppercorn Crusted Beef Burger with Horseradish Cheddar, Haystack Onions and Cabernet Sauce.

EIGHT OUNCES! That seems almost unheard of. The peppercorn crust not only added pop to my taste buds but locked in incredible flavor and juices. Horseradish cheddar provided a nice twang complimented by the Cabernet sauce. The addition of a generous serving of seasoned crisp chips makes this a complete meal.

Looking at the big picture $12.50 isn’t bad for a meal that will leave you stuffed in your seat. Throw in a root beer and you can gave an even $17.

You can pick this up at the Burgatory stand located by section 206 of Consol Energy Center.

I have this posted to my Foodspotting account. Feel free to nom it!

 Its been a long summer but the time has come.

Nothing else in Pittsburgh matters now but hockey.

DO IT!