The Avett Brothers ... Live In Concert

Live music makes me extremely happy, especially when it's the music of one of my favorite bands - The Avett Brothers! 

My sister and I made the three hour drive to Lifestyles Community Pavilion in Columbus, OH to see The Avett Brothers for the first time. My sister is actually the person who turned me onto this folk rock band, and I couldn't be more grateful!

 

Some background on the band ... The Avett Brothers are out of North Carolina and include two brothers and three other fellows. Between them they play the banjo, guitar, stand up bass, cello and drums. Their sound is said to combine bluegrass, country, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, honky tonk, and ragtime ... sounds like a party, huh?

 

The band is so genuine - the lyrics and music just seem so real. There is no giant, over the top production necessary to showcase the brilliant voices and instrument playing of the band. Their vibe just really vibes with me - laid back at times, energetic at times and chill. The music simply puts a smile on my face!

For starters, Lifestyles Community Pavilion in Columbus was the perfect venue for the show. It is an intimate outdoor venue with lawn seating and standing room only - the music carried well and there didn't seem to be a bad seat in the house ... throw in Shock Top and 312 on tap and delicious pizza by the slice - we couldn't have asked for a better venue! The city of Columbus itself seemed pretty cool too though we didn't have much time to explore - several restaurants lined the well maintained and landscaped  streets.

The show itself was fantastic! The band played both old and new songs, a nice blend of slower and more uptempo music. The band's vocals were spot on. It is amazing to me how talented the guys are - guitar, banjo, cello, piano, drums ... they really showcased their skills. They even slowed down the pace and sang a hymn - pretty cool! Plus, the crazy legs and dancing by the band was pure entertainment!

 

The crowd was great too! There is nothing like a large group of people, singing lyrics at the top of their lungs along with the band, fists in the air, enjoying the show. That moment when the stage lights turn toward the crowd and encourage the audience to sing it out always gives my goosebumps!

 

The stage was set with a background image that changed and nice lighting effects. It really complimented the performance.

This show was a great experience, and I loved sharing this experience with my sister - great company, great music, great venue! Seeing one of your favorite bands live certainly strengthens your connection to their music. You begin to appreciate their craft even more and begin to love the band as individuals even more. There is just something about a great show that lifts your spirits and leaves you feeling a bit giddy!

By no means do I find it appropriate to force my love for a band on anyone else - music is very personal and subjective. But if you think you might be into incredible folk rock music, check out The Avett Brothers! More importantly, consider seeing YOUR favorite band live, if you haven't already, it should be an experience to remember!

DIY Shell Jewelry ... Straight From The Beach!

From our recent trip to Puerto Rico we brought back long lasting memories, a ton of pictures and videos and ... shells! The beaches are so beautiful in PR, and the shells on those beaches are equally as beautiful. I do not have an affection towards shells naturally, but I thought I should collect a few during our vacation and create one-of-a-kind treasures with them ... I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, but I had a feeling that jewelry might be the treasure ... And it was!

First I made a shell bracelet - It took some troubleshooting, but I finally landed on my final design below.

I used 1 medium-sized shell in my design - the shell already had a hole through the center of it making it perfect to thread wire through. I used approximately 13" of 18 gauge wire, folded it in half, threaded the wire through the shell and wrapped one end of the folded wire around the shell to secure it in place. I then used the remaining wire to create the bracelet part. Lastly, I wrapped a bead in the end of each side of the wire to create a clasp.

I didn't want the look of the bracelet to be too island-like. Remember those white shell necklaces that were so popular in the 90s - well, I wasn't trying to resurrect that gem! The island look isn't my vibe, so I incorporated a good amount of wire and one larger shell to give it more modern flare!

I also created two necklaces ... again, after a bit of troubleshooting. The first is a three-tiered long shell necklace threaded with silver chain.

I like the way the dainty shells cascade down the chain, almost creating a floating effect. All I used is chain, 3 shells and 4 jump rings. The underneath side of each shell rests on a jump ring that connects a length of chain, a shell and then another jump ring. As I said before, each shell already had a small hole through the center making it ideal for threading.

The second necklace is simply 1 small shell knotted in a black metallic chain - simple and elegant due to the sparkle of the chain - I quite enjoy the casual shell combined with a dressier chain!

I enjoyed being creative while creating these treasures and allowing my inspiration to be drawn from the shape and size of the shells - not replicating an existing design or forcing the shells into a pre-determined composition. The end results are 3 original designs incorporating items from one of our memorable vacations giving me a nice reminder of the beach, water and activities that we experienced on our trip!   

I mean, who wouldn't want to be consistently reminded of paradise!


Don't forget to subscribe to my blog if you like what you read - simply submit your email address in the field above to begin receiving my blog posts via email.

Fat Dan's Deli 3/4

My sister and I tried Fat Dan's Deli here in Indy at 54th and College yesterday for lunch, http://www.fatdansdeli.com/index.php. The deli is intended to be a Chicago-style deli and pub serving Chicago food and craft beers and wine. They have a "No Bull. No Chain. No Gimmicks" tag line. The Chicago theme was evident by the Cubs and Bears flags flying outside the restaurant.

The menu is written on large chalkboards on the wall (or a printed version is available if you need it). The atmosphere on the inside of the deli was clean and fairly simple and there is outdoor seating, which I love! Upon arrival, the waitress told us to have a seat anywhere, so we grabbed a table outside and the waitress came out and took our order. The menu is somewhat vast - burgers, pork, deli sandwiches, Chicago beef and side dishes. They also have beer and wine, but we didn't partake since we were on our lunch break!

We decided to split "The Chicago Dog", the "Not-so-Fat Black Bean Burger" and the "Best fries in the universe". I felt "The Chicago Dog" was appropriate for the theme, and we both like a good veggie burger. Our food was delivered to our table pretty quick by the friendly waitress.

"The Chicago Dog" was good, pretty standard - hot dog, bun, relish, mustard and a pickle spear on top. The "Not-so-Fat Black Bean Burger", on the other hand, was a bit more original, in a good way. A compact patty of beans and veggies on a toasted, buttery bun - the bun really set the sandwich a part from other veggie burgers. The overall taste and texture was perfect! The "Best fries in the universe" did not really live up to their name though they were good. The fries were a mixture of cut and sliced potatoes, quite unique, and they made for a nice presentation.

Our food was delivered on a paper mat - two individually wrapped main courses with a mountain of fries in between. Again, the presentation was unique and, in my opinion, a fun way to serve the food. We set outside enjoying the hustle and bustle of Broad Ripple, the tasty food and good conversation!

Here is how this experience stacks up based on my 1-4 rating system - 4 being the best:

Food: 3
The food was really good, especially the "Not-so-Fat Black Bean Burger". The fries were unconventional - the mixture of cut and sliced potatoes was like nothing I have seen before. The hot dog was pretty typical.

Atmosphere: 3
While we didn't see much of the inside of the deli, the outside seating was nice and the location was convenient. It was a casual environment without the bells and whistles which is the intended nature of the laid back deli.

Price: 2.75
The price was ok. The hot dog was cheap, $4.75 and the fries were $3.75 for that huge portion. The sandwich was $7.75, so a little high. Overall, we ate for $12 a person including tip. The only issue was that we thought we were ordering a $9.50 special which included the burger, fries and drink but found out when we got our bill that our particular burger was not part of the special.

Uniqueness: 3.25
I thought the presentation of the food and some of the menu items were unique. The Chicago-style deli in general is fairly unique as well.

Service: 3
The service was prompt, friendly and courteous.

Overall Average: 3
The overall score is above average thanks to the uniqueness. The experience was great. I am really happy that we tried this new place. 


I would recommend Fat Dan's Deli for a quick lunch during the work week or a Saturday so you can try their beers - they featured Goose Island, a Chicago-style craft beer, on their signage which is a good one! There is nothing fancy about the décor of this place which allows more focus to be put on the food and drink as it should be. I think I will add this deli to one of my regular lunch spots, the menu has so many good options that I can't wait to try!

Puerto Rico - Day 6

We had a lazy day of vacation on day 6 - which everyone should enjoy every now and again. We hit the beach and the pool and took it easy!

We did a lot of boogie boarding which was a blast! Aaron was determined to find the perfect waves to shoot him to the shoreline, and I got some good distance on the waves I rode. You can't beat our location - private beach, pool, an apartment with air conditioning in case you need to cool down - we have had it made on this vacation!

Unfortunately this trip is wrapping up and we have to return home :( We have had awesome experiences - some adventure, great food, lots of sun and sand and a bit of relaxation! We truly took advantage of our environment exploring a variety of areas and trying to engross ourselves a bit in the Puerto Rican culture.

We learned that dogs and cats run wild here but don't really seem to bother the people - there were precious dogs sleeping on the side walks! We learned that people ride horses around the streets for transportation and that it's not uncommon for a herd of cows to be roaming the roads and people yards - you just have to wait for them to get out if your lane before you drive by! We learned that private school buses make it a competition to see whose bus is more tricked out - chrome and decals and lights galore! We learned that lanes and traffic signals are merely a suggestion for Puerto Rican drivers and Burger King and Church's Chicken are on every corner. We learned the hard way that EVERYTHING in the small towns are closed on Mother's Day including Walmart! While the language barrier was a bit challenging at times, we learned that most of the locals were happy to help us even though our Spanish is not strong at all! We also learned that PR is a fantastic vacation spot and it would be hard to become bored due to it's diverse landscapes and pristine beaches!

My favorite types of vacations are those where we live out each moment to the fullest and push ourselves a but out our comfort zones at times, which we did on this trip. We now have memories that we will never forget and that, right there, is priceless!

Puerto Rico - Day 5

We discovered the gorgeous beaches of the northwest part of the island in Isabella - definitely a postcard area! We swam at one beach, then drove into town where we ate at a lively outdoor restaurant. There were lots of people gathered around a small building with outdoor grills drinking, eating and dancing to music. We ordered chicken and beef on a stick with hot sauce and enjoyed the delicious meal on the beach! It was a really authentic Puerto Rican place - the loud music and gathering of people seemed to give insight into the laid back culture!

We then visited a beach with sand dunes - it too was beautiful. We climbed in the rocks and admired the beauty of the enormous ocean!

After the beach we headed into old San Juan. We viewed the fort and loved the vibe of the colorful city. The fort, Castillo de San Cristóbal, was built in 1783 by Spain to protect the city. The history behind the fort is amazing. The structure against the skyline was illuminated by the sun highlighting the architecture!

We walked around, took some pictures and did some shopping. While we were eating it decided to start raining and the city was flooded in spots! There was rain up to your knees in some intersections! The architecture and beauty of the buildings was a site to see even in the rain!

Puerto Rico - Day 4

We explored the beaches and city center in Ponce. Ponce is the second most populated city on the island and is located on the southern part of the island.

La Guancha Boardwalk, facing the Caribbean Sea, was beautiful - there is a marina, an observation tower and plenty of public space overlooking the water. This part of Ponce reminds me of the classic California beach town. There were restaurants and bars sprinkled throughout the sunny public boardwalk - it was clean, bright and well constructed. There were big pelicans that approaches us with no reservation and giant fish in the shallow water.

We also walked through the city center which was lively with shops and restaurants galore. The architecture was detailed and painted in bright colors. We saw the old red and black striped fire station and the gorgeous Ponce Cathedral. We ate at a little cafe where we tried empanadillas, crescent-shaped turnovers - one filled with chicken and one with ground beef - and dumplones. We were impressed by the simple yet delicious food!

Our night was filled with a Bio Bay tour in
Vieques along the Caribbean coast. It is one of the most spectacular Bioluminescent Bays in the world. A blue-green light is created by micro-organisms which thrive in an environment uniquely suited to their needs. When the water is agitated by the boat, fish or rain it glows! Our tour began with a power boat ride to the island, followed by dinner at a restaurant in Vieques, followed by a scary bus ride to the bay. We essentially went off roading in a school bus painted black with no door! Once we got to the bay we boarded a pontoon boat that took us out into the bay. The motors illuminated the microorganisms as well as a few fishes swimming around the boat - a sting ray swimming by caused the most amount of illumination! I volunteered to emerge myself in the water to show everyone on the tour how swimming in the water would also illuminate it - I did water angels which caused a glow all around my body! On the boat, the guides also poured two buckets full of the water over my head down my body so it looked like I was glowing! It was a pretty cool experience though our cameras could not capture the illumination, so no pictures :(

Today we are off to Old San Juan and the beaches on the Northwest side on the island for some more great experiences!

Puerto Rico - Day 3

Today we took an East Island Excursion to Cayo Icacos and Isla Palominos. A power boat took us to Icacos where we spent 2 hours exploring the island and practicing our snorkeling which was our second stop. This island and all of the neighboring islands were truly paradise! The water is the perfect shades of blue and green, clear and clean. The sand of the beaches is white with a bit of red mixed in - beautiful! The islands we explored today are secluded so people are not living on them altering their natural beauty!

The second stop was snorkeling in a coral reef - as some of you may know, I am not a strong swimmer but I wasn't going to miss out on seeing the fish so I just went for it! Once I got my breathing down, I was good to go - we saw a bunch of fish, mostly medium-sized striped ones. I loved being able to get a look at the beautiful life under the beautiful water.

The third stop was Isla Palominos - a little tiny island but still breathtaking! We snorkeled a bit more here and explored the beach.

This excursion, including the boat ride, will be pretty hard to beat. The water, the sand, the fish, the staff, the unlimited pina coladas, the lunch and fresh fruit - we had so much fun!

Puerto Rico - Day 2

We went zip lining in El Yunque, the rainforest on the island. It was a great experience! First of all, we were greeted, instructed and guided by two very knowledgeable and funny guides who not only knew zip lining but had master's degrees in biology and geology - we completed 5 zip lines, one repel and hiked In the rain forest for several miles. The zip lining tour was 3 hours in total.

I volunteered to be the first of our group of 7 to take the plunge, so I jumped up on my first platform - harness securely fastened - the guide attached me to the line and off I went! I was soaring over the trees and taking in breathtaking views of the forest!

The zip lining was not scary at all - I simply set down in my harness and let the equipment do its thing - I even went hands free a few times - just dangling there! It was actually peaceful! I didn't zip quite as fast as I thought I would but this adventure was more about the view of the beautiful trees, flowers and plants than the quickness of my zip line!

We zip lined into the rain forest and through it, hiking along the way. The guides stopped and explained some of the trees, rocks and insects. We saw a snail eating a mango and I held a millipede. It appropriately rained in the rain forest during our tour but that didn't prohibit us from zipping!

After the tour, we drove to the reserve and saw a beautiful 85 ft waterfall, La Coca Falls and did some more sightseeing in the rain forest - everything was beautiful! I particularly liked the bright colored flowers throughout. There are no big predators in the rain forest - no cats or monkeys - lots of birds, insects and such.

We ended our day back in Arroyo where we walked out the back door of the apartment where we are staying and onto the beach for some relaxation!

We hit up another local restaurant for dinner and tried the local specialty, mofongo rellenos - mashed plantains filled with your choice of meat and sauce - we got shrimp and steak. The plantains are not super flavorful so the garlic sauce poured over the dish helped give it was taste. It was an excellent meal enjoyed in a restaurant that sat right on the water!

If only everyday of my life could be like this day - adventure followed by relaxation and good food = perfection!

Puerto Rico - Day 1

It's day 1 of our trip to Puerto Rico! We are just settling in tonight, staying with a friend in Arroyo on the Southside of the island.

After getting our rental car and buying some necessities, we headed to dinner to try some local food at an outdoor restaurant. We had tostones (fried plantains) and mofongo (mashed plantains) - dined along side some friendly frogs and lizards! We really liked the food we tried - can't wait to try more local specialties!

We start our adventure with zip lining in the rain forest tomorrow - more posts to come! Let the fun times begin!

Kentucky Derby - What a Trip!

Our trip to the Kentucky Derby this past Saturday was quite the experience! This was the first Kentucky Derby event that I had been to. When I thought about this prestigious horse race, I dreamed of big hats, cute dresses, mint juleps, horse racing and winning big! That is not exactly how the day ended up, but fun was still had by all!

We rented a 16 passenger bus to shuttle us to Churchill Downs ... the day started out great!

We knew the day of the race that rain was in the forecast. So right away my dream of the big hat and cute dress was immediately altered. A warmer, more rain-friendly attire was in order but that wasn't going to stop us!

The bus ride down was perfect - two hours of friends, fun, card games, food and drinks! As we got closer to Louisville the rain began, but, again, that wasn't going to stop us!

Once we got to the race track, we removed our cute hats and layered on the rain coats and ponchos ... it was pouring rain! Out tickets were for the infield where there is little to no shelter - no umbrellas were allowed in, so being soaking wet was inevitable - we just had to embrace it!

I decided that I was just going to make the best of the weather, so I joined a drumline (we played We Will Rock You).

Then, it happened ... I somehow decided it was a good idea to join others in doing a mudslide ... no, not drinking a mudslide ... but sliding on my belly through the mud and puddles. When in Rome, right?

Well, after a few hours in the cold and rain, we FINALLY couldn't take the weather anymore. It became a bit unbearable, and we were freezing! We ended up traveling back to our bus before the race even started!

It was disappointing that we were at the Kentucky Derby and didn't even see the horse race in person, but we did listen to it on the bus! If I go back, I would definitely pay for a seat where shelter from the elements is an option and where I could wear my cute dress and hat making for a more refined experience. I think this option would be a safer bet, a bit more about the race, less about the party. The infield, rain or shine, definitely catered to the party crowd. I do think that it was worth having the experience in the infield and can see how paying for a better seat might be worth it for a future experience!

So ... my dream of big hats, cute dresses, mint juleps, horse racing and winning big turned into rain, a drumline, rain, a mudslide, rain, no mint julep, rain, no horse race and no winning big! BUT, I had a blast!

What is that phrase people use, When life gives you lemons, do a mudslide! Done and done!