Mid Point Music Festival

This past weekend was Mid Point Music Festival in Cincinnati!!  Easily one of my most favorite weekends of the year.

I actually kicked things off early by biking down to the Christian Moerlein beer hall downtown for the pre MPMF kick off party!  The Pass and Machines Are People Too played and it was fun to check out that venue since I didn't make it there for any shows during the actual festival.

Thursday night I was off on my bike and headed to Hillie's for a Chromeo pre-party.  She lives around the corner from Washington Park so it was perfect to hang out and drink before the show.

Then it was off to see Chromeo who put on a super fun and dancey show!  Afterwards, I had my only snafu of the weekend.  I got in a bike accident!  My front tire got caught on the street car track in the middle of the street and I bit it. Hard!  Luckily, my friend was right behind me to help me out!

Other bands I saw Thursday night:
River Whyless @ Arnold's 
Fathers @ the Know
Violent Mae @ the Know
The Almighty Get Down @ Mainstay

The Almighty Get Down... my MPMF favorite!!

Friday, I was back at it!  I biked again and had so much fun just bopping around.

Friday bands:
Real Estate @ Midway
Holy Ghost Tent Revival @ Arnold's
The Locals @ MOTR
Joshua Powell and the Great Train Robbery @ MOTR
Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands @ Pitifuls

Real Estate.

Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands.

I actually had every intention of making it out for night 3 but Josh and Ashley's wedding was too much fun!  Dancing all night long to the Turkeys made it worth missing a night.

Overall, so much fun wandering around and discovering new bands.  Can't wait until next year! 

Forecastle 2014

I went to Forecastle for my 3rd year in a row this past weekend. My first year I went for just 1 day in 2012, last year was a blast and I was looking forward to doing it again.

This year, the festival got turned into a little Bachelorette weekend for my friend, Abbey.  We stayed at the Galt House which was a few blocks from the grounds which worked out perfectly!  I was in for the whole weekend but there were a few girls that came for just a night or two. 

I love live music and was excited to check out some new-to-me bands and some old favorites.  Below is a list of everyone we saw.  Sometimes we stayed for the whole set, other times we just plopped down and listened to a song or two.  Outkast was definitely my favorite show of the entire weekend!  I didn't think I'd see a show as good as Beyonce and Jay Z this year but Big Boi and Andre 3000 gave Bey and Jay a run for their money.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.

Friday:
Gary Clark Jur.
Local Natives
Nightmares on Wax
Twenty One pilots
Spoon
OUTKAST!! 

Becca, Julie, Abbey & Kristen.  Waiting for the elevator after night 1.

Saturday:
Spanish Gold
Lord Huron
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Jason Isabel
Kygo
Band of Horses
Dwight Yokam
Jack White

Abbey, Jenn, Kristen, Becca and Jamie chilling on day 2.  We did a lot of lounging on the Mexican blankets!

Sunday:
Brett Dennen
Trampled by Turtles
Jenny Lewis
Nickel Creek
Tune-Yards
Ray Lamontagne
Beck

I'm already looking forward to next year!!

The bachelorette.

Fun Fact:
I puff about lot of good shows I go to but I am an equal opportunity concert goer! 
Mr. Louisville came to town last week with a few friends and I tagged along with them to the Def Leppard and KISS concert at Riverbend.  It was interesting!  I knew 2 songs the entire night.  Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Lep and Rock and Roll All Nite by Kiss.  But hey!  KISS is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  So, there's that.

Friday Five

1.  On the Run
I went to the Great American Ball Park a few weeks ago to see Beyonce and Jay Z.  It was the greatest live concert I've ever been to.  And I've been to a lot!!  The production was top notch and it was just so high energy and fun.  I went with Abbey and we had so much fun dancing the entire time.  Luckily, I was able to slip in my flask so sipping bourbon for the duration helped.

View from our seats.

2.  Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!
I've professed my love of Nordstrom a few times before but this sale hit the spot.  I had a delightful time shopping with my mom and was able to find lots of great things.  I decided to splurge on a black leather jacket for myself.  I'd never wish summer away but I can't wait to wear it!  

3.  How does your garden grow?
After much success last year pickling jalapenos from my parent's garden I requested kirby cucumbers this year.  My mom planted 4 little plants and the cucumbers are growing like wild fire!  I tried a few recipes for refrigerator pickles but wasn't too impressed.  My mom tried this recipe and they hit the spot so I made some as well.  I'm sure I'll be making many more batches before summer's end. 
Also, their sunflowers came up and are absolutely stunning. It's so nice to pop over there to get fresh flowers that last a few weeks to keep in my house!

Care for a pickle?

4.  Charlotte Rose
When I was in San Francisco I popped into a little shop one day to get a gift for my favorite niece.  I had to stop myself from getting one of the gorgeous stacking blocks because she's just too young for them yet and I've been on a roll getting her things she loves!  Instead I got a little sunni rattle for her. Success!

5.  4th of July
I had a very low-key holiday this year but it was perfect.  Spent the day poolside with friends until Mr. L arrived in the late afternoon.

This summer is flying by.  Hope you are enjoying yours!

Forecastle 2013

Since the weddings have wrapped up for the summer it was time for a music festival!  I went to Louisville this past weekend for Forecastle.  Last year I went for one day only and then to Bunbury for a day which is a festival the same weekend in Cincinnati.  This year I decided to stay for the whole Forecastle weekend.

Friday night. Kristen, Jenny, Lauren and I.

The first night we saw Big Boi (best show of the weekend?) and Houndmouth.

Morning after.

The next morning we went to Hillbilly Tea for brunch which was disappointing.
J and K left to head home for Bunbury but Lauren and I stayed. 
We walked to the Flea off Market to visit my friend, Katie at her Bourbon Built tent!  I bought a koozie that I used the rest of the weekend and got many compliments on. Spoiler alert!  I foresee many bourbon built gifts for friends and family this year.

Bourbon Built.

Katie and I. Twice in 1 month!

We poked around the market and I had the most amazing burger at Grind which totally made up for the bad brunch!  We also had the most delicious treats from Please & Thank You.

Then it was back to the hotel to get ready for the second day.

Sidebar in NKY just closed but we found one on our walk to the festival!

Day two notable bands we saw were Dawes, Alabama Shakes and Jim James.  LOVED me some Alabama Shakes!

Lauren and I. Day 3.

The third and final day was a hot one!  But we checked out of our hotel and headed straight to the festival. 
We saw Tift Merritt, Bombino, The Wheeler Brothers, El-P & Killer Mike, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Forecastle Incident, Robert Plant presents the Sensational Space Shifters and the Avett Brothers.

I was most excited to see Robert Plant being the huge Zeppelin fan I am.  He didn't disappoint!  Unfortunately, a HUGE storm rolled through so he had to cut his set short.

My friend Paul is a member of Avett Brothers and he met Lauren and I early in the afternoon and caught most of the shows during the day with us. Other friends of mine were able to come down Sunday night for the Plant and Avett shows so we got a group photo with Paul. 

Justin and Brandon.
Myself, Grace, Natalie, Lauren and Paul.

A super bitchin' weekend for sure!  Next up, Phish in Chicago for three nights!  I can never get enough of fun summer music, don't you agree?

Food, friends and music

This new house is keeping me busy!  I'm having my big housewarming shindig this weekend and I'll do a post on that soon including a little house tour for my friends and family far away.  Until then, I'll focus on what I've been up to.. which is mostly just food, friends and music.

Eli's BBQ

Oh my gosh you guys.  This BBQ is so good!  A few weeks ago it was my friend, Zach's, 30th Birthday!  I had folks over and got their BBQ pork and mac & cheese.  Good grief it's so good.  I also made some jalapeno cheddar cornbread and coleslaw.  We had such a good time and it was so fun to host a delicious, casual dinner party.  The first in my new house! 

Kyle! Myself and Zach, the birthday boy man!

It was so good I did the same thing the next weekend for my mom's birthday!  I had my mom, dad, molly&ryan and eli over on Saturday, March 9.  I picked up the BBQ and mac & cheese, made a more traditional coleslaw and that same cornbread.  But the big deal were the snickerdoodle blondies and salted caramel brownies. It was my mom's birthday after all :)
I have made about 4 or 5 batches of those blondies since then for co-workers and friends because they are seriously the best thing I've baked all year and I get mad compliments on them.


Music

As always, seeing lots of live music.  Man Man, Murder By Death and Tillers all at the Southgate House.  Super Massive and Sligthly Stoopid at The Madison. 
Also excited to be planning my summer which is filling up fast with the Forecastle Music Festival and of course some Phish.

The Southgate House

One of the reasons I love living in Newport is because of the Southgate House.  It's one of the best places to see live music and I can walk there.
The venue closed it's doors January 1, 2012 and reopened a few months later with new Management as the Thompson House.  Apparently there was some family drama.  I have yet to go since it's changed but here are some of my highlights when it was the Southgate House:

• Newbees recording their live CD with the Turkeys on the Eve before Thanksgiving
• Rivertown Breakdown
• Rusted Root
• Toubab Krewe
• Tillers, Seedy Seeds and Newbees 3 day binge the week they were closing
• SO MANY MORE!

Former Southgate House... now it's the Thompson House

Southgate House Revival

Now, after nearly a year of waiting the Southgate House opened up in some new digs and it happens to be closer than the old location!  It's grand.  I love it.  I've already been to a handful of shows and can't wait for more.  My only problem is deciding if I should call it the Revival or the Southgate House or the Southgate House Revival. 

• Hot Buttered Rum
• Hickory Robot

• Tillers CD Release (for the CD they recorded during the last week the old location was open)
• James McMurtry

Now, on the eve before Thanksgiving the Newbees will be playing a CD release party with the Turkeys. Full circle, my friends. 

MPMF

This past weekend I attended Midpoint Music Festival in Cincinnati.  This was my third year going and it's easily one of my favorite weekends of the year.

2010 Highlight - Seeing the Tom Tom Club at Grammer's.
2011 Highlight - Scoring free VIP passes through work!  Dancing with Bootsy Collins at a pre-party. Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three.  Two Man Gentleman Band with the Brothers G.

2012 Highlight - Ending the three day event dancing at Japps.

There are tons of bands that played and here is a list of what I can remember seeing.

Thursday
Here we go Magic
Andrew Bird
The Brown James
Two Man Gentleman Band
Billy Two Shoes
Lord Huron

Friday
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Grizzly Bear
Could Nothings
Cin City Burlesque
Dinosaur Jr.
Kansas Bible Company

Saturday
Swear and Shake
The Damn Choir
The Walkmen
The Woods
Holy Ghost Tent Revival
Dirty Bourbon River Show

I know I saw some more whether we popped in for a song or two or caught a band performing on the street before their gig. Either way it was a hell of a weekend in Cincinnati.