Week of May 29, 2010

A bit of a late start here at The Amateur Mixologist this week.  I got back home around 11:15pm last night from the weekend's travel, and was in no shape for drinking. 

But, fear not - we'll be drinking two cocktails in this abbreviated week, one of which you'll be all-too familiar with, and the other, not so much.

First though, let's recap the weekend:

-  Dario Franchitti wins the Indianapolis 500.  I like him; I like his Scottish accent.  I hope he continues to win, so that we can listen to him talk.  And, Ashley Judd. 

-  Memorial Day.  To all our vets who have served, who currently serve, and those families that have made sacrifices in order that the rest of us be free - thank you.  We could raise our glasses in toast from here to eternity, and it wouldn't be enough. 

Photo blatently ripped from STL Post-Dispatch, all credit to their photographers.

-  Pujols hits 3 home runs in win over Cubs on Saturday.  He is good.

-  Stephen Strasburg debuts June 8, in a home game against the Pirates.  It's a little Inside Baseball to post this, I know, but Strasburg is likely to be one of the greats, provided he stays healthy and some calamity does not befall him. 

Soundtrack of the Week:  Free Energy "Stuck on Nothing."  I was fortunate to see them at the Bowery Ballroom on Saturday night, and they were great.  The album is a bit 70's revival rock and roll, and fun to listen to.  The band is comprised of former members of Hocky Night, a solid indie-band.  Good summer music.  Also, on Saturday night, a band called Jukebox the Ghost opened.  I had never heard their music prior to that evening, and they too were great (incredibly talented piano/singer frontman). 

Book Selection of the Week:  Netherland, by Joseph O'Neill.  Basic plot:  Dutchman moves to the States to follow his wife, who got a job in Manhattan.  The marriage suffers, and the Dutchman meets a curious gentleman with a dream of bringing cricket to the United States.  It is a melancholy book, one of self-discovery.  It's good, and not particularly long - maybe 270 pages.  And, this is the second book I've read in the last month or so that has featured a bad marriage as a main plot driver ("Safe from the Neighbors" being the other).

So what are we drinking this week?

- Tomorrow:  Margarita.  Listen, it's summer, it's hot weather - you're going to need something to cool you off.  This is a classic cocktail, that when done right, can't be beat.

- Thursday:  Cucumber Cooler.  You're going to LOVE this one.  Suggested by our friends over at Would I Buy It Again, we're going to look into a cucumber cocktail.  And I'm telling you, this is a top drink.  Don't miss it.

Friday is another travel day - for my close friends Jeremy and Samantha are getting married in Detroit (Rock City) this Saturday.   Exciting days ahead...until then my friends, drink well, and drink often.  Cheers!