MitchW

Townes! John Prince!! Leonard Cohen!!!

We've eaten at Smithereens a couple of times, and quite like it. But I have to wonder - do they time their reviews to come out around the same time, because Grub Street (that is, Matthew Schneier) reviewed Smithereens two weeks ago...https://www.grubstreet.com/article/smithereens-nyc-restaurant-review.html Gael Greene (RIP) is certainly rolling over in her grave.

I'd love for the temperature to be like this at all times, except when it is supposed to be colder. Any time the temperature approaches 80° here, I wish I was in San Francisco.

What about some Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo?

Hinds, Hinds, Hinds (and Wet Leg)

I'm sure he wears ear protection...headset or earplugs?

Chicken scarpariello. Chicken (on the plate above, a wing and a leg), potatoes, Italian sausage, onions, garlic, cherry peppers, white wine, chicken stock, parsley.

We hadn't been to a show in Asbury Park in quite some time, but drove down yesterday for a show last night. It was at the Transparent Clinch Gallery, photographer Danny Clinch's gallery, performance space, and as he put it, Asbury Park's living room. For a show, the place holds somewhere around 65-75 people. Alejandro Escovedo - and that's James Mastro (of The Bongos) on lead guitar.

In my unending effort to wait until the final week of a show... It was astounding.

You see, I was never that good at algebra geometry trig math! Then again, the opportunity cost might be better by getting the one from MTC!

MIne doesn't have a brand on it. so I'm guessing I bought it in a restaurant supply place, as @backyardchef mentions above. Winco works. The restaurant supply store on Lafayette, at Houston, should have them.

Here's the last time he performed it live - 2016, at The Meadowlands...

And this is kinda cool too...Petroglyph National Monument, as is the Pueblo Cultural Center.

I actually like Gloucester a lot - and a little further up, Newburyport and Rockport as well (that's Cape Ann). Good art colony in Gloucester. I think if you went all the way out to Provincetown, or even as far as Wellfleet, I think you'd remember. If you do get to ABQ, don't go all breaking bad on us.

The Mekons (who we saw a couple of weeks ago at the packed Bowery Ballroom) did a tiny desk concert for NPR. How they fit them all in there is beyond me. "The world is doomed, but at least we've got the Mekons. For nearly 50 years, the British punk band has always done things its own way — out of stubbornness, survival or maybe a little bit of both. That snaggled-toothed sneer and smile, with some bittersweet sentimentality swirled in, can soundtrack any moment, but especially when everything feels fraught." Tiny Desk Concert

Manfred Mann, or Bruce?

Even cheaper at MTC Kitchen, here in Manhattan! https://mtckitchen.com/products/sarashi-cotton-cloth-alternative-to-paper-towels-12-8-x-330-7?_pos=1&_sid=352881513&_ss=r

Yep - they've cut back the Pop + Dutch hours to only lunch (no more breakfast) and Ladyslipper is 6 days a week (closed Mondays). the plan is for Ladyslipper to remain open almost year-round, with obviously reduced hours in the winter (like maybe only weekends). Evidently, Ladyslipper is rocking. We hope to go up mid-October (already have our res at the Red Inn), but maybe we'll move it to Thanksgiving. Remains to be seen.

Just a few notes on a few of the places above - places I've been to, obviously. Albuquerque - 3 or 4 times. Why? If you do go, The Frontier is a must, as is Duran's. Santa Fe - on the other hand, a lovely place. You gotta drive to get there. Richmond - good museum, a little nicer than I expected. A long weekend is plenty. Pittsburgh - 2 or 3 times. Excellent museums, National Aviary is a must if you're at all a fan of birds, and a bit prettier than I expected. Madison/Milwaukee - not a bad duo, especially if coming from Chicago. And paying one's respects to Otis Redding is a worthy thing. Lake Tahoe - many times, mostly during ski season. Even though I don't ski, I did gamble back in the day. The lake is gorgeous. Knoxville - pretty little town, but probably best combined with somewhere else like Memphis or Murfreesboro (for the 'cue). Assuming you've been to Nashville. Burlington - 5+ times. We like it, right on the lake it's lovely. And from there, a mere 100 miles to Montreal! Provincetown - you should know it's not a city, just a town. Very artsy, very queer, very crowded in the summer. But it's the end of this continent, it's freakin' gorgeous, and there is nowhere else quite like it (Key West is as close to it as I've seen, but I avoid Florida now that my parents are gone). If you do get to Provincetown, this may be of some help...and our niece and nephew get not one, but two mentions for their two places! The Top Restaurants in Provincetown Right Now

Yes, I forgot about that place...we had an excellent meal. Be slightly forewarned though - if you're staying on the plateau or in Mile End, for example, it's a bit far away.

I must have walked by this place a hundred times, but had never stopped in until Saturday, after an excursion to the greenmarket: Only there since 1908. I picked up a few things, including a box of cheese ravioli. And for dinner tonight: Cheese ravioli with burst sungold tomatoes, butter, parmesan, parsley and chives. Pretty damn good.

I seriously think you'll need the final, occasional filtering if you're going for absolutely clear broth. I like @splinky's idea as well; a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. It's quite simple to rinse and dry out the cheesecloth.

Wow - in that case, purchase away. However, I don't know that a chinois will give you clear soups; I know it will give you smooth soups. What about a Spinzall? (Kinda kidding with this one).

They clean up pretty easy in the dishwasher. But instead of spending that much of something you may use once a year, I'd suggest buying the cheesecloth.

Nothing more recent from me, but you really should try to get to Mon Lapin.