Triple weekend got under way at Lakefront Brewery on Friday night.

The polka action must have made me dizzy because I forgot my debit card at the bar.  [I called today to inquire about the green Associated card with the corner torn off.  Classy.]    Rachel, luckily, did not forget to be tall and Jeremy brought his boyish good looks.   So boyish, in fact, a bartender at a subsequent drinking establishment, after checking his license muttered “way off” to himself.  I think this was the same door guy who welcomed Whitney back as a regular even though we’ve never been there before and he still doesn’t live in Milwaukee.

Other than losing Shelly, nothing major stood in the way of having 3x the fun so we headed to Chicago on Saturday.  It marked my first Amtrak ride since the 42 hour death ride of ‘06.  The train was Rastafarian/Amish-free but I still couldn’t relax until crossing the IL border.

From that point on, the only two things that could calm my nerves were a trip to a bar filled with dogs and tons of tiny tapas bites.

Step one: find a bar with lots of random dogs in it; pet them.  Check.

This dog is giving me the stink eye because he likes me.   He and his basset hound friend were accompanied by at least three other random dogs.  No leashes, no explanations, no regrets.   The owners were nowhere to be found when they started howling at us for our cookies but I didn’t mind.

Step two: drink Sangria by the bushel* while waiting for a table at Cafe Iberico.  Then eat things like “grilled sea scallops with saffron sauce” and “baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce.”  Check.

We also stumbled upon a new game.  It was nameless until now, so I’ll call it “El Pulpo.”  Here’s how you should play — go around the table and say any spanish word you can think of.  Keep it up until someone can’t go and then try it with French and German.  The erratic results are hilarious — Sacapunta!  Gato!  Autobús!  Finish by scraping the pan and yelling “paella!”

*1 Bushel = 4 Pecks, 1 Peck = 2 gallons

*

Der spanische Radiosender Cadena 100 bat am 25. April zum alljährlichen Wohltätigkeitskonzert in Madrid, das den selbstbewussten Namen “Noche de los números 1″ trägt. Wer an spanischer Musik interessiert ist und drei Stunden Zeit hat, kann sich das Konzert hier zu Gemüte führen:

Mit dabei waren: Taxi, The Fray, The Lost Fingers, Amaia Montero, Tiziano Ferro, Revólver, Amaral, Jarabedepalo, und Manolo García (in genau DER Reihenfolge).

[Für alle unter Zeitmangel leidenden Jarabedepalo-Fans sei an dieser Stelle erwähnt, dass ihre Bühnenzeit zwischen 1:44 h und 2:19 h auf Zelluloid gebannt ist. HIER KLICKEN.]

También en la Playa de La Barrosa nos encontramos este local chiclanero regentado por gallegos, llama la atención encontrar navajas, mejillones, zamburiñas, pulpo… todo ello del Cantábrico, en pleno estrecho.

El sitio es pequeño y suele estar bastante lleno, debido al éxito de los productos, difíciles de encontrar en esta zona. El servicio es muy amable, aconsejan y son eficientes.

La carta es bastante reducida, en una pizarra suelen poner las cosas que tienen ese día traídas del norte, nosotros destacamos los mejillones al vapor que son exquisitos y el pulpo a la gallega que es también de los mejores que hemos comido.

Los precios son muy diferentes a los del norte, es pescado del norte a precios del Sur, con 20 euros por persona puedes comer bien, a base de productos de calidad. Es otro de nuestros sitios sureños habituales.

ENTORNO: 4

SERVICIO: 6.5

GASTRONOMÍA: 7.5

PRECIO: 7

CALIDAD/PRECIO: 7

I’m going on holiday for a bit, first to NC to visit the fam, then with them to Panama City Beach. So here’s wishing everyone a splendid holiday and prosperous new year! I leave you with a wintery mix entitled “merry eskimas.” Enjoy!

Roman Candle – Winterlight (.mp3)
Au Revoir Simone – The Winter Song (.mp3)
Fountains of Wayne – Valley Winter Song (.mp3)
Yo La Tengo – Winter A Go-Go (.mp3)
Beat Happening – Christmas (.mp3)
Tom Waits – Silent Night Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis (.mp3)
Pixies – Winterlong (.mp3)
Josh Rouse – Winter in the Hamptons (.mp3)
Okkervil River – Listening to Otis Redding During Christmas (.mp3)
Red House Painters – Sundays and Holidays (.mp3)
Easy Anthems – O Holy Night (.mp3)
Josh Rouse – Christmas With Jesus (.mp3)
El Pulpo – Last Christmas (.mp3)