I had a bunch of fun "Fresno Firsts" this weekend. It wasn't all firsts, as you'll see below, but there were some good ones.
Read up, then share your weekend adventures in the comments.
SUNDAY
- Went to Maxx Putt, the glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course, for the first time. I was probably more excited about this than the 3-year-old whose birthday party I was attending. I thought that place was awesome and if I was 8 I would think it was 10x more awesome. In addition to mini golf, they also got this thing called Balladium, that's kinda like Assault on "American Gladiators." I smell a new event for Blogger Olympics.
- I bought my first tree. Special slogan shout out to Belmont Nursery, whose sign said "Bot any plants lately?" I heartily chuckled at that.
SATURDAY
- I totally did my part to stimulate the local economy by shopping pretty much all day. The only Fresno First I've been able to flush out was that it was my first time going inside a Chick-Fil-A. That's not all that exciting, but it was a first.
- BBQ and Boom Blox = Good times ... though Boom Blox will leave your arm sooooore.
FRIDAY
- As some of you might know, I'm not exactly Mr. Foodie, I'm more Mr. Taco Truck. Yet, I found myself at fancy dining spot Trelio for the first time on Friday night. And let me just tell ya ... wow ... phenomenal. I recommend the ostrich.
- Palomino's was fun as always -- on this particular Friday it was tribute to A Tribe Called Quest night. Highlight: A guy telling me how I left my wallet where he worked while "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" was playing.
YOUR TURN
What did you do this weekend? Where did you go? What did you eat? Give us all the great local details.
At Palomino's Friday night, I had a drink I've never had before: grape vodka, soda and a splash of cranberry. It tasted like Nerds, Fun Dip, an Otter Pop, or SweetTarts, depending on who you ask.
It was delicious, but I don't know the name of it, so I want Palomino's to call it the "Grape Heather" (or the Heather Grape, or the Grape H) so I can remember what to order when I'm there.
Let's make this happen, people.
Heather, the same drink was made for SCRG at Livingstones 4 years ago. It's called the Derby B*tch. Ask Hillary or Sara.
Dunno what they call it at Palominos.
Four years is enough time, I think, to give it a new name.
"Snarky Heather" was suggested to me. I really like the sound of "Grape H." While I don't at all believe I deserve my own drink, I really, really want one.
EVERYONE deserves her own drink!
But wait, how did you order it if you dont know the name?
Was it ordered for you?
There's a particular bartender at Palomino's who calls out a drink order whenever I walk up to the bar, thinking it's my favorite drink. It's usually something I've never heard of, but I order it anyway because it always ends up being delicious.
I thought that he just has me confused with someone else, but now I'm thinking it's just a clever way of pushing particular drinks on people.
Genius.
We call it Kool-aid. But I am particularly fond of "Derby B*tch."
I feel like a Derby drink should be harder -- like, contain Jaegermeister, which a wimpy little blogger like me can't handle.
But you know: I ain't gonna try to take a drink away from the Derby grrls.
Maybe my drink could have raspberry vodka, sugar-free Red Bull and grenadine or something in it. Then it could be the Red Heather. Or the Pink Heather, which sounds kind of dirty.
I'm down for a little night glow golf and some wagering... Just call it!
Had a Merced First this past Sunday. Motored up the 99 with my wife to see an indie show at The Partisan in downtown Merced. Opening was Merced's own El Olio Wolof and headlining was former Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle, currently on a solo tour. The place boasted a lot of wood paneling and had cheap drinks. Since it was Lytle's homecoming show (he's from Modesto) the venue was a bit over-packed. But I could see why The Partisan has become not only a favorite watering hole for the indie set in Merced but also an upstart venue for small shows.
I was at the Partisan on Saturday night, for the first time as well, I caught our own Radamacher and Wheel of Fortune. I dug the venue, A LOT, and I intend to go back every so often in order to see what they have cookin'...
Good call man, I was trying to be funny in my post and then I was like, "Oh crap, I was there too."
BTW, the tastiest tacos are found across the street from the Partisan as well... Just an FYI.
Did the Palomino's thing as well, though I didn't have any cool drinks like Heather did.
Saturday went with a friend to see Night at the Museum (cause I saw everything else that was decent already). It was ok, but I'm glad I used a free pass.
Sunday did miniature golf with some friends, though not at MaxPutts. But after you linked the site Mike I'm gonna try to get them to go this Friday.
Friday night: Celebrated my girl's 8th grade graduation at Luna's in Clovis....deeeep in Clovis. Her request, my chagrin.
I realized that:
A) Not many colored faces at Farmers Market on Pollasky.
B) My girl is now graduated from Clovis to the West Side! Started her first day of summer school at Edison today.
C) I'm old.
Saturday night: celebrated Toni 2 Tone's birthday at Landmark. Over 75 of our friends showed up. Packed the place. Great DJ! Awesome live band. Sadly, seems the turnout was bigger than The Undercurrents party.
Thank God for Pedi-cabs!
Sunday: nursing the hangover.
seems a bit catty to throw the undercurrent under the bus here, especially since it's not like anyone already mentioned it and i don't think anyone that's commented was there. i can throw a similar comparison, but won't.
saturday, i helped a friend moved into her first home. good times.
Friday: went to Rasputins and found the
ultimate hard-to-find Hammer vampire flick:
"The Legend of the 7 Goldend Vampires"---part kung-fu movie, part vampire movie. (was it good?
well, that's not really important, is it?) THEN,
for the second Friday in-a-row, went with the family to Tokyo Garden for dinner---mmmmmm.
(Saturday night, it's music night there...see you there next Saturday....nudge, nudge)
Saturday: went to the Undercurrent benefit.
It's an Icicle were esp. awesome (they'll be at Tokyo on Saturday as well....double nudge)
Sunday: church'n with the Kingsburg Lutherans then over to a friend's old apartment by City College that now houses Dustin who's recording a new album by Dylan Jones (multi-instrumentalist who plays
in Wheels of Fortune)---cool tunes! We spent some time laying down some theremin tracks!
It felt fun to be 'theremin session guy'.
This weekend had a few firsts:
Friday, I ate dinner at Tokyo Steakhouse in Clovis. It was pretty good. Never been there before. But I am jealous of Mike and Tanya...Trelio sounds amazing.
Saturday, I did my first kids magic show. That was really cool. I can get used to it. The kids were great, the adults really liked it, and I did not make any inappropriate comments.
Another first, I didn't make any inappropraite comments for an entire hour (see kids show above)...hey, we are celebrating firsts, right?
Good weekend.
On Saturday we got a kitten, which is our first cat together and we named her Moogle. She's totally cute and randomly smacked our dog, Donnie, in the face. They are getting along a lot better today lol!
On Saturday night we went to Chris's little cousins high school graduation party, stayed there for a little bit and then went to his Uncles house because he had people over. Turns out they were doing something for his birthday too since it's right around the corner, along with his cousin's and his cousin's wife. My birthday is coming up on the 29th. As they wished the 3 of them a Happy Birthday and included them in the festivities, they forgot all about mine yet remembered it last year. Joy!
Yesterday we watched The Other Boleyn Girl, and it was just OK. We love the Tudors and I thought they did that story really well. The movie seemed a bit rushed too me and I just thought it was meh. I doubt I will watch it again. We also rented Dead Rising for the Wii and I have yet to play it.
how about 'Preparation H' or is that already taken?