Music gives me chills. I love music. It is one of my biggest sadnesses that I am tone deaf and have a horrible singing voice and no other musical talent to speak of. Luckily, I can still listen and appreciate and savor.
Loud and fast and catchy punk is usually my first choice. It energizes me, it makes me happy, it restores my faith in humanity. Trust me, I can wax poetic about the virtues of good, anarchistic, pop punk for days on end. And no, anarchistic and pop punk can indeed go together. The Queers, anyone?
However, every once in awhile I get sucked into a cycle of listening to slower, sadder, beautiful music. I am extremely picky about the slow music I listen to - it has to be a combination of factors mixed just right. I don't even understand all the components of what I like, I just know when I like it. Oddly, some element of folk music is usually in there somewhere. Maybe that part reminds me of people I've been told over and over again were more idealistic and committed to change than kids today.
For instance, the Mamas and the Papas really do it for me. As one of my first-ever CDs I listened to this one over and over again. I'm not really sure why my mom thought I would like it, but I'm glad she did. This is still one of my favorite songs ever. I still have no idea what it's about, but it gives me a sweet and sad feeling that is so amazing. The feeling when you hear something beautiful that you know you could never reproduce but you want to experience again and again.
I think that feeling really epitomizes melancholy for me. It's a feeling that there is beauty but only because there is sadness and we all have to return to that sadness. You can see why I end up in a sad contemplative cycle when I get on one of these music kicks. It is usually provoked by gorgeous retro-sounding music, like my recent discoveries of Coconut Records, and She & Him. Yes, both celebrity fronted, and both highly resisted by me at first, especially the hipster-tastic She & Him. It was just too much to resist, though. I dare you to try.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Newstead Tower Public House Reviewed
I have lapsed, I know. But for a good reason - I got a job! In October! So now I can pay my student loans! Hoorah!
However, while money is nice, the job is not super fulfilling, so I return to the world of writing my own insipid opinions and hoping that someone, somewhere will read them. Today I bring you an actual review of a St. Louis institution: The Newstead Tower Public House (hereon referred to as TNTPH).
I went for dinner last night with the boyfriend and another friend. Now, all of us are recently graduated and pretty young. We're not used to fancy things or really even going out to bars and such that much. Well, I'm not anyway. I'd heard good things about TNTPH from people at my own work and was curious to try it out. The menu online looked pretty tasty and any place with organic beer piques my interest. Everyone was game and we'd all been cooped up inside with this crazy cold weather so we wanted to go out.
I suppose I'll start with the bad things. First - the name. I get that it's kind of fun and catchy, and they have a fun logo/crest to go with it (very hipster - fleur de lis, star, rooster, trees), but I could not get it straight for the life of me. I kept calling it the Newstead Tower Grove Public House or the Tower Newstead House. Hopefully that will get better over time, but I couldn't tell our friend where exactly we were going.
The atmosphere seemed off to me. Granted, this could have been because it was balls-ass cold and no one besides us was even there when we walked in and for a good 20 minutes afterwards. Everything seemed very fancy and nice - I was afraid I was going to break something. I'm not exactly sure who TNTPH's target audience is. It wasn't me, I'm sure. Too fancy, and slightly too expensive. It wasn't exactly family-friendly, either, with it's imposing dark walls and tables. I would go again, but I would probably dress up a little more and save it for a special occasion. I certainly couldn't afford it on a regular basis.
Now for the good things, though - the food! Everything I ordered (Beer Battered Seasonal Vegetables & Housemade Curry Mayonaisse and the Crostini) was absolutely delicious. I had to stop myself from consuming it all so that I wouldn't be sick. The vegetables were fantastic - cooked just the right amount with delicious breading. I wish there had been a little more variety - all I had were eggplant and onion. Granted, it's what's in season, but some sweet potato or squash would have been nice as well. The crostini was likewise delicious. My companions weren't as impressed by their food, but what I tried was great - some of the Cream of Potato soup, as well as the chips of the Fish and Chips. My beer was also delicious (Samual Smith Organic Lager) and large (18.7 oz). Boyfriend seemed pretty pleased with his Boulevard seasonal (Irish Ale).
TNTPH also gains points in my book for their promotions. We went on University Night, so boyfriend and I each got 25% off beer and appetizers all night long. Other promotions include a general Happy Hour (same as University Night) 4-6 pm Tues-Fri, Trivia on Tuesdays (with all-night happy hour for neighborhood residents), and Dare 2 Pair on Wednesdays with 50% off the beer they suggest for specific menu items. Any of these make the higher prices a little more reasonable.
I think I'll be back to TNTPH at some point - I'd like to go for Trivia night, or some time when there are more people. I'd also like to go when I have a little more money and don't have a heart attack over a $41 bill for three people. May those times come soon :).
However, while money is nice, the job is not super fulfilling, so I return to the world of writing my own insipid opinions and hoping that someone, somewhere will read them. Today I bring you an actual review of a St. Louis institution: The Newstead Tower Public House (hereon referred to as TNTPH).
I went for dinner last night with the boyfriend and another friend. Now, all of us are recently graduated and pretty young. We're not used to fancy things or really even going out to bars and such that much. Well, I'm not anyway. I'd heard good things about TNTPH from people at my own work and was curious to try it out. The menu online looked pretty tasty and any place with organic beer piques my interest. Everyone was game and we'd all been cooped up inside with this crazy cold weather so we wanted to go out.
I suppose I'll start with the bad things. First - the name. I get that it's kind of fun and catchy, and they have a fun logo/crest to go with it (very hipster - fleur de lis, star, rooster, trees), but I could not get it straight for the life of me. I kept calling it the Newstead Tower Grove Public House or the Tower Newstead House. Hopefully that will get better over time, but I couldn't tell our friend where exactly we were going.
The atmosphere seemed off to me. Granted, this could have been because it was balls-ass cold and no one besides us was even there when we walked in and for a good 20 minutes afterwards. Everything seemed very fancy and nice - I was afraid I was going to break something. I'm not exactly sure who TNTPH's target audience is. It wasn't me, I'm sure. Too fancy, and slightly too expensive. It wasn't exactly family-friendly, either, with it's imposing dark walls and tables. I would go again, but I would probably dress up a little more and save it for a special occasion. I certainly couldn't afford it on a regular basis.
Now for the good things, though - the food! Everything I ordered (Beer Battered Seasonal Vegetables & Housemade Curry Mayonaisse and the Crostini) was absolutely delicious. I had to stop myself from consuming it all so that I wouldn't be sick. The vegetables were fantastic - cooked just the right amount with delicious breading. I wish there had been a little more variety - all I had were eggplant and onion. Granted, it's what's in season, but some sweet potato or squash would have been nice as well. The crostini was likewise delicious. My companions weren't as impressed by their food, but what I tried was great - some of the Cream of Potato soup, as well as the chips of the Fish and Chips. My beer was also delicious (Samual Smith Organic Lager) and large (18.7 oz). Boyfriend seemed pretty pleased with his Boulevard seasonal (Irish Ale).
TNTPH also gains points in my book for their promotions. We went on University Night, so boyfriend and I each got 25% off beer and appetizers all night long. Other promotions include a general Happy Hour (same as University Night) 4-6 pm Tues-Fri, Trivia on Tuesdays (with all-night happy hour for neighborhood residents), and Dare 2 Pair on Wednesdays with 50% off the beer they suggest for specific menu items. Any of these make the higher prices a little more reasonable.
I think I'll be back to TNTPH at some point - I'd like to go for Trivia night, or some time when there are more people. I'd also like to go when I have a little more money and don't have a heart attack over a $41 bill for three people. May those times come soon :).
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