Must Have This: Television

We confess that our relationship with television is a somewhat precarious, if currently improving, one. Having always preferred live performances to those filmed, we were sans television for a number of years (quite happily, we might add, thank you very much) and became deeply uninformed about the generals goings-on of the small screen, save one or two shows.

At a point, however, our life changed (as it does), and we found ourself forced to reacquaint with the medium. Pleasantly surprised to find that it had matured (for while there is a vast amount programing that we find so trashy, so vulgar, so incredibly worthless, we, in the end, vex ourself at having wasted time even rejecting it- for all of that, there are more than a few shows that are witty, captivating and highly enjoyable, and for this, we are grateful), we reluctantly set our prejudices aside and took on a small, if varied, schedule of shows. We are pleased to announce this was not a mistake, and currently are more than entertained by an increasing list of programs.


Last Friday night, the Independent Film Channel premiered the first of six episodes of an extended sketch called Portlandia. We had no idea what to expect, and after the first three minutes of the show, we were equal parts amused, confused, incredulous- in short, we were entirely compelled.

The show is about, to put it simply, Portland, and things that happen there. (Having never visited that particular city, we are forced to surmise what life must be like there, and if the show does nothing else, it is curing us of our original impression of the place) There are characters, to be sure- the farm-to-table sensitive couple at a restaurant, a pair of women's bookstore clerks, an adult hide-and-seek team- but the stars of the show are the stereotypes that Fred Armisen (of SNL fame) and his co-conspirator Carrie Brownstein gleefully traipse about in. Each skit takes an otherwise entirely real and possibly 'normal' character or set of characters-the diners, for example- and completely heightens and distorts them, as the best kind of comedy should.

We are not quite sure what else we should or even can say about the show. We think the best option is for you to watch for yourself. Portlandia airs Fridays on IFC at 10:30PM.

Must Have This: Poll

We must, first and foremost, apologize for our less than regular attention to this blog in the past few days. A number of large, schedule-altering changes occurred in very short order and, combined, presented us with very little time and energy to do much other than those particular obligations and sleep. We express our gratitude with your patience.

Another major event of the last few days (aside from, say, President Obama's State of the Union address (go here for the complete speech with some marvelous graphics to illustrate the President's points) on Tuesday) was the unfortunate demise of our device, a mostly-reliable but occasionally belligerent iPhone by the name of Ian.

Whilst watching the State of the Union, we set Ian on the arm of the sofa upon which we were sitting (and eating pizza and drinking beer, we'll have you know- we do appreciate the simple pleasures). Unfortunately for Ian, we tend to fidgit on occasion, and on such an occasion, our hand brushed against said arm of said sofa. Or rather, the device sitting on the arm of said sofa. Down, down went Ian where it crashed into the very cold, very hard tile floor.

Now at this point, we should mention that, while we do generally avoid throwing them, phones in our possession are, shall we say, well used. We take our phone everywhere- gym, work, bars, concerts, markets, you name it- and as a natural result, they occasionally get dropped. Occasionally. As in, not frequently.

So when Ian quite veritably leapt off the sofa, we were irritated, but unconcerned. Until we picked it up and flipped it over. Spidering across the touch-screen surface was a huge crack. Splinters of the surface had come out and the technologic guts of the thing were visible beneath. The device still had power, but when a button was pressed, the screen went white. Ian was, essentially, in a coma after it's swan dive. (We would love to offer a picture of the damage- something sensational that we would encourage you to shield from children and those faint of heart- but unfortunately, Ian was our sole picture taking device)

And now, we are left sans technology. When we first were faced with this fact, we felt more shock than anything else. We were having a very hard time comprehending life without a smartphone.. But as the time passed and we began to realize all of the functions Ian had fulfilled, we became quite depressed.

Shaking ourself out of the depression was difficult (requiring a good dose of the Scissor Sisters and a cardio machine) but we managed some how. And now, our attention has turned to the future. More specifically, to Ian's replacement.

We must find a new device. We were pleased enough with the iphone, but the new models are so expensive, and we have no need/desire to extend our contract for another 2 years, putting it's termination sometime in the 2020's.

What should we get? What should we try? We look to you, our readers, for inspiration and guidance. We have limited knowledge of matters technological, and would love input from as many as have opinions.

We thank you in advance, and will return to our regularly-semi-scheduled posts of fantastic Must Haves shortly.

Must Have This: Civics

We realize that to discuss something as esoteric as civics on a blog that is almost entirely focused on commerce is perhaps to tread on ice we would otherwise wish to avoid. While we certainly think highly of ourself and those who pay us their attention -and, let us state explicitly that we value their intelligence-, we do not intend this blog to be one focused on ideas. There are many others who have said and continue to say many brilliant things, many of which we find fascinating. These things are important, first because they stimulate our brains, and second because it is important to have things to discuss at meals.

One will not, however, find those things in this blog. Our intent is to make others aware of things, places, and events that are in some way extraordinary, and deserve recognition. We are, as they say, living in a material world- we intend to enjoy it, and would like to surround ourself with others who will, as well.

All of that said, we are also of the opinion that, as this is our blog, and we are at liberty to say mostly what so ever we please, we would be remiss not to say something about civics, which we find to be absolutely essential to modern American (or, for that matter, terrestrial) life.

Living in America, we find it unfortunate that many shirk being civically active. They neglect not only the priviledge of being able to comment directly on those who make choices that supposedly directly reflect us, the masses, but they also neglect the fact that it is indeed a duty to be informed and engage in civic activity. In fact, we would go so far as to say that modern Americans are generally unconcerned with 'duty' as it relates to almost anything- to the preservation of the planet, to civic awareness, to those less fortunate than ourselves.

We pause, as to not jump up and down on the ice we are hesitant to be on in the first place. We will suffice to say- whether one's beliefs are liberal or conservative or something else entirely, we encourage everyone to actively have a belief, and moreover, to constantly evaluate it, and those representing it.

President Barack Obama's State of the Union address is tonight at 8PM CST. We will be watching, and regardless of how you feel about his first two years or the man himself, we encourage you to watch as well.

Must Have This: Film

We are extremely excited that the sun has returned to it's regularly scheduled daily appearance in the Austin sky. More influential minds than ours agree that sunlight is, quite frankly, good for humans in the right amount. And while an occasional grey day can feel pleasantly, if indulgently, melancholic, we will take the warm sunshine, thank you very much.

Something else that lifts our mood quite unlike any other thing is wit. (We attempted to find a study showing that wit also improves one's outlook on life a la sunlight, but alas, our search only pulled up any number of posts with colloquial misspellings of "with" and we perhaps wept a bit for the future of language) A good witticism pulled off with panache instantly reminds us that we (humanity) are possessing that miraculous capacity to think and communicate and, this is the important part, we can do it with humor and intelligence.

It must, then, come as no surprise that we thought it fitting today's Must Have This features one of the best living wits we are familiar with. HBO has released a documentary about the remarkable Fran Lebowitz called Public Speaking and, quite simply, you must see it.



In lieu of previews, we provide you with trailers of this particular film- first a shorter one and then a longer one. Cherish and enjoy.

If you watched, as you should have, the trailers, you will instantly understand why we are so enamored with Ms. Lebowitz. Her matter-of-fact I-can't-believe-you-even-considered-the-possibility-of-my-not-having-a-reply self assurance is as sparkling as it is bracing. We find her remarks about director Martin Scorsese ("Marty") to be of particular bombast/amusement/charm. (And if that particular director's name will encourage you to see this film, so much the better- really, we don't care why you watch it, just so long as you do) Structured more as a rambling dialogue with most of the other partner removed (with some few small exceptions- particularly the exceptional Maya Angelou, a thoughtful tortoise to Ms. Lebowitz's impulsive hare) than a documentary, Public Speaking primes us, the public, on the life of Fran Lebowitz as told by Fran Lebowitz, touching as much on cultural milestones (the AIDS crisis and it's effects we found to be especially revelatory) as she does on personal events. In fact, as we think on it, the film spends less time on Fran then it does on Ms. Lebowitz, public speaker, and the few bits about Fran (her driving habits, her history, her refusal to own a microwave) seem to be there merely as well placed and chosen springboards, launching her into another fascinating opinion or analysis. If we have any criticism with the film, it is that we find it surprisingly short, wishing for just another 5 minutes (and another 5 minutes... and another...) of this fascinating woman.

Public Speaking is currently playing On Demand. We highly encourage, if you do not have On Demand, an interrogation of friends to find some one who does have it.

Must Have This: Liquor

Drinking is definitely one of our favorite activities. As we have stated before we attempt to engage in drinking as often as we can, in as many varied places as we can, with as many different sorts of drinks as we can. (We encourage you reserve your judgement, and if you must, to err on the side of kindness- to call us an 'alcoholic' would be unspeakably rude; to call us a 'lush' would, we think, be a compliment)

We would say, however, that we are more frequently than not drawn to beverages containing one of a select few ingredients- all of which could (and, we are pleased to think upon, will) receive the attention of Must Have This. These ingredients vary wildly in proof and flavor, from delicate and floral to sharp and extremely potent. Chief on the list is the liquor by the name of gin, an essential spirit in a well-stocked bar (especially the ones we tend to frequent) and the variety named Hendrick's gin, in particular, we find to be the gin of our choice.

Gin (from the Dutch jenever) is a clear spirit that is flavored with a number of botanicals (herbs and berries and such). The most notable flavor in gin is the juniper berry (and here is where jenever comes in) giving the alcohol it's sharp, some would say 'piney,' taste.

There is an ever-increasing assortment of gins on the market, several of which we find very satisfactory. The reason Hendrick's is a Must Have, however, is that, aside from the juniper (common to all gins), Hendrick's has a remarkable cucumber note that is quite unlike any other variety of the spirit. Still with a sharp edge, the cucumber lends a softness that allows the liquor to be more than just a one-dimensional flavor.

Because of the uniqueness of it's flavor, we do not recommend attempting to make a martini with Hendrick's. It is served best with soda or tonic, garnished with cucumber. If you were to muddle a cucumber up in the bottom of your glass before pouring the liquor and mixer in OR throw a dash of Creme de Violette in your drink, so much the better. In any event, do not waste the deliciousness of this gin on a drink that will be overpowered by what you mix it with.

Hendrick's is available at most fine liquor stores. We've had a bit of trouble finding it in smaller, less urban markets, but we encourage you to make the search.

Post Script: Hendrick's marketing is delightfully odd and playful. Go here to experience the Curiositorium.

Must Have This: Event

We, like everyone else, love a good party. In addition to that rather obvious statement, we also, again like everyone else (or at least everyone else worth knowing and associating with), like to eat out. A good party just isn't good unless there are refreshments- eatables and drinkables befitting the occasion.

We are not quite sure what, exactly, the occasion is for Austin's Sip and Savor, but with over 35 restaurants and bars participating, we have decided said occasion is irrelevant. Similar to a "restaurant week," Sip and Savor encourages participating organizations to offer specialty drinks, chef's menus, or prix fixe meals. Where Sip and Savor differs is the list of participating organizations- they encourage everyone to participate- not only the more refined dining establishments (the general contenders of most "restaurant weeks"), but trailers, bars, casual spots, even Whole Foods.

So which bars and restaurants are participating? Go here for the complete list, as well as information about what the participant is offering.

And which are we the most excited about? We thought you'd never ask:


Judges' Hill Chef Rob Snow has created a 3 course prix fixe for $25/person that looks delicious. We can't decide which sounds better- the pecan-crusted trout or the Puerco Pibil (habenero and citrus braised pork).





Sagra This restaurant has been on our list for a minute now, and Sip and Savor is the perfect reason to go. A 3 course offering for $35/person that includes too many delicious options to choose from- among them butternut squash ravioli, scallops, filet mignon, gnocchi.






The Melting Pot We find fondue to be a curious, if captivating, method of dining. As a result, we were excited to see The Melting Pot listed as a participant. We were even more excited by the menu- 3 courses for $30/person- including the choice of goat cheese and ratatouille raviolis, peppercorn crusted New York strip, or chicken Provencal.



There are, of course, others that we are already familiar with on the list (Frank and Kerbey Lane for example) that we encourage supporting. In any event, do not idle in choosing- Sip and Savor only lasts through the 30th of January.

Must Have This: Ingredient

When cooking, we find that olive oil makes it's way into a large number of the dishes prepared in our kitchen. For centuries, men and women have used it on vegetables, game and fowl. Countless of our favorite dishes begin with onions, garlic and a drizzle of oil. We love to dip bread in it, especially in restaurants. (We find those restaurants where the waiters write their name on our table in crayon to be a most guilty and most pleasurable experience) A good oil and balsamic vinegar can turn a drab bed of greens into a satisfying salad.

There are an inordinate number of varieties on the market- ranging from Extra Virgins to any number of exotic infusions to plain old Olive Oil. As many a chef will tell you, not all oils are right for all situations. Finding the right oil for each particular dish or occasion is a task we do not pretend to know anything about- we recommend seeking out the nearest specialty grocery or kitchen supply store, such as Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table (having been employed at one of these companies, and a frequent shopper at both, we can assure you that they carry an assortment of options, and if they can't help you- and they should be able to- but if they can't, they can direct you to someone who can).

Perhaps the best option, however, would be to put yourself in touch with Oil Town Oil based in Chicago. They have a plethora of choices, among which is a mushroom and sage infused offering, which we recently acquired and are currently quite enamored with. (They also have a white peach balsamic vinegar that we were pleased to gift over the holiday season. We have just discovered it is currently 15% off. A bottle for yourself and a bottle as a gift would be a wise decision)

We have only begun to scratch the surface of possible applications of the oil. We have drizzled it over steak to dazzling results. We have dressed hummus with it. Due to the incredible mellowness of the flavor, we find it's flavor less assertive than other oils might be, and as a consequence, it compliments almost anything. Our favorite use so far has been in the process of making popcorn. Instead of butter or some inferior butter substitute poured over the kernels like syrup, simply popping the corn in the mushroom and sage olive oil endows it with a delicate but delicious flavor that makes it light, healthy, and irresistible. Simply sprinkle with salt (or for a special treat, use just a bit of truffle salt- trust us, your life will change) and enjoy!

To order Old Town Oil's Mushroom and Sage Extra Virgin Olive Oil, go here.

Old Town Oil is located at 1520 N. Wells St in Chicago, IL.