UNREAL CITY: DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY

 

We have one of the most amazing libraries that I have ever set foot in. Floors upon floors house shelves upon shelves. It is like a maze of knowledge that envelops you and dares you to pull books off the shelves. I love to walk along the halls and think about the thoughts of all the authors of all the books in the rooms. It’s an overwhelming amount of knowledge and ideas right at our fingertips.

I am always skeptical of people who claim books are becoming obsolete. Yes, we have so many more ways to access texts and knowledges, which is amazing, but I think any book lover will tell you that it is not the same to read something online as it is to hold a book in your hand. More people will admit treasuring the experience of a book or a library than you think. While plenty of people may say they prefer the internet or hate reading books, people still treasure them. Sit in a classroom in any of the colleges here in Denver. How many people actually use ebooks? One or two, maybe? I know in my classes, there is always one person, and he or she is always complaining that he or she cannot follow along in class due to lack of page numbers. Go sit in a coffee shop. How many people are using an ereader? How many people are actually reading? Look on the train, in the park, on an airplane, or other public places. Books are everywhere, flying under the radar. In a world that is run by technology, we still hold onto our love of the archaic form of the book. I love holding a book in my hand, smelling the pages as I’m turning them, and thinking about the ideas and words contained in such a small artifact.

Denver is an incredibly literate city. Every destination neighborhood has a used bookstore, sometimes more. Baker has an absurd amount of bookstores, as does Capitol Hill. Plenty of people enjoy the Colorado sunshine by sitting outside reading. I think the majesticness of our library represents the quiet thunder of literary people within the city of Denver. We are unassuming, intellegent, yet ever present on the Denver scene. Just like our library.

CHANGES

 

Hey guys!

 

So as you can probably tell, I am really, really bad at writing on this blog everyday. Therefore, I’m going to change up the format a little bit. Instead of sticking to the format, I’m going to pick a random category to post to every day. I may create some new ones too based off of what I feel is successful. Expect to see:

 

• A lot more pictures! I want to feature more images of Denver and its people
• More profiles about places
• More fashion posts
• More frequent, more brief film and literary posts
• Quotes!

I’m excited. Are you?

LOST IN A SUPERMARKET: IKEA’S KARLSTAD SOFA

I recently had my first ever Ikea experience. Hap and I had been in the market for a sofa for a while, so we went to check out Denver’s new Ikea. After an hour long deliberation, we decided on the couch pictured above, the Karlstad corner sofa with Sivik dark grey fabric. Thought I have only had this couch for a month, I have to say that this is one of my favorite couches that I would recommend to anyone.

WHY I LOVE THIS COUCH:

• The size of the couch is perfect. It’s a 3+2/2+3, which means that you can flip which side is longer to adapt to any room. This is perfect for people who rent, such as us, or for people who like to redecorate often. I like that it provides a lot of sitting space. We can easily fit six of our friends on it comfortably. On a normal night, we can both lie out on the couch with our dog without complaints. However, it is not overwhelmingly large piece of furniture. It is lightweight and easy to maneuver. It is not too tall; it complements the rest of our living room perfectly.
• I LOVE the fabric of this couch. This couch comes in a variety of colors and textures. The Sivik is soft yet durable. It is a finely woven knit fiber, similar to a microfiber. The dark grey color hides dirt and scuffs while remaining soft to the touch. The color is a deep charcoal that matches many different color palates. Also, if you grow tired of the color, you can purchase other covers to change easily.
• Ikea’s customer service made purchasing this couch incredibly easy. The staff seemed prepared for any sort of question. When we first entered the showroom, I commented offhand that I would never remember the names of the products or the codes to give the customer service representatives. A friendly helpful attendent overheard me and recommended that I take pictures of the tag with my phone. She showed me exactly what information to photograph so I could show the showroom people. Come time to order, I showed my phone to the showroom attendants and they helped me place my order quickly and efficiently. Everyone throughout the entire process had a genuine interest in helping me pick out my items and ensuring I got the products that I needed.
• Ikea’s delivery system was also a pleasant surprise. As we were waiting for our pieces to be brought to us, we noticed the delivery kiosk. I have a smaller car, and, as usual, I purchased way too many things. The couch itself came in three large boxes! I was worried about he fees, but to my house, which is easily 30 minutes from Ikea, I only paid $59. We had two chairs and our couch delivered, which totaled in 6 boxes. We just missed the cut-off time (3pm) for same-day delivery, which would have been the same price!

 

This couch is available in other sizes as well, so it can adapt to any space. Keep Ikea in mind with you are shopping for your next big furniture purchase.

 

COOKING FOR THE CULINARY CHALLENGED: CHICKEN PARM!

 

Everyone should have one go-to dish that he or she can whip out last minute that will really impress your audience. In my case, I use my mom’s Chicken Parmesan recipe. Anytime I am having someone new over, this is the dish I make. I know it’s delicious and I could make it blindfolded. Today, I am going to share it with you!

 

1lb boneless, skinless chicken breast

2 eggs

1 can of Italian-Style breadcrumbs (enough to cover the bottom of a plate)

Olive Oil for sauteing

1 large onion, diced

2 cans tomato sauce

1 can tomato paste

1 cup red wine (drinking, not cooking. I prefer Red Truck for this dish, but any red will do)

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1tbs oregano

3-4 cloves of chopped garlic

1tbs of salt

2 cups grated parmesean cheese

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1 package of spaghetti

 

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Using a meat tenderizer (or your fists if you don’t have one), pound out the chicken breasts. Put on a plate.
• Set up your breading station. Put your tenderized chicken to the left. Next, crack your eggs into a bowl. Add the TINIEST bit of water. (When I say tiny, I mean tiny. I usually run the faucet at a consistant drip and drip in 3-4 drops). Mix together and set to the right of the chicken. Next, take a plate with high edges or a curve and spread a layer of breadcrumbs across it. Set to the right of the egg plate. Last, put an empty plate to the right of the breadcrumbs. This is my method to keep the kitchen relatively clean; I can then bread in a straight line. You can use your own breading method if you have one. I just find this easiest and cleanest.
• Bread your chicken. Take a piece of chicken in your hand. Dunk both sides 2-3 times in the egg wash. Make sure you completely cover the chicken. Then, lay the chicken in the bread crumbs. Flip the chicken and relay it 2-3 times to ensure the proper covering. Place the breaded chicken on the clean plate. Repeat with the other breasts.
• Make your sauce. Cook your onion in olive oil until translucent. Add your tomato sauce, tomato paste, red wine, and brown sugar in a pot over medium heat. Let cook for about 15 minutes. Add oregano, garlic, and salt. Turn the heat down to low and stir periodically while you are frying your chicken.
• Fry the chicken. In a large skillet, pour two tablespoons of olive oil. Coat the skillet. There are two key steps to ensuring proper frying of chicken. The first: wait for the oil to become hot before you put in the chicken. Wait at least 2-3 minutes, or until you see it begin to spit. Place your breasts into the oil. Second key step: Make sure the side fully cooks before you flip it to the other side. Flipping too early causes the breading to fall off the chicken. It usually takes about 4-5 minutes for each side to cook. You can tell when the breading becomes crispier, like a piece of chicken fried steak. Flip the breasts and cook for another 4-5 minutes.
• Assemble your chicken parm. Before you put your breasts in the pan, Add 1 ladle or 2 serving spoonfuls of the sauce. Spread around the bottom of the pan evenly. This ensures the bottoms won’t dry out while cooking. Place the breasts in the pan, making sure none of them are touching too much. Tips are okay, but not full sides. Cover chicken with the sauce until each breast is completely submerged and no longer visible. If you have extra sauce, that’s okay. You can use it as spaghetti sauce another night. Next, sprinkle your parmesan and mozzarella on top evenly. Sprinkle oregano over the dish.
• Bake chicken parm for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and just beginning to brown. While baking, prepare your spaghetti according to the directions. When you remove your dish, let it cool for a few minutes before plating.
• Assemble your plates. Put a small pile of spaghetti on your plate. Place the breast on top. You can add parsley if you want for a garnish.

Voila! This dish is so easy and sure to be a favorite. Note: You can also sub veal or eggplant for the chicken depending on your crowd. Chicken is easy and a safe bet, but if you feel adventurous, go for it!

 

LITERARY SATURDAY: THE PLAGUE

Sorry this post was a little late, guys! With being sick this weekend and having to catch up on school, Literary Saturday got postponed. Now that I am well, enjoy your quote!

“For weeks on end we were reduced to starting the same letter over and over again recopying the same scraps of news and the same personal appeals, with the result that after a certain time the living words, into which we had as it were transfused our hearts’ blood, were drained of any meaning. Thereafter we went on copying them mechanically, trying, through the dead phrases, to convey some notion of our ordeal. And in the long run, to these sterile, reiterated monologues, these futile colloquies with a blank wall, even the banal formulas of a telegram came to seem preferable” – The Plague, Albert Camus

 

There are many moments within my literary career that I cite as causing my ignited passion for words. Camus’ The Plague always ranks on my list. The overarching metaphor of apathy and disconnection as a plague of our existence fascinates me. I love the relationship between form and function; the first sections of the book are deliberately difficult to read, and as the town begins to care, the book becomes more vibrant. And, as many of my favorite existential books do, this book shakes and rattles my very wellbeing and makes me question how we can even connect to each other, if we can at all.

I picked this quote above for a variety of reasons. I believe in the connection that writing provides to one’s own soul. The act of letter writing in this book functions as an important motif. Many of the characters have ideas they cannot sufficiently communicate through writing, and when they try, the result is dry and mundane, rendering them as characters dry and mundane. In this passage, the townspeople as a collective struggle to write letters to their loved ones expressing their loneliness and isolation. Their attempts become dull and useless, and they begin to welcome the patterns of genre, from letter writing to telegrams. They feel safe through the confines and restrictions that these methods of communication impose upon their unexpressed feelings. Paired with cliche phrases and expected jargon, these heartfelt emotions remain unexpressed and stifled, reinforcing the apathy and isolation. In a way, the townspeople do feel connected to each other, but this connection stems only from the disconnect they feel from the outside world and their inability to express this disconnect. This false unity plays an important role in the book, and for the main characters.

LOOK OF THE MOMENT: BAND TSHIRTS

I have an obsession with band tees. They are somehow softer and comfier than a normal shirt and showcase a person’s personality through their likes and interests. Seeing someone wear a shirt from a band I like makes me automatically know I would get along with that person. I am more likely to compliment a stranger on their band shirt than any other article of clothing. However, sometimes it is hard to style these shirts cutely! Other than jeans, what do you wear with them? Today, I am going to teach you guys cute, fun ways to wear those awesome shirts we have acquired from tons of concerts!

HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS:

I paired my favorite Free Energy band tee with a pair of black leggings and a blazer. Add a cute scarf and comfy heels, and you are good to go! This look is so easy, comfortable, yet stylish and classic. It’s basically the grown up version of what we all wore in high school: jeans, band tee, and zippy hoodie. This outfit is perfect for happy hour, dinner, or meeting up with friends for the evening.

To get this look add:

Leggings (Mine are Lisse)

Blazer (Mine is from the Gap

Heels (Mine are Rockport)

Scarf (Mine is Halogen)

BRUNCH:

I paired my new Weezer cruise tee with a maxi and a cardigan. Pairing a tee with a maxi is a great way to give your look a touch of girliness. If your shirt is more printed, go for a solid color maxi. In my case, my tee is mostly one color, so I paired it with a striped maxi. If you’re feeling more adventurous, mix prints! You can always tame it with the cardigan. So many of the band tees can be boxy or boyish. Adding a skirt adds that touch of adult feminine sophistication that every woman looks for.

To get this look add:

Maxi Skirt (Mine is from Anthropologie)

Cardigan (Mine is from Anthropologie)

I hope this gives you all some inspiration to mix and match your band tees in new and innovative ways! How do you all wear your band shirts?

UNREAL CITY: CONFLUENCE PARK DOG PARK

 

It is a rare  occurrence to see a dog park in Denver without dogs. Usually, this park is full of dogs of all sizes chasing each other around like madmen. Last week, when I took this picture, it was cold and windy. A perfect day for photography, but not so much for playing with dogs. We bundled Gatsby up tight in his parka but he stood there staring at us shivering. I like the serenity of this picture. Many of the dog parks seem fabricated, due to their plastic fixtures and kitchy bag stations. This park preserves the natural integrity and beauty of Denver while providing a safe space for our furry friends to frolic.

 

 

LOST IN A SUPERMARKET: STRANAHAN’S WHISKEY

Few people I know are whiskey fans. Being a whiskey girl myself (I blame Hap), it’s hard for me to comprehend why people object to it. This is why I recommend Stranahanss. Sweet and carmely, smooth and oaky, Stranahan’s is the whiskey for the non-whiskey drinker. It mixes perfectly with coke or ginger ale but is also robust enough to stand by itself or on the rocks.

Also, Stranahan’s is from here in Denver! They brew on Blake Street and give free tours to the public. Stranahan’s small brews, which means they brew only a few barrels at a time, as opposed to the hundreds that big name liquor companies produce. According to their website, eighty percent of the barley used is grown in Colorado. All their barrels are aged a minimum of two years before distribution. Also, one of the founders was a fireman. Can’t go wrong with that!

If you are scared to try Stranahan’s, try it with a food pairing. Food often opens up the flavors of alcohol, allowing you to taste the depth of the drink. I recommend a hearty stew or rich, caramel dessert.

What do you think of Stranahan’s? What is your favorite way to drink whiskey?

PARDON THE INTERRUPTION: MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2012

 

All this talk of bands has me all excited about new albums dropping this year. It is as if the stars have all aligned and said “Sam, every band you like will give you a new album this year”. I’m so excited! Anyway, I wanted to mention some albums coming out so you can keep your eyes out for them!

 

• Craig Finn’s Clear Heart Full Eyes – Dropped Today! Go Buy It!
• Sleigh Bells’ Reign of Terror – Valentine’s Day
• fun.’s Some Nights – February 21st
• Andrew Bird’s Break It Yourself– March 6th
• Lucero’s Women and Work – March 16th
• Miike Snow’s Happy to You – March 26th
• Ted Leo’s Untitled Project – Late Summer
• Free Energy’s Untitled Project – Later this year
• Best Coast’s Untitled Project – Later this Year

I am so excited about all these great albums! How about you guys? What are you most excited for?

WEEZER CRUISE WRAP-UP: TOP BANDS TO CHECK OUT

Instead of following the regularly scheduled posts, I need to share reactions to the Weezer Cruise with you guys. Sorry. I promise I’ll get back on track soon. In the meantime, enjoy my new posts!

Today, in reverse order, I want to recommend new bands that we saw/met on the Weezer Cruise. I am using a criteria of a balance of music with their personalities. The best part about this experience was that all the bands were staying on the cruise, so we would see them all hanging out on the ship. Hence, we got to hang out with many of the artists that we saw. I even saw Scott, the bassist from Weezer, in an elevator! I convinced him that I was not in fact sunburned, but rather I was half lobster. It was pretty amazing. Anyway, these are my new favorite bands from the cruise:

5. THE ANTLERS

The Antlers’ 2011 Burst Apart was one of my top records of the year. I was absolutely terrified to be on a cruise ship with them. I was afraid they were going to be pretentious and not want to talk to me. I spent most of the cruise cowering in fear when they would walk by. Their drummer sat next to me at the sports bar for three hours, in which I was completely silent. Finally, it got ridiculous. On the last night, I had a mission to meet every band that I liked, thank them, and buy them a drink of their choosing. When I approached Peter, their lead singer, I stuttered and spoke way to quickly. He laughed, and said, let’s take a picture. However, I handed his camera to my friend, not mine, so I don’t have copies of this picture!

This shot was taken during their final show. It happened late at night at the same time as one of the Weezer shows. Few people were there, the ship was rocking vigorously, and I was sunburned. I was so worried that they would not translate well to a live performance. However, what could have been a terrible situation turned into one of the best shows I’ve been to in my life. Their sound was completely overpowering. I could feel my heart pumping in time with the bass. As we were watching, all the other bands from the cruise slowly came up to the stage and stood behind us. The air was tense; you could feel the respect that the other bands had for this band. The cocktail waitresses stopped circling and watched in the back. It was a powerful show to have been apart of.

For those of you who don’t know The Antlers, download “Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out” off Burst Apart. It’s an intense midtempo song that builds to a culmination at the end. It is perfect to put at the end of a mix cd or add to a party mix.

4. The Nervous Wreckords

We accidentally met this band while we were looking for the Dinosaur Jr. show. They were so nice and fun and we ended up chatting with them for a while before. Cindy, their super awesome bassist, said “oh, we’re the Nervous Wreckords.” Good old Stubbs, who had never heard of them, says “I love you guys!” Awkward silence as Gaston, Hap, and I are laughing. Then Stubbs says “I have all your albums”. Another awkward silence as Tony the drummer and Daniel the keyboardist join us in our stifled laughter. Cindy: “We only have one album”. Oops! This above pic was from their wine tasting. They picked out a great assortment of wines from all around the world, including this amazing Malbec. Carnival scrapped their list and served us Kendall Jackson. So, we spent the whole tasting giggling at the sommelier and downing the unlimited refills while hanging out with the band.

Luckily, their music was as amazing as they were. Brian, the lead singer, was part of one of my favorite childhood bands, Louis XIV. I wish I had realized this at the time. I may have yelled “Finding Out True Love Is Blind” during their set. Anyway, this band blends garage rock with a California feel, which is perfect cruise music. It somehow manages to walk the line between a sound I grew up loving and a sound I have never heard before. Their song “Doin It to Do It” has a chatty sort of feel, as if they are telling you about themselves instead of singing. They are all incredibly talented at their instruments. Each performance they gave on the cruise had different jam sessions, breakdowns, and solos from various members. Their keyboardist, Daniel, made me happy that my mom forced me to take piano for 9 years so I could appreciate his improvisational skills and talent to incorporate classical melodies into blues solos. Also, they are all so ridiculously good looking. I like to pretend that the other bands on the cruise were jealous.

Download “Doin It To Do It” off their 2009 Nailbighter. Also, keep an eye out for their new album this year. They played “Love Jammed the Radio” off their new album, which was easily one of my favorite songs on the cruise. If, by some act of god, one of The Nervous Wreckords reads this, hurry up and finish your album so “Love Jammed the Radio” can be my new spring jam!

3. The Knocks

 

Ben and James

For some reason, I did not take any pictures of both members playing together, even though they were standing next to each other. James from The Knocks was ridiculously cool. Again, kind of like with The Antlers, I assumed that because he was from Brooklyn that we wouldn’t get along. Not true at all. I saw him and told him I loved his set, and he just opened his arms and said “hug me”. We spent a lot of time talking about sports with James. He and Gaston argued for basically the entire trip. He was a HUGE Knicks fan and we had to get his opinion on the Carmello trade, plus it was Superbowl playoff week so he had to talk to us about Tebow. Though we disagreed, we could all agree on one thing: if the Patriots lose, everyone wins. Ben was also really, really nice. Before his set, he was sitting next to me at the pool bar. (Note: Denver has made me spoiled with beer selection. I don’t think I can live anywhere else due to lack of good beer. Beer is important. I had no idea). Anyway, overwhelmed with terrible options, I ordered Bud Light Lime. He said “you know that’s the most expensive beer on the menu right?”, to which I reply, “I don’t care. I drink it for taste”. He sprayed beer out his nose because he was laughing.

I’m not a huge electronic fan, but when it’s good, I really, really enjoy it. The ship had this 1970’s style lounge that looked like the headquarters for the Corleone family. Our first night, The Knocks performed there. I was struck by the depth of their lyrics and the clarity of their voices. Both these guys are talented singers. Their beats seem effortless crafted, as if it is obvious that their sounds should pair together so nicely.

Though I would say you should see them live, download their song “Blackout” as a preview. Then turn off all the lights, turn up the volume, and pretend you’re dancing to them live.

2. Wavves

Stephen, the bassist from Wavves

The above picture is my favorite picture I took the whole cruise. This was the same night as The Antlers performance. The ship was rocking violently and the wind blew across the deck making terrible noises. I’m surprised no one got sea sick. I just love the wind blowing through Stephen’s hair and the red lights creating a back glow. He looks like a member of an 80s hair metal band. Anyway, this is why I love Wavves: Wavves has the reputation of being some of the meanest, drugged out, most pretentious musicians in the business. They do drugs and start fights. But in real life, they are all super nice, love hugs and pictures, and cry during Pixar movies. I went up to Stephen one night and said “Don’t hit me, but I feel like you’re a Muppett”. He said “shhhh… I’m a Muppet of a man”, referencing the new Muppet movie. We talked about movies we have seen, mostly Pixar and children’s movies. The whole time he was completely sincere in his enthusiasm for these films.

This conversation made me realize that they bring the same level of sincerity to their music. On the surface, it may seem like dumb punk music, but their songs are catchy and crafted with love. Download “King of the Beach” and “I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl”. They’re fun, silly, and sincere. Perfect for any vacation

1. Free Energy

Paul from Free Energy

I want to pretend that it was really hard to choose my favorite band. I want to pretend that everyone on the cruise was amazing and I connected with them the way I did with Free Energy. But really, Free Energy was the best band on the cruise. Period. They may be the best band in music right now. There. I said it. Free Energy is THE BEST BAND RECORDING RIGHT NOW. They are the nicest guys. It was a travesty that they had to play the casino every night.  The first show, after the first song, Paul says to the crowd “I can’t believe people came to see us. How do you know who we are?” The next day at the pool, I asked for a picture with Sheridan and Scott (bassist and guitarist), who seemed stunned that I would want to talk to them.

This is that pic.

At the second show, Paul called out me and Hap for coming two nights in a row and knowing their lyrics. We went back for a third night and the crowd filled the entire casino. They stayed to say hi and thank every single person. I went to my room, changed, ate at the buffet, and came back and they were still talking to fans. We bought them shots and they told us about their favorite movies and books. Also, I have great respect for bands who say “I don’t really like to party. I like to read a lot”. Mad props.

Their sincerity, positive attitude, and well rounded interests shine in their music. All of their songs have the carpe diem feel of a John Donne poem. They motivate and inspire their fans to be the best versions that they can be. When I hear their songs, I simultaneously feel like I’m in a basement hanging out with my best friends, writing the best dissertation of my life, and sitting in a stadium full of tens of thousands of people screaming every word to every song. It’s powerful stuff. Be ready.

I’m not picking one song to tell you to download. Download the whole album. Stuck On Nothing is available on itunes for $5.99. Go buy it. You won’t be disappointed. Then and only then I will reveal my all-time favorite Free Energy song. Also, if any of you awesome members of Free Energy read this, hurry up and finish your album! I wanna download “Girls Love Rock” and blast it in my car as I drive down the street.

That’s my list, guys. I hope you like my pics and have some new songs to add to your playlists. Happy listening!