Some Velvet Evening.

Again with the over blogging!  But, as promised, Saturday part deux.

After a lovely evening of wood planked salmon, roasted fingerlings, and ricotta beignets courtesy of Allison, fresh asparagus and salad from our garden, and too many glasses of Smackintosh from Tandem Cider (now available at the Produce Station in A2!), it was off to Johnny's Speakeasy.

Now, if you've never been, I will tell you my secrets.  I may have to kill you afterwards, but at least you will die knowing that some place this magical exists.

In a little old unassuming farmhouse on the west side of Ann Arbor, there is a place, a wonderful place, where music magic happens.   You would never know it from the outside, but after your first decent down those steep wooden stairs into the old fruit cellar, you will never be the same.  The space was used for apple storage for the old farm on the same property.  When Johnny bought the house years ago, the story goes that there were many an interested party.  Each buyer would walk down the stairs and exclaim their excitement over all of the "storage space."  But when Johnny walked down those stairs he saw the best little roots music venue around.  Sold.

Christmas lights draped romantically, old farm implements, and guitars, ukes, and banjos grace the walls.  Bring your own beverage, and maybe a snack to share.  Support good local music, and leave richer for your experience.  It doesn't. Get. Better.

Saturday night featured the lovely duo Some Velvet Evening, composed of the handsome John Holk, and  the lovely Carrie Shepard.  They were backed by Gary Indiana on guitar, and I can't remember the drummer's name (sorry awesome drummer!).  Click here to watch the amazing old school video for their song Shooting the Breeze, part of their self proclaimed "cheating trilogy" on their new album.

Maybe, if you are nice to me, I will take you there some day.  I said maybe, and there should probably be free cocktails involved.  Just sayin'.

A few numbers by Some Velvet Evening!  Waylon Jenning's Rainy Day Woman,
and Once a Day (an original?)

As I finish this I am sun kissed, well fed, and perfectly content after a long day at the beach with good people.  Amen.

The Improved Brubaker.

I know I'm preaching to the choir on this one, but if you have been living under a rock, and you haven't been to The Sugar House yet...go.  Drop everything.  Leave your husbands and children to fend for themselves, put on something pretty, and go.

It was a cold and snowy Detroit night when my gal pals and I were ushered into a dark, brick walled, taxidermied, candle lit, magical wonderland know as The Sugar House - a craft cocktail bar featuring a refined and pallet titilating menu of prohibition era style cocktails.  (And this after being ushered into one dressing room and fitted for bras together at the fabulous Bravo Intimates...yep.  we needed a stiff cocktail)  (But a good bra is life changing, just sayin'").  But I digress, they get a giant block of ice once a week from Dexter and hand chip your cubes.  The gentlemen bartenders wear their sleeves rolled up with little black arm bands.  You feel as though you've been transported...and then there are the cocktails.  Oh! the cocktails.  They make their own syrups, bitters, and squeeze their own juices.  The different flavor combinations are so complex and so perfect.  Go ahead, put a raw egg in my drink (just don't tell me about it), because I trust you , and I know it will be delicious.

So, when planning a big Sunday family dinner for this afternoon, I decided we were going old school and everyone was partaking in my favorite Sugar House delicacy...The Improved Brubaker...or Joe's take on it at anyway. (recipe slightly different, yet delectable!)

1 part fresh squeezed lime juice
1 part homemade blackberry syrup (simple syrup with a pint of blackberries...and let 'em simmer)
3 parts agave blanco tequilla
Mint leaves
Cinnamon (a pinch)

I meant to take a picture of the jug of cocktails all day...but somebody drank it all too fast (ok, maybe me.)

Joe made the cocktails in a growler from my other favorite place on earth - Tandem Ciders

Here are a few picks of last years Tandem Cider excursion...best damn hard cider anywhere.  Light and smooth and something you crave until the next summer on Leelanau.

And, one more of the sugar house menu.  Watch a sultry and hot Sugar House promo video here.

And, thank you family - for a lovely day walking around the farm, eating beautiful food, and sipping cocktails with me.
We built memories today people!