It’s been a great weekend so far. Friday I had some sushi and crashed early. I needed the sleep in a big way. I woke up around 10:30 on Saturday, took a run and then headed out into a nice sunny afternoon. I stumbed across an ‘Aboriginal Day Festival’ in front of the Art Gallery. I watched dancers from Mexico City, and parused the different tents with paintings and I peered inside a few teepees that hey set up. I also got some street meat for lunch – a cheese and bacon smokie. The hot dog carts here put NYC to shame.
I then strolled down Granville and spent a good hour in Charlie’s Music City. It’s a crazy place with old/new and unsual music all mixed in together. I picked up the new Ozomatli as well as some Afro-Celts Sound System. Both are pretty good, though I’m favoring the Ozomatli more at the moment.
I came home, had some dinner and decided to head out to the Yale Hotel. It’s known for live blues every weekend. Last weekend Pat and I saw this place rocking as we drove by late on Saturday. I decided I was feeling pretty deprived of live music, so I headed over about 9pm. Taylor James was playing. She and her band are awesome. She sounds a lilttle bit like Bonnie Raitt, and a little like Sheryl Crow.
The Yale is a pretty cool venue. The crowd is a little bit older at the beginning of the night, but lots of younger people stroll in around 10:30-11. It’s worth getting there early though to get a table or bar stool, because it gets packed. At some point in the night a guy and a girl came up to me and said “You look a little bored, do you want to come hang out with us?”. Of course I said yes! The girl’s name was Rachel and she was there with her whole family (mom included) to celebrate her uncle Norman’s birthday. Uncle Norman repeatedly told me I was the ‘whitest white girl’ he had ever seen.
It was nice to have some company and be introduced to new people. When the band’s set was done, I decided to head home. I got back to my place around 1am and was starving (and I was feeling pretty good, I’d had a few drinks during the night). I quickly decided nothing I had in my apartment would do, so I grabbed the phone book and found a pizza place close by that delivered and was still open. Johnny’s Pizza Factory showed up 20min later with a super tasty mushroom pizza just for me. I don’t think I’ve ever ordered drunk pizza for myself before, but let me tell you it tastes just as good when you’re by yourself as it does when you order with friends.
Today (Sunday) I was up early with no hangover, so I headed to church. In about an hour or so I’m meeting one of my mom’s long time friends Debbie from Kodak for lunch over at the Cactus Club. Debbie is in town for training for work so we decided to catch up.
It’s been a pretty ‘normal’ weekend. Lots to do and see, and no sitting home along in my apartment at night. Sounds good to me.
