My Friend Jasmine: Live Music, Cheap Whiskey, Cajun Food & Basketball!

This was the first super fun weekend of 2010!

(not bad considering its only the 2nd weekend of the year!!)

... please join me in remembering the fun times... :)

Friday: Chris Thile

I love love love live music! Normally one of my favorite thing to do is go to shows alone. I like to blend into the crowd, come and go as I desire, dance where I want and talk to whomever I want. But this was a different kinda show... :) This was Chris Thile and The Punch Brothers!

I took my muscian friend, Andrew (Mando Player) with me. He's the mandolinist and barista of a previous blog. Chris Thile is his favorite mando player and I couldnt think of any better company for this show than the mando player *I* know! Nothing better than going to a show with someone who knows the history and awesomeness of the artist... someone to be nuts with after a great performance!

Chris Thile is one of the most amazing mandolinists ever! He played with a band called Nickle Creek until they parted ways a few years ago. He then started a band called the Punch Brothers and they played at the Fox in Boulder last Friday. I suppose they call their genre progressive bluegrass... (??)

In all my excitement (and brilliantness) I went to the WRONG VENUE - we were at the BOULDER THEATER!

(This is Pearl Street not The Hill! How long have you lived in Colorado??) So I took a pic to remember my bad! - oops!

Sometimes I think I know everything... but yeah, I dont (haha really??).

So we had to haul buns up the street to The FOX... but phew (!) We made it...

Here we are at the correct venue...

Cool as a cucumber... haha :)
pssshyeah right.

Opening band: The Dovekins from Denver

They were pretty good - tons of fun and great energy... (I love this picture) This is what we saw as soon as we walked into The Fox.

Then Chris Thile and The Punch Brothers!!!

Oh yeah - thats the good stuff!

This was him was thanking the crowd after their THIRD encore!

Wow - what an amazing show! He rocked it out like none other and played that sweet little mando like it's just so easy to do!

The rest of the band was very mellow and conservative with their on-stage presence. Thile on the other hand? He bounced on stage and banged his head like a rockstar in rhythm to his badass bluegrass! I love the buzz of energy from an excited crowd especially when I'm right in the middle of it! I can't help but boogie when I hear music and I'll tell ya - this was good times! Wow just wow.

Saturday Whiskey

Yes, I'm a beer and whiskey drinker - I fancy the Irish kind the best!
And just my luck ~

This little liquor store by my friend's house had the big 750 ML bottles of Jameson mismarked for $12.00!! That size bottle normally goes for $30-35!

Needless to say... I had to partake in some of that mismarked action! It is a bad economy after all... :)

So from the start until the end of the day... my buddy and I watched movies, played video games and drank whiskey... and played with his kitten cats!

This is Ojo and Sushi... They're my buddies!

Sometimes Ojo is called Ojito - I call her Ojito Bandito because she likes to take and play with my things. See her above with my camera string? She grabbed it, got distracted and them pounced!! :)

Sounds like a ggggrrreat Saturday to me!

Sunday Cajun Brunch

I was invited to my friend's parent's home for brunch and football (Vikings v. Cowboys). His mom loves to cook and is from Louisiana so of course I accepted! I'm a sucker for a good cajun meal and I knew this one would be great!

Drivin...

This is one of my favorite spots on I-25...

YES I take pics when I drive!!

I watched my buddy and his mom in the kitchen pouring, mixing and sauteeing delicious goodness over a great conversation, mimosas and the winning Vikings in the background.

She served Shrimp and Grits

(Big fat prawns sitting atop a bed of gouda cheese, butter and cream blended grits, peppers, onions, garlic and some other secret ingredients.)

and Pain de Perdue

(Its like French toast - only better! These are little pieces of bread baked in a bed of carmelized brown sugar, cream and ... I have no clue... but lots of love! YUM.

It was a great brunch as the Vikings won (Pants on the Ground Brett!!) and I got to hang out with a great bunch! Those Thompsons - ya gotta love 'em! Thanks!

Sunday Night NUGGETS BASKETBALL!

I loves me some basketball! The Mando Player took me, his cousin, her boyfriend and his brother to the Nuggets v. Jazz game at the Pepsi center! They were visiting from Houston so it was a great way to wrap up their last night in Denver.

We opted to find free parking in Denver but it took us a few blocks away from the Pepsi center. This is Union Station as I walked by...

... pretty huh?

... and the PEPSI CENTER is PACKED! :)