There is food in Baltimore

Previous to her emigration to the Republic of Texas, my wonderful punk-rock librarian wife was a long-time resident of this frightening mid-Atlantic city. (Did I mention that, on average, about 1/10th of a percent of Baltimore's population is murdered every year? Frightening!) One of her favorite eateries is an tavern in the Fell's Point area named Peter's Inn. I had been there a few times during previous visits, and each meal was a treat -- well-done American food, a diverse enough beer collection, and enough Baldimore color to charm it up a notch or so.

So, Shearwater, we're on tour, playing at the Ottobar. Betwixt load-in and showtime, me & Howrad and KB cabbed it over to Peter's Inn for a nice dinner of, Jesus Fucking Christ, anything but goddammned pizza. (Enough with the pizza already! Can someone tell the booking agent "NO PIZZA"? What are you paying him for, anyway?) On the menu for the night, IIRC: duck leg, scallops with corn grits, lobster ravioli w/ spinach.

Conclusion? Not as great as I remember, a little more fru-fru than I remember, but shit, far nicer than fucking pizza. I recommend it, especially since there's only crack and beer available near the Ottobar.

cheap frozen southern tasty

When in Durham, we followed sound advice from Lalitree Darnielle and walked to Loco Pops. Here it is on a map.

It's at the corner of Hillsborough and Fifteenth Streets, and it was about maybe a half mile or slightly more walk from the Duke Campus to the little storefront. Decorations are toddler-minimalist drawings, and the well windowed front lets sunlight fill this temple of frozen-tasty-on-a-stick.

In 10 minutes, I ate:

1. Mojito
2. Sorrel
3. Grapefruit Basil
4. Horchata

I also tasted the pops of others: saffron or saffron & pistachio, chocolate & chili, and some others I can't remember. All were great, but Owen of Casiotone and I preferred the Mojito flavored pop over all the rest. It was maybe better than the $9 Mojito I had later that night. Sorrel was definitely the strangest popsicle I've ever eaten; kind of a slightly spicy sweet, very dark red hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa?). Not at all unpleasant, and a nice break from the strong sweetness of more common flavors.

My desire for convenience would love to see Loco Pops propagate to every city like Starbucks, but not if it makes this one less special. It is very special.