MGMT: We're Fated to Pretend

On October 7, I went to the MGMT concert at People's Court. If you are unfamiliar with their stuff, you should definitely check out their newest release called Oracular Spectacular. Following are some links to some of my favorite tracks: Electric Feel, Kids (unofficial), Time to Pretend, and Weekend Wars. They are from Brooklyn, have been featured on Gossip Girl, and have been remixed by Justice: if any of those reasons are not reason enough to check them out, then I don't know what is. I'm not concerned with them coming out with a junior album that is outstanding and I'm not concerned with them winning a grammy. Their music is a fun, retro throwback of David Bowie meets the BeeGees meets Jimi Hendrix meets 2008, all done by drug-induced hipsters who came of age in the 90's. I don't know--I'm not a music reviewer or a hipster. But their music makes me want to be irresponsible and do irresponsible things if only for a few moments, and that's worth something. ;) It's also great to be able to see live bands in Des Moines that are not the usual local stuff. And for $17 just down the street, it's worth a work night.

The Continental and Zzz Records

After shunning Alba, we took a left at the Lutheran Church, made a right just past the gay bar, and took a quick stop at TB's favorite, local gem, Zzz Records in the East Village. As an aspiring DJ and vinyl connoisseur, he regularly likes to check out what is available. We found Chromeo's debut "Fancy Footwork" (youtube or Itunes it: it's great) and then headed to a late dinner next door, literally.

The Continental has been a great fall back option for us in the past. Boasting unique plates like MayTag Blue Cheese Crostinis, Panko Breaded Crabcakes, and Beef Carpachio, they offer classic, yet accessible fare. We decided on the Prosciutto-wrapped Asparagus with our respective drinks to match our personalities: Guiness for him, a Key-Lime Pie martini for me, which was the best mixed drink I have had. A martini should be drinkable, but you should be able to know there is alcohol in it. I was not disappointed.

For our entrees we also stuck with something dependable: for TB, a Blackened Chicken Sandwich on South Union foccacia, and for me, a Steak Salad with homemade (and soft!) croutons. For dessert, we finished off the night by splitting Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake. The setting itself is comfortable, yet chic, making use of the original brick walls and high ceilings. There is a piano and drum set in the front window which provided some nice, background jazz for the younger-to-middle-aged patrons who were onto their second and third drink rounds.

All in all an enjoyable night, accented with enjoyable conversation with a loved one.

Alba

Not Jessica; the restaurant on East Sixth and Des Moines Street. Sorry, guys.

I experienced a new and invigorating dining experience last night--and it didn't involve the food.

For awhile now I've wanted to try out an East Village restaurant called Alba, so The Boyfriend and I decided to "celebrate" my cancelled shift at J.Crew (the economy can be blamed for this) as a good excuse to get a nice dinner and try a new place. I guess the bad parking access should've been the first hint that this would not bode well. When we finally made it into the restaurant, I could barely see where I was going. Supposedly there are eclectic, vintage doors hanging from the ceiling, but who knows: the table was lit with the light from a streetlamp and a dim candle at the tables. The waitress seated us as far away from the rest of the other diners as possible (and it's a small venue). Call me old-fashioned and traditional, but when the bruschetta in their 'Small Plates' section has neither basil, fresh mozzarella, or even tomatoes but instead a selection of beans, something is awry. I searched the menu for something to jump out at me and nothing really did. TB said he could order the NY Strip (something you can order anywhere) but at $25, we already knew that a tastier and more elegant version could be found for the same price at Bistro Montage. I genuinely felt trapped. We already had the water, the menus, the table, the waitress... but then, we did something I have never done before: He pulled a few dollars out of his pocket, and placed them on the table, and then we got up and walked out. Passing our waitress on the way out, we said, "Thank you, but this isn't what we were looking for."

And that is the truth.

She'll probably think that as a young couple we didn't want to shell out some bucks for an elegant dinner. But in reality, I didn't want to feel locked into a restaurant's contemporary and experimental American food concept, and have to pay for something that just wasn't what I wanted. And it was liberating.