Organic Spirits...

The wife and I are fasting. We are cleansing our minds and our bodies for the new year. For us, it is a spiritual exercise. An exercise to get closer to God and each other. We did not come to this on our own. We have several friends who embarked upon this journey and we have joined them. I tell you this to set up my next find.

The fast prohibits us from certain foods. The only thing we are supposed to eat are fruits and vegetables, natural spices are allowed and unleavened breads. No meat, processed foods or dairy products. No carbonated or artificially flavored drinks and no alcohol. Since eating salads everyday would be less than interesting and making this fast a tad bit more difficult, I have found myself searching the net for vegetarian meals and different variations of such.

Enter SQUARE ONE BOTANICAL SPIRIT.

Square One Botanical Vodka (Bottle price $32.99) is rye-based and filled with organic fruits and botanicals. Not only is it organic, the packaging is "green". Also available is Square One Organic and Square One Cucumber vodkas.

From the website: Vodkas are prized for their purity, so the idea of an organic vodka was both viable and exciting…Thus Allison set out to create the greenest clear spirit yet. And she started at…square one, with the purest ingredients she could find: pristine spring water from the Teton mountains and organically certified North Dakota-grown rye. The ingredients are so pure that Square One obviates the need for multiple distillation, emerging through a single pass in the distiller with its unique flavor profile intact.
But Allison was not content to focus only on what’s in the bottle – the packaging had to reflect Square One’s philosophy of eco-conscious sophistication. That’s why the distinct square bottle is not frosted [a process that calls for some serious chemicals!] and the label is now printed on paper made from bamboo, bagasse and cotton, all sustainably grown and renewable fiber sources. And once the bottle is empty the label easily peels off so the bottle can enjoy a second life as a vase or other container.
Finally, while we at Square One embrace the square, we’re also happy to come full circle: Because the rye byproduct from our vodka-making process is organic and minimally processed, it is packed with protein and fiber, thus making it ideal for sale as feed to an organic dairy farm. We did not intend to sell off our “waste” but are now thrilled to be a vital link in the cradle-to-cradle process of growing grain, feeding cattle, and creating the best martinis you have ever tried!

Though I have yet to try Square One, I have definitely added it to my list of must haves/trys at the end of my fast. Everything in moderation - of course!

You don’t have to wait for me…and if you don’t…save me a sip...

Date Night with My Favorite Girl

Dallas always has something to do. Its just not always something I want to do. So keeping date night with the wife interesting can be a challenge sometimes. So when she was offered tickets to tonight's Dallas Symphony Orchestra Perfomance at the Meyerson, I affirmed without hesitation.

My love for music knows no boundaries. So I generally look foward to hearing something I don't listen to regularly. I have a cursory love for symphonies. However, I do prefer symphonic music with full brass and percussion sections - being an old band man myslef. My record collection includes the likes of YoYo Ma, baroque joints by Wynton Marsalis and classical work from Branford Marsalis as well.

We were treated to the DSO's renditions of Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 and Schumann's Symphony No. 4. I can't say I was familiar with either one. But I will say I enjoyed them both immensely. Beethoven was mild and melodic. Schumann's was quite lively throughout. Also, there was a world premier of a Concerto for Viola and Orchestra commissioned by DSO by composer Margaret Brouwer. I can't say that I enjoyed that at all. But I will acknowledge my limited experience and understanding of classical pieces of this magnitue. The performance was conducted by Paul Phillips. He is currently an educator at Southern Methodist University.

All in all, the wife and I had a great time with the music. This is the second time I've visited the Meyerson in three months. And I always enjoy the time I get to spend there. It is an excellent space and the acoustics make the experience that much more enjoyable.

In March, from the 5th - 7th, Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra will be visiting.

We'll be there...meet us for drinks before...and after.

John Legend at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Hall

Dallas, Texas, October 5, 2009

I’ve ventured into the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center at least once every couple of years since it was opened. I have yet to see the Dallas Symphony Orchestra or any other classical offering. Still I love the venue and its non classical product has been top notch. From Roy Hargrove, the Marsalis Brothers, Wynton and Branford to tonight and the incomparable song styling of Grammy Award winner JOHN LEGEND.

The Meyerson lent its perfect acoustics to one of the premier artist of the neo-soul, rhythm and blues era. With regard to non-classical product the Meyerson is a real gem in the city and the inside of the hall is beautiful! And it lends ambiance to any date night.

Whenever I’ve been to the Meyerson for one of the many non-classical concerts, I have been impressed with the diversity of the audiences. I was especially impressed with the diversity at this particular concert. John Legend doesn’t exactly inspire thoughts of the more mature, less urban crowd, but they were there in numbers seemingly enjoying the concert. I mean if you include standing, cheering and mouthing the words to the songs in your definition of enjoying the concert.

Style is surely a Dallas thing and it was certainly on display at the Meyerson this night. Knowing that the Meyerson is a symphony hall would invoke thoughts of tuxedos, spats and after five dresses. But the product offering inspired a less formal display of wardrobe; however still very stylish. From concert casual to nightclub cool, it was all on display.

All and all I suggest the Meyerson has become a premier venue, dare I say cool venue for non-classical offerings in Dallas. Definitely keep them in mind for your next date night.

See my review of the John Legend Concert.

The E’s Stand Alone

I certainly never thought of Mercedes Benz as being anything less than a high end luxury brand. But in recent years their status has been challenged by high end offerings from BMW, Lexus and Acura . But the great thing that Benz still has that those other car companies don’t, is affordable luxury with all the trimmings and the name.

Enter the ninth generation E Class.

While on a recent visit to a dealership, I found myself staring and somewhat admiring the new 2010 E Class Coupe. Upon first glance there definitely is an “ahh” moment and I found myself listening for harps.

The lines on this automobile were taken from the successes found on the recently redesigned C Class. Apparently, the feedback from the C encouraged Mercedes to continue with the style. The concept of the new E seems to be to bring back the engineering that is so readily available in the S and CL platforms and add punch to the aesthetic of the body style. The redesign was sorely needed since Hyundai, Honda and Toyota found it very easy to join ranks as copy cats. But now, Benz has created a beast.

As I sat behind the wheel I knew I was in a different space. First, the headliner was made of a suede material which gives you the feel of the higher end Benz cars. The climate controls went from being corny dials to user-friendly levels that give more of an airplane cockpit feel and lends to the high end luxury aesthetic. The wood and leather are used throughout and are certainly reminiscent of classic Benz styling. Though I didn’t drive the Coupe, I did enjoy the comfort of the cockpit as well.

The new E comes on three platforms, the four door sedan, the new coupe and the E63 AMG coupe which is not yet available. It is offered with 268-hp V-6 or 382-hp V-8 engine 7-speed automatic transmssion. It comes standard with all glass panorama roof. It also has cool stuff like Attention Assist driver drowsiness monitor standard.

Mercedes has stepped its game back up in the mid-size luxury arena with a vengeance and challenging all comers. And I believe that when the year ends, they will have claimed the top spot without a foe in sight.