Friday Faves

iPhone 4s - I picked one up last Friday, when they released, at an AT&T store. Sara badly needed a new phone so I gave her my 4. I used her upgrade but put it on my line. You know, just in case that 5 comes out next summer. The 4s is super fast and Siri has really come in handy when driving or biking. Being able to just say "Text Sara 'On my way home' " and it does is really cool. The only problem I have encountered is that the battery does not last as long as the 4 and I don't think I am using it any different.

Coldplay "Mylo Xyloto" - This is gonna be a top 3 album of the year for me. Plus I can't get "Paradise" out of my head.

Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul - I've been enjoying the iBook version the past few months. I love the honesty from Howard Schultz and insight into how he helped turn the company around in 2008..."One cup. One customer. One partner. One experience at a time."  I highly recommend it for any leader of their company to read this. Seriously.

Yazoo Fall Lager - I got a growler of it the first Saturday they had it. It's much better than last year's Fall Ale. A perfect beer for this time of year.

Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist" - Catchy songs with killer guitar riffs and solos plus bad ass drumming.

Friday Faves

Here's my favorite summer brews this year.

New Belgium: Somersault Ale - This is my summer brew of 2011. It's also the the first year of it, just released in May, as it replaces the Skinny Dip (the other New Belgium summer seasonal). You can taste some slight apricot with a touch of ginger. Very refreshing.

Left Hand Brewing: Good JuJu - A refreshing spiced ale with a splash of ginger.

Brooklyn Summer Ale - "Refreshing and flavorful without being too heavy"

Saranac Summer Ale - Hints of lemon.

Samuel Adams: Summer Ale - Watch out...this one is 162 calories.

Friday Faves

Here's some recent food finds.

Applegate Farms - I started buying their frozen breakfast sausage (natural chicken & apple and natural chicken & maple) a few months ago and recently have gotten into their frozen organic turkey burgers and organic beef burgers. Check them out.

Food Should Taste Good: sweet potato chips - We first tried their Olive chips (thanks to the catering crew of Sugarland). We liked those but we LOVE the sweet potato.

Aidells Sausage Company - A perfect summer grill alternative to Johnsonville brats. I've only seen their dinner sausage options in stores around here. The Chicken & Apple and Spicy Mango with Jalapeno are  killer.

Talenti Gelato: Sea Salt Caramel - Enough said.

New Belgium: Somersault Ale - This is my summer brew of 2011. It's also the the first year of it, just released in May, as it replaces the Skinny Dip (the other New Belgium summer seasonal). You can taste some slight apricot with a touch of ginger. Very refreshing.

Friday Faves

Foo Fighters "Wasting Light": 2 words. Kicks ass. So far it's my #1 album of the year. And yes I'll be at the show on May 20 in Memphis.

Rdio: I can't believe I'm lovin' something other than iTunes. But for $10 a month to have as much music as I want, whatever I want, whenever I want streaming to my destktop or on the app on my iPhone...I'm sold. The iPhone app is even AirPlay enabled but not on the desktop app (the only downside). I've been deleting albums from my iTunes that I don't listen to as much because I know I can get them at anytime on this. You can sync your iTunes with it but I've got too many playlists that won't convert. So yeah, check it out. It's great for test-driving an album or going back through an artists' catalog if you only know the hits but the album.

The Damnwells "No One Listens To The Band Anymore": Their best since their 2003 debut "Bastards of the Beat". The track "The Great Unknown" is my favorite.

RED: My Uncensored Life In Rock by Sammy Hagar - A light and easy read full of great rock-n-roll stories. If you love any "making of the album..." then you need to read this.

Augustana "self-titled": A great followup to  "Can't Love Can't Hurt". A little more Bruce in this album which I love.

An all music post. But these new albums from the Foo, Augustana, and the Damnwells have given me hope that great rock-n-roll is not dead. No gimmicks or trends just great songs.

Friday Faves

Not that you care but it's been a long time since I've posted one of these. So here's the most recent.

Adele - 21: An amazing album. Classic. Don't believe me? Watch this this and ALL of these. The story behind the last track on the album "Someone Like You" and how the live performances of it made it a #1 song in the UK without any other promotion show the strength of a voice and a song.

55 South: My new spot in Franklin. After spending many happy hours there I finally started diggin' into the menu. Even the oysters...grilled though. And now our wedding catering will be provided by them.

TripAdvisor: I know I'm late on this site. But I just started using it and I like that it's like a Yelp for hotels. Its Top 10 All Inclusive Resorts helped us pick our honeymoon destination.

Presbyterian: - I go with 2 ounces bourbon (Maker's Mark) or 2 ounces Gentlemen Jack with 2 ounces diet ginger ale, and 2 ounces parts club soda.

Benjamin Dunn & Friends - Circus of Love: My heart can usually only take 1 worship album a year. And this is it. It's fresh. Light hearted. Child-like. Though Hillsong United "aftermath" and Aaron Gillespie "Anthem Song" cannot be ignored.