gatewaygroupies

Valentine's Massacre II: This time, it's personal

Some of you may remember last year's Valentine's Day Observable event at The Royale. We came, we drank, we performed the lyrics of our favorite love and love-to-hate-you songs, and some that didn't fit in any category, yet were still damned funny. Wildfire! That one still slays me.

This year, we're at it again, this time with two rock star emcees: Julie Dill and Byron Kerman. Here's how we're working it:

FIRST
Decide on a perfect song, one that fully encompasses your personal philosophy on love, relationships, sex, or the commercial empire that governs all things affectionate in these United States. Keep in mind, ODB's "Hey Dirtay (Baby I Got Your Money)" was pulled off with stellar skillz last year, so you'll want to pick something fresh this go round.

SECOND
E-mail that bad boy to observable.events@gmail.com , along with the creative and unique name you'd like to use on stage, and get put on "the list." This is a crucial step, folks, as we have to know what song you're performing by February 12th or you might not get to play with us. Don't ask us twelve times to put you on the list to do "D!ck in a Box" like you did last year. We reserve the right to refuse a song if it's lame. And it's first come, first served, so we won't be hearing two performances of "Hit Me Baby One More Time" this year.

THIRD
Practice, practice, practice. In front of a mirror, in front of your dog, in front of your grandma. Hone your skillz so you don't forget what you're doing after two or three beers. We want to see a precision operation, no matter what song you choose. Bring your words with you!

FINALLY
Show up the night of and make yourself known to be present, by whatever spectacle necessary. Show starts at 6:00. We'll do three blocks of 30 minute performances, on the hour through nine o'clock. The last block will be reserved for walk ins. Each set will be followed by sweet, sweet music. Performers will be assigned to the block of their choosing as long as spots are available. Come early and there will be plenty of time to eat, drink and be merry.

Alright, start raiding your mixed CDs for the perfect song, and keep checking back here for more details as they become available.

As you were.

Fritanga

We met some friends for lunch today at Fritanga (2208 S. Jefferson). Killer find!

The service was evenly and generously paced and incredibly polite. I don't know if it means I've just gotten used to really rude service, but our waiter seemed hand-picked from a five-star establishment and it was a welcome change.

For an appetizer, we tried the repochetas, a safe choice, since they were essentially corn quesadillas with slaw on top. I got addicted to the radish slaw right off. It's tangy but not too tart, and the radishes offered a subtle peppery flavor that never got old.

Three of us got the taquitos nicas con pollo, safe choice again, but they smelled unbelieveable. On the lunch menu, these come with a pile of red beans and rice, but since the lunch menu is only offered on Monday through Friday, and we didn't notice that. When we saw Santiago's order, we requested them anyway, and Orlando, the owner, gave everyone their beans and rice on the house.

Santiago had gone to Fritanga before and it was his suggestion that got us there for lunch today. He ordered the canoas meduras, or the fried plantain canoe.

Hot, isn't it? His plantain was split and stuffed baked potato style with spiced chicken and mozzarella cheese.

I didn't catch whether they never have handmade items on weekends or if today was a fluke, but they weren't offering any empanadas, which bummed me out. I ordered off the a la carte menu instead. I got the meduras and an order of gallos pintos.

The plantains weren't a bit greasy and so sweet, I kept looking for the powdered sugar.

The food was delicious, the service top notch, but maybe the coolest part was the check. When's the last time you and four of your friends had appetizers and lunch plus drinks this cheap??

The Hiatus is Ovah

We're sorry. We got busy. We have a peace offering for you.

We'll update regularly now...for reals this time, peeps, I swear.

Welcome to our new place! You might not notice a difference if you got here via the www.gatewaygroupies.com url, but rest assured, you're now at STL.typepad.com, a cool place for STL peeps' blogs. If you want one, call us, we'll talk.

Some of you have been keeping the dream alive by visiting Laine's photo blog, and that's great! Keep on doing that, too, 'cause she's way funny and super duper talented. But be sure to check Gateway Groupies at least a couple times a week for more exciting news on whatever silly thing we happen to be up to here in SoHa and beyond.

OH, the things you have missed while I was too busy with my fancy schmantzy job and all my volunteer gigs to update! But as is the tradition here at Gateway Groupies, I am pretending that never happened. We're starting from scratch. And this is what we did last weekend:

We said goodbye (with food) to a certain Post Dispatch Science reporter and her husband, who have left us for D.C. and Science News.

We went grocery shopping at the Hampton Village Schnucks at midnight (gotta avoid the paparazzi!)

We went to the annual Brinker Cincinatti Chili three-way.

We went to the Esquire and saw "Sweeney Todd."

We went to Dunaway Books, where I purchased a McSweeney's list anthology, a Henry James novel and a James Joyce novel (and not because I couldn't remember who was whom, I can't believe you're so suspicious!) and a Paula Cole CD, because it was $3.00.

And then we walked to Jay International for some grocery action.

Where Laine assures everyone, the chocolate biscuits are not made of kittens.

Coming soon: "Valentine's Night Two: Mary Lou"