Fare thee Well

The evolution of this blog came about when I was looking to take a 3-month hiatus from Facebook a few years back.  I looked to fill my time with things other than reading the oft-opinionated, unoriginal, and thoughtless minutia that filtered my news feed.  I sought to be creative through my passion for reading and desire to keep my mind working by writing about things I enjoy - food, travel, and music - and sharing it with others.  While the intentions were good the overall plan didn't come to fruition.  

Blogging and vlogging are not easy things to do no matter with what frequency you may decide to do it.  I watch people on YouTube who record each and every day while others post weekly or even less frequently.  It is a passion that has to come from within once you realize what your niche is.  It doesn't matter if you have 50 followers or 50,000 followers you are still putting yourself out there for all to see and read.  I never felt I really hit my stride or fell into a real niche.  Yes, I have a handful of people who read my musings but I don't feel I'm catering well enough to be of interest or value to those who choose to follow me.

Having said that I am retiring the Drumming at the Table blog.  As I take the proverbial 'step back' I am at ease with this choice.  Within the next few weeks I plan to reintroduce myself to the blogging world within one area that most of my family, friends, and co-workers know I have a passion for.  Walt Disney World.  As I jump over to that realm I do so with the understand there is a certain level of saturation but with the confidence I can be successful, educational, and entertaining in a way that differentiates me from my peers.

I hope that you will follow me on that new journey and invite others to do the same.  I have enjoyed the few writing opportunities I posted here on Drumming at the Table and will always look back knowing where I started.  As Neil Peart wrote in 'Ghost Rider' there is sunset on the road behind and sunrise on the road ahead.  Cheers!

101 Beer Kitchen Review

101 Beer Kitchen is a unique Columbus-based gastropub featuring local fare on a seasonally rotating schedule.  There are three locations - Dublin, Gahanna, Westerville - and they are open daily with a brunch offering on Sundays from Noon to 3pm.

Beth and I ventured to the Dublin location last Friday night and apparently so did most of northwest Columbus!  The bar was packed, the drinks were flowing, and conversation and laughter abound.  Once we got seated (after about an hour) our waitress informed us that the winter menu was just introduced the previous week.  We started our evening with drinks.  I chose an organic chocolate stout and Beth had a beerita which is just as it sounds.  A margarita that had some kind of a sweeter beer infused.  It was unique.

Short Rib Nachos

We put in our appetizer order while we perused the entrees.  Today we had nachos with short rib meat, house made cheese sauce, corn, tomatoes, sour cream, and Fresno peppers.  The short rib meat was AMAZINGLY tender and delicious (hint...the short ribs also make an appearance in the stroganoff).  We also shared the fried cheddar cheese curds which were a throwback to a business trip I took last summer to Wisconsin.  These beer battered nuggets of deliciousness were served with a side of honey mustard sauce.

Cheddar Cheese Curds

For our entrees Beth went with the wedge salad served with tomatoes, fresh bacon bits, and blue cheese crumbles with a side of blue cheese dressing and balsamic vinaigrette. This is a standard we've both had before and it is a very good offering. She added a bowl of cream of mushroom soup consisting of pureed crimini and domestic mushrooms, fresh cream, and parsley.  If you are a mushroom connoisseur, unlike me, Beth recommends the soup before it disappears.  I selected the French dip sandwich which was supposed to come with cream of mushroom soup but I opted to swap that for the ale & cheddar cheese soup.  Unlike a normal French dip this was served on a brioche bun.  It consisted of shaved roast beef, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, and a horseradish mayo with au jus and a side of house made salt and vinegar potato chips.  This sandwich was outstanding.  The caramelized onions were present but not overpowering and the horseradish mayo, which I would assume to be strong as well, was subtle.  The ale & cheddar cheese soup was smooth and creamy but a bit rich.  It was garnished with a sourdough crostini and pork croutons.

Wedge Salad with Cream of Mushroom Soup

Feeling on the verge of being full, but not wanting to skirt past the most important portion of the meal, we perused the dessert options with the intent of taking it with us to enjoy in the comfort of our own home.  There were four offerings and a 'pie of the day'.  Sounds delicious...I'll have that (random Dumb & Dumber reference).  Today's 'pie of the day' was an oatmeal stout pie that our waitress informed me was very popular as I was trying to decide between that and the apple crisp.  Hindsight is 20/20 but I'll get to that.  Beth selected the butterscotch pot de creme which consisted of a butterscotch custard, fresh whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a homemade sugar cookie.  While it didn't travel too well she said it was good; almost like a butterscotch pudding.  I opted for the popular oatmeal stout pie which came garnished with a chocolate sauce and fresh whipped cream.  I was cautiously optimistic as I opened the container and caught the aroma.  However, my first bite unfortunately was also my last bite.  I cannot put into words the actual flavor but it was not for me.  I broke off a piece of the crust to try and somehow cleanse my pallet which didn't quite work out the best.

French Dip Sandwich with Ale & Cheddar Cheese Soup

Fortunately Beth had that sugar cookie which and graciously shared it with me!


Overall, we were both pleased with our meals.  While the wait was a little longer than we would normally sit through on a Friday evening the atmosphere helped make the time go by faster.  Also, our service was top notch.  We were very well taken care of and our server did her best to accommodate our questions and make recommendations.  The only downturn for me was my dessert choice.  As I previously said...hindsight.  Based on all of this I give 101 Beer Kitchen 4 stars and highly recommend checking it out.  Their website provides a great overview of all their menu offerings, locations, hours, and special events.  They also provide details of current beers on draft.


Thanks for taking a few minutes to read my blog.  Please feel free to comment, leave suggestions, and follow.  I'm also on Twitter @abdrum74 and Instagram abdrum74.

Hey Ohio...Let's Go Politiking!

***DISCLAIMER***  This is a satirical piece.  Or is it?  Read it with a grain of salt.  I am invoking a state of freewill.  If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice.  If you are offended it is a YOU problem.

Well, well, well.  Today is primary day in Ohio.  Get out and VOTE people!  And pray for the future of our nation.  For the first time in my 20+ years of being eligible to vote this is by far one of the WORST pools of candidates vying to become Commander in Chief.  I'd run down the list for you but do I really need to?  Haven't we already been overrun with town hall meetings, debates, appearances on Saturday Night Live, etc.?  I'm certain that some people would point out that previous office holders were crooks, embroiled in scandals, and skirt chasers.  I don't deny that.  With the exception of James Buchanan.  I believe he was a slacks chaser based on some reports.  

The only time I ever considered a non-politician businessman for President was way back in 1992.  Anyone remember H. Ross Perot?  They guy could do a spot on Dana Carvey impression.  He made such an impact on the election that he essentially stole votes from George H.W. Bush, and probably Bill Clinton for that matter, causing Bush the election and getting Clinton into office.  I would say history is now repeating itself but this round's non-politician businessman is actually going to be endorsed by one of the recognized parties and not an independent.  Please note I use the term 'endorsed' loosely because, while he may have enough delegates to win the nomination, I don't think the party is too keen on some of his worldly insights (or lack thereof).

All I can say about the other party is this - God help us if William Jefferson Clinton becomes this country's First Gentleman.  Or whatever we would call him.  Par-tay in the Lincoln Bedroom.  Hey!

I've already made my decision how I intend to vote come election time in November.  I desire a candidate who is noble and gifted.  Someone who has shown great leadership and strategy in a military position but also knows to be diplomatic and open minded.  My ideal candidate is at peace with himself and one with...well...the Force.  That's right.  If you haven't figured it out by now.

Reading Review - Neil Peart; Cultural Repercussions

The full title of the September 2015 release by Bradley J. Birzer is 'Neil Peart: Cultural Repercussions: An in-depth examination of the words, ideas, and professional life of Neil Peart, man of letters' is ironically wordy for an investigation into the words of the highly acclaimed drummer and lyricist of the Canadian progressive rock band Rush.  Birzer, himself a Rush fan since the 1983 release of 'Grace Under Pressure', is Professor of History at Hillsdale College in Michigan.  

In most cases I am skeptical to read books by fans because they tend to lack objectivity.  All too often the pages are filled with anecdotes of 'here's why I am a fan' and 'Rush is the best band in the world'.  If anyone remembers Rush - Visions by Bill Banasiewicz you know where I am coming from.  In the pre-Internet era it was the Holy Grail for Rush fans.  I had my copy and it was well worn.  An insider providing stories and images no one else had access to at the time - how great is THAT?!?!  Then the group black-balled him for playing pre-release cuts from 'A Show of Hands' on his Philadelphia-based radio show.  Oops.  Now you're an outsider B-Man.  What I am looking for is for someone to convince me that 'Caress of Steel' is really better than it seems because its a necessary stepping stone for '2112' and why 'Test For Echo' is worse than I think because it hasn't even warranted any playtime on recent tours.  Feed me knowledge, make a case, and then let me decide for myself. 

As a musician who has read numerous books and articles and watched instructional videos, concert videos, and documentaries - all of which confirm Peart's prowess as one of the best rock drummers of all time - this 178 page review is a refreshing departure as it focuses on his influences as a lyricist and wordsmith.  I will admit the inclusion of song lyrics, quotes from Peart's other writings, and snippets of interviews/articles from which I am familiar did cause me to do some skimming.  However I was pleased overall with the direction and breakdown of each album from 'Rush' to 'Clockwork Angels' into different writing periods.  An interesting concept which makes sense as you follow the albums through the band's 40+ year history and realize the different influences and writing styles of each period. I won't divulge too much information here as I encourage you to read it for yourself and make your own determination on the content.  One of the most poignant portions of the book for me, as a parent, was Birzer's decision to include a very personal letter sent  to Peart via his management group.  In it he reflects on the loss of his own child and how reading 'Ghost Rider: Travels On the Healing Road' helped him overcome the loss.  Obviously sharing this type of story with the readers was meaningful to Birzer as part of the coping process and only reinforces how moving Peart's own story of love, loss, and love again has influenced his admirers.

Overall I'll give 'Neil Peart: Cultural Repercussions: An in-depth examination of the words, ideas, and professional life of Neil Peart, man of letters' 3.5 stars out of 5.  I find the book as a good addition to anyone's shelf if you are a fan of the band through their music, themes, lyrics, or all of the above.  Published by WordFire Press it is available in paperback from either your local bookseller (yes there are still some around!) or online from Amazon.    

Thanks for reading my blog.  Please follow and feel free to share and leave comments.  You can also follow me on Twitter @abdrum74.

When Names Jump Off the Page

I was saddened to learn the other day that my first drum teacher, Brian Bonner, had recently passed away.  Mr. Bonner (as he will always be remembered) took a chance back in 1982 on an 8 year old kid who had recently gotten his first 'real' drum set from Santa Claus.  It was a blue 3-piece with snare drum, mounted tom, little 20" bass drum, and a ride cymbal mount.  I remember riding over to Coyle Music in the Great Western Shopping Center every week for about three years for my 30-minute lessons.  During one of those years Mom and I would stop every week at Lawson's on Demorest Road because my Aunt Dorothy had won a free bag of potato chips every week for a year and, since she didn't drive nor was there a Lawson's nearby her, we were responsible for getting her that bag of chips!

As a young musician - a term I use very loosely given my level of knowledge at the time - Mr. Bonner challenged me to always do my best.  Almost as much as I challenged my parents to NOT want to practice (an irony that would soon shift as I became a better drummer and wanted to play all the time).  We worked through the first two Haskell Harr method books and even started into a drum set book - learning how to read and interpret what was on the page and trying to coordinate my limbs and apply that to the different voices of the set.

What comes next sounds like a 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon' type story.  Mr. Bonner introduced me to my next drum teacher Jeff Long, then a student at OSU, who introduced me to another fellow student Jim Voyles, who succeeded Jeff and was my teacher from 7th to 11th grade, and introduced me to Bob Breithaupt and a student of his named Jim Ed Cobbs both of whom, along with Eric Paton, would become my instructors at Capital University.  In between there, my senior year, was Terry Roe who took Mr. Voyles' place when he left Grove City.

Memories flood back when a name from the past jumps off the page.  Good thoughts of a bygone point in time that will always remain.  I will always remember and thank Mr. Bonner for the chance he took on a young kid with a little blue drum set some 30+ years ago.

Thanks for reading my blog.  Please follow and feel free to share and leave comments.  You can also follow me on Twitter @abdrum74.

Remembering David Bowie 1947 - 2016

It is hard to not respect the impact David Bowie (born David Jones) had on the music world.  I remember seeing him for the first time on MTV in 1984 (yes kids - MTV was around then AND showed music videos) in the "Let's Dance" video while on vacation to my Aunt & Uncle's house in California.  Not only a talented musician Bowie also immersed himself in acting (best known for his role in 1986's "Labyrinth") and producing for such artists and Lou Reed and Mott the Hoople.  The man who introduced us to Ziggy Stardust in "Space Oddity", encouraged individualism in "Under Pressure", and collaborated with Mick Jagger on the carefree timeless hit "Dancing In the Streets" is sadly now gone - the victim of an 18-month battle with cancer.  During this time he dedicated himself to his craft and even had a new single debut within the past few weeks.  May his contributions live on and continue to inspire new generations of musicians.

David Bowie

1947 - 2016

Resurrection

Happy New Year one and all.  I have titled this post 'Resurrection' more out of satire than anything else.  Last year I dedicated myself to eliminating Facebook from my life for the first quarter of the year and was successful in doing so.  During this time I recommitted myself to reading (real words from real books!) and also forayed into the realm of being a blogger.  The prior having been more successful than the latter I abandoned the blogging.  Hence the sarcasm of trying to resurrect something that was not entirely alive but for a brief period of time. 

So here we are...another new year and another round of promises which hopefully won't be broken but are expected to be forgotten about in a few months.  Facebook is once again vanquished to the great beyond and I'm investing in a new cache of books having been received this year over the course of my birthday and the more recent Christmas holiday.  Much to the chagrin of my fiancee Beth this was a 'techie' Christmas but she should only hold herself accountable as it was she who provided the iPad Air 2 and Apple Watch.  It would be rude of me to decline gifts of such value and thoughtfulness, right?  Ah but I digress.   For your viewing pleasure here is the list I will be working through for at least the first three months of 2016:

• Neil Peart: Cultural Repercussions by Bradley J. Birzer
• Clockwork Lives by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart
• Art of Rush by High Syme
• Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets by Lisa Quinn
• Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
• Maine's Most Scenic Roads by John Gibson
• Above the Line by Urban Meyer and Wayne Coffey

As I completed these works I will share my reviews and personal thoughts.  Along this journey I'll also share insight with you about the usual suspects - food, travel, music, and anything I might entertaining and worthy of piquing my interest.  Thanks for sharing this time with me (again!) and I hope you'll find value and interest and please feel free to share with others or follow me on Twitter @abdrum74 or Instagram.

All the Best
AB