Chicago - March 2012 - Day 2

Saturday was St. Patrick's Day. Chicago hosts one of the largest St. Patty's Day celebrations in the US. We decided to take an architecture boat tour through the city. Chicago was experiencing some of the warmest temperatures in history for this time of year and we could not have been happier. The Chicago River was dyed green for the occasion and the river was lined with St. Patty's Day revelers who cheered for us as if we were a sports team that had won a championship. It was a pretty neat scene.Corn Cobs - Marina CitySears TowerAfter the boat tour, we headed up to the lounge in the John Hancock Building. We had some drinks while taking in the breathtaking views of the city and Lake Michigan, from just over 1,000 ft. in the air. A must-see if you are ever in Chicago.A trip to Chicago is not complete without a slice of their signature deep-dish pizza. Lou Malnati's satisfied this craving quite well.Finally, no trip to Chicago is complete without hearing some Chicago Blues. Kingston Mines has been hosting some of the city's best blues artists since 1968. The party went well in to the early morning hours as we wrapped up an amazing St. Patrick's Day celebration - Chicago-style!!

Chicago - March 2012 - Day 1

This past weekend Laura and I had an amazing trip to Chicago. This was my first trip to Chicago and I think now I can finally say I have see every major city in America. We started our trip with lunch at Hot Doug's. Located in the Avondale part of town, the restaurant is the self-proclaimed "Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium". Enough said; let's eat!!!

We stood in line for almost an hour and a half for this amazing lunch. Being from Austin, I was not surprised to see an establishment with these types of guidelines.

I think we ordered the entire menu....and duck-fat fries as well; a Friday/Saturday only special!!On our way home we got to pass Wrigley Field. I still need to get back here in Spring/Summer for a game.This is an amazing view from the rooftop of Mandy and Kevin's apartment where we stayed during our visit. Breathtaking!!G.O.A.T.Bulls/TrailblazersBeam me up Scottie"I'm liable to go Michael

Take your pick.

Jackson, Tyson, Jordan.

Game 6"View from seats we weren't willing to spring for.

uchiko soul

When I went to work, a little over a year ago at ko, there was something talked about but was never clearly defined. Now, a year later, I decided to define what "uchiko soul" means to me. Behold the ko kicks, courtesy of nikeID.com.

Paranoid Android • Radiohead • Dallas, TX • 3.5.12

Radiohead - Austin - 3.7.12

Now I can't claim to be the world's biggest Radiohead-head,...er fan, or whatever the die-hards call themselves. But I do know a good concert when I see one. After Monday's show in Dallas I knew the scene here in Austin would be a lot better. This would mark the bands first gig in ATX in 17 years. Ironically they last played here when they opened for R.E.M. at the old South Park Meadows on 9.17.95 - the day after my very first Pearl Jam concert at the exact same venue. Crazy.Now not to say that the Dallas show wasn't a good one - it was!! But I have had a hard time enjoying shows for major touring acts in Dallas for many years now. I put that blame squarely on the shoulders of the fans and their "I'm here to be seen" mentality. It is because of that I also don't care much for the so-called basketball fans in that city too, but that's another discussion. Case in point: while in line for a beer I overheard a couple of 40-something guys chatting about how they were only there because "corporate had a few tickets laying around and this was a good way to impress (and hopefully lay) Kathy from accounting". I mean really? That is how you want to spend a Monday night? Listening to a band that you have zero interest in just so you can get laid? That right there sums up most Dallas concert and sports attendees, especially at the AAC.I knew Austin would be different. First, being a college town means a younger crowd who is devoted to the bands they love and that they salivate at the chance to see one of their favorite bands play in their city. It is also the Live Music Capitol of the World and that means a lively and over the top enthusiastic crowd, which was spot on Wednesday night. Don't get me wrong, there were some loud roars from the crowd at the Dallas show, but it seemed more deafening inside the Drum Wednesday night. The true fans (concerts and sports) in Dallas seem to always get stuck in the rafters. I had the luxury of being in the lower bowl so I guess that's why I was subject to all the douchery on the main concourse. But here in Austin it seemed like every single fan in the building was amped up for the show. Nobody was walking around in $700 jeans and shirts with crystals on them (I'm looking at you Dallas guys) or girls dressed to go hang out in the lobby bar at the W. No, everyone here had an old RH t-shirt on or something else unassuming, because they were here for the music, not a fashion show. Look, I know I will take flak from Dallas-ites but hey if the shoe fits, I guess you'll find a more expensive model and buy it in every color.

Radiohead - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center - 3.5.12

I had the chance to scratch off another artist from my concert bucket list when I attended the Radiohead concert in Dallas on Monday. And although I had to contend with the douche-bagness of the Dallas crowds, it was nothing short of mind-blowing. When I get back to Austin tomorrow, I hope to score a seat for the Austin gig so I can be surrounded by more true fans.

...and it's complete.

Paul Qui wins Top Chef-Season 9!!!

Congrats to our executive chef at Uchiko, Chef Paul Qui, on his amazing win on Top Chef Texas!! He has made us all so proud and we all share in his victory!!

This Is Something You Can Buy...You Cannot Do This - Jordan IV - White/Black/Cement Grey

In February 1989, the Air Jordan IV dropped and for the first time in the shoe's history, it was met with negative reviews. Many considered the design to be ugly, compared to the previous models. In due time, the shoe won over most fans. Part of that was helped by the popular Nike commercials which featured actor/director Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon. The famous Can/Can't commercial remains my favorite Mars/Mike ad to date. Spike also featured it in his movie Do The Right Thing. There is a famous scene where the character Buggin' Out angrily confronts a cyclist who accidentally bumps him and scuffs his "brand new Air Jordans!!!". To date, this scene embodies the mantra of most sneaker collectors.The shoe features a mostly all white upper with accents of black on the toe-box and lace straps. The mid-sole and heel cup feature cement-grey which has also led to many giving this shoe the nickname, Cookies-N-Cream, due to its resemblance to the popular ice cream flavor. Michael Jordan wore a black pair of this model shoe when he hit The Shot over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 first-round playoffs, to send the Bulls into the next round after a thrilling 5 game series. Let me repeat myself.This is something you can buy...You cannot do this.It is ironic that 23 years later I finally have this shoe. It was this shoe and it's supporting ad campaign that really got me into hoop shoes. My NBA fandom had reached a fever pitch at this point and was the only thing I had on my mind. Once again, with a $110 price tag, there was no way my parents were giving their 13 year old kid a pair of shoes that pricey. But alas, I now have them. There are rumors the black version of this shoe will be released on Black Friday later this year. I await anxiously...

I Guess I Got My Swagger Back...Watch The Throne - Toyota Center - Houston, TX - 12.5.11

Well, the 2011 concert calender has come to a close for us and boy, what a way to close things out!! L-Peezy and I took in the Watch The Throne concert stop in Houston this past Monday night. The tour, which pairs rap-heavyweights Jay-Z and Kanye West, did not have an Austin stop, so the Concert Kids had to take a road trip to H-Town. Laura had never been to Houston, and judging by her interest, it looks as if we will have to get back soon to do some exploring. The hip-hop duo finally took the stage at about 9:30, trading verses on the single H.A.M. while situated atop two platform/cubes at opposite ends of the arena and high above the Toyota Center floor. From there it was straight into Who Gon' Stop Me from the pair's new CD Watch the Throne. The pair retreated to the comfort of the main stage for Otis which saw the two performing with vigor in front of an American flag along with huge bursts of fireballs. Not a bad way to kick off the show!!

What ensued after that was a medley of 35 songs or so that featured the two together, but also each giving way to the other to shine on solo performances. Lasers, pyrotechnics, and strategically placed images accompanied each song and kept the energy in the room at a fever pitch. Jay-Z tore through hits such as Jigga What, Jigga Who (Originator '99), Hard Knock Life, Izzo (H.O.V.A.), before passing the stage to West for a slew of hits which included Jesus Walks, Diamonds From Sierra Leone, All Falls Down, and Monster. There was a nice moment where Yeezy asked for us to wish Hova a Happy Birthday. Jay-Z turned 42 the day before.

The pair reunited for the strongest part of the show hitting a high note with Run This Town, which set the tone for the remainder of the night. Empire State of Mind rang out beautifully even though Alicia Keys voice was prerecorded and Runaway made West look immortal. 99 Problems, Gold Digger, and No Church In The Wild gave the show a mega finish before giving way to 5 performances of N----- In Paris in which Jay-Z told everyone to come down to the stage; a move I am sure security was not happy about. There were no signs of a pregnant Mrs. Jay-Z (BK is from Texas...) although many reported, via Twitter, having spotted her.

All in all it was a great way for us to finish out our 2011 concert schedule. Anyone who has kept up with our blog has seen the diverse set of acts that have dazzled us all year and I could not think of a more exciting way to have finished it off. With a Radiohead, Young the Giant, and Roger Waters show already on the schedule for 2012 and rumours of a Rolling Stones gig, for sure another Coldplay show, and maybe even Bruce Springsteen, next year is shaping up to be a pretty amazing concert year too! Can't wait to get after it again!!