Mr. Sulu -- weirdness factor 6, please.

[herveus]

baron_rorik's birthday is two days from today. Mine was two days ago. As has been our custom for fifteen years, we went out for sushi and good beer. We first did this in 1992. There was a total lunar eclipse visible from Washington, DC on 9 December 1992. We watched the moon go completely away from Logan Circle, then found food and then the Brickskeller. That set the pattern.

The only year we didn't get sushi was the year of the great fire in Annapolis on 9 December. It closed the street that had both sushi joints. :(

This year, we revisited Fells Point, Baltimore. The first time, we visited Kawasaki. They had opened a satellite joint on Fells Point to complement their main establishment in the center of town. When we ordered (among other things) yellowtail, the sushi chef asked if we wanted belly. Well, duh! Really yummy stuff (along with the other bits of cold, raw fish on rice).

We decided to revisit Fells Point. We found Kawasaki just fine. Amont other things, we ordered yellowtail belly and salmon belly. They didn't have a salmon skin roll listed, but we wrote it in anyway. They delivered our first installment in a boat. Another patron was moved to take a picture. It was as delicious as it looked. The salmon belly was orgasmic. We nearly recreated the scene from When Harry Met Sally. For dessert, we ordered more eel, more salmon belly, and a Fells Point Roll (shrimp tempura inside; row and eel outside). Once again, we were passed the orgasmatron.

Having eaten our fill of sushi, we moseyed onward. I moved the car from one parking space to another to comply with the two hour limit. On our way to the car, we inquired of a passerby which tavern had the most taps. He pointed us to Max's. We went there. They must have 60 taps or so. And that's not to mention the bottled beer. We jumped on a pair of empty bar stools (still warm) and ordered. I went with Tröegs Mad Elf ale -- a seasonal brew. Rorik ordered a Lagunitas <something interesting that I forget>. The gentleman next to Rorik confirmed that he had ordered what he had and told the bartender that it was on him. Further conversation revealed to the gentleman in question that it was our birthday, and that I was the one who would like that particular hoppy bear much better tha Rorik does. It also revealed that this gentleman was the brewery representative -- Lagunitas had done their Maryland debut a month ago at that bar. Next thing I know, Mr. Hop Head (his title on his card) tells the bartender to fetch me a "Kill Ulgy Radio" on his tab.

Yes. "Kill Ugly Radio" beer. The label is the album cover. Yes, they are doing this with the permission of the Zappa Family Trust. I have the empty (that the bartender rinsed out for me). It's a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the relase of F.Z. AND THE MOTHERS. Oh, the contents were really nummy -- all 22 ounces of them. Next, the bartender is bidden to fetch me a Maximus -- another hoppy ale. A 22 ounce bottle. Before I even got through the Kill Ugly Radio, he had also directed that a bottle of the Cappucino Stout be provided to us. We got the bartender to not open that one. Rorik will be opening that on his birthday. Among the ingredients for that brew were twenty pounds of coffee beans. That may be quite interesting.

On request, the bartender found a cork suitable for stoppering the Maximus, of which I had poured about four ounces. I was getting full -- drinking more would have been a Bad Idea and a Waste of Really Good Beer.

OK. We take our leave of Max's and walk up the street to clear our heads (and, it turned out, to burp ourselves mightily). As we walk back, we find a women's wallet on the sidewalk. It contained a New York State driver's license. There was a car right there with New York tags. We suspected that the bar right there might contain the owner of the wallet. I slid up to the bar to get the bartender's attention. A customer informed me that this was a private party (politely, mind you). I held out the wallet and the driver's license and asked if this person was here. Yes, she was. The wallet quickly made its way to her. She had not realized that she had lost it. She tried to press a bank note on Rorik, then on me. I accepted her expression of gratitude (on the grounds that it was the polite thing to do). When I noted that it was "a picture of Mr. Grant from down at the bank" (do you get that reference?), I said to myself "Children's Hospital just got another donation" and stuffed it in a different pocket from "my money".

We move on. I want a cup of coffee before driving home. We stop in the "pizza to order by the slice" joint just across the corner to see if they can help. They put a fresh pot of coffee on for my benefit. Rorik got a slice of pizza with (IIRC) mushrooms, anchovies, anchovies, mumble, and extra cheese on top to hold it all down. Yes, that was double anchovies. They provided a more than adequate slice of pizza and a perfectly fine cup of coffee. While sitting there consuming, I noticed that they sold root beer. Sprecher Root Beer Soda (from greater Milwaukee). The cashier said that she doesn't like root beer, but she likes this. I got a bottle on spec, plus a bottle of their Cream Soda for sentientcheese who is a fan of Cream Soda.

The drive home was suitably boring. We arrived in Baltimore and drove right by the football stadium about three hours before game time, so it had not yet started getting crazy. We drove by it on our way out mid-game, so it had not yet started getting crazy with people leaving in the rain and 40 degree weather.

Of course, the coffee that late in the day is messing with me going to bed, but you get this out of me instead, and it's probably as long as it is because I get verbose when I drink. :)

All in all, a very pleasant evening, but one of the weirdest December 9th's to date.

If you are on the west coast, check out the Lagunitas products. The brewery is in Petaluma. If you are elsewhere, http://www.lagunitas.com is their website, but I haven't found a full listing of their specialty brews yet. It does include a list of distributors in various states. If you find yourself in Fells Point, go to Max's. They have lots of good beer on tap and even more in bottles. The tobacco smoke was pretty well controlled, too.

Comments

[jpgsawyer.livejournal.com]

Glad you had a good birthday sounds like a brilliant night.

If you ever find yourself in Providence, Rhode Island check out Wickenden St when I was there (admittedly 5 years ago now) there was a sushi place to die for. Hmmmm..... Just take your own beer and get their early as it fill up quickly.

[goddessgoddess.livejournal.com]

Sounds like fun. I want $50 for returning a wallet.

[shalandara.livejournal.com]

My son's birthday is Dec 7th. It's always interesting to run into people with the same day (esp. given that date!)

Glad to hear you had a good birthday celebration!

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Happy B-day to you and Rorik!

[maggiebowgirl.livejournal.com]

How fun! Happy birthday!

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

Sprecher's is my favorite root beer. They also have an orange dreamsicle flavor which I love.

[baron-rorik.livejournal.com]

Logan Circle is at 13th & P and nowhere near a Metro stop. We met at Washington Circle, 23rd & K, near the Foggy Bottom Metro and just down the street from the Brickskeller on 22nd above P St.

The 1st beer last night was Covert Operation Shutdown... bought for the name alone.

[s10clee.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!

Thanks for taking us along for that journey. I appreciated the ride.

[ladypyrate.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a blast!!

The fate of Mr. Grant sounds suspiciously like the fate of Mr. Jackson.. I had Friday off, and went by the mall to do some Holiday Shopping. As I left I passed the S.A. Red Kettle. Bemoaning my cashless state, I went to my car, and found a $20 lying on the ground! I immediately went back, donated some to SA, and bought toys for the Country Santa with the rest.

[luscious-purple.livejournal.com]

Glad you had a great time!!

That December 1992 lunar eclipse was the one time (to my knowledge) that I appeared on the Baltimore TV news, so I guess you missed it. :-)