SuperLula Special

"They" say there's nothing quite as special as a handmade gift, and I say if you can't "eat it or wear it" it's not worth giving. Well, I can't actually eat this wonderful little trinket that CT Scenic subject-turned-real-life-friend Laura "SuperLula" gave me for my birthday (yesterday, btw), but I can wear it, it's special and handmade, AND food-themed, with references to my real and blog life relationships to pizza and - OMG is that a donut cake on the box? So it's basically the best gift ever, and a great opportunity for me to give a plug to a great local talent (and my own advancing age).

SuperLula's got more foodie jewelry where that came from, and you can find some healthier, vegan-themed selections at one of the Scenics' favorite restaurants, It's Only Natural. Follow all her bloggy exploits, and get yourself cute bling. And look for both of us at karaoke nights around Hartford. We'll be the ones getting molested by sloppy drunk faux-lesbian-Katy-Perry-I-Kissed-a-Girl style straight girls, on stage and off.

Neil's: Wallingford's Indie Donuts

First I must say that going on a blog outing alone felt a little sad and empty, but since Jackie and DH don't have to go to an internship in Wallingford a few days a week, there was no reason for them to come along to Neil's Donut's and Bakeshop. But I felt duty bound to check out these donuts for you. "People" keep saying the blog is great (thanks!), so when I don't get up to anything Scenic for a few days, I start to feel a guilt that can only be assuaged by consuming independent fried cake and writing about it.


Jackie and I have blogged about donuts before, after a most impressive visit to the Sugar Shack in Manchester. The Sugar Shack may have set the indie donuts bar a little too high; perhaps Neil's was cursed to pale in comparison. I bought an iced coffee and a jelly donut today, which were fine - tasty, fresh, price-comparable to or cheaper than Dunkin, and certainly head and shoulders above corporate donuts of any stripe in texture and quality - but nothing to "write home about" so to speak. Neil's also has an attractive assortment of other baked goods, especially cookies. The frosting filled "cookie-wiches" looked very tempting. So if you are local to Neil's and needing a coffee or donut (or special occasion cookies, pies, cakes, etc.), it's definitely worth driving those few blocks past the DD down the street to support a local business and a superior snacking experience.


Located on Rt. 150, Neil's is open early (6 a.m.), so you could hit them on a morning commute, but closes by 3 p.m. weekdays and earlier on the weekends.

To Do: The Garlic Farm

Add this to our neverending list of things we'd like to check out: The Garlic Farm of West Granby, CT. The Garlic Farm's seasonally open farmstand is in business, selling homegrown, organic, pesticide-free garlic, tomatoes, a variety of peppers, onions, shallots, pumpkins, squash, herbs and flowers. One of their selling points is "garlic scapes." We had to look that one up - it's basically a young garlic shoot that resembles a scallion - here's some garlic scape information and ideas from WaPo food blogger Kim O'Donnel.


Here at CT Scenic we all pretty much love garlic. We savor the flavor, enjoy taunting you with our horrid breath, and buy into the notion of garlic as a panacea - part of our attempts to naturally cure and deter colds or the flu. It's also supposed to be a natural bug repellent - we've known some horsey people who supplement their horses' diets with garlic for this purpose. Don't try this with your dogs and cats though - garlic and onions can be toxic to them. Quit burdening your pets with all your dietary hangups already.

We find ourselves with a bit of a conflict of interest, the Scenics love of garlic must be balanced with our passion for vampires. Thus it is necessary to plan our schedule of fangbanging and garlic binges accordingly.

For great garlic in CT, we enjoy Max a Mia, where dinner is preceded by their flatbread served with exquisite roasted garlic in it's husk that spreads right on soft. Their tasty Tuscan salad also features a generous portion of hunks of garlic For craploads of garlic on pizza, we've enjoyed Litchfield's outstanding Bohemian Pizza (as previously noted on the blog) and J&G's in East Granby, where we're told the broccoli and garlic pasta does garlic to the extreme too.

We Read The Courant, So you Don't Have To

Occasionally, in an act of masochism, I read the Hartford Courant. It is generally an unpleasant experience, but sometimes you find a gem in there. Here's a recap so you don't have to sift through the refuse yourselves:

1. At a glance, it looks like more stabbings than shootings this weekend! Win!

2. Fairfield resident, convicted felon and total nutjob, Dane Eisenman, was arrested for attempting to purchase a rifle. Why did he need this rifle? Apparently, every 36,000 years, aliens who live under the sun come to Earth to kill humans, and he needed to be prepared because "They're going to be coming soon". Um, watch out?

The Alien Hunter:


3. They titled an article about a cocaine bust "Nothing to Snort At".

4. In other totally relevant news, some ugly dog photos: http://www.courant.com/news/nation-world/sns-pets-pictures-ugly-dog-competittion,0,5018041.photogallery

5. Oh, and like 8 stories about how hot it is.



Thanks for all you do, Courant.

One of my favorite bands: Titus Andronicus!

Saturday, July 10: Titus Andronicus @ Toad's Place (Lily's Pad), New Haven


A few months back, the last time they played, I said all the nice things I wanted to say about Titus Andronicus. I'm happy to see them returning to CT - they must have more fans than just me and that one hyperactive guy from karaoke. In case you were too lazy to read the link, I talked about how TA plays punk with some indie rock influences - their catchy, jangly riffs remind me of the Clash, while the frantic, emotional diarrhea vocals of Patrick Stickles remind me of Bright Eyes (sure hope that sounded as much like a complement as I meant it!). And how their name, lyrics and titles are a mixed bag of cultural references ranging in brow from high to low. Their latest album, The Monitor, which my favorite publication gave its enthusiastic approval, ostensibly has a Civil War "concept" to it, but continues in the personal grievance-airing, New Jersey referencing vein of the previous record (titled, appropriately enough, The Airing of the Grievances).

Check out this rather awesome video for "A More Perfect Union" from The Monitor:



Surprise, surprise, this show is another Manic Productions production. Check out their great calendar of events.

Come on feel the Lemonheads

Thursday, July 8: The Lemonheads @ Daniel Street, Milford


90s almost-icon Evan Dando brings his mellow alternative rock to CT this week. We remember his band, The Lemonheads, best for their jaunty cover of "Mrs. Robinson":



We've mentioned our general distaste for Simon and Garfunkel before, but this tune gets a pass on account of the sexy old broad getting it on with a youngling theme of The Graduate. In a few years, some of us are gonna be that broad.

Hey, here's another great 90s video that references The Graduate via sample. Enjoy!

We also remember the Lemonheads 1993 hit "Into Your Arms," which was big on TV and the radio:



The Lemonheads' music has always felt fairly innocuous to us, but apparently Dando is like this big once-crack-smoking pain in the ass who can't hold a line-up together, probably on account of his personality disorder. His wikipedia page has some hilariously worded speculation about the bandname being a reference to the candy, which is famously "sweet on the outside and sour on the inside." Sounds like our kind of guy!

NYC: The Wins and Fails of Pride 2010

FAIL: Ordering gin and tonics as "Tanqueray and Tonics".

The bartender heard "Tequila and tonics."

Jesse Jonas drank both. J-Scene got a beer. Hello Brooklyn!


WIN: Jackie Scenic FINALLY figures out how to navigate the subway system.

Got home from Brooklyn without a $40 cab.

Took funny pictures of sleeping people. We'd like to show you those pictures, but there was yet another technology fail. Here's this guy to quell your curiosity:


WIN: 99-cent pizza at 3AM.

Couldn't find this place again if we tried.

It's been a looong night!


WIN: Finally having a reason to quote Ludacris.

"Comin' down the street like a parade... Macy's!"


FAIL: Impulse buying.

Something called a "Pizzacone".

Worst idea ever.


WIN: Listening to the crowd squeal with delight as some TV bitch rides by.

We don't even know who this chick is, but we're pretty excited!

Apparently she was on "Real Housewives of NYC" and now she has like 20 other shows.


FAIL: This green juice.

It was like finding as oasis in the desert after 48-hours of booze and various shapes of pizza.

Or a mirage. Totes gross. Next time I need juice, I'll be going to Katie Scenic's house!


WIN: Jumping in the Washington Square Park fountain in the 95-degree heat.

Gays love a good fountain.


WIN: Getting invited to the Autostraddle.com "Rodeo Disco".

Two words: Mechanical. Bull.



WIN: Drunkenly writing a Craigslist missed connection and finding it mentioned in the Autostraddle.com writeup.

See you next year, NYC!

World Cup on the Big Screen

July 6, 7 & 11: Semi-Finals and Finals @ Real Art Ways, Hartford


Great Idea, RAW, putting the World Cup action on your movie screen. We understand you've got comfy seating, AC, and a cafe stocked with alcoholic beverages and other snacks too.

We must admit that the Scenics have not been particularly caught up (at all) in this tournament, but we quite like the idea of football fanaticism, at least as it's been sold to us in literary form by Nick Hornby in Fever Pitch (a book, but also a 1997 film starring Colin Firth before that Fallon/Barrymore/baseball crap).


We are also sold on soccer as a medium for teenage passions and family life lessons in such classic films as Bend it Like Beckham and Rodney Dangerfield's adorable adolescent crossdressing caper Ladybugs.



Oh dear, we don't yet have a tag for books. Because we are barely literate, obvs. Situation... rectified!

Firsties: Art After Dark @ the Wadsworth

Thursday, July 1: Phoenix Art After Dark @ the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford

This monthly party sounds a little extra appealing this month, with live music by Tip the Van, and lady fronted ska/punk band from CT who look cute and sound fun and have their very own website with music player (we're impressed!). The event will also features circus-themed fun in honor of the Cirque du Soleil, which is kind of a thing for Hartford events right now, including giant creatures by Anne Cubberly, whose stunning bicycle transformations were a highlight of the recent Creative Cocktail Hour and Real Ride (Real Art Ways). There's also going to be free booze (local brew Ten Penny Ale), peeps on stilts (a hit at the last Liquid Lounge), and a foreign film to keep you feeling cultured.

Tuesdays with Metal: Jucifer @ Daniel Street

Tuesday, June 29: Jucifer @ Daniel Street, Milford

Do you like heavy metal and sexy guy/girl lo-fi duo bands? Well, here's something for you: Jucifer. They're a Relapse band from the south (Georgia), so you know they get sludgy with it. They bring together elements of metal, grunge, stoner rock and weird screamy alternative chick music. Vocalist/guitarist Amber Valentine is a fierce and scary and talented, and a big hottie to boot. Also performing are Gloominous Doom, who have been described as a "thrash/ska fusion" (how unfortunate!) and some CT bands Old Man Lady Luck and Electric Bucket. These latter bands are too lazy to have websites besides MySpace, where you can check them out if you have a lot of patience for slow loading pages. This show, like most cool CT shows, is brought to us by the almost-always-awesome Manic Productions - check their calendar for other great stuff.

Check out this cool Jucifer video for "Pontius of Palia"



Bonus feature: check out similarly named band, Gluecifer (a now-defunct glammy punk band from Norway that I happen to enjoy - sure wish they were playing!):