Dangit

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Bandit is an archaeologist (digs for bones) and Chili works airport security. we have family in Australia so the show spoke to us from day 1. Aussies are very proud of their export. Also, they really do call dachshunds “sausage dogs” over there. Hammerbarn isn’t real though. The kids love playing Keepy Uppy, Featherwand, Veranda Santa and many more of the games.

I’m not sure why you people are going to MPLS and not going to Bar La Grassa. Just go.

Bumping this. Planning a trip to Sonoma region (staying in Healdsburg) in April. I've done Napa a couple of times but this will be the first time in Sonoma/Dry Creek outside of Russian River Brewing. Appreciate any recs on wineries, dining, other must do activities. We love Pinot, not big on Chardonnay - though I know they go hand in hand at a lot of places. I'll read through the past posts but if I recall it's weighted heavily toward Napa recs.

But are there rules? Cause at Outback there are no rules.

Wife and I went in early September 3 years ago. We flew into Boston and out of Portland. Spent two nights in Boston and then headed up the scenic route. Had lunch and walked around in Portsmouth. Row34 is a good spot for oysters. Definitely recommend stopping at Bobs Clam Hut in Kittery. There’s one now in Portland too but the original is awesome if you are in the area. We stayed at Cliff House a couple nights between Boston and Portland. Scenic, quiet, relaxing. May be more family heavy if going midsummer. We were there the week school started so it was fairly dead. from there took the scenic route to Portland. Easy drive the whole way. Some parts of the drive hugged the coast but not all. Liked Portland a lot. Very strong food and beer scene. Eventide was a favorite and if I did it all over again I’d go there 2-3 times.

Got cans to go once and had a friend bring some over a few months later. In all tried 4-5 different beers. All were meh.

My dad did in2care up in dfw last year after misting for a few years. He felt the in2care pots were much better and as a major plus weren’t negatively impacted by rain. I’m going to give it a try this year.

Pedals lock on you?

Weige knives. Custom made in Austin (really Belton). Not cheap but will change the mind of anyone saying they can’t be impressed by a steak knife. I just got a chef knife from him and it’s beautiful.

She plays for the other team too, if you want to add that mental image in with your visual stimulation.

Live Oak’s offerings are always well priced at the HEB. Don’t need to go any cheaper than that. Granted I haven’t bought macro cheap swill at a supermarket in over 10 years (other than Coors water for my MIL) so I don’t really compare pricing of macro vs craft Too often.

Well one of them has 0.8oz more than the other and quantity is always > than quality, so....

No. While a lot of the group lives in Victoria now, most group up in Ganado.

My wife's family are Victoria area bohemians. Her very Czech grandmother called them Kolatch (no 'e' in the pronunciation). They mainly make poppyseed and sausage and use real sausage. But they also call queso 'cheese dip' like Yankees. I have no explanation. My wife calls it queso all the time except when we're at her family gatherings then she starts calling it cheese dip again. Drives me crazy.

Village Bakery closed....about a year ago I think. The woman that owned it passed away. Someone may have taken over it but it didn't seem like that was going to be the case. VB was our favorite spot in West. Could exit, drive into town get your kolache and get out before you'd get halfway through the Czech Stop line. They did have fewer varieties but had what was needed and everything was labeled (kolache/klobasniky) correctly.....I'm sure they read this site and wanted to prevent surliness.

I heard it as Containment Area for Relocated Yankees. Also, some said it was Can’t Afford Raleigh Yet.

Where is "here?"

Fiction focused vs. history of the state/area but - "Cold Mountain" by Charles Frazier, "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens (been #1 Best seller for the better part of the last year), I found an author John Hart that's written some good mystery novels based in NC (setting is outside of Charlotte) - "Down River", "Redemption Road", "King of Lies."

Here's my take. I lived in Raleigh, worked in Durham back in 2007/2008 (so take it for what it's worth). I moved to RDU single and was told by the younger folks I interviewed with that Raleigh was the best option to live for a young professional. Chapel Hill was very much a college town, more so than Raleigh. Durham was not where you wanted to live. So I chose Raleigh. Re: Durham - It's come a LONG way over the last 10 years. Lots of good dining options and a safer place to live than when I was out that way. The downtown was not where you'd want to be after dark back in '08 but has much more nightlife and less crime now. If I was to move back I'd give Durham a hard look. Raleigh - While I liked living there okay, coming from Austin it left a lot to be desired as a fairly young, single person. I lived inside the loop and got the feel that Raleigh hangs out with Raleigh. Lots of kids grew up there, went away for college and came home to all hang out together, marry one another and stay close knit. Nothing against that except being an outsider, I definitely felt that way. As you get outside the loop, my guess is that this would be less so. As others have mentioned with Cary, Apex, others, there are a lot of very large bedroom communities that are great for raising a family. You're not there yet so may not be your ideal situation unless you just really want a good size house, quiet neighborhood. Chapel Hill - Very much a college town (a beautiful one). But Carrboro is essentially connected to CH and it's the closest thing to an Austin/78704 vibe. This would also get a hard look from me if I were to move back. My dining options may mostly be outdated but I concur with the lack of passable Tex-Mex. I'll 2nd Poole's as a great place in downtown Raleigh. Nicer, trendier than Threadgill's. Location of the area is awesome as it's an easy drive to the beach and the mountains and a fairly easy drive to a lot of other good long weekend trips in the SE.

I’ve seen Lunch, Peeper Pale Ale and Woods & Waters IPA locally. I’d place them in that order, with Lunch way ahead of the other two. Peeper is solid. I didn’t care for Woods. It’s fine but I kept thinking I wish I’d just bought another Lunch. hopefully Dinner makes its way here. Just grateful to get anything from Maine Beer Co.

Lunch is pretty much a perfect beer, imo.

Albariño out of an Elsa cup is the best way to enjoy an Albariño.

Barnett is good....good wine...great views. Also up there is Pride and Smith-Madrone. If you're going up on Spring Mtn., might as well hit up a couple places. We really liked Ashes and Diamonds on our last trip. Son of Darioush opened it and has a couple notable winemakers. It's a mid-century modern building and has a Mad Men vibe inside (though not sure inside is an option right now). Best part is they're open until 7pm. So depending on where you're staying, it could be a good end of day option as most places close 4-5pm. Where are you staying? That may help dictate wineries and restaurant options.

The wineries we're members of that have tasting rooms did open up when CA went into Phase 3 in early June. I'd be wary of that remaining the case though as COVID numbers ramp. With any trip you're going to be gambling with potential real time closures.