David Byrne Bike talk at the Bagdad Theater - September 30

All around awesome dude, David Byrne will be sharing his photos and talking about bikes at the Hawthorne theater next Wednesday September, 30th at the Bagdad Theater. You are gonna have to shell out $26 bucks for it, but its probably worth it.

Jonathan Maus, of BikePortland, Timo Forsberg in the City's Transportation Options Division and Mia Burke of Alta Planning and Design will also be speaking. Who are Timo Forsberg and Mia Burke? I don't personally know them, but Jonathan Maus is my neighborino, and a he is an all around stand up guy.

Why shell out $26 clams for this? Like I said, David Byrne is an all around awesome dude. Plus, why pass up a chance to fully geek out about bikes. Perhaps he will wear something other than his famous white suit.

P.S. David Byrne has a new book, Bicycle Diaries.

****UPDATE****
P.P.S. If you buy a ticket to the talk, you get his book for free. THAT's why you pay 26 clams!

Biketobeer Fest + Team Goodtimes = Awesome

Rode down to Biketobeer Fest! Hopworks Urban Brewery really outdid themselves. Chronic was busting out with reggae music when I arrived. Always a plus. Then, the I saw the nexus of the universe, where bikes and beer meld into one. p.s. a pirate poured my beer.

There were many a bike craft: black star, microcosm publishing, fun reflectors. I have shark reflectors. We like to play Jaws and pretend to be sharks when we go on rides.

Winter Cycles was there with some really hot bikes.

Winter Bicycles builder, Eric Estlund (right) talking up one of his bikes. As well he should, they are really sexy.

With such fabulous details.

I drank a lot of beer. More to come in the morn. [Courage Cycles, Beloved Cycles]

cafe au swan

now this is what i call breakfast.

Food Carts on Mississippi

Food Carts! Flavor Spot rocks, but it was so lonely. Now it has a few other cart friends to keep it company (and on its toes). I keep asking them to make a bacon and nutella waffle, but damnit, they just don't listen. Why the hell would they listen to me anyway? They already have it going on. But who can deny the that bacon + chocolate = awesome?

Anywhoo. As of today, there is the Ruby Dragon, Nuevo Mexico, Patty's Wagon, Coffee, and lo and behold, Southwestern Pizza Company.





I realize that you normally can't trust the internet, but LISTEN TO ME. Go there and eat this pizza.

Meat + Booze = Luc Lac Beef

Once upon a whim, I went to the Green Papaya and ordered Luc Lac Beef. I was slightly apprehensive about ordering steak from a Vietnamese restaurant, but then a steaming hot plate of juicy, buttery, tender steak bites was put in front of me.

The steak had an amazing bourbon butter sauce with another flavor I couldn't place. Thanks to Wandering Chopsticks, the secret ingredient was revealed. Fish sauce.

Lots of people shy away from fish sauce. I get it. Its has an aroma. Get over it people! All delicious things are slightly stinky.

Luc Lac Beef (modified from Wandering Chopsticks)

1/2 cup shallots
2 tbs. olive oil

1 lb. top sirloin beef
2 tsp. fish sauce
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. black pepper
1 lime
1/4 cup bourbon
Meat tenderizer
butter (optional)

Cut beef into 1 inch cubes. Sprinkle meat tenderizer if available. Trust me, this does wonders! Mix fish sauce, sugar, black pepper, bourbon and the juice of half the lime in a bowl. Set aside.

Cut shallots into thin slices. Heat oil in a wok until very hot (but not smoking). Fry shallots in oil, stirring constantly until starting to brown. The shallots will continue to cook after you pull them out. Don't burn them for crying out loud! Put fried shallots on a towel to drain.

Add butter to the oil. This is gonna get a little splattery! Gently put the beef cubes in the oil. Let those guys sit in there for a little bit and get that beautiful browning that is scientifically proven to make meat more delicious. Stir once one side has seared, and continue until all sides are seared.

Put steamed rice in a bowl. Add salad greens. Put hot meat on top, slightly braising the salad greens. Add beef, pour some sauce on, top off with shallots. Sit down, eat like a carnivore.