Month: July 2015

Posted on: July 23, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que (North Olmsted, OH)

Famous Dave’s is a chain that has locations through the United States. We were lucky enough to be invited to their North Olmsted, Ohio location. We were immediately greeted and taken to our seats. The server was able to get in our drink and appetizer order. A few minutes later, we experienced the Barbecue Nachos ($6.99), which at the small size was more than enough to sate three or four…

Posted on: July 22, 2015 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Rank Strangers – Ringtones

Minneapolis has one of the most consistently brilliant, yet somehow overlooked music scenes out there. From Prince and Morris Day to The Replacements and Soul Asylum, this Midwest musical hub too often gets glossed over when people start ticking off the list of great U.S. scenes. Rank Strangers are just further proof that the City of Lakes can still pull its weight musically.

Posted on: July 21, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Alternative Press Music Awards 2015 Preview

The voting is closed, but the night has yet to begin for the Alternative Press Music Awards. Drastically growing to the degree that the show is filling the Q (Quicken Loans Arena, 1 Center Court, Cleveland, OH 44115) this time around, this award show makes for the most action-packed weeknight since the Cavs season ended.  The 2nd annual Alternative Press Music Awards are being held tomorrow (Wednesday, July 22nd) at…

Posted on: July 20, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

Petrus Aged Pale

The Petrus Aged Pale pours with a crystal-clear coloration and a decent amount of frothy, white head. The initial nose of Petrus Aged Pale is equal amounts tart and sweet with spicy and wheaty elements poking through at points. There is an intensity to the tartness that will immediately hit imbibers the second they sip the Aged Pale which dissipates as immediately as it began. Lemon and grain provide the…

Posted on: July 20, 2015 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Bitten: the Complete Second Season DVD Set

It would be easy to dismiss Bitten as yet another cable series piggybacking off of the True Blood, Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf formula. Much like those other shows, it is populated by impossibly pretty small town folk who just happen, in the case of Bitten, to be Werewolves.

Posted on: July 20, 2015 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Ex Machina DVD Review

The sci-fi (ish) thriller Ex Machina is seemingly simple in its construct: a brilliant techie CEO builds a human-looking robot with advanced artificial intelligence and gets one of his employees to interact with it over a week; but the plot twists are remarkably clever and turns this movie into a wildly creative, tense thriller that plays out in the very last moments.  The acting is mostly limited to Oscar Isaac…

Posted on: July 19, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

The Sweetwater Hillbillies – Backwater Slap Jar Soul Sauce

The Sweetwater Hillbillies have released their first single off of their latest album, On the Road. “Backwater Slap Jar Soul Sauce” is a bouncy blues-tinged track that operates at the juncture of blues, bluegrass, country, and southern rock. The effort allows each element of the band to shine, with particular high notes reached by the vocals, guitars, and fiddle. The track crackles with an honest, down-home approach and a production that guarantees…

Posted on: July 18, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Deli Ohio (328 Walnut Avenue NE, Canton, OH 44702)

Canton, Ohio is seeing a resurgence downtown, with a number of stores (The Auricle, Arrowhead, Canton Brewing Company) looking to revitalize a long-dormant metropolis. The Deli Ohio has a chill atmosphere with solid colors, decently open space and an open kitchen so that one can see their food being made. The chipper attitude of the cashier put the cherry on the ordering process, while the sandwiches were delivered to our…

Posted on: July 17, 2015 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Rahr Visionary 2015 (Imperial Smoked Lager)

Rahr’s Visionary 2015 is eminently drinkable and is able to balance a considerable alcohol presence with a good wallop of smoke and just enough sweet to push things into a higher plateau. Done in a rauchbier style, Rahr’s yearly Visionary beer is able to avoid the twin issues of overwhelming smoke and a strong alcoholic bite to create something that is only get better with age. Visionary 2015 pours with…