The National

The National are a Brooklyn-based indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999. Thmb band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger in a distinctive baritone. The rest of the band is composed of two pairs of brothers: Aaron and Bryce Dessner and Scott and Bryan Devendorf. Aaron plays guitar, bass and piano, Bryce plays guitar, Scott plays bass and guitar, and Bryan is the drummer. Padma Newsome, from sister band Clogs, often contributes strings, keyboards, and other arrangements and instrumental flourishes. The band's influences range from Bruce Springsteen to Joy Division.

Beginnings

In 1991, Matt Berninger and Scott Devendorf met while attending the University of Cincinnati. There they met Mike Brewer, Casey Reas, and Jeff Salem to make the lo-fi garage band Nancy, which was named after Matt's mother. The band was together for five years, but only released one album, titled 3429 Ruther, on Wife Records. The group slowly dissolved when Matt, Scott, Jeff, and Casey moved to Brooklyn. Bryan, Bryce, and Aaron were childhood friends who played in several bands together over the years. When their last effort Project Nim broke up in 1998, they joined Matt and Scott in Brooklyn via the Devendorf relationship.


When the band was formed in 1999, it was called The National (although the domain name of the band's website is americanmary.com because, according to Matt Berninger in an interview with Better Propaganda, "t's a song off our first record. We never thought of changing the (website) name, although we should have.") Several of the members continued to work day jobs throughout the early years, including being involved in New York's dot-com boom in the late 1990s. The National performed their first shows, often on Sunday nights, at Luna Lounge on the Ludlow Street in New York City's Lower East Side.


Here is video of The National's recent live performance on The David Letterman Show. They played Afraid of Everyone from the new album, High Violet.

A Summary of LOST

Plane crashes on an island.
People survive.
People fight, scheme, love, and bond.
Weird stuff happens.

Eventually, the people all die.
The people meet up after death.
The end.

As sad as I am that it's over, I loved the ending of LOST. There are so many unanswered questions such as "What happened to Walt?" and so on. My reaction to those questions is, "Who cares?"

In the end, the entire series was all about the people and the bonds they formed. All the hurrying around, criss-crossing the island and atom bombs were vehicles for the survivors to get to know each other and for the audience to get to know them.

"What about the Dharma Initiative?" people complain. "Was Charles Widmore good or evil?" Don't care. Unlike Star Wars -- even with Hurley's countless references to the Jedi saga -- Lost wasn't about the epic battle between Good and Evil. When all is said and done, six seasons later, this was all about characters and redemption and about love.

The series was full of characters with father issues, so it is quite appropriate that Jack's father, Christian, is the one who explained it all in the final scene:

Yeah, I'm real. You're real.
Everything that ever happened to you is real.
All those people in the church - they're real too.
Jack asks: They're all - they're all dead?
Everyone dies sometime, kiddo.
Some of them before you, some of them long after you ...
But why are they all here now?
Well, there is no "now" here.
Where are we, Dad?
This is the place you all made together so you could all find one another. The most important part of your life was the time you spent with these people. That's why all of you are here. Nobody does it alone, Jack. You needed all of them and they needed you.

I found it perfect that Jack was the last one to this spiritual "party," the endless fixer, the one who always had to be the leader. His final lesson, even in death, was that he needed others, and that they needed him.

Boathouse Sushi

If you find yourself hungry in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County, here's a great option. It's an unassuming-looking little building, next to a couple of motels. (One a Hampton Inn, one a dive motel.) There is also a location in Santa Rosa.

 

Once you're inside, the atmosphere is very fun, with lots of faux-Japanese artifacts and big fake palm trees. I think they're going for elegant but it ends up being funky. They play rock-type music rather than the traditional Asian, so it has a cool atmosphere.

 

There are two large flat screens; the TV over the bar was playing the sports network when we were there while the one over the sushi bar was playing the food channel. I appreciated the non-overabundance of sports.

 

The menu is so large as to be almost overwhelming. We didn't order any starters, but watched in amazement as a plate of crispy crab wontons went by that looked like they could feed a small army. ($5.50) Other appetizer choices from the menu range from the traditional edamame at $3.75 to the more unusual Hamachi Kama at $8.95 (grilled yellowtail collar).

 

The sushi bar offers a range of traditional nigiri sushi and sashimi, but the big deal here is the rolls. The restaurant offers some very imaginative choices! There seems to be an emphasis on cooked food in the rolls, but there are also many rolls that feature raw fish. There are also many spicy choices. Our server, Tara, was incredibly friendly and helped us navigate the large menu.

Here is a small sampling of some of the rolls, with their interesting names and descriptions:

Crazy Monkey Roll
Coconut Shrimp & Grilled Pineapple, Spicy Crab Salad, Avocado & Creamy Spicy Sauce

Dragon Roll
Shrimp Tempura, Crab Salad & Cucumber, Topped w/ Fresh Water Eel, Avocado & Masago Roe Splashed w/ Unagi Sauce

Lisa! Lisa! Roll
Shrimp Tempura, Cream Cheese, Cucumber, Avocado, Topped w/ Tempura Crunch & Drizzled w/ Unagi Sauce

 

Viva Las Vegas
Shrimp Tempura & Cucumber, Topped w/ Avocado, Crab Salad & Masago Roe

 

Crazy Horse Roll
Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, Avocado, Crab Salad, Deep Fried & Served w/ Unagi Sauce

 

Japanese Lasagna
Sushi Roll w/ Crab Salad & Avocado, Covered in a Layer of Cream Cheese & Yum Yum Sauce, Baked Golden & Served w/ Unagi Sauce

 

Apocolypse Roll
Crab Salad, Ebi, Scallop, Topped w/ Salmon, Avocado, Creamy Sauce, Masago Roe & Green Onion, Lightly Torched

 

Train Wreck Roll
Spicy Tuna, Shrimp Tempura & Cucumber, Topped w/ Unagi, Avocado, Creamy Sauce, Masago Roe & Green Onion

The Last Samurai Roll
Shrimp Tempura, Spicy Tuna, Cucumber, Avocado w/ Crispy Tempura Crunch & Tobiko, Splashed w/ Unagi Sauce

Titanic Roll
Shrimp Tempura, Unagi & Cucumber in Soy Paper, Topped w/ Salmon, Tuna, Avocado, Spicy Crab Salad, & Green Onion

Sensei Seduction Roll
Tuna, Cucumber, Kaiware, Seared White Tuna, Avocado & Green Onions in a White Truffle Sauce


The portions are generous. Dinner combinations come with miso soup (some of the best I've had) and salad, rice, and either two or three items. Items can be ordered ala carte, of course, but the dinner combination is the most cost-effective way to go.


Boathouse Sushi
Japanese Pan Asian Bistro
6278 Redwood Drive
Rohnert Park, CA
(707) 588-9440

Directions:

Directions to the Rohnert Park location, from the North:

• Take 101 South and exit at Rohnert Park Expressway. Make a right on to Rohnert Park Expressway.
• Make a right at the next light on to Redwood Drive. The restaurant is 50 yards on the right. Parking is behind the restaurant.

 Directions to the Rohnert Park location, from the South: 

• Take 101 North to Rohnert Park Expressway. Make a left at the first light (and the end of the off ramp).
• Go through one light and make a right at the second light, Redwood Drive. The restaurant is 50 yards on the right. Parking is behind the restaurant.

   

Boathouse Sushi
Japanese Pan Asian Bistro
2360 Mendocino Ave.

Santa Rosa Ca 95403.
(707) 546-7153

 

Directions to the Santa Rosa location, from the North:

• Take 101 South. Exit Steele Lane and turn left. Make another left on Mendocino Ave.
• Located at the end of the Safeway Center.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iron Man Drinking Game

The weekend is here! Not just any weekend either, but the one before Memorial Day. Unless you're taking the entire week off and going somewhere fantastic, there's not that much going on. You have to make your own entertainment.

We're here to help. How about watching a Big Summer Movie?

It doesn't get any bigger or summerier than Iron Man 2. There are more villains, more beautiful women, and more dilemmas for Tony Stark to face in this one. Is it a better movie than the original Iron Man? No way. But it's more entertaining, louder, and funnier that the original, so it's all good.

One thing that made me laugh out loud -- other than Robert Downey Jr.'s quick wit -- was the sequel's direct and obvious references to the first movie. If you've seen the first movie more than once (okay, I admit it, I have), these callbacks are really fun to watch for.

Drinking Game

So get a copy of Iron Man on DVD or BlueRay and pop it into the appropriate player. Or head to the multiplex and get in line for Iron Man 2. Take a drink of your frosty beverage (or take a sip of your $6.00 soda at the multiplex) if you spot any of the following occurrences.

Every one of these things happens in BOTH movies. 

Tony says "I know exactly what I'm doing" and then something goes wrong.

An adversary refers to Tony as a "little prick."

Tony does significant damage to his house and is completely unconcerned.

After a big event, a beautiful woman with questionable motives waits by Tony's car.

Tony and Pepper share a very romantic moment on a moonlit rooftop.

Tony trash-talks his robots, threatening to do something bad to them.

Tony builds something:

• scientifically impossible
• important to his future survival
• while wearing a black undershirt
• in captivity
• under extreme pressure.

Come to think of it, Iron Man and Iron Man 2 are kind of the same movie.

If you can think of things that happen in BOTH movies that I haven't posted, add them in the comments.

Suisun City

Years ago, Suisun City in Solano County, California was the kind of place sensible people avoided. There was a run-down waterfront, ramshackle buildings, and it looked like a Hollywood scene of "that scary harbor where bad things happen." I'd speed by on the freeway without a second thought. Turns out, big things have been happening there while I wasn't paying attention.

Over the course of the last 20 years or so, Suisun City has been transformed. There are lots of restaurants, bars,  and shops. Many of the historic buildings have been preserved. There is even a hotel. The marina is beautiful. The Suisun City Waterfront District has done an amazing job. The current economy has taken its toll: there are a number of vacant storefronts, as there are in any small town. Overall, however, the town seems to be doing quite well and is very attractive.

Pick up the "Downtown Suisun City Self-Guided Historic Walking Tour" booklet once you are there. If you're interested in California history, architecture, or or just a nice walk, you'll enjoy yourself. Suisun City and many of its still-existing buildings date back to the Gold Rush.

A wonderful place to eat when you're there is the Athenian Grill, located right on the waterfront. I enjoyed the Gyro Plate, which included gyro meat, rice, pita bread and Greek salad. It was more than I could eat, and delicious. Randy had Pastitso, which is pasta layered with ground beef and bechamel sauce. Rich and delicious. For those who aren't crazy about Greek / Mediterranean food, they also have hamburgers and sandwiches. The place has a cozy, casual atmosphere. Sit out on the lovely patio and enjoy the view of the harbor.

Athenian Grill
750 Kellog Street
Suisun City CA 94585
(707) 425-0500
Open 11:00 a.m. to 9 p.m.
7 days a week







If you want something a little fancier, the Main Street Bar & Grill has a "white tablecloth" atmosphere. They serve an amazing Kobe Beef hamburger for only $8.00!

Main Street Bar & Grill
627 Main Street
Suisun City CA 94585
(707) 428-6270
Lunch Mon-Fri. 11:00am to 2:00pm
Dinner Mon-Sat. 5:00pm to 9pm
Sundays 4:30pm to 8:30pm








View Larger Map

Lockeford Meat & Sausage

This place has the best sausage ever. It's worth the drive from anywhere in Northern California to go there and buy meat from them. Believe me, people do - the lines there on weekends are long but worth the wait.

Lockeford Meat and Sausage is a tiny little storefront in the one-horse town of Lockeford. Right down the street is Lockeford Liquor and Donuts. I ask you - is there anything better than that?

Don't be fooled by appearances, though. Lockeford Meat and Sausage is a completely professional operation, very clean and well-run. In addition to sausages, they offer old fashioned franks, marinated tri-tips, slab bacon, new york steaks, and several flavors of beef jerky. I laugh every time I overhear a man give his order to the patient and helpful counter servers, because the order always ends with "... and some beef jerky." Every time. Listen for it when you go there.

The prices are amazingly reasonable, about $4.00 to $5.00 per pound for the most delicious sausage you'll ever have. The steaks and tri tips run about half the price that you'd pay in Bay Area gourmet markets.

There are two basic kinds of sausages, fresh and smoked. Here is a list of some of the sausages they offer. My personal favorite is the Apple Sausage.

• Garlic Salami
• Summer Sausage
• Heavy Smoked Thuringer
• Columbus Dry Italian Salami
• Liverwurst
• Pepperoni
• Old Fashioned Franks
• Bockwurst
• Knackwurst
• Garlic
• Bavarian
• Pesto
• Basil
• Apple
• Jalapeno
• Mild Italian
• Hot Italian
• Hot Beer Links
• Chorizo
• Wisconsin Brats
• Luau
• Smoked Dakota Bratwurst
• Portugese Linguica
• Polish
• British Bangers
• Kielbasa Smoked Polish
• Cajun Andouille
• Okie Breakfast Links
• Maple
• Swedish Potato

The fresh meat is incredible. I've never liked New York steak that much -- even the expensive ones I've had have been kind of tasteless -- until I've had the ones from Lockeford.

• Sliced Slab Bacon
• Country Style Pork Sausage
• Smoked Ham Hocks
• New York Steaks
• Marinated Tri-Tips
• Tri-Tip Roasts
• Regular and Teriyaki Jerky
• Landjaeger (which are meat sticks, sort of pressed jerky)

View Larger Map

In case you're having any trouble with the map above, here are the particulars again:

Lockeford Meat & Sausage
19775 Cotton Street
Lockeford, CA‎
(209) 727-5584‎

Lockeford is outside of Lodi on Highway 88. It's a nice drive through the country. It's well worth the excursion!

The Return of It's Something To Do

Has it really been over a year?

The It's Something To Do Blog is back! Look for restaurant reviews, commentary on first-run movies, DVDs, TV shows, and web sites. We want you to have Something To Do.

Stay tuned!