Wendy Colonna w/Chad Pope @ The Corkscrew (Houston) REVIEW

Wendy Colonna w/Chad Pope

The Corkscrew

Houston Tx

June 24,2009

I was really excited about seeing Wendy Colonna & Chad Pope at The Corkscrew. This is a new venue for me. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing them play here before. My partner & I arrived early in order to enjoy the food & beverages. The Corkscrew is basically a WINE bar. They serve a few different beers and soda, but the attraction here is definitely wine. They have walls of wine. Any wine you could imagine or desire and your wish would be fulfilled. However, since neither of us are wine drinkers, we went for a beer & a Coke. The food offerings consist of pizza or paninis. Both are made with fresh ingredients and taste fantastic. The Corkscrew also makes its own chocolate truffles. I had one and I must say that they are excellent. Quite decadent. The only drawback to the truffle is the fact that its a single serving bon-bon sized chocolate and the price is $4. Call me cheap, but for $4 I want to get a motel room with it! (OK..I'm not that cheap, but I was cheap enough to only order one truffle).

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The Corkscrew really has it going on in terms of atmosphere. This is an intimate setting that is perfect for socializing. There is a main dining area with tables. There is also a wine cellar room with a wine bar and then there is the listening area. This room consists of comfy couches with fluffy pillows. Very nice for a concert.

The venue has a sound guy (Julian) who set up a really nice Bose speaker system. The stage area was in a corner with a nice backdrop of rainbow-ish walls. The sound was excellent. This is a great place to hear music. Sitting on the couch its almost like being at home. I kept wondering why my little dog wasn't lying on the couch with me.

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Wendy & Chad showed up looking smoking hot.

That could have been because its about 342 degrees outside in Houston right now. As usual, they did an excellent set of music. There is not a Wendy Colonna song that isn't a keeper. Everything this girl writes and sings just touches my heart in a special way. Her voice is magical. I really admire the song-writing of Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls). The words have meaning and sustenance. I am in awe of how she can write down words that, even though they didn't originate from me, feel like my emotions. Wendy Colonna is equal in this ability. Her music is poetry for the soul. She finds a way of saying what you never really understood you felt, until you heard it from her. Chad Pope, as usual was brilliant on guitar. He also gives the setting a fun, sweet mood.

I am not a person who knows anything about meditation or yoga or any of the things one does to "center" oneself. I don't claim that I have any of the answers that anyone (including myself) is looking for to solve the great equation of Life. But I do know this...when I listen to Wendy Colonna, I feel GOOD. Her music rejuvenates and revitalizes my stagnant cells. I cannot explain the essence of her music, you just have to listen for yourself to know that what I say is the absolute truth. She recharges my batteries. What more can I say? I feel a bit guilty because I leech off her energy. But then I think about WENDY and KNOW that this is the perfect outcome. She writes her music because its in her soul & she needs for it to break out. I embrace her music and am continually blessed by all that she gives.

It is my turn to say "THANK YOU" to Wendy Colonna for making my world a much sweeter, tranquil place.

Wendy Colonna & Chad Pope @ The Corkscrew get an EYEBALL UP from JudgedByJody!

GUEST REVIEW - Deanes Deli Bistro - Belfast, Ireland

Guest Review by Senor Stingy!

Deanes Deli Bistro
Belfast, Ireland

Jo

I have just return from Belfast, Ireland, where I had dinner at Deanes Deli Bistro located on Bedford St. As you are aware, I always try to sample the local food when I travel (often with tragic gastrointestinal problems) and I spied this Bistro on a walk-about after work one evening. I immediately loved the offerings and actually had dinner there all three nights I was in town. Prior to this I have never eaten at the same location every night while traveling. The menu offered local fare and the specials of the day were local as well. I have provided photo’s from my last night/dinner in town.

Free Range Irish Chicken.
W/ Sweet & Sour Potato
Garden Beans
Roasting in juices
13.50 pounds (around $21.50)

The chicken was tender and moist with just the right amount of seasoning. It was a healthy, plump, boneless breast with a nub of a wing for good measure. The sweet and sour potato was a mixture of Sweet & White potato. It was not a pureed mixture but actually had pieces of both mixed together, I have never seen anything like at and it tasted wonderful. The green beans were crisp, long and fresh. I have the feeling that everything I ate was alive only hours prior. In fact it is possible that the last words the chicken heard was my name and the potato’s and beans were torn from the ground in my honor. The service was purely European which means that after you get your food you have to light a fire to get your bill so you can leave, this happened all three nights but it was worth this hassle. My other dinners were: Lamb Shank & a outstanding Shepherd’s Pie, both were as good. The wine offerings were nice as well and I did seem to be the only customer not enjoying a bottle!

I will give this place a Big Thumbs Up!!
http://www.michaeldeane.co.uk/deli.aspw.michaeldeane.co.uk/deli.asp

- Doug

Deanes Deli Bistro in Belfast, Ireland gets an EYEBALL UP from

Senor Stingy!