The Joy Formidable

On my daily commute to work about a month ago, I heard a radio spot saying that The Joy Formidable would be playing a benefit concert for Toys-For-Tots on December 12th at North Star Bar, which is about half a block from my place. A show that is literally a two minute walk from my place? A band I actually like? I'm so in!

(The Joy Formidable is an alternative rock band from London.)

As soon as I got to work, I scoured the internet only to find there was still very very little information on the show. All I could find was what I already knew: the show was on Monday the 12th at North Star Bar. Why didn't the radio station or their website have any information? Frustrated, I got back to work and as the day wound down and I headed home, I heard the ad on the radio again.

This went one every few days for the next two weeks.. until they finally played an updated radio spot which stated that tickets for the show would only be available by going to the designated spot and donating a toy in exchange for a ticket. Great! I finally had a game plan and already two friends who were also interested in going.

Toy Drop #1: Blarney Stone in University City / Friday 12.2

My friend Alisa and I get there just before 10PM, when the drop was scheduled to start and there were about 25-30 people in line, which we were a bit surprised about. We were about 6-8 people away from the front of the line when they said they ran out of tickets! They had given out 104 but started early because the line was getting rather long. Our only other chance was to go to the drop in Manayunk the following Friday at the Grape Room.

Toy Drop #2: The Grape Room in Manayunk / Friday 12.9

Alisa wasn't able to come but our other concert-going friend, Tim, was able to. So we stood in line and joked about how they would probably run out of tickets right before us this time. (We even joked with the girl in front of us and told her about our lack of luck last time.) Sure enough, as we approach the front of the line. the last two tickets were handed to the girl in front of us! (heartbreak) Fortunately, she was incredibly nice and gave us her tickets!! (It helps that Tim chatted her up while we were in line and also that she had seen them open for the Foo Fighters just a few weeks earlier.) Thank you shout-out to the girl who gave us her tickets!!

Now here was the dilemma, there were three of us, and only two tickets! Tim was nice enough to let us girls go together, especially since we live in the area and could walk to the venue.

Day of the show: North Star Bar / Monday 12.12

The show was absolutely amazing. The lead singer's voice is beautifully haunting and she literally gave me goosebumps. I was surprised at how much better they were live! (I bought their CD a few weeks earlier and couldn't understand half of what she was saying/singing.) This was, by far, one of the best concerts I've ever been to. I would love, LOVE to see them again.

I only wish I had brought my camera with me!

Big Trouble

Went upstairs for half an hour and came downstairs to this..

It's Puppy Time!

After wanting a furry canine friend for ages, I've finally been able to welcome one in my life!

He was at the ASPCA in Media, PA looking incredibly cute in his kennel. The puppy we originally went to see, a shepherd mix, was being carried out by a woman saying "You're getting adopted today!" as we were walking in and our hearts sank.

Lanny and Eric accompanied us and as soon as we laid eyes on Logan, we wanted to walk him right away. We took a loop around the pound and when we got back to Logan, there was a family of four standing at his kennel discussing how cute he was. I immediately grabbed the nearest volunteer and told her we wanted to walk him right away! (There was no way we were letting this one get away!) We took him outside and after 20 minutes, we knew he would have to come home with us. He was so friendly and gentle, not mention a real cutie!

We were able to pick him up in two days, as they had to make sure he was up-to-date with his shots and neutered before we were able to take him home. Worked out well since we had to get puppy gear anyway.

They estimated he was about 5-6 months old, but we suspect he is 4 months. He's a pitbull mix, we think, and will grow to about 50-60 lbs. (hopefully not more!)

Everyone, meet Logan!

So Stylish

Mural

Cool mural on the side of a row home in Baltimore, MD.

Baltimore Aquarium

Went to Baltimore National Aquarium for Gaan's birthday. Always tons of fun creatures there!


yes, in public.






teeny tiny


jelly fish!

GLEEKS!

As part of our bridal shower gift to our friend, we surprised her with a ticket to the Glee concert! My friends are bigger Gleeks and in order to keep the show a surprise, we had to tell her tickets were sold out so she wouldn't buy her own. (We did great with keeping this up.) And we weren't the oldest ladies there either! I also ordered a 24 oz. beer and giggled when they poured it into a plastic cup, complete with lid and straw, for safety purposes.

For the entire set we screamed, sang, and danced. My favorite performance was, of course, The Warblers covering Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream". (Hellooooooooooo, Darren Criss!) The show was a blast!






The Warblers! *swoon

Lanric

Another one of my closest friends has tied the knot!

After a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony and a (never-ending) Catholic ceremony, in which we were all confused and had to pack in like sardines at one point, the bridal party was taken by stretch limo around the wonderful city of Brotherly Love for photos. They wanted to incorporate murals in their photos, which turned out beautifully, and the venue, the Tendenza in Northern Liberties, rolled out the red carpet for our arrival.

Fun fact: the DJ read Lan-anh's name at her high school graduation as her Vice Principal!

(And good luck keeping up with the bride's side of the family - they are dancing machines!)

It was a modern and fun wedding - congratulations to Lan-anh and (future Dr.) Eric Larsen!




Above photo courtesy of Ryan Goodnight

Stouchel

My college roommate was married this past weekend!

It was a gorgeous wedding at Penn Ryn Mansion in Bensalem, PA - complete with a photo booth, custom cake topper, hand-crafted advice tree, and most uniquely, a mashed potato bar! Great times for all!

Through the many happy tears and many non-sense advice cards written, every moment and every word spoken was more than moving.

Congratulations to Rachel & John Stout!

1 year, 3 months, 2 weeks, and 4 days later..

after a wonderful weekend with great weather (minus a little rain) i remain unemployed but grateful for who/what i have in my life!

what better way to show my appreciation than to update my blog =)

a friend suggested another blog site.. which i need to be reminded the name of. (thanks ahead of time!)


Madrid, Spain 2009

Up!

My friend got her boyfriend a custom cake for his birthday. Apparently he resembles Russell from the Pixar movie "Up" so she had the cake made with an "Up" theme. This is the most amazing cake I have ever seen (in person) and I wish I could have stayed to try some!

Roaming the City

A few things caught my eye while roaming around the city the other day..


The leaning "Tower of Pisa" (5th & South Street)


Display at Anthropologie (18th & Walnut)