Essays, Interviews, Observations, Pop Culture, Stories, and other Dodginess

Ask Liffey

Posted on February 14, 2012

Ask Liffey, part 1.

What kind of beer do you like?

First, let me say I’m not a beer expert and despise beer snobbery. I drink what I’m in the mood for. Sometimes it’s a can of  MGD at a summer barbecue. Sometimes I like Harp. I had one recently at a fake Irish bar in the area and rather enjoyed it.

The most recent six-pack I purchased was Robert The Bruce by Three Floyds in Munster. Sometimes I like dark beer, sometimes I like light. If it’s a party I’ll pretty much drink anything offered except maybe for Meister Brau. And even then you never know.

What kind of gal do you fancy?

I’m partial to brunettes but it’s like my beer – whatever I’m in the mood for. Even at a party – whatever is offered to me, unless she’s drinking Meister Brau. But even then you never know. One of the things on my bucket list is to frolic with a Singapore flight attendant.

Speaking of gals, where will one find the most attractive and interesting ones?

If it’s NWI, I’d have to say Crown Point and Valparaiso. In Chicago, no doubt it’s Bucktown. Lots of cute hippie princesses.

What’s a new song that has your interest?

“Bad Girls” by M.I.A.

Your favorite James Bond?

Timothy Dalton

What’s a little-known movie you’ve recently enjoyed?

Last Night with Keira Knightley

What’s your favorite movie-watching experience?

Seeing Dazed and Confused at the Brew and View in Chicago.

What’s a random observation of yours at the moment?

Why is it, in cinema and TV, every time a character is vomiting in a toilet they’re grasping the bowl like it’s the Holy Grail? Meh…that’s gross.

If you can have a pint with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, what’s one question you’d ask of him?

I’d ask him what’s one thing about his wife he’ll always find adorable.

Strangest rumour you’ve heard?

That there was supposed to be a TV series based on Schindler’s List starring John Ritter as Oskar Schindler.

Bad Chicago Radio

Posted on February 12, 2012

I was flipping through Chicago radio stations the other day and twice came upon Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen” in the period of 30 minutes. That’s just ridiculous. Surprisingly, one of the accused wasn’t WXRT, which I rail on quite often because supposedly they’re cool and eclectic but really aren’t. Sure, they have a fine alternative HD feed but unless you own one of those radios or aren’t too far from the source you ain’t hearing that music. Point is, that should be their No. 1 music feed and what they currently provide on 93.1 should be the “No. 2” station. But HD radio is for another discussion.

Bad, Chicago radio, bad.

Sometimes I even think the small, NWI station Z107.1 is more eclectic. ‘Xrt, for example, thinks Adele’s only song is “Rolling in the Deep.” The Hoosier station has been spinning (what I think is more superior) the Brit’s “Set Fire to the Rain.”

As I write this I’m listening online to Radio Free Santa Fe. I’m hearing Rebelution’s “Sky is the Limit.” One of the many tunes you won’t find on Chicago radio. I discovered the station while driving through New Mexico on the way to Vegas.

So lately I’ve been listening to those guys and Erin’s Chill from bigrradio.com.

Here’s a few songs recently played from the two stations that I find becoming and want to re-visit.

Here’s a sample:

Olive – Indulge Me
Sufjan Stevens – I Walked
BT – Satellite
Sarah Blasko – Cinders
Trespassers William  – Vapour Trail
The Waifs –  London Still
Oh Land –  Wolf and I
Dan Black –  Let Go
Flunk –  Personal Stereo
Chairlift –  Amanamnesia
Leonard Cohen – Everybody Knows
B-52s – Funplex

Chairlift’s “Amanamnesia”

The Kissing Booth

Posted on February 10, 2012

Once I attended a fundraiser for a theater on Chicago’s north side. I knew some of the actors through a mutual friend and decided to help out a good cause and I knew a keg would be there. And theater girls. You can’t be shy around these creatures, they’ll blow you out of the water. They have a lot more “ya-ha” moments than your typical cheerleader types.  I discovered that in high school.

There was a carnival theme to the fundraiser. You buy your tickets and use them at various “attractions” like food, games and whatever the hell else they had in there. The only things I was attracted to were the keg and…the kissing booth.

I thought these things didn’t exist. But here it was. An actual live and comely gal waiting to trade a few smooches in order to keep her theater from going dark. She had perfectly curled, caramel hair and big brown eyes. And since this was around Christmas, she was dressed as Santa’s sexy helper.

I cut a well-worn path between her booth and the keg that night. I know I visited her at least three times, and the keg in between each.

My first time at the booth resulted in a simple, yet intimate closed mouth kiss on the lips. The second time I tried to express my intimacy a little more and went (gently) for a more open-mouth style. She politely said, with a smile, that it wasn’t allowed. However, by the third for fourth time, that little rule went out the booth because we locked it up like a scene from “The Notebook.” (Come to think about it she did a resemble Rachel McAdams).

Not long after she closed down the booth (I never really noticed how she worked it with other guys. I know a friend of mine who was there said he wasn’t as fortunate as me)  I thought she was gone for the night but spotted her alone at the keg on one of my many trips there. I dug in my pocket as I walked up and pulled it out.

“I have one more ticket.”

With that she put her cup down, pulled me over, and went above and beyond her duties at the kissing booth.

I haven’t seen a kissing booth since. But I try to attend theater fundraisers…just in case.

 

Not so different from this…