Weekend Preview: Thorrablot, Random Thoughts and the Reason to Feast

As it stands after 2 months of writing this blog I realize that this is what I want to do more than anything else I have ever attempted (now this could be the Gemini in me talking and tomorrow I will be of my other mind, but right now this statement is true.)  I want to write about me and my circle of friends and all of the adventures we have.  I want to focus on the things that bring me joy like shows and food and drink and companionship.  I want to find new experiences and seek out adventure with these people in my life.  I want to discover new music and champion musicians that deserve it.  Lastly I want more people to read this and figure out how to live the life they want as well.

To achieve these goals I have started my website www.chadivus.com and I have started several Pinterest board.  What I am noticing is that I have so many ideas that I have to continue to ground myself and work so that each idea and goal gets the attention they deserve.  So going forward I am going to organize the blog around the following format.

·         One week of each month will be music week.  I will focus on a band in the local Salt Lake Market, listen to their music, research their web presence, if possible interview the band, and then create a blog entry that allows all of you to learn about the band as well.  I will also try to plan this week the same week the band plays a show so that the can be the featured local show of the week.

o   I hope to involve the Lords of Kalehalla more in this process and the bands we focus on will come more from a group recommendation than my individual choice.   If this happens, each member of the Lords will provide something to the article.

·         One week will be Restaurant week.  Same idea as music, one local eatery will be chosen.  We will research the cuisine and menu, plan the night and then eat, have fun and write a review of the experience.

·         One week will be our feast week.  This will be an event that we hold at Kalehalla honoring the days of old and festivals of our past (probably based on the Norse Pantheon and mythology because Kalenar and I really like it)

o   This week’s article will include the reason for the feast, the mythology behind it and the food eaten.

o   In addition this will probably include quite a bit of raucous behavior which we love so enjoy with us.

·         One week will be our activity week; this could be going to the zoo (where Bomb works) or a bar we all enjoy, or a road trip.  This is an open week to just do something we want to do.  It could be me and my kids or the whole group of us.

·         Lastly, here is a list of common features for every month.

o   The calendar of activities will be posted on the first midweek entry every month.

o   There will be a Recommended Show of the Week and hopefully we will come up with a title for this feature.

o   There will be a dining suggestion for the week

o   There will also be a cocktail/booze of the week feature

o   There will be two entries per week a Midweek preview and a review of the event.

o   In case of a change it will be noted ASAP.

Now I know most of you in the reading audience might not give a damn about the details I just entered but as I have said before this is my blog and I am doing this for me.  Not to be selfish and I am open to suggestions but for my sanity I need this outlet.

This is the only known picture of Lord Darksteel LaDouche

Now the event at hand; this week is Thorrablot at Kalehalla and it also happens to be Lord Darksteel’s birthday celebration.  Just note he is probably getting pretty drunk…just sayin…  Thorrablot is an old Scandinavian feast that is celebrated to ask the God Thor to intercede and help winter come to an end.  Traditionally the feast occurred on the first full moon of January, however that was way close to Yule this time so I moved it to the mid/end of the month.  I must have been inspired because I found out in researching the holiday that Iceland still celebrates this holiday from Mid-January to Mid-

February.  The feast there has several courses called Torremat (usually pickled in Lactic acid) these include Sheep head, Greenland Shark, Ram testicles and Seal flippers and other delectable treats.  We will not be partaking of those particular delicacies but I am trying to get a goat haunch to roast.  There is a spice and fresh meat market up on Redwood and 35^th South so we try there.  If that fails we will go get a leg of lamb and roast it.  The reason for this is that Thor had two goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, and whenever he need to eat them he would bring them back to life the next day using his hammer Mjolnir.  Thus I have deducted that Thor enjoys roast goat.

One other tradition of the Iceland feast is the drinking of shots of Brennivin which is Vodka infused with aromatic spices in the same manner schnapps is.  This drink is not available outside of Iceland but there is a very similar drink in Norway called Akavit.  Now in Utah it is sold under the name Aquavit and the Liquor store list has a brand on there so we are going to try to get some and drink it.  That will be the feature booze of the week if possible.  If not we will get a peppermint schnapps and go from there.

Come back Monday morning to find out what happens.

Now to the weekly suggestions;

Show of the Week:

 New York Ska Band The Toasters are at Bar Deluxe with local Ska bands Sturgeon General and Bombshell Academy.  This should be a great show. 

Eatery of the Week;

  Tried and true Blue Plate Diner.  I have gone here a lot and love the breakfast.  When I lived in Holiday I would drive over Friday mornings and get a Benedict with Smoked Salmon and home fries.  Try it!!! ***** 

Booze of the Week;

  Aquavit if available or Peppermint Schnapps if not (Brand Information and details coming in the event review)