Best Pickled Turnips in the Midwest, aka, Ann Arbor

So we spent a few days in Ann Arbor with Shondes mishpocha (thanks Claire!), during which time we engaged in the following activities:

-a rousing game of Scattergories circa 3am (this due to our still-totally-fucked sleeping schedule, thanks to that 30-hour drive...) where I rekindled my love for the game

-a late nite bowling session where Eli had his inexplicable 'glory game' (consisting solely of strikes, except for the shitty turn where he got a spare).

-a delightful old-tyme-diner meal at the Fleetwood, where tempeh was abundant and *some* of us had to use the words "hippie hash" in our orders, much to our chagrin (reportedly, however, said Hash was very tasty)

-many, many, MANY variations on Heart and Soul on the piano of the professors' home where we stayed (thanks to housesitting situation....), as well as a few numbers from Temim and Ian's experimental side project (noise) and Louisa's rendition of An Alien Baby is Born (short, evocative, perfect.)

-another delightful meal (see entry title) at a tiny Lebanese place with *excellent* sandwiches: mujadra, pickled turnips, garlic sauce, fries, roasted cauliflower, hummus, death by incredible warm grape leaves.

-THE SHONDES' DISCOVERY OF DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION! This one's crucial. So ok, we're a little behind the times (too much Buffy while NY fads came and went, I suppose) but THIS GAME IS GEVALT! we were a little shaky at first, tentatively tapping on those colorful squares in a late-nite arcade in 'Narbor but by the 2nd or 3rd time around, the stomping was unabashed. So satisfying, and such a sustainable solution for the exercise-phobic among us!

-a small collective meltdown to the tune of the hora: after our show at the Heidelberg (to be reviewed momentarily), another Fleetwood meal was had (how could we resist returning to such heimishe charm?) in gregarious company (to say the least.) after which we promptly began doing what's known as 'Old Man Dance' in the middle of the sidewalk (if there were an old-tyme dance diagramme to illustrate it, it would probably consist of one foot on the ground, one foot very slowly rising and gyrating in a slightly-the-wrong-speed kick, while torso follows suit, creakily), and then circle dancing merrily to hora-appropriate tunes. What happened to us that night? No one knows. (see left)




But Truly:

We played a packed and fun show for queer event She-Bang at the Heidelberg in Ann Arbor. There was lots of dancing and lots of love from attendees, as well as the last-minute help from some lovely Ann Arborites in making sure *all* sound catastrophes were addressed and *all* equipment was present and in the right place. We also had a lovely time mishpocha-ing around with both cats and people, broadening our enneagram comprehension and perfecting our immaculate bed-making skills.

Thanks, 'narbor.