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Your friend over there thought you could use some company. Mind if I join you?

It’s Black Friday, people. If you haven’t already hit the mall, chances are you or someone you know will be braving the crowded masses for a chance at deep retail discounts. Me? I don’t subscribe to the super-sale mentality. Too much pushing, shoving, and hackneyed secular holiday muzak. But to each his or her own. For those of you taking part in this proud capitalist ritual (and some like me who are not), you’re probably going to want to take a load off tonight.

This one is my personal favorite. My good friend Colby introduced me to this a couple years ago, and it’s been “my drink” ever since. It’s known as “The Ori-GIN-al,” the “Bi-Partisan,” and at my favorite watering hole, it’s sometimes called “The Craig Special”:

1 part gin

1 part Original Sweet Leaf Tea

Mix with ice in shaker, do not strain.

Serve with a lemon wedge.

Shaking it up with ice is key, because melted water will cut the otherwise strong drink. Also, give a few different brands a chance. I’ve found that the quality of gin changes the flavor dramatically. I actually prefer some of the cheaper brands for this mix. If you’re not a gin drinker, I really suggest you try this before you make up your mind. I didn’t like gin until I got hooked on this.

Send me your drink ideas. Do it. I’ll post them here and on our website.

Cheers,

-Craig

Hello again. Is this seat taken? It’s been a while, hasn’t it? You look as striking as the day we met.

It’s been almost 2 months since Part I. You might be thinking to yourself, “Didn’t you say this was going to be a weekly thing?” Well, nobody’s perfect – I promise to do better.

If you’re still reading, it’s because you like to enjoy yourself from time to time with a little bit of intoxicating refreshment. Me too.

Love him or hate him, today’s beverage marks the one year anniversary of President Obama’s election. Before you get too riled up about the semantics of that statement, yes, I do realize that the election was on the 5th, but today is Election Day – the Tuesday after first Monday in November. No matter how you feel about him, you could probably use a drink about now. How to make some “Obamanade”:

2 parts Sweet Leaf Original Lemonade

1 part vodka (try not to read anything into its Russian origins)

Garnish with stimulus check.

You might have heard this drink called “Electric Lemonade” or “Texas Lemonade.” Call it what you will. It’s delightful. This is a great drink for pitchers on patios. There’s still just enough sun in the air here in Texas for that sort of thing, enjoy it while you can. If you’ve got a recipe that I ought to try, please share it! I promise to try it, and if it’s any good, I’ll post it on the blog and on our website.

Cheers,

-Craig

Well, this was my first time at Lollapalooza and I can honestly say when I wasn’t slinging 30 pound bags of ice or cases of tea, I enjoyed myself!  I wish I would have been able to see more music but it didn’t work out that way.  We were way too busy slingin’ Sweet Leaf!  Sweet Leaf Tea, that is.  But I was lucky enough to get a VIP wristband on Saturday evening after my shift was over!  (Thanks again to those stars that look out for me in the macro cosmic universe …& thank you Craig & Adi too!! )

Friday….It rained all day….boo.

Saturday….Sweet Saturday.

After my day shift of slingin’ tea, my friend SweetLeafCraig and I, we headed to the VIP area to get my savage hands on a few ice cold beers and to get a better view of Animal Collective.  I enjoyed kicking back a few with double fists after a LONG day!   Sitting there looking out at the Chicago skyline, it was blazing something sweet and undeniable!!  Once we caught a decent buzz, we headed to the Bud stage to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs!!!  Watched them from the VIP area, brews in hand and the consensus was, “YEAH YEAH!!”  To the Yeah Yeah Yeahs!!!  Indeed.  They were really good!  I was impressed and tickled I was able to catch this show.

After the night was over, we took a detour back to the hotel and walked through Millennium Park….this is where it gets really exceptional…we came upon 2 huge stone pillars facing each other.  They were both projecting a woman’s face and spewing water from the tops as little people danced about under the stream of water flowing towards the ground… YOU saw this too!?!  After we joined them and washed away some of the days sweat, we walked further up the hill and came upon a giant, metallic bean.  It looked like something that came in from the ether.  Craig told me I was in for a treat, but this was otherworldly.  I dug it.

So ends one of the most emotionally contrasting days I’ve experienced in a long time.  Such is life…. filled with adversity and then there’s Light.

Sunday…the day of, rest?

Sunday I was only able to see Lou Reed whom I really wanted to see thanks to Alexandra who watched my booth for me!!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!   Lou looked handsome.  I was proud to see all these kids pour in to see him!  He opened with “Sweet Jane”…
“Some people, they like to go out dancing
And other peoples, they have to work, just watch me now!”
Amen Lou, Amen.  He struggled with the sound, but don’t we all.  I purchased a Lou Reed shirt and will wear it proudly.

Fast forward to late Sunday night, I’m in my hotel room ready & willing to be anti-social, but I couldn’t not see Craig and the rest of my Sweet Leaf family and say, “Au revoir my friends”…… until next time.