Three things: Monday Night Edition

I spent Monday night with this crazy lady, also known as my sister. We went out to eat, explored the Guthrie a bit, and then listened to Harper Blynn & Ingrid Michaelson. Ingrid plays music that is raw and that you truly feel. The melodies build and her voice soars. It was such a good concert. I'm still thinking about it.

Food: We shared delicious food at Bar La Grassa in the North Loop of Minneapolis. We had roasted tomato bruschetta, which came with the creamiest, most delicious ricotta I've ever tasted. We then shared two small fresh pasta plates: silk hankerchiefs with basil pesto and fettucine alfredo. Both were fantastic - the noodles are so fresh that they literally melt in your mouth.

Location: The Guthrie Theater was the perfect place for this show. It was intimate, but really whimsical because the bands played on the set of one of the Guthrie's current shows! It was an old-country home with a magnolia tree on the side of it. It fit perfectly.

Music: The music was fantastic. Harper Blynn opened; their sound was great, but I wanted a little bit more from their performance. That all changed once they played "Halo" by Beyonce. It was the only cover they did, and it was the only one they needed. They rocked out, the whole audience felt it and we were all big fans of theirs by the end of it. Their album was released on Monday; if you're interested, you can download it for free here.

Then Ingrid came on and we all remembered why we were her fans. She is funny, awkward, and really just wanted to tell us all a story. Everything from her Kimmy Gibbler references to her ukelele-playing made me like her even more. If you have a chance to see her in concert, I'd recommend it!