The Mean Girls Under the Stairs

Las Vegas Baby

2008-07-01T18:28:00.002-04:00

Let the drinking, bitching and completely inappropriate comments begin. Yes Blanche I said your hair looks nice.

The Mean Girls Go to Vegas '08

2008-06-19T08:53:00.002-04:00

Even though we can't even really come up with a point for this blog, the Mean Girls are taking a trip. It's kind of like when the Brady Bunch went to the Grand Canyon only with more gays and less women (wait a second here...oh nevermind).

Maybe, just maybe...we'll have something to talk about!

Biggest Loser Weigh In

2008-06-16T08:57:00.000-04:00

Ok actually it's just me Maestro. I would like to say I am now down to a petite 221. Thank god for climbing stairs that make you vomit when you get to your apartment. Woo freakin hoo is all I have to say. I still won't take my shirt off in Vegas but whatever.

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Second Half - Week 3

2008-05-01T08:17:00.003-04:00

This was a pretty even keel week for us. Though Xena is schooling us in how to get back into shape post-goiter. She should be climbing back into loser status very soon, if not next week.

It's May 1st, so we have two full months until a winner is crowned!

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Second Half - Week 3

2008-04-24T14:14:00.005-04:00

We have our first person reaching 10 pounds! Way to go, Romeo!

Nearly everyone is still trending downwards, keep it up folks!

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Second Half - Week 2

2008-04-15T12:41:00.002-04:00

Romeo is re-asserting his dominance of the field, though Mom is not nipping had his stilettos. I also want to welcome Xena back to the fold. She's finally kicked the goiter, and she is back to contend.

The Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Second Half

2008-04-11T08:32:00.002-04:00

After an unintentional week off due to three participants on various forms of vacations, we're back this week with a new leader. We are now at the half way point, and we're all working towards our summer goals. Keep it up, folks!

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 11

2008-03-27T09:28:00.001-04:00

We have a new leader!

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 9 & 10

2008-03-20T07:28:00.004-04:00

I'm sorry for not posting these last week, but the week just got away from me and this week almost did, too.

Anywhoo, Maestro has been making a move in the past couple weeks, and the big question is will he blow it on corned beef and cabbage in Ireland? :)

To the rest of you (us), it's SPRING! Get a move on! We have a little over two months until Pride, three months until Vegas (or Sweden for Athena AND the end of the Biggest Loser), and four months until Market Days. So, if you're waiting for some "Fierce Urgency of Now," well, now is now....

Aer Lingus Terminal

2008-03-16T16:58:00.002-04:00

I am by no means a world traveler. I also really don't spend much time in airport terminals I tend to get off one flight with just enough time to catch my next flight. One could call me an efficient flyer. One could also call me impatient, which would be more accurate. With this established I really don't notice much other than locations of my next gate, food, or bathroom. All in my mind very important. This time though, due to some illness and missing a first flight and having to reschedule, I have the time to do some people watching and take a bit of the airport culture at O'Hare in Chicago. I am flying to Ireland therefore I am in the International terminal which I have never been before. As I type this I look up to see the flight crew swish through. Anyway security was actually a lot quicker than I thought it would be. I had to go through more at Indy's airport. But when I got to the other side what did I behold, a bar. Yes what every one needs after they have been poked and prodded by airport security. This wasn't a sit down bar it was just a little booze cart, kind of like those Starbucks carts you see in the airport but this decidedly better. Of course once you are through security feel free to booze it up and really take it where ever you want. It's like a little bit of Vegas here in the Windy City.

This being the Aer Lingus terminal it is fun to see all the red heads with at least two beers in hand. Yes Romeo you would be in Ginger heaven. I have actually seen two guys who I could describe as Soccer Hooligans go back for their third with in the last 45 minutes I have been here. Let's reinforce cultural stereotypes shall we. They are most likely Americans on their way to Dublin to celebrate St. Patty's day the way it was meant to be. I know if it wasn't for the students that I am traveling with I could be found tomorrow night in some pub getting pissed. In this instance "pissed" meaning drunk not a golden shower.

I will keep you all updated on my travels and some good places for food and/or drink in Ireland if you find your way there. For me this is just a lot of fun I have never been out of the country so this will be fun. And I haven't even left the States.

Blu Martini

2008-03-08T17:46:00.009-05:00

"Daddy always says, 'an ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure.'" Shelby Eatenton Latcherie

pre·ten·sion
Pronunciation: \pri-'ten(t)-shun\
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1: an allegation of doubtful value
2: a claim or an effort to establish a claim
3: a claim or right to attention or honor because of merit
4: an aspiration or intention that may or may not reach fulfillment

I'm not sure where to go with this. I really want to write a scathing review about Blu Martini, but what I dislike about the place has absolutely nothing to do with the staff, the decor, the food, the drinks or the location. Okay, let's try this:

This past Thursday Blanche, our buddy Ennis and I all went to Blu Martini. The bar is located on the northside of Indianapolis. It sits at the end of a strip mall, and the exterior does a fab job of hiding what's actually inside. The decor is modern minimal with white (p)leather chairs that remind me of the shape of martini and highball glasses. Given the name of the bar, it's only appropriate that the owners chose to provide back lighting in blue. The lighting lends to an overall atmosphere of flattering light for the made-up, garishly dressed, stretched, stitched, filled, plumped and botoxed.

As the picture provided would indicate, the bar is fully stocked with most top-shelf liquors. As the name also indicates, the bar does specialize in a wide variety of martinis. This visit being my first, I decided to sample the namesake offering, the Blu(e) Martini. The Blu Martini is a martini in name only. It's actually made from Jose Classico tequila, blue curacao and lemon zest. It's full-bodied, not too sweet and with three you get tingle. This is not a picture of a Blu Martini Blu Martini:
The average cost of a martini is $6, but the VIPtinis can go as high as $18.

The owners have decided to provide a food-based happy hour during the week and as a result, sushi is half-price from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The only downside to the offering is the fact that most people arrive early with drinking intentions and at the last minute decide to order half-priced sushi. As a result, if you wait until 6:45 to place your order, you'll need to expect to wait at least half an hour for your food to arrive. If you're enjoying a leisurely evening, you'll be fine, but if you get there hungry, you'll be disappointed; our server (who bore an unCANNY resemblance to Lucy Liu) advised us that the sushi chef was overwhelmed. Maybe they should hire some Mexicans to help him roll and kick the orders out faster. Blanche and I both selected the Blu Martini sushi appetizer. It's 8 large pieces of crabmeat, cream cheese, avacado, cucumber and spicy sauce. It was tasty and didn't require much wasabi or soy sauce. I was perfectly content with the pickled ginger, there just wasn't enough. This offering is normally $12, but we took advantage of the half-price special...for the mathematically challenged, that means it was $6. This is actually a picture of a sampler, but the rolls in the middle are the Blu Marti sushi:
The presentation was beautiful, but given how busy the sushi chef was, the preparation suffered. The rolls were not wrapped as tightly as I would have preferred and as a result, they fell apart as I tried to eat them. This won't prevent me from eating there again, just offering that as an observation.

Now on to the entertainment. When I go to a bar, I take into consideration the type of entertainment that will be available. I know that I can find karaoke most nights of the week; I know that on some nights, I'll find drag queens and on others, strippers. Sometimes, I'll even look for live bands or guest DJs. At Blu Martini, what I found most entertaining were the patrons. I think this was the first time I'd been to a bar on the far northside of Indy.

What I found were about 300 people basking in the glow of their own fabulousness. I'd say the average age was about 38. They were plucked, preened, bronzed, buffed and tucked. A few of the men wore expensive but poorly tailored suits...if you're going to invest in an Armani, at least make sure it fits properly, people! Most men seemed to be wearing jeans and I saw Lucky, True Religion, Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis and even a pair of Eddie Bauer *gasp*. I saw a lot of vintage tees, some cute sweaters and the ever-popular, jacket/dress shirt combo. Most of the guys did a pretty good job of dressing age-appropriate and really just maintained while they were there.

The women, on the other hand...oy vey! I saw every extreme imaginable in color, height and heft. And I'm just talking about hair. No offense to any of my girls reading this, but sincerely...what do str8 women think when they're getting ready for a night out? Glitter mascara? Fringed jean skirts? Leg warmers? Sequined tops and jeans? My favorite look of the night (and I SWEAR I wish I had a picture of this) was as follows: Black long sleeve t-shirt...dark wash, frayed denim mini...black tights...and a pair of furry ankle boots. Imagine taking two white Lhasa Apsos, shoving a foot up the ass of each and walking around with them on your feet and you can kinda get the image.
She thought she was the shit, but all I could do was giggle and feel bad for those poor puppies each time she walked by...she walked by a LOT!

If you ever go to Indy.com, you'll see several pictures from Blu Martini. The Party Crasher photographer was there (in all his tacky, Tommy Bahama-clad glory...Tommy Bahama, the muu-muu for men), but wanted absolutely nothing to do with us. It was entertaining to watch Blanche and Ennis sit up in their chairs and engage each other in conversation in an attempt to look interesting and approachable to "get they pitcha took," but it was to no avail. The photographer walked in front of, behind, around and over our little group to snap the photos of the entitled surrounding us.

The highlight of the evening for me was seeing a Carmel mom primping for the Party Crasher. She was holding a glass of chardonnay and dropped it while flipping her hair. When it hit the ground, she looked at us. We didn't blink or give two shits, but she felt compelled to engage us in conversation..."you didn't even LOOK when I dropped that! What's wrong with you? I did it on purpose, by the way...I'm Jewish, we smash glasses like that." Oh, the plight of the Carmel mom...so misunderstood, undersatisfied and attention starved. Again, makes me giggle.

So, I really did enjoy my time at Blu Martini. I love the decor and the atmosphere. The food is tasty and I'll definitely try other menu offerings on future visits. The martinis, while pricey, give you bang for your buck. The staff are friendly enough and as attentive as they can be given the crowd. Last but not least, I have an appreciation for a good floor show with dinner and drinks, and the patrons definitely provided that; and at no cost to the owners! Bravo!

Blu Martini
4705 East 96th Street
(96th & Gray Road)
Indianapolis, IN 46240
317.566.8650

India Garden (Downtown)

2008-03-05T16:40:00.012-05:00

Growing up I was always told I was a picky eater. When I went to college and sampled the many foods the world offered outside of red meat and a side dish of a potato, I realized I was not a picky eater I just didn't always care for meat and potatoes. I love Indian food and when Romeo offered up the Indian Garden as a meal destination I immediately said yes.

The Indian Garden has been one of "Indy's Best" for every year it has been open, according to Nuvo. I whole heatedly agree. The moment you walk in you are greeted by friendly and attentive staff. Though I have been to the India Garden on several occasions this is my first in their new location. When it was over on Illinois and I worked downtown we would fast a day before and go to the lunch buffet and binge with very little purging. They have two locations here in Indianapolis one downtown (obviously) and one in Broad Ripple. Both with the same high quality food and service.

One of the many things I like about the India Garden is that it is always clean. The digs are very nice, larger than their previous location and I am sure it comes in handy with the lunch crowd. One of the more popular destinations of the downtown lunch crowd and a reason I miss working in that area.

Ok let's talk food. I went with Romeo, Xena, and Coltin. When we arrived we ordered a few appetizers, the Vegetable Pakora and Paneer Pakora. Vegetable Pakora is chopped veggies batter dipped and deep fried. On the menu it is described as a fritter, with the plum sauce it is very good. Paneer Pakora is in essence fried cheese sticks, the difference it that it's homemade cheese (very good) in a chic pea batter. This isn't the kind of cheese stick one would get at White Castle at 3am after a night of heavy drinking, not that I have ever done anything remotely like that. Anyway, I could have had just that for dinner and been good, but why when there is so many other things to eat. For the main course I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala. The menu describes it as "Oven-baked diced chicken cooked in a creamy sauce with fresh tomatoes and oriental spices". If you like Tikka Masala, and who doesn't really, this is some of the best I have had. Romeo ordered Chicken Vindaloo it's chicken and potatoes in a curry sauce. I tried some it was very good. Xena had the Chicken Shahi Korma, which is chicken cooked in creamy sauce with mild spices and sprinkled with nuts. I didn't get any of hers but I have had it before and again so very good. Coltin had the Shrimp Tikka Masala, pretty much what I had but with shrimp not chicken.

When ordering Indian food you are usually asked on a scale of 1-10 how spicy you want the food. With us obviously not being from India, our food was probably prepared on the, as Xena would put it, Gringo chart. Which pretty much means a 10 for us is still just a 6 for natives.I, not having Tums at home, ordered a mild 5. I love spicy food, however my stomach does not. When I have the proper medication at home I will be adventurous and go to the 8-9 route. Oh I almost forgot one of my favorite parts the Naan. Mmmmmmm... Naan... auchgle (drooling a la Homer Simpson.) Wiping the saliva off. Naan is a flat bread and of course we got the Garlic Naan. Whatever you get there always get the Naan.

I have never had a bad experience here. The wait staff is friendly and do a great job. The food is very authentic Indian cuisine, when you know people who grew up in India and they go there to eat that is what I call a good sign.

Of course with this evenings binging under... over... stretching my belt? I will be dropping in the Biggest Loser standings. I do blame my discovery of a world of food for my expanding waistline. When I was in high school I was borderline anorexic. Damn you tasty tasty food.

Downtown Location
207 North Delaware St,
Indianapolis, IN 46204
TEL : 317-634-6060
FAX : 317-634-2160

Broad Ripple Location
830 Broad Ripple Ave,
Indianapolis, IN 46220
TEL : 317-253-6060
FAX : 317-253-2832
www.indiagardenindy.com

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 8

2008-03-05T12:11:00.003-05:00

While Romeo is still in the lead, we've had some major motion from Brooklyn and Maestro. Brooklyn had a big drop this week to move her into second place, and Maestro continues his steady pace to join the 2% club. Alas, Xena has been struck by a 103 pound goiter. Let's all pray that she recovers soon!

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 7

2008-02-29T09:19:00.004-05:00

We're starting to see some movement! With Romeo holding steady after his killer week last week, Athena and Maestro both clock in this week with personal bests. Also, Blanche, he of the biscuits and gravy, got weighed at our Oscar Party, which probably isn't too fair considering all that was eaten that night, but that's what he gets for not participating up until now. Oh, and if Xena doesn't start sending in weights, I'm bumping her up to 250 next week. :-)

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 7

2008-02-21T08:31:00.003-05:00

Romeo is starting to kick everyone's butt!

Since we're going into the second month of this and now that the Mean Girls have a substantial goal in mind with the Mean Girls Under the Strip Tour '08, maybe it is time for everyone to kick themselves out of the status quo and try something different.

Bring it, Girls!

McCormick & Schmick's

2008-02-15T11:34:00.003-05:00

Being in the Midwest, it is difficult for a restaurant to serve fresh seafood without making the massive effort of having it shipped in daily. Thankfully, in the glut of steakhouses that have taken over Downtown Indianapolis, Oceannaire Seafood Room and McCormick & Schmick's have settled in to offer a seafood alternative, and having eaten at both now, I have to say they are great additions to the downtown palate.

McCormick & Schmick's is located in a portion of the lobby of the Hilton hotel (though there is only one door access to the Hilton). It offers a very high ceiling, with some pretty spectacular stained glass lighting fixtures, and in the bar area, they incorporate the logos of the Colts, Pacers, and the Motor Speedway. The decor favor's dark wood, but not quite to the extent of, say, a St. Elmo's. In the north corner, behind the bar, there are booths all along the wall that have green velvet drapes that can be closed for privacy. The one draw back that I found in this relatively elegant restaurant's decor, is the fact that those booths are the only opportunity for any sort of intimacy. While the rest of the tables are not stacked on top of each other like St. Elmo's we were still pretty close to our neighbors, and since it was Valentine's Day, the place was absolutely packed. However, the high ceiling certainly made it a lot easier to hear each other talk.

Our waiter was fantastic. Even though his section was packed with people, we never missed him, and he offered great information on the menu, which he informed us is changed twice a day to highlight what is available. Though he evilly brought the dessert tray around after we were done with our main course, and even though I pretty much always shun them, we ended up splitting the Creme Brulee, which was pretty great, even if the Grand Mariner was a bit overpowering.

We started out with a crab, shrimp, and artichoke dip, which came with toasted pita chips. It was a wonderful to start out the dinner, though the pita chips were a bit hard. We both had Salmon stuffed with crab and shrimp, which came with mashed potatoes and a few sprigs of asparagus. Tyler felt that the crab may have been a little off, but I did not notice in my particular dish. If I have one complaint about both examples of food, it was that the plating was pretty bad. I know this makes me sound like a pretentious putz, but I watch the Food Network. I know that good plating is an essential part of any meal, and when you're paying a lot for a meal, you want the food to look like it wasn't thrown on there by a disgruntled lunch lady. I forgot to mention the drinks. The bar was a notch above with their use of infused vodkas and freshly squeezed juices.

I really enjoyed McCormick & Schmick's, and I think it really competes with Oceannaire as a slightly lower prices alternative. However, it cannot beat Oceannaire in the ambiance and intimacy department. I did find the plating to be pretty problematic, but since it was an especially busy night, I will consider it a small quibble. I am happy to see that in the heart of red meat country, there can be great, fresh seafood restaurants.

110 North Illinois St.
At the Corner of Illinois & Market Streets
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 631-9500 or 1-888-344-686
http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/

St. Elmo's Steakhouse

2008-02-14T10:16:00.005-05:00

For my first Mean Girl's Review, I am going with St. Elmo's Steakhouse, which is an Indianapolis institution. It has been around since 1902, and when it came time to build what is now Circle Center Mall, instead of closing and moving the restaurant, they actually built the mall AROUND it, and it stayed open while everything above the first floor was built into the new mall structure.

This is the second time I have eaten at St. Elmo's, but the first time was for a work dinner for 100 people. So, I didn't feel that eating the equivalent of a banquet style meal there was a great example of what the restaurant can do. I will also write this with the caveat that I am not that much of a red meat eater. So, the entree that this restaurant is known best for, is not something I'm going to order if there is a choice.

Tonight, we are eating there to celebrate the birthday of three of my friends, and since this restaurant is not cheap, I am happy that we are there at the end of the winter restaurant week in downtown that offers a $30, three course Prix Fixe menu, which basically gives you limited options so that you can sample the menu in hope that you'll come back and pay full price for something. It is one of those great ideas, that I really wish I took advantage of more, but at least they do it twice a year.

The first thing you'll notice about St. Elmo's is the bar. It is the length of the restaurant, and it is one of those gigantic, dark wood bars that you know mobsters probably hit behind in a great shoot out. The next thing you will notice is that they have packed a table into every nook and cranny to make sure they get as many people in as possible. Obviously, this is not a place to go if you want an intimate dinner for two. Indeed, our table of 7 was sat, I kid you not, less than a foot from another couple. They easily could have been a part of our conversation. All in all, it is a restaurant with a lot of old school charm, but I really think they could clear out a good number of tables and still not destroy their bottom line.

Our waiter was one of those boisterous congenial types that people tend to shower with money. He's also, obviously been using his tip money to eat way too much of the rich food on his breaks. He was a big boy, and as I said above, there was not a lot of room for big boy to actually do his job. He was obviously busy, and while I was sympathetic that "St. Elmo's had done 72% of the Devour Downtown business" and he had worked 14 days without a day off, it really doesn't make it okay that I had drank my Rum & Diet and eaten all the ice before I was offered another one.

The food was pretty good. St. Elmo's is known for it's shrimp cocktail, which is nose clearingly heavy on the horseradish. For this menu, you only got three shrimp, which is fine since it is a limited menu. If you did not get the cocktail, then you had the option of your standard house salad. The main course gave you the option of steak, salmon, or chicken. I love fish. So, I opted to get the salmon, but 30 minutes into waiting for our meal, the big boy waiter shimmied back to our table to tell me that they were out of salmon. Oy! So, I opted for the chicken, which turned out to be Old Country Buffet style at best, and the veggies probably came from a giant vat complete with Lunch Lady Doris. The dessert options were between creme brulee or chocolate cake. The chocolate cake looked like it had just come off the Sysco truck, and the creme brulee, which turned out to be quite good, was really only about a third of what you would get with in a normal portion.

To top off the night, I needed to go to the restroom, and while I was doing my business at the urinal, I almost got peed on by a drunk, who was too busy unzipping himself to realize I was standing there. Thankfully, he caught himself, and was still cackling out loud in the stall, when I left. Yeah, that was funny, drunk ass....

All in all, I get that St. Elmo's is an institution, but I think they are coasting a bit on their history. I realize we were all eating from the $30 menu, but it seems to me they should being trying at least put a little bit of effort into it. I could have spent less than $10 at White Castle and gotten more food and better service. This is not to say that I wouldn't take someone from out of town there, because it is still something uniquely Indy, but I can't say I will be going out of my way to go there again.

St. Elmo Steak House
127 S. Illinois St.
Indianapolis, IN. 46225
Phone: 317.635.0636
Fax: 317.687.9162
http://www.stelmos.com/

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 6

2008-02-14T09:27:00.003-05:00

Romeo is slowly yet surely becoming the most consistent loser of the group, and he has claimed the top spot (though still tied with Mom and Athena). Will he go for 5 next week? He has a vacation coming up, girls. So, there's your chance to catch up!

Maestro and FitnessNerd have been hangin in there, too, but I was kind of hoping that being on my deathbed over the weekend would mean more of a weight loss. Damn!

Anyone care to make a side wager on when Blanche will actually put down the biscuits and gravy and start participating? :)

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 4 & 5

2008-02-06T10:54:00.000-05:00

Since I didn't get the numbers together last week, I am posting both weeks. Mom has seized the lead, and Romeo has moved into second place! Brooklyn and Maestro both had some losses, too. Keep up the good work!

Week 5:
Week 4:

En casa en LaHacienda

2008-01-29T12:41:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned in my personal blog, I tried a new restaurant Sunday afternoon. I wound up at LaHacienda after a failed attempt to get service at Buffalo Wild Wings at Washington Square Mall. I was seated and waited a full 15 minutes with only one person strolling by to say, "someone will be with you shortly." I'm disappointed at myself for not stopping and asking to see the manager. I worked in the service industry for about 5 years and have come to expect better than excellent service from my wait staff. When I receive it, I definitely tip my servers well and when I don't, they are made aware of my dissatisfaction. I'm not a bitch about it, it's just reflected in the tip I leave. On to the review.

LaHacienda appears to be a semi-local chain in Indiana with four locations in Indy and one in Muncie. I say "appears to be" because I've been to other cities with Mexican restaurants called LaHacienda...seems to be a pretty popular name.

I make no secret of the fact that I'm of mixed heritage and apparently my features and olive complexion lead people of Latino/Hispano/Mexican descent to believe that I'm one of them. The hostess greeted me in Spanish and when I responded in English, "one please, a booth if available," she responded, "yes, sir...right this way, please." The hostess informed me that Felix would be with me shortly and as she walked a way, a member of the floor staff appeared with a bowl of warm, crispy corn tortillas chips and two types of salsa, one mild and one medium. The salsas were both full-bodied and while the medium was spicy, the heat did not overpower the flavor. The chips were salted perfectly and had Alain been with me, he wouldn't have had to add extra (but probably would have anyway).

Felix appeared and greeted me in Spanish and when I responded in English, he understood. Of the 10 appetizers on the menu, I decided on the Chori Queso for $5.25. The queso is white Mexican cheese, definitely not the typical Velveeta orange you see on the shelves of your local grocer. It was creamy and mixed with bell peppers and onions and topped with chorizo sausage. Served with warm flour tortillas, it was a wonderful start to the meal. Chorizo is, unfortunately a greasy sausage so there was some run-off that turned my stomach for a minute, but I just stirred it all up. Problem solved.

While waiting for my entree, I noticed the decor. Truly traditional Mexican accoutrements down to the red, white and green flag swags draped on the walls and the pinatas and stars hanging from the ceiling. The only thing that would have enhanced my dining experience would have been jarabe tapatio or the Mexican Hat Dance.

The menu is quite large and somewhat intimidating with the various combinations, Hacienda Specialties and Mexican Specialties, but I decided on the Enchiladas Hacienda for $7.00. You get two corn tortilla enchiladas stuffed with cheese & chicken topped with rancho sauce, guacamole, sour cream & lettuce and served with rice & beans. It was very flavorful and once again, the spices were not overpowered by the heat. My entree arrived about 15 minutes after my appetizer so it was perfectly timed.

I wish I had thought about ordering a margarita so I could provide a bar review. They do have a fully-stocked bar with at least mid-level top shelf alcohols. It also appeared they have a full menu of domestic and imported beers and the menu boasts strawberry, pina colada, mango, peach & guava non-alcoholic smoothies for $2.50.

I really did receive so much food that I couldn't finish it all. While I was wiping my mouth, one of the managers walked by and greeted me in Spanish and I understood enough to realize that he asked me if everything was good. I told him (in English) that everything was very tasty and the service was great. Felix appeared a couple of minutes later and asked if I needed anything boxed up to go. I told him no and was pleased to see that the dishes went right into a bus tub. I've been to too many restaurants where I've seen food going right back into the kitchen and that always makes me kind of nervous.

So we've decided to use a flame system (one to four) for our reviews of the following aspects of our dining experience:

Buffalo Wild Wings lost my business, but as a result I found a quaint little gema mexicana practically in my backyard. I've also decided to take up Spanish. :-)

10202 East Washington Street - 317.897.1530
3874 Lafayette Road - 317.290.0755
6825 Graham Road/71st & SR 37 - 317.577.2689
12237 North Meridian Street (Carmel) - 317.566.9563
2620 South Madison Street (Muncie) - 765.289.0909

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 3

2008-01-22T12:51:00.000-05:00

Week 3 saw some of us inching closer to our goals, with other falling backwards a smidge. However, the pace is still being set by Athena who has lost a total of 4 pounds for a 2% change! Mom is close behind with a 3 pound drop last week.

Keep up the good work!

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 2

2008-01-15T23:06:00.000-05:00

We have the first results of our weigh ins, and well, there wasn't much of a move, but obviously, we couldn't expect to see movement like the people on the show. However, there is obviously room to improve here, and we all need help in achieving our goals.

Since we had ties, I just put them in alphabetical order for fairness.

Good Job to Athena, Brooklyn, and Romeo! Good Luck in Week 3!

Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 1, Tip 1 - Diet 101

2008-01-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

I will be bringing you weekly tips and articles that I find on the internets.

Good Luck, Losers! :-)

I found this story at BodyBuilding.com, and I just want to say it is a VERY informative website. I know most of you do not want to become body builders, but there is a lot of great basic information there. They also have workout routines and other things that should be very helpful for you. Plus, there is a store with good prices on supplements and other stuff, though I have found things cheaper on the net. Check it out!

Diet 101: Basics of a Sound Nutritional Plan
By: Ginger Redeker

Diet is an ugly word that conjures up thoughts of deprivation and filling your growling stomach with bland, boring, food. However, one must realize that "diet" is merely the makeup of your daily intake of food and it doesn't necessarily have to be restrictive and mundane.

A person's diet is the number one key to achieving the goals they desire in any fitness program they partake in. You know the old saying, "you are what you eat" is the best quote and should be your inspiration and motivation in making wise and informed decisions on what you put in your mouth.

This article will hopefully help you to determine what to look for when going grocery shopping, dining out, preparing and eating your own food to improve your "diet" and hopefully will give you some suggestions and insight to keep you on the path of a healthier, slimmer, you.

The Basics Of Nutrition

You should strive to eat at least 5 to 6 small meals a day that are spread 2 to 3 hours apart. Each meal should have some source of protein with it and can be combined with fibrous carbs (think vegetables) or starchy carbs (think fruits, grains and potatoes). Beyond that, the best advice I can give you is to choose whole, fresh, unprocessed food that exists in their most natural state.

For example, instead of eating cereal which is highly processed and can be full of sugar and chemicals you can't even pronounce, why not try a bowl of plain oatmeal, cream of rice or oat bran that is sweetened and flavored with Splenda and cinnamon or maybe some chopped pecans with some sugar free syrup.

Try eating raw or lightly steamed broccoli instead of broccoli smothered in cheese and butter. Replace lunch meat that is highly processed with chemicals and preservatives with real turkey, beef or chicken. The point is, consuming fresh whole foods is the best route to take when it comes to feeding our bodies.

The mentality one needs to have concerning diet, is that of fueling our bodies to perform throughout the day and to keep our energy up and our minds sharp.

Alternatives

Now that you know a little about how many times a day you should eat and what kinds of foods you should be eating, we can touch on the topics of condiments, food preparation, and food substitutes.

The purpose of this article is to inform you of healthy alternatives to help you achieve your fitness and weight loss goals in conjunction with an appropriate workout program.

In the following categories, I will give you some examples of common food additives that can in fact be replaced with healthier options. Again, my advice to you is to experiment with these healthier alternatives to find what suits your palate the best!

Beverages

Coffee Creamer And Sugar

Low Carb Protein Shakes or Ready to Drink Shakes (Labrada, Muscle Milk Light, or Pure Pro)
Soymilk or Almond Milk (I like SoySlender or Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk)
Stevia, Splenda, or Equal
Flavored Sugar Free Coffee Syrups

Juice And Sugary Drinks

Crystal light
No Sugar Added Light Juice
Juice your own fruit juices from fresh fruit

Pop

Diet Pop
Crystal light mixed with Carbonated Seltzer water

Whole Or 2% milk

Skim Milk
Soy or Almond Milk

Alcohol

Limit at all costs because it's the #1 factor in gaining weight and belly fat

Condiments

Butter
Fat Free Promise Butter
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray
Molly McButter
For Baking replace butter in recipes with fat free yogurt, fat free sour cream, sugar free applesauce, shredded zucchini or carrots, or pureed dates or figs
Use Pam non stick cooking spray for sautée, grilling or pan frying

Salad Dressing

Fat free dressings but beware of hidden fructose corn syrup (check the ingredient list on the nutrition label)
Make your own dressing by mixing flax seed oil, Mrs Dash or other herbs, peppers, onions etc. and balsamic vinegar (my favorite is the Golden Balsamic Vinegar as it is sweeter)
Mustard with splenda and a little water to make a virtually fat free low cal honey mustard dressing
Salsa or lemon wedges
Top your salad with fat free cottage cheese

Toppings, Seasonings And Marinades

Fat Free Ranch dressing on potatoes
Fat free sour cream, cream cheese or yogurt
Salsa
Balsamic Vinegar
Mrs Dash Seasonings and Marinades
•Sugar Free Maple Syrup
Walden Farm Products

Dining Out:

When dinning out or eating at friends' houses, don't be afraid to quiz the server or your host/hostess on how the food was prepared. Shy away from terms on the menu like sautéed, creamed, fried, breaded, drizzled, etc and ask for all sauces to come on the side.
Make smart decisions and when in doubt order a salad loaded with lots of veggies with a clean source of protein such as chicken, steak or salmon. Order your salad dressings on the side and dip the fork in the dressing and eat with the salad instead of drenching the salad with unnecessary calories.

The Lesser Evil?

When making choices regarding nutrition and meal planning, think and ask yourself, "What is the lesser evil?"

My suggestion to you is to take a trip to the grocery store and compare similar products so that you can get an idea of which ones are the better choices-- this is what I do with my clients. They literally get a lesson in nutrition and what to look for at the grocery store because I want them to know that there are healthier options out there that don't taste like cardboard!

You want to choose the lowest sugar, least processed, low sodium products and try them. See what healthy options taste good they do not all taste great but experiment to see which ones will work for you!

Making any modifications or changes in your diet is never easy! I suggest that you start out slow and make a few small changes every week to prevent from becoming overwhelmed and giving in. You almost have to retrain your taste buds to crave the natural flavor of food.

When was the last time you ate a vegetable that wasn't doused in butter, cheese, salt or salad dressing? Just remember that all of the little additions to our food add up into a bunch of unnecessary calories. It is the little things like putting sauces and dressings on the side and dipping your fork into it for a little taste and weighing and measuring food to be sure of the food portions that are being consumed, that can make a huge difference in your ability to lose weight.

Conclusion

By shaving off a few calories here and there, being aware of portion sizes, and choosing whole unprocessed foods, you will in turn be saving hundreds of calories which will result in losing those unwanted lbs!

Hopefully this article gives a few basic ideas to get started but remember, no nutrition plan will work without you the participant, to be consistent and dedicated to see it through.

The Mean Girls Biggest Loser - Week 1

2008-01-07T13:19:00.000-05:00

Here it is. The week we have all dreaded. The initial weigh-in.

Now, I know some of you have had some major trepidation about revealing your weight to us and to the internets, but I just want to reiterate that this is NOT an exercise in humiliation. This is motivation in its simplest form. The fact is that we all have unhealthy eating habits, and what better way than for us to encourage each other to reach our goals. While we may all reap the benefit of slimmer and trimmer bodies and one of us will be The Biggest Loser, the best thing that will happen is that we all be healthier and happier.

Plus, if you need more motivation, according to Rena Wing, PhD, who is a professor of psychiatry at Brown Medical School, people who regularly participate in a weight loss group can expect to lose an average of 10 percent of their body weight during the first six months in the group. How's that for a goal?

We're all in this together, and if you feel you need some support or advice, some of us have been working out and dieting for a while, and we'll be more than happy to share in our knowledge. So ask away, and I'll also be posting tips and stuff here on the blog. So, check back even if it is not a weigh-in day.

So without further ado (in alphabetical alias order):

Athena - 208
Blanche - 161
Brooklyn - 145
FitnessNerd - 220
Maestro - 231
Mom - 198
Romeo - 192
Xena - 147

Now, let us make a pact that we're only going to go down from here, and that we'll make an effort to never see these numbers again!

The Mean Girls Biggest Loser

2008-01-02T07:54:00.000-05:00

New Year, New Waistline!

While it is pretty predictable that we always make resolutions about our weight, this year, we are going to have a little more added incentive. The first (and with luck last) Mean Girls Biggest Loser! This will be a modified version of the television show, but if you have ever watched that show, then you're going to know pretty much everything you need to know. I will be collecting $10 from everyone, and in July, the cash will be given to the person who has lost the largest percentage of their body weight.

The Dates: January 7 - June 30, 2008 (Monday - Monday, 176 Days). Obviously, all of us have different goals and amounts. The reason for the length of time is not only to give those of us with more to lose the opportunity to achieve our goals, but it is also to prove that we can sustain the positive changes we are making. The goal here is not to starve yourself until you reach your weight, and then just start back up with the bad habits. We are not dieting. We are shooting for a lifestyle change!
The Weigh-In: Your initial weight will be due by the morning of Monday, January 7th, and the first official weigh in will be January 16 and every Wednesday after that until June 25, with the final weigh-in due on June 30th. The winner will be announced on the Mean Girls Blog on July 1st. All weights and subsequent weight loss totals and percentages will be posted on the blog. The point here is not to feel embarrassed about your weight. After all, ignoring the problem will not make it go away. We are doing this as a group to give each other support and to provide healthy competition.
The Process: We are operating on the honor system for weigh-ins. So, please be honest. While obviously, the money is a good thing, the real reason for doing this is to lose the weight and keep it off. You will only be cheating yourself. You can text or email me your weight, and I will do the rest of the posting.

Finally, I want to encourage everyone to get a free membership at Fit Day, which is a diet and weight loss journal. It provides an easy way to record your diet and exercise. One of the best ways to figure out your path is to look at what you eat (again, no cheating or selective recording). I think everyone will be pretty shocked at their caloric, fat, and carb intake, and this is good way to find out. They have a lot of foods in a database already so all you need to do is search for them, or you can do like I have done and create custom foods. All you need is the nutritional information. Another tool for you is the Diet Facts website. They have compiled a listing of nutritional information for a lot of fast food establishments out there. Trust me, it is probably a lot worse than you thought!

If you have any questions, either email me or post a comment so that everyone can see them.

Good Luck!

Drunk, (not so) Str8 Men

2007-12-08T14:46:00.000-05:00

Seriously...what is it about being in a room of gay men that makes str8 men either a) crawl into their own ass in an attempt to disappear; or b) crawl into everyone else's ass in an attempt to prove that they're not only okay with gay men, but almost ready to embrace "We Are Family" as their new anthem, erect a Pride flag in their front lawn and invest in a butt plug?

So if you've read the blogs of the other Mean Girls, you know that we attended a party at J&J's house. The party is their annual White Elephant Gift Exchange. I got a yard-long, 1/4 pound piece of beef jerky and J1's grandmother's poker chip set. Courtesy of FitnessNerd. Ass Face. I thought we were friends?

The party was once again, a rounded mix of gay, str8, lesbian, married, single, black, Asian, Indian (dot, not feather) and Blanche. They provided some punch made of what, I'm not sure, but I think there was orange juice. When I poured myself a cup and went to take a drink, I noticed a hair in my cup. It wasn't mine. I'm not even sure it was human, but it curbed my desire to drink said punch. Luckily, I stopped along the way to J&J's to pick up a bottle of Bacardi Limon for FitnessNerd and me (and anyone else for that matter, I suppose). So I filled a styrofoam poinsettia cup half full with Limon, dropped in some ice and in the remaining space dribbled some Diet Coke. I was now ready to face the party.

I had met most of the attendees at last year's WEGE or at other parties throughout the year, so I was mostly comfortable mingling and chatting here and there, but there were a few newbies including a str8 guy. He kind of reminded me of someone but I can't quite put my finger on who...actually, I know who it is...he was in Steven King's "DreamCatchers" and is in some series on some station now. Anyway, when he started drinking it was all over.

The conversation in the smoker's lounge started out about tits and his love of tits and his desire to play with tits. An hour later I hear him say, "someone should have wrapped up a dildo and brought it for the WEGE." I did a double take, but you know, anymore nothing fazes me. I got kissed by a str8 guy at a Halloween party this year. I got a phone number from a m/f swinger couple at the Old Oaken Bucket Game. Nothing fazes me. I just wonder what it is in the combination of alcohol, gay men and parties that helps men lower their inhibitions and admit either discreetly or overtly that they're comfortable with the idea of being with another man. Am I the only one this happens to?

As the night went on, I did my best to avoid getting too close to the drunk, str8, anal-penetration curious guy, but at one point he did wind up with his arm around me telling me that I was really cool. I appreciate that. It was my warm fuzzy of the night. Then FitnessNerd told me that he hates one of the songs I've chosen for the show tomorrow night. Now I've decided to perform to "Favorite Things," by Julie What's-Her-Face as Maria-What's-Her-Face from "Sound of Music." It's cute, it's lilting, it's affirming. It'll go well with my fuck me boots.

Honesty among friends.

2007-12-05T15:20:00.000-05:00

In the previous post by Romeo he pleads for honesty from friends. Now with most of my friends I would say sure constructive critique would be great. However looking at this group and giving the green light on honest commentary, I could feel Alain turning to me with a wicked grin.

Let us examine a few instances that we could distinguish between constructive criticism and brutal honesty.

Example 1. Do I look fat in this?

Choice A. Lie, say something comforting like "No, of course not, you would have to be fat for that to occur and you are not fat. You have never been close to fat you are as thin as a bulimic." Ok that was a bit overboard maybe you should just stop at "No" and leave it at that.

Choice B. Steer away from the fact that they look fat and convince them they should change for other reasons. "You don't look fat but you look like a whore." This could backfire because maybe they want to look like a whore.

Choice C. Honesty "Yes you look like a heifer take that off. What were you thinking trying to fit into something 3 sizes too small. This isn't high school anymore. Oh and you look like a whore." Ok this is where things can go awry. Though all of those things may be true it may lead to hurt feelings and less Christmas party invites.

Choice D. Honesty, but be nice. "Hmm put on the other outfit and let me see if I like that one better, I am not convinced about this one." This is a great way to help a friend out without hurt feelings. They may not be fat but we all know some things make us look worse or better than we really do and that is what friends are here for to help us make the right decisions.

Choice D here is the best option it's helpful, it's kind and it's better than just walking away which is a whole other message we would be sending. Of course don't forget to follow all that up with "That outfit doesn't make you look fat, but those shoes make you look like a whore." What? I'm not Mother Theresa here.

Incidentally, you look fat...

2007-12-05T12:12:00.000-05:00

only 4 days left before Blanche and I make our debut.

In past Bag Lady shows, we've seen some good and some really, really bad performances. I'll be happy to be somewhere right in the middle. After the last show, however, I implore you to be honest with me when I'm there in paint and dress. If I have too much back fat, TELL ME!!

As much as we shit-talked one performer in particular, do NOT let me go through that from total strangers. You know I'd rather hear it from you. I do NOT want to walk around with back boobs hanging over my bra straps. He may have tried to play it off like they were just prominent shoulderblades (think Knightley, Olsen or Ritchie), but if they were, those were some super jiggly scapulae. I would personally rather not embarrass myself or any of you for that matter, so just let me know.

You've made me a big, mean girl...I can take it.

The Origin of the Karaoke Species - A Scientific Study

2007-12-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

Since the inspiration for the title of this blog is the fact that we, as a group, stand under the stairs to watch karaoke on Tuesday nights, it is only fitting that my first post will be about karaoke.

Before I rant, I would like to explain some things about good karaoke. For me, there are actually two different species of good karaoke artists. The most obvious species is someone with vocal talent wowing us with their prowess (Karaokus Regina). I give these people a lot of leeway with their song choice because even if they decide to sing a Viking Funeral Dirge, they are still going to raise the roof. The other species is someone who is not so good but is in on the joke (Karaokus Tonus Sarcasticus). They typically pick songs with crowd participation which will mask their inadequacies (i.e. I fall into this category, which is why I always sing Cher's Dark Lady *clap*clap*). However, when karaoke truly goes bad is when someone exhibits either of these species traits with enough ego and hubris to make Dick Cheney blush.

This subspecies of karaoke singer falls into the genetic dead end known as Karaoke Masturbation (Karaokus Masturbatorio). In other words, these individuals use their talents (or lack thereof) for their own self gratification. Karaokus Regina Masturbatorio is the most heinous example of bad karaoke. Even though they could pick almost any song in the book, they choose to sing the songs that are only going to inflate their egos further. You know what songs I am talking about: Oleta Adam's Get Here, the Sarah McLachlan songbook (Building a Mystery and Angel), Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, the entire Josh Groban oeuvre, anything by Mariah Carey (pre-hip hop hoochie makeover), and Celine Dion (specifically My Heart Will Go On and All By Myself). Of course, this species can sing these songs very well, but because their ego is getting in the way, they are blind to the fact that they are making the audience slit their collective wrists.

One step up from the previous species is Karaokus Tonus Deaficus Masturbatorio. These poor souls cannot carry a tune in a dump truck, but for some unknown reason, they are compelled to bring their, uh, talents to the karaoke stage. In all cases, they are unaware of how truly horrendous they are because they obviously either have no (honest) friends or the superb acoustics in their cars and showers have tricked their aural senses. Sometimes these people can be seen auditioning for American Idol. The only reason this species is a step up from Karaokus Regina Masturbatorio is the ample opportunity they provide for mocking by the Mean Girls Under the Stairs.

Karaoke is supposed to be fun, and the traits exhibited by Karaokus Masturbatorio threaten the enjoyment of everyone. When you see this species in the wild, please refrain from provoking them, and if a member of your clan is one, please, be a friend and discourage them!

Good Idea, Bad Idea

2007-12-03T20:26:00.000-05:00

Good Idea: $1.50 drinks

Bad Idea: $1.50 drinks on a night I have to work the next day.

Drunkenness may be all fun and games until it's 3am and you wish you could just vomit your intestines out and start over before your alarm goes off in 3 hours. The only thing better than waiting for the sweet release of death was the fun of really bad high school jazz band. Wait it gets better, really bad high school jazz band at 6:50am.

The next time Romeo and Alain say let's drink more on a Sunday night I should just say no. Nancy where are you when I need you? I knew I was in trouble when the rum and coke came to me looking like a weak tea. You know me I enjoy a strong drink but I was so not prepared for that.

I so need a job that starts later in the day, you know like noon.

Coming Soon

2007-11-15T15:24:00.001-05:00

This will be a collective blog of a group of friends in Indianapolis.

More to come!