Pop Quiz: I Know What I Did This Summer…

What would a healthy run of good summer filler be without a check-in to see what, if anything, your favorite CtB writers think about, dream of, yearn for and… well, consume heaping portions of when they’re not hard at work covering your Cleveland Cavaliers?

We may not be riding banana boats with fellow NBA stars and their celebrity wives (or maybe we are) but that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to kick back and enjoy ourselves some off-season too.

So, without further ado…

1.) What have you been listening to this summer?

Mallory: So, so much.  Robert and I (along with our female counterparts, and some friends) checked out Glass Animals this past weekend – awesomeeee live. More Courtney Barnett, Speedy Ortiz, FIDLAR, and Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear!

Ben: I’m going to lie a bit for the sake of promoting the Dutch band, Gosto. I first saw them in 2014 at a festival in Haarlem, Netherlands(Even old New York was once New Amsterdam). They have blown up a bit in Holland over the last year. Great musicianship… And Giuseppe Giacomini. Always Bepi. “Sangue!!!!”

Evil Genius: All kinds of stuff, but three things stick out… Love the full-length Wolf Alice album, My Love Is Cool, that came out in June, devouring each new song that Metric releases from their upcoming Pagans In Vegas, and of course going back and listening to all my N.W.A. cds in anticipation of Straight Outta Compton this Friday. Speaking of… I gotta check the new Dre album he dropped this week as well…

Cory: I’ve been off the grid with music for years. All I listen to is podcasts. My favorites are Stuff You Should Know, The Lowe Post, Bill Burr’s MondayMorning Podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, and of course CAVS:TheBlog Podcast.

David: The past two days I’ve been digesting the new Dr. Dre album. And, like most of Dre’s stuff, he isn’t the best rapper on it. Kendrick Lamar is and, coincidentally, I’m loving on To Pimp A Butterfly. It’s the best concept rap album in a long time. I’m also listening to the new Meek Mill, Dreams Worth More Than Money. Drake has murdered Meek though, so that album is no longer relevant.

Nate: Wilco’s new album Star Wars was a pleasant surprise. It’s an unexpected turn towards industrial sound, and despite some critical detractors, it works better than anything since A Ghost is Born. Got hooked on NPR’s Serial podcast for a while. Jason Isbell’s Something More than Free is the best album I’ve heard this year. And this is the best song in the world right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3ZRZFwTXOA

Robert: I’ve been listening to J. Roddy Walston and The Business’s new album Essential Tremors on a loop for two weeks straight.

2.) Did you go on a memorable trip or attend a stand-out event this summer?

Mallory: This is a tough one – I basically don’t stop moving.  Ever.  Countless concerts, festivals, trips, etc.

More about this in a bit, but the girlfriend and I went to Newport Folk Fest one weekend, and the next Hinterland Music Festival in Des Moines, IA.  Both were incredible and special in their own ways.  If you can double up, DO IT!.

Ben: To be honest, my most exciting trip was coming back home for Game Four of the Finals. Other than that, I live in Germany. I’m good.

EG: Took Mrs. Genius and the kids up to Big Bear Lake for a week, which was an awesome getaway, then followed it up with two Tribe games out in Anaheim with my son…

Cory: Sadly no. This definitely isn’t the summer of Cory. I do go to Cedar Point every week though.

David: I’m in Vegas right now with my amazing girlfriend. We’re going to the Britney Spears show tonight, and she is assuring me my mind is about to be blown to smithereens.

Nate: In the midst of a two week trip to the west coast of Michigan, one of my favorite places in the world. Think of how gorgeous oceanic white sand beaches are, and then take away the smell of salt and rotting fish. Oh, and there’s about 20 awesome breweries within an hour’s drive.

That’s me in the middle in gold, repping pale legs and a Delly jersey.

Robert: I got to spend a week with my wife and family cruising around the British Virgin Islands on a four-cabin cruiser captained by my sister and brother-in-law. So, you know, maybe there was a banana boat ride in there somewhere. I’m not at liberty to say.

3.) What film or TV show have you really enjoyed this summer?

Mallory: Mad Max was effing incredible.  That’s, unfortunately, all I’ve had time to see in theaters.  On TV, it’s allllll about everything on TV Land.  Seriously – Impastor is great.

Ben:  I just watched both True Detective seasons. Unlike a lot of people, I totally enjoyed the second season in addition to the great first season. If people were to stop comparing the two, season two would have better reviews. Penny Dreadful is also completely silly and fun.

EG: Favorite film of the summer (so far) is Me, Earl & The Dying Girl, although I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m going to dig Straight Outta Compton too… Favorite TV show of the summer, hands down, is Mr. Robot. Awesome, addictive show…

Cory: Forcing people to watch the second season of True Detective should replace water boarding at Guantanamo Bay.

David: I’m really into TV shows that push my ability to forget they’re completely ridiculous. Thankfully, True Detective Season 2 is fulfilling that need perfectly (I’ve never seen True Detective Season 1, and appreciate this season for what it is). It’s the best insane show since Homeland Season 1.

Nate: It’s a popcorn summer: Jurrassic World, Avengers sequel, Mad Max: Fury Road, Aunt Man… On TV: HBO’s The Brink and USA’s incomparable Mr. Robot.

Robert: I saw Trainwreck and thought that Amy Schumer was fantastic (and, yes, so was LeBron). On the tube, I finally finished Mad Men a couple weeks ago and have been catching up on the second season of AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire (recommend) and the first season of Bojack Horseman on Netflix.

4.) What have you been eating this summer?

Mallory: Oysters in Rhode Island, corn in Iowa, and BBQ in Kansas City.  I need a diet.

Ben: Same old. When the gf is here, a million different kinds of cheeses and bread. When I’m on my own, pounds of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and gelato.

EG: Way too much barbecue! Gonna have to mix in some salads soon…

Cory: I’ve also started pickling things so that I don’t become a complete drunk. It’s super easy. Just finished a batch of Old Bay pickled green tomatoes that were on point.

David: Nate’s Deli. Rally’s. Old Fashion Hot Dogs on Lorain Ave. Vegas buffets. I’m on a Cleveland/Vegas vacation this week, and I’m going to get some type of fat related disease any way possible. My dream is to be asked to leave a Vegas buffet because I’m beating the price point. It will happen some day.

Nate: Did I mention that some of the restaurant’s around West Michigan are world class? Check out my food porn: curry cocoanut musssels from The Brew House in Grand Haven MI.

Robert: I’ve been making a lot of Bocadillo de Tortilla, which is Tortilla Espanola on a baguette (essentially, a frittata sandwich). I through a lot more vegetables in the Tortilla than is traditional, but they’re great for breakfast or a packed/picnic lunch since it’s the only egg-based dish I can think of that is traditionally served room temperature. And it’s an excuse to buy baguettes from the french bakery that opened up on the ground floor of our apartment building.

5.) What have you been drinking this summer?

Mallory: So the best part about traveling so much, beyond seeing incredible music and eating amazing food, is that I got to drink the best of every state.  Rhode Island was a little MEH, but Massachusetts, where we quickly drove post-fest, had some amazing beer.  Wormtown, in Worchester, MA, was AWESOME.  Plus that city has TWO bars that have 4-5 Hill Farmsteads on tap  at all times.  WHATTTT.

In Des Moines, I bought a TON of Toppling Goliath.  Good stuff.  Exile was also mind-blowingly good.  Des Moines has some fantastic beer, really.

Ben: Bier. Some scotch. I don’t complicate my spirits.

EG: Haven’t been drinking much, but a friend got me two six-pack bottles of Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout for my birthday, so I’ve been nursing those over the last few weeks…

Cory: The usual suspects. Mass quantities of IPAs and the occasional Irish Whiskey cleanse to reboot my system.

David: Light beers. North Carolina is the hottest and most miserable place I’ve lived. It’s been 90+ degrees and 90% humidity for a straight month. A stomach full of full-strength IPAS is asking to lay on the ground wishing for winter’s arrival.

Nate: West Michigan beer: Founder’s All-Day IPA, Brewery Vivant’s Big Red Coq, Marshall Brewing Co.’s Scary Rock-and-Roll Jesus , and my favorite, a mix of Short’s Brewing Company’s Deacon Blues Belgian Pale and Twist of Cain Black Lager. The mix is called a Steely Danzig.

Robert: As with any season, I like to think I enjoy all of God’s liquors. But, more so in summer, I like gin and its many different combinations and I’ve taken a liking to the Peak Organic Summer Session: nice, light and multi-drinkable at just 5%.

6.) What are you reading?

Mallory: I pretty much solely read non-fiction.  In the past it was typically history books, but the last few years have seen me drifting more and more into political non-fiction.  Recently, I’ve been reading Mark Levin’s Plunder and Deceit.  But truth be told, it’s rare I have time to read.

Ben: Horrifically, I am intermittently turning a page of Angels and Demons in German. No, the translation isn’t any better than Mr. Brown’s work, but I need something mindless and simple to practice my German. The twenty second chapters help my digestion.

EG: On a sci-fi bent lately. Just finished Brandon Sanderson’s Firefight. Neil Gaiman’s Trigger Warning anthology is next…

David: I’m reading Brief Interview with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace. Nate, watch out. I’m going to have lots of run on sentences about my opinions on females in my coming articles.

Nate: Clearing out my unread shelf with The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Then catching up with CtB alum @patrickredford and his awesome series on Vice Sports, Azerbaijan on Two Wheels, which details his adventures with the Airgas-Safeway cycling team in the Tour of Azerbaijan.

Robert: Right now, I’m tackling all 747 pages of David Halberstam’s The Reckoning about the fall of the Detroit auto industry in the 1970s/80s. I know it doesn’t sound like fun, but my friend recommended it to me saying, “You’d never guess anyone could make a page-turner out of the history of the auto industry” and he was totally right. But, if you’re a hoops fan and haven’t read The Breaks of the Game, Halberstam’s excellent book about the 1978-79 Portland Trailblazers, start there. He’s pretty amazing writing about anything, though.

7.) What, if anything, has taken the lion’s share of the attention you normally pay to Cavaliers basketball?

Mallory: All of the above.  I seriously cannot wait for summer to end.  That sounds so jaded and absurd, but I’m actually exhausted.  And tonight (or last night, since this will likely get posted later), I’m seeing Toto and YES.  Again, who whines about seeing amazing music for free?  Me.  That’s who.

Ben: Crippling self-doubt?

EG: Work mostly, although I have been watching lots of baseball with my son and also some golf lately with the rise of Jordan Speith…

Cory: I still waste at least 10 minutes a day googling Tristan Thompson’s name to see if there’s been any progress in his contract talks. He’s probably my favorite Cav, but I’ve fired up the trade machine more than once. At this point I’m fine with the Cavs holding firm at an identical deal that Draymond Green received (5-years, $85 million). It’s more than a fair offer. If he signs the qualifying offer, see if the Suns will deal Markieff Morris for him.

David: I’m working on a screenplay titled Interview With a Dishwasher. I’ve been riding fixed gear more too enjoying the thrills of riding in rush hour traffic on the way to work.

Nate: Ranting about my loathing of the entire enterprise of the NFL. From the idiotic deflategate to not letting Seau’s daughter speak at her father’s induction, the whole league has become a heavy-handed exercise that represents much of what’s wrong with America. That, and worrying about cybersecurity.

Robert: Either spending time on my other writing projects or thinking about how much less I enjoy every sport other than basketball.