Nathan's Small Delights: SD_005

Ayup, what’s good?

June is a wrap & to say it has left me underwhelmed would be an understatement. I have said it once & I will say it again - this is not the dystopian future I was promised as a young lad. It’s bleak out there, but here are a few things that have kept me feeling less bleak. Let’s go!

The Delights

Around mid-June, I took a 4-day jaunt to Las Vegas with my bestie. It was my first time out there & it was a pretty fascinating place. First off, the desert is beautiful. The trip from the airport into the city allowed me to catch a glimpse of a gorgeous mountain - it made me do the thing where you reach your hand out and mumble under your breath, “what a gorgeous mountain”. That is the extent of my experience with the natural beauty of Las Vegas. The city proper lived up to my expectations. I lost some loot playing cards (I am so, so bad at Blackjack), gained some loot at the slots, caught a Cirque du Soleil show, & ate a meal that I had an emotional response to (it was so good that I almost cried). All in all, it was an A+ trip.

A quick aside about hamburgers.

One of the great things about living in Austin is that you are never more than a stone’s throw away from a great burger. Yesterday I popped into Yellow Ranger with a colleague after punching out & I have not stopped thinking about how amazing it was. It’s called the Burger Tex & it is hands-down one of the best burgers in town (maybe even THE best). Next time you find yourself in the North Loop area, pop in & treat yourself!

With the arrival of the June Solstice, I am pleased to once again be able to bleat relentlessly to the world about one of the great joys in my life - PLUMCOTS! That’s right baby, drupes are back on the menu! I've been obsessed with this stone fruit for the past 10 or so years. I can close my eyes & vividly remember the first time I put my hands on one of these vessels of flavor. That first bite was probably the closest I have ever come to having a religious experience in my entire adult existence.

For the uninitiated - a plumcot is a 50/50 hybrid between a plum & an apricot. The name changes as the blend shifts closer to each fruit, but none of that is important because the plumcot is the superior blend. I know that is a bold statement & I 100% will stand by it. Here is a notable quote from the Family Tree Farms site about my favorite fruit…

“Plumcots are an exceptional fruit.”

I have never seen another fruit be spoken of on a website with such reverence. There’s also a very tasty-looking recipe (that I have not tried) for a Plumcot Farro Salad. I like farro & I also enjoy salad, so that checks a lot of boxes for me. So there you have it. My name is Nathan Stewart & I love plumcots!

What a delight!

Vinyl Jockey on the web

With all of the records boxed up, there has been no opportunity to record any new mixes. Instead, I have been chipping away at old & new production projects. On deck right now is a acidy, breakbeat kind of tune called Everyone There Is Not Here. This has been swimming around as a loop idea for 8 or so months. I’ve finally busted it out of the loop phase & have it simmering in this “almost finished but needs some tweaks still” state. Give it a whirl while you are feasting on a bowl of plumcots.

Vinyl Jockey in the wild

I’m making a few appearances in the wild this month. Long-time friend & incredibly talented DJ/Producer Cuillère (aka Spoon) has invited me to join him at The Violet Crown on 07/12. He’s been on a bit of a record buying frenzy, so I am excited to hear what’s in his bag. If you are in the Crestview area (or just want to come hear some great music), then swing through for a glass of wine & thick vibes.

Speaking of vibes… the Vibe Artisan Markets are back at Distribution Hall (what a great name!) on 07/26 & 07/27, which means another rambunctious weekend slinging wax with San Antonio selector Rick Lara. We played the Spring Vibe market back in March & it was a blast - a certified treat, if you will! I’m digging deep in the collection for this, so shoot through & catch some choice tunes while browsing the local artisans' creations.

That’s a wrap for now!

-Nathan Stewart