Want to go to the Ellie Goulding Concert? Who is that? I scored two free tickets? When and where I’m there! 

That’s how Friday evening started out. My friend Donna g-chatted me at work asking me to go to the Ellie Goulding concert with her. My music selection is pretty versatile and I’m horrible at remembered artist names. Like awful. I can literally listen to a whole album of someone’s online and then when asked about if I like their music totally blank on who they are. It’s not that I don’t appreciate their talent. It’s just that I really just care about what is pleasing to my ears and well, names fall below the actual music. Anyways, I was stumped by Ellie Goulding. After looking her up on Facebook and seeing she had over a million Facebook fans I realized this is definitely someone I should check out. Besides, I rarely turn down free events! 

So Donna and I headed downtown to the venue called Terminal 5. We got caught in a downpour on our way down, but made it in only semi-drenched.

The venue was pretty cool! It was 3 stories, the bottom being standing room in front of the stage and then 2 balconies with bar stools, couches, and chairs upstairs. Donna and I ended up going to the third floor because we got a pretty great spot near the stage. Plus we didn’t feel like fighting the crowd down below. 

Being at a concert that I didn’t really know the artist I didn’t really know what to expect. The opening band was two Australian DJs called Bag Raiders. At first Donna and I both laughed at the name, but they ended up being really awesome! They sang and played the drums, cowbell, and keyboard while spinning too. It was definitely unlike anything I’d seen before. They played for near an hour before Ellie headed out on the stage. It turns out she’s actually pretty big in Europe. She was fantastic though! Kind of a mix of a little rock edge to more low-key music. Sara Haze meets Imogen Heap meets Paramore? That is kind of how I would describe it. 

It was such a great time. We ended up meeting one of the guys from Bag Raiders on our way out of the concert too, which I might add we were the absolute last people to leave. Lesson to learn? Always accept free concert tickets! You never know when you’ll find one of your new favorite artists! 

Daily dose of my “Subway Mixing” playlist

Today’s preview, Sara Evans- “Anywhere”

We all know (or have at least probably heard) that if there is one thing New York does right it is bagels. Some people say it is because of the water here, which I don’t think it all that great, but regardless of why New York bagels are so good, the fact holds true. Where do donut kind of people get their fixes though? I tried Dunkin Donuts for the first time last weekend and the frozen hot chocolate was delicious, but the donuts.. weren’t. After working at Safeway for 5 years and then living in Portland with Voodoo I know a good donut when I taste it.

That was the goal of today’s mission. Find a delicious donut in this city! Not just a, “ehh it was okay” but a “dang that was GOOD!” There has to be somewhere in this city right? That was what I was hoping anyways. After doing a little research online I had found the place (with Chris’ help) that might be a winner called Doughnut Plant in Chelsea, and so we were off!

After walking in I was already impressed. They had donut shaped pillows on the wall, a great selection of donuts lined up in the window and a great line up of tvs displaying their donuts. 

All of the names of the donuts sounded delicious, carrot cake donut, peanut butter glazed jelly filled, and oatmeal cake donuts. What’s in a name though? The true test is how they taste! So did they pass the taste test?

I can happily answer yes! I tried the carrot cake donut first and I’m happy to say I was impressed. Chris and I split a fresh blueberry donut after and that one was great as well. I also ordered a strawberry lemonade to drink down and it was a great decision I must say. One of the best I’ve had in a long time.

Mission donut was a success, thankfully! Can’t wait to enjoy the rest of them this evening, and possibly tomorrow morning :)