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Date Night in Baldwinsville, New York & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #133

July 30, 2019 / 46 Comments
band tee, kimono, festival style, platform sandals, denim shorts, fashion over 40
This is not a sponsored post.

Jeff and I haven’t had a date night since our anniversary in January. And the stars seemed to align perfectly when I received an email from Bandsintown early last week informing me that Yonder Mountain String Band was playing in Baldwinsville, New York, on Saturday night. The in-laws were in town so we didn’t need to scramble for a babysitter and everything was super easy from a planning perspective. That, in and of itself, is a blessing. So we grabbed hold of the opportunity and headed out Saturday afternoon for the one and a half hour drive south for dinner and a concert.

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date night selfie

Neither of us have ever been to Baldwinsville and we were in for quite a treat. It is a small village (3.2 square miles) situated on the Seneca River in Onondaga County with a population of less than 7,500. The river runs directly through it and forms a section of the Erie Canal. The quaint streets are lined with inviting restaurants and charming store fronts. We didn’t have much time for strolling and shopping, but we did have the most amazing dinner at Dani’s Dessert and Wine Bar.

tapas bar, restaurant
Dani’s Dessert and Wine Bar
tapas bar, restaurant
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Photos from the dining patio

We are always up for tapas when we see that it is a restaurant’s style of dining. The smaller portions allow for us to try a larger variety of dishes. Yet, we still had trouble narrowing down our choices. We finally decided on the Garlic Parmesan Risotto Balls, Bacon Wrapped Dates, and the Black and Blue Flatbread. All of it was absolutely phenomenal, but the Bacon Wrapped Dates require all sorts of sexual analogies. Words like orgasmic and euphoric came to mind the moment the first bite passed my lips. The flavors were sort of like a romantic autumn encounter, the sort that daydreams are made of, that ends in sexual bliss. The serving was small and we each only enjoyed a few bites, but the experience was so intense that a few bites really was all we needed. I don’t know that my emotions could have handled much more than that.

food, tapas, restaurant
menu, tapas menu, food, restaurant
tapas bar, restaurant
band tee, kimono, festival style, platform sandals, denim shorts, fashion over 40
More photos from the dining patio

We ended this scrumptious meal with crème brûlée, a chocolate truffle, and chocolate raspberry cake. We had a great chuckle when our server, Sean, delivered the desserts to the table. Jeff looked at him with eyes agape at the size of the chocolate raspberry cake and stated, “I could have used a warning about the size of this thing.” To which Sean matter-of-factly replied, “Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that our desserts are not tapas sized.” You think?! It was so rich and delicious, but we could not finish it. And that is a damn shame. In any event, if you ever find yourself in Baldwinsville, New York, I highly recommend this dining establishment. You will not be disappointed. But you have been forewarned that the desserts are not tapas sized!

tapas bar, restaurant
The Outdoor Dining Area and Inside Dani’s
band tee, kimono, festival style, platform sandals, denim shorts, fashion over 40
Wearing my Fireside Collective tee shirt to see Yonder Mountain because why not?

With full bellies and tipsy heads, we headed on down the road to the Bud Light Amphitheater on Paper Mill Island. This outdoor concert venue is really quite impressive. Located on an island in the Seneca River, we had to park out in the town and walk across a bridge to get to the venue. (Note: I did not wear walking shoes. Or dancing shoes, for that matter. The shoes were removed fairly early and I embraced the status of barefoot hippie for the remainder of the night.) You are surrounded by water on all sides and there is a giant grassy area for setting up blankets and chairs. The stage is visible from the entire area, however, we took up residence front and center near the stage as soon as the show commenced. And there we remained dancing our butts off for the duration of the concert.

amphitheater, concert venue
Bud Light Amphitheater at Paper Mill Island
band tee, kimono, festival style, platform sandals, denim shorts, fashion over 40
band tee, kimono, festival style, platform sandals, denim shorts, fashion over 40

So you know I have been enjoying a Bluegrass Summer. And now adding to my list of favorite Bluegrass bands is Yonder Mountain String Band. Hailing from Colorado, they hit the progressive Bluegrass scene over 20 years ago and after five studio albums and countless music festivals and concerts, they are still going strong as ever. And understandably so. They bring a chemistry to the stage that most bands can only hope for, the kind that draws you in and wraps you up and takes you on a great enchanted ride into a musical wonderland.

Yonder Mountain, merch table, band tee, kimono, festival style, platform sandals, denim shorts, fashion over 40
The Yonder Mountain Merch guy, Nathan, was the coolest cat there!

While their musical talents are fierce and undeniable and their songs make dancing come easy, there was this other thing that happened that I am not really sure how to describe. In fact, I don’t know even know if others witnessed it because they were just lost in the music. But at a few points during the show, I was kind of halted in my tracks and started paying really close attention to the unspoken communications among the band members. I felt like I was watching something that maybe I wasn’t supposed to be. Like this secret mystery language was being revealed to me and I didn’t obtain the proper clearances. But that made me pay even closer attention.

Yonder Mountain, summer concert

Every now and then, each one of them would glance out over the roaring crowd and they would get this look of humble gratitude on their faces that was so pure and authentic that it made me nearly weep. Then they would look to one another as if to say, “Hey. Are you seeing this? Are you seeing what we are doing? Are you seeing the joy and happiness that we are creating for hundreds of people merely by doing what we love to do?” And there was nothing arrogant in it, nothing prideful or pompous. It was genuine humility, grace, and thankfulness. And it was utterly bewitching to witness. Beautiful and sublime, spiritual and moving, even beyond the music that they create. It actually moves me to tears just attempting to describe the phenomenon with mere mortal words. Because what they were doing was so completely immortal.

Yonder Mountain, summer concert

I must leave you with these words about fiddler, Allie Kral. Never in my life have I ever seen such an incredible example of a badass woman. Holy shit. Curse words are in order. She is fucking phenomenal. When she sings, her vocals carry out into the audience, grab you by the neck, and demand that you pay attention. And when you pay attention, you realize that you are bearing witness to greatness. And then…as if that isn’t enough, she gets tearing into a fiddle solo and you feel like you may never come down from the heavens again. Pardon yet another sex analogy, but it is kind of like this…her solo begins and you are aroused in mind, body, and soul. But she teases you a little, then she lifts you higher and gets you even more excited. And higher still until you are not really sure what to do, so you stop dancing and you stand frozen and mesmerized wondering how in the hell she is doing what it is that she is doing. She reaches her peak at the exact same moment that you reach yours and she falls back into a comfortable easy lullaby that makes you want a cigarette as you drift off into a peaceful stupor of beatitude. Not to downplay the other band members, for they all are equally magnificent, but I guess I just locked into her as a woman appreciating the phenomenal power of another woman.

band tee, kimono, festival style, platform sandals, denim shorts, fashion over 40

Now if that isn’t enough to get you out to see some Bluegrass this summer, then you might be a lost cause. I will leave that up to you, but you can find Yonder Mountain’s summer tour dates here.

band tee, fashion over 40
I did buy myself a Yonder Mountain tank top to add my ever growing collection of band tees.

I ate too much, danced too hard, and slept in the next day. My back hurt and my feet were blackened like a dirty hippie and covered in mosquito bites, but it was worth every speck of dirt, every nagging itch, and every aching joint. And I would do it every weekend if life permitted. Have you ever been so moved by music?

kimono, festival style, fashion over 40

And now your featured favorites from last week.

Ashley of Le Stylo Rouge shared her very cool styling of a Boyfriend Button-up + Neon Sandals. I absolutely love this combination of basic pieces amped up with fabulous shoes.

Ashley of Le Stylo Rouge

Katie of Hello Katie Girl shared some amazing photos from Road Tripping in Palm Springs. Not only is Katie the most colorful blogger I know, but she always finds the most colorful locations, too. I guess a brightly colored personality just naturally attracts other colorful things!

Katie of Hello Katie Girl

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

And now to share one last funny thing with you upon the request of my husband. Before we left for our date night, we were taking a selfie in the back yard when a moth flew directly in my face just as I hit the button…below is a collage of the photo burst…

selfie, photo burst, moth attack
When a moth attacks mid-selfie.

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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