Arcade Fire & Chili's Restaurants

March 2, 2007: Music/Restaurant Review

*Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - *released March 6th

The second record from the Montreal based band evokes more resonance than
before! The intentional use of reverberation adds a mysteriously pleasant
sound to the garage band feel. The catchy melodies and inspiring lyrics
give the band a reputation for creating haunting songs that one can't seem
to turn off. Lyrics such as "Every spark of friendship and love will die
without a home/hear the soldier groan 'we'll go at it alone'" are backed up
by an array of musical instruments such as pipe organs and orchestras. The
album brings an upbeat sound to the indie rock music scene.



*Chili's Restaurants*

My wife and I arrived at Chili’s on South Willow Street in Manchester around 4:45 p.m., relatively early for a Saturday, but when Auntie J is watching the kids for a few hours, one escapes when one can!

A courteous, helpful host immediately greeted us at the door and offered to seat us right away in the main dining room or allow us to entertain our more casual side, seated in the bar area. We opted for the cozy, tavern-like atmosphere afforded by the smaller yet ample bar area. The seating arrangement, with its booths set around the outer edge offering a window view and tables in the middle, emphasized its main attraction - what looked to be a comfortable, functional "watering hole", doling out a variety of thirst quenchers from the two accomplished mixologists at its helm! The room was filled to legal capacity and conversation plus TV. Sports buzz murmured in the background.

We no sooner settled into our perch for the evening, when our server promptly greeted us inquiring whether we'd like to start with drinks and/or an appetizer; water for my wife and a short Bass beer for me, presented in a nicely chilled, sturdy mug. Without further ado, we knew ahead of time we wanted the boneless Buffalo wings to start; their reputation precedes them. Our wings were served at proper temperature hotness, slender celery slices, and just enough ranch dressing to cool the palette from the tangy goodness of each bite. We weren't able to finish our appetizers before our main meals consisting of the Fajita Pita and Cajun Chicken Pasta arrived.

The sliced, Cajun-seasoned chicken breast, smothered in an Alfredo sauce, topped a bed of penne pasta cooked to perfection. Seasoned diced tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and garlic toast rounded out the entrée to aptly support its place amongst the menu's "Favorites." My portion was just right despite the fact that I walked away with the proverbial "doggy bag!" A pita filled with marinated steak, grilled bell peppers, onions, lettuce, and Chili's own special sauce well cared for my wife's taste buds. Listing this as a mere sandwich conjures up an image of the mundane and almost serves it an injustice - her meal was anything but. Her portion was exact and again provided yet another take home container for the 'fridge. Both dinners tasted fantastic and didn't put a strain on the wallet either. Our total bill came to just under forty dollars including 20% tip.

All-in-all, our dinner expectations were met with great satisfaction, from the eclectic, rustic furnishings to the many TVs broadcasting a variety of programs to watch as you enjoy your food, drink, and merriment! This particular Chili's restaurant is located at 1071 S. Willow Street, Manchester, NH. They operate Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., staying open until Midnight on Friday and Saturday.

They may be reached by phone at 603-624-1486 or click http://www.chilis.com for more information. I give them a rating of four out of five stomachs.

~Scott Harrington (UML Grad Student)