Random thoughts from the past several days follow.

Chill is great!
I tried the new Miller Chill this weekend. Sendik's said they "couldn't keep the stuff in stock." So, I grabbed a few six packs from the back of the cooler and took 'em home on Saturday night.

One was delivered to my brother-in-law for Father's Day (although at the Sunday family gathering Dad already had the stuff flowing - figures, great minds think alike).

Anyway, how does it taste, you ask? Very, very good. Not exactly like beer, but like a creative mixture of lemonade, limeade, salt and light beer.

It's inspired by a traditional Mexican recipe known as chelada. "Chelada" is slang for "helada" which means "iced." The recipe is available all over (personally, I think Cempazuchi on Brady St. does it very well): beer with fresh limejuice over ice in a salt-rimmed glass. Not too tough to make, but very tasty to drink.

"Chill" isn't a Corona with a lime or a Sol, Tecate or any of the other well-branded Mexican brews. It's an America version, Spanglish if you will, and I'm predicting that this stuff is going to be all the rage this summer. I bet it's even more refreshing on tap (try it at Summerfest). Give it a try, and talk back with your thoughts. 110 calories per bottle, by the way.

Riverwalk rocks!
When was the last time you ventured to the Riverwalk in the Third Ward? If you haven't been there in a while, you are missing one of the most popular, scenic and happening spots in the entire city. On Friday night, without a major festival to drive the crowd counts, restaurant waits along the Riverwalk were 1-2 hours. No one cared as people drank, sat and stroll up and down as they waited. A massive yacht even docked in front of Riverwalk Bistro. With new energy from Water Buffalo and three or four more restaurants on the opening block soon, the Riverwalk is the place to be this summer. But, here's a suggestion: let's light it all up at night like the portion around Rock Bottom Brewery.

"Studio 60" nears its end
I watched the second-to-last episode of "Studio 60" late Saturday night. So good. I can't even continue writing since I'm too sad to think of television without it. Damn you, NBC.