Pikake & Pearls: Helen & Randy’s Website

Alex Tarbert and I have only known each other a few years (since Spring 2005), but between us we have a lot in common, and so we get along really well. A bassist too, Alex and I studied with the same teachers (Todd Seeber at NEC and Jeff Turner in Pittsburgh), just in reverse order. Although we’re trained as classical bassists, we really dig improvised music.

Aside from music stuff, we also share one particular hobby: tasting and testing fine beers. Boston’s a good place for that; our fair city is home to both the Sam Adams and Harpoon breweries, as well as Cambridge Brewing Company, plus a number of craft brew festivals. But even better, Boston is also home to the Red Sox (baseball), Celtics (basketball), and Patriots (football) teams—and so whenever a good game is on, you can trust that Alex and I are enjoying the match with some excellent beers. One that Alex introduced me to is a German favorite called Franziskaner. Here’s what it looks like, in case you want to try it too:

Alex is also a member of the Okonkuluku University Frat, the official WAITIKI social club. Tim, Helen, me, and Abe are in it too, along with a bunch of our other Boston friends. Here’s a picture of Alex from a recent event. If you’re wondering why he looks so happy in this picture … well, he’s always happy!