Greetings SlimStones,

For Christmas, I put a map on the kitchen wall, gave my sweetheart a dart, and told her we would vacation wherever she threw it.

Turns out we're spending two weeks behind the fridge.

Slim People!

Are you looking for a special gift for that special someone?

Me, neither!

However, Christmas is coming and you gotta give your dearly beloved something! So why not give them a Slim Man Cooks cookbook?

Sure, they might get insulted and accuse you of criticizing their culinary skills.

In which case, ditch that sourpuss and keep the cookbook for yourself!

There are dozens of ravishing recipes. And hundreds of glorious photos. And if that ain't enough, every recipe has a video.

Huh?

That's right. There are QR codes for each dish that lead you to a video of me, Mr. Man, showing you how to cook each and every dish.

Maybe you know someone--your roommate, your cellmate, who wants to start cooking and doesn't know where to begin.

This is the cookbook for them! Or anyone who loves to cook.

Each cookbook comes with a FREE CD.

Even if you don't have a CD player, you can use the CD as a coaster for your can of Colt 45 Malt Liquor.

Or your Mason jar of moonshine.

Shipping is Free. And I, Mr. Man, will sign the cookbook for that special someone.

Order now!

Merry Christmas!

And...Slim People...would it kill ya to come out and see a show, sometime?

The Slim Man Band plays every Tuesday at Vicky's.

I'm doing a Slim Santa Solo Show at Vicky's on CHRISTMAS EVE! 4:30-8:00

760.345.9770

Chase Huna (Sax Man) and I do the Rat Pack Duo every Wednesday at Larkspur.

Thursday, December 19th I have a Slim Solo Show at Frank's Hideaway.

All details on All Things Slim are down below and on the slimman.com website.

AND NOW ALL THE REAL NEW REAL NEWS FROM SLIM'S SHADY TRAILER PARK

A couple weeks ago, Chase (Huna, Sax Man) and I flew to central Wisconsin. We met Cheesehead Shorty (businesswoman, concert organizer, philanthropist) and a couple of her friends at a small airport.

We were all starving. 

Shorty started looking for a place that was open late. I was taking bets that there was no way she would find anything open at 10 PM on a Wednesday. In Wausau.

But Cheesehead Shorty--who is determined and resourceful--found a place...

The Velveteen Plum.

It sounded like a strip club to me.

But it wasn't.

It was a hipster bar with colorful Chihuly-inspired glass sculpture chandeliers.

The bartender wore one of those aprons that are popular in trendy restaurants. You know, the thick canvas aprons with leather straps and brass hooks and buckles.

They resemble something an ironworker would wear while soldering bolts on a bridge with an acetylene torch.

The bartender took our order, drinks were served, and we waited for the chow. I was so hungry I would have eaten my shoe if you put a little ketchup on it.

The food arrived. Tacos and nachos. The choice of plates was a bit unusual. Everything was served in large, galvanized pans. The kind you might use to feed farm animals. 

The dinnerware was a bit odd, but the food was really tasty.

The gig the next day was at Swartzendruber's, an old school family supper club in Antigo. Very warm and cozy.

It was packed! Chase played sax, I sang. We did Rat Pack songs and it was a ton of fun. 

The next day, Shorty took a couple of us out to lunch. We drove to a house in the middle of a cornfield. Shorty pulled up and parked. There were no signs anywhere. Not a one. The side door was locked. 

Shorty called the number on the window and a couple minutes later, the door opened. We walked downstairs...

And there, in the basement, was a bar, some poker machines, a pool table and a jukebox. A kindly woman (Wisconsin folks are genuinely nice) was straightening up.

She and her husband live upstairs. They turned their cellar into a bar about 40 years ago. They never advertised, strictly word-of-mouth.

Rev's Windbreaker.

I asked for a menu and she pointed to a plastic Lowenbrau sign with black letters. 

Rev's Ho Made Pizza.

I ain't sayin' nothin', Slim People!

Next to that was a white sign that said...

Burgers.

Pizza and Burgers. That was it. I ordered a burger, and it was quite good. And only $6.50!

It wasn't the kind of place with bartenders in blacksmith aprons drizzling exotic booze over a single ice cube the size of a softball.

Just burgers, pizza and beer. I dug it.

The show that night was at North Star, a banquet hall in Antigo (WISCONSIN!).  The entrance has some very cool old photos of Antigo.

Chase was in the back room warming up. He preps and practices before every show, always brings his best. That's one of the many things I admire about Chase. He takes pride in his playing, Slim People.

Before we went on, there was a tribute to Scott Erickson, a guy who helped make the Antigo shows such a success over the years. He had passed away recently, and everyone wanted to acknowledge his contribution. Scotty was one of the good guys. He will be missed!

The show that night was a double bill. The Slim and Chase Show followed by Hip Pocket, a 12-piece dance band.

Chase and I played some Rat Pack songs, then some of the Hip Pocket band joined us. What a blast! Having a full horn section rip through Slim songs was...Slimsational.

Valerie was a showstoppa!

Then, Chase and I left the stage and Hip Pocket took over. They played all those Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, Kool and the Gang horn songs.

They're tight, Slim People! The place was jumpin'.

And...the event raised thousands and thousands of dollars for United Way. Big thanks to Cheesehead Shorty for making it happen.

And then?

It was back to Palm Springs. 

I played Vicky's Tuesday, Larkspur Wednesday and Frank's Hideout on Thursday and then...

I slept for two hours and caught the first flight out of Palm Springs to...

San Antonio. For a Slim Man concert and Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

At baggage claim, there was a man dressed in black holding a sign that said...

SLIM MAN.

He introduced himself. Johnny Boy Tucker.

He insisted on carrying my luggage. We got into a Cadillac Escalade the size of a school bus. 

We pulled up to the resort. La Cantera. Johnny Boy hauled my bags to the front desk. The luxurious lobby was the size of the Kennedy Center. It was decorated with Christmas trees, holiday lights and life-sized polar bears.

Or maybe they were bi-polar bears! 

The posh place was buzzing with concierges, bellman, receptionists and handlers who did everything but carry me to my room on their shoulders.

I walked down to the courtyard for soundcheck.

Not just any courtyard, Slim People. This one had fire pits and fountains and a Christmas tree the size of the Statue of Liberty.

Well, maybe not that tall. But it was big!

I soundchecked with the band and went back to the room to put on my Superman cape. Then I went down to the courtyard for the concert. Showtime!

The band and I walked up the steps to the stage, took our places and...

David Munoz brought us on. He's been playing the Slim Music since the first CD was released. Thanks David! He's got a great radio voice. And great taste in music! 

I was a bit apprehensive because I hadn't had a chance to practice with the band. 

Nina Rodriguez and Eric Casillas played percussion. Roger Tamez played sax, Nate Crawford played drums, and Chris Guerrero played keyboards. They sounded superb. They did their homework! It was serious fun.

We played a couple songs, then took a break as they lit the humungous tree. And then the Slim Man Band kicked into high gear!

We ended with Jose Feliciano's holiday hit, The Police Know My Dad. Better known as Feliz Navidad! 

Eric, Roger, Nate, Nina, Chris

And then?

I flew 1500 miles back to Palm Springs.

On the plane, I did some calculations. I had traveled 3,000 miles. Played 10 songs.

That's 300 miles per song. And well worth it!

It was a truly wonderful trip. Big thanks to all you Cheeseheads and Cowboys (and Cowgirls!) who came out to the shows.

And big gratitude to all the Slim Folks who always come out to all the concerts.

Couldn't do it without you.

Who loves ya?

Uncle Slimmy

PS: One of my favorite dishes to eat before a show? Shrimp marinara. Here's a recipe from the Slim Man Cooks Volume 2 cookbook that shows you how. It's simple, quick and easy. Buon appetito!

SHRIMP MARINARA VIDEO

WEDNESDAYS IN DECEMBER!

The Slim Man Chase Huna Rat Pack Duo

Larkspur Grill at Hotel Paseo

45400 Larkspur

Palm Desert, CA 92204

760.340.6069

SHOWTIME 6 PM

Come see the Slim Man Chase Huna Rat Pack Duo!

We have a cool video screen behind us that shows hundreds of vintage photos of the Rat Pack, Vegas, Palm Springs, old album covers, travel posters and postcards from the 1960s. Come check it out!

It's fun. Ain't that a kick in the head!

See you there!

NO SHOW ON CHRISTMAS DAY!

https://www.larkspurgrill.com

EVERY TUESDAY at 6:30!

THE SLIM MAN BAND LIVE AT...

VICKY'S!!

Chase Huna on sax, Craig Chesnut on drums, and a special guest each week on piano.

We'll be playing some new tunes and some old tunes.

We'll be playing some slow songs, some fast songs, and some half-fast songs!

Saddle up the donkeys and get those jackasses to THE BIG SHOW!

SPECIAL SLIM SOLO SHOW CHRISTMAS EVE! 4:30-8

MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW!

Vicky's

45-100 Club Drive

Indian Wells, CA 92210

760.345.9770

https://www.vickysofsantafe.com



THURSDAY DECEMBER 19th

THE SLIM MAN SOLO SHOW

FRANK'S HIDEOUT

PALM DESERT, CA

Frank's Hideout is a new club, kinda like a speakeasy with a Frank Sinatra vibe.

Mr. Man will be all by his lonesome. Lonesome Slim! Singing Rat Pack Songs, Slim Songs, Christmas songs and it's gonna be a swingin' ringadingin' good time.

SHOWTIME 6 PM

Frank's Hideout

Palm Desert, CA

Admission is FREE this time!

Call 442.227.4488 for reservations.

PEACE, MAN!