Maude's Liquor Bar.

Maude's Liquor Bar finally opened! I've been following the progress of this place getting ready to open their doors for a few months now on their blog. The pictures they've taken on the blog, of both the food and atmosphere, are so much better than what I was able to capture here... you should definitely take a look if you're interested in such things. Watching the place evolve from bare bones in August to a fully functioning restaurant today is also very cool. My Dinner Club went tonight.

I think to say the place was hoppin' is a bit of an understatement. It was packed. Great vibe and plenty to look at... and we never even saw the bar upstairs. I kinda can't believe I didn't make the effort, but it's a great reason to go back. We started with that dish above, the French Onion Fondue (carmelized onion and gruyere) and basically devoured it as a starter.


Then we ate, all sharing, Steamed Mussels, Escargot, Faux Gras Torchon, Lyonnaisse Salad, Pomme Frites, Blackened Brussel Sprouts, fresh bread, and the Shaved Vegetable Salad. You can view the whole menu here.

I'm a sucker for atmosphere, and I loved the whole look and feel of this place, down to the bathroom lighting above. I seriously think I'm developing an affinity for the chandelier!

I'm not necessarily a big fan of creme brulee, but this one was great. And huge. Of course we finished the entire dish full. (Also worth noting, if you get coffee at the end of the meal, it comes in your own individual-serving French press!). I want to go back for sure and try some more off the menu, but I will probably never skip the Brussel sprouts or that onion fondue. Amazing. Can't wait for the next time, and to maybe belly-up at the bar.

Book Club.

I just started An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin for my book club. Looking forward to reading something different!

I finally, finally finished A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole on Tuesday morning. FINALLY. I hate to say I didn't really like this book at all. But oddly I did like the last 40 or so pages.

New Kitty.

It's been a while since all my rugs looked like this.

Northern Lights.

Have you ever seen the Aurora Borealis in person?

I did once in Canada, near Red Lake, Ontario. By accident on a beer run to the main lodge at Stormer. I think it was a rock-paper-scissors situation who was to run from our cabin to the main lodge to replenish our stash. The main fear was an accidental run-in with the bears that frequented the property. So we never expected to see the beautiful lights that shone down from the sky.

Yelling to the rest of the poker players to come out and take a look, we all just stood on the dock and stared at what was appearing over the lake. Northern Lights. Another reason I so love being in the middle of nowhere, fishing with my Dad in Canada. It was so surprising and so beautiful. This was a great night. I didn't get good pics myself, but these show a good interpretation of what we saw. I mean, it really is something if you ever happen to see it. You will never forget.

These pics were forwarded to me by my Dad, originally from another friend of his on a recent trip. (I think?)

Random Field Trip.

On my way to the movies the other night, I happened to notice windows full of chandeliers. It was dark at the time, and full stories of the building were lit up and it just glowed with these ornate hanging light crystals. So I decided to walk by the place (it's like 3 blocks from my office). It's open to the public. The space is huge. I want to say there were four floors filled with these hanging light fixtures.

I'm not really a chandelier-kinda girl, but something about seeing rows and rows of them struck me as really beautiful. Then once I was inside, I had to wonder, Who's in the market for these? How do they choose one over another? There were at least 8 people working in there with no customers?

It was funny to notice how some were really amazing. Even the small ones could be intimate and beautiful. I have a new appreciation... but I may have to go back to take a shot of my initial view from the street at night because actually, that's where the real glowing magic happened for me.

Speaking of 2012...

I've started planning for the future. My brother is finishing his basement. I figure we're all better off as a unit (tribe)... and the mountains seem like a good place to be. But, we're really going to have to define and hone our individual skill sets to establish a truly cohesive unit.

New Year's Plunge.

I ganked this pic off a friend of mine's friend's FB page. I don't know if that's inappropriate or what but I think it's fantastic! Mostly because of how crisp the water drops are but also because I think it's in freezing cold water somewhere in the Midwest. Nice.

UPDATE: After flipping thru pics, I think it's outside Chuck's. Maybe I'm just dreaming but...

Happy New Year: The 2011 Version.

I've spent the last week or so thinking of goals for 2011. Thanks to sitting in seminars taught to me by Bob T. during age group swimming, I definitely recognize the importance of verbalizing, writing and visualizing goals in order to accomplish them. You may recognize some of these from previous lists, but I think 2011 has a lot going for it for seeing some of this stuff happen.

Ok, so here's a few things* I have been thinking about lately:

1. Rent a cottage on Geneva Lake for a week this summer. I miss it and love it and can't imagine how I'd feel to have a week off spent on the lake. Pure heaven.

2. SAVE some cash. I mean really. For once.

3. Remodel my bathroom. Also includes a week-long staycation so I can "help". I have folders of images saved but with ALL the options out there, it's so hard for me to make firm decisions. I have narrowed it down to black & white with green accents. I desperately want a tub I can take a bath in without freezing to death. And I want some intricate, small floor tiles.

4. Re-learn print-making. I definitely did this in art classes at school but I haven't done it since. I really enjoyed making those linoleum block prints. And I remember liking a lot the process of carving them, the way that material felt... And most? The smell! It may also facilitate my deep desire to put some paste ups around the city when I am feeling really adventurous and bold. (I'm dying to do this!) Watch the first artist Swoon in the documentary Our City Dreams.

5. New York! I missed NY in 2010 and it's just not acceptable not to get there once a year. Along these lines, I need to get to Philadelphia at some point. Both easy to do if I just plan a long weekend... But in direct conflict with goal #2.

6. The Gym. I'd like to break this goal into 1/4'ers. Like shoot for 3x/week January – March. I think it will help to have some things planned along the way, like signing up for the Shamrock Shuffle. I'd really like to get into a couple of yoga classes as well.

7. My yard. I basically spent a day or two on it at the beginning of this past summer and then just let it fall apart. I'd like to plant a tree. Then expand the border to make it more organic in shape. I'd like to create a green wall around my backyard that will eventually overflow with leaves for some privacy. I'd love to start the development of a really surprising hidden wonderland.

8. Field Trips. I am still dying, DYING to get a tour of that quarry in my neighborhood. In the winter running errands, I have the most amazing views of it through the empty trees and I don't know why, but I think it's SO COOL. I am also completely fascinated with the Illinois Brick operation I drive past on my way to work. I don't know what it is I find so soothing about the enormous piles of cement chunks-turned-to-cement rocks-turned-to-cement pebbles-to cement powder... And then when it all runs along conveyor belts and gets put onto train train cars or river barges... I am obsessed with watching the whole operation.

*This is a work in progress.

Image of a bathroom at The Soho Grand in NYC designed by William Sofield, 1996.

Looking forward to the New Year.

My Mom painted this pine tree branch and made greeting cards out of the original. Isn't it great? I totally had to steal it out of the pack because I feel like she wasn't planning on sending me one.

Has everyone been eating and drinking like I have? Man, I packed it in over the past few days (and weeks). My house guests have now departed and it's that odd in-between week where things kind of hang at a standstill while we gear up for the start of the new year. I feel really ready to welcome 2011 for some reason. I'm going to make a list of goals for this year.

This Christmas I felt really blessed and grateful for my wonderful friends and family. More than once I thought about how lucky I am. Things felt very "holiday" this year. It snowed perfect snows and the tone was one of packing a house full night after night and melding personalities with a nice balance of chaos and calm. Looking back I can't believe all the things we did over the past week. It was a whirlwind for sure, but we got a lot of quality time together too.

Are you making "resolutions" for 2011?

Woot!

Steve and Swan got me the shuffle!! This is like the fun present I never expected to get... Thanks Zies!!!

Tree 2010 (and some other stuff).

I know these pictures are blurry but I wasn't about to run out and get the tripod from the garage. Plus that "night scenery" setting captures the color in the room so well – I'm sacrificing clarity.

Even with the perfect snowstorm last night – it truly was beautiful outside – it still doesn't really feel like Christmas time to me? I can hardly believe it's in 3 days? Maybe because I didn't do a bunch of art projects? To be honest I still feel pretty art-projected out. I didn't do as much around the house either. I broke so many of the glass ball ornaments last year I could hardly believe it. Then Target didn't have the $2 boxes of plain old red and gold ones I like. They were all glittery designs and "sateen". So I didn't do a few bunches here and there that I normally do. Which actually is just fine.

Then my 1-year old light strands were dead. The lights at Target were all that LED blue-white kind, which I caved in and bought even though I knew I'd never be able to stand them. I find the atmosphere they create awful! (Sorry if you have them). So, I ended up putting them outside. They still bug me but are not as offensive considering the limited amount of time that I actually see them. Then I got some great lights at a good ole hardware store and I am quite thrilled with the glow inside now.

The winter berries. I LOVE them. Here's something I don't get. They were $3.50/branch cheaper this year – $1.50 less than they were two years ago. The price of these things really fluctuates and I wonder why? Even with the price drop, these are a splurge. The ones from Stems & Twigs in WS are so solid and long and perfect. I'd love to have them all over my house, but I stop at a vase full. I think they are totally worth it and totally wonderful.

Anyway, now that I finally have the mood right in the house, a poinsettia, my parents have arrived, and for the first time in YEARS I'm not rushing around like a lunatic finishing all the gifts at the last minute, I'm hoping the next 4 days I can just settle into the holiday. I'm looking forward to some long visits, the real deal hot cocoa, and enjoying making and eating some good food.

Christmas Fatty.

When I decorate the house for Christmas, I swap out the everyday snapshots of friends and family in frames around the house and display pictures of our Christmas trees from years past. When I rotated one of them, this was the Christmas picture behind it. Aw Fatty! She looks so healthy and happy... and FAT. It was nine years ago she looked this good, came out from under the bed and was totally social. Then it kind of broke my heart to realize this is the first year in 13 I'm missing out on having Christmas with her.

If you were lucky enough to be part of it, the gifts under this particular tree were part of the Christmas Extravaganza year. The deli meat slicer, deluxe pogo stick, quesadilla maker year. The year budgets went ridiculously out the window and we went nuts buying presents. That was a good one.

Teaser.

This one's for you, Steve!

Merry Holly.

We had our annual Dinner Club Christmas Party at Hook & Ryan's last night. I think this year was a first: More food that booze? There was a whole other table full of desserts. Clockwise from left: 7-layer taco dip, bleu cheese/tomato/balsamic on crustini, meatballs and cheese wrapped in biscuit dough and dipped in marinara, pickles/cream cheese/ham rolls, buffalo chicken dip, vegetables and hummus, melty cheesy bean dip, jalepeno popper dip...

Great night, but missed Becker and the other out-of-town Dinner Clubbers.

Tugboat Printshop.

"BARRACUDA"
Series: THE DEEP BLUE SEA
12x18" Color Woodcut Print on Pale Pink Arturo Paper
by Paul Roden & Valerie Lueth, 2008.

Saw this booth at the Renegade fair and I can't stop thinking about this print! I want it. Actually all these sea prints I am taking quite a liking to. I'm gonna have to check if this one fits the bill for bringing "fish" into my "wealth". Read more about this print shop and the process to make them. Amazing!

drawing.

printing.

"THE ICEBERG"

So cool. Also can be found on Etsy.

Renegade Craft Fair.

This looks like it might be good. I've glanced around at some of the artists doing it, and I'm pretty sure I'll find a gift or two for people on my list. (Lucky People). If you're free Saturday or Sunday, and in the area, check it out? Then go eat brunch at Flo or get the burger from Branch 27.

They start them young in Steamboat.

My favorite little girl gets her first Ski Pass. Go get 'em Em! Better watch your heels little Brother!

Il Poggiolo.

Nora and I went tonight. I love this restaurant. We split the cheese plate and started with one bleu cheese-stuffed, super-chilled Grey Goose dirty martini ($9 on special) and then split a bottle of Barbera for $38. This cheese plate was fantastic: a non-bleu bleu, hard parmesan, and some other third delish cheese, honey, quince, and something else on top... Three shaved meats including proscuitto, a spicy "C" salami* and ___,* melon, pear, figs, dates, grapes, grapefruit. Fresh capers and olives. And a basket of 2 types of fresh bread, a plate of olive oil and cheese. Amazing. Loved. Smells coming from the open kitchen – unbelievable.

*I know these... need to commit them to memory though!

Photo Credit: Nora.

Autumn.

We had a beautiful fall here weather-wise but for some reason I just didn't ever get around to getting outside and snapping some shots. Saturday was a wet and grey day, but as I drove around on errands, I was thinking how beautiful everything looked. Reds and hot pinks and bright yellows seemed to be exploding on every front lawn. I even noticed it on my own.


So I thought, Tomorrow's supposed to be sunny. I'll take a bunch of pictures then. Literally overnight, all the leaves seemed fallen. It kind of made me laugh. But I am also bummed. It's over. These were the few left clinging on, keeping things pretty for hopefully one more day.

Show's Over.

And I'm totally burnt out by it. It felt like going-going, list-making, running-around the three days leading up to it, right down to the last minutes before it all started, and I feel: Over it. I know from past experience that it's the build up to, and planning for, way more than the event itself that makes it worth doing. But it's possible that knowing this ahead of time somehow shadowed it too. It's interesting to see what you "take away" from something like this, and I think I spent a little too much conscious time looking for it.

I thought the stuff hung well in the space, and that it all really did come together nicely. But I'm having a hard time looking at it anymore!