I updated my “Wedding and Special Events” section of my website with selects from the hindu wedding. Check it out here.
Early afternoon, I meet up with Bernard who’s in town from NYC and who is taking me to Columbus to see Ben Folds play with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. The drive down goes quick as we catch up and crack jokes about ways this night could possibly go wrong. (Derek- So about the concert, we got turned around near Mansfield and somehow we are in Indiana. And by Indiana, we mean southern Indiana. Okay we’re in Kentucky.)
Guess you had to be there.
We meet up with Derek and Caitlin for dinner at Basi Italia The restaurant is in the Victorian Village. It was cute and the food was good, but nothing compared to what I had the night before.
The show was good! And though I’m not a fan of audience participation, it was pretty amazing when Ben Folds conducted the audience successfully and the maestro applauded him!
Then we went back to Derek’s new house where first Derek beat B and I at Wii tennis. Then the boys caught up while I got to play Guitar Hero.
I didn’t get home until almost 5am, and had to be at work at 10am, but it was totally worth it.
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Ted took me to The Greenhouse Tavern for my birthday dinner. I have been wanting to go there since I first started reading about it-while it was under construction, and because I love Bar Cento (the pom frites! the potato-panchetta pizza!). I got all dressed up because it was my birthday and we were going to a restaurant that I was very excited to try. I was surprised when Ted came walking out in a sports jacket and tie. Boys I know don’t dress up-even for my birthday. And we looked good! And were the best-dressed couple at TGT. And I’d like to think the reason Jonathan Sawyer talked to us twice!
Before I talk about the amazing meal, let me start with the wine: Box Car Syrah 2006. I picked it because smoked bacon and raspberries were listed as the flavors. Plus it was one of the cheaper wines on the list. This wine was so full-bodied, so robust, I feel like it’s the wine I’ve been looking for all my life. Best. Wine. Ever. And a great compliment for one of the best meals of my life.
We both went with the chef’s sampler where you get to pick 4 dishes. And we made sure to pick different dishes for each course so we could try more. First course, Ted picked the butter and bread and I picked the french breakfast radishes. So basic, you think, maybe boring? So wrong. These dishes were so simple but so amazing. My radishes had a hint of lemon juice that really brought out the flavor and the butter on both the bread and radishes was so smooth and had such a great taste. We tried in vain to hide the butter from the waitress so we could use in on other dishes. She found it and took it away.
Second course: Ted got the pork (not) belly and I got the beef tartare frites. Though I really liked the soft boiled egg to dip my fries in, and the beef tasted awesome, Ted won this round because the pork was so moist and juicy.
For thirds I got the Coq au Vin and he got the Ohio Goat Pasta. I won this round because I’ve never had chicken that was so tender.
The deserts were also good but since they didn’t offer anything chocolate, nothing was capable of being great. But I did enjoy my apple tart. Overall one of the best meals of my life-and that is saying a lot because I’ve eaten at some amazing places: Lola (Cleveland) Lolita (Cleveland), Flying Fig (Cleveland), Freemans (NYC), Buddakan (NYC), Prune (NYC).
Before we went to dinner Ted gave me my birthday presents. The book is a biography of one of my favorite bands, Broken Social Scene. Their first album, You Forgot it in the People, is THE album I listen to at night in the field to fall asleep. The only time in my life I listen to music to fall asleep. And now I think for the rest of my life, when I hear the album, it will make me think of Alberta and Ethiopia.
I also got a print by this guy. Ted said he picked the particular print because it kinda refers to the fag hag in me. And I do kinda get all flirty and perky around it, just like I do when I’m around my favorite gay men. I can’t wait to get it framed and hung up, most likely in the living room, where I’ve been spending most of my time lately.
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I spent Saturday in Chautauqua with Kristin. We drove out Friday evening. It was a glorious time away. I hardly moved from my chair the whole day. Except for when we walked the dog.
Kristin spent her time playing her PSP I spent the day learning how to knit in the round and learning new knitting terms. I now know what ssk, yo, and more complicated combinations like *ssk, k2, p2, yo 2x. Useful if you want to knit things that look more lace-y. I also updated my links on this blog, check them out. I tried adding links to my site, but they didn’t work, I’ve gone back to the drawing board for them.
We did make it off the grounds of the Institution to pick up lunch and ingredients to make cupcakes.
Kristin picket up this candle for me. The gets away with this only because she’s my girl. I kept reminding her that I’m NOT actually 40-only 29.
I ventured off my chair in the evening to make dinner.
Preparing to make a butter-sage-walnut sauce for the butternut squash ravioli.
Over the course of the day, Kristin made me watch UFC and I made her watch Project Runway.
Sunday we had to leave early because I had to head to my parents where they were hosting a cookout for their 25th anniversary. They had a piñata for the little kids. Have to say, I was kinda jealous: I wanted to take a swing at it.
Then mom surprised me with a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Something I ask for EVERY year, but rarely get. You can imagine my excitement when mom pulled the cover off.
Me: “Is it chocolate? Is it chocolate?”
Meaning the inside.
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In about an hour I leave for Chautauqua with Kristin. Her family has a sweet house there and though I love going in the summer, I really enjoy going in the fall where the trees are colorful and besides a little bit of walking around the grounds, I spend the whole time doing nothing.
I’m looking forward to not working, just laying around watching movies, reading, playing my Nintendo DS and that’s it!
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Next Wednesday, I turn 29! This year it has turned into a week of celebrating with my friends. This past Wednesday was the start. Meghan and Chris took me to Bar Symon. They knew this was a good choice because I love a) beer b) pork (esp pork belly) c) Michael Symon. The meal was amazing! I had pork belly croutons then the smoked pork butt with pickled slaw for the main course then a warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and cherries for desert. And a candle because it was my birthday, or almost my birthday.
I was full of beer and pork when I left, and with the the company of my friends, it was an excellent start to my birthday.
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There are many examples of the Midwest’s influence on culture My favorite examples are in photos and fabric. But this past weekend, I got to fully appreciate where I grew up.
Friday started with me driving home early to meet with my parent’s neighbor to discuss a brochure and postcard I’m designing for him. I got confused on the meeting time and realizing I had time to kill, I stopped at the Medina Antique Mall to pick up a housewarming present for my friend. I wanted to get her something for her “Lady Room,” the female equivalent to a man cave. Personally, I think man caves are cliché and lame, but a room that is over-the-top ultra feminine, especially when it is a feminist decorating it, this I can support.
I digress. The antique mall is in a practically deserted strip mall on Route 18. I remember coming to this store as a child. At the time it was about a 40 minute drive from our home and the was the closest major grocery store. Now it houses the Antique Mall, a bar (Dirty Cowboys) and some school. It looked so seedy and sad. Though the Antique mall was incredibly awesome and had everything you would ever want (including sweater clips-like the ones I saw on Glee!) I scored something for Michelle and found accessories for my Mad Men costume.
I continued home but first stopped at the Amish stand across the street from my parents. Dropped $10 and left with a box of apples, onions, potatoes, a butternut squash and a pie. Awesome. Now I just need to figure out how to cook a butternut squash.
The day was grey and foggy and I had time to kill after my meeting so I did some shooting. When they completed the work expanding 71, ODOT just left machinery behind. The perfect subject for my current project:
Notice the shotgun shell casing. Some local boys were bored and shot out the windows.
Other than my meeting with the Amish guy, I also came home to work a festival for my brother. Pioneers in the Park was small, free and I expected it to be lame. But instead, there were firemen selling chilli for $2.50, someone was making butter that you could sample, and there was hot apple cider being made over an open fire. That Saturday morning, on my way to the fest, the sun was out and I was amazed by how bright and vibrant the changing leaves looked. Maybe because it was such a relief from all the grey days before it.
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The bedroom of Menilik’s Palace. If I could have a palace, it would be this one. I like the rustic feel and the view is amazing.
This is from the Nature Preserve in Arba Minch and another one of my favorite photos. I can see this printed big and framed and in my living room.
Another view of the Nature Preserve.
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