Wednesday, July 2, 2008
esty love : : pistol stitched
I spoke with this vendor on Saturday and fell in love with her bags. The price tag kept me from making a purchase, but "window" shopping is fun too!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
movie list
Another list today...recent movies I have seen, either with the Albany Movie Monday crew that RJR and I have gathered to view films at the local indy theater or ones we have seen through Netflix. These are in no particular order of preference.
The Great Gatsby with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford. Stunning depiction of the Roaring Twenties and a perfect selection for warm summer afternoons.
The Visitor another beautifully constructed film, this one set primarily in New York City, celebrating culture, friendship, and passion for art forms while exploring the political issues of immigration.
Priceless also known in French as Hors de Prix features a starving Audrey Tautou in a number of gorgeous dresses prancing around Nice with a glut of wealthy men who she preys upon to feed her lifestyle choices--although obviously not her stomach because she is really, really thin here.
King Corn is a nuanced documentary on the prevalence of corn in our diet--and now our bodies. Two Boston boys plant an acre of corn in Iowa and see it through to the massive grain elevators that sell the yield off for everything from high fructose corn syrup to cow feed. I'm never eating grain fed beef again. Wow.
Mongol we saw last night. It is a bloody, fight filled epic that explores the origins of Ghengis Khan. The costumes and terrain were rich with detail, but I could have seen far less battle scenes and still appreciated the guy's tenacity.
What are you watching?
The Great Gatsby with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford. Stunning depiction of the Roaring Twenties and a perfect selection for warm summer afternoons.
The Visitor another beautifully constructed film, this one set primarily in New York City, celebrating culture, friendship, and passion for art forms while exploring the political issues of immigration.
Priceless also known in French as Hors de Prix features a starving Audrey Tautou in a number of gorgeous dresses prancing around Nice with a glut of wealthy men who she preys upon to feed her lifestyle choices--although obviously not her stomach because she is really, really thin here.
King Corn is a nuanced documentary on the prevalence of corn in our diet--and now our bodies. Two Boston boys plant an acre of corn in Iowa and see it through to the massive grain elevators that sell the yield off for everything from high fructose corn syrup to cow feed. I'm never eating grain fed beef again. Wow.
Mongol we saw last night. It is a bloody, fight filled epic that explores the origins of Ghengis Khan. The costumes and terrain were rich with detail, but I could have seen far less battle scenes and still appreciated the guy's tenacity.
What are you watching?
Sunday, June 29, 2008
there and back again
Another looming work deadline means I'm stuck to the laptop today and playing catch up this morning. Here are a couple of phone pic snaps from the journey and a quick list of the fun from this week's conference and travel to Washington, DC.
1) North Philadelphia as seen from the train, man I miss it.
2) Capital architecture, this one is Union Station.
3) 1200 like minded citizens talking about the benefits of using faith-based organizations to engage communities and mediate the connection to the feds.
4) The President addressing the audience (press photo, not mine) His remarks can be read here.
5) Nearly ten hours in sessions--one of them mine!
6) Half-price wine night at Jack's in DuPont Circle.
7) Staying at the Watergate and thinking about 1972.
8) Out on the town Friday night for tapas at La Tasca.
9) Indy craft fair on Saturday in Silver Springs, MD where I bought this t-shirt from Squidfire for Elbo, a veggie baby--now officially known as Eliot Benedict Bojarski--welcome little guy!
10) Train ride home reading Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris and listening to Jeremy Fisher.
11) Falling into bed exhausted realizing that another week is about to begin.
1) North Philadelphia as seen from the train, man I miss it.
2) Capital architecture, this one is Union Station.
3) 1200 like minded citizens talking about the benefits of using faith-based organizations to engage communities and mediate the connection to the feds.
4) The President addressing the audience (press photo, not mine) His remarks can be read here.
5) Nearly ten hours in sessions--one of them mine!
6) Half-price wine night at Jack's in DuPont Circle.
7) Staying at the Watergate and thinking about 1972.
8) Out on the town Friday night for tapas at La Tasca.
9) Indy craft fair on Saturday in Silver Springs, MD where I bought this t-shirt from Squidfire for Elbo, a veggie baby--now officially known as Eliot Benedict Bojarski--welcome little guy!
10) Train ride home reading Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris and listening to Jeremy Fisher.
11) Falling into bed exhausted realizing that another week is about to begin.
retro posting
No, I'm not going writing about a stylish '50s era chair I almost trash-picked last week after the boyfriend saw it on the street, but I am going to retroactively post some pics from my visit to Rochester last week. I took my parents to the Public Market to make some purchases for a few meals and we had a grand time.
No visit is complete without an empanada with salsa verde. Delicious.
K and I prepared dinner for a family friend using homegrown greens from my mom's garden and glorious golden tomatoes from a farm in Albion, NY. The recipes we borrowed from J's facebook page where she hosts an Epicurious application that offers recipes each day.
I love to cook with my brother. Although I get scolded by him for various offenses ranging from dropping a knife on my foot (that's my own pain as far as I can tell) to slicing the tomatoes in the wrong direction, cooking side by side at my parents' is probably one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. Besides, he is a master griller and under his hand my recipe for marinated chicken turned out perfect.
Here is one of the recipes, K and I both recommend reducing the onion to 1 cup and I used herbs we had in the garden--thyme, basil, and dill:
Basmati rice with sweet onions and summer herbs Bon Appétit | June 2008
Stirring the fresh herbs into the hot rice preserves their flavor and releases their aroma.
Makes 6 servings
by Maria Helm Sinskey
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups basmati rice (about 10 ounces)
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
2 cups chopped sweet onions (such as Vidalia or Walla Walla)
2 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon
preparation
Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear; set aside. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice, 2 1/2 cups water, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 10 minutes. Stir in herbs. Season with pepper and more salt, if desired. Transfer to bowl and serve.
No visit is complete without an empanada with salsa verde. Delicious.
K and I prepared dinner for a family friend using homegrown greens from my mom's garden and glorious golden tomatoes from a farm in Albion, NY. The recipes we borrowed from J's facebook page where she hosts an Epicurious application that offers recipes each day.
I love to cook with my brother. Although I get scolded by him for various offenses ranging from dropping a knife on my foot (that's my own pain as far as I can tell) to slicing the tomatoes in the wrong direction, cooking side by side at my parents' is probably one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. Besides, he is a master griller and under his hand my recipe for marinated chicken turned out perfect.
Here is one of the recipes, K and I both recommend reducing the onion to 1 cup and I used herbs we had in the garden--thyme, basil, and dill:
Basmati rice with sweet onions and summer herbs Bon Appétit | June 2008
Stirring the fresh herbs into the hot rice preserves their flavor and releases their aroma.
Makes 6 servings
by Maria Helm Sinskey
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups basmati rice (about 10 ounces)
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
2 cups chopped sweet onions (such as Vidalia or Walla Walla)
2 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon
preparation
Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear; set aside. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice, 2 1/2 cups water, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 10 minutes. Stir in herbs. Season with pepper and more salt, if desired. Transfer to bowl and serve.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
on the road again
In Washington, DC for a conference this week. I'm presenting a paper on National Service and faith-based organizations working collaboratively to advance American civil society.
Oh, and GWB himself is supposed to appear today at noon. Should be fun!
Oh, and GWB himself is supposed to appear today at noon. Should be fun!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
the porch life
After a busy weekend for both of us, split between NYC and ROC, RJR and I spent Monday evening enjoying the porch life. A turn of a phrase we borrow from my brother, the porch life has become synonymous with taking it easy during the summer. Lazy evenings with a glass of wine or a cold brew, maybe grilling, feet up, soaking in the warm, sultry air.
Monday was a perfect night to embody the porch life. A bit of chill in the air was warded off with cups of java and the heat of a Scrabble battle. I lost both games back to back. Pathetic brain now valued at $250,000 let me down.
learning in the city
I have two family members and the boyfriend involved in charter school/education reform work in Upstate NY. I couldn't be prouder of their investment. The Rochester daily recently ran a series on True North Rochester Prep and you can see J in it toward the end of the clips on that school. Despite the skeptics, there is a growing chorus of voices recognizing that these schools offer families choices and alternatives to the existing system of education in their communities. There are some bad charter schools. There are some bad traditional public schools. (Charter schools ARE public schools). There are also some amazing charters like those run by Uncommon Schools, Inc.
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