Tribute to Belgian Beer

I first fell in love with beer while working in a wine bar. Ironic maybe, but learning to taste wine ultimately taught me how to appreciate flavor. I won't geek out in foodie land for too long, but I've recently been lucky enough to enjoy some really incredible Belgian beers that inspired this post. There is something about Belgian beer that warms the soul...

Duvel. My First Love.

Delirium Tremens. Named for the acute episode of delirium usually caused from withdrawal from alcohol.

Chimay. Brewed by Cistercian Trappist monks since 1862.

St. Bernardus Abt 12 (10.5% alcohol content) 

My Grandma - 1952 Panama

My grandparents moved to Panama for nine months in 1952 with their three year old son (my dad) and four year old daughter. They lived there for nine months while my grandpa was stationed there. I love looking at photos from that time but these pictures of my grandma are my absolute favorite. She was my age - 26 at the time.

Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "Home" from Edward Sharpe on Vimeo.

Summer Pieces...

This has been such a wonderful summer. I was really wishing that I had space for my own garden but in some ways it worked out better that I didn't. I had so little time already and instead I was lucky enough to have been able to help some of my closest friends in their gardens (and now I get to reap the benefits as well). I'm trying to come up with some creative ways to use the three huge zucchini I was given this week...Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread anyone?

How to feed the world?

How to feed the world ? from Denis van Waerebeke on Vimeo.

This video was made specifically for 9-14 year olds but it explains food and agricultural practices that many adults are unfamiliar with. I love when people use their talents to communicate an important message.

More Record Club

I was listening to this awesomely danceable version of Leonard Cohen's Master Song and thought it would be fun to post a few of the original videos with the Record Club remakes. They are all amazing in completely different ways.

Record Club: Songs Of Leonard Cohen "Master Song" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

And since I'm on a Leonard Cohen kick...

COLOURlovers

COLOURlovers is such a great way to unblock your brain. I could spend hours just playing with color combinations! Create palettes, patterns, and colors or just check out everyone else's creations. I think my favorite tool on this site is PHOTOCOPA,  which allows you to create color palettes from photos. All you color nerds out there will love this site!

Record Club

If you haven't heard of Record Club you have to check it out...now. Beck began Record Club last year as an experiment where he and other musicians record a cover version of an entire album in a single day. One track is posted each week. In their latest session they covered 'Kick' by INXS with musicians from St. Vincent, Liars and Os Mutantes...

Peter & Mick

Peter Tosh and Mick Jagger...what a killer combination. This song came on the radio last night and gave me a much needed opportunity to belt out some off key tunes with the window down. Then this morning I woke up and was still singing it so I decided to look up the video...and I am so glad I did. Watching Mick dance might be the best start to a day ever.

Republic Bike

I'll take this one...

and this one...

and that one too please. Thank you.

Go here to build your own...

Music, Food and Family...

Listening to jazz always makes me feel like I should be in some dimly lit underground club sipping whiskey or maybe another delicious liquor. Jazz also reminds me of my grandpa, also a talented musician, and a story he liked to tell...

I spent most of my childhood summers with my grandparents at their home just outside of Chicago. Until I was about six, my grandma was still working but my grandpa was retired so he would take me out to lunch once or twice a week. He loved to tell the story of asking three year old me where we should have lunch and my replying that I would like to go to a restaurant with a white tablecloth. Here are two restaurants that 25 year old me loves and three year old me might have liked too...

Jax Fish House - Denver, CO

Definitely a Denver staple, Jax has happy hour specials on oysters, great martinis and cocktails and fresh and tasty entrees.

Potager - Denver, CO

This is a great little restaurant down the street from my apartment in Denver. It has a nice atmosphere, fresh food and good wine...and you can't see it here but they also have white tablecloths. I think a piano and saxophone duo would be an excellent addition to either of these great restaurants.

Hank Jones

I've been listening to a lot of jazz lately, so when I heard that 91 year old jazz pianist Hank Jones passed away it seemed necessary to pay tribute to this amazing artist...

Too nice to blog

We had such beautiful weather this week and since I was on my computer for work every day I just didn't feel like being on the computer any more than I had to. These are just a few random shots from throughout the week. 

I'm in the middle of moving and have been staying with my cousin and his family for  a few weeks, all of these photos are from their beautiful property and surrounding farmland. I can't get over the long haired cows...I think they're called Highland Cattle.

Mexico Revisted

I was organizing my pictures folder last night and started looking at old vacation shots. These are from Mexico in 2007. The spider monkey posed for us in different positions for about ten minutes!!!

Marimekko

I'm swooning over the newest Marimekko fabrics...wouldn't 

this top one make a beautiful duvet cover?

(un)Fashion

This incredible collection of images from Tibor and Maira Kalman has been in print for nearly a decade but it will always be one of my favorite books to turn to when I'm in need of inspiration.

Dear Conan,

I've missed you so...it was great to see you the other night. I look 

forward to the day that we can laugh together again.

Recap...

Spring!!!

Schmetterling, Papillon, Mariposa

I occasionally visit the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery with my morning coffee and I stumble across some amazing images. I imagine myself in the actual library getting lost and choosing random books off the shelves...

Artist: Séguy, E. A.

I would like these butterflies on my wall.

Arents Cigarette Cards (ca. 1900-1917)

How lucky are we to have so much beauty, history, knowledge and inspiration right at our fingertips...