October

coffee goes cold fast
empty cove, tide is lower
the fish have gone south

Garden goods, frankenmato, gyro burrito

lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, green beans, carrots, beets

it's alive

braised beef, feta/sour cream/yogurt, cucumber, green pepper, olive, tomato, cilantro

Morning in the garden

Curried Carrot & Zucchini Soup

Whipped up a garden dinner last night, loosely based on this recipe from a quality blog I recently discovered (via a Google Images search for "CAFO," or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation). In a slightly ironic twist, I was obliged to use a small portion of refined bacon fat that has been chilling in the fridge to cook the vegetables. Pictured below is the remainder from the preparation of the meal, destined for the compost pile. I've titled this photo "From Whence You Came." Click the image to view a slideshow of the assembly of this early harvest soup.

Arboretum of the Barnes Foundation

Visited the Barnes Foundation on Saturday. The estate hosts a significant collection of impressionist and 20th century works (many by Renoir, Cézanne, Picasso, van Gogh, Matisse, Rousseau, Monet, Miro, and much more). The museum is open to the public with reservations for tickets, this trip was booked over a month ago.

Click image to view slideshow.

It rained a bit when we were touring the galleries, which were mostly empty of visitors. The sun resumed shining once we got out into the arboretum. From the Barnes Foundation website:

Art Collection
The Barnes Foundation collection is unsurpassed in breadth, quality, and depth in French Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and early Modern paintings. It is enhanced by Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities, Chinese painting, African sculpture, retablos from New Mexico, Native American pottery, and American decorative arts. Juxtapositions of objects from different cultures, periods and media provide exciting opportunities for teaching and making visual connections.

Arboretum
The Arboretum houses a rich collection of species and varieties of trees, shrubs, and other plants introduced from various regions. There are a number of living fossils or very ancient plants, historic/biblical plants, botanically precious specimens, plants of proven medicinal use, and a few extensive collections of genetic importance. The Arboretum is a paradise of well-known ornamental plants artistically landscaped, reflecting concepts from the installation of art in the gallery ensembles.

Seattle, Ellensburg, Yakima

Click image to view slideshow.

San Francisco

Following my stay in Escondido I flew up to San Francisco for a couple days, nearly getting stuck in the San Diego airport because of bad weather. California was experiencing its storm of the decade precisely as I was experiencing California for the first time (poop). Fortunately, the weather provided a window for getting to San Francisco, which provided plenty of cool stuff to do that wasn't dampened by the constant rain.

Coincidentally, my dad was in the city the same dates as myself traveling on business, and I was able to crash in his hotel room for three nights. This was a huge coup for my budget and level of comfort (Hilton). The first night in town we took the courtesy shuttle back to the airport in order to access the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART). The train took us into the city, where we met my dad's old friend, Berkeley resident and rock aficionado Andy. He had a bead on a rare show by local favorite Steve Morse at a venue called Slim's.



The gig was sponsored by Guitar Player Magazine, a publication that has repeatedly named Mr. Morse best overall guitarist. We bought tickets and grabbed some food and beers at a nearby, nearly empty, establishment. Arrived at Slim's a little late, as the opener was finishing, but were remarkably able to get seats near the front to the left side of the stage. It was a brilliant spot to see the show, as the guitar pedals were located right in front of us. The performance was amazing, I had for some reason expected a strummy acoustic set - quite the rocking opposite. Certainly one of the highlights of the entire trip.



The BART brought me back into the heart of San Francisco the next day, my destination the Museum of Modern Art. I enjoyed a streetside falafel wrap for breakfast en route. SFMoMA was hosting a seventy-five year anniversary exhibit, essentially a greatest hits narrative of the museum's history. It was a great tour, and I spent plenty of time viewing the offerings on other floors - not eager to return to the rain. After dawdling in the giftshop it was time for lunch. I hooded up and explored some side streets, stumbling upon Thirsty Bear Brewing. They served Spanish tapas alongside organic beers brewed onsite. The atmosphere and lunch menu were impressive, but I found most of the sampler beers to be yeasty (think Blue Moon, which I can't stand). I settled on the nitrogen stout, which came out drafted poorly with about two inches of head. Meh. I was pretty soaked after walking around a bit more after lunch, and hopped the train back to the hotel in the late afternoon.



The next day we switched hotels in the morning, moving from the airport Hilton to one located near Union Square in the city. My dad brought me to a fine Italian restaurant around the corner from the hotel called Kuleto's. They featured house-cured meats, and a scrumptious lunch menu including a fixed-price three course option. I chose linguine with clams and a bowl of dynamite minestrone, my dad had the taster lunch centered around a braised shortrib cannelloni and mushroom dish. We split a half-bottle of Napa Valley Syrah that had aged to an inky density. The whole meal was superb.



The final highlight of the trip took place that evening. I was able to meet up with Rob, an old friend from college who has lived in San Francisco for years, and who I hadn't seen in as long. He knew the good local spots, and we enjoyed catching up over some sinus-clearing Indian food. I had a very early flight the next morning, but we were able to get in a round of brews at an awesome little bar called The Black Horse London Pub. This was as literally a hole-in-the-wall as I have ever seen, seating/standing maybe ten people maximum. Bottled beers were served out of an ice-filled porcelain bathtub which also toted a keg of cask-conditioned IPA from a local brewer. Top notch, thanks Rob.

Blizzard

Big snow on the East Coast. Check out this fantastic photo set from Times Square.

Black and white

Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) Jackson Pollock 1950

Solace, Luxury & Despair

Believe me,
there is no solace
in their luxury,
only deep despair.

~ Jack Donaghy

Smashed a camera

Dat kamera broke, it's not ok. Tomorrow ((maeby)) The wall, part three.

September 29 - The camera was fixed by repair service obtained via eBay: $39.

Rock 'sters

Metropolitan Museum

click here to view full slideshow.

Big steps

Had another marvelous weekend in Grand Rapids. Weather was beautiful, got in thirty-six holes of golf, played some good poker at Soaring Eagle, observed sister's college graduation, ate well, travelled easy. ConGRaDulations LVD.

At San Chez tapas restaurant on Fulton Street. A fine, if not over-indulgent, meal. Here's shots of a few courses:

Heirloom tomato salad with goat cheese.

Stuffed poblano pepper with raspberry salsa. I want to eat this every day.

Ginger tuna.

Mmmm, thirty-rock

Tracy Jordan: I'm going to make you a mix tape. Do you like Phil Collins?
Jack Donaghy: I've got two ears and a heart, don't I?


best show out..... photo: paris street apartment

1800 cocktail

1800 Tequlia, lemon juice, gomme syrup, dash of Tanqueray Rangpur (lime) gin, club soda (seltzer). Shake with ice, pour over rocks, add soda, admire, consume.

Morning initiative

red fox
backyard
spring rain
examine
perimeter
black crow
neil young
mossy hush
gentle drizzle
morning
initiative
casual trot
attentive aware
pause linger
move along

Open door