Amazing, buttery whiskey goodness, even better than in memory.
(I didn't drink the whole thing.) (Just one glass.)
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
GROW FURTHER
This week I officially finished my novella. It was a labor of love and late nights. I knew exactly how to celebrate.
Amazing, buttery whiskey goodness, even better than in memory.
(I didn't drink the whole thing.) (Just one glass.)
Amazing, buttery whiskey goodness, even better than in memory.
(I didn't drink the whole thing.) (Just one glass.)
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Quatorze de Juillet
A word about Bastille Day in Paris...
Like every other major event, when July 14th came around I was thinking, "Not a big deal, at least not as big as everyone thinks, it will probably be crowded and awful." But! Like with many things in life, I was proven wrong! I managed to avoid big, bad crowds and instead spent July 14th talking about life for hours with my friend Rebecca, then bringing a bottle of wine down to the Seine (which was not crowded at all, at least in the area we went to) and watching the fireworks from our sweet spot before heading out to the Fireman's Ball (more on that in a moment).
The sun set beautifully. It's hard to capture the strange color of the evening, but it was even more beautiful than this photo can illustrate.
It was a wonderful show, and as I watched the fireworks I thought to myself, "Uh oh. I'm in love with Paris."
Paris has this tradition where every 14th of July (as well as the night before), all of the fire stations around the city host fundraisers that feature live bands, dancing, and hob-knobbing with firemen, all for a donation of any amount. We only went to one, but it was a blast! This is my new favorite thing.
Mostly because you cannot imagine how HOT the firemen are! Every single one of them!
Yes, it was crowded, but we danced the night away nevertheless.
Like every other major event, when July 14th came around I was thinking, "Not a big deal, at least not as big as everyone thinks, it will probably be crowded and awful." But! Like with many things in life, I was proven wrong! I managed to avoid big, bad crowds and instead spent July 14th talking about life for hours with my friend Rebecca, then bringing a bottle of wine down to the Seine (which was not crowded at all, at least in the area we went to) and watching the fireworks from our sweet spot before heading out to the Fireman's Ball (more on that in a moment).
The sun set beautifully. It's hard to capture the strange color of the evening, but it was even more beautiful than this photo can illustrate.
It was a wonderful show, and as I watched the fireworks I thought to myself, "Uh oh. I'm in love with Paris."
Paris has this tradition where every 14th of July (as well as the night before), all of the fire stations around the city host fundraisers that feature live bands, dancing, and hob-knobbing with firemen, all for a donation of any amount. We only went to one, but it was a blast! This is my new favorite thing.
Mostly because you cannot imagine how HOT the firemen are! Every single one of them!
Yes, it was crowded, but we danced the night away nevertheless.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Anyone Home?
This is how dead Paris is in August. Belleville is a ghost town, barely recognizable from the lively spirit it had just a few months ago. Last time I was on this street Rebecca and I couldn't even find a spot to sit and have a drink.
Evening
That blue, blue dusk, made better with a terrasse to watch it from, made better with birds, made better with Paris.
Go USA
But also, go France! I love that the Hôtel de Ville set up a massive screen, a bunch of chairs and bean bags, and let people just come by and watch the Olympics all day, every day. The viewing experience is much better with people.
New Favorite
This restaurant reminds me of "Arrested Development"'s Bob Loblaw (who had "Bob Loblaw's Law Blog").
Thursday, August 9, 2012
SUMMER PERFECTION
I know, it looks ugly, but it is tremendous.
- spinach
- beets
- avocado
- cherry tomatoes
- goat cheese
- salt & pepper
- baguette
BEAT THAT. (I might, actually, when I make it again tonight with a drizzle of olive oil and some mint sprigs?)
* Update: OMG MINT.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
The Parents: Part 2: Paris
After we arrived from the South, we got settled in, I showed my parents my apartment and then we went for dinner at one of my favorite little cafés in Montmartre. It was a lovely, flower-filled dinner.
On our way home, we snuck up on the Sacre Coeur from behind and marveled at its majestic beauty.
We went around the front and took in a beautiful view of Paris from the top of the hill, and I snapped this sweet photo of Mom & Tom gazing at the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
The next day we took a stroll through the Champs-Élysées, did some window shopping (or "window licking" as they say here) and stopped over at a few cafés in the process. We were definitely flâneurs.
No problem with a little Renault 2-seater to scoot around Paris in!
The next day we started off at Jardin du Luxembourg, with some sunshine and macarons from Jean-Pierre Hévin. YUM.
We walked north to Shakespeare and Company...
Where Tom tickled the ivories...
And I tickled the typewriter keys.
Just across the river is Notre Dame, which my mom has waited her whole life to see.
I kept taking Mom's-head-on-Tom's-shoulder shots, which I thought were romantic, and eventually my mom said, "It's more fatigue than anything." Walking around all day will do that to you! I still think it's sweet.
That night Tom and I picked up a quick bite at a hidden-away, delicious and authentic pizzeria in the 18th.
After not getting to spend Mother's Day or my mom's recent birthday in April with her, I declared July 2nd to be her Unbirthday. I planned the day to make her feel as special as she is. We spent the day, just the two of us, on a Jenna-guided Amelie Tour. I met her at the train station (at Lamarck-Caulaincourt, where Amelie drops off the old blind man before dashing up the stairs) and I came down the stairs singing (loudly), "A Very Merry Un-Birthday To You."
One of the big landmarks to see was Les Deux Moulins, the café where Amelie worked. We ended up sitting in the very spot where the jealous guy sits every day in the movie.
(don't we look exactly alike here?)
Mom had a mid-morning super hot chocolate.
Another fun landmark in Montmartre is the front of the Sacre Coeur, where Amelie leads her love around guided by blue arrows.
That night, I had tickets for the three of us to see a string concert of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" at Sainte-Chapelle. To see and hear this was... indescribable. The sun began to set during the concert, pouring powerful late-day light in through the cathedral of stained glass.
And the string ensemble was amazing. So beautiful, I can't really even do it justice on this blog. I cried for half of it. If you're ever in Paris, that is the most underrated activity you should DEFINITELY do.
Afterwards we went in search of nourishment.
We settled in at a beautiful little restaurant in the 2nd arrondissement. While we awaited our very, very delicious food (and the best white wine I've ever had), Mom and Tom silently drank their entire glasses of water, and looked at each other, and kept drinking.
Tom ordered the Baba Au Rhum, a common dessert in Paris, and I guess nobody realized (except me) that it would be a cake drenched in booze. With a bottle of extra booze just in case it wasn't enough. Mom and I took over the reins, but it did not get finished!
Tuesday I let them have a romantic day alone in Paris together, and Wednesday I met up with them for a special dinner for Tom's real birthday, the 4th of July. I said to him, "This may be your first birthday without fireworks!" We went to Gallopin, a beautiful art deco brasserie with sweet waiters, a reasonable prix-fixe menu, and the best foie gras I've ever, ever tasted.
I finally tried escargot, which was actually pretty tasty. I happen to love garlic.
I had told the waiter it was Tom's birthday, and by surprise they brought out his dessert with a fiery sparkler on top. We all sang "Happy Birthday" to him. I've never, ever seen a French restaurant do this before! So he did get some fireworks after all.
We walked a bit after dinner, through the lovely neighborhood near the restaurant.
And I gave the birthday duo some parting gifts from Arnaud Lahrer.
I had a fabulous and fun week with my parents - an experience I'll never forget! They're masters at traveling. I'm so glad and grateful they were able to make the trip happen, and that we got to share so many adventures together in France.
On our way home, we snuck up on the Sacre Coeur from behind and marveled at its majestic beauty.
We went around the front and took in a beautiful view of Paris from the top of the hill, and I snapped this sweet photo of Mom & Tom gazing at the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
The next day we took a stroll through the Champs-Élysées, did some window shopping (or "window licking" as they say here) and stopped over at a few cafés in the process. We were definitely flâneurs.
No problem with a little Renault 2-seater to scoot around Paris in!
The next day we started off at Jardin du Luxembourg, with some sunshine and macarons from Jean-Pierre Hévin. YUM.
We walked north to Shakespeare and Company...
Where Tom tickled the ivories...
And I tickled the typewriter keys.
Just across the river is Notre Dame, which my mom has waited her whole life to see.
I kept taking Mom's-head-on-Tom's-shoulder shots, which I thought were romantic, and eventually my mom said, "It's more fatigue than anything." Walking around all day will do that to you! I still think it's sweet.
That night Tom and I picked up a quick bite at a hidden-away, delicious and authentic pizzeria in the 18th.
After not getting to spend Mother's Day or my mom's recent birthday in April with her, I declared July 2nd to be her Unbirthday. I planned the day to make her feel as special as she is. We spent the day, just the two of us, on a Jenna-guided Amelie Tour. I met her at the train station (at Lamarck-Caulaincourt, where Amelie drops off the old blind man before dashing up the stairs) and I came down the stairs singing (loudly), "A Very Merry Un-Birthday To You."
One of the big landmarks to see was Les Deux Moulins, the café where Amelie worked. We ended up sitting in the very spot where the jealous guy sits every day in the movie.
(don't we look exactly alike here?)
Mom had a mid-morning super hot chocolate.
Another fun landmark in Montmartre is the front of the Sacre Coeur, where Amelie leads her love around guided by blue arrows.
That night, I had tickets for the three of us to see a string concert of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" at Sainte-Chapelle. To see and hear this was... indescribable. The sun began to set during the concert, pouring powerful late-day light in through the cathedral of stained glass.
And the string ensemble was amazing. So beautiful, I can't really even do it justice on this blog. I cried for half of it. If you're ever in Paris, that is the most underrated activity you should DEFINITELY do.
Afterwards we went in search of nourishment.
We settled in at a beautiful little restaurant in the 2nd arrondissement. While we awaited our very, very delicious food (and the best white wine I've ever had), Mom and Tom silently drank their entire glasses of water, and looked at each other, and kept drinking.
Tom ordered the Baba Au Rhum, a common dessert in Paris, and I guess nobody realized (except me) that it would be a cake drenched in booze. With a bottle of extra booze just in case it wasn't enough. Mom and I took over the reins, but it did not get finished!
Tuesday I let them have a romantic day alone in Paris together, and Wednesday I met up with them for a special dinner for Tom's real birthday, the 4th of July. I said to him, "This may be your first birthday without fireworks!" We went to Gallopin, a beautiful art deco brasserie with sweet waiters, a reasonable prix-fixe menu, and the best foie gras I've ever, ever tasted.
I finally tried escargot, which was actually pretty tasty. I happen to love garlic.
I had told the waiter it was Tom's birthday, and by surprise they brought out his dessert with a fiery sparkler on top. We all sang "Happy Birthday" to him. I've never, ever seen a French restaurant do this before! So he did get some fireworks after all.
We walked a bit after dinner, through the lovely neighborhood near the restaurant.
And I gave the birthday duo some parting gifts from Arnaud Lahrer.
I had a fabulous and fun week with my parents - an experience I'll never forget! They're masters at traveling. I'm so glad and grateful they were able to make the trip happen, and that we got to share so many adventures together in France.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)