Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
No New Rules!
13 June 2011
Smiling Lola
Seriously!?
This article just came across my desk and I could just breakdown and cry.
While wintering in San Francisco, I voted in person, on line, wrote protests and anything else I could do. HUGE SIGH– again the plight of the Snowy Plover!
Now back in NoHu I thought the issue was resolve and sadly not so.
Here’s an excerpt from Mark Lukach’s article:
“My favorite time to walk my dog on Ocean Beach is during a negative low tide, when the ocean pulls back into itself and reveals a wide-open expanse of wet sand. You can walk south towards Fort Funston and basically go forever. It’s even better if it’s just after a rain, because then the beach is empty. Just me and the dog. I love it.
But that’s probably going to change.
In January of this year, the GGNRA released a proposal for a new Dog Management Plan. It laid out a series of recommendations for how to change the rules for dogs within San Francisco’s national park zones, which include areas like Crissy Field, Fort Funston, and Ocean Beach. It’s complicated, controversial, and has pissed a lot of people off.
Here’s what hits closest to home for me: The plan proposes closing down most of Ocean Beach to dogs.”
In my opinion it is a ridiculous new rule, regulation, law.
My Lola IS A CRAZY BIRD DOG (you-in-the-know are all nodding like bobble heads) but is relatively trained. I run her off-leash and we practice voice command daily. She listens to me. She is also way more interested in chasing sea gulls and sand pipers in the surf.
San Fran is such a dog friendly town! What’s next? Are they going to take away my right to shoe shop with my Lola at Neiman Marcus, Union Square? How about sitting at the lunch counter at Armani with her at my side sharing a light bite?
Seriously! Stop the madness!
Read the article in it’s entirety:
http://www.7×7.com/pets/its-hard-knock-life-ocean-beach-loving-dog
The author with his dog.
Waters on the Walker
10 June 2011
Yves Klein
See my post from earlier today and then read below.
Trust me– it will all make sense.
John Waters’ on the Absentee Landlord exhibit:
Here’s an excerpt:
Who should room together in the world of contemporary art? Can a Russ Meyer photograph go to sleep in the same gallery as an Yves Klein blue chip masterpiece? Certainly, Sturtevant is secure enough to be hated, but is Anne Truitt? Video art has “street cred” these days but can it ever catch up with a John Currin painting in art-history references, even if they’re embraced and mocked? Who’d copy from Richard Prince? Who’d be sloppier to live with than Mike Kelley? And better yet, who’d ruin decoration more than Christopher Wool? Suppose an “art-terrorist” like Gregory Green was hiding amongst us? Do we snitch or shiver in welcome artistic fear? Would Fred Sandback approve of the damage his fellow roommates have caused or would he think they were trying too hard?
Read his entire blog entry:
http://blogs.walkerart.org/visualarts/2011/04/01/troublemaker-invades-walker-art-center/
The Ever Subversive and Insightful
10 June 2011
Dear Readers– an important heads up!
The John Waters’ “curatorial intervention” exhibit opens tomorrow at the Walker Art Center.
“Who should room together in the world of contemporary art? Can a Russ Meyer photograph go to sleep in the same gallery as an Yves Klein blue chip masterpiece?” Pop culture provocateur John Waters raises a host of questions in Absentee Landlord, his devious and sometimes irreverent curatorial intervention in the exhibition Event Horizon. Imagining the galleries as rental apartments, Waters sets up relationships among nearly 80 “roommate” artworks that may be friendly or belligerent, unruly or reserved, supportive or indifferent. In exploring the tensions and connections among disparate works in the Walker’s wide-ranging collection, Waters imbues his new role as curator with his trademark blend of subversion and insight.
Absentee Landlord features works from the Walker collection by Mike Kelley, Carolee Schneeman, Robert Gober, Richard Artshwager, Jack Pierson, Willem de Kooning, Cindy Sherman, Wolfgang Tillmans, Cameron Jamie, Sturtevant, and John Currin, coexisting with several pieces by Waters, a widely exhibited visual artist himself, and works by some of his favorite artists such as Gregory Green, Ralph Eugene Meatyard, and Karlheinz Weinberger, Additional interventions by Waters throughout the museum incorporate surprises into activities like parking the car, checking in at the visitors’ desk, or ordering food in the café.”
June 11 until March 4 2012
walkerart.org
I don’t know about you, but I’m intrigued and look forward to the experience!
And watch the classic John Waters’ film “No Smoking in this Theatre” below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnpofBtijF8
The Walker Welcomes Gather
6 June 2011
“Target Free Thursday Nights at the Walker already feed your eyes and mind; now they feed your culinary appetite. On June 2, Gather by D’Amico opens with an exciting, new chef-driven sampler series, inaugurated by D’Amico executive chef Jay Sparks.
This series will continue on the first Thursday of each month, as an acclaimed guest chef introduces specially created small plates to be featured on the menu throughout the month. In July, we will be joined by Alex Roberts, followed by Isaac Becker in August.
D’Amico executive chef Josh Brown’s lunch menu will feature globally inspired American cuisine served in a casual, elegant setting. Featured dishes include a salad of warm salt-roasted beets with asparagus, pistachio, parmesan, and saporoso vinegar; halibut with spring onions, favas, and morels; barbeque beef short rib banh mi sandwiches; and buttermilk marinated chicken with artichokes, sweet peas, chard, and burrata; along with many other meat, fish, and vegetarian entrees; desserts; and wines by the bottle or by the glass.”
Hours
Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30 am-2:30 pm
Open late Thursday, 5-9 pm
Chef Bios:
“Jay Sparks, Executive Chef of D’Amico and Partners and culinary mentor to many high-profile local chefs, will be the first featured chef on Thursday, June 2. Sparks oversees the menu development and all culinary aspects at D’Amico Kitchen, Parma 8200, Masa, Campiello, and Café & Bar Lurcat.
Alex Roberts, winner of the 2010′s James Beard Award for “Best Chef Midwest” and owner of the highly-acclaimed Restaurant Alma and Brasa restaurants, will be the guest chef for the July 7 event, and his culinary creations will be served throughout July.
Isaac Becker, winner of this year’s James Beard Award for “Best Chef Midwest” and chef and owner of Bar La Grassa and 112 Eatery, will be the guest chef on August 4.
Adam King, chef at Café & Bar Lurcat, will be the guest chef on September 1.
Throughout the year, guest chefs will be drawn from D’Amico restaurants as well as other Minneapolis-St. Paul restaurants.”
See you there!
Food Network Star
1 June 2011
Happy June Dear Readers!
I was on the treadmill yesterday watching the Food Network and saw the ad for the Food Network Star season 7 and OMG my niece-in-law Whitney Chen is a finalist!!!
I found out that she was going to be on the show back in April but the ad reminded me that the program starts this coming Sunday evening.
Watch her video: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food-network-fns7-2011-video-gallery/videos/index.html
Vote for her! And vote often.
Trust me she’s an excellent chef. I’ve sampled her food while at summer rental beach house 2 years ago. And that was before she went off to culinary school! And worked at Per Se (the 3 Michelin Star establishment mentioned below). http://www.perseny.com/
Her bio:
“Whitney Chen, 28 (New York), a former engineering consultant, quit her job and received a culinary certificate from L’Academie de Cuisine in Bethesda, Md., and worked her way up the culinary ladder to the line at a Three Michelin Star restaurant in New York City. A serious home cook turned professional chef, Whitney enjoys using the freshest seasonal ingredients in her cooking and believes that anyone can incorporate advanced techniques into making everyday meals that impress.”
Cheers to you Whitney!
Spring, Summer and Sculling
31 May 2011
It’s time to get back into sculling now that I’m here in NoHu for the summer.
The St. Croix Rowing Club (SCRC) is located in the city of Hudson, Wisconsin on the
shores of the St. Croix River, a national scenic riverway. The nonprofit sculling
club provides both recreational and competitive rowing opportunities for adults. The
purpose of the club is to promote and educate people about rowing and to be good
environmental stewards of the St.Croix River.
We are looking for new members. Please go to: stcroixrowing.org and then click on the “Learn To Row” link.
It’s a great sport– much more challenging than you think. Just getting balanced is quite the feat — but think of the core workout!
Besides it so beautiful to be out there at 6:00 AM and watch the sunrise over the beautiful St. Croix Valley area complete with a Bald Eagle or two flying over. And by 7:00 when you come off the water– you feel fantastic and have the rest of the day ahead of you!
Water + Sun + Surf + Fun People = Heaven.
Succulent Soft Shell Season!
24 May 2011
Just a reminder– it soft shell season once again!
Run don’t walk to get these succulent beauties!
I know what I’ll be serving this weekend.
Available in Twin Cities at Coastal Seafood:
http://www.coastalseafoods.com/
Here’s my fave recipe– quick, easy and so perfectly delicious.
Ingredients
3 soft-shell crabs, cleaned and patted dry
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup flour
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic, sliced
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1/2 cup white wine
1 tablespoon butter
Few chive blades, chopped
Directions
Season crabs with salt and pepper and dredge in the flour, shaking off excess. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the oil and saute the crabs until soft, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove the crabs and set aside. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Then add the capers and white wine. Cook until wine has reduced to about 1/2. Swirl in the butter and the chopped chives. Season with salt and pepper.
Transfer crabs to a plate, spoon sauce over the crabs.
Serve hot.
Now add grilled lemony asparagus, Cesar salad, New French baguette, great bottle or two of chilled bubbly, dry, sweet Cava —poolside.
Perfection.
Bon Appetite!
Illuminating On Many Levels
20 May 2011
Be still my beating heart.
This task light takes my breath away.
I would love this beauty illuminating my work day, everyday!
mossonline.com
Conflux
adjustable task light
manufacturer:
Teknion, Canada
designer:
Carl Magnusson
design year:
2010
notes:
The Conflux adjustable task light incorporates a Passive Infrared (PIR) occupancy sensor which senses body heat; when the occupant leaves the room, the light will eventually turn off to conserve electricity and turn on again when the occupant returns.
materials:
aluminum; Passive Infrared (PIR) occupancy sensor; dimmable LED light source
dimensions:
height adjustable between: 13″-18″; head rotates 360° and tilts 10°
price:
$360
A Little Springtime Sigh
18 May 2011
I love the charming tidbits Hermes sends out. Always a little breath vibrant sunshine and crisp clean air.
Click on the above link for the full experience and then finish with a big calm sigh and smile.
Good Design
16 May 2011
Vitsoe’s 606 Universal Shelving System is 50 years old.
It amazingly hasn’t aged a day.
Still stunningly simple, understated and functional.
“Design classic” and the adjective “designer” are over-used. But our shelving system is the work of Dieter Rams. He was head of design at Braun from 1961 to 1995 and many of his team’s products have found their way into the collections of the world’s finest museums.
Today he is often cited as the man who created a gentler world – a world to which many people now aspire. We are proud of him and his work – and we are delighted that many respected commentators regard our self-effacing shelving system as a design classic.”
http://www.vitsoe.com/en/us/newsandevents/article/ny-60s-606-is-50
As Dieter Rams (the designer) stayed the course to his 10 Commandments:
Good design is innovative
Good design make a product useful
Good design is aesthetic
Good design helps us to understand a product
Good design is unobtrusive
Good design is honest
Good design is durable
Good design is consequent to the last detail
Good design is concerned with the environment
Good design is as little design as possible
I believe in all of the above and will add my 11th to the list:
Luck is the residue of good design.
Now if I could only find a Braun coffee maker.
