SEE

This is Gus. He hangs out at SEE Eyewear sometimes. He helped me pick out some new specs for the new year. (He likes plastic frames.)



Also, I love this place. Katie, the store manager, just totally gets it. I only recently started wearing glasses full time. It was a major adjustment. My first time in the store was November or December of 2008. I walked in full of grump. But Katie made the whole process so darn fun. She has an amazing eye, an adorable Boston accent, and a way of being with people that makes you feel truly seen.

Oh, and Steve adjusts glasses so that they fit like a dream.

The Wine Rack

Renting an apartment has tremendous advantages: you never have to worry about mowing a lawn, fixing a leaky roof or paying real estate taxes. The disadvantage, for a home-improvement addict like myself, is that you can only do so much home improvement in a one bedroom apartment. Our home here at number 54 is definitely our castle. But, a small castle, whose walls we are not even allowed to paint let alone think about ripping down. I take untold pleasure in getting out my drill and putting some holes in our single-toned walls. My usual inspiration for a project is some off-the-cuff remark Jessica makes about some little piece of our small kingdom; at the smallest hint of a project my head starts spinning with dreams of walking through Home Depot and buying all kinds of good stuff that I never realized I needed so badly.

Tonight's project was the hanging of a VintageView 18 bottle wine rack I bought at wineracksamerica.com. Three bomber, toggle bolts sunk into the wall and three less impressive, dry-wall screws later, the rack was up.

To be honest I am not sure why we needed an 18 bottle wine rack. We don't generally keep that much wine around. But the idea of storing bottles in the unused airspace in the closet off of my office/piano room/kitchen overflow room was too good to pass up. Aparment space management is all about maximum utilization, and turning empty ceiling into beautiful storage was an opportunity I just could not pass up.

January 3

I just scanned some film from Sunday's brunch at Craigie on Main, and I thought I'd share a few shots from the roll. It was my first time ever working with slide film. I decided to have it cross processed, and I'm not sure I'll go that route again anytime soon. Everything looks a little greenish to me. Sometimes I think it works, but most of the time, I just want to look away. I was surprised by the variation in color and saturation within a single roll. I don't think I've seen this kind of thing with other films I have used. I'm hoping that after another roll or two, I'll have more of a sense of what to expect. As for all of the blurriness, unfortunately, I can't blame that on the film. Better luck next time.

I love how this restaurant is designed around the kitchen. From almost every seat in the house, it's possible to catch at least a glimpse of it. Craigie on Main is all about connectedness - to the seasons, to the produce and animals it prepares, to the vendors they use, and to their guests. The open kitchen layout makes me feel like I'm connected too, somehow; as if by simply chewing and swallowing, I'm a part of it all. I stood by the kitchen for a while snapping these shots, and I thought to myself, "This is a restaurant that is not afraid to bear its soul." I can't wait until the next time.

So good.

I have no idea why, but when I saw the snow piling up outside this morning, my first thought was brunch. Out. We bundled up and braved the cold, and it was so worth it. Craigie on Main is everything a restaurant should be. Thanks to Josh and Ted for making an extraordinary meal even better. And to Chef Tony Maws, of course, for creating a space like this.

That top shot there is from a pre-brunch camera war on the T. Eli was on the digital. We'll have to wait until I get my film back to see how I fared.

Happy, new

Our New Year's Eve plans were foiled by a snow storm that wasn't. Lucky for us, Plan B was delicious.

After dinner, we changed into our pajamas and convened on the sofa for some (botched) self-portraits and a movie. In the morning, we ate vanilla crepes with strawberry jam, sliced apples, and toasted walnuts.

Happy, new.