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A Country Drive and a Cheese Shop
When life gets hectic, which is most of the time, my husband and I like to go for a country drive. (Yes, I know that makes us sound decades older than we are, but I also like Scrabble and gardening, so I think I’m really a grandma at heart, anyway.) On the Fourth of July, we loaded up our dog in the car and drove to Blue Mound State Park for some hiking. On the way home, rather than taking the interstate, we meandered back toward Madison on county highways. We stopped at our CSA farm, Vermont Valley Community Farm, which was not only lush with vegetables, but also fields…
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Everyone Needs a Photographer Friend
It is absolutely essential to be friends with at least one good photographer. Seriously. The person doesn’t need to be a professional–anyone with a decent camera, preferably a digital SLR, and knows how to use it, will do. In these days of constant life documentation on Facebook, Picasa, Flickr & Tumblr, you might as well look good. This is where the photographer friend comes in. A good photographer can make you look Project Runway-ready even if you’re feeling bloated, have a giant zit on your chin, and your hair decided not to conform to the styling products you put in it and instead looks straight out of a Flock of…
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Puppies and Microbrews
I’m doing it. The puppy post. But it will tie in with food (the people kind). And beer. I promise. One thing I miss about Chicago is all of the dog-friendly bars. It’s not uncommon to walk by the outdoor patio of a pub and see dogs leashed to their owners’ tables. So when the bar Woofs opened in Madison, I walked right in and naively asked the bartender if it was a place I could bring my dog. He laughed at me and set me straight. Literally. Woofs is a gay bar (something we also have too few of in Madison). Oops. While it turns out Woofs is not…
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Geeking Out in Iowa City
I spent the weekend in Iowa City at a workshop on Food Writing at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival. Most of the time I was geeking out in class or writing on my laptop, but I had a little time to walk around and check out the city, which reminded me a lot of Madison, but smaller. To steal a line from a friend who went to law school there, it’s “like a cultural oasis in the middle of the heartland.” Here are the highlights, in case you ever find yourself in Iowa City: Prairie Lights Bookstore. A book nerd’s dream. Signed books, author readings, works by lots…
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Oh Sweet Pea
Vermont Valley, the CSA farm I belong to, has its annual pea pick this Sunday, where all the members are invited to the farm to pick as many sweet peas as they can carry. I have to miss it because I’ll be in Iowa City for a workshop on–what else?–food writing, but I always love a trip to the farm. Peas are one of my favorite late spring/early summer treats. They are delicious raw, but I also like to cook them as a side dish, using this simple recipe. It allows me to get rid of some of the mint that’s growing like crazy in my potted herb garden, but…
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Star-Studded Fall Concerts
I recently did a post whining about how many bands were skipping over Madison this summer. I am happy to declare that things are already looking up for fall. The Stars just announced their fall tour and the Barrymore is once again on their list, with a show scheduled for October 8. Presale tickets are on sale today on their website (got ’em!) and the general release tickets go on sale Friday. Oh, and their new album, The Five Ghosts, was released today, too. I’m listening to my freshly-downloaded copy as I type. If you want to sample before buying, the album is streaming free on NPR’s website. It will…
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Cinched Dresses and Flippy Floppies
I am loving loose-fitting, cinched dresses for summer, either dressed up with wedges or dressed down with flip flops (popularly referred to in my circle of friends as “flippy floppies” a la The Lonely Island). These three dresses (left to right) are by Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Tibi, and Rag & Bone. All are available at Twigs at 1925 Monroe Street, which I can’t believe I only recently discovered. It’s like a Lincoln Park boutique dropped in the middle of Madison, only with easier parking.
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Dance Your Troubles Away
I love these posters around town, but I don’t know what they are for. I find them both uplifting and creepy at the same time. Does anyone know who made them?
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Fashion? In Wisconsin? You Betcha
Last night I attended the “Rags and Drag” Fashion Show at the High Noon Saloon. Everyone, from drag queens to models to members of the audience, stepped up their usual Madison uniforms of Chacos and t-shirts and put on their most flamboyant and fashion-forward attire. Proceeds went to the Respite Center, which is a great cause, but I would have gone even if the proceeds went to Satan. It’s rare to see so much so much creativity and all-out fashion ballsy-ness right here in Madison. Kudos to Rethreads and all of the other sponsors, as well as the fabulous bands, Screaming Cyn Cyn and the Pons, The Hemlines, and The…
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Pudding Pops and Other Summer Goodies
The summer solstice is coming up on June 21. Yep, people, that means the days will be soon getting shorter. Today I looked up from my computer for long enough to realize that summer is slipping away. So I made a list of my favorite summer things to remind me to do them. What’s on your list? Here’s mine: #1: Find and eat Jell-o Pudding Pops. Do they even make them anymore? I mean the rectangular ones, not the small ones that look like regular old Popsicles. They have a Facebook fan page… #2: Float on a cheap inflatable pool raft. Preferably with a drink holder built in, which brings…
a blog on fiction, fashion, food + family