Southern Saturday - The Lassis Inn

After reading about The Lassis Inn in Garden & Gun magazine several months ago, we've been dying to go there. Saturday night was the right time to execute this very classy date.

Yes, we shared a 40oz at the suggestion of our lovely waitress. Yes, there's juke-box music. Yes, we ate fried catfish dinners. I used hot sauce. It was a good time. I didn't stress over what to wear. It was really cute and extremely southern. I don't know if we'll frequent on our own but this is the kind of special place we will bring guests. 

Saturday Morning Stuff

Saturday I left early to do an escort volunteer shift at Planned Parenthood. I remembered to use the recently re-opened and renovated East Side Path.

I did a later shift than usual, so it was a different traffic if that makes sense. I was there late enough to see the early-morning protesters pack it up and leave.

It was St. Patrick's Day and I'm superstitious so I had on some green. Matt met me after my shift.


We went to eat breakfast at Peels. It was really good. The biscuit is a whole menu item, but my shrimp & grits weren't huge, so I'm glad I also ordered the biscuit. Matt did the same thing. Order a breakfast + a biscuit.


We checked out some shops. I wanted to go to Madewell and TopShop and in exchange for his patience during that, I agreed to go to REI with him.

Calm, Delicious Christmas

Christmas morning I got crazy and made spiced pear french toast.
Recipe found at the end of this ramble.

Matt made chili and I had the brilliant idea to make it into Frito chili pies. Bonnie lost her mind trying to get into this. He loosely used this recipe. We love Jimmy.

The heart-shaped pans are filled with Cracker Barrel's Hashbrown Casserole knockoff recipe.
It's hard to resist eating a whole pan. 

My sweet babes.


Our massive live tree. I hope she can survive.

Lonely Bike Times

I'm not lonely in LIFE but I'm finding myself LONELY in the bike community now that it's COLD out.
All by myself in the park tonight.

One older man was in there doing laps and we were so isolated that we spoke to each other.
We spoke to each other, people! This is New York City and me and this stranger spoke to each other.

The seasons have shifted.

My gloves tonight were not enough. I think it was in the low 40's. -Fahrenheit.


Good morning stop.


See- I'm not that crazy skinny- I'm still normal.

I'm downright ashamed of my hair so I kept the helmet ON. And I'm SAFE. So it's on.

However, I was HOT at this point this morning so the leopard coat came OFF.

Oh, leaves.


I saw Malaika tonight!


And our friend who we met on the Moonlight Ride, Julia met us out.


Malaika says it's too cold for bikes and Julia says mid-town is too crazy for riding so should I ask myself "Am I insane?"

Instead of really thinking about this question, I'll just ignore that notion and keep riding.

If I didn't ride- I wouldn't see nonsense like this:

A Little Miami Scrapbook

I'm still in Miami. While I'm indoors for a bit- to protect my lily-white skin, I thought I would post some pictures to prove I'm alive and well.

 

Matt is conducting actual business. I'm just messing around. And around. And around.

Took Myself on a Bike Date

Last night was the last night ever for the sno-ball place.
Wednesday nights are hard for me to motivate in any social or adventurous way. I'm so tired. I fought the laziness and got back on my bike at the ghastly hour kidding! of 8pm and went for a night ride.

I got dressed-up like a cantaloupe.
There wasn't a cantaloupe flavor, but I felt like I was showing them a fruity festive farewell.

This is me at like 10:30pm - this is about as tomboy as it gets.


The weather was gorgeous and I was immediately pleased with my decision to act.

When I realized it was August 31st, I knew I had to go. September means summer is over.

I owed it to myself to take myself on a night ride.


1/2 Raspberry - 1/2 Buttercream (frosting) and condensed milk drizzle on top.
I'm a little too good at picking out amazing snacks.


I was not the only lady sitting in the little park savoring one last summer sno-ball.


And I'm glad I've got clear/fake glasses to protect my cryballs.

If You BIke 7mi to the Restaurant-

If you bike 7 miles to the restaurant, I think you can eat whatever you want. Google maps said our venture was about 7miles and I believe him.

I am so proud of myself for getting us to Mary's Fish Camp in the West Village with incredible accuracy, as in, door-to-door bicycle travel, because sometimes navigating the West Village is a little tricky.

The biggest portion of our ride was using the West Side Greenway which is lovely.

Matt usually rides a few feet behind me. He's very resistant to being photographed. 

This is what we look like talking and riding down the greenway. It's so chill.


We drank some cans of Pork Slap while we waited for a table seats at the bar.


Lately, Matt is biking to work in extremely casual clothes, packing his shirt, tie, dress pants and he returns home in the casual outfit. He asked me to pick his outfit for our dinner date and I chose this red vintage Lacoste shirt because it's a good color for visibility (Note to self: I should buy more red clothes!) and it matches some of the accessories on his bike.


To both of our disbelief- After beers and a lobster roll, I didn't even want to share dessert. 

We Toterly Went to China

I have my own personal Tiger Mom friend. She's bossy in a really loving way. Saturday afternoon we visited her in Queens. She took us to a huge, new mall - The New World Market. She says since we've been to that food court, we pretty much know exactly what going to China is like.

Some very busy and outrageous shave ice.

We went to dim sum and she called the shots. Thank goodness.

She told Matt he holds chopsticks like a professional (which I'll never hear the end of) and she insisted that I drink several cups of this tea.

We went to her apartment but stopped at the swingset first.

We felt so strange riding the subway on a beautiful day! We're in this wonderful place where we have no idea how much money is left on our MetroCards because we are riding public transit so infrequently. Awesome! We saw some fantastic graffiti from the 7 train.

I love her! She tells me to be nice to my husband so Matt loves her too! And I love that she had a giant Minnie Mouse on her couch.

I might go back for one of these watermelon babies. I love them!


PS- My Tiger Mom's adult son is a violinist and seamstress on a professional level, and has a PhD in something- I forget. She's the real deal and I'm so glad we're friends.

Parsons Sr. Thesis Show

Today was awesome! My friend Gilda did her senior presentation at Parsons. Parsons is Fierce. I've seen the FIT Student show and this Parsons crowd kicked that ass! (Con-Ed classes are like $500 - owww!)

I don't watch Project Runway but I kept thinking this was like real life project runway.

Each student had 10 minutes to present a fall 2010 line. The front row was a panel of judges/professors/jurors if you will. I was able to leave work early since I went in before I officially started to do some fit modeling. I was free to enjoy all the presentations but I don't know how to control my DSLR camera and the pics aren't that hot but here we go!

Here's Gilda!

She is going to be really legit one day. She already is. I think she'll be famous. Or, I should say, her brand will be famous!

This boy is going to be high-profile. He had such a wonderful, funny personality. He talked about the care instructions. I loved that he cared.


I feel yucky comparing him to Austin Scarlett, but that's who he reminded me of. BUT - This guy was really outgoing and smart and I love him. He's the only white person in the class. Maybe I could go on a minority scholarship? Hmm....

I loved the technical structure and details in all the garments. These people know how to mother'fucking build some clothes, damnit!


This girl (right) had it going on. I want to copy her blouse that she has on.

She was sponsored by a silk company! So many of these guys were ultra-professional in their thinking. It was so awesome.

You can see my photo set on Flickr here. It's about 50 photos.

I had a realization today - I don't hate fashion anymore. I'm at a good place. Vogue came in the mail and I didn't sneer and shove it away from my face. I pored over the fashion spreads and enjoyed it. I don't hate fashion anymore. I think I'm back in the spectator seat. It's not smothering me with a pillow in my sleep anymore.

I ride the bus across 5th Ave every day now. There's a clear hand bag in the window at Prada that I want to get to know, but I know that's a horrible idea. I need to stay on the bus. I took a bus up Madison Ave yesterday and it was really heart-wrenching. It's too much fun up Madison Avenue. So many wonderful, horribly expensive things.

Today was just really nice. The technical seamstress at work is Chinese and she offered half of her lunch to me and it was homemade dumplings and they were DELICIOUS! I wolfed them down and enjoyed Teen Vogue while I ate 'em up!


I took a pin that I got for 50 cents in Arkansas and turned it into a necklace:


And here's my outfit of the day - with jacket:


No jacket but even worse photo quality:


Days like this - really awesome days - make me want to stay in New York City forever!
Oh wait, there's even more! I got a new ride!



It's not quite ready yet, but I'm so excited! It has the teeniest bit of pink trim. It's a Schwinn Cream. Can't wait! Summer of Velocouture is on!