Chinatown and Spring

The chandeliers in the dimsum restaurant where D and I had lunch were ridiculously grand.


The world's cutest pasta ever. I'm not sure I'll ever eat it. I'll just take it from the pantry from time to time and admire its flowery cuteness.

NYC Day 3: Downtown, Chinatown and the East Village

Our third day in NYC was Mitra's wedding day, but not until later in the evening, so we hopped on the train and took it to the end of the line into Downtown and walked back to our hotel in the East Village via Chinatown.

The last time I was in Chinatown, I think Mitra just took me for a skim through the top of the neighborhood. I had no idea New York's Chinatown was so massive. We walked and walked and walked and thought we would never come to the end of it. But so many great sights in the way.

All crazy cute except that final red-eyed crazed piglet. Why the red eyes?

This picture is for Dan, who loved that we saw "Mr. T" on our travels.

If you know my Dan, this is what he does to make me laugh. I can't explain why I think it's so funny. But he finds the cutest thing he can find and then poses next to it as apathetically as possible. Ridiculous.

So, I feel like I found two dream apartments/homes right next to each other in the East Village. One is on the left--the modern house plunked down on the top of a four flat. The other is on the right and looks French to me--the 4 huge windows running the length of the apartment. I'm hoping inside, it's a loft space filled with mirrors and reflected light.

My handsome husband in the cafe where we took a break from walking to warm up. And before we split up--him to haunt record shops, me to hang out with the bride while she got ready for the big event.

Saturday

Chinatown. . .

One of the Xylenes singers also plays accordion. . . and a beautiful accordian at that.

Fake food!

I bet you can't guess what's better than a "Punk Rock and Roll" maki roll.

Chinatown has an answer for everything!

This is the 3rd page of specialty drinks at Joy Yee.

Salad and onion tart.

We Killed This Weekend

Dan and I did it up this weekend--stealing a page from staycationland. We went to the farmer's market in Oak Park, where we obviously had fresh donuts and then bought lots of produce.

Then we went shopping for a few goodies. Then on to Chinatown to see a buddy play in a 80's/90's coverband--the Xylenes--at an outdoor festival to benefit the Chicago water taxi. We walked around a bunch, saw some fake food and then ate the real thing at Joy Yee.

Then grocery shopping in Logan Square, picked up Dan's bike, visited the Needle Shop (a tiny fabric store that specializes in Amy Butler and Joel Dewberry and sewing classes, conveniently located across the street from a bar Dan is trying to gig for).

Then home, where I made an onion tart and a balsamic-y cantaloupe, greens, pine nut salad for dinner.

And then today, we had a lazy Sunday. I stained a number of embroidery hoops, while Dan did some homework. After, we went to the Berwyn Y and worked out. Then back home to play with LP and work on the quilt, while Dan did more homework. A lovely bath, reading a new printmaking book I purchased from the Needle Shop, followed by making homemade Paella with spanish chorizo, chicken thighs, cod and shrimp.

We ate our whole way through the weekend--but in a good reasonably healthy way, barring the donuts and chorizo.

Pictures of all to follow.

The Fabulous Jill Huntsberger. . .

needed a wok, so we went on a quick after-work sojourn to Chinatown. A quick in and out.

Jill got her wok and I got butterfly cookies and a surprise gift for the husband. . . I don't know if this is just a thing in U.S. Chinatowns, but there are stores in Chicago Chinatown that wrap miscellaneous cheap gifts in newspaper and put them in a bin for $2.00 each. You buy a box not knowing what you're getting. So, a surprise gift for Dan and for me, the purchaser.

The weather here is finally nice--nearly settled into spring/summer. And so a trip to walk around the stores south of campus seemed like just the thing. The time of year when it feels like, even after work, there are hours of daylight and sunshine and warmth to burn.

Thanks, Jill!