Farewell, Sweet Codex

This week: Sara and Chris came to pick up Codex – I was happy she went to a great home, but the sadness kicked in a day later. Takito Kitchen with Stacy. Finally sold off nail polish supplies on Craigslist. Farewell LAK Lacquer – you had such a short life. Dinner ate Bite with Z and Frank. Closing. Hoosier Mama/Yuzu with Teresa. Squasht 10 Year Anniversary Celebration with Stacy. Snack at Authentaco. Handed out candy with Amy at Boo-palooza. Podhalanka with Z and then House Theatre’s Season on the Line @ Chopin Theatre. Sold at Halloween Vegan Vortex at LAMA Chicago. More packing!

Films watched 42nd week of the year:

Back to the Future
Back to the Future Part II

Z and I have started down the slippery slope that is our favorite childhood films. On the plane home, our flight attendant made a joke about a flux capacitor and the girl he made it to did not get it. SHE HAD NEVER SEEN BACK TO THE FUTURE. I mean how do people like this exist!? The first one remains such a classic, but I remembered loving II when I was a kid, but it is not very good, except for the fuel made directly from trash, which remains an excellent idea.

After being together for 8.5 years, it was bound to happen that we’d get a nearly identical card for one another and it turns out this happened for our one year wedding anniversary card. 🙂

Breakfast @ Greenhouse Bed & Breakfast – HUBBA, HUBBA

This week: Celebrated our anniversary at our beloved Greenhouse Bed & Breakfast in Kempton, IL (30 minutes outside of Kankakee, the same place we had our mini-moon last year. It is the best best & breakfast that we’ve gone to and we love Mark and Guia and their pups Tinka & Apollo. It is the best place to forget about the stress going on in our lives packing and getting ready to move. Truly feels like a home away from home. And the food that Guia makes; probably about 90% grown in their gardens, from their chickens, or from their neighbor Mint Creek (sustainable meat farm), is better than most restaurants we have eaten at. Pictured above is breakfast: savory kale oatmeal, poached eggs and tomatoes, cornbread, persimmon pudding, zucchini bread, fruit, and bacon for Z. Guia does not mess around with food. You can pay additional to have dinner there since it’s rather remote and it is completely worth sticking around because dinner is just as good. Basically, everyone should go there. Tell Mark & Guia we sent ya.

What I brought to swap:
potato & onion pierogi. black bean, kale & butternut squash chili. popcorn eyeballs.

My swap haul

After missing a couple Chicago Food Swaps due to being out of town, it was fantastic to make it to this one! Lots of veteran swappers and a few new faces. Some faves were coffee beans from elhurst coffee, two different dilly beans, vegan pancakes, fig bars, maple ginger soda, lime curd, and amazing caramels. Freakin’ tastiness. I feel like this was the most winning combination of stuff I made. Everyone went WILD for the pierogi. I used this recipe from Isa Chandra and then froze them for swappers to cook them with whatever they wanted. Mods made: Adding the magical Epic Spices garlic pepper.

Films watched 41st week of the year:

The Hangover Part III
ParaNorman
Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince

THP3 was terrible. The opening scene is the only thing worth watching. ParaNorman was brilliant – I’d guess that others felt it was similar to Frankenweenie as well. Pretty cool. HP&THBP excellent re-watch.

View at River Farm

This week: Got into Renegade Craft Fair Chicago Holiday – HUZZAH! Lunch with Betsy @ BDP. Flew to DC. Dinner with Jen, Matt, and kiddos Max & Luke. Brunch with Alison, Ron & kiddo Hannah. Dinner with family @ Cedar Restaurant. Carol & Russell’s Wedding at River Farm with reception at China Garden. Monday = Brunch with Nancy & Les @ Woodlands Vegan Bistro. Flew back to Chicago.

It was so great seeing so many buds in such a short time. Also, it was pure serendipity that Nancy happened to be in town over the weekend also. Such a happy weekend. We also got to meet my parent’s new dog Gracie. Even though she’s also a berner and looks nearly identical to Shadow, Gracie is the polar opposite.

Films watched 40th week of the year:

Obvious Child
Gone Girl
A.C.O.D.

It’s obvious why most people I know who saw it loved Obvious Child – quite a film. Gone Girl was really good. I tried not to hear any spoilers about the book – I only knew that there was a twist, but oh boy, it was a doozy.A.C.O.D. was alright. I love Adam Scott, but I don’t think I’d watch this one again.

Me with Marnie the Dog

I met Shirley’s pup, the famous Marnie the Dog, at NYC Popfest, but I forgot to post the picture. I only took a handful of photos during my epic week, so I figured this photo is better than any of those. <3 This week was the most culture I think I have ever jammed into one week. Met Amanda & Stacy at Tecalitlan. Dropped tea towels @ Plenty Grocery and Deli. Music Box. Quesadilla with Z, Elisse, & Nathan. Magritte exhibition @ Art Institute. Scotch tasting @ Jarvis house. David Bowie Is Exhibit @ MCA. Velvet Goldmine screening @ MCA with Todd Haynes & Sandy Powell. For our wedding we had received a few museum memberships and, since we're closing in on our one year wedding-versary, we knew we had to finally use or use for a second time! It was an incredibly fun and productive week - feels good to get stuff done. So, about the Magritte exhibit - when Z and I were done I whispered to him: "Yep, not into Magritte." Admittedly, I only knew about 10 works of his, but I thought I enjoyed them, but seeing the paintings in person, I am not a fan. It was our first time in the modern wing and when I turned the corner and saw the Joseph Cornell wall, I was like, "yep, this is my kind of art." I've been a long time fan of Cornell's work and have seen a retrospective, but it had been awhile since I'd seen any of his pieces in person. The blend of art and craft is what touches my heart. Whatever kind of art moves you is great, as long as you find something that moves you! Speaking of art, I have been incredibly proud of buddy Dolan Geiman‘s work these days. The pieces he is creating today remind me of Cornell and strike my heartstrings the same way. Get thee to his website.

Films watched 39th week of the year:

Safe (2012)
The Zero Theorem
Velvet Goldmine

Safe was fine. The Zero Theorem was fantastic for costume design; think The Capitol City from Hunger Games, but without the heart behind it. Since I saw it, Velvet Goldmine has stayed in my Top 10 films of all time. I love every single thing about it. One of my perfect films. Getting to see it with Todd Haynes and Sandy Powell doing a Q&A after was splendid. Sequel, please? 🙂