one day like this

My birthday was Tuesday.

This handsome fellow took me out for the day.  We started off at the Winchester for lunch, where they had a great special--10 ouncers of beer for $2.00!  This is one of my favorites, Blue Point Toasted Lager.

I had to take a photo of the house across the street from the Winchester, which is purple, and has a pink Christmas tree in the upstairs window.

We did some book shopping, and then headed to the zoo.  These bears were freaking me out a little.  It's their little bitty eyes, I think.

I wasn't there for the bears, though.  I was there...

for these.

Capybaras!

Hello, my love.

Yes, it's 85 degrees--you two should definitely go for a dip.

Oh.  My.  God.  (Right about here is where I almost had a Kristen Bell sloth moment.)

Look.  He said hi to me!

I didn't want to leave the capybaras, but the zoo was closing.  So we headed to Eastown's new addition, Harmony Brewing.  The farmhouse ale we had was delicious.  Afterwards I took a picture of Andy outside the pizzeria he used to live above.  I love the old signs.

We stopped by Lost and Found so I could shop for a change (I found a really cute mushroom tea towel), but also took the opportunity to snap a couple photos of our space there.  After that, it was over to Vertigo Music, where Andy visited with Herm while I browsed (and bought Twilight Sad, British Sea Power, and Dexy's Midnight Runners cds).  Then a fantastic dinner at Reserve.

An excellent day!

xo

K

book, barware, birch bark, bsp, and booze

I just had to show off a few of the lovely gifts I received for my birthday.

A vintage book full of travel daydream material.

Two sets of barware! One for just the two of us (if I can get Andy to drink a cocktail), and one for when we have guests. The fresh new bottle of Plymouth was a gift, too.

This birch bark necklace was purchased for me when it caught my eye at a cute little shop full of Michigan products near Detroit's Motor City Brewery. And like all good things, the maker, Bettula, has an Etsy shop. It's full of amazing nature-based jewelry and other items (mushroom necklace! Birch bark cuffs!).

And then, of course, there's my gift to myself--seeing British Sea Power in Chicago. With a trip the next day to stock up on cheap (or, at least, cheaper than here) liquor to put to use in all that new barware.

xo

K

my best friend

It was my best friend Stephani's birthday on Monday, and she spent a long weekend with us. Look at her! She's just as cute now as she was when I first met her at the Henry Holt fax machine almost 20 years ago!

If I didn't know Stephani, I wouldn't have met the love of my life, Andy, and I wouldn't be selling vintage clothing, either.




We always have a blast together. We started out the weekend at a Polish hall, sharing some delicious Polish food, courtesy Grand Rapids' Pulaski Days.




Aside from eating, Stephani and I also love walking around. So we headed downtown with Andy and Lucy for some ArtPrize viewing.

Lucy and a rubber tire sculpture in Calder Plaza.




Steph and I both loved the Beerhorst Family Wonder Wagon.






We had a delicious dinner out with friends at Corez Wine Bar. (As usual, Steph and I, shared our meals. Having a best friend who has similar tastes and likes to share is fantastically convenient!) Afterward, we visited a local favorite, the Pickwick Tavern, where Andy cracked us up with stories of his childhood.





We ended the weekend at an orchard, where, after fortifying ourselves with hot cider and doughnuts...




...we entered the Corn Maze!





I felt pretty safe from the Children of the Corn in the company of these two--they're both strong and fast.




It was a fantastic weekend! But then, I always have fun when Stephani is around.




Happy Birthday to you, my friend! Here's to many more years of sharing food, pleasant strolls, afternoon cocktails, movie and trash TV-watching, and road trips. Love you!

(If you want to see more photos from our weekend and ArtPrize, you can check them out on my Flickr page.)

xo
k