Been a bit boozy lately, haven’t I? Well, it is the season of holiday parties, family gatherings, and all manner of cold-weather frolic that can be greatly enhanced by hot cocoa with a "bump"… It’s Nana’s fault. The old girl was a former society debutante who started smoking when she was a Campfire Girl and … Read more
We all, they say, have one book in us. God knows what mine would be. How about Good Wine Needs No Bush: Political Maunderings of an Expatriate Oenophile? Or perhaps Latin Love in a Cold Climate: Memories of a Minnesota Classicist. These are merely titles in the mind. More intriguing are authors who produce one … Read more
He’d been a groom before; I hated the idea of a puffy white dress. So we had a ceremony at the courthouse and left abruptly the next morning for Paris. I’d like to say it was impossibly romantic. But among the magical nighttime moments in the Louvre courtyard, there was plenty of bickering concerning the … Read more
I am WAY behind on shopping. I know I’ve been writing out gift guides for y’all, but that doesn’t mean that I’m surrounded with foodies in my real life. I have to buy Bionicles and Restoration Hardware tchotchkes like the rest of you. But I generally hate shopping. The only way I can suffer the … Read more
Last night I finished my week’s run of holiday parties/steak-binge with a soiree at Jax. I wore a kicky ruffled tux shirt and drank Dewar’s all night, because that’s what Jax calls for. The bartenders always put on a fine display of drinksmanship, not only do they remember your drink, but they have a freshie … Read more
Do you have a cookie party in your future? Is there a massive plan afoot to organize friends/co-workers/relatives/cellmates for a gathering in which an inordinate amount of cookies is exchanged? I have a love/hate thing going for the cookie party. The premise is a bit appealing, bake dozens of one kind of cookie and bring … Read more
Last night I drank a lot of the beautiful, golden, silky liquid known as The Macallan 12. So I apologize if this isn’t my most shimmering post. A few of us had dinner at Manny’s and it was a significant event in that my BRF (best redheaded friend) was bringing her new boyfriend for us to meet. Yes, … Read more
Food Heroes don’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, their deeds are rather more humble. They get in the dirt when it’s still frozen or wake up before the sun to hang out with the goats. They spend their summer weekends working the markets or give up holiday time to make the most of the … Read more
It was last year when the UPS man left the box by our front door. As always, when unexpected boxes arrive, there was excitement and a flurry of dancing about the foyer. Upon quick and furious destruction of the box, we discovered a gift basket. It was a large gift basket, and once we removed … Read more
If you were casting the role of Tea Lady, you might choose a soft woman with a doughy nature. Maybe you’d pick a spinster who has a serious passion for bone china and a pension for plushy chairs and quiet nights by the fire. Maybe she has cats, lots of cats. Mrs. Kelly of Mrs. … Read more