biercamp & artisan meats.

I'm in Ann Arbor for the weekend, and besides celebrating our birthdays and making time for Michigan sports, yesterday we stopped in at Biercamp for lunch. Ben had spotted it a couple months ago and suggested we give it a try. It is a small roadside stop and would have taken me many drive-bys before I ever noticed it. But, once you open the door, the smell is intoxicating! We got the pulled pork sandwich and the steamship round and ate all of both of them. So, the next time you are in Ann Arbor, we recommend it for a quick lunch. 

to celebrate.

I have been waiting to write this post for so long, so I am happy the day has arrived! Yesterday was Ben's birthday and I finally got to give him his birthday present. I had bought it months ago and it took all my self-control not to just tell him what it was. Drumroll please.....

Outstanding in the Field

Ben and I have had our eye on doing Outstanding in the Field for a couple years now, and his present this year will be a meal to remember! For those who don't know about it, Outstanding in the Field organizes dinners all over the country (and now the world!), in some of the most gorgeous settings you can imagine. They set up long tables on farms, in caves, along the coast, ranches, islands, and on. The pictures tell the story.

The food and meal is locally sourced and dinner is prepared by a celebrated chef in the region. Everyone shares the table. The farmers, producers, chef, culinary enthusiasts, and diners. It just seemed like the perfect gift for Ben. No better way to celebrate him then with some of his favorites - fine food, a beautiful place, culinary enthusiasts, and a story to tell!

music fix.

This Mumford & Sons video makes me want to go dance and sing at their concert right now! Ben and I were just talking the other day about how we haven't been to a concert in so long. We are redoubling our efforts to get to some shows this summer and next fall. In our early days of dating (so long ago!), we went to some great shows in NY. Amazing what can music can do! Anyway...if you need a boost of energy this is sure to get you going!

a capella + love note.

Happy V-Day! A capella music is so sweet. It always make me happy. Ben sent me a singing telegram this year from the Michigan Law School Headnotes. They left a singing message for me on my voicemail.  How sweet is that?! So in that spirit, look at this site, LoveNotes, by the Yale a capella group.

You can send a singing telegram by email. Of course...Valentines shouldn't be the only day you send love letters and tell people how much you love them, so what a great email to send any day of the year!

dc pilgrimage.

My brother and I stopped into the National Gallery of Art for a very brief visit over the weekend. We didn't linger long...but long enough to find out that the Annie Leibovitz "Pilgrimage" exhibit that I posted about a couple weeks ago, was on showcase. It was even better in person! I loved it. The photos are so crisp and the narratives are fascinating. If you are in DC, I highly recommend it, and the exhibition will go until May 20th, click here for details.

(Apparently, you aren't allowed to take photos. Didn't know this until I was made aware...but I took two before that happened!)

sad indeed.

I danced to Whitney hours on end as a little girl. I just loved her.

Watching all of the videos and tributes to her do no full justice to that voice and her charisma, but the NYTimes time-line, Milestones: Whitney Houston, has compiled so much of her life, it almost comes close.

giving it.

Here are a couple quick ideas for a small housewarming or host gift....

I love this wine coaster. What a great gift to bring with a nice bottle of wine!

Glass Wine Coaster - $12

Some classic tea towels. The Timothy Paul store here in DC has great thick, linen kitchen towels that I just love as a gift. These below are from Etsy. 

Pair of Kitchen Linen Cotton Towels 

I bought 3 of these containers two years ago when Ben and I stopped into Fish's Eddy in New York. I love them. They hold up well and are so affordable. Would be a great gift to fill four or five of these containers with some treats and ribbon them up.

Storage Bowl - Red Wheat-flower

Slate cheese boards are all the rage these days and a great gift. Bring a really good cheese, and save yourself the card, you can just write a couple words of thanks right on the slate! 

Brooklyn Slate Cheese Board