a trip for the record books

A room with a view

American Visionary Art Museum 

The exterior of AVAM

Just your everyday mirrored mosaic school bus. 

Best Orioles bar ever! They have baggos (cornhole)

The following four images

Bill's Terrace Inn; Essex, Maryland

"How'd you find us??" -- Bill, owner of Bill's Terrace Inn

"On the internet" -- Dad

"You mean, I'm on the internet?? I hope they're saying good stuff about me."---Bill

"Everyone says you've got the best crabs." -- Dad

"If ya finally make it here, you're coming on purpose." --Bill

"Well, we didn't come for the decor???" --- (my immediate thought process)

WARNING --- the restaurant is about 10 miles from the Inner Harbor/Fell's Point area, but if you are like us, and take a cab, MAKE SURE you MAKE your cab drive take the highway and interstate!! Otherwise it will take you half an hour, and a steep check. Also, have GPS ready, no one knows where this place is located.

Yes, this did happen to us on the way to the restaurant. Fortunately the owner called us a cab (from a good cab company) and took us back to the hotel in a fraction of the time and for a fraction of the price.

He took the highway.

First when you walk in you see a sports bar complete with a "Cheers" style wrap-around bar, pool tables, etc. You might think you're in the wrong place... you're not. Bill will be sitting in the "back of the bar" nodding at you (because you will obviously stick out like a sore thumb). Behind the bar is a cafeteria type dining area. Pictured above.

The BEST crabs I have ever eaten in my lifetime. WE will be back. The "before" image.

Next time, I suggested that we order 1/2 dozen then, when we're almost done order the other 1/2 dozen so they are hot and don't get cold. 

Say hello to my little friend. 

After. I had one crab left but we gave it to the waitress to have. We were there for over two hours watching the game and enjoying the "ambiance," so by the time we were done, so was the waitress. 

Oh yeah, we did go to Baltimore for a baseball game. Which we won. Beat the Oakland A's 10-1. FYI we are tied for 2nd in the American league and play Tampa Bay this weekend in Baltimore, and yes, they also have a 20-12 record.

This year we walked to the front of the stadium. 

Had lunch Saturday at Thames Oyster House

Our oysters. 2 of each from the 6 checked below. Top of the list is the really big one and then they go clockwise down the list. 

blue crab. In Baltimore.

I kicked his butt in Baggos --- before it started raining

Updated picture of me and Cal

Updated picture of Dad and Brooks

Frank Robinson throwing the first pitch. YES, Frank Robinson.

10-1! Cold and rainy, but fantastic. Merry Christmas, Dad.

Just the final meal (appetizer). That is one cinnamon roll, and no that isn't a bread plate. From Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on Food Network, we went to Blue Moon Cafe. We got the "Sweet Baby Jesus" which consists of a MASSIVE plate of hashbrowns, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, Maryland crab, two eggs any style, AND hollandaise sauce on top. I didn't eat for well over 24 hours after and have never been so full in my life. It was good, but I don't think I'd wait 2 1/2 hours to get a table again. 

Been there. Done that. Add it to the list! 

And that wraps up "Dad's weekend" 2012!

baltimore 2.0

What's next you ask?????? 

Dad's weekend 2012! AH! Only seven days away! Where to this year?????? BACK TO BALTIMORE! Can't get enough of our favorite team.  Let's recap. . .

St. Louis (Cards vs. Mets) April 2009

Citi Field (Mets vs. ?) August 2009

Parents came to New York for work and play! 

Baltimore (O's vs. Yankees) April 2010

Orioles dominated

 Yankee's new stadium August 2010

Please note: This Yankee paraphernalia was purchased out of necessity. 

Fenway (Red Sox vs. O's) April 2011

Can't wait to see you, DAD! Meet you in Baltimore. 

my new motto

So obvi. #fabulousity

life according to my iphone. . .

This year has been (to put it mildly), insanely busy. Like over-the-top-where-did-March-come-from-what-happened-to-winter type crazy. Instead of filling you in on every mundane and sometimes exciting moments that have happened recently, I thought I'd share via iphone photos.

The Oscars. Love them, hate them, love to hate them? I love them. Hands down I liked Hugo more than the Artist, but the proof is in the gold statue. I didn't get an Oscar, but I sure won the pool at Ian's watch party! 

My prize: AMC gift card. March 23rd, Hunger Games, here I come! 

My dear friend, Erin Riley, sent me this spectacular photo. Caption needed? I think not. The proof is in the picture.

Good friends, Brooke Augusta and Pittman are getting hitched and moving to New Orleans (from New York by way of Arkansas). So of course if I am invited to a wedding shower in New York chances of honorees being from Arkansas, or hosts will be from Arkansas. . . 100%.

To dress up the gift card I gave (there is only so much I can hold while riding the train to Brooklyn while it's snowing out), I wrapped up a bottle of wine in a "Razorback red" dish towel. A couple of practical items every household needs. Idea via Pinterest via encoreuneminute

Since starting my new job, and waking up at a reasonable time every morning, I have treated myself to brunch at Alice's Tea Cup the past two Saturday's. And yes, I'll be there again tomorrow, but I won't be alone! Guests are coming in town tomorrow! Woohoo Whitmore's! 

How  can my life get more exciting? I got to hear and MEET Shemekia Copeland at the Iridium a couple weeks ago. Talk about soulful, powerful, amazing, pure talent... girl has got it going on. Hands down one of the best concert I've ever seen. I took my friend Lynn, and after one song, she didn't need any more convincing. She is now a huge fan as well. 

Shemekia and I after the show. Check her out, she is awesome. 

Lynn had an extra ticket to Godspell on Tuesday, so we went to the Circle in a Square theatre to see that, and well, you have to see it to believe it. You will definitely laugh out loud. A great mid-week treat. 

That's all I've got for the past few weeks. Stay tuned, more to come! 

billboard designer... say what!

Yep, that is correct! For the past ten months I have been working with Tri-County Mental Health Services in Kansas City, Missouri. They told me about a new campaign that they wanted to launch and asked if I was available to design the logo (see logo below). Well, by the end of it, I was able to create not only a logo for them but also postcards and a billboard. Yes, I just said BILLBOARD. I jokingly told my friend that designing a billboard would be big, and she in turn she responded, "approximately 50 feet big!"

The billboard design, for all of you who don't live in KC.

Not only was it a big design, literally, but it was a great new medium for me. Because I won't be able to see the billboard in person (unless some really nice readers want to donate money for a plane ticket to Kansas City, just kidding), my friend Elise is going to take a picture and send it to me.

Currently the new campaign, Parent Up, can be seen at www.parentupkc.com. But if you live in the KC area, you might see other products with the logo --- Elise sent me a picture (below) of all the boxes that keep coming in with Parent Up paraphernalia: pocket folders, magnets, coasters, t-shirts, chip clips, pens, etc., which all have the Parent Up logo pictured below. Cheers! 

no excuses

No excuses. I have no real reason why I haven't blogged this year, but here we go! Better late than never, right?

What I've been doing since the holidays:

• Painting, a lot actually. Paper, cardboard, and whenever I can get my hands on canvas.
• Cleaning. There is only so much my apartment can hold. I have loaded up 5 trash bags of clothes to donate... some are from my freshman and sophomore year of college. Why I even brought them up to New York, who know? 
• Working. At least half a dozen clients keeping me busy. Not a lot of free time, but I'm definitely not booked to the max.
• Did I mention painting? 

mini wrapping party

Christmas presents beginning to get wrapped. Everything made it to New York that I need before heading to the south this weekend. Most of the wrapping paper that I made will be in my suitcase since I can't wrap and carry on large boxes, especially since my mom's gift is over three fee tall. 

First present wrapped to go under the tree --- Merry Christmas to the Willett's! Happy Wrapping!