Chocolate Bicycle

Erykah Badu Konasana

2012-01-06T10:50:00.001-08:00

Happy Joydays!

2011-12-23T11:08:00.000-08:00

Love the ones with you're with! Spread joy to the ones far away!

bikes are so hot right now

2011-12-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

bikes are so hot right now that fancy hotels in the city display them in their windows, hoping that their current "cool factor" elevates their own.

but wait a minute, what does that sign say, right out front?

so much for cool factor!

If you're looking for places to stay that are genuinely cool - try airbnb!

this year for halloween we will be...

2011-10-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

well, what does it look like? duh!

happy hirschlerbirthday!

2011-10-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday, dad! I love you!

delete your facebook account.

2011-09-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

laws of nature...rule all.

2011-09-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

"The Lie of progress. The Lie of unlimited expansion. The Lie of ‘grow-or-perish.’ Listen. We built ourselves a fine commercial bonfire, but then instead of basking in its warmth, toasting marshmallows over it, and reading the classics by its light, we became obsessed with making it bigger and hotter, bigger and hotter, until if the flames didn’t leap higher from one quarter to the next, it was cause for great worry and dissatisfaction. Well, any Bozo on the riverbank could have told us that if you keep feeding and feeding and feeding a bonfire, sooner or later you burn up all the fuel and the fire goes cold; or else the fire gets too huge to manage and eventually engulfs the countryside and chars its inhabitants. Nature has always set limits on growth: limits on the physical size of individual species, limits on the size of populations. Did we really believe capitalism was exempt from the laws of nature? Did we really confuse endless consumption with endless progress? Benjamin DeCasseres, a Frenchman who lectured at Timbuk U., defined progress as ‘the victory of laughter over dogma.’ Now there’s a victory worth celebrating."

—Larry Diamond (from Tom Robbins’ Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas)

Budaprague 2011

2011-09-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

parents on bikes!

2011-07-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

you know things are good when you are riding bikes with your parents.

what more could a girl ask for?

single speed bike tour

2011-06-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

"Yes, you might have to get off and walk up a few hills, but that's hardly a tragedy, in fact sometimes it can be a nice change of pace! If you are in a hurry, why are you on a bicycle?" ~Sheldon Brown

This quote helped to inspire our single speed bike journey from Philly to Easton, PA last weekend.

There were frustrations at first with the heat, the hills, the uncertainty of where we would end up (we were trying to make it to the Delaware Water Gap by nightfall).

But then!

We couldn't escape the beauty all around. The rolling country hills, the rhythm we fell into and the simple freedom of relying on nothing but our legs and these amazing, quiet, lovely bicycles.

Can't wait to go from coast to coast!

To get your "tour" on check out Adventure Cycling for great maps and tips!

bike-in movie

2011-06-14T09:05:00.001-07:00

went to a roof top bike-in movie sponsored by the Philly Bike Coalition last week - the movie of the evening? Breaking Away!

If you haven't seen it, Breaking Away is pretty great. Enjoy the trailer!

barney car

2011-06-03T09:13:00.000-07:00

What does the beloved purple dinosaur Barney have in common with Miami Beach's "Hip Hop Weekend" (or as some call it Urban Beach Weekend)?

Just this sweet ride - or as I like to refer to it, the 8th wonder of the world.

amazing.

happy holiday!

2011-05-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

spring summary

2011-05-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

busy busy busy spring. here is a quick recap.

hanging with miss america, teresa scanlan at City Hall for a "Keep Philadelphia Beautiful Award"

ate delicious soup and tested our soil (which turned out to be pretty grimy) at the Soil Kitchen

promoted Clemente Fest at the Fairmount Arts Crawl

enjoyed one of the pretty days in a park.

Participated in a Dance Flash Mob at Pifa's Street Fair with Amanda (this picture is of a rehearsal in a parking garage...yes even Flash Mobs have rehearsals sometimes)

With Petra on the Highline for a quick trek.

post-Clemente Fest glow.

best of the northwest awards, 2011

2011-04-13T07:17:00.000-07:00

Best driftwood: South Beach at San Juan Island, WA

Best indoor attraction: Seattle Public Library

Best Patagonia brand ambassador: Jonathan Purtle

Best "Portlandia" moment:

Best nature walks: San Juan Island

Best bus: "Mean Recess" in Wallingford Neighborhood of Seattle

best trip!

my new favorite band

2011-03-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the band 'Assateague' live and direct at an intimate show in Philly's "Dream Oven" music venue (aka someone's moist basement - complete with an old punching bag and random stuff strewn about).

it's hard to describe Assateague's beautiful sound, so I recommend you take a few minutes out of your day to really give them a listen on their website.

I also recommend you invest $7 into purchasing their digital album - because every single song is a work of art. jon and I only caught the tail end of their set at the show, but could not stop listening to the album the rest of the weekend!

all hail Assateague! http://assateague.bandcamp.com/

truffle dog vs truffle hog

2011-02-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

haven't you always been curious how they match up? which is superior?

wiki leeks

2011-02-15T18:02:00.000-08:00

wiki leeks:

get it?

valentine's sunrise

2011-02-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

I did happen to notice that this morning, the sunrise was particularly pink....for Valentine's Day, of course!

happy valentine's day everyone - whether you're in love or looking for love...it's all around, it really is!

tax season, giraffe season

2011-02-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

perpetuum mobile

2011-01-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

penguin cafe orchestra

wow.

Michelangelo Pistoletto!

2011-01-07T09:23:00.000-08:00

Michelangelo Pistoletto is an Italian artist with a phenomenal set of talents and a passion for expressing his creativity in various forms.

there is an exhibition of his work currently on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but for just ONE MORE WEEK!

(note the tea kettles in the middle -- are actually on a low setting during the exhibition, producing condensation on the glass table bottom)

definitely one of my favorite artists of all time!

merry bikesmas!

2010-12-24T15:16:00.000-08:00

and a helmety new year!

penguin surprise

2010-12-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

we took some extra tree branches from the tree place this year--trying to maximize the christmas smell of our abode.

we decorated the mantle with this little christmas scene; tree branches, buttons (affixed with metal hooks), pinecones and of course, penguins!

hooray for that lovely, lovely christmas smell!

philadelphia tubachristmas

2010-12-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

tubachristmas is a concert in cities worldwide that celebrates tuba lovers!

we went to the tubachristmas at the Kimmel Center, and got to watch from the magical balcony as the tubaholics got set up

there was even a surprise visit from..

the PA Ballet's RAT KING who was in the audience!

delicious gratitude

2010-11-27T14:10:00.000-08:00

thanksgiving was absolutely delicious thanks to the culinary wizardry of the one, the only, petra tanos!

she started us off with a cheese plate featuring major deliciousness including a "Mt Tam" cheese by cowgirl creamery.

then we graduated to this insanely delicious fennel soup topped with a medley of olives and capers

the main course was pappardelle pasta topped with sage, walnuts and butternut squash--an absolutely unforgettable combination--mmmmm, still thinking about it!

then we had this amazing radicchio, endive, blue cheese, pear salad to round things out. holy freshness.

i am so thankful for petra, for my mom, my dad, for jonny, for all of my friends and frienemies, for the delicious foods of the world, for being alive!

thanks, world!

creative recycling machine

2010-11-12T07:17:00.000-08:00

a few weeks ago we went to see a steel chamber designed to make recycling cathartic...and fun.

the idea is; someone stands on one end behind bullet proof glass - they are the "target" (or there is no target) and the person on the "throwing" end, throws glass into the chamber to break it down and prep it for more efficient recycling. win win situation whereby aggression is released via broken glass in a contained vessel.

I really didn't have it in me to throw glass and break it...

but it was neat to watch, never the less.

want more? peep this .

taste the rainbow

2010-11-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

in my humble opinion, rainbow swiss chard tops skittles any day as far as tasting the rainbow is concerned.

my favorite way to prepare it is simple.

1) rinse and chop the chard

2) saute some crushed garlic in olive oil, add the chopped stem pieces first and then the chard

3) let the oil coat the chard, stir, add a tiny bit of Bragg liquid aminos

4) cover for a bit until things look softened, but not too wilty

5) top with a little lemon juice and ENJOY!

incarcerated pumpkin faces!

2010-10-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

saw this pumpkin penitentiary the other night--what a sight!

happy halloweekend!

2010-10-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

had to snap a photo of this sign a few weeks ago. after some googling, came across this website which corresponds to the correct address of the beautiful sign.

seems they've changed their name...

salmon and leek pie!

2010-10-27T07:42:00.001-07:00

when there's a chill in the air, it's salmon & leek pie time!

i use "Dufour puff pastry" which is pricey, but worth it!

first thing's first, you'll need to either make some puff pastry or defrost some frozen puff pastry!

you'll need a bunch of leeks (4):

chop them and cook them in oil until they are soft! (it's good fun)

about 2 pounds of salmon -- chop too and preheat the oven to 400!

chop some dill (1/4 cup) and zest some lime (few teaspoons)--mix the salmon, dill, lime zest, cooked leeks and some salt and pepper together...

place into the puff pastry in any formation that suits you...brush the pastry with some "egg wash..."

bake until the puff pastry is golden brown (30 minutes) and....

enjoy!

it will not last very long!

dad on bike

2010-10-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

no, that's not lance armstrong--it's richard hirschler!

while i support dads on bikes, i also support helmet use--so please watch the following (things get astonishingly good at 00:49):

hooray!

jonny makes... millet cakes!

2010-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

one day i came home from a hard day of work; hungry, tired, puzzled about life.

something was cooking, i could smell it in the hallway...

jon had spent the evening preparing incredible savory millet cakes!

they were soo delicious!!!!!

millet is a major food source for much of Asia and Africa and although in the US it is commonly associated with bird feed...it's not just for the birds!

millet in bulk runs $.99 a pound (and a pound is a LOT of millet)--so grab a sac of millet and get creative!

bookspace, philadelphia

2010-10-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

last weekend we discovered Bookspace-an amazing and HUGE old warehouse of books and treasures--right near the new Sugarhouse Casino.

unassuming exterior...

totally incredible inside...

fancy skylights!

books upon books!

(notice the innovative use of a car as a bookshelf)

Definitely worth a visit!

bliss in the form of a q-tip

2010-09-30T05:05:00.000-07:00

yarn-bombs not bombs

2010-09-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

from the lady (Jessie Hemmons) that "yarn-bombed" these bike racks from good to SUPERCALIFRAGALISTIC outside of Reading Terminal Market which I mentioned several moons ago...

and just when you thought a tree couldn't get any more huggable...

yarn-bombed!

philly loves you too, fair yarn bomber.

check out this rad blog that covers yarn-bombing around the world!!!!
why can't people just have arms races like this?

peace, peace, peace! ...and yarn bombings!

chocolate peanut butter...

2010-09-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

if I could only choose one 16 oz. container of something to take with me on a desert island, i would choose Peanut Butter & Co's "Dark Chocolate Dreams" chocolate peanut butter.

it's really quite extraordinary. try some. on a banana or a sandwich or just a spoon.

cuddle magic

2010-09-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

jon and i went to a philadelphia fringe fest event at the philadelphia magic gardens on a whim. the event was a special performance by philly/brooklyn-based band "Cuddle Magic" which incorporated their "acoustic avant-pop music" with the beautiful space of the Magic Gardens. it was spiffy.

enjoy this taste of Cuddle Magic:

resume rock

2010-09-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

they paved paradise...

2010-09-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

and put up a parking garage paradise. in south beach!

i got to see this beautiful structure that sits at the end of Lincoln Road last week. designed by Herzog & De Meuron, the garage is the anchor for restaurants and boutiques, and feels as beautiful to explore as it appears.

who knew?

no more "pshh" at spf

2010-09-06T08:43:00.001-07:00

sometimes you have to learn the hard way.

spf, welcome aboard.

in case someone forgot their toothbrush...

2010-09-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

my friend amanda has parents that are sweeter than honey.

it's no surprise she is sweeter than honey.

they hosted a crab feast for amanda's friends with delicious food, drink and warm bedding for all.

that was sweet, but this here...this little gesture left on the kitchen counter late evening was the icing on the cake--and the perfect example of just how thoughtful the wallaces are:

(note reads: good night all! in case someone forgot their toothbrush)

love (this) bug

2010-09-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

this magical creature appeared outside of our doorway and hung out for several days--completely motionless the entire time.

how can something evolve to be so beautiful? where is he on the food chain? who eats you, bug?

faceoff

2010-08-24T15:15:00.001-07:00

budabound

2010-08-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

we are leaving for another budapest adventure very soon!

my cousin sent me these pictures of some mushrooms. they were harvested by my uncle and aunt from the forest in this magical rural village called Perocseny (outside of Budapest) where they have a summer cottage. I spent many summers there since I was a small baby.

delicacies, here we come!

coffee ice cubes, duh!

2010-07-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

pesky iced coffee getting diluted by those finicky water cubes?

try freezing coffee in ice cube trays and then you can have iced coffee with coffee ice cubes!

yum!

gardens of magic

2010-06-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

last weekend we stepped into the world of Isaiah Zagar's Magic Gardens

I've been past the South Street entrance many times, but never realized how much was beyond the gate!

Over the course of 16 years, Zagar crafted this labyrinth of incredible mosaic work including all sorts of reclaimed treasures

what a fantastically beautiful place!

our first CSA picnic

2010-06-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

CSA: Community Supported Agriculture

this spring we signed up for a farm share from the Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-Operative.

we paid a lump sum to the farmers back in April to receive weekly shares of whatever is most abundant and ready to eat from the fields. the shares have been amazingly delicious and have spawned extra levels of creativity in the kitchen!

we enjoyed our first picnic at Hillside Organics farm on Saturday to meet one of our growers and harvest some yukon gold potatoes from the earth via mule cart.

the picnickers

the mule cart (sans mules)

searching for potatoes was better than any easter egg hunt for the kiddies!

straight from the earth

bargain kitties--and there was an "honor code" box for payment
no kitties purchased, to jon's dismay...

join a csa in your community to enjoy the most fresh and tasty produce while supporting your local economy!

the backroads

2010-06-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

my camera died about 1 mile before we got to the campground during last weekend's camping trip, but the ride down to World's End State Park was a beautiful adventure in itself.

lovely yard sale stop

most scenic backdrop to a beer distributor

have you any wool?

stern looks for playing with their babies

the camping was great, too. we tubed, swam, hiked and had some wonderful campfires!

ill spoil

2010-06-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

hops, fires, bikes and flowers!

2010-06-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

last weekend was wonderful.

we biked down to an international beer festival at the navy yard (super cool).

our favorite beer turned out to be a hoppy local number from the Manayunk Brewing Company!

the beer fest featured buckets to dump leftover beer samples into. i became fixated watching people continue to dump their beers into the buckets well beyond a reasonable meniscus. felt sorry for the crew that had to haul these out...

then we headed to becky and andrew's for a little bonfire action in their incredible garden

the next day we watched the bike race from a new vantage point along Kelly Drive;

Barry brought a boom box and provided riveting (and sometimes controversial) live commentary...

the weekend concluded with some lovely wildflowers jon gathered on a run.

more more morris arboretum!

2010-06-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

having lived in philly for almost 8 years, i'd never visited the lovely Morris Arboretum until yesterday.

it was beautiful and definitely worth a trip!

the rose garden...a slice of heaven!

my mom pretending to be a robin.

hooray for Morris Arboretum! What a jewel!

learning from the roo

2010-05-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

kangaroos lick their forearms to stay cool in high temperatures.

their forearms are a lot like ours: they have no fur and house blood vessels that are close to the surface.

so next time you find yourself out in the heat, go ahead, give them a lick!

weekend limerick recap

2010-05-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

there once was a kensington derby,

we followed along on the curby,

the challenge was clear,

through the mud they had to steer,

the costumes were striking, the bikes sturdy!

(the event had complimentary bike valet thanks to the Bicycle Coalition!)

(mud pit!)

afterparty with pinwheels we made thanks to the New Kensington Community Development Corporation.

this event made us wonder if we should move to kensington!

awesome waffles

2010-05-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

waffle irons are neat.

you can mix berries, bananas, flax seed, chocolate--just about anything into your own home-made waffle batter and then pour it in the iron.

and you can use spelt flour to make it a more nutrient rich treat!

i highly encourage you to invest in a waffle iron for great breakfasts and beyond..!

shadical

2010-04-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

last Shadurday we went to the 2nd annual Fishtown Shadfest at Penn Treaty Park.

it was super sweet.

there were unexpected views

there was chillin' and music

and shadwiches, which were tasty, but did not sit very well..

there was also this magnificent building

which was actually a PECO power station from back in the day (commissioned by the same firm that built the Franklin institute)!

don't be shad if you missed the fest this time around, there's always next year!

sometimes yogatta

2010-04-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

at its best, yoga is transformational.

on a bad day, yoga helps you realize how insignificant your thoughts are and how easy it is to choose other thoughts and change your patterns.

it also helps you stay young forever!

for example,

my mom!

get at me

2010-04-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

i created this work in honor of the late Fluffy Hirschler.

today, April 23, she would have been 18 years old. RIP, Fluffy.

earth mirth

2010-04-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

what's from the earth is of the greatest worth:

beets on the outside!

beets on the inside!

fennel and taters

look at those beauties! and then....

a roast fit for a king!

thank you earth, for all of your wonders that I love!

city art: function and splendor

2010-04-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

some sweet, generous soul has taken the time to create this lovely piece of knitted artwork.

it adorns a bike rack by Reading Terminal Market and is not only joy-inducing, but helps protect bicycles from scratches!

thanks, lovely artist!!

Ninety Two Ten

2010-04-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

few places hold as many objects, tokens, nooks and crannies that are as full of eternal memories as the old 9210. but there may be some changes soon...

city art

2010-04-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

across from the Duron paint warehouse at 9th and Spring Garden in Philadelphia is an abandoned Reading Railroad train station which somebody adorned.

who's face is it? winston churchill's?

ring ring ringing rocks!

2010-04-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

there is a marvelous state park in bucks county pennsylvania where the rocks make bell sounds when you hit them with hammers!

we went to explore this phenomenon a few saturdays ago when it was Obscura Day which is a global celebration of all things strange!

the hammers worked best and in about 15 minutes we were down 1 wrench when jon thought he'd throw it at a rock to make a glorious sound.

it was a beautiful day for making some rock music!

the trees, however.

they do not sing.

a taste....

2010-03-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

here is a taste of our last few days out west...

more to come soon, I promise!

moss-taches, a banana slug and the hilliest city

2010-03-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

after a lovely stay at a san fran 'sanctuary' we found on airbnb,

and an incredible birthday dinner at bar jules in san fran...

we journeyed north in search of the oldest trees.

they towered above in massive, humbling splendor

at the Humboldt Redwoods State Park

where moss covers everything

and we (well, just Jon, really) made friends with this banana slug.

we stayed warm by the fire and camped in a tent, and journeyed back towards san fran along the coast passing through old towns like ferndale

and stopped to smell the coastal air.

we stumbled upon an amazing bed & breakfast in Fort Bragg which happened to also be a pretty serious establishment for Tango.

and had this sweet water tower attached to it.

we didn't become tango experts, but had a beautiful and memorable trip!

Ides of MaRCHlissa

2010-03-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

you can rock the term "ides" on the 15th of March, May, July and October and on the 13th of all other months.

best known for the murder of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, the ides of March is also revered for the birth of legendary Italian model, Fabio.

beyond Caesar and Fabio, March 15th must also be celebrated for the birth of Alissa Munoz; an incredibly spectacular human being who is as bright and warm as the sun and a fountain of literary talent and creative genius.

happy birthday, pretty!

elevatorology

2010-03-09T07:50:00.000-08:00

humans and elevators make strange combos.

on my way to floor 13 this morning, i reached for the button to find 3 floors already lit.

there is something inexplicably and UTTERLY irksome about being the 4th stop in an elevator.

so this morning, I actually left the elevator i was in--i put my hand in the door as it was closing and got out. it felt weird...

but liberating.

i'm almost certain it took more time to wait for the next elevator, then make a stop at floor 12 for someone--but it was worth it!

i know i felt more at ease in this elevator situation than being the fourth stop. how silly!

Marching Forth and Fork!

2010-03-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

spring is s l o w l y rearing its head and we are getting closer and closer to warmth, sunshine and new opportunities!

jon got into his doctor of public health program!

(small coffee celebration at my favorite cafe in the world,

fork etc. )

and things are taking off once again with activities at Clemente Park and Playground!

rain or shine!

let's talk teeth

2010-02-24T09:07:00.001-08:00

went to my favorite Philadelphia dentist in the world today, Dr. Joel Davidson. he hums little diddies while checking my teeth. he is wonderful. my favorite Maryland dentist is Dr. Susan Pearson . she doesn't hum but she's excellent and very thorough!

bottom line, i'm still in the "no cavity club."

i attribute this to:

great genes. thanks kati and ricsi.

but also the fact that I've been using a Sonicare for many years now--and i can tell you--it's worth the investment. get one!!! now! it's for the life of your teeth and the teeth of your life!

i think darwin would be stumped

2010-02-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

by the one...the only....mimic-pus:

seriously.

in the next week, i am going to try to track down several octopus specialists and find out how to explain this creature in the context of natural selection.

ode to the otter

2010-02-12T13:20:00.001-08:00

...in a lovely building on green street,

twas a twist of fate,

who knew my jolly neighbor would end up as my mate?

i knew it was meant to be and thought it a bit funny,

when i found out that growing up, we each had a pet bunny.

i am so very grateful that he entered my world,

with his sweet eyes and his luscious head of curls.

so silly together, he always makes me smile,

he's even run with raven and completed the 8-mile.

he's wonderfully loving and generous to all creatures

my mom loves him very much, but that's not his best feature!

he's brilliant and bright,

with an appetite for life

he's generous and sweet

he knows how to roast beets,

day in and day out, he sweeps me off my feet!

i love you, jonny otter!

snowsnowsnow!

2010-02-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

snow, it's all the rage!

tried to board down Green Street! it wasn't very fast.

there are snowmen everywhere! it seems their creators make a point to showcase their manhood...

sledding down the art museum steps is so hot right now--though some people use boxes, air mattresses, garbage can tops, shopping baskets, snowboards,
AND BICYCLES!

I LOVE IT! being in this snowy wonderland is like we've suddenly won a free trip to Vail, Colorado without all of the pesky air travel, hotel expenditures and snooty skiiers! i'll take it!

pretty pretty funny

2010-02-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

didn't watch the superbowl, but I did hear some buzz about a few ads.

this is my favorite:

maybe it's because I secretly wish there was a green police, and I could join the squad!

swell dwelling

2010-01-28T10:19:00.000-08:00

last weekend we drank a lot!

...of chai from our french press, our new favorite device for all hot beverages!

all this drinking happened while moving jon's things upstairs!

it was fun to have his things and art mingling with my things and art.

we even mingled our mirrors to create a mirror universe!

our things are very happy together!

O-fish-uary

2010-01-18T06:37:00.000-08:00

Less than a year ago, I wrote about my adventures with Margot and Richie, Jon's beloved pet goldfish. Margot left us over the summer, but Richie prevailed.

Until this weekend.

Richie was a great fish; charming, loving, with a great appetite for life and a passion for swimming. On the night of January 16th, Richie was made victim of a practical joke played on Jon by one of his friends who thought it would be funny to put Richie in a wine glass and replace him in his bowl with a can of gravy. Richie could not handle the trauma and fell sick, passing early this morning. Richie lived a rich life--he will be missed greatly and honored forever!

warm highlights

2010-01-11T14:26:00.000-08:00

the weather outside is frightful!

in miami, iguanas are falling out of the trees because they are going numb.

we were lucky to enjoy a few days of warmth before the big freeze.

basking at the Botanical Gardens

eating a sandwich from la sandwicherie, purveyors of possibly the best sandies in the world

new years in the ocean

and it wouldn't be south beach without some beautiful creatures.

this is casper the bunny

all I want for new years...

2009-12-29T20:58:00.001-08:00

is for the puppet show to happen!

you see, at christmas there was a perfectly wonderful puppet theater constructed with great care and love, but it seems the energy ran out and the puppet show never happened.

but alas...

i have faith that 2010 will bring a puppet show...or two!

family means fabulous food

2009-12-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

hanging out in miami always includes awesome meals prepared by my mom and sister.

hats off to the chefs!

highlights included a delicious orzo, tomato and chick pea salad

tasty snap pea, ricotta ensalata, radish and mint salad!

petra's mascarpone and strawberry dessert creation was insane!

mom's traditional hungarian pea soup

quick mushroom and spinach quiche

and late one night jon and i ventured to a place that only makes empanadas...they were tasty!

overall it was a delicious time to share!

a serious and chocolatey day in south beach

2009-11-21T22:42:00.000-08:00

after sunning on the beach with dad, i attended the magical 8-mile twas my 17th!

after, I bicycled home for a super-fast shower so I would be clean for Chocolate Yoga!

chocolateyoga was all about savoring delicious chocolate, savoring the moment and realizing that we are full of bliss; sometimes it just takes a little chocolate on your tongue to access it!

(ring ring)

THEN--met back up with dad for a movie; a SERIOUS MAN. all i can say is, GO SEE IT, seeeeeriously. then give me a ring so we can discuss!

a new york afternoon

2009-11-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

jon and I drove up to New York yesterday to hang out with my dad and sister.

it was lovely.

(petra and dad)

(creeping vines)(the incredible High Line)
people-watching at the High Line

i was so impressed by the High Line. what an incredible example of innovative landscape architecture--and the beauty of restoring old structures to create new possibilities for green space!

tweedledee

2009-11-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

on saturday, Jon and I attended the 2nd semi-annual Philadelphia Tweed Ride.

tweed rides have become an international phenomenon where bicyclists dress in tweed (i wore houndstooth) and celebrate simple pleasures.

this ride included a stroll through Rittenhouse Square

a picnic and gaming opportunity

and some good old fashioned group bicycling around the city.

as we sat in the sunshine watching a penny farthing go by, we felt transported to a simpler time!

soup-er fall

2009-11-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

this fall I've been making "soups of the week."

last week it was leek, celery root, and white bean soup.

here it is pictured with some local friends for lunch; spelt bread & hummus, honeycrisp apples over arugula and meadow run farm sausage!

soups are fun because you get to play around with different ingredients;

just chop 'em,

sautee 'em in olive oil,

add water and let them do their thing for an hour or so! put them in a food processor and you're ready to roll!

halloweeeenie

2009-11-02T07:05:00.000-08:00

a few dollars later...

(peter rabbit and a carrot)

fair food FRIGHTstand

2009-10-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

this week, for halloween, I was inspired by some very mousy looking "bulls blood" beets at the farmstand.

their tails just looked so mousy I couldn't resist. added some garlic cloves for ears and shazaam!

genevieve, a farm stand colleague, thought they should live in some kind of a scene, so I figured they'd be quite happy watching the Phillies game on a flat screen TV.

i think they're having a blast!

my best costume

2009-10-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

my best costumed happened in 2005.

alissa was a kiwi fruit that year!

still unsure about this year.

still sure that i like costumes!

400cow burger

2009-10-08T18:54:00.001-07:00

In Marion Nestle's book, Safe Food, she mentions a study which finds that one pound of commercial meat could contain meat from more than 400 cattle.

400 cattle bits!

Also, 70% of antibiotics produced in the US are given to livestock--and then end up leaking into our water supply.

Mmm, would you like a side of meat with your antibiotics and hormones?

Just make sure you know and like the origins of the meat you consume!

These cows were super happy (and maybe they're not around anymore?). Jon and I visited them at Hendrick's Farm and Dairy earlier in the summer.

And if you're really into meat, subscribe to meatpaper.

run free!

2009-10-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

there is a growing debate around the necessity and effectiveness of the "high tech" running shoe. many experts claim that despite all of the advances over the last few decades, injury has not declined and there is little evidence that running shoes prevent injury--in fact many believe they lead to more injury!

one of my yoga teachers mentioned Born to Run the other day, a book about one man's quest to find out why, despite the best "technology" and "gear" for running, he still faces injuries. the book chronicles his experiences with the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico, who run distances effortlessly wearing sandals or barefoot.

i got myself a nifty pair of Vibram FiveFingers and have been running shorter distances in them--and also wearing them during long shifts at lululemon. they feel great--and my toes definitely feel happier and more in tune with the world!!

blahs vegas

2009-09-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

went to vegas (my least fave place in the milky way) last week for the rad interbike bicycle trade show to help set up and man the Focus Bicycles booth

Focus is a German bike company that is newly launching in the US.

their bikes are incredible gems of German engineering and are designed by professional racers!

vegas was an interesting backdrop to a tradeshow for the bicycle industry. there are, at present, no bike lanes there.

vegas is unreal. it's an intense and constant juxtaposition of excess and lavish ornamentation

against pervasive ugliness.

but all in all i had a great time and got to see some really neat innovations in bikes, like these ones made of bamboo!

jonny b. goode

2009-09-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

up your nose!

2009-09-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

i was at whole foods to pick up 4 things; oats, quinoa, lemons and garlic when all of a sudden i found myself impulsively adding a neti pot to my basket. i'd heard my sister talk about this ancient nasal irrigation device as well as many yoga teachers and i felt it was time to get my nasal passages clear once and for all!

and it really works! it's a bit strange at first, but once I got the hang of it, I know it will be a part of my daily routine. and for anyone who is doubtful, it was featured on oprah. so it must be great!

"a nightmare without it"

2009-09-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

weddings abound! i was checking out my friend kim's site on theknot.com when this little product popped up as a suggested gift--i was so intrigued, I just had to click on it.

wow.

2009-09-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

viszlát!

2009-09-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

and we're off! be back sept 13th!

birthdayriffic!

2009-08-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

August 23rd 2009 was incredible!

I woke up to a surprise that brought me to tears! Jon had some members of the West Philly Orchestra play a few wake up tunes in my apartment!

Then, my mom, who would later gift me this here vacuum of my dreams

arrived and the three of us biked to Dhyana yoga for an 11 AM class.

We then ate lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Fork

and proceeded home for an apricot fruit slump that my mom created. It was accompanied by a chilled honeydew coconut tapioca soup.

(note--the "25" candles were reused--my mom happened to find what were her "52" candles from a few years back!)

Overall, it was an amazing day!

beard net

2009-08-20T07:09:00.000-07:00

you would frown too, if it happened to you!

and i know because of KRS-One

2009-08-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

rapper KRS-One is a vegetarian. he has a song called "Beef." the words go a little something like this:

Let us begin now with the cow
The way it gets to your plate and how
The cow doesn't grow fast enough for man
So through his greed he makes a faster plan
He has drugs to make the cow grow quicker
Through the stress the cow gets sicker
Twenty-one different drugs are pumped
Into the cow in one big lump
So just before it dies, it cries
In the slaughterhouse full of germs and flies
Off with the head, they pack it, drain it, and cart it
And there it is, in your local supermarket
Red and bloody, a corpse, neatly packed
And you wonder about heart attacks?

cool running!

2009-08-11T11:36:00.001-07:00

on september 6th, jon and I will be running the Budapest Half Marathon!

it will not only be loads of fun BUT it will certainly be an interesting cultural experiment to see how my fellow Hungarians are during a race compared to Americans.
I predict they will be more competitive!

less exciting, more exciting part I

2009-07-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

vacuuming the floor of lululemon on Walnut Street at the end of my shift:

less exciting.

ROOT, the First truly authentic American liqueur since the Pre-Prohibition Era

more exciting (and tasty).

getting locked in the walk-in refrigerator after my shift at Fair Food Farmstand.

most exciting!

wedding season

2009-07-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

is in full effect! my fave neighbors sean and kim just got engaged, people on facebook are changing their statuses left and right and posting photos and there are brides and grooms all over the city getting photographed!

but this...this is the coolest.

inspiration

2009-07-21T11:57:00.001-07:00

can appear in unexpected places.