Dia Beacon, New York

On our last trip to New York, just a couple of weeks ago, we made a day trip to a museum that is about 80 mile north of the city. The place is called Dia Beacon and it is the Dia Foundations Beacon N.Y. location. They have a location in the city and this location we visited houses their large format and site specific pieces.

So we got up Sunday morning and I must say, I was a bit hung over. The first thing I did, while Lisa and Stacey got ready, was go out and get a slice of pizza. Joe’s Famous, known for it’s hangover curing powers. That slice and a bacon, egg and cheese croissant did the trick.

Then it was off to Grand Central Station to catch a train up the Hudson River to the Dia Beacon. This was quite a train ride. The Hudson is a mighty river and the train ran right beside it for most of the trip. That would be one hell of a commute everyday, it was beautiful. It was a good time of the year to see the colors of the trees as they changed for the season. The river itself is something to see, at one point we saw an old castle that had been built in the middle of the river. It was nothing but a shell, but you could tell exactly what it once was and it was very cool looking, just sitting out in the middle of all that water.

Click on this link to the Dia to learn more and to see the art on display. We were not all that happy with what was on display, but that didn’t ruin the trip for us. There was some art we enjoyed and the building it was all in was great. It had been a box spring factory and around 2002 Dia moved in. It is a huge space with tons of natural light. Acres and acres of old hardwood floors that show the wear and tear of the years as a production plant.

I think the train ride there and back, as it was getting dark were really the highlights of this trip. To bad we don’t have more train service in America, I would love to be able to hop on a train down to Mobile or over to Birmingham. I guess the demand just isn’t there. Instead we all just hop in our car. So sad.

Southern Lit

I remember my Mom taking us to Fairhope when we were kids. My cousin used to take her kids, our god children, but Dauphin Island is a lot closer to them now.

My Mom would load us into whichever car someone in the family had given us and she would take us “over the bay”. We would swim from the “beach” at the foot of the very large “Cement Pier”. I remember lots of time spent at the “Cement Pier”

Then when I was in High School I remember taking dates to eat at a restaurant on the pier. So I have a history with Fairhope. Swimming at the pier. Eating at the pier. I remember a guy catching a Sheep-head fish at the end of the pier. My little brother and I watched as this guy reeled in this very angry fish. My wife, what’s her name, went to Fairhope High. So did her twin brother, what’s his name.

I think the last time I was in Fairhope was about 7 or 8 years ago and I was hanging out with a chef friend of mine. We were just loafing, checking out antique stores and stuff. I remember how we thought the guys who ran one of the shops thought we were gay, not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Well now days Fairhope is an artist colony. Lots of writers. Probably lots of other artist as well, but I only know of the writers. Sonny Brewer comes to mind first. Then I think of Frank Hollon, some folks think he’s the funniest writer in the world.

We were there the day after Thanksgiving looking for another meal. We were actually visiting with Staceys’ brother and his family. Man did they feed us. We had pork roast, we had black-eyed peas, we had greens and cornbread and best of all we had gumbo. My sister in law made it and I think it was her first time. She went to her Paw Paw to learn how to cook it the way he did and man did he learn her. To top it off, she added the left over turkey, that along with sausage made for a very good gumbo. It was an excellent second Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving = Southern Food for the Heart and Soul

Down to the deeper south for the holiday and a really good meal. My family has been preparing and eating basically the same meal longer then I’ve been around. My Moms family had a maid named Ida when she was a child and Ida cooked most of the meals. It was no different for Thanksgiving. The main thing I remember was the dressing. It was so good and seasoned with sage. She taught my Mom to cook, including the Thanksgiving feast. My Mom taught anyone that wanted to learn the same recipes. The dressing is simple, like all the dishes for Thanksgiving, but if ya want it to taste like Idas and Moms, you gotta do as they did. Today I bet there are ten or so people in my extended family that can prepare that dish just like Mom learned to.

This year my Dad cooked most of the meal. That’s not unusal, Dad does a lot of cooking these days. The dressing was good and tasted just like I remembered it tasted. The rest of the meal was made up of other family recipes. My grandmothers spinach cassrole, rice and gravey, turkey of course and a new twist on sweet taters. Dad stuffed hollowed out orange rinds with the sweet taters and then topped that with a pecan, burbon, butter sauce and baked it for awhile. Man that was a good dish. It was all good and I ate two plates of everything and then took a plate home for a midnight meal.

We had a good time, it is always fun to get together with the Loud, I mean Hartley family. We ate, drank and sang songs about eating a plate of red beans and rice twice. We all agreed that was a good idea.

This is just the start, we have a extended holiday season this go ’round. After Christmas we have Mardi Gras to look forward to. Mardi Gras comes early this year, Feburary 5th. Most folks don’t like it this early in the year and wish it were later in Feburary, which sometimes it is. I think I’m gonna like it early but we will have to see.

Back in the South

The Brooklyn Bridge is an amazing example of engineering. There are a handful of bridges that lead one in and out of Manhattan, but the Brooklyn Bridge is the only one I have seen up close.

The Brooklyn Bridge was completed and opened May 24, 1883. That day 150,000 people walked over the bridge. Only 1,800 vehicles crossed that day. The toll was 5 cents. The 4 main suspension cables used are 15 3/4″ in diameter and were referred to as wire rope. 3600 miles of wire were used to make the cables. They were designed by John A. Roebling, as was the whole project. When Mr. Roebling died from infections caused by an accident at the site that crushed one of his feet, his son took over and complete the job. The total span of the bridge is 5989 feet. It was the first cable bridge ever built.

These are just a few facts about the Bridge. It’s history is very well documented as it was the largest undertaking, by far, of it’s kind at the time. 20 to 30 people were killed during construction. There were probably lot’s more, but not all were reported or recorded.

The Brooklyn Bridge was built using many different engineering techniques for the first time ever. Saturday was another big day for the Brooklyn Bridge, It was our first time to walk over it, into Brooklyn. It was a great walk and you should do it every chance you get.

Do I sound Southern? she asked…..

Do I look stupid, he ask?

We got to JFK Airport about 7 p.m. Friday night. It wasn’t as cold as I had expected. We got a cab to Lisa’s APT. Lisa was at work and I knew she had worked til 10:30 the last two nights, I didn’t expect to see her til about 11 p.m. or so. We actually took a cab to the bar around the corner from her APT, and got a key from her friend. The Minetta Tavern.

We then let ourself in, dropped the luggage and went straight out for a Falafa sandwich. We got one from Maomons and one from Kings. I couldn’t tell the difference. Five Bloody Marys on the flight and I was just hungry.

But we ate it all and then went back out and got a baba ganoush. It was all so very good. Then we decided to go for a walk. A couple of blocks up Bleeker and we came across the PINKBERRY . It is a high tech, Asian comic book influenced, yogurt parlor. They offered their original flavor or green tea flavor with a plethora of fresh toppings. We both got the original flavor with different toppings. They ask my name at the check out counter and I told them “Tracy”. I decided I wanted to change my name to “Kim”. The young lady said that was fine. And the fellow scooping our yogurt, said “I don’t blame you” pointing to his name tage “look at my name”. It read DANA. The yogurt rocked. And as walked up the street eating it, a group of girls asked us “Hey, where’s the Pinkberry ?” .

Then Lisa came home, we hugged and talked for a moment. We told her we planned to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge the next day, she said she was with us. We then all went to bed.

Stacey and I have our own personal bedroom in the West Village, NYC, as far as we are concerned. Right now Lisa has a 1 bedroom APT and she always gives us the bedroom when we come to see her. We always spend a few nights and go to bars, restaurants, and private parties. We always have very much fun and expect the same for this weekend. A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and a train trip straight up the Hudson River to the DIA museum in Beacon. It’s about an hour and a half north of NYC.

Leaving the South

Trying to anyway. Get out of town, that is. Going to NYC for a long weekend. Got some fun stuff lined up to do. And of course get to spend time with Lisa, that’s always fun.

The hard part is getting things in order before I go. I was trying to get this bed done but can’t quit get there.

I just finished two paintings, but don’t have time for customer to come check them out. I was working on two swings and got one delivered yesterday, the other will have to wait for next week.

Whats a guy gonna do? I’m gonna get on a plane around 3 p.m. for NYC, and worry about the other stuff next week, that’s what I’m gonna do. Thanks, have a nice day!

Southern Colors

The temperature is perfect. The humidity is gone. Still no rain to speak of. But we do have this going for us. Color. Beautiful fall colors. The trees will just get keep changing and go through an array of reds, golds, greens and yellows, before all the leaves fall, slowly decompose and start all over again. All for your viewing pleasure. I took these photos this a.m. in the front yard, enjoy!

SOSOSOUTHERN.COM Time Zone, always a day behind.

This is the Monday report, as in Colbert, thank you very much . I accept your apology.

We are going to NYC for a few days and want to go to one of the neighborhoods in Brooklyn that has become a mecca for a particular food. I know it goes from hood to hood on ethnicity and the food follows. If you got a favorite neighborhood in Brooklyn let me know.

KCRW, Public Radio on the net. Free feed, live or otherwise, tons of great radio shows. My favorite is “Morning Becomes Eclectic”. It’s free. You only need a speaker for your computer.

M. F. Hartley’s Baked Oysters on the Half Shell. I was talking to my Mom the other day, she said she was taking the Oysters Shells out of the dishwasher. I’m like, what, Oysters Shells out of the dishwasher? Then I remember, my Dads makes this awesome Baked Oyster Dish. He uses a citrus vinegar marinade on the Oysters he has bought already shucked. He puts them in shells he has used for years. He tops them with bread crumbs and Pamagino Cheese and bakes them, they are very good. So that’s why my Mom was removing the cleaned shells from the dishwasher. He had made 40 of them and 8 people ate every one of them. I bet they had a few Vodka Martinis to go with the Oysters.

Bury me in my compost heap. I don’t know where this came from, but what do you think?

Dreams: Lizard on pier at the bay. Jumps on me, dosen’t hurt. I push it in the bay and it swims away. I’m dreaming and thinking I don’t wanna go back in that bay. Iguanas?

Another Dream: Some asshole stole my fence. I dreamed I was at our cottage in Mobile and I walked out the front door and down a road that was my front walk with lots of trees and I looked back and someone had stolen my white Pickett fence.

Feedin the masses is kickin our asses, just givem a parade and some cocktails!

Champagne and Tangerine cocktails. My brilliant wife came up with this. My Sister and her like to have Mimosia’s. Well, Stacey went to the fresh juice shop and got a quart of fresh squeezed Tangerine juice to mix with, instead of O.J.

The Feed Store, Southern Food at it’s Finest

We have been eating at this restaurant for a few years now, since it first opened. It’s been about 5 years and they have been through a lot of changes. First thing we liked about it was the bar. The whole place has been renovated perfectly. Modern touches where they work and old brick and plaster walls tell just how old the building is. They haven’t changed the decor and don’t need to. They have changed the menu and the staff fairly often. The last chef was there about two years and was decent. Some of the early chefs were good as well, like I said we have kept eating here for years. It is usually good, it is close to our house and never crowded. Well, that’s how it usually is. The other night it was slammed, so we left and went back this Friday night. No problem getting a table even if it was a weekend night.

We were there because last Sunday at the Les Dames event down at Serenbe, we came across the booth where the Feed Store was serving. I brought it to Stacey’s attention and we stopped, looked in and said “hi” when the chef said “hi” to us. I ask if he was in fact the chef at the Feed Store, he confirmed he was. I said he must be new as we eat there often and have never seen him around. He let us know he had been there about a year, which means we had eaten his food. We told him we lived in the hood and we ate, on and off for years at the Feed Store. He told me we needed to return soon because he and his intern Cooper were kicking ass.

I started writing this post about the Feed Store a few months ago. It was the last time we had dined there and I thought I would write about it. As I got into it, I decided that it was not that special and shelved it for awhile. After last Friday nights visit, it was time to take it off the shelf, they did kick ass.

When we went Friday night we agreed that if they were slammed, like last time, we would go elsewhere. They were not slammed so in we went. I am very glad we did. We had been checking out the menu we had picked up at the Les Dames event and knew what we wanted before we got there. So Stacey picked out a bottle of wine and I went to the bathroom. The bathroom is great. I know that sounds strange, but I know some folks who pay lots of attention to the condition of the restrooms at restaurants. These were in good shape, like always they were clean, very clean. The flush on the toilet and sink you wash your hands at is hands free. I love that. Means I won’t infect anyone with the strange virus I carry.

Got back to table after playing with the hands free stuff for a while and Stacey had ordered. I was having Country Fried Beef Short Ribs, with Buttermilk Mashed Taters, Mushroom Gravy and Heirloom Beans. Stacey was having Red Brick Ale Braised Pork, Brown Butter squash, Black-eyed peas and Seasonal Poached Pear. We were gonna start with Buttermilk Fried Organic Chicken Livers. Hell yea, I was as happy as a little girl!

Stacey also ordered a bottle of Rose, it was o.k. the wine list is the only thing a little lacking and that can always be fixed, as a matter of fact I may take things into my own hands, I will let you know how that goes.

Anyway, Buttermilk Fried Chicken Livers, man how long has it been since I had Fried Chicken Livers? I bet the last time I was a kid and my Mom cooked them. These were delicious, they were fried Buffalo style, as in Buffalo Wing sauce, they were served with a tidy little compote of Carrots, Celery and Blue Cheese, there were more than enough for two.

We could have stopped there, but at the time didn’t know how filling the Livers were. I think we were in a food stooper and just wanted more. So we both cleared our plates when they served the entrees. Both were sooooooo good. The pear on Stacey’s was pureed and was perfect with the very tender pork. The chef told us he had actually brewed the beer that the pork was braised in, but that was against the law so he advertised otherwise.

I don’t know if you have ever had a Beef Short Rib Country Fried, I had not, but why you don’t see this offered at any good Southern food restaurant is beyond me. It was so good and the sides were perfect, mashed taters, gravy and sugar snaps.

We are so happy to have these guys cooking in our neighborhood. They have knowingly come into a cool space that has had problems over the years. They know what they are up against and are ready for the challenge. If they keep it up they are gonna do really well. One of the good things, for us right now, is weekdays they are gonna be busy with conventioners and slower on the weekends, that is til the locals find out. My mission is to try the whole menu, one dinner at a time.

That’s What I Like About the South

I ask my neighbor, Mr. Pilot, would he please let me use his leaf blower. I wanted to stay on top of the leaves this year. The trees are pretty, but it all falls, along with acorns, and all that gets hard to blow or rake if ya don’t stay on top of it. Well next thing I know, he’s blowing my yard, and I got a large yard.

Around dark, I was in my shop and heard the dog’s barking and peeked out to find my neighbor from across the street coming in the gate, telling the dogs to leave her alone. She was dropping of a dish of chicken enchiladas with a pumpkin sauce. She had made it for dinner once and we had talked about it a few days ago. Kinda trading recipes and we told her that one sounded good. Low and behold she had cooked some up for us and it is the bomb. I love enchiladas, I love pumpkin, I love food like this.

Neither of these neighbors are from the south. Both come from the north more or less, but it just goes to show ya, not all southerns are from the south. And that’s what I like about the south.

Let’s go down to Alabama
Let’s go see my dear old mama
Fryin’ eggs and cookin’ hammy
That’s what I like about the South

She’s got baked ribs and candied yams
Sugar-cured Virginia hams
Basement full of those berry jams
And that’s what I like about the South

[ fiddle ]
Ham hocks and turnip greens
Hog jolls and butter beans
Mardi Gras down in New Orleans
That’s what I like about the South

Down where the trees grow tall
Where everybody says y’all
Walk on in with that Southern drawl
And that’s what I like about the South

Here comes old Parson with all the news
Boxback coat and button shoes
All paid up with his union dues
That’s what I like about the South

Did I tell you about the place called Doo-wah-diddy
But it ain’t no town and it ain’t no city
It’s awful small but it’s mighty pretty
Doo-wah-diddy

[ piano ]
Well I’m not here to criticise
I’m not here to sympathise
But don’t tell me them no good lies
Cause a lyin’ gal like you can devise

Every time I pass your door
You act like you don’t want me no more
You just raise your head and sigh
Well I’m gonna trackin’ right on by

That’s what I like about the South

Southern Waters Run Deep

We are having a water war here in the southeast. Georgia has it all, Alabama and Florida want some of it. Since Alabama and Florida are down stream, so to speak, if Georgia doesn’t release enough from all the damn dams then Alabama and Florida suffer. Here we go again. I just wish that once I could see someone be proactive and stop this stuff from happening. Don’t we have people we pay to think about problems like this, as in our government agencies. Isn’t this what our tax dollars are supposed to take care of.

Somebody do your damn job for once. We can’t be this stupid over and over again can we? It seems we don’t get anything right when it comes to issues like this. Issues that we have people in place to take care of. Issues we throw dollar after dollar at. Running a country, a state, a city is like running a business. It is running a business for god sakes and our government sucks when it comes to running a business. Time after time they prove to be incompetent. Yea I know vote them out. Right and the next guy is gonna be any better. I don’t think so. If I ran my business like we run this country, I would be out of business.

Halloween, Southern Style

Les Dames of the South

The Les Dames d’Escoffier International held the 7th annual Afternoon in the Country yesterday. It took place south of town at Serenbe. It is the second time I donated art for the silent auction, which gets Stacey and I admission to the event and is well worth it. This is a fun and delicious affair. All the top restaurants are present, they have all set up shop and are feeding the masses. I ate great food and drank some really good wines, until my eyes popped out of my head. I am not kidding, my eyes actually popped out of their sockets. Stacey consumed so much she spontaneously combusted, that’s right she burst into flames. But we still had fun.

Like I said, last year was our first time and we couldn’t wait for this year. We enjoyed food prepared by Pangea, Pura Vida, Krog Bar, Repast, Restaurant Eugene, The Feed Store, Alons Bakery, Bella Cucina, Bold American Food, Canoe, Food Studio, Joel and more. This is less than half of the restaurants that were there. There were also about 5 or 6 wine distributors pouring wine, we had some really good Rose.

This event is also fun because you know so many people involved. Whether they are feeding you, running the event or just there for the food and wine, it seemed we knew just about every other person there. Lots of farmers, and lots of foodies and of course everyone is in a great mood. How can you not be? Serenbe is the perfect place for this event. It is about a 30 minute drive south of town and the trees are changing colors and it is truly in the country. The Chattahoochee Hill Country to be precise.

They also have a cake raffle and the cakes are incredible. There were about 30 different cakes and we won a cake baked by Alon Balshan. He is the owner of Alons Bakery and a friend and a client. Soon I will build a bunch of tables, bread racks, ect for his new location.

Check out the photo of this cake we won. We got home and called all our neighbors to come over for cake. It was huge and we needed help. Stacey took one layer to work this a.m. It was a Apricot and almond cake with a very thick chocolate frosting. Man it was goooood!

NYC

I love this city. No matter what time it is or where you are at in this city, you can open your window and you are gonna hear something. It is most likely gonna be the traffic, probably a bus, either stopping or accelerating, both cause a tremendous sound. You might hear people talking, you may not be able to make out what they are saying , but you can hear them.

We live, when we are in the city that is, directly behind a coffee shop. They import all their coffee from Puerto Rico. All day, everyday I smell some really good coffee being roasted and it stinks. It’s a fact, roasting coffee stinks, but later when they brew it, then it is pure haven.

It’s amazing the sounds of the city. It never stops here and that’s a good thing. I am sure if I woke one afternoon and all was quite, well then I would have to worry. I don’t know what I would do without this city. It is a center for me. I can reason with the insanity I hear and read about everyday when I have this city to bounce it all off of. It’s like this place is so, so large, so loud, so fast, that all pales in comparison. And it ain’t like I am even trying to compare. I been places, I ‘ve seen things and none of it compares.

Last night at the hot-dog stand, Grays Papaya that is, we were just standing there eating our dogs, minding our own business when in comes this tall guy with a camera crew. Well he’s some famous chef and they are doing a little work for his weekly show. But he’s causing a scene and no one can really move or enjoy their dogs. Next thing you know, two guys who are part of the neighborhood street gang start yelling at these guys, telling them to get their camera and crew out of there and let us all just enjoy our dogs. The chef and crew, in true NYC style just ignored them, so the guys from the gang beat their ass and sent them on their way with a bloody nose and a broken camera. This city is on my side!

A friend shared this site with me, check it out. These are flat chalk drawings the appear to be 3D! http://gprime.net/images/sidewalkchalkguy/