frostynuggets

The Big Apple BBQ

2008-06-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

What a great but super hot day. I went on Saturday with my brother from Texas, my father from CT and my husband - well from NY. I figured that my brother a chef and my dad a foodie would love it and they did, we all did. Good times had by all. Vegetarians just waaaalk awaaaay...graphic content. Here is some more info : http://www.bigapplebbq.org/

YUMMY - loved the beans !
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
New York, NY
Pulled Pork Shoulder & Beans

The Pit
Raleigh, NC
Whole Hog & Coleslaw
No pics of the after but it was super yummy... i liked that they added spices and vinegar to it!

The Elephant's Trunk Flea Market

2008-06-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

I was reading another person's blog, A Continuous Lean, and he mentioned the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market . I was so excited. I haven't been to the trunk in over 10 years. I grew up in Bethel Ct. and I use to go on Sundays. The flea market is located on Route 7, New Milford CT.

I went this weekend with my Dad and Step Mom. We had a great time. I walked away with a pair of earrings (that matched ones I had lost), 2 flexi disks, Fallout Protection What to Know and Do About a Nuclear Attack (guide Dec. 1961), and a old child's block (with letters, numbers and image imprinted and carved on the block). All for $8. Totally siked!

Dad - thanks for emailing me the pics.

Oneida - Heads Ain't Ready 7"

2008-05-27T13:57:00.000-07:00

As many of you know my husband Kevin Elbert puts out vinyl with our friend Chris Bracco. The record company's name is These Are Not Records. The newest record "Heads Ain't Ready" by Oneida is available for purchase. Here are the details:

ONEIDA
Heads Ain't Ready 7"
(TAN005 - RELEASED 5-27-08)
"Heads Ain't Ready" features the bands take on two Grateful Dead tunes: Cream Puff War and Cold Rain and Snow. Pressed in a hand numbered edition of 600 with two color variations: 300 on translucent light blue with white splatter and 300 on translucent red with white splatter.

The vinyl is pretty cool, buy one or tell your friends.

Also if you want to check out some photos of the record and of the numbering session, check out their blog.

Crocheted Snowman

2008-05-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

I made this one for my Dad - Jack Frost. You can find this pattern and more on the Lion Brand's website. You have to join in order to get free patterns.

Quilted Beasties by Brienne Brown

2008-05-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

My super crafty friend Pat showed me these quilted beasties made by her friend and quilter Brienne. I think they are pretty cool, so I am sharing the love...

My First Crocheted Bear...

2008-05-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

... found a new home. On my mom's dashboard, it is her new mascot. Enjoy the ride little guy!

Hill Country BBQ

2008-05-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

30 West 26th St. NYC

This restaurant was recommended by dining club member and Texan, Brian. He said "It’s my favorite BBQ place in the area, and the closest to Texas-style BBQ I’ve seen in the Northeast. " Texas BBQ is dry, meaning that is only cooked with a dry rub. I don’t have a lot of BBQ experience other than Northeast backyard BBQ’s on a grill. This is the first time I had meat from a smoker and boy is it really good. The wood, Texas Post Oak, is shipped from Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Texas. When Hill Country opened, they flew up the pit boss from Kreuz Market to season their new smokers with wood from the smokers at Kreuz.

Here are some highlights. First I think this is a great place for groups to go, fun atmosphere, casual dining with paper towels and meat wrapped in butcher paper. I recommended eating downstairs, a bar atmosphere with live band or classic westerns movies. Waitresses only serve alcohol so you have to get food yourself. Say what? Yes, I thought it was kinda strange but it was really fun. When you walk in, they give you a ticket. You go around to the different counters- meat, sides and dessert and they stamp your ticket as you order food. You take your food back to your table and when finished you take your ticket to the cashier and pay to get out...lose your ticket it will cost you. I seriously checked many times to make sure I had mine.

So that is the skinny on the place, now for the fat.

I ordered a cocktail called CCC Martini - Chocolate Cherry Chili Martini. If made correctly the balance of sweet and spicy is perfect. The drink has a poblano pepper in it so it gets spicier the longer it takes you to finish it. I love this drink, I have thought about it often since dining there.

Since I was a with a group we got a sampler and then some, so I tried the following: brisket lean (Recommendation - eat between white bread with pickles and onions - ask for the fixins at the counter. Also eat the brisket first since it gets cold fast), Beef ribs, pork spare ribs, Kreuz jalapeño cheese sausage, chicken, mac & cheese, campfire baked beans, white shoepeg corn pudding, sweet potato bourbon mash, green bean potatoes and The Peanut butter and jelly cupcake. I say try everything, but here are my favorites - the beef ribs, the Jalapeño cheese sausage and the chicken. Favorite side - the sweet potato bourbon mash and campfire baked beans.

Here is the low point... meat coma.
Brian mentioned it and I think i felt it.

Looking forward to going back, anyone? anyone?

Check out Hill Country BBQ for more info.

Crocheted dude inspired by artist Joe Scarano

2008-04-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Well this is my first attempt to do something non traditional.

I was inspired by artist/friend Joe Scarano. I tried to crochet one of his characters, but this one looks like a mix between Wallace (from Wallace and Gromit) Elvis, and Mickey Mouse. Anyway thought i would share.

The Rather Difficult Font Game

2008-04-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a little something for graphic designers.
I did better than I thought I would do, but not good enough to let you know.

Enjoy The Rather Difficult Font Game.

Hey mom – Look I’m Green!

2008-04-22T07:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day

Not physically green but socially responsible Reduce Reuse and Recycle kind of green. Seeing green everywhere? Driving you a little crazy well let me add to the insanity. Since I just went to the Tote/Bag show and today is Earth day, I figured I would show/tell you what I am doing.

I have reduced my intake of plastic bags by doing a few things. I have invested in the reusable shopping bags from Stop & Shop and for $.99 each you can buy one too. Note - When you fill them all up, you can ask them to put the rest of your groceries in a paper bag. I also bring my paper bags back to Trader Joe's. When you do this they enter you into a drawing…I haven’t won anything yet. Since I am a bag lady, I am always carrying a tote. But you can be much cooler and kept it folded up in your purse then take it out whenever you are shopping unexpectedly and fill it up.

Here are my some of my bags ladies and gentleman.
Reduce Reuse and Recycle

Ok what about shopping trips to Target oh my…well sometimes you are just going to come home with some plastic and if you do, reuse as much as possible or get creative. Go to Craft to get some ideas for Plastic bag crafts

Plastic Grocery Bags into Knit 1950's Outfit
by Cathy Kasdan - see more knit plastics

Dead Meadow - Music Hall of Williamsburg

2008-04-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

Friday April 18th 2008

Great show and great venue!
First time seeing Dead Meadow and first time at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The Bowery Presents did a great job with the old North Six space. Looking forward to seeing more shows there.
Here are some pics:

Crochet Bears

2008-04-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some crocheted bears i have been making, selling and giving away. I plan to make more and sell them on etsy. Which by the way, is my favorite web site.... I like the design, user interaction, and I love all the talented crafty people.

The basic bear

Bears in action - bear with jumper

Bears in action - larger bear sleeping with Mason

Bears in action - Annika and Morgan Jr.'s bears go for a ride in a Ford F-150

Bear with hoodie

Multi - colored bear with embroidered heart for my niece Grace

TOTE / BAG show at Open Space Gallery

2008-04-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went back to Open Space to pick up our Light Painting by Patrick Winfield. It just so happens we timed it nicely to see their new show:

TOTE / BAG
April 12th - May 3rd
510 Main St Beacon, NY 12508

The purpose of the show is to shed light on the overwhelming use of plastic bags. Apparently the average family brings home 1,000 plastic bags every year. It is a benefit show and all proceeds will be going to: the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a New York based organization committed to environmental advocacy and education. Artists from all over the world contributed to this show and each bag is $100. Plus you can also purchase one of the fabulously design tote bag for $25. We bought a tote bag, now I can add it to my tote collection. I intend to be the cutest bag lady ever, though my friend Tara might have me beat.

Here are some photos from the show:

Hyberbolic Crochet Coral Reef

2008-04-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

The possibilities of crocheting – who would have thought that crocheting would lead to solving a 200-year-old geometry problem and then become a crocheting phenomenon. Woman across the country are contributing to the Hyperbolic Crocheted Reefs exhibits – designed and curated by The Institute For Figuring co-directors:  Christine and Margaret Wertheim.

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibit @ Broadway Windows

Detail - The Bleached Reef @ Broadway Windows

Detail2 - The Bleached Reef @ Broadway Windows

The Hyperbolic Crocheted Reef is on display in 2 locations in New York City and coming to a city near you. Check out the exhibition schedule.

New York University "Broadway Windows" (NYC, NY)
April 5th - May 18th 2008
The corner of Broadway and 10th St.

World Financial Center, Winter Garden (Battery Park City, NYC)
April 5th - May 18th 2008
World Financial Center Winter Garden (beside staircase) 
220 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281

Detail1 -The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibit
@ Broadway Windows

Detail2 -The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibit
@ Broadway Windows

Info about the Hyperbolic plane
“ For two thousand years mathematicians knew about only two kinds of geometry – the plane and the sphere. But in the early nineteenth century they became aware of another space in which lines cavorted in aberrant formations. Offending reason and common sense, this new space came to be known as the hyperbolic plane, in homage to its abundant excess of parallel lines. Though the formalities of this space were known for 200 years, it was only in 1997 that mathematician Daina Taimina finally worked out how to make a physical model of the hyperbolic plane. The method she used was crochet. “ – IFF Web site

Detail3 -The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibit
@ Broadway Windows

Detail4 -The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibit
@ Broadway Windows

Want to make your own or contribute, go to The Institute For Figuring to learn more. I also found this site- Gooseflesh, for more photos and information.

Thank you to my friend Anne, from my knitting and crocheting group at work, who told me about this. I hope to make one of these soon.

Patrick Winfield Show at Open Space Gallery Beacon, NY

2008-04-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

My husband stumbled upon the web site for Open Space gallery in Beacon, NY. Great gallery run by a couple that happen to also be designers. They run the gallery, an art and design studio, and a magazine all out of this space. Living the dream! Check them out.

Open Space was having a show for a Polaroid artist named Patrick Winfield called Composites (March 08, 2008 – April 05, 2008) – I am so timely with this post. So before the show we checked out his work and bought -The Giving Tree (wave hill), 2007 Polaroid 600 film on board-h:24 w:24 inches. It is so beautiful and now lives in our bedroom.

The Giving Tree

Beaver Pond

We were interested in another piece, Beaver Pond which was going to be available for purchase at the show. So of course we went. We meet up with our friends Joe and Marci and their newbie Mason and went to the show. Mason’s first gallery show.

But once at the show we got to see his new work and were really excited about Light Painting 1 so we bought it.

That night we got to meet the artist Patrick and his mother, super nice people. Patrick’s mom gave us a glass of wine, she was such a great hostess and proud mother. We are fans of Patrick’s so buy his work.

Here are some pictures of the show. We pick up Light Painting 1 on Sat.

Joe + Marci = Mason

Artist - Patrick Winfield

We bought Light Painting 1, in the lower left corner.

Polaroid window display

Polaroid window display from outside

Queen Size Crocheted Blanket

2008-04-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

This blanket took me over a year to make. I started it in November of 2006 and finished it in January 2008. I took a long time but it was worth it. I am really excited how it came out. The blanket fits our Queen size bed and is super warm. It is nice to have a blanket to cover and wrap around your toes.

I varied the rows by color, by height of rows, and by texture. To get a nice texture was simple. All I did was vary the stitch - single crochet or double crochet. I used Patons Classic Merino Wool in Deep Olive, Burgundy, and Dark Gray Mix. It is a very nice wool, I recommend working with it.

Self Portrait 2008

2008-03-24T06:22:00.001-07:00

Self Portrait 2004

2008-02-25T17:45:00.001-08:00

My shadows on the ceiling of my Vegas hotel room. The room was dark and the light came from multiple points outside my window. Changed photo to black and white in Photoshop and increased the contrast.

Self Portrait 2003

2008-02-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

I am putting this self portrait up, it was taken in 9/12/2003.
I will shoot another one shortly. But i really like this one a lot. Shot with Canon Poweshot. I can't remember the model number, I just upgraded to A570 IS and throw it out my old camera.

Listening to the CD collection from A-Z

2007-12-08T17:57:00.000-08:00

After 12 years of working/9 years of living in New York City, I recently became a car commuter. My commute can be anywhere from 35 min. to 2 1/2 hours. I am now commuting from Queens, NY to Yonkers, NY in my Mazada 3 hatch.

Now I can no longer read, listen to my ipod, zone out, and ignore all the other commuters. So all I have is my CD player, the radio (1010 wins), and the occasional quick phone call (on speakerphone).

So it gets a little lonely and I learn absolutely nothing except the daily news and who or what is going to f up my drive home..... soooooo I decided it is time to get schooled in rock. Well more than just rock... I am going to listen to our entire CD collection A-Z. When I say our, I mean the one I inherited by marrying my husband Kevin. This will be a great endeavor but slightly limiting… he buys a lot of vinyl and I could potential miss out on a few bands and albums.

I hope to document every album on this blog as well as give you my unschooled view. I may even give some ratings like a 4 car rating. That would be a great album to listen to while traveling. I have some stuff to still figure. I am sure this will evolve and, if I know myself, sometimes might dissolve. But it is worth a try.