Now THIS is perfect spring weather. Not 50 and not 90 but a delightful 70. Thank you mother nature.

Going home to cook dinner, check on my plants, make sorbet, and finish my essay.

This gale force wind better have some warmer weather behind it!

Birthday weekend in Schenectady

For those that don't know, I share a birthday with my mom (April 18). Of course, the standard follow-up comment goes: "What a great present for her!" Depending on the inflection, the comment can be interpreted as a compliment ("Children are a gift and Adam was a wonderful one") or, more commonly, as a joke ("Enjoy hours of painful labor on this, your birthday.")

Anyway, Kate, Mom, and I spent the birthday weekend at Mom's place in Schenectady, NY...the town right next to Niskayuna, where I essentially grew up (not including a brief stint in Connecticut). It was a walk down memory lane; luckily, I had the camera.


Arthur's: an institution in the Stockade, the oldest neighborhood in Schenectady and where Mom lives now. It is a combination local convenience store, breakfast stop, and deli lunch counter. In the past few years, various owners have bought/sold the place and tried to make it, alternatively, a full-time restaurant serving breakfast/lunch only and an upscale "bistro" serving lunch/dinner only. Thankfully, the current owner has returned Arthur's to its roots as a good place to eat AND a place where locals can duck in a grab the paper and carton of milk.


The famous statue of Lawrence the Indian, considered the center point of the Stockade and standing in a park at the roundabout intersection of Front, Ferry and Green Streets. Arthur's sits on the corner across from this statue. I don't really know the history of the statue, so don't ask.


A great local bookstore and one of my favorite places to kill an afternoon (not to mention spend gobs of cash).




Recently renovated Proctor's Theater. It was expanded to be able to host full-scale Broadway productions (Phantom was the inaugural show; Wicked will be playing there soon). More importantly, the Niskayuna High School Class of 1996 held their graduation here.


Located inside the Proctor's Theater arcade, I used to buy all of my piano and trumpet sheet music at Van Curler...back when I still had some musical talent. A great, old store.

Three other places worth mentinoning, but that I did not capture with the camera:

1) Faddegon's Nursery: The Capital District's premier nursery, garden center, and landscaping business. Family-owned by friends of the Kesslers and where we always go to pick out perennials for Mom to plant in her garden. When you're outside, cruising the grounds, note the large storage barn attached to the main building; I repainted the effin thing in the summer of 1997.

2) Homestyle Pizza: Niskayuna institution. Surly service, but great pizza and garlic knots. I liked them better when they were located in a run-down building on a side street, before they moved into their current digs: the former location of a failed Boston Market franchise.

3) Perreca's Bakery: Schenectady institution since 1914. Some of the best bread in the known universe. Here's all you need to know: when you walk into the place, you feel like you're going to fall through floorboards because they creak so bad. And, when Kate and I picked up a loaf on our way out of town, they were playing the theme from the Godfather over the loudspeaker which broadcasts inside and outside of the bakery. I mean, c'mon! It's gotta be amazing!

Finally our street is beautiful again. The trees are growing leaves and blossoming in pink and white. Spring flowers are up and have so far survived the wind and rain. I think just maybe winter has conceded.

Testing out mobile blogging. Who knew?

Cherry Blossoms

On my work trip to DC this past week, I had approximately 15 minutes to sit, eat a Potbelly's sandwich, and check out the cherry blossoms that are in full bloom. I was supposed to have a nice relaxing hour to do this before my flight, but my silly job responsibilities got in the way. 

Spring visit

Still life, with pear and lime

Mom and Dad Kirstein were here last weekend, visiting while in the area to watch Andrew's lacrosse team in action (go Lyons!). We also got to see pictures they took on their recent trip to visit Aura in Barcelona, Spain, where she's been spending this past semester.

As always, Takoda came along and, as always, Kate tried very hard to create a lasting bond of friendship between the dog and the cats. Let's just say it was a noble attempt.


Takoda: "Please play with me."


Patty: "No." 

Takoda, whimpering: "Oh, why not?"


Patty: "Because I will destroy you."

Photos I've Seen This Week...

...and can't stop thinking about:


Seen on 46th at Grace though I traced it back to JJJJound. Unfortunately, neither site provides photo credit.

Every time I look at this, I kick myself for not taking a picture when I was in a shoe store earlier this week; there was a single red shoe, perfectly centered-vertically and horizontally-on a tall white shelf, surrounded only by shoes in blacks, browns and greys.

The other photo I keep thinking about is this one:


Found on Heading East which credits the photographer, Nadia Sablin. It makes me long for a grassy hill and a summer day.

I've been doing a lot of blog-perusing lately, in search of some creative inspiration. I have a few little projects underway; we'll see how they turn out.