Southern Food & Beverage Museum

Next visit I'll have to slow down and spend more time in the wonderful Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans.  Promoting and sharing two of my very favorite things;  southern food and southern beverages!

central grocery's muffaletta

Central Grocery's muffaletta is hand's down one of the best sandwiches in the world.  And unless you are alergic to olives or olive oil, (if you haven't already) you've gotta try one.  This very unique sandwich can be found throughout New Orleans, but was originated at the Central Grocery in New Orleans over a hundred years ago.  I love going to the source, and have been enjoying this litle (well ok, big) delicacy for over three decades.

This visit to New Orleans, I came away with not only a Muffaletta (half of which I enjoyed during during my flight from New Orleans to Design Week New York) but with this little video of a tour of this century old New Orleans Grocery store. 

new orleans holocaust memorial

New Orleans is full of art and history, but I just thoroughly enjoy a few moments of meditation at the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial.

google exhibiting @ aia new orleans

To say that I'm intrigued by Google is an understatement.  Google's web search engine is nothing short of amazing.  To be able to type almost any topic of interest and find highly relevant results within seconds has become the norm over the last few years. 

A less known tool that's been tremendously beneficial for years is Google's SketchUp, 3d modeling program.  I've been using this little gem for almost a decade for design, and now furniture 3d layout and design.  SketchUp was originally developed by Last Software in 2000, and at some point (maybe 5 years ago or so??) Google purchased it and made it available like most of it's software for free.

Because Google is so powerful, yet so secretive about just what they're up to, I seem to be magnetically drawn to them in the rare instances of direct communication.  Google had quite a presence here at the AIA expo.  They were promoting their upgrade to "sketchup pro" featuring "layout" to the egos (I mean architects) throughout the convention.  After receiving a brief overvue by one of the google reps, the upgrade seems to have some very nice features for architects.  The layouts features primarily seemed to be more aimed toward "sales" than actual architectural drawings.  Looks like I'll stick with the basic v. of Sketchup, which I use for almost every custom job we design.  Google is awesome.  Google sketchup is awesome.  Not so sure about Google sketchup Pro, but I'm guessing for the right market, it's awesome too.

Google had what I'd call a medium sized presence as well as areas (pictured above) where they taught some basic classes - primarily showing benefits of SketchUp pro.

greenguard booth @ architecture expo

16,000 egos - aia convention new orleans

Oh me, that had to be a typo.  What I meant was that 16,000 architects in one building, even one city is quite a happening.  And this happening happens in a different city each year.  The truth of the matter is that I have great respect for Architects' egos - woops - what I meant was - their advanced understanding of design.  There is no singular group (that my personal market research department has disclosed) that understands my design aesthetic better than architects.

It was a blast to mix meetings with architects in what I believe to be the best food city in the world.  It was great to see New Orleans looking so good.  When I was there - last weekend - the locals were hopefully optimistic that creek wouldn't rise on them again this soon.  Let's hope not, because these poor folks have had more than their share for a while.  Yes, I LOVE New Orleans - and yes - architects.

whew! NO NY & Vegas in 9 days

So good to be back home after visiting three awesome shows in nine days.  Last night, it was beggining to look like I was going to make it back to my bed.  As (seemingly) always, weather delays at DFW.  After flight cancellations and four gate changes, I was happy to be home allbeit with 9 hours of delays.  Great shows.  Great to be home.  Once I get some rest and come back to my senses, I'll be recapping soon.

ICFF Energy

Way behind on blog posts.  I'm now 2/3rds through my first week of my "2011 Table Talk Tour", and have lots to share, but I'm afraid it's going to have to be delayed till I get to Las Vegas and get some pool time in.

There's more energy and excitement at Design Week NY, than I've seen in years!  So many new products, great designs, and even more important - positive energy than I've felt since 2007. 

The only negative I can come up with is the weather, and only two Starbucks kiosks in the entire Javits Center.  Neither seems to be slowing anybody down. 

Yes, it's actually getting to be fun again!  The pic to the left was a beautiful display of lighting from a company from Spain.  I'll get the name a credit these over the top creative folks from across the sea.

Pancakes with walnuts

Although I almost never eat pancakes, I just couldn't resist these pancakes this morning.  The addition of walnut halves and just a touch of pure maple syrup was just too much temptation.  This one's too simple for a recipe, but Linda has promised to share some of her southern fav's soon.  Pancakes with walnuts.

walnut benches in the works

For a Southern business that prides itself in unique, one of a kind pieces, the work around here for the past couple of weeks has gone against the grain.  We were between custom jobs and to see if we could get our labor costs down a bit, we made a dozen walnut benches.  Each is still quite unique;  Some with flowing grain, one with a dimensional joint holding a big crack together.  Some are 18" high for dining table use, other's shorter.  They are coming along quite nicely.  THe pic to the left shows the progress we made thru the end of the day Friday.  I'm thinking the construction of the benches might be complete Monday, or certinly Tuesday, then we can start the finishing process.  Walnut Benches

Hospice event - at the Marriott Monday

I, like many, am more than skeptical about most government programs.  But if/when your family has a need for Hospice care, I believe you'll develop a great appreciation for this one.

Hospice of the Shoals is having their annual fundraiser, "a little taste of goodness" was great fun last year.  The best restaurants from the area show off their best dish for this amazing cause.  I won't be able to attend this one, but have made my donation of a small piece of furniture again this year.  And, as if I needed an excuse, it was a treat to see my old friend from grade school, Stan Simpson, who has just taken the marketing position with Hospice of the Shoals. 

Linda's walnut salad with blue cheese

Linda's walnut salad with blue cheese.

Linda finds opportunities to use walnuts in many of her recipes.  Pictured was a simple walnut salad with blue cheese.  Any guess what wood species the dining table (it's sitting on) is??

celebrating a cherry tree's "life"

Doug and Gail Evans celebrated the life of their cherry tree Sunday, with beer and oysters.

mango with walnut salad

Here's a pic of the very simple salad we enjoyed Sunday - mango with walnuts.  I really can't remember eating mango's that much as a kid.  Don't know if they weren't avaialble, or we just weren't in the know.  But this big/old kid grabs a few whenever they are available and looking good at the market.  I think it might have been our friends from Guatamala, Guillermo and Ingrid that joined us for the Atlanta Olympics (whew, remember that one!) that might have taught us to appreciate Mango's in their many forms.  Mango with walnut salad.

amazing table featured on cover of may's Architectural Digest

I love just about everything about this room that's featured on the cover of Architectural Digest this month.  To begin with, it features an amazing Minguren walnut table made by the master George Nakashima.  Absolutely beautiful.  But what I appreciate is how architect Mark Ferguson and interior designer Delphine Krakoff have featured this amazing piece along with an eclectic beautiful mix. 

It clearly is not my personal style, which lately I've been calling new age mid century modern, but it works so well.  There's walnut and sycamore.  There are Arbus arm chairs, Holly Hunt fabrics.  There's Louis XIV and art deco, and so much more.  Wonderful example of just another way to showcase a wonderful natural, American made, (and let's not forget sustainable) "work of art" in a beautiful setting. 

Ten Reasons people hate the south, by Leo King

What a wonderful Southern story Pat Conroy weaves in his latest tide; South of Broad.  I got such a kick out of this list that Pat's fictional character Leo King, a 1980's fictional Charleston columnist,  made of the "Ten reasons people hate the south. 

1.    Some people hate Southern accents.
    2.    Some fools think all Southerners are stupid because of those accents.
    3.    Some dopes still blame me for the Civil War, though I remember killing only three Yankees at Antietam.
    4.    Many black people I have met outside the South blame me personally for Jim Crow laws, segregation, the need for the civil rights movement, the death of Martin Luther King, the existence of the Ku Klux Klan, all lynchings, and the scourge of slavery.
    5.    Movie buffs hate the South because they have seen "Birth of a Nation," "Gone With the Wind," "In the Heat of the Night," "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Easy Rider."
    6.    A man from Ohio hates the South because he once ate grits at the Atlanta airport. He admitted that he put milk and sugar on them and thought it was the worst cream of wheat he'd ever tasted.
    7.    Many women who married Southern men, then divorced them, hate the South, as do many men who married Southern women and divorced them. All men and women who married Southerners, then divorced them, hate their Southern mother-in-laws -- ergo the entire South.
    8.    All liberals based in other geographies hate the South because it is so conservative. They refuse to believe that any true liberals could also be Southern.
    9.    All women not from the South hate Southern women because Southern women consider themselves far more beautiful than women of the lesser states.
    10.    All Americans who are not Southern hate the South because they know Southerners don't give a rat's fanny what the rest of the country thinks about them.

Again, this came straight out of Pat Conroy's South of Broad.  Enjoy.

preconceived thoughts and judgements - some self reflection

It's taken many years and a good bit of travel to come to this very simple vantage point.  In the past, primarily as I traveled, I had quite a little pet peave about folks judgements and preconceived notions as they met me for the first time.  Here's my perception of the type of first meeting that got under my skin.  Let's say I'm in LA, and meet someone.  They'd hear my southern drawl, and asked where I'm from.  My reply - North Alabama.  They might smile and ask where I went to school - The University of Mississippi.  I would read judgement all over their face as they seemed to know all there was to know about me.  And, usually, we'd both just get to whatever business we were there for.

The new revelation;  My preconceived thoughts and judgments about them were probably just as off based as theirs were.  Of course, I have/had incorrect judgements about people from LA, New York, Canada, Germany, India, Afghanistan, really anywhere that I have or haven't visited.  Certainly anywhere I haven't lived and spent plenty of time getting to know the people and the area.

What has been reevealed here, is that I was just as bad or worse at making ignornant preconceived judgements as anyone that I had been judging for judging me!

To some degree is a quote from Pat Conroy's South of Broad which I will be posting next.

united nations billion tree campaign

I just ran across this United Nations Billion tree campaign.  Looks like they've been working at it and are well on their way.

UNEP billion tree campaign.

I cut down an oak - and I feel terrible about it.

Last week I cut an old oak tree down in our side yard, and it's been bothering me.  Whereever guilt comes from, it has surfaced.  I've still got the trunk to cut down, and all the limbs to cut and haul off before the visible remains of the source of this guilt (if that's the source) clears up.

It's amazing what a strong attachment we have to trees.  They seem to be one of our closest, most comfortable connections with nature.  The process of planting them, cutting them down (killing them) reminds me of the brief time we are here on this earth.  I think each time I see a downed tree, I'm reminded of what a pitiful job we seem to be doing at protecting our planet.

Well, whatever the reason, I have acquired major guilt about this killing.  Maybe there's a benefit to this tree's death?  First of all, of course, I will be slabbing it and within a couple of years will have several tables to make from it.  But another possibly stonger benefit is that each night, after I get home from work, I'm studying the options of one of my environmental committments -  "take one - plant two".  My previous efforts have been to donate to and plant trees here in North American, and more specifically right here withing 60 miles of my studio - where they were taken.

Now I'm thinking it might be more beneficial to plant maybe half of my commentment in other parts of the world - where they are needed most.  Southeast Asia seems to be continuing to be clearcut and the landscape decimated, with little or no attempt to replace.

Today's thought is to modify my plan.  For each tree I'm responsible for taking, to plant one tree locally (or at least in North America) and plant one in Southeast Asia or another part af the world where they are needed the most.

How many trees am I going to have to plant to make up for this one that I cut down in my own yard as well as the other's I'm responsible for taking?  I don't know, but stay tuned.

Shaw Living is role model of Sustainability

I'm so proud of our new friends at Shaw Living.  And was pleasantly surprised when, during the Sustainable Furnishings Council's GreenLeaders course, Shaw Living was featured as a model of sustainability.  Their Cradle to Cradle recycling efforts seem to be very well respected and appreciated, and is being used as a model program.