Drinking & Driving, sort of

Acme Bicycle Company, 412 E 18th Street, Kansas City

Is it legal to ride a bike while drinking espresso? Yes, yes, it is.

A few weekends back, we stopped in at Acme so that Owen could pick up some obscure something-or other for one of his bikes. I, instead, chose to stand outside, take this photo.

What are your plans for the weekend? Tomorrow, I intend to observe the jalapenos-eating contest at Fiesta Kansas City; maybe it will help me get in touch with my Mexican heritage! And, who doesn't enjoy watching people stuff hot peppers in their mouths.

Have a good weekend!

Spring Has Sprung

Cosmo Closeup in Waldo, Kansas City

Personally, I think this has been a fantastic spring. While some thought the weather to be a bit chilly, I never complained because I know how easy it is to forget the beastly weather of Midwestern summers ... with sweat drippin' down your back for no good reason!

Also, I am very excited about the development of my native gardening efforts. It's either going to look great or will look like drunk clowns walked through with buckets of garish-colored paint. (According to HGTV, one is supposed to plant complementary-colored plants next to each other. What?!?)

All this said, native gardening is VERY COOL, and it's good for our Midwestern environment. So stop planting all those darn exotics and look for awesome plants like cosmos (above), black-eyed susans, obedient plant, coneflowers, and more.

ps, the image above will likely be posted at the Little Bird Emporium in the near future. I captured this shot of a cosmo by using my digital camera and an old disassembled kodak duaflex lens.

Stuff Happens at Stuff

Little Monsters steal a gnome at Stuff, 63rd & Brookside, Kansas City

I've always been a big fan of Stuff, a shop full of an eclectic array of artisan craft goods. When I first moved to Kansas City nearly 10 years ago, I worked for a small publishing company in Westport. At least once a week, I'd take a little work break and wander around Stuff (then located a few shops down from Murray's Ice Cream, gazing at all the creative wares I couldn't afford on a peon's salary.

Since it's move to Brookside several years ago, I only stop in once in a while, but I still always find something to long for! This past Friday as we were walking back to the car after the Brookside Art Annual, we saw the glowing lights of Stuff light up the night, and decided to take a gander. Great stuff as usual, and we ran into Owen's soon-to-be ex-coworker, Elle, who makes very cool silversmithed jewelry for Stuff and a several other stores in the KC area. Yep, she's throwing in the corporate towel and becoming a full time Arrr-teest.

That's always exciting to see, no? In light of me having just set up my little etsy shop, it's really inspiring to see someone following her dream.

Art Gazing

Brookside Art Annual, 63th & Brookside Blvd, Kansas City

This past weekend splashes of color dotted Brookside during the Brookside Art Annual. I'm a big fan of this particular art show, as it's more intimate and very laid-back in comparison to the Plaza Art Fair (on the Country Club Plaza in September).

A few of the artists I particular liked: Micheal Cole, photography (really amazing and stark images that look quite old-fashioned. Presented in large, simple wood frames with print floating--nailed with old nails to the backing); Jim C. Brown, painting (cool plaster-looking stamped paintings); Heinrich Toh, printmaking (lively and interesting mixed media).

Tulips on Troost

63rd & Troost, Kansas City, Mo.

If you get a chance within the week or so, take a leisurely drive down Troost Ave., in Kansas City, Mo. "Tulips On Troost" aims to change the face of Troost Avenue by planting one million tulips along the Avenue by Spring of 2010.

Long considered the "boundary" between the "safe" and "unsafe" part of our urban core, Troost Ave has a reputation ... a negative one at that.

If you live in the Kansas City area, check it out, and also find out how you can donate or volunteer. I think adopting a tree well or small garden would be very cool!!

Bon Weekend!

Prayer Flags, Kansas City

Have a good weekend ....

"Remember, there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act
creates a ripple with no logical end."

Coffee, Anyone?

Coffee on 39th Street, Kansas City

It's Wednesday. It's 4:02pm. I'm at work. It's raining (AGAIN).

I could really use some coffee. How about you?