beautiful hardcover

I read the Malcolm Gladwell article about experimental and conceptual genius in The New Yorker and looked up one of the subject's books. From a pure design standpoint, I just love the hardcover jacket for Brief Encounters and hate the subsequent paperback version. damn marketing dept!

It's a little crazy to be commenting on the design of a book I have yet to read, but I can confidently say the same for Dry by Augusten Burroughs.

the art of the perfect cocktail

I can't seem to escape launch of for The Essential Cocktail's marketing blitz today. I've never tried one of Degroff's drinks, but am a big Audrey Saunders fan. So far, my favorite cocktail wisdom comes from The Gentleman's Companion by Charles H Baker. It took me a while to track it down, but these days this book has a new name (Jigger, Beaker and Glass: Drinking Around the World) and cover, but at least you don't have to track down an out of print tome.

wedding 1 of 3

This week we are attending 3 weddings. The first one was at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie, NY. And indeed,what a view of the Hudson River and the changing autumn leaves. it was the perfect crisp fall day. Lynn will always be my friend's 'little sister' but yesterday she was such a beautiful bride ! i was an auxiliary photographer at the request of the bride's mom. I did have fun, but to my surprise, I don't like being stuck behind the camera for an entire wedding!

restaurants in chicago

last night we went to see WWDTM taping in new haven. it's my fourth live show. we ended up in delaney's tap room with a few folks from the show and got these restaurant recommendations from show host and chicago resident, peter.

• Alinea


• Blackbird/Avec


• Charlie Trotter's
  chef's table in the kitchen


• North Pond


• Sweet and Savories

we have so little time in chicago next weekend. i'm not sure we will be able to try any of them! hmm maybe next year before or after we hit the quad cities!?

we saw empty pepe's boxes in the green room last night. i've been thinking about pizza ever since!