A Saturday afternoon bike ride along the Amstel River to the sleepy town of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. Wandering the streets, a peek at the village church, a visit to the local bakery, and a stop in a cafe for a bite to eat, a bokbier, and a bit of reading before the bike ride back.
In this week's crate: New Zealand spinach, pear juice, cherry tomatoes, bread, Granny Smith apples, organic eggs, leek, a rosemary plant, Burdock root, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, and a European plaice filet.
Did you know Brussels sprouts grew on a stalk? I had no idea.
In Scenes of Intimacy, artist Anne-Laure Maison captures the windows of a city at night, the lit frame revealing the stories within.
Pictured above, the windows of Amsterdam. Below, New York (left) and Prague (right).
"At nightfall, the windows of the flats that are lit up attract more attention than the façade of the buildings that frame them. Lit interiors become real tableaux vivants. The interior takes precedence over the exterior, and we can glimpse moments of people’s intimate lives. I am not actually interested in their intimacy as such, but rather by the space itself – the warmth of a particular light, the twinkling of a Christmas garland or the shimmering glow of a television, the corner of a painting. All these details stir my imagination and inspire my work. When I gaze at these windows, I like to tell myself a story. I capture these intimate moments and build my own structures." - Anne-Laure Maison
A cafe corner. Seattle, Washington. May 2011.
[vimeo vimeo.com/31158841 w=500&h=400] Weekend Links is a collection of the interesting bits and pieces that I’ve come across on the streets and online. The weekly post is my chance to share with you a few things from the week, in a list compiled during the weekend. I hope you enjoy them as well.
A few things I enjoyed over the last week: 1. Seeing Chilly Gonzales perform in Amsterdam. Fantastic, inspiring 2. Watching a video of two girls witnessing a murmuration of starlings (video above) 3. Reading Haruki Murakami's short story 'Town of Cats' in The New Yorker 4. Taking in the stories in the new photo book Next #01 5. Reading the stories of a writer's twenties told through the project Dress, Memory (pictured below, via Jessica Stanley)
In this week's crate: Komatsuna leaves, purple grapes, rapini, Jerusalem artichoke, salad, carrots, Savoy cabbage (the last of the season), red onions, pears, Belle de Boskoop apples, mushrooms, bread, and venison. Looking forward to a week of eating well.
Crisp leaves and a lingering warmth in the air. Beginning the weekend with a walk along a canal.
This week has been full of creative activity and production. Interviews with photographers, a book launch, and website updates left me with the sense of satisfaction that comes when you really get your hands dirty. Cameras rolling, publishing, producing. Today is a day for rest, to sit and think about the stories I have heard and the work that I have done.
At the end of a beloved book, I will enjoy (re)reading the last pages of Jane Eyre today with a cup of Turkish coffee.
A barrel of pumpkins spotted in Copenhagen. My Halloween will involve a Skype conversation to see the costumes of my nieces before I head into an evening lecture by photographer Christopher Anderson. Not much for a celebration, but I will use the day as an excuse to eat some candy. Enjoy your Halloween!
Weekend Links is a collection of the interesting bits and pieces that I’ve come across on the streets and online. The weekly post is my chance to share with you a few things from the week, in a list compiled during the weekend. I hope you enjoy them as well.
A few things I enjoyed over the last week: 1. Listening to the new album by Tom Waits on NPR 2. Entering a giveaway for a bicycle calendar by Lisa Rupp (pictured above, via unruly things) 3. Learning about the history and variations of the ampersand 4. Watching a video of the making of a fantastic magazine cover by Paperlux (pictured below, via curiosity counts)
A Saturday morning delivery from de krat. With a busy work week ahead, I am looking forward to eating well with parsnip fries, baked apples, a romanesco pasta, and a pumpkin soup. The crate also came with a bottle of vlierbes azijn (elderberry vinegar), pictured below.
While Marcus is much more experimental when it comes to cooking, I have been expanding my collection of recipes with inspiration from these food blogs: 101 cookbooks, roost, what katie ate, bella eats, spoon fork bacon, sweet paul, and my new roots. What are some of your favorite places to find new food inspiration?
When I announced my engagement on small sight, I knew I wouldn't turn this space into a wedding blog, but I also want to share a few moments along the way. Planning an intercultural wedding and marriage leaves a lot of room for learning. I spent one morning in September running between the American and German consulates in Amsterdam to finally learn that all answers would depend on the German province in which we will wed.
After phone calls, clarifications, translations, and waiting rooms, Marcus and I now have all our paperwork in order! It now needs to be submitted for approval, after which we will be allowed to schedule an appointment at the registry office in Berlin. What I thought would be the most difficult part has actually been quite painless.
I wish I had better news for the yet-to-be-printed save the date cards and the yet-to-be-booked venue. My older sister has a lot of event planning experience and is encouraging us to finalize the most critical parts. Maybe it's because we're planning a Berlin wedding while being in Amsterdam, but everything is just taking a lot more time. In between, I have been gathering some visual inspiration for that day in April, which I wanted to share. If anyone has some tips on wedding planning, I would love some insight! How did you handle all the details and planning?
Photo sources: flowers, table, dress and bouquet, church.
Weekend Links is a collection of the interesting bits and pieces that I’ve come across on the streets and online. The weekly post is my chance to share with you a few things from the week, in a list compiled during the weekend. I hope you enjoy them as well.
A few things I enjoyed over the last week: 1. Partaking in the autumn harvest with roasted parsnips (pictured above) 2. Starting to plan the next trip (someday) to Copenhagen a restaurant tips 3. Voting in Time Out's Best of Amsterdam 2011 list and getting new tips 4. Reading the familiar stories of the families in The Mixed Race Project (via allison lehman) 5. Watching the trailer for Pina, a 3-D dance film about the work of choreographer Pina Bausch, by Wim Wenders (embedded below)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXpFD7gi8R0&w=560&h=315]
Looking forward to a sunny autumn weekend and brunch for three.
Image via seasonal love.
Cycling is not simply a summer affair in Amsterdam. Yet when I see a week of rain ahead on the weather forecast, it takes extra motivation to hop on my two wheels in the morning. Having my rain gear ready (and always with me) makes it easier to bear a drizzle or downpour. My kit includes rain pants, a waterproof jacket, a hat with a brim to keep the water out of my eyes, and always leather or rubber shoes. Suffering through a spot of rain is worth the freedom and pleasure that comes with riding. Here, are a few tips for gear that make cycling in the autumn a breeze.
Above photo via Amsterdamize.
Rain cape by Iva Jean.
Rain booties from Loeffler Randall and a rain hat from Ridlington.
Rainboots, made cuter with Kove leg warmers (via unruly things)
A lovely font by German designer Maria Fischer, the creator behind Traumgedanken. Soft and flowing.
A short trip north to Copenhagen last week took me to Denmark for my first time. One day for work, then another day for pleasure. On Thursday, meetings and a business dinner gave me a chance to see the neighborhoods of Frederieksberg and Vesterbro. On Friday, I headed towards Nyhavn and the row of colorful houses on the water. Here, a few sights along the route.
A walk up the Rundetaarn (round tower) led to a view over the city.
'In the house that stood here until 1908 lived Søren Kierkegaard, from his birth on 5 May 1813 until 27 April 1848.'
The statue of Absalon.
Agnete and the Merman, an underwater sculpture.
Pumpkins in a row.
Please note the beautifully carved seat and handlebars.
City trips often make me compare the city I am visiting with other cities I know. Copenhagen is often described as similar to Amsterdam and in many ways that comparison holds true. Bicycles, water, flat land, Northern, and cold weather. Yet the differences, which were many, caught my interest. Two days was just enough to catch a scent of Denmark.
It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.
- Jane Eyre, chapter xii
Weekend Links is a collection of the interesting bits and pieces that I’ve come across on the streets and online. The weekly post is my chance to share with you a few things from the week, in a list compiled during the weekend. I hope you enjoy them as well.
A few things I enjoyed over the last week: 1. Falling in love with the Danish kitchen at Kødbyens Fiskebar, especially the dessert of sea buckthorn sorbet with licorice, hip rose, and baked rice pudding (photo by Adrian Joachim via) 2. Reading an interview with Nick Hand, author of Conversations on the Coast, a collection of stories and images of artisans he met during a 5,000-mile journey along the British coastline 3. Being inspired to try out new ways to wear a scarf (via Ez) 4. Gathering recipes for another Thanksgiving in Amsterdam (pumpkin mousse pictured below)
