all that's past is prologue...

It's the last day to file 1099s, and I tackle the issue: http://www.gladhillrhone.com/1099s/

Who blogs anymore anyway? Apparently we do. You may already follow Patrick’s blog ( https://www.patrickrhone.net ), where right now he has some very interesting musings about property rights. Or this one, which, well…is not exactly cohesive in theme. But I in particular (given some recent events) have been thinking a lot about issues in my two main fields of arts/non-profit management and historic preservation. I would like to talk more about these things, in perhaps a slightly more professional matter than my off-the-cuff blog posts. And so, we’ve added this blog page to gladhillrhone.com. We would love to talk to you more — both online and in real life — about important topics. We may sometimes disagree, but that’s ok too. So we hope you’ll follow us on the new blog here and to see you on the blog! PS - Done with internet connections in general! One of my 2023 list items is to write letters, so message me your address and I can send you one!

  Beatrix is currently in a show called Echoes of the Holocaust . It's a professional theater credit, a world premiere, playing this weekend because today is Holocaust Remembrance Day — the day Auschwitz was freed in 1945.  Side note: when I visited Auschwitz, the only day that worked with our travel plans was my birthday and the day before Pope John Paul II was to visit — a very strange way to "celebrate"... It's playing in a small theatre space in a church basement at 26th and Blaisdell. It's a small space (so at least no microphones are needed), and a little inaccessible (a lot of steps and such), with a big dose of "let's put on a show." So in our household we talk a lot about human rights, and with that, a lot about the Holocaust. It's made  big impression on Beatrix, starting when she was 9 and we went to the Holocaust Museum in DC. The entrance to the museum is overwhelming; you are crammed into the elevator and given the smallest sense of...

Of all the cocktail places in the Twin Cities, Lawless has always been home. From the first time we walked in there, when Adam took us under his wing and gave us incredible experience since "I know you'll be back," to being handed down from him to Jeff to Olivia to Ethan, we've been there every time. For the first "Miracle at Lawless" (above, originally set up due to bored bartenders) to "Beach Club" and more, we've had out share of pink gin shots. Because it's always been a special place. Where we have always been "somebody," for no particular reason. We were not in every night or anything. We were just, somehow, part of the DNA, whether that was sitting at the end of the bar or with cocktail kits during the pandemic or red Solo cups on the patio with an inspired playlist. When it re-opened, it was never quite the same. For the first time, we were not handed down from one bartender to another. Our experiences were...transactional...

One great thing about taking down the Christmas tree is that we can take some time to re-organize the front area. In this case we: - Hung a new picture Patrick gave me for Christmas, and moved another piece into the kitchen where a perfect place opened up when we reorganized the shelf. - Cleaned through the candles (though I don't think you see that in the picture) - Ordered a plant stand for the orchids, repotted some, and organized them all (I am a sucker for abandoned orchids and many of these are about to bloom!) - Brought down the plant table; cleaned up and repotted several plants. This keeps them from being kitten salad up in the guest room. - Hang a piece of stained glass we had purchased of the neighborhood BST board. - Set up the "Winston chairs" from which he watches the world; these really need to be re-upholstered, but that's a project for later... I love how it looks!

So Solo Vino is dear to my heart. But we have lately also loved Dabbler Depot , because Mo, their wine person, is absolutely lovely. Tonight was one of their first wine classes that they have offered, and did not disappoint! They are starting to set up these various classes, where you get a little more information than just a tasting. On the docket tonight was: - a rkatsiteli - a Pedro Ximénez sherry compared to a table wine with the same grape/maker (Patrick's favorite) - an orange wine pet-nat (so hazy! so yummy!) - a carbonically macerated red called (in Spanish) "M-f-ing Rabbits" with a firing line bunny on the label Mo was charming and we learned a lot, and the other people in the class were also really fun to be with. It was great to expand my knowledge beyond the usual, and I love that a store that is as beer-focused as DD is does not leave wine and spirits behind. I highly recommend becoming a member and watching for their classes!

Southern France is on our mind. We've been watching a lot of Emily in Paris (umm, "for the scenery"), and last night, Downton Abbey: A New Era with their French villa. But more to the point, our friends the Chelimskys just came back and brought us these amazing treats: They were so pretty I actually had to do an un-boxing sequence: Highly regarded by the ladies of the house! Thinking we may need a trip to the South of France....

I'm still recovering so not supposed to do much. But I've been able to work with Patrick and Beatrix to do some decluttering. This is the main shelf in the kitchen — I love that we can now get to everyday pottery dishes! I think there's room for some small art as well. (This project is also what inspired me to finish making the bitters). After: Before: This is an area on the 3F with clothes to get rid of. The "before" actually looks worse than the "after" because my daughter cleaned out a lot of her closet, but now everything is in order by size and kind of clothes, so we can easily bring them to clothing exchanges and the like! We brought 2 bags to a clothing exchange yesterday, and in return picked up only a couple of (needed!) items! Before: After: Oh, and we cleaned through the dog's toys and dropped them off for another dog on the neighborhood free board. No pictures of the toys, but here's Winston being not so sure that "sharing is car...

Last night, Beatrix had rehearsal over near the Institute. I was feeling meh but didn't want to stay home alone, and with the snow traffic was slow enough Patrick didn't necessarily want to come home and then drive back to get her. So we decided to grab dinner out. After multiple circles around the block plus pushing one car out of a snowbank (see earlier mention of traffic/parking), we found a spot and headed over to Little Tijuana . This is, in my lifetime, at least Little T's 3rd incarnation. When I was younger, it was a late night dive bar, good for food as you drank to hopefully mitigate the next day's hangover (and not known for being too fussy about your ID). Awhile back (8 years or so? Longer?), it re-imagined itself as slightly more upscale, and then I think it closed again (I mean, everything did during the first part of the pandemic...) I had heard good things about the new incarnation...and apparently so had everyone else in Minneapolis. We soon found oursel...

 In early December, I started making bitters. I got a little stalled at the beginning because I didn't have the spirits I thought I had ready for it (there went the idea of having it ready for Christmas presents). But eventually I got everything all mashed and steeped, which made the house smell delicious. Then it infused for several weeks, shaken daily. Tonight, I finally did the finally step, which was re-heating it (which made the house smell great again), adding some honey as a sweetener (thanks, Viv!), and then straining it twice (a long and pokey process). I probably used my arms more than I should at this point of my recovery, but I got to listen to some NPR and watch is s-l-o-w-l-y strain through. And now I have 5 delicious smelling bottles of cherry vanilla bitters. Because cocktails are good!

New year, new restaurant! On New Year's Eve, I was jonesing for a low-key escape from the house; I'm recovering from surgery (finishing out the dumpster fore of 2022 with more health things!). So Patrick took me to Bar Cart, which just opened at the end of December after Khyber Pass closed — and it was absolutely perfect! They have a great cocktail menu — very extensive, and reasonably priced. A few wines and beers, but it's mainly a cocktail place, and they shine! Patrick's Vieux Carre and my Clover Club could hold their own anywhere in New Orleans. The food was also outstanding! We had a caesar salad that had sweet potatoes, blueberries, and spiced chickpeas for a really nice take on a usually basic salad. The whipped feta was the star of the night and it's all I could do to not lick the bowl clean. The staff was all outstanding, the vibe cozy, and it was the perfect night out (and would have been so even if I had not really needed to get out of the house!) A grea...