all that's past is prologue...

I'm trying to make a more concerted effort to attend events that Cultural STAR supports; it's probably not possible because we give away over a million dollars a year to scores of events, but I am giving it a shot! Just in the last week I have read a book from the Lucky Day shelf at the library (we give $175,000 a year to the libraries, taken right off the top of our funds), saw The New Standards at Lowertown Sounds , and last night, we headed to the Little Mekong Night Market . I love this event, because it's so authentic to the area (I have a theory about how Saint Paul events are firmly rooted in place while Minneapolis tends to plug in "Name of Place Open Streets," but I digress). I love the warm summer heat and smells that make it really feel like every East Asian night market I have gone to. I love the illuminated booths, and the art spaces. The first thing we did was go to the lantern booth, where Beatrix's friend from school, Lani, was working. We love...

  Some years I don't get around to picking the serviceberries. I could have been forgiven for not doing so this year, since I was focused on the cherries, not to mention work. But I had just read Robin Wall Kimmerer's The  Serviceberry  (thanks to the Lucky Day shelf at the library), and so they were very much on my mind. I had read her Braiding Sweetgrass when I was up at Wintermoon Summmersun , and I was thinking about that, and thinking about weeping while listening to the funeral for Melissa and Mark Hortman earlier today, and thinking about Brutus eating the "nom-noms" — and so I simply could not leave these special fruits on the tree. This serviceberry is one of the trees at Summit that have a very special place in my heart, as well as the aforementioned cherry, and the japanese lilacs, and of course the magnolias in front. And I love the sense of foraging for food and what I can make from what I pick. Last night Reggie and Kristen brought over cherry gin they ...

It is a sad truth when you redo a home that there are some projects you *never* seem to get too and some you have to do multiple times. The Summit bathroom is one of the latter. When I was growing up, it was definitely aging, with ratty light blue tile that often fell off the wall. In the late 1980s, my mom redecorated it in high style for the time, complete with paisley wallpaper and a shiny brass chandelier. Patrick called it the "Reagan Memorial Bathroom." When Beatrix was a baby, we redid it as part of a reality TV show called "Bathtastic." That episode, called "Bath to the Future" can still be found streaming . But here's a little secret about reality TV — anything done on a tight timeframe like that does not always hold up well. And, in this case, the old pipes which we did not replace eventually developed  leak — but only when you were standing in the shower and putting weight on the pan. Since the frameless shower had already given up the ghost...

His is a Copperwing whiskey with blood orange Pellegrino. Hers is a peony syrup gin and tonic. Sipped while kicking off the new season of The Bear and thinking of our bonus daughter who is in Chicago right now.

It was a much-needed summer play weekend. Pool party. Yoga. Clothing exchanges (2!). Dinner in White Plan B. CJ volunteer event. Book club. Bread cheese and Hand to Hand Wombat with the (whole) fam. Heat and pool and reading.

Summer is short in Minnesota, you have to take advantage of it! Right now: Almost ready for the pool party! 10:35am to just now:  meetings, emails, errands, tasks, interviews, QuickBooks, library, bank, craziness! 10:30am today:  Mmmmm, almond/chocolate croissant from Rose Patisserie: 9:00am today: A visit to my neighbor Rachael's yard sale at 1381 Grand, still on tomorrow, lots of good things! 8:30am today: Planted basil, tomatoes, and flowers. 5:00pm yesterday: Spur of the moment trip down to Lowertown to see The New Standards, plus hang out with the Chelimsky's, after dinner at Punch and a tasting at Solo Vino. I mean, the internet was down so we clearly could not work... 3:00pm yesterday: Patrick and Beatrix check out the new vegan, Black and queer-owned donut place at 1350 Hague (The Donut Trap).

  Thanks to Saint Paul Forestry, who were speedy and lovely (and very much admired the truck).

Our nineteenth anniversary was Sunday, but we celebrated yesterday so we could devote the 15th to Father's Day (plus we got married the 15th and the reception was the 17th, so this split the difference.) So here is the "Vespertini" at Chloe : We had a delicious meal and a lot of great conversation. Nice to know I love my husband as much — in fact, more — than nineteen years ago. The happy hour menu there is fantastic and the service was impeccable — I would go back anytime! I suppose a night out was good, because "for better or worse" was in play this morning:

  I think/hope Patrick had a good Father's Day. We started with presents, then Yoga and a Pint. Yesterday, as the assassination of Speaker Hortman had unfolded just before class, YAAP was raw, full of anger, intense. I barely remember getting through it. Today was quieter, but still thoughtful. We picked Beatrix up from Ari and Gwen's graduation party, and headed over to Saint Paul Pride where Beatrix was going to be at the booth demo-ing spinning some hula hoops (plus hoops, juggling, diablo, etc.) We got to see Vincent and Zeke's great show, and hear my friend Hope sing. We had delicious beer from Dual Citizen. Patrick and I got to run up to Urban Growler and have a second drink. But maybe Patrick's best surprise of the night is that we all (him, me, Beatrix, Zani, and Miles) met for dinner at La Grolla. Zani came up with the idea, Miles the plan, and Beatrix the time (and me the reservation), and it could not have been better. You see, when I fell in love with Patric...

Is a Gin Mule at the Open Eye gala last night, along with a delicious dinner box (what a great idea!). The cocktail was good but the evening itself was amazing — connecting with fun people, getting a preview of the upcoming season(s) (that Lizzie Gordon show is going to be fantastic and makes me want to go axe throwing!), and generally supporting a place I love. 25 years is amazing! (2 galas in one week, I guess June is the new Gala Season...)

Twelve cocktails? Who am I kidding? I could do that in a week if I put my mind to it. Here's the lovely #3, a "Debutante" with Rob and Kristina last night. Here's to great nights out full of good conversation!

  A Celestial Spritz at Hotel Celeste, whose bar we don't get to enough. We had gone to the event at 825 Arts, which was a fantastic, Prohibition-themed event with mocktails. But then we were all dressed up in 20s-style clothes and decided to get a drink out. Celeste was the perfect choice — I need to go there more often! We had several interesting conversations with folks and the bartenders were top-notch!