VK Live Pt.2

After a little bit of a slow start on Saturday morning, wherein I walked the dog and packed up Wool Dispensary orders (happily because of this), shuffling around my apartment in a planning haze. You know when you have all these things swirling around your head about what is going to happen but you can not for the life of you seem to get them in any coherent order. That was Saturday morning. I blame yarn fumes.

I wanted to make it down to the Palmer House in time to get a copy of Finishing School signed by Debbie Newton. She was at the Vogue Knitting booth from 1 to 1:30 pm. That was forefront in my mind. Next was meeting up with friends around four and possibly catching the 'When your passion becomes your career panel' at three. In between, well that was up to me.

I made it out of my house by sheer force of will. The market was swamped. Because I was in a booth all Friday night, I didn't realize how many people were there. Saturday was unlimited exploration. The aisles were a little cramped especially when you put lots of bags of purchased yarn into the equation. Maybe a squirreling station next year? But I did make it to get my book signed. Since I purchased my copy there, I also received a free copy of Stitchionary 2: Cables. Woot!

After the last great reorganization of my studio wherein I discovered SABLE and beyond I wanted to be cautious and thoughtful about my yarn purchases. As much as I could have gone hog wild, my pocket book and storage containers appreciated the restraint. I am fortunate to have 3 amazing LYSs within easy distance of me and working in the yarn industry for a number of years has given me a solid grasp of yarns and what I like. I am spoiled in that way. So I bypassed quite a few booths (sorry to say that but it's true). I wanted to find yarns not as readily available to me. 

I had seen Studio Donegal at Stitches Midwest but had already blown my budget on other goodies (can anyone say bundle of Rittenhouse) so I sadly passed them by then. Luckily, they were there in conjunction with Leilani Fiber Arts and Melissa Leapman. As I stroked the soft tweed and dreamed of hills of Ireland an image of the Rocky Coast Cardigan jumped into my head. A sweater-quantity was destined to come home with me but in what color? Sometimes you just need the advice of friends. 

When the Lovely Bitches with Lovely Stitches got there it was unanimously agreed that Oatmeal be the color of my cardigan. And so it was done. 5 skeins of soft heather oatmeal tweed are now mine. 

Looking at the White Whale booklet by Ann Weaver? That was Sunday. As I worked in the Nina booth I couldn't help but notice all the gorgeous sweaters running past. And I caved. Not to mention I am slowly working my way through Moby Dick and am a sucker for good illustration. The patterns are exquisite and it will take a lot of will power not to start something new before the holidays. 

Sunday started off with a brisk walk in the early morning with Gudrun Johnson down to Eleven City Diner for a quick breakfast before my lecture and her Knitterati appearance. I first met her at TNNA and was so pleased when she emailed and we had time to get together for brunch. I wish I could have shown her (and everyone who came to town) around my city. In another life, I was a concierge. It's such a pleasure to introduce people to the city I know and love. Vogue Knitting Live was such an insular event there was little time left for anything besides what was going on in the hotel. If I didn't live in another part of Chicago it's very possible that I wouldn't have left that hotel for three days straight. 

After the market closed at six, I stayed to help pack up yarn and displays, hauled everything down to the U-haul and back into the shop. While I am sure Hilary and Nina made an even later night of it, I made my way home around eleven. But not without one last thing. My very last splurge in the market place. I received three yarn bowls in one year from family and friends. I, in no way need another yarn bowl. But who can have too many mugs? Pawley Studios had a beautiful selection of yarn bowls and mugs. I couldn't resist this:

I mean really? Could you?

Post VK Live pt.1

Can you get a hangover from yarn? After spending all weekend at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago for Vogue Knitting Live, I can answer 'Yes'. Today I woke up with a serious yarn hangover. My Friday started out with stepping foot into one of the most beautifully ornate hotel lobbies. This is the third iteration of the hotel built by Potter Palmer and his estate. When you walk up the stairs to the foyer you get a little bit of Old Chicago grandeur.

Looking over the lobby

Grand Ceiling

It really was the perfect place for this event. Instead of a sterile convention center, a posh hotel smack downtown adds a little enchantment. After a quick check-in and a couple of maze-like hallways, the room where Steeks to the Rescue, my first class, was found. Steeking is a way of setting up your knitting to be cut. Why would you want to cut into your knitting? The biggest is making a traditional fair isle cardigan without having to purl your work. Others include inserting a placket to make a smaller piece bigger, taking out a section if your garment is too big, adding pockets or a neckline. Chris Bylsma was a fantastic teacher giving me the confidence to make quick work of a steek. Now I can tackle the fair isle sweater of my dreams.

A Steeked neckline

Downtown Chicago for all its options does not yield a high percentage of amazing fast lunch options. But, there are a few hidden gems; Oasis Cafe being one of them. Located in the back of one of the diamond storefronts on Wabash. After a quick lunch of falafel and a cup of coffee from Intelligentsia, I sat in the lobby knitting, well, really more people-watching. The market did not open until 3 pm, so I had nothing better to do than make new friends and bump into old ones. For the rest of the evening I worked with Lana and Kathy at the Hemp for Knitting. You could not meet two nicer people if you tried. After smiling for so many hours it was a gin & tonic at the hotel bar (hello $14 cocktail). Antonio from Malabrigo met up with me and we had dinner at Lockwood where we talked architecture, cuisine in Lima and color theory. By the time I got to my friend's birthday and we closed down Blind Robin bar I didn't think I could be more tired. Time for the marketplace on Saturday and part two of VK Live.

Birthday Weekend #1

Why this birthday was awesome:

• Time with mom
• YARN!
• Sheep
• Dogs
• Ice cream

If you know me at all, you I love to celebrate my birthday and most years it turns into a month long hooha. Kicking it off this weekend, my mom took me to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson as an early birthday present. I took the train up Harvard and her house in South Beloit on Friday afternoon. Thinking that there would be two 2 hour train rides and a couple of long car rides I packed three knitting projects for the duration of my two day trip. I promptly zonked out on the train ride up there. After a nice two hour nap there was Dairy Haus, which to my delight was open and had my favorite flavor of anise flavored Blue Moon in the case, and some knitting, and wine and dinner and Downton Abbey watching. Then bed, because we were going to be up at the butt-crack of dawn to head up to the festival.

The butt-crack of dawn came and there was coffee to make it less cracky and a quick car jaunt through the back highways of the cheese state to the festival grounds. It was a chilly morning, a first true taste of fall with the wind whipping my hair and biting my cheeks. We sat and watched the Crook & Whistle dog trials.

There are different levels for novice and advanced dogs, the differences being in how long the drive was and the tasks performed. Watching the Shepard and dog work together was amazing, driving home just how integral the relationship between dog and human can be. The dedication on the animal's face as it trotted next to it's human knowing it had a job and that it was respected made me miss my Stella. Unfortunately, no pets on the fair grounds (and for good reason), so she had to be left out. However, grandma did buy her a treat, a deer antler, for her birthday; which is in September as well.

When we couldn't take it anymore we wandered into the hall of breeds where we saw all different sorts of sheep penned up next to each other. You really get to appreciate the diversity of breeds this way. Seeing the tiny Shetland next to the extremely long-wooled and shaggy Icelandic, next to the big, fat Romney and my personal favorite the Leicester (blue faced or not).

We shopped the hall of vendors. My mom treated me to some birthday yarn; a skein of beautiful DK in natural brown/grey, a mixture of BFL and English. So soft I can't stop squishing it. And some birthday buttons made from cut and polished black walnuts. I also treated myself to a sweater quantity of Suri-Shetland blend from Rach-Al-Paca in Minnesota. Can't resist when a skein is only $8! There was also a  giant ceramic dinosaur button purchased, some Somerset cheese and a skein of Angora Bunny & Cormo from Bleating Heart Haven. Too soft and pretty to resist.

My mom was fascinated by the shearing demonstration and I have to admit I was too.

The shearer was captivating. I could just imagine sitting down for a beer and some cheese curds to listen to his life story. At 58, he's been shearing for 35 years and learned in New Zealand. Hence the wool pants and old school shearing mocs. Kinda makes me want to go to shearing school and not just 'cause I might get to go to New Zealand. He did make tossing about a 140 lb sheep look easy.

After a lunch of lamb brat and root beer float we watched more Crook and Whistle trails until it was time to leave to catch the train. Which I barely made since mom's GPS was down and the navigator (me) was lulled into a nap and we almost ended up in Lake Geneva instead of Harvard. With minutes to spare I boarded the train home laden with yarn and happy smile.

One Dozen Projects and a Pig Roast

The Olympic Games are long over and the first Ravellenic Games have come to a close too. This was not my first time participating in the Ravelry-centric Olympic style event in the knitting world. I am a decorated ravalthete and needed to defend my medals from past years. Having been at it a few times, one would assume I know my limits. Not so. I started with the bar set high; a color work knee sock, a WIP to be wrestled and new toys to be cast on and completed all within the 14 days that the torch is lit. Last year Molly and I KALed the Garden Gate Socks from Knitty. We got about to the same place before Molly realized hers would not fit and I set mine down in pursuit of something shinier. This pattern and yarn had come from the long sitting, yet not abandoned sack project. But we all know I wasn't going to finish a pair of knee-high fuckin' socks. Who was I kidding? Those were pulled apart and I believe the yarn is now sitting in a project bag destined to be fingerless mitts. 

I wrestled the WIP (a series of tiny toys on the needles since Christmas 2011) with aplomb. I only needed my butt kicked into gear to pop those suckers off one by one in a three day period.

Also a lark, two stegosaurus' (plural stegosauri?) one in Spud & Chloe and one in Malabrigo.

For my final trick I finished a scarf, that hadn't been on the needles all that long it was just a big, tweedy, tube that seemed to go forever. I used yarn that I had squirreled away way back in 2008 and unfortunately had to buy a little more (from someone else's destash so I was helping!) to finish it up properly. I spent an episode of Downton Abbey kitchnering 100 stitches last night. Too bad it was 90 degrees and humid otherwise I would've worn it home. 

So with a dozen projects left on the needles (a few I've added since this whole thing began) I might get to see a pig roasted before the ground freezes over. 

Yarn Crawl 2012

Sunday was my day off from the yarn store I work at, so did I sit idle on my couch? Hells to the NO! I "conned" my best friend and knitting buddy Lisa into driving around for the 3rd annual Chicago Yarn Crawl. Did you know that the Chicago land area has 27 shops that participate in this event? I didn't think so. There is no hope of me getting to all 27, since some are my way beyond my car-less scope of travel and some have hours that don't match up with the days I can be crawling. In one glorious Sunday Lisa, Ginevra and I managed to hit up 5 stores in 4 suburbs and 1 Chicago neighborhood.


Hours for most stores on Sunday were 12 pm to 4 pm so we headed out around noon west of the city to Glen Ellyn's String Theory first. Two city girls driving in the suburbs and navigating the freeway system (tolls cost $1.50?) is dangerously funny. After by-passing route 1 on the google maps we managed to find route 3 (unfortunately taking us on Ronald Reagan highway) and made it to the cute downtown of  Glen Ellyn by a quarter to one. String Theory has a great selection and a cute space with a lovely window display. They were teaching a class when we arrived but we didn't get in their way and we weren't in ours. I promptly found their selection of Shepherd's Wool from Stonehedge Fiber Mill and sat down trying to make a decision. Ginevra found Indigo Dragonfly and tried desperately to get me to buy some by popping out of it. They did not have the color I am obsessing over (Captain Tightpants anyone?) so I stuck with the original idea of Shepherd's Wool in a bright cheerful green that will turn into a Millwater someday.

Then we struck out for Des Plaines, a northwest suburb I recognize from taking the metra trains. Mosaic Yarn Studio wins the prize for most unique space. It's in a building with an insurance company and at first we couldn't figure out where it was and then were the door was. Yarn fumes affect the brain sometimes. Mosaic is chock full of all sorts of yarn! The shelves were full to bursting with colors of all kinds. They have a whole three rooms of space, plenty to traverse. Lisa bought her first Knitter's Pride Nova needle set and I picked up a skein of Koigu (for monsters) and some stitch holders since I am always losing mine. Mosaic also wins the award for cutest bag... a bright green reusable tote that commemorates Yarn Crawl 2012

Angling a little farther north and a little to the east we hit Three Bags Full in Northbrook. The last time I was here years ago, at their old space, a cramped little cottage house. The new space has much more room and plenty of gorgeous yarn to fill it. Swan's Island, The Fibre Company, Isager, and Madelinetosh to name just a few. Plus lovely hand turned yarn bowls and sheep mugs. I wish this store was closer to me! I would probably spend a good portion of my time knitting at Lynette's big table in the sunny window. Though every store was giving away a shop pattern, I saw a rusched cowl made from Road to China Light and couldn't resist. Lisa picked up the color I couldn't decide on since I was buying the she was deciding between. We will knit the same cowl and then if we want to trade, we can! Hurray for knitting buddies with the same taste.

A quick dash to Evanston because it was 4 o'clock when we left Three Bags Full and there were only a handful of stores staying open until 5. Montoya Fiber Studio was on our loop back in to the city and we met the owner and I think her husband. They win for best window display. A Bert and Ernie in knit Rastafarian outfits... holding a sign that said welcome yarn crawlers. They nearly eclipsed Ginevra for camera time. Oh and dinosaurs with knitted accessories including a triceratops with horn warmers and knitting needle carrier. I mean, come on! Montoya carries a lot of Manos del Uruguay, and I mean a lot! Also, the owner dyes her own yarn as well. I found some good monster yarns that I have never used before and Lisa picked up Shepherd's Wool in a golden orange for a giant cowl. 

Back in the car by 4:24 and hurrying our way down Ridge to get to Windy Knitty before they closed for the day. Both of us have been there several times and but it didn't stop me from finding two skeins of Malabrigo finito I could not live without. I almost bought yarn for the shop pattern since I've never used Fleur De Fiber before but in all honesty I would not knit the cowl that was the shop yarn crawl pattern. So the finito will become something else from my ever growing list of things I want to make.

 I normally keep to the rule of not going in shops right before they close but Lisa convinced me to hang it up and really Windy Knitty was quite busy so I didn't feel so bad. The guy who checked me out has his own online comic about monsters who knit complete with knitting patterns, Skein n' Bones.  I didn't have a chance to check it out as Lisa and I were too busy devouring homemade peach & pesto pizza, comparing notes and yarn, and of course knitting!

16 Projects and a Pig Roast

Proud to announce I managed to get 3 more projects off my needles... then I cast on two more. First I finished my Momo sweater. 5 balls of malabrigo silky and a couple of months of knitting time (which really could have been ONE month, but hey other knitting projects got in the way) and BOOM! One lovely sweater that fits me pretty damn perfectly. I attribute that to Teri's amazing way of writing a pattern. Also I did a gauge swatch. That helps.

Once that was off the needles, I diligently worked on some other long languishing projects without anything really grabbing. I guess that is why I put them down in the first place. I also needed to cast on a shawl for my best friend's September civil union. It's a lacy shawl so I work on that one in the mornings when I am really fresh and save the miles of stockingnette for the evening-times. It's coming along well and am nearly done with the last chart before the edging. But no spoiler pictures until she sees it! In time between that I cast on a simple slouch hat with yarn from The Fibre Co. It's been in my stash since 2009 and I justified casting on because it was balanced by the relatively long time this yarn had been hanging around. It's the Gastropod Hat and is perfect for a 90 degree day; which was when we were taking pictures.

When I pulled out the WIP, a friend who knows about my challenge asked me, "And what the hell number is that?" And I mumbled something about it being the "nmtabgth" hat. So that is how it is known. An indeterminate number in a long line of indeterminates. After such a quick knit I needed another one and cast on a stripey stash-bustin' monster. He's almost done and will be much needed since The Wool Dispensary got accepted to the DIY Trunk Show!!!! I am so very excited about this being my second show and along with hand-dyed yarn will also be selling some of my hand-knit monsters based on Rebecca Danger's awesome designs. There will be a lot going on in the next few months, dying, designing, and knitting abound. 


And in case I had not showcased this sweater here before, my Warriston. It's quite a large sweater and I probably would not have run out of yarn if I had knit a smaller size. All said and done, there is enough room to layer underneath and it'll make a great cozy deep winter sweater. The yarn is from Imperial Stock Ranch and is a farm wool with a lot of character and spring. I had no problem buying the extra ball since now I have enough left over for an awesome hat, or maybe some fingerless gloves. 

I too cast on for the Stephen West Mystery KAL. I couldn't help myself. I had so much fun last time around and knit it up quick. Unfortunately this one is not as easy to get behind, maybe it's cause I picked up my alpaca sweater and am so close to finishing the body that I have finish-fever. That's what I call the desire that grips you to knit until your fingers are bloody when you are so close to an edge or the next part of the pattern, even if the item wouldn't be truly finished. So I finished some things and it would be 14 on the needles but then I cast on a few and like that (imagine finger snapping here) I am back to 16. One step closer to that pig roast.

I think I might like orange cowls

When choosing colors I tend to stay in a rut for awhile. Like I will make 3 red sweaters in row without realizing it. However, I always like green. Now it seems I have hit my orange period. Two April cowls prove the hypothesis.

First Dolinar, a free pattern from West Knits Book 2, knit in Madelinetosh Merino, color ginger.

Later in the month I knit up the Understory Cowl by Bree for The Wool Dispensary's April KAL using Imperial Poison in On the Back Lot.

I think one can also conclude I have thing for slightly bigger, slightly slouchy cowls.

17 Projects and a Pig Roast

I think my collection of WIPs has out-grown their britches. Every time I walk in my studio and want to start something new I am shamed by the mountain of project bags that contain things all ready in progress. For numerous reasons these projects have been cast aside, most likely because something shiner has come along to occupy my knitting time. But now I have a new goal. My friend Molly has pimped out her buddy Greg. He is digging a hole to roast a pig, probably not just for me, but a girl can pretend and strive to finish her 17 projects and two presents, one for each of Greg's children.

A few have already been accomplished. The first to go was my Daybreak shawl. I still want to make it, with the same yarn I started with, but my edging was too tight and needed to be redone. It had only been on the needles since February of this year and barely was started. Easy decision. Frogged in May.

The next off the needles was my color affection. I set this down in lieu of another shinier project. Once I started knitting on this again, despite the large number of stitches, it melted off the needles and I found myself blocking it and picking out colors for my next one. Which I will not start until A few more things go, I promise.

In between I finished a Captain Malcom Reynolds monster, a striped Wool Dispensary monster, a Zizzou whale, and got the Motley Crew T-Rex off my needles.

Now, I am working on finishing the Momo sweater I started during Malabrigo March. I manged to get to the part where I take off the sleeves and start the long descent down the torso. Damn adults like me for having 13 inches between armpit and waist. Now it is nearing the bottom and I can begin to contemplate sleeve length. I only have 4 other sweaters, a double knit bag, two scarves, a pair of mittens, a color work hat and a set of monsters left on the needles. How long could this possibly take?

June in a nutshell

Team Boice made their way down to Warrensburg, Missouri for a little spot of R&R in the middle of June. Incapable of taking a straight shot, we meandered through small towns on tiny highways crossing the Mississippi River at Hannibal on the way there and another small town on the way out. Hannibal can boast of being the birth place of author Mark Twain and the town itself is filled with reminders in the form of the cutest downtown you ever did see, plaques and markers everywhere and naming everything after characters from Tom Sawyer. 

Ginevra posed near the river and the jail where 'Injun' Joe was held after being arrested. One day while we were visiting, Ben drove me around Kansas City proper visiting yarn stores, but not before I got myself countrified with an awesome straw cowboy hat. Then is was off to The Studio where I got a bright green skein of locally dyed Fountainhead Fiber. We had a lovely Mediterrian lunch at Jerusalem Cafe which was conveniently located by Bon Bon Atelier. I picked some new Folded Pigs bowls and a skein of Pidgeonroof Studios MCN. When we got back Faith had been playing fetch with Stella for several hours and she had subsequently taken over my nephew, Kody's, kiddie pool. Then our lovely new camera decided that the SD card in it needed to be reformatted so the only pictures we have of this lovely vacation reside on our sad iphone 3GS. And really just mine, since Ben left his on the trunk of the car as we drove out of town. His brother found it (a miracle) and returned it with a few more scratches and dings but in working order. We have now replaced both phones with iphone 4S (and Siri, WOOT!). On our way out of the state we also managed to stop at one last yarn store, Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe for some last minute yarn crawling before returning to our lives. 


My other trip was The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) out in Columbus, Ohio. Three of us this year piled into the rental car and drove the same languorous route we took last year (though none of my doing this time), out to the shiny city of Columbus. 

There we witnessed the cluster-fuck known as Com Fest, I got tattooed by an awesome artist at Sweet Baby Octane, and ate as much Jeni's ice cream as the law would allow, oh and worked as well. At the small awesome bar across from my hotel I found a local gin, Watershed, that is absolutely delicious. I brought a bottle of it home with me for good measure.

The show was good and we peeled out of town, the car fairly bursting with yarn. I picked up some lovely skeins of Anzula Cloud and Sebastian and some new needles from Knitter's Pride and Hiya Hiya as well. It was a very busy month and July doesn't show any signs of slowing down! Onward and upward oh noble followers of Sideshow Art!

ALL of my favorite things

A year ago I would have turned up my nose at a whiskey tasting. 'Let someone else who enjoys it have my spot,' I would have said. Since attending Whiskey Fest in March my palette has opened to wonder that is uisce beatha. Balvenie was doing a tasting event at newer than new restaurant Red Door (slated to open this weekend in the old Duchamp space on Damen). The interior screams urban farmhouse; reclaimed wood, bare vintage light bulbs hanging from the ceiling and rough yet refined finishes and simple, clean design characterize the space. But this is not your standard pub fare. Yes. There is a burger. No, I didn't get to try it. But I got to stuff my face with plenty of other amazing dishes and a fantastic unique twist on an aperitif cocktail, plus lots of Balvenie to boot. How else would Team Boice spend an evening?


Awesome thing #1 about last night: I got to wear 'my going out wellies' (the pretty fancy patterned ones, yeah those), 'cause it was raining cats and dogs when I left the house.


Awesome thing #2: a new gin I had not yet tried. Edinburgh Gin, a dry Scottish gin went into my Luna Rossa cocktail along with Cynar (not my fav) a little soda and a caramelized blood orange. 


Awesome thing #3 is probably the whole whiskey tasting itself. From learning how to smell a whiskey (not like wine, don't stick your nose in the glass as your teeny little nose hairs will not thank you) to getting to try the Balvenie 17 year Peated Cask. If you get me a birthday present, a bottle of that won't go wrong! Like Laphroig but smoother, so much smoother. We got to learn about the distillery and listen to the brand ambassador's Scottish accent. When talking shop it doesn't hurt to have a good accent.


Awesome thing #4: THE FOOD. A restaurant has my full attention when it starts off with oysters on the half shell. Then the ambassador told us to drop a bit of the 17 Peated Cask into the shell before eating. OH SWOON. Not only did we get oysters, but their chicken confit poutine which had a slight not overwhelming curry gravy and fresh spring peas, bacon wrapped artichokes (which I almost like better than bacon wrapped dates), ramp tempura, ricotta gnocchi, soy cured salmon, buchot mussels that melted like butter in your mouth, and a fava bean toast with strawberries and burrata and mozzarella. Oh boy was my tummy and taste buds happy. 


Awesome thing #5: the company. Besides my dear husband we dined with two others who were as passionate about food as us.


Awesome thing #6: a long walk home in the tail end of the rain with my better half


Awesome thing #7: Black Dog Gelato has switched to summer hours and was still open when we walked past. Meaning, I got dessert. Salted peanut and sea salt caramel by the way.


It was an evening filled with my favorite things. 

Dark Lord Day Recap

I think I have finally recovered enough from Dark Lord Day to bear witness. For the uninitiated, or those who don't follow craft beer, (taken from the 3 Floyd's Official DLD Website)  

Dark Lord Day is the only day of the year to buy Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial stout. DLD is a festival where participants can meet other beer enthusiasts, sample beers from all over the world, buy Dark Lord, try Oak Aged Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout, eat BBQ, listen to live music, and generally have a great time.

My experience was, that it was a beer geek's wet dream and a giant cluster fuck set to a heavy metal soundtrack. I am not the geekiest beer drinker out there, I like what I like and I couldn't tell you what type of malt or hops is in any of it (YET. Don't completely rule me out). Up until I met Ben I was not a drinker. The occasional glass of wine, pint of Guinness or bottle of hard cider. Then my brain was expanded to all the wonderful tastes, smells and kinds of alcohol in this world. My first two loves: stout and gin. I have branched out whiskey, scotch, barley wines, IPAS (those I can take or leave), red ales, I'll try just about anything. And I'll go just about anywhere. When my friend Kate got two tickets to DLD we assumed it would be Ben going but then he had to work (and there was no way to get out of it) so it was me who piled in the party wagon on a chilly Saturday afternoon in late April. There were 5 of us, chattering amicably as we passed the Illinois border over to Indiana. 


55 minutes and $20 later we were parked and walking past the humungo line stretched down the road. Not sure if it was the line for beer or the line to get in we by passed it and managed to slip in by presenting our tickets to the first person who looked like they might be in charge. 


The place was already packed. It's in an industrial park so there is plenty of space in front and it was full of people and lines and tents. Food tents, guest draft tents, 3 Floyd's draft tents, and merch. Since the event got to be so gigantic the brewery now issues tickets which allots the bearer to buy up to 4 bottles of Dark Lord. This year your ticket was exchanged for a scratch ticket which may or may not be a golden ticket (I think I heard 1 in 10 were winners). If you scratched a golden ticket, you got the chance to buy (for an additional $50) a special bottle of barrel aged, your choice of 5 different flavors.


A stop to the port-o-johns was first on the list. I waited outside and was witness to the first (in my experience) and not the last of Dark Lord Day Breakage. Someone was carrying his four precious bottles on top of a case of Zombie Dust (another 3 Floyd's beer wonder) and the Dark Lord slipped and fell as the guy stumbled over uneven pavement. A cry went up through the crowd. No Dark Lord for him. After that the five of us wandered, one of us had a ticket for the B grouping 1-3pm and the rest of us the C grouping, 5-7pm. We ate, bought other beer (mainly the Mutiny and the Mollusk), stowed it safely in the car, and watched Eye Hate God, a metal band from New Orleans. By this point Kate and I were getting tired and when everyone had their fill of metal we went to get in line for C group around 4:45 pm. I found a penny on the way out but it did not give us the luck we needed to not get stuck in the Gordian knot of people dissolutely standing by the port-o-johns all wondering if this was the end of the line. By 6pm we'd moved about 6 feet forward and 5 feet to the left of where we had originally been standing. Most were fairly drunk at this point (I'd quit by this point and was on to munching carrots one of our group brought) and all except one or two very jovial. I met a couple who lived down the street from me, another brother and sister from Munster and a college football scout who was so enamoured with the dinosaur on messenger bag he tweeted it to his 3,000 odd followers. 

By this point we were moving, funneling down into a real line that snaked up the brewery drive, through some stanchions that were set up, around the side of the brewery and into the back where they stored this holy grail of beer. 7 pm saw us against the near wall of the brewery and 7:20 saw in rounding the corner. I dug the penny out of my pocket so I could scratch the ticket and low and behold I WON! I passed the penny back to Kate and low and behold SHE WON! Some guy wanted to buy  my ticket. I said sure, $100. He said he still had to pay $50 for the actual beer, and offered $20. Here's the rub: if you buy a bottle of Dark Lord at DLD, you pay $15. If you go on eBay right now auctions are going for $65- 80 a bottle. The barrel aged is about $300. So I wasn't out of the realm of possibility. Kate smacked me upside the head though and said Ben would be pissed if I sold the winning ticket for $20. So I walked on. We purchased our beer. By the time we got our winning tickets up there however they were out of every kind of barrel aged except the Bourbon Barrel. Kinda crappy after 3 hours stuck in the longest most disorganized line ever. I wasn't even going to argue price since she looked kinda tired of seeing drunk ass people. As I turned around, the precious cargo clutched to my chest I watched someone drop their just purchased beer. I didn't wait to see if they were offered a chance to rebuy. My cohorts and I packed it up the box, put some in my messenger bag for safe keeping til the car and high tailed it out of Munster and back to Chicago feeling like bootlegger's the entire time. Tired and cold and with a nasty case of food poisoning brewing I got home, picked up my dog, and made my neighbor's evening by giving him a precious bottle of Dark Lord 2012. He watched my Stella so I could go get beer, fair trade I say. All in all everyone wins. Especially she who has BEER!

This is only a test

This is a test. 
Do not run around and panic. 
In fact, Don't Panic.
Have a pan galactic gargle blaster.

FOs and WIPs Mash Up

Wanted to share a quick peek at what March had me cast on, cast off and put on the needles. I managed to cast on a lot to my needles in the past month and loose a few in the process (if you see a double pointed 5 or a double pointed 6 laying around, please send them home, I miss them). 

2 monkeys, 2 monsters, 2 hats, a bulky cowl that took all of 4 hours and 1 wonderfully warm red shawl flew through my fingers. How I don't have the start of arthritis, I'll never know.

A lone monkey, bits of a superhero fox, half of a zombie bunny and a quarter of a sweater remain to be finished sometime... maybe in April, maybe 3 years from now. One never does know. 

Out and About

With the spat of really nice summertime weather Chicago has experienced, one feels the need to soak it in while it's there since you never what's coming next. I was on my way across town via bicicletta when I decided knitting in the park was just the break I deserved. Having taken on a new part time job (as an account manager for The Wool Wide Web) I have been tied to my computer and as mobile as my work space may be every once in awhile you have to step away and recharge. Wicker Park was just that place. I like to sit on this statue's plinth. Meet Charles Gustavus Wicker (1820-89), for whom the neighborhood and subsequent park is named. I don't know why I like him so much, but his is the preferred sitting spot in the park. I can the fountain and benches from there and the chess tables where the homeless tend to gather, also the kids park and path through the park provide some of the best people watching. On sunny days the bronze heats up and makes sitting in the shade tolerable. Not to mention I can spread out. Which is exactly what I did. I pulled out the hat I was working on and proceeded to knock out a chart repeat while listening to an audio book and paying little attention to anything else. 


After my afternoon sojourn in the park the weather turned back to a March-ish 40 degrees and I went back to hibernating in the city's pubs. Yesterday was a Revolution Extravaganza since I was there for lunch with my business associate Stefanie and her husband and then met up with another group of friends there for dinner. Since I was there for such an extended period of time I got to try many things. I started with a higher abv (7.1) Rise which was caramelly stoutish goodness and moved down (4.4) to the nitrogenated Paddy Wagon Stout which had a creamy Guinness like head and dry finish. To soak it all up to start was one of their thick salty squishy pretzels. I can never decide which dipping sauce I prefer there; the mustard is delicious and the cheddar soup is warm and delicious as well. Then, so I'd have room for dinner I tried the salt cod and potato fritters. Not overly cod tasting they came on a bed of arugula and cherry tomatoes which helped cut the salty starch of the fritter. At dinner I shared the farm burger (which has beets and a fried egg on it) with my husband. Don't think this combination would be amazing? Try it. The beets cut the grease of the burger and the egg cuts the sweet of the beets. And if you add some chihuahua cheese, UGH! Mouth watering. And someone else we were dining with likes mussels so there were those to split with the table as well! 


One of my favorite things to do is sit down to a meal with friends. And I was doubly happy since I got to do it twice in one day. Of course that doesn't lend much time for work getting done.... but that's what a weekend is for right?

Monkeys Pay Tribute

The sudden death of Davy Jones has made me and Ginevra melancholic. I watched the antics of The Monkees growing up over bowls of cereal before walking to school. At drama camp in high school I bonded with friends over the songs Listen to the Band, Daydream Believer and yes even the movie Head. He might not have been my first crush in the band but he was a Monkee and now that part has departed.


In slightly unrelated news I am in charge of running a knit along for monkeys in honor of Malabrigo March over on Ravelry. Every March the group hosts this event where you put as many projects (in Malabrigo yarn of course) on your needles. Since I already have numerous languishing UFOs (some which can be viewed over at The Wool Dispensary blog), I decided for once in my life to be conservative.

This is some of what I plan to knit. A short sleeve sweater, a color work hat with matching mittens, monster or two, a cowl and a couple of monkeys. Someone smarter than me in the KAL thread I started said she was going to name her monkey Davy Jones. Her idea sparked in me the desire to knit mine a hat a la Mike Nesmith. W.H. Woolhat the monkey at your service! With my needles patiently clicking away, I say Happy March! And rest in peace Mr. Davy Jones. You gave me many happy memories. Thank you.

The Wild Rumpus

On the hallowed weekend of dead president's I host an annual tea party. This year besides the obvious theme of president's the meta theme was Wild Rumpus. Because really, who doesn't want to build a fort?

The past few years I have tried to do play Martha Stewart and do everything myself. Only recently have I realized that pre-baking was necessary and that a helpful staff of kitchen otters was essential. Kate came over the eve before and helped bake and frost. 

Lisa was deemed 'an over achiever' as she showed up the morning of with breakfast bagels and her man Kirk who helped make festive flounces and aided in the fort building. 

Kate and Lisa were put to sandwich making duty and played around with the dinosaur crust cutter. Beware the salmon and cream cheese dinosaur tea sandwich!

I put on my most festive party outfit and proceeded to prepare the table before the guests arrived.

There were four types of cookies: peppermint melt-a-ways (they were red, white and blue), pumpkin whoopee pies with maple cream, jam filled spice cookies, matcha sugar cookies with lemon zest. Brie with crackers and cranberry bread, bacon wrapped dates, homemade garlicky hummus, dinosaur sandwiches in cucumber & dill, peanut butter & jelly, salmon & cream cheese, and the piece de resistance- La Brea Tar Pit dirt & worm & dinosaur trifle complete with homemade chocolate pudding.

It was then that the rumpus commenced.

Max showed up to get the party started, Stella got lots of belly rubs, Gryphon sat in plenty of laps, legos were built and destroyed, piggies were kissed and sugar highs were had. Molly's husband Jeff and Lisa's beau Kirk learned what a yarn stash could look like (they took a peek inside the studio of doom). There was knitting and frivolity. Everyone left happy. 

Knit & Nosh

The past two Fridays have found me at the same couple of places. Mainly because I love them so much. It's hard to become a regular at any one place in Chicago. Eating out in this city has many variables. Price, cuisine, neighborhood, laziness of diner and of course the new factor. So many new eateries and bars open that it's difficult to be true. Everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon and say they were the first. I was not the first to discover how delicious Pleasant House Bakery's pies are. I was not the first to drink at Maria's Packaged Goods. I am not the first to blog about it either. But I may be the first to play with Legos at Maria's while eating Pleasant House pie. 

The best symbiotic relationship in the city

Friday before last found me devouring the Friday night fish and chips that Pleasant House offers. A big thick piece of cod with meyer lemon tartar sauce. YUM! Paired with a prickly pear saison and a good book, I was in foodie heaven. 

Prickly Pear Saison brewed by New Belgium

Ravenous when I arrived I ended up snarfing down my food and beer before my friends arrived. By then I had time for another beer and some knitting on my superhero raccoon's body.

Finished the body while drinking Kujo Coffee Stout

He was finished later in the week during a cooking escapade that involved roasted butternut squash pizza and crispy fried sage. I am still happily munching leftovers.

The Raccoon keeps the world safe from dangerous monster chunks

Last Friday was a busy day of nothing but food food food and not too much knitting. Even the busiest of hands need a break. I power lunched at The Gage with my sister-in-law, took a tour of new aqua building and Radisson Blu Hotel. Then a quick visit to the water tower Lego store and the pick a brick wall. Afterwards I made my way down to Farmhouse. I still have not had their burger much to my chagrin as the gentleman next to me at the bar had one and it smelled delicious! Still full from lunch and close enough to dinner I settled for my book and one of the best gin and tonics to date. They had Barrel aged Bols Genever and no guns for them, tonic is served from a bottle. (Q tonic to be exact.) And of course I couldn't just sit and drink, I had to have dessert. A spiced fig and toffee bread pudding was a good complement to spice and juniper of my drink. I liked Farmhouse before but now they have been cemented in my brain as one of my regular places. After finishing I hopped a bus down to Bridgeport where chicken balti pie with coriander chutney awaited. My friends and I dumped out the Legos I brought and built towers and flying contraptions. Too bad the light was a little low to capture the creations properly. I've you with a Lego-ised mosaic of that evening.