Lost Dog

since it's restaurant week in binghamton, steph and i decided to check out the Lost Dog Cafe, a place we've wanted to try since we moved up here. we got there at 8(pm) and the place was packed. we got the last available seat.

the decor was what you might expect. bare brick, open ceiling, and artsy furnishings. but what made it all work was the assortment of japanese lanterns hanging from the ceiling. from big globes throughout the eatery to the squares and ovals over the bar, these fixtures gave the place that 'unique' feel.

the food was great. steph and i each ordered dessert. steph tried the flour-less chocolate cake, which was so rich i had to help her finish it. i had the 'geisha' - a dessert sushi made primarily of deep fried cheescake. it was delicious, and with my penchant for deep frying on my own i've decided to undertake trying it at home in the fry-daddy.

if you're looking for a classy place to spend an evening out, the Lost Dog Cafe is an excellent choice.

'Get Low'

last night steph and i decided to go see a movie. nothing decent was playing in either of the mainline theaters, and we had already seen everything the cinema saver had to offer. so we decided to go to the old Art Mission Theater in Binghamton. if you haven't been there, it's right across the parking lot from the Kilmer building, behind the Firestone shop.

The Art Mission Theater is a small boutique theater with two screens that typically play a wide variety of films. of course, the fact that it is also an art gallery gives the theater its name.

steph and i decided to see 'Get Low,' which is a film about an old man named Felix Bush. Bush is a social recluse and has lived on his on three hundred acre property by himself for forty years. throughout the film the audience is given hints of what caused him to become a hermit, but it is not until the end that it is revealed.

without spoiling the story, i can say that the title says it all - Get Low. a film filled with themes of forgiveness, redemption, and guilt i highly recommend it. and if you get to see it at the Art Mission Theater, that is an added bonus.

new project

in conjunction with this blog, i am starting a new one titled 'life is liturgy.' i know, i know, it's not like i can hardly keep this one up and running, much less have time to pursue any serious readership. but, as you may have noticed from sporadic posts, the idea of life as liturgy is one that i find deeply profound. here is the thesis of my new blog: "the idea of life as liturgy is one that has haunted me for several years now. at the core, the idea is simple; that the daily ebb and flow of life constitutes a rhythm of ritual that entwining the body, mind, and soul in such a way as to transform life into liturgical action."

check it out and feel free to offer your own contributions!

Black Bear Winery

as i mentioned in the last post, steph and i visited the Black Bear Winery this weekend. the half hour drive along the chenango river was beautiful, and steph and i determined that we would be making the trip back out once the leaves started to change color.
once we got there, we wandered in to a picturesque log cabin style building that sits just off of the road overlooking the valley. sitting at the wine bar afforded us a great view through the full length windows, and almost made us forget we were so close to binghamton. our host, sandy, handed us each a menu and pen so we could circle which wines we wanted to sample.
Black Bear's unique claim is that none of their wines are made with grapes. instead, they use a variety of other fruits and flowers that are native to new york. Black Bear Winery is a great place to visit if you love wine and fresh air!

MEAD!

i started my very first batch of mead this weekend. the yeast seems to have started nicely, and i'm looking to rack in 3-4 weeks. it should be about ready to sample around christmas time.
steph and i are about to take a visit uo to tour the Black Bear Winery in Chenango, NY. i'll be posting about our visit, and you can also expect more on mead soon!