Dusting off
So, I decided to try to get back into the swing of writing/posting. I feel like a huge stalker when I read other people religiously, email them, twitter, etc. and I'm sure some of them are like, "and you are?" So, I'm dusting this off and giving it a go again.
Saturday night, Stephen and I, along with some of my childhood friends and their partners met for dinner at www.mokkaandthesunsetbarandgrill.com/index.html. The food was decent enough, but the company was terrific. It was great to reconnect with them, reminisce a bit, and laugh a lot. The plan for the evening was to head over to Essex Studios in Cincinnati for Artwalk and a visit to www.signmuseum.net. I've been anxious to see the American Sign Museum for ages, so I was beyond excited when of the girls (I don't care that we're almost 40. We're girls, damn it. I refuse to acknowledge that I'm middle aged) suggested Artwalk.
The sign museum elevates kitsch to a whole new level and I loved every minute of it. We didn't get a guided tour because of Artwalk, but I would go back in a hot minute to take the tour. (And if I weren't technologically challenged, I'd post pictures of us and some of the signs. Alas, I am. But I did post some over at my facebook page.) After we wandered through the signs, we explored Essex Studios and visited the various artists who were showing their work that night.
At one time, Essex was a textile factory and now it hosts artist studios. I love the idea of repurposing old buildings and I think the combo sign museum and artists' studios is a fantastic idea. Some of the studios have been transformed into incredible work/show places. I'm pretty sure some of them double as living spaces, too. The later it got, however, the more Essex seemed like a great locale for a zombie flick. Still, it's a very cool space and a great way to spend an evening.
After being showered with fairy dust in one of the studios (see: artists can be kooky and slightly imbalanced) and assaulted with varying incense aromas throughout, we closed down Artwalk and headed down to www.arnoldsbarandgrill.com/. I used to love going to Arnold's back in the day to hear live music (mostly Celtic) and to drink Guinness on tap. But then I quit drinking (stupid move, that) and quit going out to hear live music (also a stupid move, I'm realizing now) and I hadn't been to Arnolds in a good ten years. We grabbed a big table near the outdoor music garden and continued sharing stories of favorite concerts, house buying and renovation exploits, all while listening to a great band (www.freddiesmusic.com/). Jake Speed and the Freddies' rendition of Billie Jean may be one of my favorites, ever. A few of us began to fade (I hadn't been out that late in a long time because apparently, I'm a senior citizen), so we left a bit before Arnold's closed and headed home.
I need to remember to leave my house (and my comfort zone) more often because I had a great time. I can't wait until the next time we meet up again for a different evening of adventure.
Saturday night, Stephen and I, along with some of my childhood friends and their partners met for dinner at www.mokkaandthesunsetbarandgrill.com/index.html. The food was decent enough, but the company was terrific. It was great to reconnect with them, reminisce a bit, and laugh a lot. The plan for the evening was to head over to Essex Studios in Cincinnati for Artwalk and a visit to www.signmuseum.net. I've been anxious to see the American Sign Museum for ages, so I was beyond excited when of the girls (I don't care that we're almost 40. We're girls, damn it. I refuse to acknowledge that I'm middle aged) suggested Artwalk.
The sign museum elevates kitsch to a whole new level and I loved every minute of it. We didn't get a guided tour because of Artwalk, but I would go back in a hot minute to take the tour. (And if I weren't technologically challenged, I'd post pictures of us and some of the signs. Alas, I am. But I did post some over at my facebook page.) After we wandered through the signs, we explored Essex Studios and visited the various artists who were showing their work that night.
At one time, Essex was a textile factory and now it hosts artist studios. I love the idea of repurposing old buildings and I think the combo sign museum and artists' studios is a fantastic idea. Some of the studios have been transformed into incredible work/show places. I'm pretty sure some of them double as living spaces, too. The later it got, however, the more Essex seemed like a great locale for a zombie flick. Still, it's a very cool space and a great way to spend an evening.
After being showered with fairy dust in one of the studios (see: artists can be kooky and slightly imbalanced) and assaulted with varying incense aromas throughout, we closed down Artwalk and headed down to www.arnoldsbarandgrill.com/. I used to love going to Arnold's back in the day to hear live music (mostly Celtic) and to drink Guinness on tap. But then I quit drinking (stupid move, that) and quit going out to hear live music (also a stupid move, I'm realizing now) and I hadn't been to Arnolds in a good ten years. We grabbed a big table near the outdoor music garden and continued sharing stories of favorite concerts, house buying and renovation exploits, all while listening to a great band (www.freddiesmusic.com/). Jake Speed and the Freddies' rendition of Billie Jean may be one of my favorites, ever. A few of us began to fade (I hadn't been out that late in a long time because apparently, I'm a senior citizen), so we left a bit before Arnold's closed and headed home.
I need to remember to leave my house (and my comfort zone) more often because I had a great time. I can't wait until the next time we meet up again for a different evening of adventure.