Hoop Skirt

1.11.12

2012-01-12T10:32:00.003-05:00

I thought this outfit was genius, combining so many of my favorite elements - polka dots, gray, and a hot pink. I even added the belt to make it more creative. Though as the day wore on I took the belt off and didn't wear it out to dinner. I hope it still looked cute.

Belt - Found as a cast off in Park Slope
Cardigan - Loft
Pink Shirt - Loft
Polka Dot Shirt - Long sleeved Heat tech shirt from Uniqlo
Jeans - Old Navy
Boots - Payless

Plus it was super warm, so yay for that.

11.28.11 & 11.30.11

2011-11-30T21:02:00.003-05:00

I managed to get photos Monday and Wednesday.

Monday:
Wednesday:

The high point for Wednesday were the yellow shoes, they're much more mustard-y in real life.

I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful for...

2011-11-23T14:10:00.001-05:00

Sing it Bing...

11.14.11

2011-11-14T13:40:00.002-05:00

An early class and feeling a little ill caused me to skip a Friday photo. And then I was home this weekend, which was much needed. Now I feel like I have a fresh start to the week. The only part of the weekend I didn't like was driving on Friday night. I'm still adjusting to all the driving I'm now doing and doing it in the dark by myself can freak me out. Especially in the hills of western Maryland. I probably have another drive this Friday night, but it will be shorter and relatively flat in comparison.

I'm not teaching today, so I dressed a little less formal with skinny jeans and boots. These are the boots I bought on 34th after arriving in NYC during the October Blizzard. They weren't great so that weather, but they were good enough and they're pretty cute.

Blazer - Trader K's
Tank - Gabe's
Jeans - Old navy
Boots - Blizzard boots from Payless
Scarf - $5 scarf from 40th and 5th

11.10.11

2011-11-10T14:49:00.002-05:00

I'm still working out the self photo thing. I was especially daunting this morning because the light was not great. I love this color combination, but I wish these pants were brighter. If only they were the same shade as my fancy mac red lipstick. Eh, what can you do when you're shopping at Gabes? You can't be too picky there.

top - old navy
pants - limited via gabes
shoes - grey ballet flats - land's end canvas

11.9.11

2011-11-09T08:24:00.002-05:00

I'm not good at smiling in photos, especially when I'm taking it so very early. But here is today's look. I dyed my hair last night and it came out very dark. I should have known when the dye was a little purple. Anyway, this usually fades with a few washings, so I'll just wash my hair everyday for a few days and hopefully it will fade to a more normal color.Shirt- NY&Co., hand me down from a friend
T-shirt- H&M
Skirt- vintage from a boutique on E. Houston
Tights - H&M
shoes - Land's End canvas, grey ballet flat

Apples on the table - Peters Orchards, hooray for living next to apple country!

11.8.11

2011-11-08T08:46:00.002-05:00

So I fell out of habit for a few days there, but now I figured out how to take self timed photos on the ipad, so watch out! And excuse the awful hair, it's getting dyed and washed tonight I swear. Maybe I'll even play beauty salon and do my nails too.Dress - theory (sample sale)
Cardigan - gabes
tights (grey) - gabes
shoes (grey ballet flats) - Land's end canvas

October

2011-11-02T20:38:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite outfits from October. Mostly cause I love the striped shirt with the trench. It makes me feel very french.

11.2.11

2011-11-02T20:33:00.003-04:00

So, I feel like I'm in a bit of a style rut, so I'm going to start photographing my outfits again. I'm still trying to figure out the best place to do this. A lot has changed in a year and I don't have crazy office mirrors anymore, so I'm taking pictures where and when I can.

Shirt- Gap, Skinny Jeans - Old Navy, Shoes - Bass via Gabes, Sweater vest - me

I love these shoes, they are simply fantastic. I tried to wear a similar pair of heels and couldn't make it out the door in them.

Wow, this picture is blurry. Oh well. And I hate how it kind of makes me pregnant. I promise I am not!

9/28?

2011-10-03T14:38:00.002-04:00

Bad bathroom pic. I need to find a good place to take pictures. And the face I'm making is because I can't decide if I like this sweater or not.

9.27.11

2011-09-27T20:52:00.002-04:00

I finally unpacked the box with my boots, it's been closed up since I left Park Slope in July. But it was raining buckets. Altogether I thought they were pretty cute with my preppy shirtdress from h&m. And yes, I'm still photographing my reflection in windows, it's just they aren't on fifth avenue.

On the avenue

2011-06-29T17:35:00.004-04:00

Today I snapped a picture of myself in the shiny window of a building on fifth avenue. I had just come from a meeting - hence the shirtdress. I was meeting people who I had never met and was a representative of my company so I wanted to seem smart. Even though this dress makes me feel naked on the bottom. I need to find a way to fix that, any ideas? I'm thinking if I can find a pair of short knit shorts or leggings than I can put that under it and I won't feel so exposed. If only this dress was an inch or two longer.

Dressing My Best

2011-06-28T22:32:00.003-04:00

I've been following the academic chics and dressing my best this week. I haven't been able to or felt like taking a picture everyday, but I managed to snap a quick one today on my way from work to an after-work meeting. I guess this dress is a keeper - everyone this evening loved it. And yes, these pictures were taken in Macy's. I don't have my mirrored area to take my pictures in anymore, thanks to change in employment.

2011-01-25T14:00:00.001-05:00

If you love greek yogurt too head over to Healthy Cultivations to enter to win some Chobani. They also feature great recipes and ideas for healthy living.
Personally I enjoy Chobani for breakfast, but I've also been using yogurt more in cooking. It can thicken a sauce and add some richness without adding too much fat or calories. Plus it's protein and calcium rich - it's hard to go wrong with that.

1.11.11

2011-01-11T12:16:00.004-05:00

Today should be an exciting day for me. I don't want to go into details here, but I wanted to wear a cute outfit today. Specifically I wanted to wear the cute jacket I got for Christmas. It was the best kind of gift, something I never would have splurged for and bought myself.

Jacket - Gap

T-shirt - Old Navy

Jeans - Old Navy
Boots - ? (Gabe's)

And a close up of the jacket

Cute, right?

2010-12-20T17:15:00.002-05:00

I am in full almost vacation mode. Hence, I'm a little spacey and behind on things.

Shirt - Gabes

Sweater - Handmade

Jeans - Gabes

Shoes - Aerosoles

12.17.10

2010-12-17T08:55:00.003-05:00

Friday, it's finally here!

Sweater - Vintage from grandmother
jeans - JCP
Tshirt - H&M
Shoes - Adidas
Red Lipstick - MAC

12.16.10

2010-12-16T09:21:00.003-05:00

I am so behind today....

Dress - NY & Co

Sweater - JCrew (thrifted)

Tights - We Love Colors

Shoes - Sofft

12.15.10

2010-12-15T08:50:00.002-05:00

I wish I was back in bed this morning under the covers...

Sweater - JCrew
Shirt - Gabes
Jeans - JCP
Shoes - Target

12.14.10

2010-12-14T08:43:00.003-05:00

It snowed and it is super cold outside this morning...

Sweater - Old Navy

Shirt - H&M

Jeans - JCP (I know)

Shoes - Aerosoles (are these from Gabes?)

12.13.10

2010-12-13T09:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Saint Lucia Day! Stigga med tanda ljus! Santa Lucia!

Top: AT Loft (Gabes)
Pants: Express (Gabes)
Shoes (Dark Red): Sofft

2010-12-10T08:28:00.002-05:00

I really couldn't figure out what shoes to wear with this outfit.

Sweater - Handmade

Shirt - Old Navy

Jeans - Old Navy

Necklace - Etsy

Shoes - Gabes

12.9.10

2010-12-09T08:55:00.002-05:00

Is this week over yet?

Sweater - Gabes
Jeans - Old Navy
Shoes - Payless
Tank top - Old Navy

12.8.10

2010-12-08T08:35:00.003-05:00

I dressed for warmth and comfort today because we're looking at holiday lights and windows after work! I'm ready to brave the crowds on 5th ave.

Sweater - JCrew (Thrifted) - I LOVE this sweater
Tshirt - F21
Cords - The Limited (Gabes)
shoes - Converse

12.7.19

2010-12-07T08:25:00.004-05:00

Is it just me or does it feel so much colder than last year? I already feel like a need a new hat and a new pair of gloves and I've got my knee high wool socks on under my jeans.

Shirt - Gap
Sweater Vest - Handmade
Jeans - Gap
Belt - Gabes
Shoes - Payless
Necklace - Etsy

12.6.10

2010-12-06T08:48:00.004-05:00

I'm dragging this morning, maybe because I had such a nice weekend I didn't want it to end. I hadn't planned anything special for this past weekend, but it was the little things like seeing my favorite musician on flatbush and unexpectedly getting to ride a vintage subway car that made me so happy.

Sweater - Old Navy

Tank Top - ???

Jeans - Old Navy

Shoes - Payless

12.3.10

2010-12-03T08:43:00.003-05:00

I'm just worn out from all the drama and stress of yesterday that I opted for something easy and comfy to get me through Friday - I hope the end of the day comes fast.

Sweater - JCrew (thrifted)
Shirt - Owl Tee (Boygirlparty)
Jeans - Gap
Shoes - Sam Edelman (Nordstrom Rack)

12.2.10

2010-12-02T08:22:00.003-05:00

Today is a very long day. I just hope I can everything done and hang on until 10 pm. It's definitely one of those weeks where I feel like I have taken on a bit too much.

Turtleneck - F21

Pants - Express (Gabes)

tank top - Gabes

Shoes - Aerosoles

Alternate sweater for freezing offices - Handmade

12.1.10

2010-12-01T08:21:00.004-05:00

So I didn't take many pictures while I was home for Thanksgiving. I took one or two that I will post in the coming days. It's really easier to do this when I have a set routine.

Shirt - Unknown (Gabes)

Sweater - handknit

Jeans - Old navy (Black Friday sale!)

Sneakers - Converse

11.23.10

2010-11-23T08:16:00.003-05:00

I'm travelling today and even though I'm a veteran of flying the new airport security stuff has thrown me for a loop. I'm kind of anxious about the wacky new machines and how long it will take, but all I really care about is that I make it to Pittsburgh in one piece.

Sweater - Old Navy

Gray T shirt - H&M

Jeans - Gap

Sneakers - Converse

Yeah, my outfit reflects the fact that I'm travelling, easy with layers for those hot/cold places. Also the light is horrible in these photos, I corrected the top one so much that my t-shirt is looking blue when it is actually gray.

11.22.10 - Is it time to go yet?

2010-11-22T08:35:00.005-05:00

It's back to the workweek for me, at least until I leave to go home tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait!

I found this shirt at Old Navy on clearance last week and knew immediately how I was going to wear it. I just had to take in these pair of pants and I was ready to go.

Shirt - Old Navy

Trouser Jeans - Express (Gabes)

Suede Shoes - JCrew (Gabes)

Necklace - Old chain with Norweigan coin

Weekending...

2010-11-21T19:41:00.002-05:00

I spent all Saturday in or just doing errands, needless to say I didn't get a good picture of what I was wearing. This was Sunday.

sweater vest - handknit
jeans - express (Gabes)
shirt - old navy
shoes - aerosoles
cowl - handknit

2010-11-19T08:24:00.003-05:00

Today I felt like being a little adventurous, plus I still haven't gotten to that laundry. I swear I will this weekend.

And I do have on open toed shoes, fine for being in an overheated office all day, but if I go out tonight I'll wear something warmer.

Dress - ABS (Gabes)

Sweater - Old navy

Tights - We love colors

Shoes - Kenneth Cole Reaction

11.18.10

2010-11-18T08:35:00.002-05:00

Again I'm stuck wearing jeans that are too big. Let's hope I can find some good clothing bargains when I go home next week.

Sweater - Benneton

Tshirt - Vintage T from my college dorm

Jeans - Express

Shoes - Aerosoles

11.17.10

2010-11-17T08:34:00.003-05:00

I may look tired because I woke up an hour early to shop at Macy's before work. They had a monster sale and I needed clothes. What did I end up buying? A pillow. Macy's is too huge with too many choices, after about twenty minutes I was overwhelmed and didn't love anything I tried on. I really need someone to just pull clothes for me and tell me what to buy.

Sweater - JCrew (thrifted)

Cords - Limited (Gabes)

Tshirt - F21

Shoes - Converse

Necklace - Long Chain and silver bead necklace combined to make one long necklace and looped around twice. Like most of my jewelry one necklace was made my me and the chain was costume jewelry that belonged to a relative.

11.16.10

2010-11-16T08:21:00.003-05:00

I'm back for more today, but I'm a little tired since I woke up about an hour before my alarm went off. I have one week until I leave for Thanksgiving and that week can't move fast enough. Also I realized Sunday night when it was too late to do anything about it that all my jeans that fit are dirty, so I'm wearing a pair that are too big with the assistance from a belt. I may wear these again this week, depending on how creative I get. Also I was wearing different shoes and then heard it's supposed to rain - who wants to ruin new shoes in the rain?Knit Vest - Abalone vest
Cowl T-shirt - Gap (NEW!)
Jeans - sample from an old co-worker
Patent Oxford Shoes - Payless

I like these jeans on, but now that I see the pictures, I definitely won't be buying jeans with the whisker effect or faded effect like these anytime soon. I wasn't a fan of it anyway, but so many brands tend to have it these days.

Challenge Wardrobe 11.15.10

2010-11-15T08:21:00.005-05:00

I'm having a personal style crisis. A recent life change has necessitated buying a lot of new clothes, but I am not sure what I should buy, what I should look like. Previously my style has consisted mostly of jeans and t shirt. I feel like this is kind of tired and instead of signing myself up for a makeover show or dropping a lot of money on all new clothes I'm challenging myself to photograph myself every month. This way I can record what I'm really wearing and see where I should go from here.

Shirt - JCrew

Jeans - JC Penney

Shoes - Sam Edelman

Necklace - Etsy

Before my time....

2010-08-27T09:04:00.002-04:00

Before I was born my college dorm was a women's dorm and it was in Life Magazine...

Looks like it was just as theatrical back then as it was in the late 90s.

I want to make...

2010-07-13T09:36:00.001-04:00

This Cowl Vest.

This Herb Butter and Goat Cheese Linguine.

And some more ginger syrup for homemade ginger ale.

Recipe for the summer heat

2010-07-10T14:12:00.002-04:00

I made a mess of food last night. This is the first weekend that I'll be home in a couple weeks and the fridge was looking a little bare. That and a stressful week and a bbq and picnic this weekend kept me in the kitchen listening to NPR and chopping away. I made mac and cheese, tabbouleh with quinoa, cucumber salad, roasted brussels sprouts and the best of all a ginger sugar syrup.

I made a simple syrup by heating 1 cup sugar in a 1/2 cup water until it turned clear. Then while it was hot I added grated ginger (about 2-3 inches of pre-grated ginger).

Since last night I've poured it over ice and added water for a sweet ginger drink and over ice with rum and a wedge of squeezed lime for a yummy summer adult beverage. If I had any seltzer in the house I would be drinking it with that to make a homemade ginger ale. And I'm thinking about making lemonade with it for that picnic tomorrow.

Chatham County Line

2010-06-29T10:55:00.002-04:00

Check out Chatham County Line's new release. I'm going to go see them play live on July 15th - hooray!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-28T10:40:00.000-04:00

Fixing Holes

2010-04-25T10:29:00.000-04:00

I have no clue how this happened, but it did. Last time I was home Mom showed me her socks, which looked something like this.
Now I have some extra yarn to patch things up so like a good daughter I took them home with me and began fixing them.

I thought the holes were a bit too big to darn so I picked up stitches above and below the holes.
I knit in a k1 slip1 pattern on the right side and purled on the wrong side and knit together with a stitch on each side.. Maybe this time they will last a bit longer.

Since, she really only wears these around the house I didn't need to worry about seams rubbing against her foot in a shoe. All together, they are as good as new!

I'm bringing them home with me this weekend - I hope this makes for a nice early Mother's day gift.

A day off is a very good thing...

2010-03-27T10:48:00.002-04:00

I have the day off tomorrow and am looking to spend the day cooking and crafting. Hopefully I will start a sweater, make some bread and some mac and cheese for dinner.

And if the weathers stays cold like this, I see making this soup in my future.

Food Friday: Granola

2010-02-19T11:08:00.003-05:00

One of the blogs I read posted a link to a granola recipe last week. I had tried making granola a few time before, but never with results that I really loved. Somehow I felt like it was time to give it another try and it looked like a fun project to do during the winter weather.
I think it was a giant success, after this past weekend's attempt I think I finally got it right.
I changed it up a bit, so I'm posting the recipe with my changes below.

Nutty Cranberry Apricot Granola

(recipe adapted from shutterbean who adapted from the Baked:New Frontiers in Baking cookbook)

2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole almonds
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, toss the oats with the cinnamon and salt.

In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey brown sugar and vanilla. Whisk until completely combined.

Pour the honey mixture over the oats mixture and use your hands to combine them. Gather up some of the mixture in each hand and make a fist. Repeat until all of the oats are coated with the honey mixture. Chop up apricots into a small dice or thin strips and set aside.

Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly, but leave a few clumps here and there for texture.

Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and lift and flip the granola with a metal spatula. Sprinkle the almonds over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven.

Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and use the metal spatula to lift and flip the granola again. Sprinkle the walnuts over the granola and return to the oven.

Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. Let cool completely. Sprinkle the chopped apricots and raisins over the granola and transfer it to a airtight container. The granola will keep for 1 week.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-17T09:08:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-11T11:44:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-03T07:30:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-20T11:51:00.002-05:00

Music Monday: Pbingo 9

2010-01-11T15:09:00.006-05:00

I thought about postponing Music Monday because I just didn't know what to say about the Punch Brothers concert at the Living Room Thursday night. It was the best way to kick off the 2010 concert going year. I knew it would be a good time, but thought it would have mostly been songs I'd heard before, so it was a real treat to hear a lot of new songs. My favorite was called "You Are" for now, I can't wait to hear it again because the song was so powerful and full of pain. Just incredible. Plus I got to hear two members of the Grand Ole Opry, Dierks Bentley and Jon Randall, so if I never get to Nashville it's like I've been there. I honestly wonder how many people at the Living Room realized who these people were, I don't think the people who show up here really overlap with most of country music.

Oh yeah, through some stroke of luck I ended up sitting so close I was almost on the stage. I don't expect that to happen again.

Aww yeah.

Crafterday: Socks!

2010-01-09T23:00:00.003-05:00

I just finished a test knit for a new pattern called Proustite Fay. I used this beautiful Purple Tourmaline yarn. The color of it is really wonderful, there is a great depth to the color which makes the color pop.
And I think the socks turned out pretty well. It was a complex chart to follow, but it went really fast. The pattern used a heel construction that was new to me, it was a short row heel with no wraps. I really liked and will probably use it in future patterns that feature short row heels.
Now that's it's the new year I need to get started on some new crafty projects. I have an idea for an owl mitten that I want to start working on.

Food Friday: Soup weather

2010-01-08T13:47:00.003-05:00

It is definitely soup weather right now and after all the holiday eating, soup tastes really good and somehow feels healthier.

This minestrone was super easy and tasted good. I cut the recipe in half and still have enough siup to feed ten more people, but I guess that's what the freezer is for.

I'm having trouble getting started today after a late night last night made later thanks to the F train. But really, how can it take me half an hour to get somewhere and then almost two hours to get home?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-06T10:15:00.001-05:00

Music Monday

2010-01-04T13:05:00.003-05:00

I have a vitally important music question for all of you. I'm going to see my favorite band this Thursday and they will probably take requests as they have done in the past (look for "pickle time," sadly I can't find a video to illustrate this idea). Basically it involves requests for song lyrics for things that their banjo player has never heard, ie everything but bluegrass, southern gospel and Klezmer. Then he sings it while the band makes up a musical contribution that sounds nothing like the original song. Just believe me that it's very amusing.

Now what song to choose? I'm thinking something by Lady Gaga. I really want to hear someone sing a song using the phrase "disco stick."

December 25

2009-12-25T19:18:00.002-05:00

Food Friday: Pasta with Butternut Parmesan Sauce

2009-12-18T12:06:00.000-05:00

I made this last night. It was so yummy I completely forgot to take pictures. Actually, looking at the recipe now, there were a few tweaks I made.

I left out the parsley and lemon juice
I substituted ground cloves for nutmeg and onion for shallots

But it turned out so yummy, in fact I think I will have some now!

Wordless Wednesday: More Holiday Lights

2009-12-16T11:06:00.000-05:00

Special Announcement!

2009-12-15T12:58:00.003-05:00

I've opened an etsy store!It's still a bit sparse, but as I craft more I'll add more items, so stop by and check it out.

Food Friday: Black Bean Cakes

2009-12-11T10:59:00.004-05:00

Damn, putting those Black Bean Cakes together was much harder than I originally thought. Specifically mushing up the beans with a fork required a great deal of strength. If I had a hand blender or food processor I would have used that. Instead I baked them in a dish while they were half-mushed. They turned ok as a side dish to the marinated fish from Trader Joe's.The next day they were more solid, so I tried to mold them into "cakes" and baked them at 400 degrees for about half an hour. That worked much better. Though now I am soooo sick of black beans. I never thought I'd see the day. This is definitely a recipe I won't be trying again. Well at least until I get something to blend the beans.

Wordless Wednesday: Holiday at Time Warner Center

2009-12-09T12:17:00.002-05:00

Crafterday: I Won!

2009-12-05T14:10:00.003-05:00

I won Peaknit's giveaway to celebrate her 500th blog post. What a nice surprise! And once the package arrived it was full of wonderful things. Including Yartini Sock Yarn in Strawberry Frenzy, new no 2 bamboo dpns, the cutest stitch markers I've ever seen (three little donuts!), a Dove Cranberry Almond Bar. Last, but not least is the book Joy of Sox, filled with some really beautiful sock patterns and tips and tricks for sock knitting. The book is very tongue and cheek as it tries to make the most of the pun in its name. Everything!

I'm not sure what pattern I'll try first from the book, right now I have my eye on Puppy Love, Hot Waves, From Russia with Love and Big Tease. I think the yarn is destined to be a scarf or small shawl, it's just too pretty to wear on my feet.

And I forgot the sweet Postcard!

Cutest stitch markers ever!

Food Friday: Another Fall Dish

2009-12-04T13:49:00.004-05:00

I haven't gotten a chance to make the black bean cakes yet, but will probably get a chance to do it this weekend. Another recipe I have my eye on is one for Pasta with Butternut Parmesan Sauce. I will probably cut back on the Parmesan Cheese a little, but I'm sure it will still taste great.

Web Wednesday: Art Loss

2009-12-02T10:32:00.003-05:00

I came across an interesting post about Art Loss on the blog for the Central New York Library Resources Council. Go and read the whole post. I think if my current career direction doesn't work out I should become a FBI agent who investigates art theft. Sadly, this is probably a more glamorous career on TV.

Multnomah

2009-11-28T13:13:00.000-05:00

I just started ripping my multnomah out. I just didn't like the combination of pattern and yarn.I'm trying an entrelac scarf, we'll see how far I get with that.

Food Friday: Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T13:18:00.000-05:00

I've been in and out of town the past couple weeks, first two trips to Philadelphia and now I'm in West Virginia for Thanksgiving. In all this time the most ambitious thing I've made has been a simple pasta with onion, garlic and mushrooms with a little balsamic vinegar.

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, but there was no room for me in the kitchen. There are a few things I am planning to make when I get back home. One of these recipes is one I received as an email from the Splendid Table back in October. I can find it online, so I've posted it below.

EMERIL'S BLACK BEAN CAKES (From Splendid Table's Weeknight Kitchen)

Recipe from Emeril 20-40-60: Fresh Food Fast, by Emeril Lagasse, HarperStudio, New York, 2009. Courtesy Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

4 servings

Prep Time: 16 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total: 24 minutes

Talk about "knock your socks off!" These bean cakes end up crispy and crusty on the outside, but oh so tender and creamy on the inside. A true study in contrasts, this dish is elevated to notches unknown when served garnished with your favorite guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.

7 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion (5 to 6 ounces), cut into small dice
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons Emeril's Original Essence or Creole Seasoning (recipe follows)
Two 15.5-ounce cans black beans, drained and quickly rinsed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons hot sauce

Garnishes:

Guacamole
Salsa
Sour cream

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. When it is hot, add the onion and cook until soft and lightly caramelized, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

2. Place the flour in a shallow bowl or plate, and stir in the Essence (or Creole seasoning). Set aside.

3. In a medium mixing bowl, mash the black beans well with the back of a fork – the mixture should be relatively smooth, with no whole beans remaining. Stir in the cooled onion mixture, cilantro, egg, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, and hot sauce and mix well. Divide the mixture into 8 evenly sized patties (about 1/3 cup each).

4. Heat the remaining 6 tablespoons olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, dust the patties in the seasoned flour mixture and carefully transfer them to the hot skillet (the cakes will be delicate). Cook the cakes until golden brown on both sides and heated through, about 2 minutes per side.

5. If necessary, season with more salt. Garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve immediately.

Wordless Wednesday: Philadelphia One Day Late

2009-11-25T16:09:00.001-05:00

Web Wednesday: Brat Pack!

2009-11-18T09:37:00.001-05:00

This is the best thing ever for a Wednesday morning!

Music Monday: Current Obsessions

2009-11-16T13:00:00.001-05:00

In October I happened to use up all my free hours on Pandora; you get forty free hours per month and then must start paying. This is what being home on the computer all day will do to you. I didn't want to pay for this so I started looking for alternatives. I began with NPR and didn't go much farther after that because I already had plenty of options. And now that it is halfway through November I've barely touched Pandora because I'm too busy listening to the morning news online and then streaming a great alternative radio station out of Minnesota called the Current. It is a music station sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio and I've discovered a few great new songs.

Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson - Relator

I didn't really pay attention to SJ's album that she put out a few years ago, but I really like this song. It's super catchy.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Home

Sweet, catchy song. I never saw this video before, but it makes me want to take off to west Texas.

Crafterday: What next?

2009-11-14T11:20:00.002-05:00

Since finishing a secret gift project (well "finishing" doesn't include the many ends to weave in) I really don't know what to start next. I do have a sock on the needles and a shawl that I may rip out because I'm not so fond of it. I am trying to decide what my next big project should be. With the stash running low due to purchasing constraints, I've narrowed myself down to two sweater patterns.

The treeline striped cardigan and whisper stripe pullover. I wasn't sure about the whisper stripe pullover at first, but I saw a version on ravelry that was gorgeous and if I narrow the neck and shoulders a bit I should be able to make it work.

I've included pictures of each of the swatches below. I'm just not sure about the colors, is a blue and purple striped cardigan too loud? Will I wear a black mohair sweater? Speaking of loud, I have some hot pink mohair in the stash, but not enough for this sweater. So what should I do? Keep working on socks until I have some better inspiration?

Treeline Striped Cardigan

Whisper Stripe Pullover

Food Friday: Pumpkin Bread with Apples

2009-11-13T11:16:00.001-05:00

I've been trying different pumpkin bread recipes because I haven't been able to find one I like the best. The other night I tried this one from an old Gourmet magazine. I took out the cranberries and added peeled, chopped up apple. I also added more cinnamon and probably could have added even more. Well there always is next time.Yum!

Wordless Wednesday: the highline

2009-11-11T10:55:00.001-05:00

Music Monday: Lists

2009-11-09T13:14:00.002-05:00

When I was hanging out with two friends this past weekend we wandered into a record store. As we browsed we began to share some of our favorite artists and albums. I quite seriously suggested that we make lists for each other of musicians to check out. This never happened, but it got me thinking what music I would recommend to others.

Punch Brothers/Chris Thile/any of the other PB
Rilo Kiley/Jenny Lewis
Surfjan Stevens
Elizabeth and the Catapult
The Very Best
Avett Brothers
Neko Case
Vienna Teng/Alex Wong
Ben Sollee
Crooked Still
Arcade Fire
Magnetic Fields

See Live (all of the above, plus):
Andrew Bird
A Hawk and a Hacksaw

This is just a starter list. I'm a bit of a music rut, so I'd gladly take some new suggestions!

Crafterday: New Sweater!

2009-11-07T10:00:00.003-05:00

The kool aid yarn has not been dyed yet, but I finally have some pictures of my finished sweater.I can use the self-timer on my camera!

I used the featherweight cardigan pattern and modified the front band to finish it in a feather and fan pattern. If you ravel, the notes are here. This yarn is not the best (I got it for free back when I was in design school and have no clue what it is), but it does make for a nice cozy sweater. It may even become my house sweater when it starts to get really cold.Closeup of the front band feather and fan

It's a great pattern and maybe I'll re-knit it in the recommended malabrigo lace-weight when I have a yarn budget again. Though from now until Christmas I may just be doing gift knitting.
And I forgot, hello somcak!

Food Friday: Fall Dinner

2009-11-06T13:00:00.001-05:00

In the fall I crave heartier meals and I got a craving for meatloaf a few weeks ago. I wanted to keep it a bit healthier so I made a turkey meatloaf. I added some cajun seasoning for extra flavor and roasted some fall vegetables in olive oil (sweet potato, parsnip, carrots and brussels sprouts) at the same time the meatloaf was cooking. It was a great filling meal and it will make for a few easy meals this week.

Out of the oven!

Quick picture of my plate, it was soon gone!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

Music Monday: Rainy Saturday

2009-11-02T13:00:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday it poured and poured all day and was generally the kind of day where I want to stay inside all day in my pajamas. But I braved the storm, went out and was very happy with my decision (once I was inside that is). I headed over to City Winery to see Elizabeth and the Catapult, a band I have been putting off seeing for far too long. I should have seen them in Pittsburgh when they came through with Jeff Taylor last July, but I couldn't bring myself to go down to Lawrenceville by myself again. While I won't rush out to City Winery again*, I will rush to see again. I love their fun, quirky music and Elizabeth Ziman has a great voice and stage presence.

After that I headed over to the Rockwood Music Hall to see Jeff Taylor who had just performed with EATC. He, like Ziman, also has a really great voice, distinctive with a great depth to it. His music all has a very creative use of rhythm mostly expressed through hand-clapping.

I can't stress how much I enjoy seeing shows at the Rockwood, it is a great space and I have loved everything I've seen there. It is also a funny contrast from my experience at Carnegie Hall a few weeks ago, instead of sitting several stories above the musicians, I am literally backing into them before they make their way onstage.

And because Taylor was at the EATC show and Ziman was at the Rockwood I got to enjoy this song twice in one night. I was a very lucky girl.

*it's a weird space, part restaurant, part listening room in one open space which really should be two different rooms.

Crafterday: Kool Aid

2009-10-31T13:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween! I don't have anything to post for the holiday, but I have been crafting, knitting away on a secret thank you gift. I can't show this gift, but something I'll be working on soon.
I've prepped some old white wool from my stash to dye with kool aid. Once I find some glass jars to put the dye in I'll do it. All I will need to do is:

-Get the yarn wet by submerging it in water and then wring it out a little.
-Dissolve the packets of kool aid in water mixed with a liberal dose of vinegar. The vinegar helps set the color.
-Apply kool aid mixture to yarn. Some people will put this all in one dish, I like to distribute the yarn between two jars so the yarn will fade from one color to another.
-Heat the yarn in kool aid mixture in the microwave until the yarn appears to have soaked up the color. I do this by pulling the yarn a little out of the mixture to see if the mixture still has the color. Reheat if necessary. Some people also use the oven or an old pot on a stove top to heat the yarn.
-When it appears done run cool water over the yarn. If the color looks like it is bleeding, heat the yarn with a mix of vinegar and water to set the color.

Hopefully I'll get to this soon and post a finished picture.

Food Friday: I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti

2009-10-30T13:00:00.001-04:00

I recently picked up a copy of a new cooking memoir titled I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci. It is an engaging look at the ways that Melucci's romantic life has overlapped with her love of food and cooking. And it has recipes! I've even made a few and enjoyed the results. My favorite so far is the recipe for pastina. It is one of the simplest recipes, but most satisfying. I have had pastina in my cupboard for years, after putting it in a vegetable soup, and never knew how else to use it. I would have never thought of boiling it until it is cooked and the water is almost gone and then adding a beaten egg and some parmesan cheese to it. It's so simple and delicious and I may even make it for dinner and add some of the roasted eggplant and zucchini leftover from last night.

Weird Wednesday

2009-10-28T11:03:00.001-04:00

I'm substituting weird for web this week, any librarians should take note of today's post.

About a month ago I went with some friends to Governor's Island, previously a military fort and recently abandoned army post. It now serves as a New York City park with beautiful views of the harbor and downtown.

We were riding bicycles around the island and then came across this:
An abandoned library previously for the island residents on the army base. How creepy and appropriate for Halloween!
I'd like to know a little bit more about this abandoned library, but internet searches are coming up with very little. Probably it is just an abandoned building like the rest of the buildings on Governor's Island, but it has so much potential for some spooky Halloween tale.

Music Monday:

2009-10-26T13:00:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday night a friend was checking out Red Baraat, who was playing a Diwali party in my neighborhood. It was cold and dark, but I figured why not check it out. I'm not really sure how to describe this band, it certainly falls under the fusion label as it is a combination of Bhangra and funk, using brass instruments and the dhol, a traditional North Indian drum. It was a great evening of high energy music that had everyone trying to dance in the small, hot room.

I'll definitely try to see this band again.

And last night I found myself thinking about Andrew Bird, who I saw in Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Music Hall. I'd like to see him live again, because there is something that doesn't come across in the recordings. Though it could have also just been the way the sound reverberated through the hall, there was a wonderful echo and building up of this full, slightly spooky sound.

Crafterday: Cut short...

2009-10-24T18:26:00.002-04:00

There's a little less crafting going on today. First because the football game between UConn and WVU was a real nail-biter at times. All together a great game that kept me from doing everything as I planned. But I really can't complain.

And tonight there will be CMJ madness. I keep assuming that bands I don't know are playing all the CMJ shows and that I can't get into any of them. But that is not the case, as favorite band played at the Living Room yesterday (though I just saw them last week) and tonight Elizabeth and the Catapult will be at City Winery and then Jeff Taylor is playing at the Rockwood Music Hall. So out into the rainy muck I go.

Food Friday: Bread

2009-10-23T12:46:00.002-04:00

I'm eating some reheated pizza that I made last night to celebrate the coming of Friday. And later today I will be mixing up some no knead bread. This bread is so wonderfully easy, I'll mix it together tonight and then tomorrow afternoon I'll put it in a bread pan to rise for another two hours and then pop it in the oven. And then more of the best bread I've ever made.

I may also be making some more applesauce tonight - yum.

Music Monday: Punch Brothers and Carnegie Hall

2009-10-19T13:00:00.001-04:00

Friday night I had the opportunity to see my favorite band, Punch Brothers, play Carnegie Hall. You know, the one in New York. I have been to both the Carnegie Music Hall and Carnegie Lecture Hall in Pittsburgh in the past year and this one in New York is much bigger, though the stage doesn't look that different. I've seen Punch Brothers several times in a variety of different places from the Allen Room at the Time Warner Center to the Bowery Ballroom over three years ago.

Yes I took a picture, don't tell, ok.

Though it was large and some of the intimacy was lost, it was a wonderful setting to hear this music. I still can not get over the acoustics, even though I was up in the balcony, several flights of stairs above the band, I could easily make out every note and though I had heard all of the songs played live or on a recording I noticed many nuances that were lost before. I think as a band they played up the incredible sound they had in this space and took more advantage of crescendo and decrescendo in their music. This probably was my favorite element of the concert hearing all the different aspects of their playing kept me riveted. The only thing I really missed was the song It'll Happen, which is a favorite of mine, evidenced by the number of time itunes says I've played it. Though I only noticed that I missed it when a friend mentioned how beautiful it is as an offset to the song Sometimes.

Set list:
Don't Need No
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Sometimes
Reptilla
This is the Song/Good Luck
The Blind Leaving the Blind: 3rd mvt
Wayside (back in time)
Welcome Home
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048, 3. Allegro
Punch Bowl
Alex
The Blind Leaving the Blind: 4th mvt
Martha My Dear
Lonesome River
Watch at Breakdown
Rye Whiskey
Packt Like Sardines in a Crushed Tin Can
The Eleventh Reel

I just have to note that I felt really weird seeing these guys play in such a big hall. One of my favorite things about this type of music is how accessible the musicians are and what a great community it fosters. I have a number of stories of the nice people I meet at these types of shows and knowing I'm at the right club because I see the musicians as I'm walking in. So it was strange walking in and seeing few familiar faces (though Tony Trischka was outside when I was waiting to meet my friends) and the boys being so far away. That and the after show with a list, that's just crazy.

Crafterday: Handspun beret

2009-10-17T12:16:00.005-04:00

I know I'm missing the biggest northeast fiber event this weekend, but I'll cope somehow. For one I won't be spending a lot of money, which is a very good thing right now. I am still knitting and as evidence of this activity I present the beret pictured below.

It is the purl beret, knit with my own handspun on number 3 needles. I wish I could remember the exact fleece I used for the handspun. I think the bulk of it is merino fleece I got from spunky eclectic in the kites colorway.

food friday: Gourmet

2009-10-16T13:00:00.001-04:00

I realized calling this foodie Friday was a bit silly, mostly because I'm not so fond of the word foodie. Hate is too strong a word, but in reality it is not my favorite word to associate with myself.

Last week the food world receive the news that Gourmet magazine was ending, news that I am still heartbroken about. I obviously never thought I would see this day, as my subscription was renewed days before and I threw out a collection of magazines before moving because magazines are just too heavy and there will be future issues of Gourmet. I am always right about magazines being heavy, but I was not right about the fate of Gourmet. I haven't gotten the last November issue yet, hopefully after several months of moving around it will find the right address. Either way I can't imagine a holiday season without the December issue and the inevitable cookie recipes. Now, many people have said the downfall of Gourmet is because of our access to recipes on TV and the internet. But Gourmet was much more than that, it was writing about the world of food and our interactions with it. It was travel and culture through food traditions and it was an endlessly inspiring magazine.

I realized that it is the magazine I had subscribed to the longest and I have a spotty memory of being a poor student in New York and buying the November 2002 issue just because it made me feel less homesick.

The other ironic twist to this news is that Ruth Reichl, Gourmet's Editor in Chief, is doing publicity for a new Gourmet cookbook and show on PBS. She was on Fresh Air on Wednesday taking about her new book, fall foods and the close of Gourmet magazine.

Web Wednesday: You Lie!

2009-10-14T13:10:00.001-04:00

I am well aware that it has been over a month since Joe Wilson first came to our attention by calling Obama a liar during his health care speech. Still I can't get over Rachel Maddow's impersonation of him every time she mentions him. Apparently I am not the only one who feels this way, as some lovely person has made a mash-up of Ms. Maddow's Joe Wilson yell. Just wait until the forty second mark, that's about when the fun begins.

Blog inspiration

2009-10-12T14:01:00.002-04:00

Taking a cue from somcak I'm going to try out making a blogging schedule. I'm not sure if I'll stick to it, but I'll give it a shot. I'll be posting each week as follows:

Music Monday - posting about music, which will probably be about a show I saw or a band I really like. There are so many I doubt I'll run out ideas for this anytime soon.

Web Wednesday - Really, what starts with W? Web, which will give me a reason to post about any of the random stuff I find on the web.

Foodie Friday - I've been cooking a lot, which you can probably tell from the last couple posts, so Fridays I'll be posting about cooking or something related to food.

Crafterday Saturday - Saturday is often the best day to get some crafting done, so why not post about crafty things on that day.

And in my best Scarlett O'Hara fashion I'll be starting this tomorrow, er actually Wednesday.

Eggplant fries

2009-10-03T11:15:00.003-04:00

Until very recently I thought I didn't like eggplant, but then again I never had it growing up and I tried roasting it a few years ago and it turned out awful. But now I think eggplant is becoming one of my favorite vegetables. Since I discovered this wonderful stew, which I add rice to, which makes it more like a main dish and less soupy.

So Yummy!

Last night I tried an idea I got last weekend for eggplant fries. I adapted this recipe, substituting the breadcrumb mixture for a mix of flour and cajun seasoning. They turned out wonderful, hence I have no leftovers. Next time I probably won't use parchment paper though, since it turned black on the edges and I was afraid it was going to catch fire in such a hot oven. I also had two cookies sheets, one I took out sooner than the other, so the first was soft and the second was crunchy. For fries I will probably opt to leave them in longer so they are nice and crunchy in the future. I'm also thinking of using a similar recipe to make eggplant for eggplant parmesan, roasting them for about 10 minutes so it will stay soft and not crunchy like the fries.

I still have some apples leftover, which I will probably use for this apple cake and a fry up with sausage and onions. I will probably buy some more soon just to make more apple butter.

Apple Goodness

2009-10-01T22:25:00.003-04:00

I came back from Ithaca with a peck of apples and the other night I cooked about half of them. I made two things, a lovely spiced apple cake from my edition of Joy of Cooking
and some apple butter using a recipe I found online.
The apple butter doesn't have the same texture as the stuff you get from a jar, it's more like a spiced applesauce. I suppose I could have cooked it down more, but after about two to three hours at a slow simmer I declared it to be done. And actually I was terrified of burning it so I'm just really happy it turned out.

So what do I do with the rest of the apples? Maybe the apple pizza I mentioned before. I don't know how many more sweet apple desserts I can handle right now so I'm looking for some savory recipes. I'm tempted to slice some of then thinly and saute them with onions and chicken or a light flavored sausage.

Apples!

2009-09-29T08:51:00.003-04:00

I drove up to Ithaca, NY with some friends this past weekend. While I was there we went apple picking and came back with a lot of lovely apples so I am now scouring recipe books and the internet for apple recipes. The first will likely be an apple spice cake from my edition of Joy of Cooking. I hope to follow that with apple butter. I'm not so sure about any of the recipes I have found so far. It is a bit tricky because I don't have a food mill or crockpot.

I also found a recipe for this Apple Pizza which I might try too. Are there any other apple recipes I'm missing?

Does stuff like this happen to anyone else?

2009-09-22T18:38:00.003-04:00

I was waiting to cross Seventh Ave in Manhattan today headed toward some fabric stores when a woman asked me if she could cross the street with me. I had no problem with that so we waited for the light to turn. When it did, she put her hand on my bent arm that I was resting on my purse, we crossed that street and she thanked me and went on her way. I did not expect her to touch me at all, just that we would walk across the street side by side.

She was probably five to ten years older than me, dressed business casual and in heels. And she didn't pickpocket me or try to accost me in any way. The whole thing was just odd. New York City can be a very strange place.

Things to make

2009-09-19T15:09:00.003-04:00

I've got a bit of time on my hands these days. While I'm trying to keep busy churning the job applications out, it is not a full time job. Things are slowly falling into place at my new/old apartment. So in the meantime I'm coming up with new ways to occupy my time, which will include baking, cooking and more knitting. Well the new knitting will have to wait a bit until a few things are finished.

If I get really ambitious I'll start that etsy store I've been meaning open for years.

lists

2009-09-18T11:10:00.002-04:00

I just finished revising my CV so my brain is a bit fried, all I can manage are a few lists.

Things I miss about Pittsburgh:
Schoolhouse Yoga
Crazy Mocha
Library Friends
Knitting group
Running through Squirrel Hill to Chatham

Things I don't miss:
Driving
The use of fries as a condiment
My apartment
The bus and the people on it
Being bored
Sports, though being able to watch WVU on local stations was awesome

Things I wish I could find:
My hammer
The first sleeve of a sweater I'm knitting

Fingers crossed I find them soon. Putting my apartment together is like solving a puzzle, I can't put up shelves without the hammer, but the shelf problem is keeping me from unpacking several boxes. It looks like I'm going bowling this weekend which is surprising considering how funny I thought the popularity of bowling was in Pittsburgh.

grammar police

2009-08-14T09:12:00.004-04:00

Spotted on my walk/run this morning; the grammar police are in full effect in Park Slope.
I haven't had much to report on music wise, though I have started seeing shows again, though nothing really super yet. There are some acts coming up that I really want to see. Unfortunately some of those are before I'm moving back for good, such as WPA, Vienna Teng and Elizabeth and the Catapult. I guess I'll catch them next time they play.

One week ago...

2009-08-07T10:23:00.004-04:00

Last week I finished up my last classes and working in this building above, the Frick Fine Arts building. You can catch the top bit of the Cathedral of Learning peeking out above the roof. This week I am trying to put together a life in New York City. Slowly but surely I am figuring it all out. Yeah, these are tough times, but we'll get by, and by we I mean me.This is the statue/fountain in front of the Frick. I know it is a very serious, beautiful statue, but to me from this angle it always looked to me that she was wondering where her blouse had gone. Like she is looking down and thinking oops I'm naked.

too many cds?

2009-07-27T13:39:00.002-04:00

I just went a little crazy at the Carnegie Library during my lunch break and walked out with these cds.

Roseanne Cash - Hits 1979-1989
Roseanne Cash - Rules of Travel
Roseanne Cash - Black Cadillac
The Dreadful Snakes - Snakes Alive!
Bela Fleck - Crossing the Tracks
Tim O'Brien - Fiddler's Green
Tim O'Brien - Traveler

This is definitely one of the few things I'll miss in Pittsburgh. Though in NYC I can hear a lot of this live.

Packing in

2009-07-26T17:09:00.003-04:00

I'm packing things up in Pittsburgh and tying up loose ends. As part of that I finally picked up the debut CD from the Mon River Ramblers, a local band that I didn't get to see enough of while I was here. I was listening to on my horrible drive from Shadyside to the South Side last night and realized that I had put some of the lyrics from the first song, One More Night, into my phone when I saw them open up for the Infamous Stringdusters. I had no idea at the time that it was an original song, like many bluegrass bands I assumed they were playing stuff that someone else had written.

I hope these guys can get some good exposure because they are pretty awesome. I know I'll certainly be talking them up where I go.

Jenny Lewis - I'm Your Silver Lining

2009-07-07T22:22:00.005-04:00

Well maybe I'm not Ms. Lewis's silver lining, but she was golden at Mr. Small's, a venue in a sleepy neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Like many things here it's in an old church. I didn't quite expect such a crowd, but all the Pittsburgh hipsters were out in full force. Well except hipsters here still use glowsticks, maybe they are so uncool that they've become cool again? I missed that memo.This is most likely my last concert in Pittsburgh and it was a dream realized. I did pass up seeing Rilo Kiley last year at Terminal 5, but this certainly made up for it. Though honestly I much prefer smaller, more intimate concerts where there is a connection between performer and audience. Not that Jenny didn't connect with the crowd, they loved her.
The first several songs were all ones I was dying to hear live, though by the time she got to "Happy" things mellowed a bit for me, but they picked back up with "Carpetbagger" and "Silver Lining." In all it was a great show.Forgive the blurriness of the pictures, I did not have height or my camera's settings on my side.

These are tough times, but it'll happen

2009-07-04T09:43:00.000-04:00

While everything is in transition and the economy is so bad, this is kind of what life feels like.

And this is what I keep telling myself.

My music scene

2009-06-25T23:00:00.002-04:00

This blog post explains a lot about the NYC music scene which I can't often put into words. Basically it is what it is and the genre fusions that are going on there make complete sense in a place where the industry does not rule the downtown clubs. Though the audience is a large part of this as well, because they are open to all of this genre bending.

Yeah, I just can't say it as well.