Susan Young Photo

Ellie!

2012-01-23T22:19:00.000-05:00

Having shot the lovely Sarah New the week before, on Friday her -- also lovely -- sister Ellie arrived in need of a headshot. Ellie is a a sophomore in high school, and, like her sister, I've known her since, well, before she was born. In addition to being fun and interesting and smart, she's also an actress. She's come a long way since playing Dorothy in the elementary school version of The Wizard of Oz. Jimmy and I have seen her dance and sing in Chicago and, a few weeks back, she played Romeo in the Shakespeare classic. Not to state the obvious, but she's also a great photo subject.

Stanhope Framers

2012-01-22T18:27:00.001-05:00

Happy to report that the new web site for Stanhope Framers is now up. If you don't know this Union Square (and Back Bay) gem, let me introduce you. Think custom framing, think quality craftsmanship, think artists, think seriously nice folks. In addition, they are great clients and a complete pleasure to work with. Over the last few months I've had a great time shooting at both of their locations, getting to know the owners and staff, gaining insight into what it is like to run a small business, watching them work. Now that I've finished helping them redo their web site, I'll need to come up with excuses to go hang out in their shop. Once you go there, you will see what I mean.

Food 52

2012-01-21T23:12:00.001-05:00

Well, much of today didn't turn out as planned. A snow storm left us feeling too squeamish to get in the car, so we missed our good friend Audrey in HONK. Having already planned to make the chocolate bundt cake from Food52, I decided to go ahead with that, hoping it would lessen the disappointment. Turns out, however, that at some point between Wednesday and today, our oven stopped working. So, upstairs neighbors to the rescue, Jimmy's cleaning out of the back hallway and making of dinner, a nice talk with my sister, and eventually I recovered. And tonight, after cocktails and two episodes of Downton Abbey, the whole day looked rather successful.

Paperwhites Meet Orchid

2012-01-20T22:43:00.002-05:00

Since we had a few inches of snow this morning, I thought it made sense to document some of the spring-like activities going on in our apartment right now. One of my most cherished Christmas gifts came from Jenny, who has a knack for finding the right thing. It was a kit that included a bamboo container, a bag of soil, and some bulbs. Three weeks later, these paperwhites grace our front room and are keeping our favorite orchid company.

New Visit

2012-01-15T15:38:00.000-05:00

Friday night our friend Sarah New stopped in for a visit. Sarah is the daughter of our friends Jon and Debbie and I have known (and photographed) her for her entire life. In fact, I remember the day that her mom told me she might be pregnant -- sitting in JFK park, the day she was born (at Mt. Auburn Hospital), and the first time my friend Ellie and I babysat for her. I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow she has managed to have just finished her first semester in college. Jimmy and I were honored that she made time to stop off in Cambridge during her January break, and our 18-hour visit included a few meals, a photo shoot, two episodes of the original (British) Office, and a lot of great conversation.

Alec Duffy & Three Pianos

2012-01-08T10:33:00.001-05:00

Several weeks ago I went to see Three Pianos at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.). The show is hard to describe -- three guys playing themselves but also playing Franz Schubert and various members of his posse. In addition, of course, they play piano(s) -- Schubert's song cycle Winterreise. Part comedy, party history lesson, part musical, they float through time, surfing the Internet, arguing, composing, drinking, and -- my favorite sequence -- running circles around three pianos while seamlessly playing a not-uncomplicated song in the cycle. The only thing I didn't like about the experience was seeing the photo of performer Alec Duffy in the program. Turns out his wife snapped it in a pinch. On Friday I had the honor of remedying the situation.

New Year's Celebration

2012-01-01T21:56:00.000-05:00

I was completely honored when my friends Pauline and Joe asked me to take photos at their practically-spur-of-the-moment wedding ceremony on New Year's Eve. Apparently one of the tenets of their 8+ year relationship had been that neither of them wanted to get married, but a few weeks ago they had a change of heart. The gathering was tiny -- just their immediate families. The setting, their Beacon Hill apartment, was intimate. The ceremony, music, food, and flowers mirrored the couple themselves: elegant, meaningful, delicious, beautiful. In sum: LOVELY.

Beach Week

2011-12-30T21:55:00.001-05:00

Our annual tradition continued this year -- Jimmy and I headed south to VA and NC for Christmas with my family. Visits with my dad and stepmother were nice bookends to our trip, which included five nights in the Outer Banks. In addition to sleeping, eating, cooking, playing games, and walking on the beach, we were also entertained by Marlys, my sister's cat, and the one-and-only Xavier, my priceless nephew.

Meet Royce

2011-12-30T21:15:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of making a portrait of Royce, a first-year student in the MBA Program at Harvard Business School. Royce is from San Fransisco, he speaks Chinese and Spanish, he plays piano and guitar, and he has a master's in bioengineering from Stanford. And yet, I am happy to report, that these credentials don't even compare to the thing that mattered the most to me: he is a super nice guy. I also appreciated that he happened to wear shoes that matched the exit signs in the building where I had set up my shot.

Thank You Mrs. Stewart

2011-12-21T20:09:00.002-05:00

Last year around this time a colleague gave me a $20 Amex gift card. I decided right away it was meant to be spent on a luxury indulgence, so I went to the newsstand and traded it in for two publications by my favorite culinary felon. Yes, you know the one. Our little lady from Connecticut whom so many of love to hate and also hate to love. Try as I might, I have a hard time resisting her magazines, but shelling out good money seems both embarrassing and, well, criminal. I'm happy to report that her Chocolate Almond Crinkles from the 2010 Holiday Cookies issue turned out to be just what I'd hoped for: not overly sweet, nutty, light. Not unlike Mrs. Stewart herself.

Meet Shiya

2011-12-20T22:52:00.002-05:00

Last week I had the honor of photographing Shiya, a junior at Harvard College who will be featured in a future issue of Harvard Magazine. Of course she is smart, that goes without saying. But she also happens to be completely nice and interesting -- an English major who plays the piano beautifully, for example -- and, as you can see, she's gorgeous. Having a subject like her feels a little bit like winning the lottery.

New Meets Old

2011-12-18T16:28:00.005-05:00

Thanks to James Guggina, there's a new kid on the block -- or, more accurately, in the cupboard. About a year ago, close readers may recall, I acquired a new favorite mug, a tall number that is large enough to keep me caffeinated all day. Well, 'tis the season and all that, so when Jimmy and I went to the Harvard Square Craft Fair on Saturday, we were able to catch up with Jamie and, lucky me, come home with some serious holiday cheerfulness in the form of a new vessel. Now I'm not one to pick favorites and let me assure me, the new acquisition is in no way a dis of the old, it's just that sometimes, particularly when it comes to a sacred morning ritual, a girl likes a choice.

Meow

2011-12-15T00:04:00.003-05:00

Meet Speedy. A very sweet and mature cat who is lucky enough to have lived with Carol & Nejem for a long time. Now that Speedy has advanced in years, a favorite trick is to get near your foot when you are not looking. When you accidentally step on Speedy, there is a very sad whine that makes you feel terrible so you get down on the floor and apologize profusely and pet the the heck out of the cat and maybe offer up a treat of some sort. Speedy is crafty that way.

Twinkle Star Companion

2011-12-13T09:24:00.002-05:00

I've been spending a lot of time at Twinkle Star, my favorite kid's store in Porter Square. Taking photos of a new crop of kids every half hour is a) hilarious b) exhausting and c) extremely entertaining. I had a few no-shows on Sunday so I was able to hang out with a certain Elegant Baby teddy bear. He was an excellent subject with a sweet disposition, but unlike the kids I shot before and after him, he didn't really have a ton of personality.

Zoe!!!!

2011-12-06T20:47:00.002-05:00

Zoe and her moms stopped by on Saturday for the Kim Young/Susan Young holiday show and sale. Our most treasured guest had changed quite a bit in the four months since her last shoot. New skills acquired: smiling, almost sitting up, charming, and delighting. Okay, she had the last two from the get-go, but she's definitely refining them. Such an honor to have Zoe in the house and we look forward to a less-distracted visit next time.

My Sweet Sister

2011-12-05T21:28:00.006-05:00

Well the annual Kim Young Jewelry Susan Young Photo show/sale has come and gone. The famous Kim Young and I had a lot of fun hanging out over the last several days -- getting ready, being entertained by Jimmy, cooking and eating, telling stories, catching up, designing fruit plates (hers, pictured, takes the cake). We are both feeling extremely grateful to the wonderful collection of friends who stopped in over the weekend, some of whom, I'm embarrassed to admit, I hadn't seen since last year's show. Kim and her jewelry flew back to Richmond this evening, leaving me with a bunch of extra food -- which is nothing to whine about -- and a much too quiet apartment. The good news is this: I'll see her again in just a few weeks when the Mr. and I head south for the holidays.

Antrim Trio

2011-11-30T21:36:00.003-05:00

My neighbors stopped by on Sunday to help me document the fact that they are growing up. You probably won't even recognize them. One thing that I find particularly interesting about this trio is that their age difference and gender mirrors that of me, my sister, and my brother. I'm the one on the left, and tomorrow the one on the right arrives for our annual holiday show and sale. In a few weeks time, we'll get together with the one in the middle.

Nice & Slow

2011-11-24T17:51:00.004-05:00

Happy to report that all signs here at Edisto lead to relaxation.

Southern Hospitality

2011-11-21T21:56:00.005-05:00

Once again Jimmy and I are lucky enough to be spending a week in South Carolina. We had our usual much-looked-forward-to tradition of stopping off in Charleston to visit with Jimmy's 3-year-old kindergarten best friend, Thomas, and his family. Unfortunately Miss Olivia, 8, was sick with a stomach bug, but a good time was had by the rest of us (until her parents, ugh, got the bug). Still healthy, we headed further down into the "low country" to meet up with Jimmy's dad and Phyllis. This time we're renting a gorgeous house on Edisto Island. There's a creek ("crick") out back and you can see the ocean from the front porch. Our favorite farm stand yielded some fresh broccoli, and we left our reliable (if stinky) fish shack with some tuna steaks. The place has a grill, a hot tub, and comfortable beds. This morning when Jimmy and I rode bikes to the beach, he found a nice looking shark's tooth. Someone is on winning streak on the dominoes front and she's hoping to keep it up. This is a serious vacation.

Yo, Bro

2011-11-09T22:42:00.003-05:00

I got to spend a good part of today with my brother, Josh. Yes, this would be the father of the very famous Xavier, the husband of the ever lovely Karla, and the first offspring of my parents. In town from Miami, he stopped over in Cambridge on his way to a conference in Boston. Josh accomplishes an insane amount of work in one 24 hour period, and he's often doing at least two things at once while on the way to do a third. A typical scenario goes like this: two parties agree that they need to leave the house at 9:00 am. At 8:55 while packing his bag and putting on his belt, Party #1 opens the fridge and says, "I'm just going to make an omelet real quick." Party #2 looks at Party #1, incredulous, eyebrow raised and then looks at her watch and sighs. Then, at 9:04, Party #1 is in the hallway, patiently waiting: bag packed; belt on; omelet made, eaten, and cleaned up -- rendering Party #2 shocked to find that she is now the one who is late. Well, today, I pulled a fast one on him. When it was about two minutes after he was supposed to leave, I asked him to sit for a photo. Sixty seconds later we were done.

Aunt June

2011-11-05T14:52:00.005-04:00

My Aunt June was born and September 11, 1927, in Philadelphia, and she died on Nov. 1, 2011, in Stockholm. Between these auspicious dates, she lived a full life that included running away from home as a teenager, world-wide travel, a few husbands, two kids, and an admirable knack for getting by on almost nothing that was balanced with an ability to enjoy a luxury without complications. As a kid, I remember the exotic gifts she often showed up with: a new addition to my charm bracelet, a hand painted Swedish horse, matching dresses for me and my sister. If for some reason she arrived empty handed, she'd take my brother, sister, and me to Sears and treat us to the item of our choice. Only later in life did I understand the look on her face when I selected a kid-sized iron and ironing board. It was a look that conveyed both disappointment -- that my choice would be so traditional and homemaker-ish, that an iron would hold a position of stature in my seven-year-old world -- and also acceptance: the kid wants an iron and I will make good on my promise and buy the damn thing.

In sixth grade when I had to do a report on another country, of course I chose Sweden, the place where she and my cousins lived off and on over the years. When I decided to go abroad for my junior year of high school, again I picked Sweden. My year there was punctuated by visits to her Stockholm apartment, sleeping on the day bed in her study, walking around her neighborhood and learning a thing or two about its history, visiting in her kitchen while she cooked up something that was both elegant and simple.

June had a sharp wit and was quick to disagree and make you feel like an idiot, but that same quality made winning her approval all the more satisfying. She could delight strangers, especially men, and she was never afraid to speak her mind. Family lore has it that she once sent back a Big Mac as it had not been prepared properly; I'm not sure if it is true, but you get the idea. My father's sister spoke several languages, she had an amazing sense of direction, she had an impressive understanding of world politics, and she seemed to have read everything ever written.

The summer after my sophomore year of college, June and I lived together for three weeks in her apartment in Oakland. I was waiting for the room I had rented at a Berkeley fraternity to open up, and she introduced me to her friends, helped me get a temp job, gave me a bus schedule, and made delicious meals in her nothing-fancy kitchen. I will never forget the fantastic soup she assembled out of what appeared to be nothing -- a chicken carcass she'd saved, some water, a few veggies that appeared to be on their way out. Like my grandmother, she would shrug off a compliment with a self-effacing remark or, occasionally, an insult to let you know she didn't appreciate those sort of remarks.

The last time I saw June was in July 2007 when Jimmy and I accompanied my dad on a trip to Stockholm. We arrived with a large quantity of Freedent gum, a perennial request because it didn't stick to her dentures, and she was overjoyed by the gift. Her first great-grandchild had recently been born, so we had a wonderful family get-together at my cousin Nina's. Over the years, June's health had been deteriorating, but, again, like her own mother in her final years, she had her good days and bad days. On the good ones, she'd tell wonderful stories, sing a song or two, and amuse us with her take on everything from Roz Chast (in favor) and George W. Bush ("who is this cowboy that you elected?"). We wanted to take her out to dinner and after much protest, she agreed. Entering an atrociously expensive, swanky place recommended by our Swedish foodie friends, I was sure we'd made a mistake. There was no place for June's walker, it was dark, the menu seemed intentionally weird....But June flirted with the waiter, ordered a cocktail, and thoroughly enjoyed the evening, allowing us to do the same.

June moved into a nursing home a few years ago. Often when my sister was visiting, we'd call her to say hello. She was always happy to hear our voices, perhaps picturing us in our matching dresses, and she never wanted to talk for very long. "Send me a post card," she would say before hanging up. She died earlier this week, with her son and daughter and granddaughter nearby. In the spring my cousin Paul plans to bring her ashes to the U.S., transporting my favorite world traveler on her final crossing of the Atlantic.

Big Finn-ish

2011-11-04T10:23:00.003-04:00

Of course we all remember the Fantastic Mr. Finn, right? He arrived in Sept. 2010 and made his studio debut a few weeks later, showed up in a Santa hat last December, and then, on Valentine's Day, settled into his favorite mid-century rocking chair. Well, last night, he entertained me and his parents, giggling, dancing, showing off his chunky feet, talking on his Dad's Blackberry (speaking Finn-ish, of course), and running through an impressive array of expressions. This kid is really something. In about 30 years we're planning on making a flip book of him sitting in his rocker for his annual portrait.

Hometown Hankering

2011-11-02T23:30:00.005-04:00

I spent last weekend in Richmond visiting my mom and sister. We've got a pretty comfortable regimen of hanging out together and a few times a year I fly home to fine-tune it. The main attraction for this visit was my mom's new apartment -- it's spacious and sunny and has the sort of closet space that makes a girl reconsider her life choices. Between naps and meals and dominoes, we did some organizing and hanging of stuff on the wall. Also took a walk and got to see the pool (closed for the season) and community garden (still thriving). A lovely visit that seems like it ended about five seconds after it started. In another minute or two it will be time to plan the next trip.

Thank You, Boston

2011-10-31T20:59:00.004-04:00

Okay, it's true. We were in violation of The Law. The thing is, we were under the impression that we were getting away with it. Then a little envelope arrived in the mail. It looked like your typical trying-to-look-official piece of junk mail, but for some reason I didn't toss it. Instead I opened it and found a folded piece of paper with red, all-caps lettering at the top: "Massachusetts Uniform Citation." Apparently when your inspection sticker expires, you don't have to be pulled over to get a ticket!!! Someone (presumably in a uniform) can just notice it when you drive by and then mail you a citation. Of course this means you avoid the embarrassment of being pulled over, but the downside is that all those excuses you've been playing through your mind go unused.

Embracing Fall

2011-10-26T21:41:00.006-04:00

At this point there is pretty much no denying it. The ACs are tucked away in the basement, storm windows are closed, leaves are crunching on the sidewalk, and Head of the Charles has come and gone. While it is hard for me to embrace the passing of summer, to every season, blah blah, blah. Okay, fall, you are here. I'll get used to you, just give me a little sunshine to help ease the transition.

Sunday Stroll

2011-10-23T21:17:00.003-04:00

On Jane's last morning with us for her annual fall trip, we strolled down to the Charles River to catch a bit of the boat race, passing one of our favorite maple trees. Then home to pack a lunch and send her off on her journey back to South Carolina. We heard just now that she made it back, but her suitcase didn't. Luckily she was smart enough to pack the cookies and apples in her carry on.

Phil's U-Pick

2011-10-22T22:11:00.005-04:00

As careful readers know, my friend Julia has introduced me to a whole bunch of my favorite things. She has a great track record of discovering little gems and then sharing the wealth. A few years back she gave us the skinny on where to go apple picking if one wants to avoid some of the unfortunate downsides of this New England rite of autumn: a) hayrides, b) donuts, and c) crowds. Happy to report that U-Pick Phil's Apples in Harvard, Mass., still has plenty of apples and they are delicious. Phil (and yes, of course there is a Phil) makes some mean cider. He doesn't sell t-shirts. You won't find an auxiliary parking lot for buses. Just drive up, park, give him some cash, fill a bag with a dozen or so varieties of apples, and be on your way. Life doesn't always need to be complicated.

Chunky Lola

2011-10-21T23:08:00.004-04:00

If you want a cookbook that does not disappoint, I'd recommend Flour. So far every single thing that I've made from it has been, as Caroline and Jimmy would say, kickastic. Tonight it was Ms. Chang's "Chunky Lola" cookies -- think chocolate chip, think oatmeal, think coconut, think pecans, and don't think twice about having another. (But, a warning: you might regret the third.) When you buy the book, you'll get the story of how they got their name.

A Walk in the Park

2011-10-21T22:56:00.005-04:00

Last Sunday Jane, Jimmy, and I ventured out to the Esplanade to say hello to fresh air, the Charles River, and Beacon Hill. A nice walk on a windy day with plenty of sunshine and a stop for coffee on Charles Street. My knee handled the outing pretty well and was happy to get a glimpse of the world outside of our apartment.

Blue Heron Farm

2011-10-16T21:37:00.003-04:00

With Jimmy's mom, Jane, visiting from South Carolina, yesterday we decided to take a fall drive in search of pretty colors. The leaf peeping was not quite peak, but we found excellent shades of yellow, orange, red, and green in Lincoln on Route 117 at Blue Heron Farm. While I was disappointed that my post-surgery knee was not up for raspberry picking, coming home with two pumpkins (one for the porch, one for the kitchen), an acorn squash, red and purple potatoes, fresh greens, baby onions, radishes, scallions, gorgeous eggplants, and teeny tiny tomatoes certainly eased the blow, as did the excellent meals that this fall bounty has already inspired/provided.

Feeling No Pain

2011-10-13T22:55:00.004-04:00

If you are ever feeling blue, I recommend a little knee surgery. In addition to all kinds of pain meds, if you are lucky you will get a) the knee fixed, b) an excuse not to shower for three (yes, 3) days, and c) a whole lot of thoughtfulness coming at you from all directions. I can't get over how many calls and emails and -- get this -- presents (!!!) I've received. I'm feeling pretty spoiled in a house full of flowers with a fridge full of food, with all kinds of good reading material, some cozy new socks, an amazing chocolate concoction, and the cutest bottle of St. Germain ever made. So, assuming that all goes well and in a few months I'm back to running, if the other knee starts to bother me and its meniscus gives way, there will be just a twinge of acceptance behind the disappointment. Thanks ya'll.

Dancers: Made or Born?

2011-10-07T22:43:00.007-04:00

I have not given up hope that there is a small chance that one can learn how to dance -- perhaps with the aid of a Wii (and maybe some alcohol), but I suspect I'll never be performing in an Indian classical dance recital. That is just what my friend Carol did last Sunday and I was very happy to be there with my camera. A completely inspiring -- and groovy -- afternoon at MIT's Kresge Auditorium. While I'm not brave enough to take a class, I haven't ruled out closing the shades, turning on a Bollywood movie, and privately desecrating this beautiful tradition.

True True True

2011-10-02T20:26:00.004-04:00

Given that my running routine has been thwarted for a painful four months by a torn meniscus, I've had to resort to the pool. It is pretty much my idea of torture, but apparently it is good for you, even if it dries out your skin, makes you hungry, and leaves icky goggle marks. Of course we all know that going to the grocery store when you are hungry is a bad idea, but after soaking in chlorine for 27 minutes (exceeding my max tolerance by 120 seconds), I needed to get some milk. Yes, of course, I also picked up some ice cream, but there was something that drew me to the toiletries section of Johnny Foodmaster. Voila, a very lovely packaged and affordable Vermont-made soap called my name. As careful readers know, I have a thing about soap -- i.e. I generally don't like it -- but I'm hoping to have found a new true friend.

Cousins!

2011-10-01T22:40:00.005-04:00

Last Sunday I was honored to shoot my good buddy Martin and his parents, grandparents, cousins, and aunt and uncle. The occasion was his paternal grandmother's 75 birthday and the trek out to Lexington was well worth it. Marty was in fine cartoon-character form and his extended family were delightful to spend some time with. Marty is quite taken with his cousins and after about three seconds, I understood why.

HBS Reunions

2011-09-30T22:18:00.007-04:00

I spent most of last weekend shooting reunions at HBS. Despite my 20+ year affiliation with Harvard, I'd never actually photographed a reunion and I was a little intimidated by the idea. There was a lot of running around, a bunch of events that needed coverage at the same time, a very extensive shot list, etc. Indeed, it was pretty exhausting, but I also enjoyed it. As it turned out, folks were completely nice, easy, friendly, and, best of all, photogenic.

New Hampshire Contraband

2011-09-23T22:23:00.004-04:00

One of our many excursions in New Hampshire last weekend was to the Dairy Lady. We met her late at night and paid cash, smuggling our booty out by moonlight alone.

Spinning Around Acton

2011-09-20T23:07:00.004-04:00

Sunday after paying my dues by swimming in a pool of chlorine (for exercise) (ugh), I was rewarded with an afternoon that included several of my favorite things. Yes, I managed to go for a bike ride, hang out with my friend Julia, take pictures of my favorite subject, and eat delicious food -- all in one four-hour period. The famous Audrey recently learned how to ride a bike and this little skill has opened up a whole new world of 'splorin, not just for her, but also for her mom and, lucky me, her photographer.

Weekend Companions

2011-09-19T23:14:00.009-04:00

More highlights from Camp Lynn include the boat show in Wolfeborough, the always lovely Carol, fresh eggs from the Dairy Lady up the road, Carol's garden, the man of my dreams whom I conned into marrying me 8 years ago tomorrow, and, of course, the completely lovable Patience.

Weekend Getaway

2011-09-18T21:57:00.004-04:00

While we actually only got away for one night, our weekend jaunt to New Hampshire was completely amazing. Carol's been-in-the-family-forever summer "camp" might just be the most perfect spot in New England. This time we got to sleep in the "Fishbowl," an extremely cozy little cabin with a very comfortable bed and, happily, enough electricity to run a space heater. With Carol taking care of us -- making soup and fresh corn for dinner and eggs for breakfast -- we felt pretty lucky. The only thing missing: Carol's husband Nejem. Next time.

Love, Love, Love

2011-09-18T11:32:00.006-04:00

Last week I finally got around to making Joanne Chang's curried tuna salad. I fell in love with this sandwich the first time I encountered it at Flour and was happy to find the recipe in the Globe several months ago. Raisins and apples make it sweet, mild curry gives it a little kick, onions round out the flavor, and it all adds up to delish. Best of all: Jimmy loves it too.

Sunny Reminder

2011-09-13T22:55:00.003-04:00

Happy to report that the lovely flowers my mom bought us at the Harvard Square Farmers Market lasted a good long while, spreading their cheer and the memories of a great visit long after my favorite 80-year-old adventurer had headed back to Richmond.

Iggy's

2011-09-10T23:06:00.005-04:00

On those days when I am in need of a boost and I ponder what my next career move might be, the first thing that usually comes to mind is Iggy's. I'm sure working at a bakery isn't all it is cracked up to be. I'm sure one could get tired of the world's best bagels and the most amazing cookies, and I'm sure if I were the one making them, a good deal of the shine would wear off. But sometimes it seems worth pursuing. Having just read Blood, Bones, and Butter (thanks to my good friend Julia), I am interested in the idea of what it would be like to cook for a living. Hot, for sure. Tiring, no doubt. Crazy hours, of course. Serious stress and multitasking, things I don't handle all that well. But the satisfaction of processing raw ingredients into something pleasing is definitely intriguing. Running various errands today, Jimmy and I found ourselves at Iggy's where we bought dessert for tonight and the foundation of tomorrow's breakfast.

Boston/New York

2011-09-02T22:18:00.005-04:00

While there are a definitely some down sides to having a husband who travels a lot, getting a pair of free tickets to a Red Sox vs. Yankees game courtesy of jetBlue is not one of them. Since my mom was coming into town the night of the game, we pushed our luck and asked for a third. Given Jimmy's twice-a-week jetBluing, we figured the odds were in our favor. Of course they obliged and last night after some comical moments of trying to find each other at the entrance to Fenway, we were able to take my mom (80, as faithful readers know) to her first Red Sox game (or at least the first one in memory). While somehow the Yankees managed to score 4 runs to Boston's 2, we still had a great time.

Hives in Allston

2011-09-01T08:57:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I was honored to shoot the opening of a new building -- and the debut of a new approach to teaching -- at Harvard Business School. In less than nine months, the HBS folks hatched and executed a plan to bring more field exercises into the curriculum. It might sound easy, but it was no small task. Key to the effort was having a very flexible space where small and large groups of people could work together, and the team of folks who designed and built the space really thought things through (and a special shout out to whoever picked the orange chairs -- so cool). In sum, I am completely in awe of the transformation of 125 Western Ave. in Allston, the old WGBH building. While first floor is not yet done, the upper two floors now contain "hives" -- very smartly configured classrooms. As 900 students poured in, an army of photographers documented the scene.

Filmo

2011-08-29T22:20:00.004-04:00

Thanks to a very generous friend in South Carolina, Jimmy and I have a whole new collection of old cameras. Based on looks alone, my favorite of the pack is the Filmo Auto Load Speedster, made by the Bell & Howell Company. At this point I've only mustered up enough courage to take it out of its super cool leather case and allow it to pose for a portrait, but I'm working up to opening it up and finding out what's going on inside. Of course I'm worried that there might be (16mm) film in it, so my exploration is at the risk of ruining someone's treasured, undiscovered footage. Stay tuned.

The Druid II

2011-08-23T22:16:00.004-04:00

I'm happy to report that The Druid's new website launched a few days ago, just in time for a mention in GQ. Yes, it turns out that I'm not the only fan of The Druid. Craigie on Main Chef Tony Maws also likes the place and he listed it as one of his favorite spots in GQ's "The Short Order" column. Very cool.

'Tis the Season

2011-08-21T21:57:00.003-04:00

You know things are good when it is a two pie weekend. Saturday morning Jimmy and I had a hankering for some fresh produce, so we walked over to the Union Square farmers' market, where we found what I was after: peaches. I tried out a recipe from Wednesday's Globe -- it was just as advertised: very easy and very good. Today we decided to continue the theme and venture out to Stow to pick blueberries and raspberries. We came home with a whole mess of fresh fruit. Given that I had half a batch of crust left over from yesterday, the logical thing to do was to make a pie. My old faithful Martha Stewart's Pies and Tarts answered the call with any easy blueberry tart recipe. This little gem from my favorite convicted felon appears to be a collectors item and I feel very lucky to have a copy.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2011-08-16T00:33:00.004-04:00

Yes, it's true. I've done the math and the numbers do add up: 2011 minus 1931 equals 80: My Mom turns 80 on August 17. We celebrated in Richmond over the weekend with more than 100 of her fans. The pockets of people there say a lot about my amazing mother: friends from the cycling association, the hiking club, Quaker meeting, her writing group, her previous job as a recreation manager, our old neighborhoods, her current neighborhood, the tennis group, etc. etc. The venue was Richmond's Bryan Park; the weather, dramatic mix of rain and sun; the food, organized and executed my incredibly hardworking sister; the overall feeling, warm, friendly, and fun.

Sweeter than Sweet

2011-08-11T11:23:00.005-04:00

I know the competition is tough, but I may have just met the sweetest kids ever. In addition to being completely cute and photogenic, they were also extremely well behaved. Did exactly what they were told to do, no attitude, no bribery, but still plenty of personality. I'm not sure how their parents do it, but given how delightful the whole family was, I suspect they are just genuinely good folk.

Maine Meal

2011-08-07T22:40:00.003-04:00

"Would you like a beer?" are five words that are always nice to hear. But my heart does sing an even louder song when they are followed by three more: "on the house." The question and the statement pretty much sealed the deal: Jimmy and I have a new favorite spot. It wasn't just the friendliness or the generosity. It was the accompanying seafood. Totally and completely delicious fried (but not too fried) scallops and the most amazing haddock sandwich. Ever. I'm tempted not to divulge the locale as it was pretty nice to have the place to ourselves on Saturday afternoon. But, I'll give you some hints. It's in a town in Maine that most people associate with outlet shopping. It's on the water. It only takes about 70 minutes to drive there from Cambridge. It is a five-minute walk from one of my favorite towns in New Hampshire.

Neighbors' Bounty

2011-08-05T23:13:00.004-04:00

My two-doors-down neighbors recently entrusted me with the watering of their garden. Clearly, they don't know me and my history with plants. Lucky for everyone, it rained twice in the four days they were away, so I just had to water two times and in exchange, I had tomato, cucumber salads all week. I'm hoping to be asked back next time they go away.

Taza Chocolate

2011-08-02T22:44:00.001-04:00

For my second Strobist Boot Camp assignment, I chose to focus my efforts on Taza Chocolate. The task was to shoot something that is made in your local community and Taza is just down Cambridge Street (in Somerville), a half mile or so. Of course there is a lot of other great stuff made around here and not all of it would give you a stomach ache if you obtained too much of it, but this girl likes a challenge.

Welcome Home

2011-08-02T08:46:00.002-04:00

Coming home from vacation is never easy but the pain was lessened significantly by a lovely surprise waiting in our hallway. Yes, Jenny, the World's Best College Roommate, strikes again with the most beautiful bouquet of birthday flowers. Merci!

Bidding Paris Adieu

2011-07-31T21:22:00.004-04:00

Frankly, sometimes I find the beauty, the scale, and the cool-ness of Paris to be a little over the top. You gotta wonder: what would it be like to live here? What if this walk were your daily commute? Would you get used to it? We saw many great sites on our last day traipsing around -- and left many more to see (and shoot) on our next trip.

July 27: Giverny

2011-07-29T20:51:00.004-04:00

Some 15 years ago (maybe even more?) a friend came home from a trip to France with the most beautiful photos imaginable. Turns out she'd gone to Giverny in the spring time. Earlier this week, I was finally able to scratch that itch when Jimmy and I made the trek and spent a good portion of the day traipsing around Monet's home and garden. Even surrounded by a million other tourists, it was amazing. Later that night, we celebrated my birthday with an extremely delightful (and pricey) cocktail at Bar Hemingway followed by a fantastic dinner at a restaurant that the World's Best Husband found around the corner from our hotel.

No Ordinary Tuesday

2011-07-28T04:58:00.004-04:00

So many extraordinary things to look at, photograph, take in. We spent Tuesday walking around the Marais and the Bastille. A completely lovely day.

Looking Up in Paris

2011-07-27T11:26:00.007-04:00

Yes, okay, much of our tour of Paris involves food and drink, but we're not exactly skipping the sightseeing. After reading that it was often compared to a giant wedding cake, on Monday we went to the old Opera house -- Palais Garnier. Completely spectacular with all sorts of marble and mosaics and a ceiling painted by Marc Chagall just to bring it into the last century. While on the ceiling crusade, we crossed over to Galeries Lafayette to see its famous dome of colored glass and wrought iron. Of course after all this touristing, we needed a break so we found a cafe (and a cheese plate).

Le Tour

2011-07-26T18:28:00.006-04:00

While Jimmy and I may be on the cheese board and cocktail tour of Paris, there are others who are here for the other tour. You know, Le Tour, as they call it -- as in the one that ends with de France. Their tour is about racing and winning and burning calories and getting in shape and pushing themselves. It is in no way related to Le Tour that we are on, except that our tour met up with theirs on Sunday afternoon when we were meandering around the city on foot. They rode by in a split second. Then they were gone. We were very impressed and decided to celebrate in an appropriate manner.

Bonjour!

2011-07-26T05:21:00.004-04:00

What's the last thing one wants to see when arriving at the airport, bags packed and ready to go to Paris for a week? Oui, CANCELLED. Something about mechanical problems on the inbound flight, blah blah blah. But thanks to Jimmy, we'd gotten to the airport very early and were able to get on a flight through London. Long story short, we arrived only about four hours late and then everything just started getting better. If you have a surplus of Marriott points, the thing to do is use them in Paris -- on the Champs-Elysees. Our room is fantastic and the complementary (my favorite price) cheese plate was just what the doctor ordered. More to come.

G-I-R-L F-R-E-N

2011-07-22T19:11:00.003-04:00

As faithful readers know, I am lucky to have some amazing friends. And anyone paying attention knows that Julia has a premier spot on the list. Of course there is all the fun stuff we have done together over the last, gulp, 23 years -- despite her attempt to leave me for St. Louis, and there's the fact that she produced my favorite photo subject, the famous Audrey. And let us not forget to acknowledge the linguini with clam sauce that her husband makes and the flowers that her parents send. She's the kind of person who always shows up for the important events with enthusiasm, who remembers a birthday and provides the perfect gift, and who introduces you to something new that you soon can't live without (books, drinks, food, blogs, movies....). Earlier this week she took me out for a completely extraordinary dinner (yes, again, Bergamot!) to celebrate my birthday. Beforehand I managed to convince her to let me snap a few photos.

Welcome Back, Helene

2011-07-20T00:07:00.005-04:00

Of course we all remember Helene, right? You know, the sweet little cutiepie who made her studio debut back in December when she was about four weeks old. Well, her moms brought her over on Sunday, and here's the headline: Seven Months Later Baby Even Cuter. She's got a very sweet smile, a sense of humor, chunky legs, patience, and a winning little "ewwww" noise she makes when she likes something. Helene, let me just say this right back at ya: ewwww!

Stobist in the Park

2011-07-18T22:08:00.004-04:00

Thanks to David Hobby, one of my photographic heroes, I've been playing around with my lights. As faithful readers know, David runs The Strobist blog and he's currently doing a little Boot Camp exercise where folks all over the world complete the same assignments. In addition to being a kick a) in the pants and b) out of one's comfort zone, it is also totally inspiring to see what other folks are shooting -- and how. Yes, people post their shots and yes, they tell you how they made them! So cool. After the previously mentioned cocktails in the park, on Saturday night I headed out the back door with my ever faithful, somewhat reluctant subject. The sun was setting the sky was a funky color and, armed with a flash, Jimmy and I played around for as long as he could tolerate it. About 5 min.

Cocktails in the Park

2011-07-17T22:30:00.004-04:00

Well, the transformation of the back yard is officially complete. With help from a great landscaper and her team of talented stone workers, we've gone from messy, under used, dead grass, falling-down-fence to something so spectacular we can't help but call it The Park. Yes, a small park, but still, it is very park like. Green and lush and gorgeous with a stone wall and a beautiful round stone patio. Last night we celebrated the transformation by copying one of our favorite cocktails from Upstairs on the Square. It is a refreshing mix of vodka, St. Germain, lemon juice, and creme de violette. Life is indeed very very sweet.

Dog Days of Summer

2011-07-14T00:04:00.004-04:00

Meet Patience (top) and Farmer, two of my dog friends and also two of my friends' dogs. They accompanied said friends and I on a picnic this evening. Each is charming in her/his own way and each offers some great doggie insights: Don't hide your enthusiasm. Always pursue the chocolate pudding. Snuggle up when you can. If you like someone, jump up and kiss them. Disregard the rain. Ignore critical neighbors and go ahead and pee where you like.

I Heart Latte

2011-07-12T23:58:00.005-04:00

In addition to Jimmy, I have another love. It is one of the best things in life, for me, at this stage, now that I'm, well, older, and, of course, wiser. Over the years I've done some fine-tuning and my love has grown deeper for this wonderful pairing of dark and light, this reliable morning companion that makes my heart sing. This certain -- totally legal -- substance, a combination of liquids, is a very crucial, and yet still very much not taken for granted, part of my morning routine. This morning there seemed to be a special message in my latte, making me think that maybe the feeling is mutual.

Introducing...ZOE!

2011-07-10T23:11:00.002-04:00

Last week I was honored to make the acquaintance of a certain 21 day old. I had been rooting for Zoe ever since New Year's Eve, the night her moms told me that she was due to arrive in June. About a month ago, you may remember, I managed to sneak in a pre-arrival shot and then, finally -- I am tickled pink to report -- the sweet little, dainty, beautiful lovebug is here. She was certainly worth the wait. A complete charmer, who does the most amazing things with her feet and hands. I have signed on as her official photog, so plenty more photos to come. Stay tuned.

Chris Schlesinger: Pyromaniac

2011-07-07T21:47:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I got to shake the hand of the man who runs one of the best restaurants in the Boston area. For 25+ years, the East Coast Grill has been serving up fantastic seafood and smoke pit BBQ right here in Inman Square. Chris attributes the bold move of launching a new kind of restaurant -- casual fine dining -- in a then iffy neighborhood to being young and crazy, but clearly he was ahead of his time. While he claims merely to be a pyromaniac who has found a socially acceptable hobby, I think there is more to it than that. In case you missed the brouhaha, for the past two years ECG has placed first (2010) or second (2011) in the Boston Globe's Munch Madness tournament. In addition to delicious food, the place has a great vibe and they make a mean mojito. When you go, do not, I repeat, DO NOT, skip the clam & corn chowder.

Summertime!

2011-07-04T17:41:00.003-04:00

The dock at Newport. Swimming. Bike riding. Hanging out on the porch. Bare feet. It doesn't get any more summer than this. We are grateful to Wendy, David and Eric for inviting us for yet another fabulous weekend.

BC3: Jeff Young, No Relation

2011-07-01T16:37:00.008-04:00

I'm happy to report that I just signed up for boot camp. No, not the muddy military kind and not the injure-your-knees-at-the-gym variety, but the photo nerd exercise: David Hobby's Boot Camp 3 (BC3). For any of you who aren't deeply entrenched in the world of photography, David Hobby, aka "the Strobist," runs a blog that shares insights about photos, lighting, gear, life, etc. Every few days David posts something incredibly helpful to those of us who are trying to become better shooters. He appears to be the nicest guy in the world. He's also very funny (in a dorky photography sort of way that is impossible not to love), wicked smart, and genuinely interested in helping folks learn. Our first assignment in BC3 is to photograph someone important in our community so I picked the superintendent of Cambridge Public Schools, Jeff Young. I'm not sure if having the same last name helped, but in the name of education, Jeff was nice enough to meet me at Cambridge Rindge & Latin and let me take his photo. I was pretty happy with the results. Jeff's response: "So that's what I look like, huh?"

Area Four

2011-06-26T21:39:00.004-04:00

In case it isn't abundantly clear, I am totally and completely in love with my neighborhood. I'm happy to report that there is a new addition, and I'm pretty sure it is a sign of good things to come. Now that Area Four -- that space between Central and Kendall that for a long time was a construction site -- is firmly established as tech central, some cool spots are opening up to provide fuel. Today, after reading about it in last week's Globe, it was my pleasure to investigate Area Four, the cafe (as opposed to the bar/restaurant or the entire neighborhood). Of course the architecture is way cool. The staff super nice. The iced latte, just right. Definitely a nice spot to hang out.

The Druid

2011-06-24T23:04:00.003-04:00

I'm happy to report that one of my favorite neighborhood spots is also my newest client. The Druid is a very cool Irish pub on Cambridge Street in Inman Square. Friendly as can be. Surprisingly delicious food -- including the best veggie burger around and amazing fish & chips. Guinness on tap it goes without saying. Live music. Did I mention friendly? And Irish. Very Irish. Also, let us not forget to mention: affordable. Anyhow, it has everything going for it with one minor exception: A web site that is very much in need of updating. Looking forward to helping to remedy the situation. Stay tuned.

My Sister

2011-06-22T23:47:00.002-04:00

Kim arrived on Thursday and left on Monday and in between we had a lot of fun. Also a lot of good things to eat. And drink. We both finished reading Bossypants during her stay and we've decided that we'd like to adopt Tina Fey as our third sister. Like most humans, Kim doesn't like to have her photo taken. The fact that she put up with me snapping away and moving things around and fussing is one tiny piece of evidence of her sisterly kindness. Not that one needs evidence, it's pretty hard to miss.

Fine Arts

2011-06-20T22:05:00.004-04:00

The good thing about living in Boston is that sometimes you get visitors. Such visitors are a good excuse to go out and do fun things and there is a healthy assortment from which to pick. While the rest of the (local) world was celebrating a hockey championship on Saturday, we decided to finally check out the new wing at the Museum of Fine Arts. Very cool space. And very cool stuff in that space, including my lovely sister and my handsome husband. In addition to looking at photographs, I was also allowed to click a few of my own.

Fine Print

2011-06-17T22:03:00.003-04:00

My sister would never show up on Antrim Street -- or anywhere, really -- empty handed, and yesterday she arrived with a very sweet/cool/mod set of prep bowls. Funky colors, cool shapes, dishwasher safe. In addition to being lovely and utilitarian, they also included great re-usable stickers with one of those lost-in-translation translations that makes one realize how hard it must be to understand when to use and when not to use certain English language articles.

Happy Birthday Kim!

2011-06-16T23:19:00.005-04:00

Kim Young, aka The Birthday Girl, is in the house. She's putting up with the Jimmy and Susan Show, complete with inside jokes, wicked strong cocktails, and way too much food. She doesn't seem to be bothered by the fact that the Hershey's tried-and-true mocha cake didn't exactly rise. (For a comparison, see last year's version.) Yes, folks, the World's Best Sister has returned to Cambridge for an annual tradition of birthday festivities. A good time is being had by all.

Front Yard Fan

2011-06-15T23:11:00.004-04:00

I continue to marvel at what our yard produces. Even when the flowers have faded, there is always something interesting. Is that a Bruins logo in the front yard?

Carrot Cupcakes

2011-06-11T22:11:00.003-04:00

Tonight was the much-looked-forward-to annual Antrim Street block party. Because the weather was iffy, it was held in the church down the street which made things a little more cozy. Met some new (and old) neighbors, ate an amazing collection of delicious stuff, watched slides from past years, and listened to bluegrass -- all traditional activities. New this year was actually coming home with a few bits of the food we brought. I think I'll recycle the carrot cupcakes tomorrow morning as carrot muffins.

Ricotta Gnocchi

2011-06-10T22:47:00.006-04:00

I first fell in love with gnocchi on a trip to California about 20 years ago. Eventually I learned how to pronounce it and then, at some point, I started attempting to make my own. The first recipe I tried was a little vague -- "add enough flour to make a dough," or something -- and the result was more like an old wad of gum than the light pillowy texture that I had in mind. But I persisted, giving up on the potato and going for the cheese. Thanks to my old friend Gourmet (sniff, sniff), I now have two great recipes to choose from. So tonight when I didn't feel like going out for groceries and noticed a large container of ricotta cheese sitting pretty in the fridge, dinner presented itself. The end result did not disappoint -- and it paired perfectly with the tomato that Jimmy and I found at the Harvard Square Farmers Market.

Baby on the Way

2011-06-06T22:54:00.004-04:00

The aforementioned Jenny, a reluctant photo subject, was willing to stand in front of the camera for a few minutes for the sake of her daughter. We're all anxiously awaiting the arrival of the little Miss. Tune in later this month for the full picture.

Home Sweet (Smelling) Home

2011-06-05T22:55:00.005-04:00

Always tricky to transition from vacation to real life, but the adjustment was eased a bit by a wonderful visit with my don't-see-them-nearly-enough good friends Linda and Jenny. A pregnant belly is a good excuse for a photo shoot and a photo shoot is a great way to catch up. In addition to agreeing to have a few photos taken, they arrived armed with five bouquets of flowers. (I'm not exaggerating.) So the house is looking lovely -- and it also smells great too since the kitchen is filled with fresia. Lucky me.

Fripp Trip 2011

2011-05-31T23:00:00.007-04:00

If I've got this right, this time of the year marks the 10th anniversary of my first trip to Jimmy's native land -- South Carolina. Specifically, the coastal part of the state. This is where I first met his dad, where I've honed my porch-sittin' skills, where grits and fried okra are every-day menu items, where we got engaged, and where we come twice a year for a much looked forward to visit with Jimmy's dad and Phyllis. Coupla years back Geoff, Erika, and Martin finally took us up on our invitation and joined us. Highlights of this trip, so far, are matching t-shirts, amazing watermelon, Phyllis's breakfast, a yard full of deer, bike riding, Jimmy's fantastic dinners, and so much more.

G-I-R-L F-R-E-N-S

2011-05-25T23:51:00.003-04:00

There are many reasons that I'm glad to have known Roger Prouty. Roger passed away on New Year's Eve 2010, but he left behind a wonderful collection of memories. He also left us a great group of friends. Through Roger we met David and Wendy as well as Eric. Through Eric, Carol and Nejem. Through them, Krista and Tom. All of these people stuck and each has introduced me to something great, from riding bikes through Newport to ghee to the pogo stick to a huge dog named Farmer to Deep Ellum. Last night Carol and Krista came over for dinner and, as usual, there was some out-of-control-laughter-inspiring story telling. I managed to con them into standing in front of the camera for a moment.

Oh, Baby!

2011-05-21T22:01:00.005-04:00

I am happy to report that over the past few months I've gotten an "in" with the Cute Baby Club. CBC was founded by Paul and Steph when they had Finn and then they invited Katye and Andrew to join because once Amelia arrived, they were definitely qualified. Today I had the pleasure of shooting the newest member of this elite group: Jack. This morning Jack and his parents arrived and he immediately set about the tasks at hand: posing, entertaining, looking cute, etc. He was a delightful subject, as were his parents. Very happy to have this new addition.

Amazing Assignment

2011-05-20T22:22:00.006-04:00

Earlier this week I spent two long days in the Minneapolis area photographing an amazing collection of people with disabilities. These folks, who contend with a wide variety of diagnoses -- from Down's Syndrome to Cerebral Palsy to Traumatic Brain Injury to Undiagnosed -- live in group homes in mostly suburban communities. It was completely awe-inspiring to get to spend some time with them. While traveling to a new city is always a thrill, the experience went from interesting to profound because I was fortunate to a) work with a wonderful colleague from the human services agency that hired me and b) meet a truly fantastic group of folks and their care-givers. Their stories -- and struggles -- have stayed with me this week as I carry on my regular routines. This experience will definitely have a lasting impact on me and I am filled with gratitude for the assignment.

Brimfield

2011-05-13T21:41:00.005-04:00

Once again we made our annual pilgrimage to the Brimfield Antiques Show and once again, we came home with a fun collection of photos, an unbelievable amount of grime on our shoes, and a reinforced appreciation for a certain Robert Palmer song; it does indeed take every kind of people to make the world go round.

Shhhhhhh!

2011-05-10T21:50:00.005-04:00

One of the fun things about shooting for Harvard on official assignment is getting to break the rules. Okay, not really, but getting permission to do things that ordinary people aren't allowed to. Like take pictures. In an extraordinarily beautiful room. In a library. With rare books. Of a student. Of course there were lots of explanations needed and permissions sought out and forms signed and whatnot, but ultimately I was given a typed letter that served as my ticket to, well, sort of, break the rules. So cool. (Student photos to come once they are published -- stay tuned.)

Going Green

2011-05-09T22:49:00.000-04:00

Last week I expanded my horizons just a tad and left Cambridge for Medford, Harvard for Tufts, parking familiarity for cluelessness. Very interesting to branch out and learn that cool things are going on at other universities. Case in point: the event was a celebration of staff who were working on sustainability around the University. (Photo for Tufts University.)

This Is Why We Live Here

2011-05-08T22:13:00.003-04:00

I'm lucky enough to be someone who doesn't (yet) suffer from allergies, so spring to me is a magical time. A wonderful thawing after a hard winter, with birds tweeting and flowers doing their color parade, days getting longer, windows opening up, people smiling or stopping to chat. Goslings and puppies and babies. It's not (yet) humid and the mosquitoes haven't arrived. Sitting on the back porch reading the paper, maybe falling asleep.

Lynn + Lulu

2011-05-05T23:28:00.004-04:00

Monday I had pleasure of dinner guests Lynn and her daughter, Lulu. While I distinctly remember Lulu as a baby and to me it seems as though that was months ago, not years, it turns out that she somehow managed to recently turn 18. In a few weeks, she'll graduate from high school and about ten seconds later, she'll be off to college. In a word: yikes. Unlike when they invite me to dinner at their place, the fare was not homemade, but pizza. In an attempt to make up for this inequity, I took some photos.

Sunday Outing

2011-05-03T22:19:00.004-04:00

On Sunday I was lucky enough to witness my good friend Audrey (yes, the Audrey) putting her thespian skills to work on a very fancy stage at the Hale Middle School in Stow. Cast as Queen Stephanie in Sleeping Beauty, our favorite 8-year-old Acton resident did a great job, astutely saying her lines and very much in command of her side mic. Afterward there was cause to celebrate so the fan club took a Sunday drive to Kimball Farm. Turns out we weren't the only ones with this bright idea; the place was a madhouse. Of course we persevered and eventually found ourselves in front of a huge portion of mocha almond assault (me), a hot fudge sundae (Julia), and a rootbeer float (Queen Stephanie). Completely worth the wait and an all around lovely Sunday.

Pretty Little Thing

2011-04-30T17:06:00.003-04:00

We bought our condo in the late fall when the front yard was covered in leaves. Nothing special. Ho hum. But that first spring, we'd come out every morning and see something new -- and spectacular. Seven years later, the shine has not worn off.

Upstairs at Upstairs

2011-04-29T00:09:00.005-04:00

Tonight I was honored to shoot a "significant" birthday celebration. Significant because there was a zero at the end and also because it was a totally great party. The venue: one of my all-time favorites spots -- Upstairs on the Square. The guests: seriously fun and nice and friendly. The food and drinks: better than ever and abundant. And the guest of honor: so delightful and completely delighted.

Spring!

2011-04-27T22:45:00.003-04:00

The whole spring thing really does boggle the mind. How do the plants survive the winter (how did I?) and then how do they know to come out of the earth and turn up the volume? And where does all that color come from? Something about temperature and sunlight and science. In any case, over the past four weeks I've been monitoring the arrival of my favorite season. It is all coming together here on Antrim.

80 Years Young

2011-04-25T22:31:00.006-04:00

Well, it happened. The much-anticipated 80th birthday party for my Dad. Attendance was excellent. Standing room only for a little while. But, good news, we didn't run out of food or drink and we even had some leftovers -- including a huge amount of (almond, buttercream) cake. Highlights included the slide show my brother put together complete with a sometimes hilarious and often sweet narrative; the participation of two of my dad's Overbrook High School buddies and their wives; and the many touching tributes that shed light on my dad's multi-dimensional personalty. If you were there you now know that Bob Young is a laid-back, peaceful, poetic, open-minded do-gooder who turns into a complete maniac on the basketball court. I'm pretty sure a good time was had by all.

FTD Arrival (!!!!!)

2011-04-19T23:50:00.007-04:00

A girl never expects to get flowers, of course. But sometimes, occasionally, okay, maybe twice in ten years, flowers arrive and they truly, seriously, sincerely are completely unexpected. Tonight I came home to a very fancy box from FTD and found a gorgeous bouquet of calla lilies and possibly the sweetest note ever. No, not a boy, silly, but the grandparents of my favorite photo subject. Yes, it turns out I am not the only one who is thrilled to have a chance to take photos of Audrey. And just like Audrey and her mom, her fans are unbelievably thoughtful.

Happy Birthday Dad!

2011-04-18T00:24:00.003-04:00

My Dad turns 80 today!

Twinkle Star

2011-04-12T23:05:00.006-04:00

The first nice Saturday of spring would usually find me anywhere but in a basement in Porter Square. However, that's where I spent the day. And, guess what, I had a great time. Thanks to Kerri and Lucas, the owners of Porter Square's Twinkle Star (and the parents of three cuties), I spent the day making portraits of kids who ranged in age from 6 months to 5 years. This fantastic kids store attracts, get this, fantastic kids -- and some pretty cool parents, to boot. In sum: a great day, a ton of cuteness, and lots and lots of photos.

In Praise of the Laureate

2011-04-10T22:35:00.004-04:00

If you must know, poetry isn't exactly my thing. I often just don't get it and end up tuning out, day-dreaming, making lists, etc. But Billy Collins is the exception to the rule, and he makes me think I should stick with those other, less accessible poets. If they are even 10 percent as insightful and funny as he is, they'd be worth getting to know. This afternoon the former U.S. Poet Laureate read from his new book, Horoscopes for the Dead, at Harvard Book Store. It doesn't get any more Cambridge than a Sunday afternoon poetry reading in Harvard Square. And with Billy Collins on the dais, it doesn't get any better.

Audrey, 8

2011-04-09T23:15:00.004-04:00

My disbelief that Audrey turned 8 earlier this week is twofold. First, how can she already be 8? Wasn't it just a last week that I saw the look on her mom's face and knew that she was pregnant? And I remember the day she was born so clearly, it couldn't have been so many years ago. But, at the same time, particularly after having spent an evening with her, I am in awe of the evidence that apparently she is only 8. She's definitely wise beyond her years. But also fun and interesting and witty and oh-so entertaining. A completely delightful dinner guest who reports that the limeade is just right and is willing to taste a Brussels sprout. So, I guess, it all balances out and it must be true: Audrey is 8.

Key West in Motion

2011-04-02T22:16:00.003-04:00

Playing around with FREE software. Kinda cool.