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This is a 100mm Canon prime lens intended for macro photography (generally photographing still objects with a very short depth of field).
These large Canon prime lenses have a habit of being very heavy, however the first thing I noticed when picking this up, has how light it was, compared with many of the L Series range. It's a big lens & is probably not ideal for carrying around casually snapping some pictures, but it definitely has it's uses. The plastic build quality is the reason for this, however it isn't a major fault & doesn't really affect your use in any way.
The zoom ring is very smooth which is essential for this kind of lens where the depth of field is very shallow. The margin for error is very small so you need to know you can rely on the lens to work for you in critical moments, in my experience this lens will do that. I don't typically use macro lenses regularly, I only hire them when needed for a job, however I have worked on a number of product photography shoots in my time, where this kind of lens was used extensively.
The image quality is as high as you would expect, although it is obviously related to the camera body you're using the lens with (a better body will likely render a better result to a cheaper model). Images are sharp with wonderful rendering of colour, and live up to the high standards set by all Canon lenses.
The autofocus is fact & accurate as usual with Canon lenses, although as it's not the top of the shelf lens in this category, there is probably room for improvement, but I have not experienced any issues. Although, my use has mainly been in a very controlled environment, with a slow method of working. In a more fast paced shooting environment, the focusing speed would be put to the test in a more intense way.
The lens comes with IS (Image Stabilisation), which improves the sharpness of the camera when handheld, meaning camera shake & blurring is minimised. I haven't used a similar lens without IS so I can't really comment on the difference, but I can say I didn't encounter any issues with image quality in this area.
While this is a very good lens, it has quite a narrow field of use & I would think carefully before investing in it. I prefer a more multi purpose lens personally, but it depends on the kind of photographs you want to take.
I'm a professional photographer & use the Canon L Series lenses regularly, & while this lens is not a regular feature in my camera bag, I've used it enough to give it a pretty good review I think.
For starters this is an extreme wide angle lens, it is an 8-15mm zoom lens, with a maximum aperture of f4, which at that focal length acts as a fish eye lens. If you're unsure what the term 'fish eye' means it is basically a distorted curved image, the focal length is so short that it curves that would otherwise be straight lines of perspective (tall buildings for example, will appear curved in the frame). It's a type of image which has often been used on record covers in the past & produces an effect similar to a curved mirror (often seen on public transport such as the London underground or on buses).
Essentially this is 2 lenses in 1, as it can photograph in a circular fish eye manner & also as a diagonal fish eye.
As usual for an L Series lens it's sealed to prevent dust & moisture getting inside & comes with the usual exceptional build quality you would expect from a lens at this price point.
One quibble would be that the zoom ring is pretty loose, meaning it can move without you knowing, which at this depth of field can be very important as a slight change can result in distorted proportions in the finished image. Part of the appeal of a lens at this range is the ability to distort the frame of view, but I would have liked a lock to prevent it from doing that if required.
The auto focus is as fast & accurate as all the top shelf Canon lenses, I've used these zoom lenses for years & it's very rare when the focusing isn't instant & deadly accurate. There will be aberrations at the edge of the frame occasionally, but that is simply a quirk of using a fish eye lens & has little to do with the quality of the lens, it's just an anomaly you will encounter when photographing that wide.
On the 8mm end of the frame you will get a circular image, completely curved, whereas on the 15mm end you will get a full frame image yet it will still be distorted & straight lines will appear curved.
You can get a unique perspective photographing this way, however many photographers consider a fisheye lens something of a gimmick, it has it's uses, but I'd think vary carefully before spending the £1000+ it will probably cost you to acquire one of these. I don't own this particular lens as it's use for me is too infrequent to justify the expensive price tag, I will hire this lens as & when I need it & prefer it that way. My workhorse lenses (24-70mm, 16-35mm, 70-200mm) I always have in my bag, but a lens like this has only niche interest & is by no means an essential purchase.
There are some quality lenses made by Canon (not L Series lenses) & Sigma available for £300-500 that would easily provide a good enough result, so I would consider one of those if you wish to buy a lens of this focal length. Having said that, for it's kind this is the best lens you will find, however I'd be sure you will get enough use out of it before making the considerable investment.
My first ever guitar strap was actually an Ernie Ball Polypro, for years I didn't tend to use a strap but I caved in and got one eventually.
These are durable straps that will work just fine, I tend to prefer a leather strap these days, but a strap of this kind certainly has it's place. It is made out of Polypropylene which is strong & won't break easily, and you can attach it to your guitar with the strap holders found on most guitars. Note: if you're using an acoustic guitar you may need an attachment to fit it onto the neck end of the instrument.
This strap is available in a range of colours (red is pictured above here), from blue, yellow, grey, white etc.. but I would tend to lean towards black in most cases. I always felt it looked the best while being worn, but each to their own, there's a colour available to suit most tastes.
Like any strap it is adjustable so you can find the right height for you to wear the guitar at (I wear mine around the middle on my body), but you can wear it really high like John Lennon or Tom Morello or really low like Slash if you wish (not recommended for beginners). You lengthen or shorten the strap via a plastic clip on the strap. This is how most guitar straps tend to function in my experience.
In a music shop you would probably pay just under £10 for one of these straps, but I'm sure they are available online for a bit cheaper. Personally I prefer to support music shops where possible (not many left not), but I'm sure you'll find one whether in person or online.
I must admit I'm not a very regular cleaner of guitars, I tend to dust them down occasionally with a Fender guitar cloth, but I don't tend to use polish too often. However, I do have some experience with various types of branded 'guitar polish' and will try & describe this Fender Guitar Polish to you now.
You will often receive such guitar polish, cloth, amp lead etc.. free with your guitar upon purchase. Many music shops bundle stuff in & my American Fender Telecaster came with a bottle of this included. It's basically a very similar process to cleaning surfaces at home, you apply the polish to a cloth and then scrub until clean. Very much like using Mr Sheen or similar.
I tend to think branded guitar polishes & cleaners are a bit of a gimmick, and I don't really consider them essential products. Using a generic cleaning product will do the same job for the most part. Friends who are in bands & work in the industry don't tend to use a specific product to clean instruments, just whatever is available at the time.
A standard household cleaner tends to do the job for me, although admittedly I don't often give my guitars a full clean, I tend to just dust them down every now & again. This does the job but I wouldn't go out to specifically use a branded product such as this, there's precious little difference form what I can see & I got my first guitar in 1994.
The Jim Dunlop Lucky 7 series of guitar plectrums is essentially a set of plectrums with a very similar feel to that of a Jim Dunlop Tortex pick, but with different illustrative designs on each plectrum.
Each plectrum depicts a 'rock n roll' themed illustration, which in truth are pretty cliched for the most part, ranging from cars, whiskey bottles through to skulls & crossbones and what not.
They come in packs of 6 & come in three gauges - .60mm, .73mm & 1.00mm. The thickness you need will depend upon your personal preference & style of playing. I tend to use a .60mm plectrum when possible.
As far as the actual playability & durability of these plectrums go, they are every bit as reliable as a standard Jim Dunlop or Tortex pick (it would be very unusual for one of these to snap), so in that sense this brand of plectrum is about as good as it gets.
Plectrums like this can be cool but won't affect your playing in any way, I tend to lean toward thinking they're quite gimmicky and to an extent slightly pointless. The colour of the plectrum isn't really important & the artwork is likely to wear off the more you use them anyway.
You'll probably find a pack of these online for around £3.50 or maybe a little more, which is roughly the same cost as the standard designs, so if pretty patterns on your plectrums floats your boat, go ahead & get these.
I've owned one of these in the past, & eventually lost it along with a myriad of plectrums lost over the years. It's the nature of the shape & size of picks that they will inevitably get lost fairly frequently. In my time playing guitar I've tried various methods of keeping my plectrums - in a case, in a tin, in the same place in my flat, in the guitar case itself & other places, and they always end up getting lost.
I kind of think something like this is almost as easily lost as a plectrum itself & doesn't really serve any essential purpose. You can fit 4 plectrums in at any one time, and it can serve as a way to keep you from losing them, it just never worked very well for me.
You'll need to be using the traditional 'pear' shaped plectrum design for this to be any use to you. Most of the commonly used plectrums (Jim Dunlop, Fender, Ernie Ball etc.. are this shape) so it shouldn't be a problem. They come in various colours (mine was black), but you can also get silver, blue, yellow & a few other colours.
There is an adhesive back if you wish to stick it somewhere to make sure you can't lose it, you just need to be disciplined enough to ensure you return your picks here each time you finish playing (I never was). For the right kind of personality I could see this working really well, and it's cheap (will cost about £3-4 maximum), so worth a try for the right person.
I've always thought of Martin strings as a very good mid-level option when deciding what guitar strings to use. A shop will typically sell them for about £7.99 a pack, but you will find them online for less (under a fiver most likely). I still prefer to support independent music shops than buy online, otherwise there won't be any left soon & that would be a shame.
When I first began playing seriously someone in a shop recommended Martin strings & I just kind of stuck with them from there, they seemed to suit my guitar & were light & firm to play. For years I used a .10 gauge string (a very light string), again recommended to me by others. For about 8 years these were my standard string (although I have tried most of the different gauges on the market).
Each pack comes with 1 of each string - E (thickest), A, D, G, B, E (thinnest), and each string is in a paper cover and marked with a different colour so you don't get them confused when you're putting them on your guitar body. It will take a bit of practice to become adept at changing the strings (I'm still not very good at it even now), but snapping a few strings along the way is all part of the fun.
I tried different brands including Ernie Ball, Fender etc.. but tended to go with Martin if possible, I guess it was just a habit as much as anything. However, now I tend to use D'Addario strings, they are much more expensive (typically 2 to 3 times the price), but they last a lot longer & I find they play better & give a cleaner sound. But again it's all down to personal preference here, so try a few brands & find the ones you like the best.
This is a pretty standard solid guitar case for a Les Paul shaped electric guitar. Stagg make pretty decent cases, but there are better on the market in my experience, depending on how much you want to spend. I would always look to get a guitar case from the manufacturer of the guitar intended to go in it (I keep my Fender Telecaster in a Fender case).
But that's just me, you can use any kind of case you wish, I just find they tend to fit better in a moulded case intended for that exact instrument, a lot of third party cases tend to be made with more general usage in mind, so I tend to stick to branded cases. Also, if possible it's worth taking your guitar into a shop to check it fits the case you want before you buy it, some are made to fit a range of guitars & may not offer maximum protection.
A lot of shops don't stock a huge range of cases & may try and push ones they're trying to get rid of on you, so sometimes online is the only option, which is again why I tend to go with a specific branded case.
You will find this case or similar online for around £50 to £60 maximum. The higher end cases tend to cost £80-100, but if you're serious about playing I always felt it was worth the extra investment to get the best case possible, it will protect your instrument better which is the whole point.
However, I used one of these quite consistently a few years ago & found it to be very effective, despite some reservations at first. It was used extensively to carry my guitar between my home (Darlington) & university (Newcastle) which is about a 45 minute journey. I carried it in the car, train & even the bus on occasion. The case went when I sold the guitar (it wouldn't fit any of my current electric guitars), but it certainly did the job effectively.
I never dropped the guitar whilst in the case so I can't comment on that but it endured pretty heavy duty use & no damage was ever sustained.
I've played guitar for over 12 years & the first songs I ever learnt were on acoustic guitar ('Ticket To Ride' by the Beatles & 'Live Forever' by Oasis if you're interested). I gradually upgraded the quality of guitar I owned & by the time I got my 3rd acoustic guitar I got a Gibson.
I'm very lucky in that the guitar I own is an original 1959 Gibson Country & Western model, it's a rare model that was only made from 1953 to 1959. I wouldn't swap it for any other acoustic guitar in the world & I'm not yet convinced there is a better guitar out there. It's been used on sessions for bands & songwriters & never fails to get compliments. When I take it into a guitar shop for any reason it often ends up with a crowd of staff admiring it.
Some of the more famous Gibson acoustics such as the Hummingbird or the J45 are quite heavy acoustic guitars with large bodies, mine however is feather light & is the perfect instrument for strumming. I bought the guitar in Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, New York in 2005, the staff told me if I could get any guitar to get this one, and the owner even came in to meet me when I bought it.
As far as what it will cost to get a Gibson acoustic, the price can range from anywhere from about £700 for the cheaper models up to thousands for the top level guitars. For a vintage model you could pay anything between £2000-5000, maybe more, depending upon when it was made & the condition.
There are other rivals at the top end of the acoustic guitar market, specifically Takamine or Martin (probably regarded as generally the best acoustic guitars), but different guitars play differently & all brands have their advantages & disadvantages. But any kind of Gibson acoustic guitar is going to be a top level instrument. I find the older ones to be better, they have a build quality that the newer models lack, originally each guitar was built individually, now I think it is much more of a production line type operation, as a lot more guitars are made now than previously, so I think quality does take a bit of a hit there I think.
These guitars sound better with age in my opinion, & once you've got one it will last you for life.
The Fender Stratocaster is probably the most famous guitar of all time, & perhaps the most recognisable. The first model was released in 1954 & Fender has been making them ever since, and they are available in many colours today, the more popular including black, red, white, sunburst & a myriad of others.
The guitar was originally designed for use in Country music, but was soon used by the likes of Buddy Holly for rock and roll. From there they've been used by everybody from Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher & many other players.
There are essentially 3 kinds of Fender guitar, which relates to where it was made, either the guitar was made in Japan (the cheapest kind), Mexico or in the United States (the most expensive). The US models are generally considered to be the authentic Fender guitars & will probably cost you £750+. Japanese & Mexican produced guitars will probably cost £350-600 depending on design & build.
A Stratocaster is a pretty versatile guitar, able to play rock, metal, country, blues or jazz very proficiently & I've always considered it to be primarily a lead guitar (a Fender Telecaster would be more suited to rhythm playing).
There are many different models available now, & can be finished or painted in various ways, and can have varying features, ranging from the finish of the fretboard (maple, rosewood, solid wood etc.) to the pick ups, frets, neck & various other things. To a casual player this kind of stuff is probably immaterial anyway, but no matter what kind of Stratocaster you get, it will likely be better than whatever you had before.
I've played guitar for about 12 years & D'Addario have ended up being my strings of choice, having tried pretty much every kind on the market at one time or another. Most players I know tend to use them too, they tend to cost more than other brands such as Martin or Ernie Ball, but they can last 2-3 times longer & still sound fresh & bright a couple of months down the line. The same cannot be said for other, cheaper varieties.
You get a strong, clear sound from these strings, wether on an acoustic or electric guitar, there are all kinds of D'Addario strings available, ranging in thickness from softer strings such as .011 (the kind I tend to use), through to much stronger & firmer gauges (up to .049). If you're a heavier player & you'll be playing a lot of power chords, thicker strings will definitely suit you, if you have a softer style, the lighter gauge strings will probably work best for you. But like anything, it's important to try a few different styles & find what works for you.
My main guitar is a 1959 Gibson Country & Western, it's a very light guitar & as such suits quite light strings. I play it with .011 guage D'Addario acoustic strings. I had often used .010 guauge strings in the past but now use a slightly thicker string.
I tend to string it every few months as I play it a lot, but you could leave the strings for longer if you weren't playing that regularly. It should still take a few months before the strings begin to blacken, even if played regularly,
You'll pay probably around £10-12 for a set of D'Addario strings in most music shops, whereas other brands may start at as little as £4.99. Rival brands such as Martin cost around £7.99 typically, but you get what you pay for & I find you get a longer shelf life out of these compared to other brands.
There are various well known brand of plectrum on the market (see my Jim Dunlop reviews), and Fender is among those you will commonly see. I'd expect to pay between 50p & 70p each for these in a music shop. But if you look online or buy in bulk you will definitely find them for less.
A Fender pic comes in the classic 'pear' shaped plectrum design & tends to be more solid than other brands (such as Dunlop) & as such is more suited to electric guitar playing. I got a number of these when I got my first guitar some years ago, I used a selection of different kinds over the years, but these days I don't tend to use a Fender pic very often (usually only if I don't have any of my own on me).
A primarily play the acoustic guitar with fairly light strings (11's), so my preference is for a a slightly softer but still firm plectrum (I tend to favour the Jim Dunlop Tortex design, .60mm thickness). I find the Fender pics to be very firm & durable, but sometimes you need a degree of give to play the way you want to, which is why I favour the Dunlop variety. For the serious Electric or Bass Guitar player, this thickness & style would probably be your preference.
They come in a variety of 'pearl' type colours - white, purple, blue etc. The colour isn't really of great importance, the text will fade with time & the different thicknesses & styles tend to only come in 1 colour, so the important thing is to find the correct thickness & shape to suit your needs & stick with it. My advice would be to try various brands & styles, and you'll know when you've found the kind that works for you.
This is a Jim Dunlop plectrum holder, ingeniously designed to store all your plectrums in one place, meaning you'll never lose them. Easier said than done - it's a good idea but I know I've never been organised enough to pack them all up into here after playing. I had one of these a few years ago & eventually lost it, along with a whole host of plectrums that have gone missing over the years.
You can keep your plectrums anywhere, in the strings of the guitar, in your guitar case, on top of your amp or anywhere else. I often tended to store mine in a metal tin I kept in a drawer near my guitar stands, it tended to work ok & while you'd still lose them it's effectively the same as using an official product such as this.
It will fit pretty much any kid of plectrum so long as it is in the classic 'pear' shaped design, essentially it's designed for the Jim Dunlop standard & Tortex series pics, but it will fit most brands & thicknesses. You can store up to 6 at any time, of any thickness, and you can stick it to a surface if you require (it has a sticky bit on the back). I never did this as I preferred to be able to move it around if possible (this probably led to losing more pics, but I didn't want it in one place all the time).
In essence, this is a good idea that may suit some people very well, but it didn't really work for me & as such I didn't replace it when I inevitably lost mine.
This was the first kind of Capo I owned when I first began playing the guitar, it was the one always offered to you in music shops & was among the cheaper options, yet still well made, making it ideal for a beginner. Probably among the simpler designs, this is nonetheless an effective design, the manual fastening design means it will fit any guitar you will come across.
A capo changes the key of the guitar, effectively doing what your first finger would do when playing a barre chord, thus giving you a different set of notes in a different key.
If you look in a music shop or online, you'll find a range of options when choosing a Capo, the more expensive styles tend to be a 'clamp' type design which locks smoothly over the strings. I find this type to be preferable nowadays & tend to invest in a more expensive Capo now. Yet, for around the first 5 years I played guitar, I used this exact design & was always happy with the results. Yet I think the manual fastening actually produces a less firm hold over the strings, and as such I found myself re-adjusting the capo a lot more when using this style. It was much more open to being knocked out of position. I use a Shubb capo now & it doesn't budge at all unless you intentionally remove it.
Another issue is that the material used to fasten the capo does wear out, after a couple of years of intense use mine would always come loose & need replacing. So in the end I decided to buy a more expensive product that wouldn't wear out in a few years time. I've had my current Shubb capo around 5 years I think.
No matter what level of ability you are, you're probably going to need a Capo at some stage, and while there are myriad cheap options on the market, one of these won't cost you much & will last you a good while & play well during that time. There are better options on the market, but this is a good product nonetheless & it definitely has it's place, some people won't want to spend a lot on what is essentially a basic piece of equipment.
Once you get past the beginner phase & begin to acquire more instruments, a stand such as this may become a necessity as much as anything. The individual stand alone stands can really clutter up a room if you have too many of them, so something like this is a great alternative.
You'll see this kind of stand at the side of the stage at gigs, as it allows you to keep quite a lot of guitars in quite a small space. This stand is for 5 guitars, but I think that is intended for 5 electric guitars, I don't think you'd get 5 acoustics on here (I don't own 5 acoustics personally to test). Because of the thicker bodies on such guitars, you'd probably only get 4 on here.
The base of the stand is fitted with rubber stoppers so you can use it in any kind of room I would think (I have hardwood floors here) & for it's size it's pretty portable, it's pretty light so you can move it around if need be. There are foam sections at the bottom & around the neck holder for each guitar, meaning your precious guitars should be pretty well protected on here.
It's a self assembly stand so it comes in bits, but putting it together shouldn't be an issue, took me about 10-15 minutes & was quite straight forward.
There are more expensive guitar stands available, but this definitely serves it's purpose I think, I've never had a problem & would happily recommend it.


text:
Coco Chanel sipped tea in this cafe across from the Jardin des Tuileries. (Her legendary Rue Cambon apartment and store is around the corner.) The atmosphere could hardly get more French than at Angelina, where a Belle Époque interior swirls around female servers in black skirts and white cotton voile blouses, scalloped collars fastened with teeny bow-tie pins. The all-day-dining offerings are just as delightfully fussy, including the signature Mont Blanc chestnut cream pastry. "It's the best in the world," Gaultier says, "and beautifully presented. But I've been on a diet for a few months." Be sure to try another contender for Best in the World: the hot cocoa. Grab a to-go bottle of the chocolat chaud "l'Africain" in the adjacent shop.
226 Rue de Rivoli, Metro: Tuileries, +33 1 42 60 82 00, angelina-paris.fr
Pierre Hermé
Anointed by Vogue as the "Picasso of pastry," Pierre Hermé has eight places in Paris to grab the city's most inventive macarons. (The cramped, Technicolor Saint-Germain location was his first.) Gaultier likes the house specialty, the Isaphan — a raspberry, litchi and rose-petal buttercream macaron Hermé created while working at the legendary Ladurée. Hermé sells so many of the Isaphans that the patisserie's employees call it "the Chanel jacket." In addition to macarons, the shop offers ice creams, sorbets, pound cakes, waffles, jams and cookies (many available with the peculiarly delicious combination of Isaphan flavors) and sandwich treats so beautiful you hesitate to take a bite.
72 Rue de Bonaparte, Metro: Mabillon, +33 1 43 54 47 77, pierreherme.com
When Gaultier wants something luxurious and handcrafted, he, like many Parisians (and daily throngs of tourists), heads to the Hermès flagship. Along a shopping-bag-clogged block with such other luxury powerhouses as Prada and Lanvin, the superstore offers everything one would ever want stitched, stamped, engraved or embroidered with the letter H. "It's all the beautifully crafted accessories you may ever want or need in one amazing store," Gaultier praises, sounding like an employee. (Well, he was creative director of the brand for seven years.) Upstairs is a private museum, though you might need someone as influential as Gaultier to help you gain access.
24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Metro: Madeleine, +33 1 40 17 47 17, hermes.com
Jean Paul Gaultier
Gaultier's first store, located behind the Palais Royal and up the street from the Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art, is a subdued, marble-floored two-story boutique — and much different from the Philippe Starck-designed flagship on Avenue George V. But here the same bouncy Kylie Minogue songs echo, the same elegant sales associates coo, the beloved Breton stripes hang, and some exquisite lingerie (not widely available in U.S. stores) awaits a home. Gaultier doesn't shop here — "I get my clothes directly from my studio" — but stops by often. And true Gaultier fans should, too. "It's the first store I ever had and there is a lot of Jean Paul Gaultier history in those walls."
6 Rue Vivienne, Metro: Bourse, +33 1 42 86 05 05, jeanpaulgaultier.com
La Pagode
Winding down an eerily quiet neighborhood street lined with traditional Haussmann façades, a thicket of bamboo and the smiling eaves of a Chinese building suddenly rise into sight. Naturally, this is where Jean Paul Gaultier would go to see a movie. Built in 1895 by the owner of department store Le Bon Marché for his wife, La Pagode now has two refurbished theaters showing independent films. "Nowadays, when all the cinemas look the same, it is a pleasure to go to Pagode and watch the movie as if you were still in the 1930s in a sumptuous chinoiserie décor," says Gaultier. But a screening isn't the only way to enjoy the surprise of a pagoda in the middle of Paris. You can also follow Gaultier's lead and drop by for tea in the garden.
57 bis Rue de Babylone, Metro: Saint François Xavier, +33 1 45 55 48 48, etoile-cinemas.com
Le Musée Grévin
One of the few places in Paris attracting French tourists is also your only sure bet for a photo-op with Jean Paul Gaultier. Though the designer insists, "I haven't chosen it because there is my wax figure in it." The baroque waxwork museum was founded in 1882, and offers an intensely kitschy tour through a hall of mirrors, light show, panorama of French history from Charlemagne to Napoleon III and, finally, quality time with fashionable figures such as Gaultier, Madonna and Naomi Campbell (not to mention Gandhi and Pope John Paul II). The thundering and trippy Palais des Mirages mirrors-and-light show was created for the 1900 World Expo in Paris and later moved to the over-the-top museum. Akin to walking into a child's kaleidoscope (kind of like one of the designer's early '90s shows), it's easy to see how Gaultier was "mesmerized as a boy by the play of light and sound."
10 Boulevard Montmartre, Metro: Grands Boulevards, +33 1 47 70 85 05, grevin.com
Casa Olympe
There are only about 30 seats in the dining room of this small bistro, one of Gaultier's favorites. Chef, owner and cookbook author Dominique Versini likes things intime and quaint, but Olympe often is filled with the biggest Parisian personalities including Gaultier and first lady (and former Gaultier model) Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Versini, known as Olympe, offers seasonal Corsican-inspired offerings that have made her one of the most popular chefs in France. But don't get too attached to the menu, which Versini varies regularly. "I love that it changes," says Gaultier, remembering his first visit and meal of girolle mushrooms with garlic and eggs. "I went back the next day with friends and asked for the same dish, but Olympe told me she had been to the market in the morning and didn't like the girolles on display, so they were just not on the menu."
48 Rue Saint-Georges, Metro: Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, +33 1 42 85 26 01, casaolympe.com
Marché aux Les Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt
Sure, among the roughly 3,000 stalls are counterfeit goods and pickpockets. Paris' most famous flea market still abounds with treasures — exquisitely beat-up steamer trunks and carved wardrobes, vintage Dior suits and caches of costume jewelry, scary vintage photographs, industrial objects and some grade-A people-watching. Clignancourt "has become more expensive in recent years," Gaultier cautions. He notes that most of his inspiration buying is done while traveling, but he praises the 120-year-old market for being a fun place that offers incredible finds and a chance to grab a memorable souvenir. One additional note of caution: If you plan to haggle, your French had better be grade A, too.
Avenue de la Porte de Clignancourt, Metro: Porte de Clignancourt, marchesauxpuces.fr

subset: commoncrawl


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Beloit School Board sets 2009 /2010 tax levy
Steve Benton
Friday, October 30, 2009
It amounts to $8.20 per $1,000 assessed value. To the owner of an average $83,000 Beloit home, that's an increase of about $46.00 or $680.60 for the school year.
The board has yet to set the budget total, according to Superintendent Milt Thompson. He says they're trying to find a way to balance the budget through additional cuts, or by borrowing money from a special fund.
Last updated: 11:37 am Thursday, December 13, 2012


text:
Legal Question in Personal Injury in Texas
property damage
Apple tree owned by A fell on B's house. Who is responsible for the damage done to B's house?
Asked on 12/15/07, 10:47 pm
1 Answer from Attorneys
Jeffrey Brashear The Brashear Law Firm, PLLC
Re: property damage
Generally, when a person's property damages another person's property; the first person is liable for the damages. These cases are very fact specific and really should be reviewed by an attorney for merit. If my law firm can assist you with this legal matter or any other legal issue, please contact my legal assistant Jennifer ([email protected]).
Answered on 12/17/07, 6:51 pm


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I had BRIDAL catalogs mailed to my sister to remind her that NOBODY wants to MARRY a self-centered B****!!
- My younger sister just turned 30 with no prospects on the horizon and last year she became an instant single mom after TTC behind her then BF's back. She's been on a rampage to try to cut me down and attempt to make me look bad to extended family and friends. I've done everything to help her from free babysitting, to doing all of her paperwork for benefits/CS, even cleaning her house.
- Still, she throws my weight in my face and purposefully posts unflattering pics of me on FB (immediately followed up by pics of her wearing next to nothing), blows my marital problems out of proportion/gossips about me and treats me like slave when I'm around. If I'm not catering to her and her baby's every need (regardless of what my three little ones needs are) in a timely manner, she calls me socially retarded to my face and tells me that this is why I have no friends (most of my friends are male. I guess that makes me a loser?). She not only lives at home for next for nothing, but my mom is her free 24/7 nanny for work and partying.
- She treats men the same way and that's why no one has ever even come close to marrying her and probably never will unless she changes her ways. It drives her nuts that I have a successful marriage and that nearly all of my exes proposed to me as well. She hates any reminder of weddings or marriage. Men won't even discuss marriage with her because she makes their life a living hell. After a blowup last week, I've told her that from here on out, I will only be dealing with her at family functions and holidays. Is my little catalog request immature? Yes, but I'm still deeply hurt by the way she treats me and it's not the first time. Making an appt. to go back to therapy now.
ETA: I put her name and mailing address. She already gets random catalogs that don't match up to her interests. She will not know that it was me that ordered them.
It is a rather petty prank, but harmless........and I don't blame you for being passive aggressive and wanting to get her back!! But now it's time to move on from this and limit your contact with her! She sounds toxic and you don't need people like that in your life........doesn't matter that they are family!! Trust me I know. My sister has alot of issues too and can be a real bitch. It's best to keep people like that at arm's length for your own emotional well-being.
While I think what you did was funny, sometimes it's just not worth it to stoop to their level. I understand though. I have an emotionally abusive brother. Thankfully, I live almost 600 miles away from him and only have to tolerate his presence once or twice a year for the sake of my parents.
Don't stoop to her level! It just makes you look like her. As long as you have a good heart and you are content with who you are, do not let her get to you. Stop helping her out, and stop letting her step all over you. I would delete her from FB and be done with it. Why submit your self to her cruel ways. You can do something about the pictures, Delete her.
Oh that's good. I'm not that ballsy though.
Quoting Anonymous:
If that bit of revenge made you feel better, well good for you. I would have created a profile for her on a hookup site or dating site with the headline "desperately seeking husband" along with those pics of her barely clothed. But I am a bitch like that.
She is deleted and blocked.
Quoting Anonymous:
Don't stoop to her level! It just makes you look like her. As long as you have a good heart and you are content with who you are, do not let her get to you. Stop helping her out, and stop letting her step all over you. I would delete her from FB and be done with it. Why submit your self to her cruel ways. You can do something about the pictures, Delete her.


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Consumer research company Technomic has released its list of the top 10 adult beverage trends that will shape the US alcohol industry in 2013, reports the Australian Food News.
Here is the No. 10 prediction:
Whiskey wows. From whiskey-flavored liquors to flavored whiskeys, and from single barrel bourbons to new takes on rye, whiskey's appeal grows. In bars and restaurants, the storied brown spirit attracts more young adults and women, while consumers experiment with both traditional and new expressions for at-home enjoyment.
Read predictions 1 through 9 here.


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Often I think about the Codecs supported by Windows Phone 7, and when I do, I take a look at the URL:
Pretty nifty, but always make sure to check to see if the codec is really supported by your device targets.
And in this case MSDN does a good job of listing the codecs! Nicely done!
And that is all there is for this posting.


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Did it have blood in it or was it a ky jelly like stringy clear glob?
Just curious cause I was in the shower and had a glob of clear string like just hanging out of me... Should I be worried or is it just my cervix thinning out more... I'm confused.
It was a mix of the two.

Quoting AllAboardTheCrazyTrain!!!:" It was a mix of the two. "

Okay. It had no blood so maybe its normal pregnancy discharge.
It was pretty much a mix of both, but there was more blood. I ended up going into labor a few days later.

Quoting XJS♡6.14:" It was pretty much a mix of both, but there was more blood. I ended up going into labor a few days later."

Alright so I'm pretty sure its the normal discharge. Just caught me off guard it was really thick.
Mine was greenish with a tiny bit of blood.
The snotty mucus stuff I've been losing for weeks. I would only really take it as losing my plug if it has a bit of blood in it
The final time I lost it it had one teeeeeeeny tiny streak of blood, almost not noticeable. I've lost pieces of mine since 15w this time. It regenerates!


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"Teen Mom" Maci Bookout and her son Bentley are going through a huge milestone. Bentley's about to enter Kindergarten, Maci revealed via Twitter.
The MTV star, who recently starred in a special for the network titled "Being Maci," revealed to her fans online that she was mentally preparing to register her only child for school in the fall.
"Can we talk [about] the fact that I'm registering Bentley for Kindergarten tomorrow…. actually let's not talk [about] it. My baby isn't a baby," Maci Bookout tweeted.
It seems Maci is going through what every parent experiences when their child becomes old enough to go to school.
It's a very exciting and emotional time for both parents and children, and since Maci is a single mom, and has Bentley the majority of the time it will be a big adjustment for her as well as little Bentley.
What are your thoughts on "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout registering son Bentley for Kindergarten? Tweet us @TeenMomNewsFeed or leave a comment below.


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August 19, 2010
As summer winds down and the day-to-day "news" falls flat, BDL will be ranking each NBA position, 1-through-30. Or, more accurately, 30-through-1. Here's an explanation.
In this post, we take on the shooting guards, 20-through-11. Click the jump for the run.
20. Jason Terry(notes), Dallas Mavericks (last year: 15th, but as a point guard)
82games.com doesn't have Terry playing a single second at point guard last season, and with Dallas' guard rotation (where 5-10 Jose Juan Barea(notes) sometimes acts as a small forward offensively, alongside Terry and Jason Kidd(notes)), who knows? What we do know is that JET's scoring efficiency drags him far beyond the type of players who are ranked below him, though his percentages dropped a bit at age 32 last year. He's got another year, and then the list you read earlier this morning takes over.
19. O.J. Mayo(notes), Memphis Grizzlies (last year: 17th)
A lot of people took Mayo's failed (miserably failed, if we're honest) attempt at playing point guard during the summer leagues as a desperation move. Going with the glass-half-full approach, I'm wondering if Mayo just took the crash course in order to become a better-handling off-guard, rather than a full-on backup point man. Mayo has stagnated since his rookie year, but if his confidence and driving improves he could have a significantly better season than the players ranked below him on this list (ones that were, admittedly, better than him last season).
18. J.R. Smith(notes), Denver Nuggets (last year: 14th)
Speaking of optimism ...
Smith was awful last season. His stats dipped for the second straight year, and he launched over six 3-pointers a game (while coming off the bench, no less) despite shooting just 33.8 percent. Maybe it's because this is a contract year. Maybe his very tradeable contract could be moved in a deal for both its expiring merits, its affordability and resemblance to other MLE-styled deals (Smith's at $6.7 million this year), or because he's always a threat to drop 30 in no time at all.
Or, perhaps I'm a fool for ranking him this high. Only J.R. can give us an answer.
17. J.J. Redick(notes), Orlando Magic (last year: unranked)
If Redick starts, his all-around game (you heard me) could be the salve that puts Orlando back into the Finals. Because as great as Miami can be, guarding four 3-point shooters and an all-world center at once is a pretty tough task, and Redick's passing and driving ability after the close out (something Mickael Pietrus(notes) is wholly uninterested in) could be a difference-maker. Or, Stan Van Gundy could continue to treat him like Dana Barros. Stan's call.
16. Ray Allen(notes), Boston Celtics (last year: seventh)
Allen is a struggle, because for all his white-hot nights (or months, like when he dropped over 20 a game last February despite making "only" 35 percent of his 3-pointers), he still rounds out to pretty average. Allen isn't exactly some flighty youngster, but he'll look unworthy of a top 30 selection on some nights, and drop a quick 25, no worries, the next time out.
15. John Salmons(notes), Milwaukee Bucks (last year: 14th, but as a small forward)
I've been warning people about John Salmons' age for years, and I think he has one good John Salmons-ish year left in him. Turning 31 in December, Salmons should benefit from a full season of screens from Andrew Bogut(notes), and his low-intensity scoring should translate for a little while. And on a team like the Bucks that struggles to score, John will be handed all the shots he can handle.
14. Ben Gordon(notes), Detroit Pistons (last year: 12th)
Everything about Gordon's 2009-10 run screamed "fluke." A career 41.5 percent 3-point shooter entering the season, Gordon's average dipped to 32.1 percent in his first year with Detroit. Now, you can blame Detroit's terrible offense or all the new players he had to work with, but Gordon spent years in Chicago working in a terrible offense on a team that was constantly turning over rotation spots 4-through-12. I say he bounces back, and though he doesn't contribute much in other areas, his scoring efficiency could have him keeping the Pistons close in games they have no business being in.
13. Gilbert Arenas(notes), Washington Wizards (last year: unranked)
We had no idea what to expect from Arenas heading into 2009-10, after playing in just 15 of a possible 164 games the previous two years. We couldn't have expected his felony gun possession charge, of course, which led to another long layoff and more question marks as John Wall(notes) comes to town and Arenas slides over to the shooting guard position. Washington, desperate to trade him, will no doubt feature Gilbert for big minutes. But despite his big per-game scoring numbers last year (20.6 a game), Arenas overall was pretty average, especially when you factor in his potentially league-worst defense.
12. Jamal Crawford(notes), Atlanta Hawks (last year: unranked)
Though Crawford's game has made you cringe for years, it was still great to see this veteran of the rebuilding process finally take to a role that suited him, win the Sixth Man Award and make the playoffs for the first time in his 10-year career. Crawford can make the jump pass (not the most fundamentally sound dish), and he tries to use his length defensively, but his best skill is still getting really, really, really hot from long range and firing in a defender's face after a crossover that fools nobody into thinking he's driving. More of the same, please.
11. Monta Ellis(notes), Golden State Warriors (last year: 18th, but as a point guard)
The guy dropped over 25 points a game, and he's not even in the 10 best at his position?
Well, yeah. Did you see those games?
Monta was an on-court cancer last season, consistently looking off teammates better suited to work their way to an easy score. He drove and shot with abandon, and killed as many Warrior runs as he positively contributed to. Yes, he averaged 25.5 points, but if you play 41.4 minutes a contest on the fastest team in the league, and put up 22 shots? You better be scoring 25.5 points per game. At least.
Sadly, I don't think Ellis moves away from this - what would you call it, 'determined?' - play until he's traded out of Golden State. Even an owner/GM/coach whitewash probably won't help.
Posted Jun 29 2012
Posted Jun 29 2012
Instant Analysis: Harrison Barnes
Posted Jun 28 2012
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Edited By Jeff Eisenberg
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Edited By Jay Busbee
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Artist description:
Pears can tell story's to!
Java Draw Created Jun 28, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 soft wind.
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Very unusual pear :) Great to see you using your imagination.
very nice i see a fish and what looks like cheerios in milk on the surface of the pear. lol otherwise great work 5/5
Expressive, nice.


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Crawford steals 300th base vs. Royals
Outfielder swipes second in the first inning on Monday
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
"Three-hundred steals is nice," Crawford said. "Coming into this thing, I never thought I would have gotten that many in my entire career."
Akinori Iwamura was on third base when Crawford stole with no outs. An errant throw from Royals catcher John Buck allowed Iwamura to score and Crawford to reach third base.
With Crawford standing safely on third base, Tropicana Field's video scoreboard in right field informed the crowd of Crawford's feat and a standing ovation followed. Crawford tipped his hat then scored on Evan Longoria's RBI single.
At age 26, Crawford became just the ninth player since 1900 to reach 300 steals before the age of 27 joining an elite list that includes: Rickey Henderson, Ty Cobb, Tim Raines, Vince Coleman, Cesar Cedeno, Clyde Milan, Eddie Collins and Sherry Magee.
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Being that green tea is my favorite, I typically expect 1st flush teas to be the best. At the very least, the little that I've read has given me the assumption that the best flush is the first, followed by the autumn, whereas the summer is kind of there at the bottom.
This tea happily changed that assumption for me.
It has a refreshing apple-like aroma at the end of the sip, and it reminded me strongly of the way I imagine apple hookah smells (without the smoke). Similarly, it had an intense quality that I will describe as the way rosewater tastes, without the rose/flowery aroma. RTR describes this tea as having a strong jam and sap aroma, or pine needles, and perhaps that how they describe the same flavor I'm calling rosewater.
I very much enjoyed this sample, and this would definitely go into consideration as a good daily tea, if I decide at some point to drink black tea more often.


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Giuseppe Ricci
Giuseppe Ricci was born in Naples, Italy, on February 15th, 1964. He received both the Doctorate and the Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy in 1990 and 1994, respectively. He served as an Assistant Professor in 1995 at the University of Lecce, Lecce, Italy and then became a Professor in 2002. His research interests are in the field of statistical signal processing with emphasis on radar processing and CDMA systems. More precisely, he has focused on high‐resolution radar clutter modeling, detection of radar signals in Gaussian and non‐Gaussian disturbances, oil spill detection from SAR data, track‐before‐detect algorithms fed by space‐time radar data, multiuser detection in overlay CDMA systems, and blind multiuser detection. He has held visiting positions at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colo, USA in 1997–1998 and in April–May 2001, then at the Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo, USA in July– September 2003, March 2005, September 2009, and March 2011. He has also held visiting positions at ENSICA, Toulouse, France in March 2006 and at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn, USA in September 2008.
Biography Updated on 6 November 2012


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- glass measuring cup
- ramekin
- medium pot (2)
- colander
- stainless vegetable cutters
|new year's eve
|Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare an ice bath. Blanch the snow peas for 20 seconds then transfer them to the ice bath. Drain.
|Bring the water back to a boil then blanch the mitsuba in the boiling water for 45 seconds then transfer it to the ice bath. Drain the mitsuba then twist pieces of it into 4 mini-wreaths.
|Store the snow peas and misuba wreaths in an airtight container lined with paper towel.
|Using the stainless vegetable cutters, cut the carrot into decorative shapes. Store in the fridge for use the next day.
|new year's day
|About an hour before serving time, reconstitute the shiitake mushrooms in a glass measuring cup filled with 1 cup of hot water. Weigh the mushrooms down with a ramekin or equivalent to keep them submerged. If using fresh shiitakes, simply wash and slice.
|Bring a pot of hot water to a boil. Boil the chicken for a few minutes to "cook off the first." This process boils off any scum and helps ensure that your final broth is as clear and clean as possible. Drain the chicken and toss out the scum with the water. If reusing the same pot for soup, rinse it out and wipe with paper towel.
|Warm up the dashi in a pot. Season it with the salt and sake. Simmer the chicken and carrots in it for about 20 minutes.
|Pull the chicken out of the soup, slice, and reserve.
|Add the strained shiitake soaking liquid to the soup and season the soup with soy sauce. Slice the shiitakes and add them to the soup as well. Or if using fresh shiitakes, toss them in at this point.
|Microwave the mochi for about 30 seconds, then toast it in the broiler until it puffs up and develops a golden brown crust. Watch it closely to make sure that it doesn't burn. We usually line the cookie sheet with foil and coat it with a little avocado oil to eliminate sticking.
|To assemble, set a piece of mochi with some chicken in the bottom of the bowl. Add the mitsuba ring then fill the bowl with soup. Add the shiitake mushrooms, carrot, kamaboko (fish cake), and snow pea. Garnish with yuzu/meyer lemon zest and enjoy immediately ... the mochi tastes best while the toasted top is still crunchy.


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Appearance: coarse powder
Color: tan to dark brown
Oil content: up to 10%
Shelf life: 24 months when stored in a cool, dry area and protected from sunlight.
Recommended use: Jojoba Meal may be used in formulations from 1% to 15% depending on desired visual effect and aggressiveness of exfoliation.
Vegan friendly
INCI: Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Powder


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Intermittent TEAS Problems
Intermittent Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Problems
On Saturday, June 30, TEAS is currently experiencing intermittent technical difficulties and users may be unable to submit the forms. The problems are being addressed by staff at the USPTO. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Posted at 08:52PM Jun 30, 2012 in Current Status |


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2004 Toyota Sequoia SUV - Consumer Review
Build Quality
Reliability Value
Build Quality
Reliability Value
New to Me
By new owner on
Vehicle2004 Toyota Sequoia SR5 Rwd 4dr SUV (4.7L 8cyl 4A)
ReviewJust bought this the end of Sept. '07 with 48K on it. It now has 52.5k. We are a family of 5. We liked all the bells and whistles on this model because it had everything that the Limited had minus the heated seats. We own a '96 Tahoe, and just got rid of an '01 Odyssey minivan, and this takes the vans place. We gave up fuel mileage (22 vs. 18 in the Sequoia) and ride comfort. The Toyota definitely rides rougher than the Tahoe, but it gets better mileage and we love all the room/extra seats. We have had one mechanical issue, we had to replace the oil pressure sending unit. My wife is dissapointed that the rubber cup holder "fingers" have been torn/worn prematurely.
Best FeaturesSunroof (have not had one on the previous 4 vehicles we have owned and missed it). Leg room for all 3 seats, towing capacity. Better fuel mileage than my '96 2wd Tahoe. Great sound system, comfortable seats. Rear window feature.
Worst FeaturesI wish for 20MPG out of this. Better highway ride quality it still rides like a truck. Better visibility. Memory driver seat. Steering wheel radio controls. Rear back up camera.
Recommend (0) (0)
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Saved from a downtown dumpster... a mid seventies Peugeot UJ10.
Up on my stand with a new saddle and in the process of being stripped down.
I did everything but tape the bars today so after that is done I will take another pic... and it will be in living colour.
Oh well, can't blame me for trying.,,,,BD
Catch of the day! (well, actually yesterday and today)
1) Fuji Sagres! rides wonderfully......and it was $35.
This one is going to get flipped.
2) Eddy Merckx! seems to ride great...but rain kept me to the living room crit instead of a proper ride. .......and I spent far too much on this one.
Hot damn..
I need to move....
Apparently the local goodwill sells all the good bikes out the back door. I got this one cheap from a flipper who deals with them out back. Not my size, so I rebuilt it and now its ready to be flipped again.
This is one from last week.
1971 Carlton "Professional"
Found this one at the Dump about five years ago - a 1971 Carlton "Professional in very nice condition. Sorry about the picture quality. Sadly, I sent the Carlton to a better home. The bicycle, though pretty incredible, was a 58cm and too big for me to ride with any degree of comfort.
"As found" the Carlton had no wheels. I built up a wheel set using an Ebay purchased set of 1971 Record High Flange hubs and Weinmann clincher rims as I recall. The Carlton had the kind of ride that the rider doesn't notice. I can't pay a bike a better compliment than that and those of you who have ridden such bicycles might better understand what I am trying to say.
I plan to take the International out for a ride tomorrow, if I can find some time to do so. Though the bicycle is way too big for me, my guess is that this bicycle will live up to its reputation.
I have checked the bicycle over to ensure that it is safe to ride. I polished it up a bit and it is indeed a gem, in my opinion.
The bike comes in at 23lb 8oz, in case anyone is interested (fitted with straps, clips and an pump clamp). Everything else looks to be as issued. At first I was concerned about the condition of the chrome plating but the chrome, cleaned and waxed, comes up looking like almost brand new.
Retro Raleighs suggests that the International fitted with these lugs is a bit unusual. Does anyone have an opinion or fact explaining this?
Finally, how do I go about offering items of interest for trade through the Forum. Thanks for any advice.
But if you look at the top of the C&V main page, there's a specific subforum for 'For Sale' items. This subforum also has a 'For trade' thread.
BTW, gorgeous Carlton--you're like some kinda English steel bug zapper.
For those who liked my black SS a couple of pages back. I got a Suede Vetta from a Dave Scott Mardi Gras edition, and installed it. It didn't look right, being a dirty grey, so I recovered in a scrap of leather I picked up from a leather shop. Who knew a Vetta could look so nice, and be so comfy. The cam oranged it up a little, but it is a near exact match for the darker shade of the wrap. I think it looks great, and more comfy than the Jag Aero.,,,,BD
how did you do this? I've tried it, and could never get the leather to sit right
Wow, this page is full of fantastic finds...good work everyone!
I only have this to contribute. It is a very odd bike but it is going to go to an excellent home----a friend of my mother's has a bad leg and walks with a cane now but used to enjoy cycling in her youth. She asked me to keep an eye out for something that would work for her and this bike fell into my lap last week. A little spoke-tensioning and a new front tire and the bike is good for her. So far she really likes it and when we find a nice large basket for the rear, this will be her grocery-getter.
Got this old Mariushi today, don't know enough to know if it's worth fixing up though. I can fix the superficial rust spots on the frame easy enough, but is the rest savable with some elbow grease and steel wool? or will I need to replace the brakes and such?
Picked up this Peugeot today from C/L for $80. Plan on making it a single speed and using it as a daily beater.
Picked up a lower end Panasonic Sport Deluxe today at a thrift store. I was going to pass on it but something caught my and and I went in for a closer look. It was sporting a set of 700c, 36 hole Mavic MA2 rims w/ low flange Malliard hubs that look brand new!:thumb: $29.99 and in the car befor lunch break was even over!
Univega Mixte
Hello all,
I picked up this Univega Mixte for $10 yesterday. The paint is is allright condition. It should scrub up allright.
1983 Panasonic AR-6000
Just got home from picking this one up... 1983 Panasonic AR-6000 (Aero)
She needs some TLC and restoration but the price was right and I couldn't pass it up. :thumb:
First find in quite a while for me. I've been watching the neighborhood recycling center, but passed on a few busted up kids bikes and a pair of cheap-o 27 inch road bikes. Swing by today and saw a set of handlebars sticking out the top of the scrap metal dumpster, pulled out this Huffy 3 speed. It's nothing special, but will make a good gift for a friend (if it fits - it's got 24 inch wheels), or a good sale to some college girl.
When I pulled it out, the rear wheel seemed to be locked up - it would clang when turned, and skidded across the ground. I have to assume this is the reason it was thrown away - the bike appears to be in fairly good shape, aside from some rust pitting on the chromed parts. On closer inspection, it seems like the chain guard is just installed about half an inch too far back (or the chain is a couple of links to short) - that's all that was keeping the wheel from turning.
Anyone have any good links to point me toward/tips for tuning up this Shimano 3 speed hub? There's no oil port - do I just lube it through the center of the axle, where the lever that changes the gearing goes?
That's the kind of stem and handlebars I want to put on my '73 Varsity (to make it a Suburban 10-speed of sorts).
Found a nice Fuji Gran Tourer SE mixte at a garage sale this morning. I've been pretty good about not collecting more old bikes but I did pass on 2 frames this week and I was just walking by when I saw this one...
Pretty much all Suntour equipped and in very good condition. I'll probably lighten it up with some alloy wheels and better pedals and saddle then see if anyone in the neighborhood wants it. Otherwise, it's flipsville.
I scored a Schwinn Traveler today, looked good, needs a little clean up and should be good. I didn't realize till I was putting it on the roof that is has 4130 tubing, shifts perfect, new tires, cables aren't rusted. Once I get things cleaned up I'll show it. I might try and flip this locally on CL.
By the way I am thrilled it is yard sale season again!
|All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:52 PM.


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Fear of Floating Needn't Imply Fixed Rates: Feasible Options for Intermediate Exchange Rate Regimes
The criteria of the theory of optimum currency areas suggest that many (most?) countries are not good candidates for either of the poles of genuinely fixed exchange rates or freely floating exchange rates. Thus many countries should have an interest in intermediate exchange rate regimes. However, in a world of substantial capital mobility most forms of intermediate exchange rate regimes have proven to be highly crisis prone. The paper argues that the unholy trinity analysis doesn't imply that intermediate exchange rate regimes are inherently unstable, but rather that exchange rate and monetary policies need to be jointly determined. The difficulties of maintaining such consistency are as much political as economic since temporarily pegged or managed rates create a time inconsistency problem. Therefore policy officials need some institutional insulation from short sighted political pressures. A problem with most intermediate regimes is that they have focused on particular forms of limited exchange rate flexibility per se, rather than the weight that should be given to the exchange rate in setting monetary policy. It is argued that OCA theory provides the framework for determining the appropriate weights and limits on the amount of sterilized intervention to maintain the consistency between exchange rate and monetary policies necessary to avoid currency crises. The paper also considers a number of the issues involved in integrating their approach with the literature on open economy aspects of inflation targeting.
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
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|May 2002
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| Postal: 500 E. Ninth St., Claremont, CA 91711
Phone: (909) 607-3041
Fax: (909) 621-8249
Web page: http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/rdschool/papers/
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Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Svensson, Lars E. O., 2000.
"Open-economy inflation targeting,"
Journal of International Economics,
Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 155-183, February.
- Svensson, L.E.O., 1998. "Open-Economy Inflation Targeting," Papers 638, Stockholm - International Economic Studies.
- Svensson, Lars E.O., 1998. "Open-Economy Inflation Targeting," Seminar Papers 638, Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies.
- Lars E. O. Svensson, 2000. "Open-Economy Inflation Targeting," NBER Working Papers 6545, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Svensson, Lars E O, 1998. "Open-Economy Inflation Targeting," CEPR Discussion Papers 1989, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
- Frankel, Jeffrey A & Rose, Andrew K, 1998. "The Endogeneity of the Optimum Currency Area Criteria," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 108(449), pages 1009-1025, July.
- Jeffrey A. Frankel & Andrew K. Rose, 1996. "The Endogeneity of the Optimum Currency Area Criteria," NBER Working Papers 5700, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Frankel, Jeffrey A & Rose, Andrew K, 1996. "The Endogeneity of the Optimum Currency Area Criteria," CEPR Discussion Papers 1473, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
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- Laurence Ball, 2000. "Policy Rules and External Shocks," Working Papers Central Bank of Chile 82, Central Bank of Chile.
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- Bofinger, Peter & Wollmershäuser, Timo, 2001. "Managed floating: Understanding the new international monetary order," W.E.P. - Würzburg Economic Papers 30, University of Würzburg, Chair for Monetary Policy and International Economics.
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- Choudhri, Ehsan U. & Hakura, Dalia S., 2006. "Exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices: Does the inflationary environment matter?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 614-639, June.
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I know, I know, how much luckier could we get? Three of the most-oft maligned American cities in ONE TRIP! In all seriousness, we're looking forward to this unexpected road trip. The plan had been for our son to fly, but the logistics became too costly and convoluted, so I'm driving from DC to Ann Arbor later this month to take our son to and from pitching camp, with afternoon/overnight stops in Cleveland and Pittsburgh to break up the drive.
The travelers are one adult, two children (9, 14). We wanted a whole-family trip, but dog-friendly lodging posed too much of a challenge so DH and the hound are staying home for quality guy time. The lodging has been bought and paid for with miles, so hopefully I really, really, really don't need to reconsider my choices? In Cleveland it's the Wyndham at Playhouse Square; Pittsburgh, Doubletree Suites City Center; and Ann Arbor, Holiday Inn (North Campus near the UM)
All three cities have very similar offerings (Art Museums, Science Centers, and Zoo/Aquariums), making it a challenge to plan the itinerary. There are some must-dos, though. In Cleveland the teenage DS wants to see the Rock Roll Hall of Fame Museum, but the 9 year-old DD doesn't. We thought about the Great Lakes Science Center as an alternative for DD, but there are also Science Centers in Detroit and Pittsburgh. Anyone know which might appeal more to a 9 year-old (who likes science)? The Cleveland Botanic Garden sounds like a lovely place to visit, as well.
In Pittsburgh the National Aviary was given a thumbs-up, especially for its interactive penguin program. Is it worth the extra cost?
In Detroit votes were cast in favor of the Motown History Museum, the DIA, and the Henry Food Museum/Greenfield Village. Any other must-dos? Belle Isle, for instance?
Eating in Cleveland. I saw momocho on Diner, Dives, and Drive-ins, but it's been nixed by both children. They're adventurous eaters, so suggestions for other fun, casual places would be most appreciated.
A colleague suggested Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh, and from what I've read I'm thinking we can't go wrong eating here?
As for dining in the Detroit area, I'm stuck. How is the dining at Greenfield Village? I can navigate my alma mater's campus area well, so eating in Ann Arbor will include some old favorites. I just don't know where I'll get my cheese fries, though, with Red Hot Lovers closed!
In advance, thanks for your suggestions. I promise to let you know how the road trip goes when we return!
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Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh--Road Trip Questions
I know, I know, how much luckier could we get? Three of the most-oft maligned American cities in ONE TRIP! In all seriousness, we're looking forward to this unexpected road trip. The plan had been for our son to fly, but the logistics became too costly and convoluted, so I'm driving from DC to Ann Arbor later this month to take our son to and from pitching camp, with afternoon/overnight stops in Cleveland and Pittsburgh to break up the drive.
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Cedar Point is not on your agenda. Cedar Point is the roller coaster capital of the country. Worth a visit on a summer road trip.
Toledo has Tony Packo's famous dog joint. It's close to the highway.
Detroit has a Greek chili dog restaurant in every strip center. I can't say which one is close to Greenfield, but hopefully a local speaks up.
Hope you are doing the Ford Museum with the visit to Greenfield. Very good.
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What about going to a baseball game in 1 of the cities? PNC Park in Pittsburgh is a phenomenal stadium. Also really enjoyed Comerica Park in Detroit. Haven't been to Progressive Field yet. There are also a lot of minor league baseball stadiums around there. Could go to Canton for the Football Hall of Fame.
Take the incline up Mt Washington in Pittsburgh. I enjoyed Primanti Bros when I was there.
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We've been to the Carnegie Science Center and thought it was great. Admission includes the Highmark SportsWorks (a separate building next to the science museum) which has interactive exhibits on the science of sports. It is very popular with kids the ages of yours.
Try to make a stop in Oakland, the area of Pittsburgh where the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are located. If your kids enjoy the Harry Potter books, they'll like going into the impressive Cathedral of Learning on the Pitt campus. The main floor is like walking into Hogwarts. For an ice cream stop, go to Dave and Andy's and enjoy their award-winning ice cream (207 Atwood, just a few blocks from the Cathedral of Learning). Also in Oakland is a Primanti Brothers (3803 Forbes Avenue). Primanti Brothers is certainly iconic of Pittsburgh, but there are a lot of other choices in Oakland too. My daughter, a Pitt student, enjoys the hamburgers at Five Guys (117 S. Bouquet) and the pizza at Joe Mama's (3716 Forbes Ave.)
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If you want to try a coney island near The Henry Ford, there's Senate Coney Island at 3345 Greenfield Rd (at Rotunda)or Kerby's at Ford Road and Mercury Drive, just behind Ford Motor Headquarters. Are you planning to do the whole museum and village? If so, how much time are you planning to spend? What about the factory tour? If you're going to do everything, it may be a multi-day affair.
You can also check menus for the restaurants in the village and museum on their site at www.hfmgv.org. If you kids are adventerous eaters, you could try one of the many Arabic restaurants around Dearborn. Another good option would be Buddy's Pizza on Michigan Avenue at Mason (www.buddyspizza.com). They're known for their deep dish pizza and also have sandwiches and pasta.
I'm not sure what shape Belle Isle is in these days. The large zoo and aquarium closed a couple years ago because of budget problems. The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is only open Sat & Sun and the zoo/nature center is open, but has limited programs.
If you go to the DIA, walk across the street to the Library and check out Adam Strohm Hall and some of the rooms on the third floor and the fireplace in the former children's room immediately to the right of the main entrance.
Would any of the auto barons' estates interest your kids? The Henry Ford Estate is in Dearborn and the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House is in Grosse Pointe Shores. You can walk around the gardens for admission. Your 9 y.o. may enjoy Josephine Ford's playhouse at the Edsel Ford Estate where everything is child-scale. Info is at www.fordhouse.org.
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Great suggestions—I really appreciate them. Although I grew up in the Detroit area, visits now are mostly to Ann Arbor, so I'm feeling more like a semi-knowledgeable tourist than a "local" visiting "home." This will be the first time in about fifteen years that I'll have real time in the area; hence, the many questions.
Cedar Point would be awesome (I had completely forgotten about it), so it might come down to Rock and Roll or perhaps just the Roll!
We tried to schedule in a Tigers game, but the only home game during our stay conflicted with camp. We're Tigers fans, but DS would have never forgiven me if I went to the game without him.
Teenage boys and Coney Island hot dogs—what's not to like! I looked at the GVHFM menus very quickly and they seemed fine, if not a little ordinary—good to know there's a couple of hot dog places nearby. Living in Metro DC provides us with lots of ethnic food selections, so I'm thinking Coney Islands could be novel.
Right now we're visiting just the Ford Museum; given that the children have been to Williamsburg a few times I was concerned there might be too much overlap with Greenfield Village (in concept, not in time period)?
On this trip we won't get to the Ford Factory tour; DH wants to go so we have to save it for another time. I very much like the suggestion for the Eleanor & Edsel Ford Estate—I'm sure our daughter will, too.
The Cathedral of Learning is beautiful—our daughter is reading the Harry Potter series right now so this would fit in nicely. We're planning to go up Mt Washington, as well.
Am I correct in thinking that the Carnegie Science Center might be an all-day kind of activity?
Thanks again.
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If you come to Pittsburgh, the Zoo and Aquarium is offering 20 different shows daily. You can see a sea otter feeding, talk with a scuba diver while he's under water, watch the sea lion show or meet the crocodile keeper. Check out the web site under Plan Your Visit/encounters. You will have a great time in Pittsburgh!
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Detroit/Ann Arbor: If you're headed to the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village and the weather is nice, do the village. I don't think there will be too much overlap with colonial Williamsburg since the village has things like Thomas Edison's lab, the Wright brothers' workshop, Model T rides etc. If it's pouring, the museum is always terrific. Henry Ford's Estate, Fairlane, is a stone's throw from Greenfield Village/HFM. If you take the full tour, you get to go through the whole house in addition to the powerhouse; it's a great experience. You'll be right near I-94 so access to Ann Arbor is really easy and relatively quick. The Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate is in Grosse Point - all the way on the east side - doable but much further away.
Some of the best middle eastern food available anywhere can be had in Dearborn. Since you said your kids are adventurous, they might enjoy that.
I don't know how much time you'll have, but I don't think I'd mess around with Bell Isle. Maybe the Riverwalk instead of you want downtown Detroit. I really like the DIA and the Detroit Zoo is also nice.
As you probably remember, there is a natural history museum and art museum on the UM campus. Ann arbor has a good hands' on museum.
Since the Tigers schedule doesn't work, have you checked on the Mud Hens in Toledo? Minor league, but lots of fun. It's about an hour from Ann Arbor to Toledo, so doable.
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Great suggestions so far. I would have to add that I really really think you should do Cedar Point. No other amusment park beats it for roller coasters. Henry Ford is one of my favorites and I think that Greenfield Village has enough variety to keep it fun and interesting. I love the Buddy's pizza suggestion. Also in the area is pizza papalis if you like Chicago style deep dish. I'm sure you know all about Zingermans in AA? Depending on how long it's been since you were here, they also have a sit-down restaurant called Zingerman's Roadhouse. Great farm to table food.
DH and I just spent a weekend in Cleveland. Perhaps you could catch an Indian's game? You must go to Melt if you're going to be eating in Cleveland - the kids would love it. They were also on DD&D and recently on Man v. Food. Just be prepared for long waits or go at an off time. The Science Center in Cleveland is pretty neat - and we really liked Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I know you said your kids ruled out Momocho but if you ever find yourself in Cleveland again...do go. It was awesome!
I think the zoos in Cleveland and Detroit are about the same. DIA is pretty neat in Detroit.
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I've been to both the Detroit Science Center and the Carnegie Science Center and the Carnegie Science Center is definitely the better of the two.
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$16 worth of "road food" from the Travel Oasis in Breezewood, PA (once the children were awake); lunch courtesy of the Golden Arch Steakhouse (at what is hands-down the finest, cleanest turnpike service area I have ever stopped at, food choice aside); and pizza delivery from the least worst delivery place that dared to come into downtown Cleveland on a Saturday night. Day One of Tour of The Midwest's Most-Oft Maligned Cities was underway!
How did we get to hotel room pizza delivery from all of the great suggestions? It was inevitable, really. The MomMobile pulled out at 5:38 AM, much earlier than the children had been up in weeks; add to that the excitement of two hours on the Penna Turnpike (deer! windmills! the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel!); foreign-car counting once we hit the Ohio frontier line (7, including mine) and driving past both a Government Motors (GM) plant as well as the confluence of the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay Watersheds (so said the sign), followed by sightseeing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum (DS) and the Great Lakes Science Center (we girls) and a late afternoon swim in the hotel pool, and moving them from the beds and the TV wasn't going to happen.
Unfortunately the hotel was in the business part of downtown, which meant the weekend restaurant pickings were slim. Further, I had surrendered my vehicle to the valet when we checked in, and the public transportation in downtown Cleveland didn't seem readily available. Room service was out, too. Although the hotel restaurant was well reviewed in local magazines, surprisingly there was nothing interesting any of us on the menu.
The concierge offered three pizza flyers when I asked her for suggestions, and being who I am, I went out on the all-knowing Internet to read a few reviews. Two of the three places received "greasy cold slop in a cardboard box" accolades, and the third, a "better than Hungry Howie's, but not nearly as good as Angelo's." I called Angelo's, but they were out in a western suburb and only delivered to downtown with a ginormous minimum order. Sigh. Back to the food boards for suggestions. Next we found a place called Tea Noodles, or something like that--decent reviews, seemed like an Asian version of Noodles & Co. Sigh--their downtown restaurant was closed on the weekends, and the suburban one--wait for it--didn't deliver downtown. Fatigue and hunger had begun to sink in, so we voted for delivery pizza from Contestant #3, Rascal's. Thankfully the one hour delivery wait time was only 30 minutes, and before we knew it a hot, deep dish, fresh-looking cheese pizza, complete with the little plastic pizza stand (that keeps the top of the box from sticking to the pizza) and a fresh green salad for mom arrived at our room. Yes, at our room. (The concierge did mention in passing that they don't always catch the delivery guys in time to give guests a courtesy ring, but I thought she was joking. Hotels wouldn't let pizza delivery guys roam freely throughout, would they?) All in all, the pizza was rated a "pretty good" by the children and a "not too bad" by me. I'm certain the hunger and fatigue had nothing to do with the ratings.
To be continued...
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A little after 8:00 the following morning we headed out in search of the house used in The Christmas Story. Got a little turned around, but I still speak the Eastern European dialect of Midwestern enough to understand the kindly gentleman sweeping imaginary dirt from his sidewalk's directions to go, "two, "tree," streets up to da light at Clark, turn right" and we found the house. The gentlemen across the street from the house even recommended a great diner for breakfast when I asked, where DS cleared his plate (no surprise, there), DD was amazed at the fact that the buttermilk pancakes were the size of the entire plate, and I was called "honey" only four times. It felt good to be close to home.
The drive from Cleveland to Detroit was a long series of cornfields and beet farms punctuated with signs for fireworks and beef jerky stores. At some point on I-75 we passed a sign that read, "Welcome to Michigan. Brought to you by Some Association." Turns out that was the "official" greeting. Perhaps Michigan is too economically depressed to have a sign from the governor like other states? The downriver area is as depressed as it's always been, and was sadly the first course for Detroit itself. My old Catholic school is now abandoned and boarded up; the church no longer part of the archdiocese. A spray painted "Stay Out" on one of the boarded up homes across the street pretty much described it all...
The grey cloud of Detroit over our heads withered quickly as we edged past Dearborn and Romulus and onto Michigan's campus. The children were genuinely in awe; I guess they each had their own idea of what the campus would look like, and were surprised by the sheer size and urban character. And at South Quad, we parents were all doing the same thing--pointing this way and that, clearly boring our children with our co-ed memories.
We settled DS in South Quad and then went to Brown Jug for Nachos Gigantus Maximus (gotta feed the boy) and the Tigers/Blue Jays game on the 15 televisions. Afterward we shopped for spiritwear--good thing we saved money by using points for the hotels because we certainly made up for it at the M Den! Showed the children the shabby little apartment where Dad proposed to Mom (it's not condemned!), peeked through the gates of the new Michigan stadium, and just had a really great afternoon. DD and I dropped DS off as he needed to report for workout at 5:30 and checked in at our hotel for some pool time before our very ordinary, no frills supper of macaroni and cheese and a "Caesar" salad at the hotel restaurant. As a food-lover I really hope things improve tomorrow...
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Finally, some real food. Michigan food. This morning we picked up Krakus Polish Ham from a nearby grocery store and made sandwiches for breakfast. Yum.
Have I mentioned how much I LOVE driving in Michigan? I've been averaging 75 mph on the interstates among some of the most orderly, sane drivers ever. They use the left lane for passing! Trucks stay in the right! They use their indicator lights! It was depressing to think about the drive home.
But I digress. Today's outing was to Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum, accessible, naturally, via the Edsel FORD freeway. Once there, I parted with an obscene amount of money for the Village/Museum combo ticket. One gets spoiled with the Smithsonian in their backyard, I guess.
We began with the Village, thinking that we'd enjoy the cool museum in the afternoon when the temperatures rose. Greenfield Village is like Williamsburg or Jamestown except that the "theme" is American Innovation. All of the building are the real deal, too! We toured Ford's boyhood home, Edison's lab, the Firestone Farm, the Wright Brothers Bicycle shop (where they built their first plane) and home, and so on. One way to see the Village is, of course, by walking the 90 acres. But why do that when you can choose from a 100 year old restored steam locomotive, a horse-drawn carriage, or even an authentic Model-T? DD and I had great fun moving about the Village--what a treasure!
A quick stop for an all-American lunch of Koegel's (Michigan made!) hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and a shared Faygo Red Pop (42 grams of sugar, Michigan made!), and then it was on to the Henry Ford Museum. There's a lot to see at the museum, cars aside. We enjoyed our visit a great deal.
Following the requisite pool time at the hotel we spent part of the evening strolling through the Kerrytown Shops in Ann Arbor and then quaffing olive oils with the olive oil "sommelier" at Zingerman's as if we knew what we were doing. We sampled enough bread and cheese to call it dinner, picked up a small late harvest Spanish oil with pepper tones and a jar of bagna cauda and went back to the hotel only to find that we were still hungry. A quick trip to the grocery store turned up Amish free-range rotisserie chicken dinner from a nearby farm, complete with mashed potatoes and corn (all Michigan made!) Plus a cart full of Michigan-made non-perishables to bring home. Buy Michigan, indeed! Had a great conversation with a store clerk about how we could not possibly be Redskins fans.
More A-squared to follow...
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Tuesday morning my DD sleepyhead did not rise and shine until 8:30. No matter, though, our to-do list included only meandering the campus. We started in Nickels Arcade on State Street, popping in a couple of the stores. The next stop was Betsy Barbour House, and we posed for photos on the steps. A campus delivery person was coming out of the house and I asked if we could go in. He nodded, and told us to just say "it was open" if anyone caught us. How fun—sneaking into my old dorm! The bedrooms were closed, of course, but DD got to see the dining and living areas, and even posed on one of the sofas for a photo (which, I think, was exactly the same from my days there.) From there DD spun "The Cube" to get the campus started and stood on the steps of the Michigan Union where JFK stood when he announced the formation of the Peace Corps. All of the reliving mom's co-ed days made us thirsty; thankfully there is a coffee shop every 23 steps in and around campus (there's even one at the UGLi!) at which we could stop.
The Art Museum was next. Don't know how I feel about the gleaming modern addition squeezed in between the columned and marbled "old" art museum and the majestic, equally as columned and marbled Angell Hall. But we did enjoy seeing all that famous art.
Crossed South U. and wandered through the Law Quad—yep, still looks like the Harry Potter campus. I explained the legendary purpose of the Martha Cook dorm to DD—no shortages of questions there! South U. east of the old engineering arches hasn't changed too much—sure, there's now a hookah bar and a safe sex store, but old friends like Village Apothecary and Brown Jug are still around. So is the ever-grungy Village Corner. Middle Earth was a landmine to navigate with a 9 year-old—thankfully there were no questions there! Red Hot Lovers is gone, replaced with Ray's Red Hots, but virtually nothing else has changed about the dive.
My old academic stomping ground, the anthropology building and museum, was next. Walking past the School of Dentistry hadn't changed—in the air was still the faint aroma of anesthetic medicine. The Museum of Natural History is under construction, and hopefully the delightful old-school style sweeping musty halls filled with interesting things to touch and look at won't be replaced with gleaming, hi-tech interactive "teaching" devices at every turn.
We completed our circle with a quick walk through the Michigan League garden and past the Bell Tower and did a little shopping in State Street's quirky stores before heading to S'Quad to collect DS. The gaggled swagger of teen boys who'd just spent three days hanging with college guys soon began streaming up from the athletic campus, and within minutes my teen had grabbed his bag, checked out and hopped in the car. All sweaty like a teenage boy.
At the Michigan/Ohio border we went Kroger-ing for dinner, as mom had reached her limit of hot dogs, pizza and chili cheese fries and needed to eat something different. And different I got at the rural Kroger deli—chicken fingers! The drive to Pittsburgh was speedy, but we arrived at the hotel 10 minutes after the pool closed. Darn. At least there were warm cookies when we checked in.
Time was spent at the hotel's pool after breakfast the following morning, an "indoor" structure with a glass roof to view Pittsburgh through. Later we rode the incline up Mt. Washington (the story from the ticket taker about the one time he visited DC in the 70's for a friend's wedding but got too high on something that he forgot to go to the wedding was free) to view the city. I pointed out the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers, and DS said, "Ohhhhhhhh! That's why they call it Three Rivers Stadium." Funny.
Down from the incline we collected the car and drove a little east to the Pitt campus and its Cathedral of Learning. I wish we'd planned for more time there. Next up was the National Aviary, far and away the highlight of our roadtrip. We participated in the interactive penguin activity and it took all we had not to tuck one of those amazingly cute little mammals into my tote and take them home. Penguins are adorable!
Our final stop was for a late lunch at Primanti Brothers. The sandwiches were piled high with kielbasa, salami, and French Fries; and the dill pickles that accompanied them were top-notch. Good eats.
The return to the DC area we call home was as expected. Lots of road work, and lots of less-than-Michigan-style drivers. We pulled into the driveway around 9:45, and I was greeted to a new dishwasher and a shower with with fresh caulking (I need to leave DH home more often!) Not to mention an order of my favorite spicy tofu from the local Thai restaurant waiting for me. Aaaahhhh, good to be home.
In the end it was too short of a roadtrip to see everything, to eat everything, and to experience everything. But it was just enough to make us want to do it again. We can't wait.
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Thanks for the report!!
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Sounds like a fun road trip. We certainly don't get many trip reports that follow your route. Many familiar stops for Ohioans. I often drove to Connecticut when my children were preschoolers and had to drive almost all the way through Pennsylvania--my children used to cringe when they heard someone was from Pennsylvania--after a couple years, the drive just didn't endear Pennsylvania to them. And then of course there is Pittsburgh--pretty tough to get Cleveland Browns fans to like Pittsburgh--not to mention Michigan, a state we love to vacation in, but a university that we often bet against.
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Enjoyed reading your report but was sorry you didn't have time for Cedar Point.
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Really enjoyed reading your report, especially about the Detroit area. Zingermans is a must do everytime we are in Ann Arbor!
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I smiled at your telling of visiting your old dorm. On one trip back to OSU campus we "charmed" our way into our old North Campus dorm. What seemed palatial back in the day now seemed small and crowded. Thanks for the report.
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