Minnesota Mornings

Did I mention I went to Minnesota? Yeah, right between ARod and Katie's wedding (now known as KRod and ARod) and my Swine Flu "vacation," I stopped over in one of my favorite Midwestern towns. Or should I say two of my favorite Midwestern towns?

I had been looking forward to my trip to Minnesota since I got the go ahead to make the trek from the wedding festivities in Beantown to the Association of College and University Religious Affairs conference at Macalester College the day after the wedding. You see, Minnesota is one of those places (sort of like Pittsburgh), that people LOVE. Anyone I have ever met that is from Minnesota has such pride in their hometown. Perhaps I am drawn to it because I am from Washington, DC (okay, the DC 'burbs) and very few people still live here that grew up here, let alone have intense pride for their DC hometown.

(And if you have ever facilitated a workshop with me, you know that I force every participant in any audience I stand before to play an icebreaker. And nine times out of 10, the icebreaker involves sharing a favorite thing about one's hometown. Extra points are given for restaurant recommendations. And the people from Minnesota are always overflowing with things to share. People from Minnesota...just love Minnesota.)

As it turns out, I love Minnesota, too. And people from Minnesota. In fact, when I meet someone new and they mention they are from Minnesota, I make a mental note of this and quickly bump them up on the "potential new friend list" (this also happens people mention going to sleep early or a dislike of coffee). I have slowly collected a whole group of people from Minnesota in my DC life and have cultivated relationships with their parents and siblings...just so I have people to hang out with when I'm in the Twin Cities and can sort of pretend I too am part of the cool Minnesota club.

On past trips to Minnesota, I have either hosted events or attended conferences. Luckily, these trips have afforded me the freedom of a few free hours to discover the cities, too! A big thanks to Tovah P., Vivian F., Amber W., the entire S-H fam, Jill L., Betsy G., and Ari L. for attending the events I've hosted in MN, texting restaurant recommendations, inviting me to your vacation slideshow potluck, meeting me for lunch with very little notice, and living up to my expectations of "Minnesota nice."

Here is a little recap of my past three trips to "the cities" (as they're known by their adoring residents). I hope this is just the beginning of many, many future trips to my Midwestern home away from home.

5 Days, 4 Conferences, 3 (or 4) Cities
I usually end up in the Twin Cities as part of a marathon multi-city tour. My first taste of Minnesota and The Cities was in the middle of a trip from Northampton, MA and on my way to New York. I was in town for the Medical Students for Choice conference and as luck would have it, the Upper Midwest Bakery Association conference was in town too. It was actually happening in the same hotel where I was staying! I bought myself a ticket and took some of the most delicious photos...ever.


This was the also the trip when I discovered the French Meadow Bakery. It was Meredith S.H. who texted me this restaurant recommendation gem while I was in the airport. French Meadow does not disappoint. The menu is composed of mostly local, organic ingredients and there is something about the decor (even at the airport location) that makes one feel at home. I remember selecting the French Meadow Spa Salad to take with me on the plane on my ride from Minneapolis to New York--I have never been happier at 30,000 feet. The white balsamic dressing and shredded beets were just fantastic. And the chocolate coconut bar wasn't bad either.

I have now visited the French Meadow location on Lyndale Avenue more than five times and it just keeps getting better. If you go to the Twin Cities and don't try French Meadow, lie to me and tell me you did. (I hear rumors that there is also a French Meadow in JFK Airport but I just can't imagine eating their homey, delicious cuisine outside of Minnesota. Perhaps this is the topic of a future blog post...)


We're All Republicans Now
Sometimes when I tell people I was at the 2008 RNC, they eagerly tell me they were there too and ask if I got arrested. It is then I sheepishly have to share that not only was I not there to protest, I was INSIDE the convention. Lest we forget that 2008 was the year I attended both the DNC and the RNC in a span of 10 days (and lived to tell about it). I was the lucky person from my office selected to attend both conventions and host an event at the RNC for the Republicans for Choice. And last year, the RNC was in the Twin Cities.

So I focused on the fact that I got to return to The Cities and French Meadow. I also made plans with my friend Meredith's sister, Ilana, whom I had never met. When I facebooked her to begin the conversation about plans, she wrote, "I've heard about you. You like desserts!" So we made plans to meet at Sebastian Joe's, about a block from one of Minnesota's famous lakes. Our ice cream outing was a welcome break from my RNC adventures. The flavor selection at Sebastian Joe's was extensive and the real fireplace in the cozy dining area even looked inviting in mid-August.


Snow in October? Yum!
My most recent trip to Minnesota was only a few weeks ago and on my second morning in St. Paul, I woke up to three inches of snow on the ground. This was early October and it was SNOWING in the Twin Cities. No wonder why my rental car came with an ice scraper in the back seat.

In addition to this freakish early snow (which, I am told by Minnesota locals, is odd even for The Cities) I enjoyed a leisurely lunch with stepmom of Tovah P., Vivian F., at French Meadow. It was just as delicious as I remembered it and Vivian's funky red polka dot glasses from Costco were fun too.

I also discovered a most delicious Jewishish deli in St. Louis Park called Yum! (the exclamation point is part of the name and must be used whenever the name is written) on this trip. I had sent Betsy G. (leader of the GW Minnesota fan club) a message asking for a lunch recommendation and she suggested Yum! and then mentioned that her mom is a friend of the owner (Patti). So I plugged Yum! into my GPS and found my way to this breezy cafeteria West of The Cities.

As soon as I walked in, I felt like I wanted my apartment to look just like Yum! The ceilings are high, walls are covered in shiny white subway tiles, and windows are huge. The tables are mostly long and communal with bar stools perched around the edges. The menus were printed on large sheets of butcher paper then stuck to giant stainless steel frames with big magnets.

I had so much trouble deciding what to order. As I approached the counter, I noticed the name "Patti" embroidered on the chef's jacket of the person behind the cash register. I chanced it and dropped Betsy's name only to find out that Patti and mom of Betsy had recently worked together on an NCJW house tour. Very, very small world...even in St. Louis Park. I consulted with Patti and we decided I would order the Matzah Ball soup and a chicken salad sandwich. The chicken salad was outstanding (and I don't say this often) and jam packed with tarragon. Thanks to Patti for the suggestions.


Betsy and Patti had both told me I needed to try the Patty Cake before I left. There was basically no way I could eat anymore so I ordered the cake, snapped a few photos, took one bite (okay, two--it was FANTASTIC), chatted with Patti, and hit the road to the airport. Before I boarded my plane,* I bought three (count them, three) Spa Salads from French Meadow and crossed my fingers I could get the Patti Cake and salads through security. And thus began my personal import business of Minnesota delicacies into the District.

*And how could I forget? I was RECOGNIZED on my flight home. Yes, that's right. As I took my seat, I heard someone say, "Are you Emily Goodstein?" Yes, yes I am. It was a friend of the famous Tovah P. (who had both participated in clinic escort trainings I led when I was a student). Just another reason why I love Minnesota.

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ARod and Katie

During my first year of college, I lived in GW's biggest freshman dorm called Thurston Hall. In the words of GW expert Alia L., "going to GW and not living in Thurston is like going to New York and not seeing Central Park." Thurston IS GW and when I look back at my four years of college, I am so glad I made the decision to live in such a crazy place. My room, 309, housed four people. It was the same size as my current bedroom and I am shocked the four of us made it through that year alive.

Because this was our first year of college and because Thurston is such a social place, most dorm room doors were open most of the time, so we quickly became friends with the people living in the rooms on either side of ours. To the left was a room of six boys (one of whom paraded around in pajamas with Sugar Daddy candy printed all over them for the entire month of September...very memorable) and to our right, room 307, was another quad. I remember walking into 307 to find all of its residents working on beading projects one morning. It was then I was sure we would be friends...

That was 2001. Fast forward eight years to Columbus Day weekend 2009. Several residents of Thurston 307 and 309 (along with the friends we incorporated into our third floor community) were gathered to celebrate one of 307's former residents (Katie) marrying a sweet and southern gentleman, Alex Rodriguez (aka ARod) in Salem, MA. (You may recall hearing about Katie and ARod from my previous post about the best Lobster Rolls on Block Island, the location of Katie's bachelorette weekend). It was so fun to have so many of the college friends all in one place for an entire weekend! The wedding hotel also manages an adjoining bed and breakfast where all of Katie's friends stayed so we were able to recreate some of the Thurston feeling (without the dried pizza in the elevator).

I had so many favorite parts of the wedding. The rehearsal dinner was held on the water and the seating chart looked like a nautical chart, complete with an antique looking boat at the top. Texas (Alex is from Houston) and New Hampshire (Katie is from Manchester) flags flew outside of the hotel during the reception. Katie's cousin officiated the traditional Catholic service. Alex wore monogrammed boots and the groom's cake was also a boot (and you know how I feel about cowboy boots). The place cards were tied to tiny pumpkins and guests were given little packets of candy corn as they left the reception to tie in the subtle autumnal theme of the weekend. Katie's mom and her sorority sisters danced to "Build Me Up Buttercup." Katie's mom actually didn't leave the dance floor. Perhaps that was my favorite part of the festivities...and when I commented on her love of the dance floor (as both of us spent the majority of the evening tearing it up), she responded by saying "Emily, who do you think I am? Of COURSE I love the dance floor." How could I have been surprised?

Katie and Alex let me photograph the entire weekend and the results reflect the type of "all access pass" I was given. Thanks for including me in the festivities, Katie and Alex! I can't wait to continue the celebrations...

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

(for those of you viewing this through Google Reader or a similar site, I've included a slideshow of my favorite photos from the wedding weekend...to view it you must visit the actual blog website)

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Swine Flu: The Musical

I don't know how to tell you this, but I sort of love having Swine Flu.

Don't get me wrong, the 102 fever, body aches and chills, highly unattractive fits of coughing and resulting abdominal pain are no fun...and I don't want to downplay the fact that my bout with H1N1 has been largely uneventful compared to some of the very unfortunate stories I hear about this national emergency. My doctors quickly called my prescription for Tamiflu into the pharmacy near my apartment. I have health insurance which covered much of the cost of the prescription. I also have lots of sick time I can use and an understanding supervisor who sent the nicest e-mail when I learned of the diagnosis. And, my loyal and brave friends picked up the necessary meds (and the most delicious Welch's grape juice) and delivered them directly to the door of my apartment.

...But I wouldn't be doing my part as a optimistic blogger and self proclaimed jokester if I didn't spend part of this time quarantined in my apartment pointing out the many fantastic aspects of Swine Flu:

• The fun really began when the doctor told me I couldn't leave my apartment for at least five days. Really? I am the most overscheduled person I know. This is the #1 best excuse to cancel all plans and stay in bed for a very extended period of time. It is almost as if I have been overbooking as a way of preparing to be quarantined for my entire adult life. (Seth and Stacy, I promise we will reschedule your engagement photo shoot--I was so looking forward to it.)
• Tamiflu (the drug that the CDC recommends as treatment of Swine Flu although according to all the research I've done, and to Rabbi Michael N., it is actually not an effective treatment) makes you sick to your stomach which sometimes leads to weight loss. Don't mind if I shed a few lbs when all is said and done...
• My facebook post announcing the illness received an unprecedented 31 comments (this does not include all of the other comments that were posted on subsequent status updates). So thanks, H1N1, for providing me an excuse to reconnect with friends in Florida and Fairfax, Israel and Indiana (and making me feel really popular). Some of the comments were hilarious (you can read them here).
  
• Gold stars to Tovah P. and Hanaa R. for pointing out one of my favorite silver lining aspects: at least I don't need to wait in line for 18 hours to get a vaccine! (In case you didn't know, H1N1 is like Chicken Pox, once you get it you're immune...although this could be disproven and then blown completely out of proportion on the local news like everything else related to the Swine, so who knows.)
• I feel major solidarity with NPR's Scott Simon. His daughters are currently home with H1N1 and his essay this week is a sweet look into the way his family is coping. (Thanks to Neil S. for sending this my way.)
• Speaking on Neil S., he also wins the award for best Swine Flu related twitter message:
  

• Since I'm not able to actually leave my apartment to do anything, the manicure I've had for well over a week hasn't chipped at all! Even though I am too exhausted to even dry my hair (in fact taking a shower is basically as much activity as I can handle for an entire day), whenever I glance down at my hands I feel momentarily pretty am then reminded of the beauty services offered in the outside world (and all the possible polish colors I will try when I am finally unquarantined).
• I've had the opportunity to send really dramatic e-mails with titles like "PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING: I have Swine Flu" to everyone I have hung out with in the recent past. (Thanks to most everyone who has responded graciously to these notes, especially Barb W. who simply wrote "seems inevitable these days..." You made me feel much less self conscious about my condition.)
• Reclaiming the term Swine Flu is an excellent use of my quarantined time, too. I have tried to reclaim other phrases in the past, but I feel it is my personal responsibility to really bring the throwback name (as opposed to H1N1) into vogue. H1N1 just sounds like 1) government propaganda or 2) a sugar substitute. And the Halloween costume possibilities associated with Swine Flu are MUCH better.
• Did you hear about my tech meltdown earlier this week? (My blackberry and laptop crashed...on the same day.) So, my Swine Flu "vacation" has provided ample time for me to get used to my temporary laptop. Why does it take getting used to, you may ask? Because it is the size of a computer made for Barbie. (The glasses shown in this photo are my everyday glasses and pictured here so you can get a clear idea of the scale of this tiny but adorable laptop.)
  

• Did you know that you can get almost anything delivered right to your door? In addition to my dad delivering homemade chicken soup (he asked if he should wear a mask in the elevator, I couldn't tell if he was kidding but said no anway), I've also gotten some saltines and Lysol and fifteen gallons of juice from Peapod.com. And before the Tamiflu nausea set in and I decided I needed some Ben and Jerry's at midnight on Friday, DCSnacks.com was my go to delivery service. So, a big thanks to you, Swine Flu, for adding yet another reason why I love living in this glorious city. In the words of my soup cooking father, "The more you pay, the less you have to do..." and when you have Swine Flu, no price is too high for Ben and Jerry's at midnight.
  

Two Only Sort of Related Footnotes

My paternal grandfather, Abraham Goodstein, would have been 88 yesterday. I had planned to go to a Jewish deli with a friend and sample all the types of chopped liver (as was his usual routine at any establishment serving chopped liver)...alas my Swine Flu quarantine got in the way. I can tell you that if he and my dad had been in the same place yesterday, while the chicken soup production was underway, he would have had very specific instructions for the entire process, especially the packaging and transport. I was reminded of him as soon as I unwrapped the tupperware my dad dropped off, as it was so well packaged not an ounce was sacrificed in transport.

I am also remembering Paul and Sheila Wellstone today, as it is the 7th anniversary of their death. For my entire college career, I had a Wellstone quote at the bottom of every email I sent. It read "If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for, at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them." I met Paul Wellstone twice and was hit hard when he died. During our second meeting, I remember him asking me what my name was (which seemed odd since I was in the middle of a very long line of people waiting to meet him at a fundraiser for his campaign). When I told him, he proclaimed that "it was like we were related... GOODstein, WELLstone," then he gave me a huge hug. If he were alive today, I am sure he would be making sure healthcare (including the Swine Flu vaccine) were accessible to all Americans.

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Lucas is One

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of photographing Lucas, a small soft person living in Northwest DC. You see, my web 2.0 savvy and very well connected friend Kate B. is on the Cleveland Park listserv and received a request from Lucas' mom for photographer suggestions as her little boy was about to turn one....Kate responded, mentioned my love of photographing babies and we made a playdate at the Sheridan School. The location was perfect because there were several soft areas for Lucas to experiment with standing and walking...and tons of mulch for snacking on.

The photos turned out very well if I don't say so myself. Lucas' parents, Abbi M. and Malachi J., told me they didn't mean to both wear plaid shirts (which resulted in several lovely photos of the three of them donning pseudo matching outfits) but even so, the group shots are also fun. Here are some favorites...






PS--I also tried to add one of those fancy photographer logo/watermark situations to the corner of this photo. I am still very much playing around with the font, wording, placement, etc...but sort of love everything about the idea of putting my little stamp on some favorite shots.

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Guest Blog: Baba on Halloween Costumes for Babies

This post was written by our lovely family friend, Marcia Y. She is the proud and fabulous grandmother (or Baba) of Lauren and Alexis (who are featured in this post wearing their festive Halloween costumes).

First a disclaimer: I am the grandmother… aka known as Baba. Ergo, the following observations and pronouncements must be taken with the proverbial grain-or two- of salt. That said, it is an indisputable fact that my 4-year-old identical twin granddaughters are the sweetest, smartest and cutest little girls on the planet. And I, a retired teacher, have the time and inclination to indulge them in their favorite pastime- dressing up. This brings us naturally, to the subject of Halloween.

Their first Halloween almost went by without a costume. The twins were only one month old, and I must admit that I was not in full grandmother mode. However, on October 29th I was walking through Old Navy and came upon the last two pumpkin shirts in size 3 months. They weren’t cute. They had silly, googly eyes on the pumpkins, and they were too big. But it was October 29, and they were the only game in town. An enterprising Aunt sent them cat hats, and a tradition was born.


The next year we were more prepared. My daughter-in-law and I came up with the concept of Ballerinas. She found little purple tutus at a now defunct ballet themed store, paired them with pink shirts and white tights, and voila! The girls seemed quite pleased with these outfits and particularly enjoyed eating the sequins off the tutus.


By the time they were 2 years old, they were beginning to get the concept of Halloween. I wanted a costume that they could pronounce and understand. My search led me to Buy Buy Baby where I found matching Bumblebee and Ladybug costumes as well as black tights. They loved these, though they couldn’t be persuaded to wear the antenna headbands. They wore these costumes long, long after Halloween, and the Bumblebee and the Ladybug became staples in the dress up box. Only after the Velcro stopped attaching and the bones in the wings came apart did they give them up.


When they turned 3, I turned to the catalogs. Chasing Fireflies has lovely children’s clothing as well as a unique costume selection. I was immediately drawn to the flower fairies, one Rose Fairy and the other a Lily Fairy. They were made of satin, tulle and organza and came with bloomers, a flower headband and a magic wand. They adored these outfits, wore them to bed and changed into them as soon as they walked in the house. Unfortunately that Halloween was freezing cold, and the Lily Fairy had a meltdown when she realized she would have to wear long sleeves under the costume.


Which brings us to the present. This year the girls perused the catalogs themselves (this is a great, absorbing activity for a long car ride). They decided they would both like to be butterflies (although one had to be dissuaded from the Medusa costume- complete with snake headpiece.) Pottery Barn came through this time, complete with wings, tulle skirts and antenna headbands. The pink tights came from Gymboree and the pink sequin ballet slippers came from Target. Of course I bought the matching Halloween bags.

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