Ice skating in M-town!

Olbrich was closed due to thin ice on Monday but I can only hope that tonight's bitterly cold weather will re-open those skating rinks around town. I'm sure that there are a couple more in the Madison area that I'm forgetting... but if you are looking for a place to skate outdoors, try these places:

- Olbrich Park (east side)
- Tenney Park (near east side)
- Elver Park (west side)

Folk dancing extravaganza!

Check out the schedule for Folk Ball 2008. There's a whole lot of interesting stuff going on in downtown Madison this weekend!

If I survive snowboarding, I am considering going to this tonight:

Saturday January 26
THE LEGENDARY FOLK BALL
7:00pm-1:00-am in Great Hall -- The Legendary Folk Ball Dance Party
Orkestar Bez Ime [international] -- Twin Cities
Maritza [international] -- Decorah
Sloboda [international] -- Milwaukee
Reptile Palace Orchestra [eclectic ethnic] -- Madison
brief early evening performances by:
Viata Romaneasca [Romanian / Milwaukee]
Madcity Tango [Tango / Madison ]
Oak Apple Morris Team [Morris mumming / Madison]

Restaurant Review: Sophia's Bakery and Cafe

The posting on this blog has recently gone to shit. This isn't only my fault as there are like five other contributers, but still I feel a bit guilt as I am sure I am your favorite.
he he.

So, a quick review of a Madison restaurant to kick us back off with the posting.

Sophia's Bakery and Cafe- a group of us (not unlike the Sex and the City girls, but without a lot of sex...which reminds me of my very sad pledge to be harder to get in 08) went out for brunch last Sunday. Sophie's on East Johnson was our choice.
Atmosphere - if you are looking for that authentic east side thing, well, this is it. Apparently when it gets busy people just sit down at your table. And, it wouldn't have to get very busy to make this happen as the place is the size of my dining room and living room together, but with the kitchen taking up the entire living room part. However, for eclectic but not as crowded I prefer Lazy Jane's on Willy St.
Food - I got the mushroom omelette - good, little greasy, the sweet potatoes in the homestyle potatoes were a pleasant surprise. And an apple tart - pastry was salty and not as sweet as I would have liked. I ate the entire thing though...
Other got cherry crepes (just as decadent as they sound) and a black bean omelette that was surprising. It was hearty and tasty.
Overall - only open on Saturday and Sunday for brunch, quirky with interesting and good food.

A sweater and a missing head.... LR #4

This is my very favorite sweater of them all. Not only is it black with a yellow latvian design around the cuffs, but it's one that my grandmother made. Originally designed for my mother, but swiped from her at my earliest convenience (as any good child would do :) There's another, tigher and more elaborate version (in white with the design in earthy colors) that also lives in my sweater drawer, but that one takes a special brand of un-self-consciousness for me to wear....

First a pose:


And now, action!

A Sweater Collage!

In a moment of inspired paint use (yes folks, that's all I have on my computer at home - no fancy pants art programs here - I like to do it the old-fahioned way ;-p

I present to you a sweater Thursday collage, complete with outtakes that progress almost like one of those little flip books... watch the almost animated sweater tell a story!