arkitrave :: log

The anniversary was excellent. Four years (fruit and flowers, the traditionalists tell us). I decided to cook dinner which used fruit prominently in each course; I started with a shrimp-strawberry salad with strawberry viniagrette and lemon pepper; moved onto a main course of prime filet mignon topped with avocado slices, salt, and olive oil and a side of black rice with cilantro, onion, and jalepeno, and a dessert of fresh figs, grilled lightly and topped with Greek honey and chopped pecans.

To defy the temporality of flowers and fruit, I looked for (good) art with flowers. This is no easy task, probably in any city, but especially in Buffalo. We have a lot of folks who mean well, but paint flowers like they were watching too much Bob Ross. I’m sure there are people who like that sort of thing, but I found this instead (click to see the entire painting):

I enjoyed buying this piece and supporting a local artist (Ed Bisone); and I really do like the work. The digital reproduction doesn’t do justice to the intricate stipple-like technique used and the intriguing textures he creates.

To cap off our anniversary week, and because it’s been two years, we’re heading down to the City for a few days. We have good friends in Brooklyn, and there are still many buildings I haven’t seen yet. We are stopping into Aquavit (EXTRA: Evil Flash Page Resizes Window) for dinner on Friday, and other than that have no plans. I’m sure I’ll bring back a few pictures; we’ll check out the progress on the MoMA’s new digs and maybe visit Eyebeam in Brooklyn (by Diller+Scofidio).