Recommendation: COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO

I am so excited because I have discovered that I can download audio books from the library onto my computer. This is especially important because I can get some reading done while I am sewing. SCORE!!! The last book that I read/listened to was the Count of Monte Cristo which sadly I had never read before. It is a super long book but exceptionally good so read it anyways. It has love, revenge, murder, and hidden treasure. What more could you ask for? It is definitely now on my list of favorite books of all time.

As a side note, I have to say that for no reason are you to watch the movie that they made a few years ago.....because it is awful. I kept waiting for something (other the character names) to have come from the book. I waited in vain. Skip the movie and read the book.

Recommendation: POTATO CHAMPION

It is no secret that I love potatoes. (ok....carbs in general) This is why I am so pleased that Potato Champion is in my neighborhood. Potato Champion is a late night food cart that sells Belgian style fries on the corner of 12th and Hawthorne. Not only are they perfectly salted pieces of deliciousness but there is a whole list of dipping sauces to choose from as well. My favorite being the pesto mayo. The cart is only open weds-sat from 8pm-3am but well worth the late night jaunt. Man, I really wish they were open right now, I could totally go for some fries.

Recommendation: ZOMBIES

Yes, I am a person who makes toys and loves colorful (almost sickly perky) fabrics who also enjoys a good zombie flick. I am not super hard core about it, searching out all things zombie, but I would say I enjoy zombie related things more then the average person. I think that my love is mostly due to the fact that I like survival scenarios. Survival scenarios with zombies are extra lovely because on top of trying to find food and shelter, there are zombies chasing after you trying to eat your brain. It just adds that little bit of spice to the mix. Here are some zombie recommendations:

1. Shaun of the Dead.
This movie is just plain hilarious and calls itself a romantic comedy with zombies. Dry British humor taking on the topic of zombies, you can't go wrong. It can be enjoyed by even the most zombie skeptical viewer.

2. World War Z.
This book tells the history of the zombie uprising and the war that later ensued. Zombies mixed with world politics make for a highly entertaining story. (Right up my alley.) What would the world react if disaster struck? The book on CD was really good, lots of good readers like Henry Rollins and Alan Alda.

3. 28 Days Later
There are no slow moving zombies in this movie. It is action packed and in truth made me jump a number of times when I first saw it. If you woke up alone in a hospital in a world taken over by zombies, what would you do? If you can not handle some gore and violence then is might not be the movie for you.

Tender Loving Empire

I am excited to report that my felt food is being sold in a store in Portland, Tender Loving Empire. It is a small shop in one of the active spaces between the Pearl and the 21st/23rd area of NW. (corner of NW 18th and Lovejoy) They have a lot of interesting stuff going on that you can check out that their web page: www.tenderlovingempire.com. I personally recommend going and checking out the store.....and buy some felt food while your at it.

Recommendation: KEN'S ARTISAN PIZZA

I would not call myself a crazy pizza lover. I like pizza but it is not my favorite. Having said that, I really love Ken's artisan pizza. For anyone with a hunger for pizza in the Portland area, this is the place to go. Ken's pizza is baked in a brick oven so the thin crust is amazing. This is not a mix and match your own toppings kind of place but you should be able to find something on the menu that you like. Go check it out at on SE 28th and Pine. Go early because you will probably have to wait.

Recommendation: MARTY

I have decided that I am going to try and post a weekly recommendation of things that I want people to know about. My first installment is the movie, Marty. This is a great flick from the mid 50s about an unglamorous single guy trying to find his way. It is about being lonely and society's pressures when it comes to relationships. An excellent mix of happiness and melancholy. I could tell you all the ways that I love it but really I just want you to watch it. So watch it already!