Most people in Seattle know about the airstream trailer food truck – Skillet.  If you haven’t eaten their delicious burger topped with bacon jam…either track down the truck, find it in the grocery store or better yet, head to Skillet Diner for lunch or dinner and bit into a little piece of heaven!

The new diner on the corner or 14th and Union is such a great neighborhood joint where reservations aren’t taken (they say that will happen soon), people are served all beverages in mason jars and the waitstaff seems relaxed and happy to be at work.  The decor is current but still has that nostalgic 50′s diner feel.

The southern fried chicken does NOT disappoint.  Half of a perfectly golden chicken is topped with a black pepper honey drizzle and a side of potato salad.  If you’re feeling up to it, order the cornmeal waffle and go to town!

There are weekly specials as well as the daily menu.  I’m looking forward to going on a Monday to try Mama’s Meatloaf.  Wednesday’s Beer Braised Beef Stroganoff also sounds mighty delicious.  Oh and did I mention you can order breakfast ALL day?!  Genius!

My husband and I love the poutine at Zog’s in Whistler, BC but this version has a little touch of gourmet that is very good!  The serving size is absurdly large but overall it’s a winner in my book!

Friday night special: Chicken and Dumplings.  Pretty good although there was a little too much of the same texture for me.

SOOOO good!  I definitely had order envy this night:)

For dessert we indulged in the bittersweet chocolate pudding which was sprinkled with cocoa nibs and sea salt and had pieces of pie crust stuck in it…two thumbs up!

A curious and wonderful thing happens in Quartzite. Every Spring, rock collectors, antique dealers and tourists flock to this tiny desert town just inside the California/Arizona border. Overnight, a small city of RV’s, campers and trailers forms. Vendors lay out their wares and peddle everything from depression-era glass to piles of deer antlers to giant African beads. Food trucks offer corn dogs, buffalo burgers, deep fried cheese curds and chili cheese nachos. Definitely not healthy fare, but whatever.

Anyway, my favorite part was the rock vendors. These passionate people hauled boulders (really!) and tons of rocks, gems, fossils and crystals in from around the world. They proudly stood by with a tub of water, eager to show you how to dunk a stone to bring out its true colors. Bella loved it all. It was fascinating to dig through piles of Minnesota pipestone and dunk them one at a time to bring out the flaws. We learned how to search for tiny cracks that would split a stone over time. We also found a few perfect pieces.

I loved the happy, fascinating rock people. Inspired by their friendliness, when I got home I drew my first original pattern that is not based on a traditional papel picado grid.

And, this week, a lovely customer sent me a photo of her sweet  ’57 Cardinal Trailer. She hung the banner at her campsite at a vintage trailer rally. What a cute setup and, seriously, how cool is that?! I want one.

I just love it when I get to see one of my banners ‘in action’. Thank you, dear customer. Happy camping!

This banner is available for purchase here.

Awesome. That’s how awesome it looks.

Read more about The Mini Clubman Airstream Trailer Concept Design. Seriously, read!

(Oh, and about the “upgrade” thing… My ride is not a Clubman but the standard Mini Cooper-model. IMTHO, the Best Car in the Whole World)

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Airstream trailer.  Place by the river.  A teeny tiny writer’s retreat.

I’ve been fantasizing about the Airstream for years.  I think the best possible use of my architecture degree will be to trick out my Airstream with all kinds of swank, modern details.  It will be warm and inviting inside, with lots of wood and some great mod print fabrics.  My disco ball will hang over the front door.  The whole setup will be in a shady grove of trees, down by the Haw River.  I’ll start with weekends there, and edge up to three days a week, then four.  I’ll spend my river days doing creative things, and entertaining friends with fabulous meals cooked in my rustic outdoor kitchen, with food from my vegetable garden.  I’ll kayak.  I’ll find a handsome man to keep me company, and we’ll play guitars under the Airstream awning in rocking chairs and watch the seasons change.  I’ll write songs.  I’ll sketch.  I’ll be the girl living in a Van Down By The River.  And I will love it.

On a seemingly unrelated note, I found this today:

It was on the sidewalk outside of Morning Times, which is an unlikely place for a guitar pick.  And it was on the last day of a month in which music has pretty much overtaken me: listening, playing, attending.  Whose pick is it? Why was it there?  Neither of those questions is important.  What does it mean? seems to be the more important question.

Which is ridiculous.  It’s just a guitar pick on a sidewalk.  Walking around town, there are weirder things all over the place which demand your attention.  (Like, for example, the nice woman who borrowed my cell phone on the street last week to call her boyfriend to pick her up from her seventeen-day stint in jail.  ”You know, honey, I’m in front of the bail bonds shop.  Right across the street from where we turned myself in.”  She was the happiest person I met all week.)  However, I’m an English major, and I just can’t let anything go.  It’s part nature, part nurture.  You know Jay Gatsby’s green light at the end of the dock? Not about maritime safety.  Captain Ahab?  Looking for more than a whale.  James Joyce’s snow “falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling”? Heavens. There is a whole semester of metaphor in that.

So I am always looking for signs, or metaphors, or at least a good recurring motif.  A few months back, I mentioned that a playing card had attached itself to my friend Julia’s knee, out of nowhere.  We spent days on that.  Last Sunday, I walked out of Local 506 with Willow, and there was an entire exploded deck of playing cards, in the street by her car.  My eyes got really big.  I had to pick one up as evidence.  It was in the street, so I made a hasty decision, but I collected one and took it back to my car.  And then I started laughing, because out of the whole deck on the street, I had of course chosen The Joker.

I told Julia this story tonight and then her eyes got really big.  ”The Joker? For real?? You couldn’t have picked a Jack of Hearts or a King of Diamonds? Anything, anything but The Joker?”  I laughed until I cried a little.  Or maybe I cried a little and laughed really hard. It’s all a blur.  So I’m thinking, sometimes there are signs that you can’t miss, but most of the time, we make our own signs, and attach our own meanings to them, because deep down we already know what we really want.

I’m throwing back the Joker. But I’m keeping the guitar pick.  And I’m getting the Airstream. Someday.  Sooner rather than later.  I’ll save you a seat under the awning.

But the point is, ain’t no shame in the trashy game.

I could totally see myself living in a trailer, for example. I’d fix it up real nice-like.  And I will admit, I like the inherent ability to just pick up and move whenever the fancy strikes me. After all, we have moved at least 5 times in as many years. Now, don’t get me wrong, my particular mode of transport would have to be an Airstream. I’m no dummy and appreciate classic style.  But I mean, it’s still living in a trailer.

But I believe you need a special license to drive a trailer, right?  And since I just took my fourth trip to the DMV within a month, I am loathe to return just to grab myself a special C-Class license, or whatever trailers require.  So when I spotted this hotel, I knew I could get down. It combines two things I like- Travel and Trailers.

Do you see what I see? I spy with my little eye……

Dudes, it’s a friggin Rooftop Trailer Park!!! And it’s in Capetown South Africa, at a little hotel known as “The Grand Daddy”.  I’m. In. Love. Sorry, Kase. Move on over. There’s a new Daddy in town. (Gross….)

Check out more of the eye candy:

Yes, I’d like to go to there.

Olivia and I spent this weekend at the Old Mac Daddy luxury trailer park, another cool initiative by the hip team that brought Daddy Long Legs and The Grand Daddy to Cape Town. We were looking forward to getting out of the city and relaxing, obviously with lots of sun, sleep and gin in the mix.

We kicked off the journey in true Thelma and Louise style with headscarves and shades, with Olivia declaring herself the Thelma, ‘because she gets Brad Pitt’. I retorted that Louise gets the cat’s eyes, and that Geena Davis ended up looking like a man, but we both knew it was a weak comeback. We then argued about whether or not Elgin is pronounced El-gin (like the liquor) or El-gin (like the… nothing). I favour the liquor pronunciation and, even though a local later sided with Olivia, I stand my ground. And we were off!

We spent the entire weekend either reclining or eating - the resident restaurant, Brinny Breezes, is run by the same team that serves up New York-style fare at Hout Street’s Boo Radley’s, and we made ourselves right at home. Continental breakfast is included in the nightly rate, and is served in the central building, which is a light, airy structure clad entirely in blonde wood, a term which sets Olivia’s teeth on edge, and which I subsequently used all weekend. She preferred to call it ‘Scandinavian’. The sirloin with garlic and parsley butter was so good that we had it both nights. We made our own plan for lunch, venturing to Houwhoek farmstall just off the N2 for fresh bread, local cheeses, salad, ham and their infamous millionaires shortbread (which didn’t last long).

The pool is the hub of Old Mac Daddy, and we spent all of Saturday lounging, sipping G&Ts and paging through magazines in between dips. We briefly considered renting bicycles and helmets and cycling the 8km to Paul Cluver for a wine tasting and to replenish our stocks, but by late afternoon we realised that this was, in fact, a complete joke.

We played Uno instead. I should have learnt my lesson by now, because Olivia is truly the world’s most competitive games player, inventing rules as she goes along and cackling with glee when laying on a ‘pick up 8′. No remorse whatsoever. I also dipped into the OMD library, which offers a user friendly selection of bestsellers, classics and a few wildcards, like the wildly sexual book about cavemen that Olivia recommended. Classic recommendation.

The trailers are spaced out on a tree-filled hillside, connected by a series of walkways. Each one has its own American-style postbox, and is attached to a cool living area that features an ensuite bathroom, deck and lounge. We ate lunch under the trees, read and lolled about in our lounge and marvelled at the intricate, hand-painted flora that adorned the interior of our trailer, The Dream. Each and every flower and leaf is different from the next and the overall result is both trippy and beautiful. The bed was surprisingly comfortable and we loved all the little foliage-related touches throughout The Dream.

The farm itself is beautiful – green and expansive with views of lush vineyards and blue skies. Lilypads, lakes and shady spots add to the farm’s innate charm and there is endless opportunity to plop down with a book and disappear for an hour or two.

It crossed our minds that, as the youngest people there, and being two girls on a weekend away together, the other guests might think we were, well, a couple. Our sharing of a sunlounger all day to due to limited space around the pool didn’t do much to discourage these suspicions. Nor did our smiley insistence that we were best friends, which was surely perceived to be some sort of coy cover up.

Ah well.

What’s a weekend away without a bit of scandal?

What do Lucille Ball and Malcolm X have in common?

They’re both part of Studio 360 American Icons series.  This fall, we’ve traced the impact of The Autobiography of Malcolm X on race relations and glimpsed the dawn of the American sitcom with I Love Lucy.  Last week we visited Monticello – Thomas Jefferson’s home in Virginia – and in wandering the building and the grounds, confronted some lingering questions about the country and its founding.

Monticello (photo by Geoff Kilmer / Monticello)

Now we’re turning to you for a little “listener support.”  No, it’s not a pledge drive (though we encourage you to support your local station…).

Tell us what we’ve missed. We’ve produced nine new Icons — we want you to decide the tenth.  If your pick is selected, we’ll make a radio story about it — and you could be a guest on an episode of Studio 360.

We put out the call a few weeks ago, and our listeners have already come up with some surprising and impressive ideas. They range wide across America’s cultural landscape: from My Antonia and The Sound and the Fury to Bugs Bunny, from the Airstream Trailer to Apollo 11.  Daniel Leathersich, of Kutztown, Pennsylvania, suggested Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” because it’s a “quintessential song of the dreams of youth, the wonder of escape, and what people become from their memories.”

We need to hear from you.  Tell us your ideas…and listen for our tenth American Icon!

- Michael Guerriero

South Congress Shopping is Funky Fun

Big Top Candy Shop
This candy shop rocks my world. I love the circus themed decor and the absolutely huge variety of treats they offer. This place carries the candy of my childhood – orange slices, circus peanuts, chick-o-sticks, candy corn…I could go on and on. They have a section with gummi everything. They have a retro section with hard to find candies from the past. They have bins of M&Ms in every color. They have a handmade chocolates counter where you’ll find irresistible treats like sea salt caramels, homemade fudge and get this – chocolate covered bacon. You heard me. If that’s not enough to entice you, they also have an old-fashioned popcorn machine and an ice cream counter. This place is a sugar lover’s mecca and a circus lover’s shrine. Big Top Candy doesn’t have a website, but you can connect with them on Facebook or MySpace. You AND your kids will love this place. You can find them at 1706 South Congress.

Inside the Big Top Candy Shop

Farm to Market Grocery
I love this little organic market. It’s tiny, but it’s packed with organic products from all over. They carry local items and produce, as well as items I’ve never seen and that excites me. I like to discover new things and expand my view of the world. My Baby introducted me to Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-In-One organic peppermint liquid soap in this little market. I can’t begin to tell you how much I love this soap. It wakes me up in the morning like no other, and the tingly peppermint senstation feels fabulous after a hot day in the Texas sun. The selection of organic vegetables and carry-out foods like hummus and samosas are just lovely. Drop in for a fair trade fiesta sometime. And don’t forget to pick up some soap. Farm to Market Grocery is located at 1718 South Congress. http://www.fm1718.com

Farm to Market Grocery - An Organic Dream

Hey, Cupcake!
I couldn’t get a good photo of this place. It’s a cupcake shop inside of a stainless steel Airstream trailer, and it catches the sun like a kaleidoscope. Every photo is pure glare. Maybe it’s not the sunshine. Maybe it’s the aura coming off the giant rotating cupcake on top of the trailer! When you try them, you’ll hear angels sing. If you love cupcakes (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t) this place needs to be on your radar. The cupcakes are big and fluffy and delicious, and for a few pennies more they’ll even pump a big shot of whipped cream right down the middle of it. Flavor choices include red velvet, carrot cake and winner of my favorite name, the Michael Jackson. It’s a chocolate cupcake with white butter cream frosting. I can state from personal experience that the carrot cake and red velvet cupcakes are extraordinary. Want to try them? I like to visit the trailer at 1600 South Congress, but there are other locations around Austin. Visit their website to find them. But find them you must! http://www.heycupcake.com.

Uncommon Objects
I saved the best for last. This is one of my favorite shops to kill an hour in. It’s fun and funky and literally filled to the rafters with antiques and collectibles.

Uncommon Objects - Floor to Ceiling Fun

Nooks & Crannies Galore at Uncommon Objects

This Place is Full of Uncommon Objects

And so, my friends, if you’re ever in Austin and need some “me time” and a spa isn’t your cup of tea, visit South Congress, or SoCo, as the locals call it. There are 5-6 blocks of unique shops to browse, coffee spots to soothe your caffeine addiction, and a multitude of restaurants with fabulously shaded patios and views of the state capitol. It’s a great place to stroll with friends and family and take in the funky fun Austin has to offer. Don’t forget to pick up some chocolate covered bacon. I got mine!

I’m no film buff (nor do I desire to be), but I do love a classic.  Take the Long, Long Trailer for instance.  It is by far one of my favorite movies.  Practically a comfort film for me, if you will.  Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz star in this comedy about setting up life in home on wheels, in a time when trailers were newfangled and trailer trash was a term yet to be coined.  After decades of thwarting homemaking, women (particularly in my generation) seem to be embracing the ideal of apron-wearing-pie-baking-greet-your-man-with-his-slippers-and-a-pipe mentality.  Or maybe that’s just an ideal I share with the Long, Long Trailer.  That’s why I love this movie, and I hope you will too.

]]> http://crazyagnus.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/airstream-trailer/ Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:41:20 +0000 Crazy Agnus http://crazyagnus.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/airstream-trailer/ via www.madcattoy.com

There is something I love about this picture…not only is it slightly funny but I am also very jealous and if I could I would jump right into it!

xo <3 Crazy Agnus

Bonneville HDR

Originally uploaded by bredlo

My “Glob-Trottoir” (French for sidewalk snot) is getting stripped and re-done.   Not for going anywhere, but for  staying-put.
The fantasy: have a clean, roomy ‘womb of my own’. Tomorrow meeting with a local artisan… wish me luck…
PS this pic  isn’t my little airstream, it’s Brad’s–a stranger–whose flickr picture caught my attention. That photo on the Bonneville salt flatz utterly captivates me.

no registration, no insurance, no car payment, no smog check, no govt. regulation whatsoever.

Oh… and I used to own a 1949 airstream… just exactly like the one in this photo… It would make a cool guest house here… but alas… in one of my constant futile attempts at ridding myself of stuff I don’t need… I got rid of it.

cool bike links

Classic Rendezvous

Fixed Gear Gallery

Handmade Bicycle show

“Never go on trips with anyone you do not love” – Ernest Hemingway

A road trip provides the time to let your mind wonder and reflect on what is important in your life, make future plans or just visit with someone you love sitting next to you.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page”  St.Augustine

See you on the road!

blog.

There is a friendly face inside the Story Corps Airstream.