These are all wonderful, thank you. And pocams, I can't believe I didn't think about Shel Silverstein. I think that's exactly what I'm looking for. Brilliant.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 8:33 PM on June 13, 2008

I believe Revolution Money has a thing going on now where if you sign up for an account you get $25. They're trying to position themselves as a competitor to PayPal by not having all the transaction fees that PP does. If memory serves, however, the $25 promo ends today.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 5:07 AM on May 15, 2008

Thanks, everyone, for the answer. While I love the idea of buying the bar tab, the truth is that the pub is kind of far away for everyone but our core group, so the chances of our extra members being able to take advantage of that are minimal, at best. Also, the bar closes shortly after Quizzo is over, so much as I'd love to hang out and drink ourselves silly on the spoils, I think management might object. Heh.

I was surprised but happy to see that the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 6:33 AM on April 25, 2008

Thank you both for these answers. ilikecookies, the River John's Island suggestion is definitely intriguing. Having this thing at a restaurant is definitely NOT a requirement, so I'm totally open to more DIY options like this one as well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 5:28 AM on March 12, 2008

Thanks for the replies. Miko, I hadn't seen that thread, but I'll definitely read through it, thank you.

I've been in the city in the days leading up to the holiday (one time our visit accidentally coincided with the frigging tree lighting ceremony -- boy was that a ball of Not Fun), so I definitely know how zoo-like it can be. I just wasn't sure if the chaos receded a bit on Christmas Eve.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 11:08 AM on December 14, 2007

The recipe for Gateau Fondant recipe from the American Boulangerie cookbook is staggeringly good, ridiculously easy, and tastes like something you'd get in a high-end restaurant. I couldn't find the exact recipe online (although I did find a glowing review here), so I'll post it this evening.

Serve it warm by itself, or you can get fancy and pair it with a bit of whipped cream or crème anglaise anglaise. Straight-up awesome.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 10:06 AM on November 14, 2007

Clarification -- the recipe I referenced above is, technically a chocolate cake, but it's definitely nothing like your traditional chocolate layer cake. Also, it has a dense chocolate ganache swirled through it just before baking, which stays separate from the cake part. So good.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 10:10 AM on November 14, 2007

The two sets do look different, though, and so I'm not sold that they're part of the same series and/or done by the same person. The OP picture has definitely incorporated photographs of real items (like the rusted car) with CGI/painted ones (the Brooklyn bridge). The pictures linked by mochi crunk, on the other hand, have almost an impressionist element to them.

My first thought was that the picture referenced in the OP almost looks like a production still from... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 10:00 AM on August 24, 2007

Thanks so much for all the replies.

MC: So the process should be 1) spray adhesive, 2) cardboard backing, 3) small picture loops attached with thin carpentry nails, correct?

Seeing as this thing has sat on the top shelf of my closet for the last, oh, seven years or so, I'm not terribly worried about bugs or moisture, but it wouldn't hurt to seal it, all the same.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 9:31 AM on August 13, 2007

Seconding the recommendation for Jestine's Kitchen, above. Hands-down the very best fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, cornbread, and sweet tea you will ever have in your life.

Overrated: There's always a big crowd for Hyman's Deli, which serves fried seafood. It's good, but it's definitely not worth the wait -- or the hype.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 12:19 PM on July 3, 2007

Almost forgot: Sticky Fingers offers outstanding, authentic BBQ -- smoked ribs, smoked pork sandwiches, etc. Terrific.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 12:20 PM on July 3, 2007

Further details: I don't know the exact name of the style I'm looking to mimic, but I know it was used in the opening / closing credits to a lot of movies in the early- mid- sixties. Think Audrey Hepburn movies, Doris Day movies, etc. Monsters, Inc. did a great job imitating this feel in its credits.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 12:09 PM on May 8, 2007

Thanks, iconomy -- those links are great. The thing is that my desire to do the outlines isn't based as much on my fear of not being able to pull of real trompe-l'oeil as it is that I'd like to imitate that whimsical mid-60's style of illustration I describe above.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 12:12 PM on May 8, 2007

Yeah, that's getting closer to what I'm aiming for. Something that definitely looks hand-painted, as opposed to trying to literally fool the eye into believing that there's a real frame around the mirror. YouTube is blocked from work, so I'll poke around there when I get home to see if I can find something similar.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 12:24 PM on May 8, 2007

Clearly I've been living in a cave, because the Shag stuff is all new to me. But yes, that's pretty much what I'm going for, or rather, Shag in outline form.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 12:47 PM on May 8, 2007

If Venice is Sinking, by Spirit of the West. Fun pub-singalong-type song.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 5:04 AM on April 9, 2007

There's an interesting story here about a guy who successfully reset his credit history by requesting the credit bureaus verify the details of the debt. Apparently the FCRA says that if the bureau is unable to verify the debt within 30 days, it's expunged from the record. Part 2 of the story is here. YMMV, of course.

(Via)... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 8:04 AM on February 21, 2007

Ditto on zachxman's Scoop DeVille recommendation. Their device looks more like those earth-drillers with the giant threaded cone on one end. But the end result it fantastic. Scoop DeVille offers about a million different ice cream and mix-in combinations. I'm awfully partial to mint chocolate chip with mint oreo, myself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 10:18 AM on February 20, 2007

*is* fantastic, *is* fantastic, dammit. This is why I'm not a proofreader by trade.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 10:29 AM on February 20, 2007

One of the things that made the Julie/Julia book intriguing for me was the challenge it presented the author. She was committing to a project that often required her to find obscure ingredients for recipes that have long since fallen out of fashion. Nevertheless, the techniques and core flavor combinations in those same "unhip" dishes form the basis for a vast array of modern cuisine. The book offered a unique glimpse into the history of cooking, which is all too readily ignored by the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 10:00 AM on February 20, 2007

I also should add that while B is expected to return to work eventually, right now they are out for the forseeable future. That could be a week, it could be a month. We all have no idea.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 8:01 AM on December 18, 2006

Thank you all for the great suggestions. B's medical condition is such that they are confined to the house, for the most part, so while the anonymous gift aspect appeals to me the most, knowing my luck I would be placing the toys on the front porch right as B happens to be looking out the window or going outside or something.

Which then makes having something delivered a more viable option. What about Amazon? Can one order something from Amazon.com and have it sent... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 9:27 AM on December 18, 2006

Thank you all, once again, for your suggestions. I ended up going to Borders and picking out two really cute gifts for B's kids. I tried to deliver them yesterday, but B wasn't home at the time, and I didn't want to be all creepy and leave gifts on the doorstep.

Luckily one of my other coworkers lives a few doors down from B, so she offered to drop them off after work.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 8:13 AM on December 21, 2006

Little Women. While it takes place across several different seasons, it always feels like a Christmassy movie to me. It also makes me feel the (physical) distance between me and my siblings more accutely than usual.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 4:40 AM on November 29, 2006

As a chick I am nth-ing the recommendations for Sandman. It's a brilliantly written comic that draws from a staggering range of literary and mythological sources. If she was into Buffy, I think the chances of her liking Sandman are quite good.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 4:46 AM on November 16, 2006

It's just a hipper offshoot of Crate & Barrel (is that even possible?), but I've definitely found some fun stuff at CB2.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 10:29 AM on November 15, 2006

Thanks for all this great info. I think I'm going to recommend that he take the MBTA; that seems to offer the greatest flexibility as far as where he goes next.

So then a follow-up question: the AirportTaxiRI leaves the airport every hour on the hour. His flight lands at 8 p.m. on a Friday, which means he could catch the 9:00 shuttle, but then that would mean getting to Providence Station only seven minutes before the last train to Boston leaves at 9:42, and that's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 7:10 AM on November 15, 2006

Seconding Fauchon and Hédiard. They are both terrific, and practically right next door to each other. And if you have a few extra moments to spare, a few doors down from Hédiard is the truffle shop. The window-shopping alone to see the 3-lb truffles is amazing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 5:20 AM on November 3, 2006

I am all about the movement of using grits as more-than-a-breakfast food. My current favorite is making some variation of this cheese grits recipe, as it is incredibly tasty and way easy to boot. You can also sub in a nice sharp cheddar instead of goat cheese, which can get expensive.

It's a wonderful, hearty side dish that's perfect for the colder months, and I can tell you firsthand that grits go marvelously with pork.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 4:42 AM on November 2, 2006

My friends and I hang out it New Hope quite a bit, as it's got a pretty decent nighttime scene for being so far out in the 'burbs. One of our favorite special occasion places is Hamilton's Grill Room, which specializes in grilled meats of all sorts. If you go, see if you can get seats in the actual grill room -- it's right as you walk in, and on a chilly night there's nothing better than hanging out with your friends and several bottles of red wine, watching the chef sling the orders over an... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 5:30 AM on October 31, 2006

I like the thought of the warm grays or beiges; neutral enough to handle any crazy-assed scheme I might dream up. Doing that, would it be insane, then, to invest in a red couch?

Oddman: the dining room is connected to the kitchen via a door-less doorway. The kitchen and family room are technically one big room, but the builder did a good job of visually separating them: the kitchen/breakfast area has a flat ceiling while the family room is vaulted, and there's a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 7:08 AM on October 30, 2006

paulsc: your guess was correct -- the room progression is dining room -> kitchen -> family room.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 7:23 AM on October 30, 2006

Thanks, all, for the help. I'll post a picture tonight when I'm home, just in case actually seeing the room might make it clearer.

And thanks also for talking my foolish self out of a red couch. It's one of those ideas that's great in theory, but not so much in practice -- especially two years down the road when I'm tired of it all and have a new-found passion for celadon.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 8:37 AM on October 30, 2006

Also, LoriFla: thank you for opening my eyes to the wonder of searching by color on ArtSelect. What a brilliant idea.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 9:36 AM on October 30, 2006

Ditto on Kavalier & Clay. Effing phenomenal book. Give it time, though, because it takes a few chapters to get going, but once it does, it's staggeringly good. LOVE it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 8:44 AM on October 27, 2006

If it's not too late for a counter-suggestion, you might also try a passage from Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden. Beautifully writen from an entirely female perspective, IMO.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 6:25 AM on October 26, 2006

Ditto on the behavioral-based interviewing. You're asking open-ended questions that require a good deal more thought than the usual intervew question drivel. Google "behavioral interview" and you'll find a ton. When I was recruiting I was fond of stuff like,
- "Tell me about a time when you failed to meet a goal. What was the reason behind your performance, and what did you learn?"
- "Tell me about an instance where you successfully changed your... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 10:39 AM on October 23, 2006

junesix: the problem-solving bit would fall under the category of behavioral interview, would they not? You're still asking questions to anticipate behavior, but instead of asking them to give past experience examples you're giving them a theoretical problem to address.

Regardless, the approach you listed is a good one, and definitely something I'm filing away for the next time I have to recruit for this department.

Also: the bit about quizzing... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 12:16 PM on October 23, 2006

puddinghead: no, the whole Tesla thing was just a red herring invented by Borden. But the irony is that Tesla really had invented a device that made the trick possible. Remember that Angier was in Colorado for a considerable time before Tesla a) agreed to see him and b) had the machine ready. No way would Borden have been hanging out there just to stash a bunch of top hats and black cats.
posted to Ask Metafilter by shiu mai baby at 5:54 AM on October 23, 2006