So I've had this space in my basement that was begging for organization. Just ask Morgan, I'm not organized. Well the father in law is on his way here from Canada, so I had to get the tools in order. It was also an excuse for me to find a home for this 70s woods scene that I love and Sarah hates.
It looks a billion times better and more inviting.
Now maybe I could get to that "honeydo" list Sarah has for me.
Categories: Moment of Manly Zen, The Vintage Family Man, you need one.
What are tv lamps? In the 1950s and 1960s, people thought that watching the light from a television in a dark room could damage your eyes. In order to compensate for the light from the glowing television, families purchased special lamps just made for that purpose. You can't get any more specialized than a lamp designed specifically to sit on top of a television. When consumers want something in America, the manufacturers and also the designers will respond. And they responded with the usual. Thousands and thousands of different styles, colors, and designs were available for the consumer. Americans who gathered around the television in the 1950s and early 1960s have fond memories of these lamps sitting atop their televisions, bringing ambient light into the room, and reducing eye strain.
I've always had an affection for swanky vintage tv lamps. They're definitely passe today, what with our super thin lcd and plasma tvs. But I think they're so cool, people should consider building shelves. Should I do that? I don't' know.
Here are some cool ones I've recently found.
Categories: Uncategorized.
The Good
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The Bad
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You would not expect the Depot American Diner to be as awesome as it is. Located on Roosevelt Ave on the West Side of Chicago, its home, next to a rim shop, and surrounded by blight, does not seem to be the type of place where you would find a hip, traditional (and vintage mind you) diner experience. But you will.
This diner was opened with the idea that everything if possible, should be made from scratch, all techniques and recipes should be mid-century, and the food should be as good as possible. The owner is a really great guy. He's a classically trained chef who wanted to start something a little different. Its great to see him cook the food right there in front of you as you sit at the counter. If you don't want to sit at the counter and gawk at his fine culinary skills, they have booths, or if you're with an unruly and larger group, they have a larger table in the back. Whenever I go there with my family, we head straght for the back of the restaurant as, it provides the most crowd control for an unruly crowd of children.
Their food is plain awesome. All of it is made fresh, and I mean all of it. The helpings are huge, and the specials are actually made from what the "regulars" like. They serve coke in bottles (with real sugar) as well as a few other strange concoctions that were around in the 50's. If you're on the west side of Chicago I would highly reccomend that you check this place out.
Be sure to check out what the food hounds at the LTH Forums have to think. They're the place to go for Chicago foodies.
PricesNot on the super cheap side, but definitely reasonable for what you're getting. This ain't no denney's |
4 |
serviceI've never had a bad experience. Helpful, friendly, and they know the menu. |
4 |
foodAwesome. Huge home made helpings. To die for. |
4 |
Total |
4 |
Categories: Uncategorized.
You gotta love finding this underneath some forgettable piece of furniture at the thrift store.
I can count this as the only time that I've out-snatched Morgan. His eye for awesome things is pretty much unmatched. I got him this once!
Categories: Uncategorized.
Yes, I'm setting a decorating goal for the new year. As emasculating as it might seem to our American sensibilities, I do think this goal is, at its core, at the heart of what it means to be a man; a family man that is. I want to decorate our house with pictures of our family. Large, gleaming, glossy, silly, fun pictures. This revelation came to me while I was thinking about what pictures to put up above our mantel. I suddenly I realized that as a happy and fairly young family, we don't really have that many pictures of our actual family up and around the house. I then saw this post at makingitlovely.com where she hangs this huge and neat looking photo of her daughter in her office. I guess we do have a shelf upstairs that holds memories, but even that is well below eye level and hidden in a strange cornerish part of the upstairs. I want them to be plentiful, larger, and throughout the house. Here are some of my favorite pics from our flickr account.
Sorry for picture overload.
Categories: Uncategorized.
I want to buy all of these for above my mantle. Yes, yes, and yes.
I've got some etsy loot going on right now, so I'm really tempted, especially with the last one. Its only $10 and the detail and painting on it look great. I love the frame, too. Oh man oh man!
Categories: Uncategorized.
Luke 2:1-21 (ESV)
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them,
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Categories: Uncategorized.
