Hats off to Larryville

Tea: Vanilla Lapsang.

Music: Danny Wilson, "Mary's Prayer"

Time: Night.

I went to Lawrence, Kansas, today, for work (present and, one hopes, future). I revisited some familiar haunts, namely Henry's (for an Americano) and the local branch of the Great Harvest Bread Company (just to breathe).

Then, on to the Spencer Museum of Art, on campus at the University of Kansas, to gather material for a review of the quilt show. (I'm turning into quite the quilt-viewer, it seems.) Check it and the other shows out if you get a chance, but give yourself plenty of time to get to the museum ... there's a ton of construction that disrupts foot and vehicular traffic.

Then it was back to Mass. Street for a Latin American lunch (pork al pastor rice bowl with an arepa on the side) at La Parilla. (Its sister restaurants serve noodles -- one Asian, one Italian. That's a global family.)

So why am I telling you all this? To make you jealous?

You know me better than that. I want you to go check it out for yourself.

Friday Follow-Up, Part I

Tea: Chinese Melon Seed.

Music: Live, "Lightning Crashes"

Time: Night.

So, here's another cool moment from last night's First Friday outing.

I went to the Belger Arts Center for another look at the quilts exhibit I recently reviewed. (That review isn't out yet, but here is the Kansas City Star's story from a filmcentric perspective. While you're there, check out Rich Sugg's photos. Then get yourself down to the Crossroads and see the quilts for yourself.)

The artist, Sun Smith-Foret, was there, and we got to talking about art and movies and the like. Before long, she was showing me the backs of quilts that were hung against the wall, and pulling out and unfolding another piece that wasn't even on display.

Does that make me extra cool? Nah. Makes me pretty fortunate, I'd say. It's a fine thing to get a look behind the scenes -- or in this case, on the back side of the quilt.