Where Letterpress Comes From: Athenaeum Press

Since I live in close proximity to Brooklyn--where you could probably spit out your window and, with a good cross-breeze, hit a letterpresser--I was dubious about finding one in Salt Lake City.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the guys at Athenaeum Press.

Peder went through about 1.2 gazillion design drafts with me, and he was so intense about getting the invites perfect that they had me down to the shop during production to make sure the shade of yellow and amount of ink were just so. Aside from being insanely customer service-oriented, their work is top-notch, their paper is gorgeous, the price is extremely affordable for authentic letterpress, and they are located in a cool little warehouse loftspace as all letterpresses should.

If you have need for invitations, announcements, just want to buy some cool cards and stationery-- I highly recommend Peder and Athenaeum. Here are some photos I snapped around the letterpress shop:

Peder Singleton

Athenaeum Press Salt Lake City, UT

peder[at]athenaeumpress.com

Princess Cakes

I fell in love with these filigreed cupcake wrappers. They're supposed to be for a wedding, but I think they would be divine at a shower or other girly party. They almost look like a crown, or a tiara. If the Snow Queen had a tea, these would definitely be served to the Sugar Plum Fairies. These wrappers could also be cute just filled with candy.

p.s. Can I register at fancyflours.com?

NYC Treats: Smackdown! Iced Hot Chocolate

I'm back in the city, and so is the humidity, which can only mean one thing: My search for the city's best frozen chocolate is back on.


I first moved to New York in August, when it was sweltering in the high nineties. While seeking refuge in my favorite chocolate shop one day, to my delight I found they had cold chocolate to replace their warmer winter fare. Hot Cho is a major comfort food for me, and in need of warm-weather comforting in the big, steamy city, cold chocolate was there for me. It became something of an obsession. Here are my picks for the best cold cocoa in town.


1. Petite Abeille. If tiny shavings of rich chocolate blended and suspended in creamy milk sound bad to you, DO NOT go to Petite Abeille. Because the magical chocolate dust in this stuff melts in your mouth creating a perfectly rich, cool, creamy sip. It doesn't look fancy--the low-frills plastic cup looks like chocolate milk poured over ice. But when they pour this elixir out of unassuming punch pitchers you are in for a treat. Not too sweet and not even the littlest bit waxy, it really is as though the finest belgian chocolate truffles have been shaved, melted down, and served on ice. Simple with major chocolate power, RUN do not walk to Petite Abeille.


2. Mariebelle. This is hands-down my favorite hot chocolate when it's served warm (sorry City Bakery). It's almost like drinking a brownie. An insanely high-quality, slightly spicy, smooth brownie. Obviously I like my chocolate strong, and the frozen variety is served blended with crushed ice margarita-style, which makes it a little heavy on ice and milk and a little weak on chocolate for my tastes. Nonetheless, the chocolate is amazing and distinctive, with that little bit of Aztec chile bite in the back of the throat. Hard to pass up.


3. Serendipity 3. This is where it all supposedly began with Serendipity's "Frrrozen Hot Chocolate." First I'll say, it's pretty good. I mean, any cafe snobby enough to deny the recipe to Jacquelyn Kennedy for White House dinners is kind of awesome. The ice-to-chocolate ratio is good, the giant daubs of whipped cream are a perfect complement, and the fact that the whole thing is served up like a giant sundae in a parfait dish means they clearly take this stuff seriously. That said, I don't think I would ever wait two hours in line for this stuff. Okay so yes, I did once, and I never would again. So, if you must go to Serendipity, then get the chocolate. But otherwise, spare a few hours of your life and grab an equally good cold cho at one of these other places without the waits, and, allbeit, celeb gawking.


4. Cafe Lalo. This is another tourist fave ala "You've Got Mail" fame, but I still find it charming. More importantly, the frozen cho is quite delightful. It's light on the crushed ice, goes down easy, and is not as intense as some sister varieties. If you're a milk chocolate person, pull up your straw. In fact, order it as a drink, and you'll still probably have room for one of Lalo's other myriad desserts.


In truth, though some are better than others, I have yet to meet an iced chocolate I don't like. Maybe when Swiss Miss releases a version I'll change my mind. If you know of a good (or bad)frozen cho, lemmeno.

ran-UN-kew-lus

Remember when you were little and everyone had a favorite flower? Back then, everyone chose roses. Now that I'm a big girl, if I had to choose a favorite, this would be it: Ranunculus (ran-UN-kew-lus). It's a pretty little thing with a funny name. It's delicate but not precious, dainty but edging toward messy, and it's not really a beautiful flower, it's just cute. Its name, in Latin, means "little frog." If I could, I would have a bouquet of rununcs for my wedding--of course it's a winter/spring flower, though, and hard to come by in August. Is anything NOT a spring flower?

Here a couple other facts about my favorite bloom:

Origin: The Middle East, hence their alternative name "Turban Buttercup." They have tuberous roots and hollow stems. (I love that they are from the Middle East when they don't look one bit exotic. I imagine them growing bravely alongside orchids and lillies--looking cheerful and a little weedy).

Family: Ranunculus belong to the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and is the cultured cousin of the Marsh Marigold.

Mythology: In fairy tales frogs are apt to change into princes and it was an Asian prince in just such a story who gave his name to this flower, which grows naturally in swampy ground. The prince was so good-looking that he was loved by everyone. He also had a beautiful voice but this was his undoing. He loved the open country and sang delightful songs in the presence of nymphs. He did not have the courage to declare his love to them and this haunted him so much that he died. After his death he was changed into the flower with delicate tissuey petals which bears his name. Language of Flowers: Meant "you are rich in attractions" to the Victorians.

Nymphs, frog princes, rags-to-riches story (okay, marsh-to-florist), you'd think the little frog might give the rose a run for its money for romance cred. Not likely--but it's still my favorite.

Facts and photo from flowers.org.uk

Seeing Yellow

You know how you learn a new word, and all the sudden it seems like you hear it all the time? It's not that no one said it before, but since it's on your radar you take notice. I have yellow on the brain. I see yellow dresses. Everywhere.

Summer sundresses were meant to be yellow. It's the perfect color for this time of year when the light is its most sunny. Plus, at the end of the season most of these are on sale for a steal right now.

I want to play croquet just so I can wear this one.

If Jackie O ever had a yellow dress, this was it. This photo isn't great, but the lace on it is adorable. I might like it just because the color description is "pineapple."

This is the perfect soft daffodil color, and I love the shirring.

Burned-out dots and a bow. I might have found this one on sale and already bought it for myself.

Photo credits to nordstrom.com and saks.com, where you can find all the above.

NYC Treats: #1 Hit of the Summer

There are a lot of things to do in NYC: Great art, music, museums, libraries. You might think I would go see musicals or travelling exhibits or read rare books for leisure. But I spend a lot of my free time in New York seeking out and eating treats.

The opportunity for treats here is practically inexhaustible, there are constantly new treats being dreamed up and served up. It is, for me, one of the wonders of our marvelous city. I shall never eat all the forms that butter, chocolate, and sugar take in this town--but I will do my damndest. Jamie Anne and Olivia are my cohorts in my search for the best treats the Big Apple has to offer, and we take this job seriously. Just because you offer treats doesn't make you worthy of our regular patronage or esteem (I'm looking at you, Buttercup Bakery, ye of little charm and dry cupcakes). But once you've won us over, our loyalty is profound (Three Red Hens, Levain Bakery, Mariebelle Chocolates). Heaven bless Levain, their chocolate-chocolate cookie, and whatever drug is in R&D right now that will remove the plaque from my arteries.

Last year's number one (treat) hit of the summer was Emack & Bolio ice cream. Thankfully, this year we have discovered Pinkberry and we are now gorging ourselves on frozen yogurt, fruit, and the occasional sprinkling of Cap'n Crunch or Fruity Pebbles. This Korean frozen goodness is somehow non-fat and all-natural, which makes it an easy choice over the mystery frozen chemicals over at Tasti-D-Lite. It's sweet and sour, which is a perfect combo in my book. Also creamy. Yum. I'm pretty much addicted.

Jamie found Pinkberry for us (she's always on top of celebrity gossip and trends) and apparently it's been a big deal among celebs and in L.A. and California, like, forever. Well, as a westerner, I always get a kick out of trends that move west coast-to east coast instead of the other way around. When Jamba Juice came to NYC a couple summers ago and Manhattanites were lining up for it, I was like, don't you guys know this stuff was played out like five years ago? You could hardly pay most Californians to wait in line for a Femme Boost. Well, now I'm one of those New Yorkers waiting in line for old-news California treats. I guess that makes me something of a real East Coaster. And, as always, a die-hard treat fan.

Summer in The City

Back in the City and Summer is in full flower. The East Coast has trees. None of this sparse Scrub Oak, willowy Apen stuff. These are trees that are lush enough to eat (and, maybe, eat you). This is a section of Riverside Park by my apartment, and I love walking here when the weather is warm. I walked through here to meet Britton for dinner on the pier, and the breeze was coming off the river rustling the trees and the glow bugs were out for the first time all season. Perfect summer evening.

P.S. One of my professors gardens in the lovely public plot shown above. Who says New York isn't neighborly?