Letterpress and Barbecue

Admittedly, these two things do not go together. But I have neglected details of my summer progress--and I am a recent convert to the magic and beauty of letterpress. First, business, then, food.

I can't say enough good things about local arts institution AS220. They are the heart of the Providence arts community and provide resources and opportunities to so many people. I took a letterpress class there with Lois Harada, an amazing artist and printer. Thus, a new phase of printmaking has begun! I am doing the 4 Moods in 4 Colors Clovis cards on letterpress--and have a new one--gratitude!

Here is the press, ready to start on a bunch of "attention" cards in red.

Here they are coming off the press!

I am also playing with type--and some fundamental truths.

Some gratitude cards, packaged and ready to go.

Now, on to barbecue. I made a dedicated effort to visit as many barbecue joints as I could on my swing South this summer. First, in Nashville, I went to Jack's Barbecue, one of my favorites. They have a barbecue sauce bar, covering the barbecue sauce territory from the sweet tomato-based sauces of Kansas City to the hot mustard sauce of South Carolina. Delicious.

When I was in Decatur, Alabama, I had to make time for famous Big Bob Gibson's barbecue. I got ribs and pork. Definitely worth the time!

In Huntsville, I tried a new hole-in-the-wall, Granville's--they come with corn cakes and had the best mac-and-cheese and green beans.

And I stopped by my regular favorite, Dave Gibson's barbecue (no relation to the Decatur Gibson's apparently) at Bob Wallace and Jordan Lane. Great fried okra and hush puppies.

And finally, when I made it to Tuscaloosa, I had to make a pilgrimage stop at famous Dreamland Barbecue. Nothing but beef ribs here--and so delicious.

I got to spend a good amount of time in Provincetown this August and September as well. On a boat ride in the harbor, my friend and I came across this giant sunfish lolling around. We named him (her?) Sunny.