Friday Favorites: Kung Fu Movies, Part Two

This time it’s personal…. Compared to the first list, this one is less orthodox, with newer films as well as more wuxia (sort of the MCU for martial arts, featuring fictional heroes mixed in with actual historical ones): Hero. The fight between Donnie Yen and Jet Li in the rain at the teahouse. Nuff said.Continue reading “Friday Favorites: Kung Fu Movies, Part Two”

Storing Christmas Decorations

Since Epiphany is tomorrow (the 12th day of Christmas) and my city’s tree-cycling program ends this weekend, it’s time to de-decorate. Honestly, it’s fine: as much as I love Christmas, I recognize that its ability to thrill me every year stems in part from the fact that it’s a limited engagement. Also, while I neverContinue reading “Storing Christmas Decorations”

Chestnuts and Champagne (or Armagnac, or Ginger Tea)

One of my favorite ways to ring in the New Year is to light a fire in the backyard, roast some chestnuts, watch the fireworks downtown, and have a champagne toast at midnight. If you want to try it, try to get chestnuts that are plump and still feel a bit pliable/moist. Score the paperyContinue reading “Chestnuts and Champagne (or Armagnac, or Ginger Tea)”

Happy Christmas Eve

My decorating theme this year, as I think I’ve mentioned, was Scottish Hunting Lodge. I kind of modeled it on the Kinloch Lodge on the Isle of Skye, an old MacDonald clan hunting lodge that now receives guests and has a wonderful restaurant hung with ancestral portraits, and a sitting room positively swathed in tartan.Continue reading “Happy Christmas Eve”

Ceramics Saturdays: Korean Celadons

Korean celadons began being produced in the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392 BCE) roughly contemporaneously with Song celadons, and that’s not accidental: diplomatic and trade relations between the two regimes facilitated the transfer of techniques for mixing the iron-rich celadon glazes, as well as the kiln structures best suited for reduction firing. Initially, Korean celadons imitated theirContinue reading “Ceramics Saturdays: Korean Celadons”