Rebel Gracefully

Forsyth Park Fountain

2011-10-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

Savannah, Georgia 10/2/11
Impossible Project PX 600 Silver Shade

Forgotten Kodachrome #6

2011-09-28T09:59:00.001-07:00

Madrid, Spain 2010

Forgotten Kodachrome 4 & 5

2011-09-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

Blizzard in the District, 2009

Jess in The Castro. San Francisco, 2009

Forgotten Kodachrome #2&3

2011-09-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

Andalucia, Spain

San Francisco, Calif.

Forgotten Kodachrome #1

2011-09-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Flying home from San Francisco, Dec. 2009

91

2011-09-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

happy birthday, grandpa

The Great Philly Cheesesteak Debate and Other Adventures

2011-08-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago a few friends and I spent a glorious day in Philadelphia. We sampled two cheesesteak rivals and an impressive selection of craft beer.

Brotherly Indulgence: Geno's v. Pat's

As you approach the intersection of S 9th Street and E Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia the muted old Italian store fronts full of charcuterie, cheese, and pasta give way to the bright fluorescent lights of Geno's Steaks. A less experienced visitor to the city of brotherly love might stop here hypnotized by the sheer brilliance of this Vegas-esque oasis. Geno's sure has bravado but stopping here to experience the best of this city's famous sandwich would be a mistake. A big mistake.

Shun the fanfare and head across the street to the much more subdued, Pat's King of Steaks. What Pat's lacks in fluorescent flare it more than makes up in taste. I highly recommend ordering a whiz-wit, thinly cut steak cooked over a griddle topped with grilled onions (wit) and you guessed it, Cheez-Whiz (whiz). Pick up a couple hot cherry peppers for an extra kick and find a seat at one of the select red picnic tables under framed photographs of other famous folk smart enough to bypass Geno's. For the Cheez Whiz adverse you can order your cheesesteak with provolone but seriously, don't. You will regret it. But not as much as you'll regret ordering another whiz-wit at Geno's just to double check that hmm, yup, uh huh, Pat's. Definitely Pat's.

Brotherly Libations:

For the beer lovers out there start your day by winding through an unassuming neighborhood until you find yourself at the Memphis Taproom. Order a round of Pliny the Elder; arguably the best American brewed imperial IPA. Philly is the only east coast city that currently distributes this gem and it definitely lives up to the hype. When you're finished with your first Pliny, have another along with a round of burgers and wings.

Head into the city to the Farmer's Cabinet. If it appears closed try opening the front door, it worked for us. Knowledgeable bartenders in suspenders and black ties serve their vast selection of specialty beers. Their outfits match the transporting 1920's atmosphere, tapestry draped walls, mason jar candles hang from the ceiling, and on Saturday nights a gypsy jazz band sets up in corner of the bar. Huddle up around one of the barrel tables and snack on mason jars of barley while quizzing the precisely mustachioed waiter on the difference between sherbert and sherbet. Be sure to try The Contrarain punch, served in a tiny white porcelain cup reminiscent of Sunday church picnics. For stout lovers don't miss Mikkeller's Black Hole Barrel Aged Edition Tequila Imperial Stout. If you're craving a hoppier beer and like a bitter finish to your IPA go with the Firestone Walker Double Jack, if you prefer a smoother finish try a glass of Nøgne Ø Two Captains. And if your a fledgling lambic connoisseur, ask for the bottle list and try Cantillion Gueuze, be warned it's very strong vinegar head is not for the faint of heart.

It should be about snack time so order up the pickle platter with green beans, cardamom carrots, cucumbers, and peppers served with a side of bourbon soaked apricots and other assorted dried fruit. Chat up the cheese guy long enough and he will inevitably lend you a taste. Repay his kindness and order one or more of their awesome selection. The Coeur du Berry goat cheese wrapped in herbes de Provence is delightful and ordering any of the cheeses is worth it for the house made rye bread, the best I have ever tasted.

Delighted and buzzed stumble back into the 21st century and down the street to Hawthornes. This unassuming cafe boasts an incredible selection of bottled beer. The staff is friendly and willing to recommend their favorites, which is helpful because choosing is so damn hard. After you have finally settled on a beer take a seat and commence trying everyone else's beer. Repeat. It's just about snack time again so give the chicken wings a go, they are literally an entire wing. The homemade pierogies are also good and the filling changes every few days. Our waitress recommended the Fettunta, a grilled baguette served with cream cheese, artichokes, roasted red pepper, mozzarella and chopped tomato. I guess it's worth a try but I could have done without the cream cheese.

Before you leave Hawthornes and head back to reality grab several bottles of the beers that excited you most, it's likely you'll need something to take the edge off when you get home and realize you just had the best day of your beer life.

The Gang at Pat's after a long day of awesome adventures.

LBI

2011-08-03T10:33:00.000-07:00

My grandmother called this a metaphor but I just call it sweet.

Philadelphia

2011-07-26T09:52:00.001-07:00

Girls Go to NYC

2011-07-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

Coop and his guitar

2011-06-09T14:15:00.001-07:00

Katherine and The Butterfly

2011-06-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

Lori and Barrett

2011-06-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Living Below The Line

2011-05-24T15:14:00.001-07:00

A week of getting by on $1.50 a day for food a drink as part of the Live Below the Line campaign.

Grace Turns 11

2011-05-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

Voices from Afghanistan for NPR

2011-05-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

Voices From Afghanistan: Combat Outpost Charkh from NPR on Vimeo.

"Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division has seen some of the fiercest combat of the war in the past six months while fighting for control of the central bazaar in Charkh, Afghanistan.

With about 140 soldiers, it has racked up 50 Purple Hearts in grenade and mortar attacks, ambushes and straight-ahead gun fights. The company has lost five soldiers."

Alexander

2011-03-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

The Second String Band

2011-03-25T09:27:00.001-07:00

More Fireside

2011-03-07T06:52:00.000-08:00

Fireside

2011-03-04T13:47:00.001-08:00

"The Marshmellow Kids"

2011-03-01T10:10:00.001-08:00

Bistro Cacao

2011-02-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

Bistro Cacao on Capitol Hill is impossible charming, quite tasty, and a bit too expensive for me to become the regular I so desperately want to be.

A Sinking Nation for NPR

2011-02-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

An audio slideshow I produced for NPR with Above the Fray fellow Brian Reed and audio expert Laura Krantz.

Skyline

2011-02-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

February 2010

2011-02-02T06:54:00.000-08:00

This snap shot of every day last February hangs on a new wall, in a new room, in a new year. It feels like only yesterday and yet also a lifetime ago. I stared at it for a long, long time last night replaying the memories of each day. Before the strike of midnight, I got out of bed and snapped a picture.

Al Sharpton for NPR

2011-01-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

©NPR

Off We Go

2011-01-13T09:42:00.001-08:00

The Beautiful Young Crew

2010-12-09T14:45:00.000-08:00

Listen: They love each other, but they hate each other, they're afraid of each other...

A Favorite Day

2010-11-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

Remember that time, before you left, when we all went to Baltimore and ooh'd and ahh'd our way through the aquarium before lunch at that crab cake place with good beer and bought r&b records at the junk shop. You lost your ticket and I thought I lost this roll of film. Funny how things work out.

Welcome Home

2010-11-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

November 7

2010-11-17T08:55:00.001-08:00

November 2

2010-11-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

November 1

2010-11-03T14:48:00.000-07:00

Wildcat Sunset

2010-10-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

Train Ride, Romania

2010-10-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

Romanian Graveyard I

2010-10-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

K and I spent a lot of time wandering around graveyards in Romania. We're not particularly morbid, they just happen to be every where. I was struck by how beautiful they were. In a country that is predominately gray, the graveyards glow with vibrancy.

Star Glasses Return

2010-09-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

Soup Season!

2010-09-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Red Curry Carrot Soup
4-6 servings

1 lb of carrots peeled and chopped
1 yellow onion sliced
1 sweet potato peeled and chopped
1 large garlic clove diced
half a can of red curry paste
1 quart of veg. stock
healthy dashes of dried basil, coriander, ginger, and salt
a quick dash of cayenne
bag of baby spinach

Saute onion and garlic with some olive oil until tender, add red curry paste and a bit of stock. Put the rest of the stock on in a bigger pot. Add the carrots and potatoes to the pan with the onions, add more curry paste to taste, add herbs. When stock starts to boil add carrots and potatoes, cook and cover until tender over medium heat. Puree in batches until smooth. When all the soup is pureed add the bag of spinach and stir until just wilted.

Then eat it with a good piece of olive bread toast and share with friends :)

Romania

2010-09-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

We, The Pizza

2010-09-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you :)

2010-08-28T12:23:00.001-07:00

Surat Thani

2010-08-28T12:22:00.001-07:00

Surat Thani

2010-08-26T21:32:00.001-07:00

We spent the last full day of my trip in Surat Thani at a huge school competition. Kids from all over the region came to compete in spelling and geography bees, concerts, and plays. It was great getting to know some of Joe's fellow farang teachers and catch a glimpse of life few tourists get to see. I also definitely developed a better understanding of "Thai Time," and decided I would go nuts if I never knew what time anything was supposed to happen!

Night Market

2010-08-25T19:02:00.001-07:00

It was low season while I was in Krabi and the night market was unusually quiet.

And for Dinner...

2010-08-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

I would be remiss if I didn't also mention, a year ago today I ate (L-R) raw shrimp, raw pig intestines, red ants and red ant eggs, with a side of clams. Eating ants is more of a mental challenge than anything, after the first bite it's easy to dig in again. Aside from the wings, which get caught in your teeth, they are just crunchy indistinct, ants covered in butter.

Krabi Town Wandering

2010-08-24T19:57:00.000-07:00

By the end of my trip the photographer in me was aching with the dread of missed opportunity. One day, while Joe was teaching, I wandered around his neighborhood with my film camera in hopes of capturing some credible images.

I was only able to say, hello, thank you, I'm sorry, and picture? but some how managed to have a wonderful morning with perfect strangers. This family in particular was incredibly welcoming and let me hang out for awhile.

As the bell tower beckoned the predominately muslim neighborhood to prayer, I found my way past the buffalo, the hairdresser, and the clothes line drying, hoping with every ounce of me that the above moment turned out the way I had seen it from behind the viewfinder.

Lost In The Trees

2010-08-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

If you haven't had a chance to check out Chapel Hill based Lost In The Trees, you should. Their unique blend of orchestral folk is, as Bob Boilen put it, "mighty potent stuff." They are my go to headphones on, volume up, any time of day escape. Seeing them today was a true treat and I may or may not have blushed fiercely after spotting Ari in the hall and gushing my fandom.

Noodle Soup

2010-08-24T05:34:00.000-07:00

My yearning for noodle soup didn't end for weeks.

Long Boats on Phi Phi

2010-08-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

Phi Phi was Brit boys filled, stormy, fire ropes, and blister burns.

Phi Phi

2010-08-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Twin, kindred spirit

Prom Thep Cape

2010-08-22T07:51:00.001-07:00

Papaya Salad

2010-08-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

I miss the food so much. I really developed a tolerance to spicy things in Thailand, to the point where I really craved the heat. On my way home I ordered a falafel sandwich in ATL and promptly dumped hot sauce all over it.

Mountain Resort

2010-08-19T06:06:00.001-07:00

While who actually owns the mountain resort may be a source of contention, there is no denying it is an absolutely stunning location.

Wat Tam Sua Temple

2010-08-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

This time last year I briefly considered becoming a buddhist after climbing 1,237steps at noon to reach the big Buddha.

This Time Last Year...

2010-08-17T06:06:00.001-07:00

I had been in Thailand for two days after 36 hours of travel from DC. Yesterday, was a beach full of monkeys, today a year ago was a five island boat tour via long boat. I'm missing the land of smiles this week.

New Friends Fly Kites

2010-07-18T17:14:00.001-07:00

A Year Ago

2010-06-18T12:58:00.001-07:00

2009

2010

February

2010-06-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

I took a photo a day during the month of February and have finally placed each photo on its corresponding day.

Looking back, February was full of snowball fights and snowpocalypse fun. Cabin weekend, a basketball game and a date at The Raven, cooking fails, new piercings, house warmings, and tequila. The month capped off with a birthday party for my cupcake faced three-year-old cousin and a portrait of blossoming love.

I find it so comforting to stand in front of a snapshot of our lives now that our flag-waving friend is off in Romania, I'm sunburnt instead of frostbitten, and Darren's hair has finally grown back.

This was a lovely experiment of turning time into a tangible entity and I plan to do it again.

We Grew It, Let's Eat It! On NPR

2010-06-13T16:04:00.001-07:00

The book made it to the airwaves this weekend. Listen in for giggles, Scott Simon stomping on squash, and dreams of ice cream plants. You can find a copy of the book through the Tenley Circle Press or Amazon. Happy growing!

We Caught A Plane To Spain

2010-05-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Bush

2010-05-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

(thanks to May-Ying for taking this pic!)

Yesterday I met, and briefly photographed, Laura Bush for NPR. It was pretty neat.

Aquarium

2010-04-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Shaw

2010-04-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

Kermit on Constitution

2010-04-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

Rattle Jazzle Riot League

2010-04-13T10:12:00.001-07:00

It's been quiet over here lately mostly because me and a few friends have launched a new blog, Capitol Hill and Company, extolling our adventures on and off DC's Cap Hill. Check us out!

Mishop

2010-04-04T19:36:00.001-07:00

StarGazers 3

2010-03-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

StarGazers 2

2010-03-13T08:55:00.001-08:00

StarGazers 1

2010-03-12T16:27:00.000-08:00

Neat!

2010-02-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

I'm not entirely sure how Personas works but it's essentially a generator that color codes your web presence. It's totally wild watching it scan the web for instances of -- you. I pushed the button a couple times and got several results but ended up reading over and over a quip from my hometown paper, "Speaking of good leaders, Senior Becky Lettenberger is the Vikings' third tri-captain." Senior. In high school. When I played softball. A whole lifetime ago. WEIRD. Also weird is what these colors stand for... online, fame, sports, management, committees, medicine...illegal??religious? religion? what does that even mean?!

22: Wizards v. Bulls

2010-02-24T06:53:00.000-08:00

21: Impulse

2010-02-21T20:51:00.000-08:00

14: Luray

2010-02-21T20:48:00.001-08:00

Smitten Pics

2010-02-19T09:52:00.001-08:00

I've been obsessed with the food pics found on Smitten Kitchen and Sprouted Kitchen. They are simple, straightforward, and for the most part don't over use insanely shallow depth of field so typical in food blogging these days. And the food, ugh! the food looks amazing, it drives me nuts! How! how! So I snooped until I caught a glimpse of the set up in the reflection of this bowl.

You see the key here, and what I lack in my culinary life, is light. If I could spend all morning making that next great delicious thing and prop it up next to that perfect morning light window maybe I too could take wonderful food pictures. But in reality, I tend to stay up way too late on a weeknight with my favorite red pot and badass food processor. So when it comes to showing off my culinary exploits I'm left with only the oven light at my disposal and perpetually crummy frames.

Oh, how I envy you ladies.

18: Easter?

2010-02-19T08:27:00.001-08:00

It's still February... right?

Mouse Tracking

2010-02-18T10:08:00.001-08:00

This is a little more than an hours worth of my cursor movement recorded using "mouse pointer track." I found that for the first ten minutes I was really aware of my mouse movements but after awhile forgot about the tracker. The minimalist and graphic nature of it is really appealing but I wonder if it makes me seem sort of crazy... hmm

15: Luray

2010-02-15T14:11:00.001-08:00

The Making of a Fire Eater

2010-02-09T13:32:00.001-08:00

The Making of a Fire Eater from becky lettenberger on Vimeo.

04: SNOWPOCALYPSE

2010-02-05T11:12:00.000-08:00

School is canceled, work is canceled, Virginia is in a state of emergency and as of now, just a few flurries... oh DC. I spent 50min in line at Safeway last night which allowed me ample time to survey my fellow dc-ites purchases: economy sized margarine, 2lb bag of sugar, three loaves of bread, 5 juice cartons, Funyuns, raw shrimp, and of course plenty of booze.

02

2010-02-05T11:11:00.001-08:00

A mid-week snowball fight

01

2010-02-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

Saturday IV

2010-01-27T07:41:00.000-08:00

After riding 74.5 miles at the 12 Hours of Temecula endurance challenge, Scott finished 6 out of 13, not too shabby for his first endurance race and only 4 hours of sleep!

12hrs of Temecula: Tinker Juarez

2010-01-26T11:59:00.000-08:00

Tinker Juarez, the "Michael Jordan" of mountain biking, completes a lap during the 2010 SoCal 12 hour endurance race in Temecula, Calif. Juarez finished first after riding for ten hours and completing 12 9.3mi laps. "Drop a Gear and Disappear"

Monday

2010-01-18T21:26:00.001-08:00

Officemates

2010-01-15T10:05:00.000-08:00

goodbye cave. hello window.

Big Hunt Bang Bang

2010-01-10T14:31:00.000-08:00

Look: Flat On My Face

2010-01-06T12:34:00.001-08:00

Every once in a while I come across a group of photos that totally sum up my current state of being. Justin James King takes the latest prize with his collection of photos Flat On My Face At The Edge Of The World. The other essays on his site similarly explore the relationship between space, movement, and time with a subtle eeriness.

Oh, Hey January

2010-01-05T07:22:00.001-08:00

Saturday III

2009-12-28T06:58:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas

St.Louis

2009-12-23T17:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday

2009-12-20T19:36:00.000-08:00

After a record snowfall this weekend we spent a couple hours on Sunday trekking around the District. I really love how the first big snow of the year infects everyone with this giddy youthfulness. It's a shame it happens here only once every 80 years!

Saturday II

2009-12-20T19:34:00.001-08:00

Saturday

2009-12-15T13:53:00.000-08:00

Lavender Salt Bread

2009-12-15T08:51:00.001-08:00

I've been kicking around the idea of making this no knead bread recipe for about two weeks now. I finally had enough incentive after I returned from visiting Jess in San Francisco with a jar of Lavender Salt I bought at the Ferry Building farmer's market. A loaf of coarse sea salt bread was always on the menu of our too infrequent dinners when Jess still lived in DC so this one's for you bestest.

I messed up a ton of steps in this process. My house is too cold, I left the dough too long, wrapped it in plastic wrap for 2hrs instead of 15 mins, didn't have the right pot, was convinced the Pyrex with "NO BROILER" stamped on the bottom would shatter everywhere... but here I am two days of my life later and I've got this great crusty hunk of bread that I can't wait to break into tonight.

2009-12-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

Scott Spencer of Spencer's Pantry came over and cooked an elaborate, absolutely delicious 5 course meal. Spencer loves to cook but not on the line so he's taken his passion on the road. He charges only for the cost of produce (for now) and spends the evening answering your cooking questions, partaking in the wine, and hanging out. He also does all the dishes. Did I mention, he's totally rad?

On our menu:
Parmigiano Reggiano Butter

Porcini Mushroom Soup with Truffle Shitake Foam

Baby Beet Shoots, Pickled Carrots and Beets, Grits with Truffle Oil, and Pork Belly topped with a Sherry Vinaigrette and Pickled Mustard Seeds

Hamachi stuffed with Israeli Cous Cous topped with White Miso Sauce and baby Wasabi Greens

Homemade Pasta with Duck Confit, Fois Gras butter, Fresh Garbanzo Beans, and Arugula, topped with a Slow Poached Egg

Homemade Corn Ice Cream (no added sugar), Grated Corn, Fudge Cake with a Molten Salted Caramel middle, and Madeleine

Check him out if you're in the San Fran/Oakland area!

Fall Magic

2009-11-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

Fall Magic from becky lettenberger on Vimeo.

Knights: A Love Story

2009-11-13T07:15:00.001-08:00

Knights: A Love Story from becky lettenberger on Vimeo.

Fun with gum wrappers and my 7D

Brunch

2009-11-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

Celebratory brunch at Meze for Yanda's Washington Post COVER STORY!

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

2009-10-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

Check out the video I edited for the ES&MZ Tiny Desk at NPR. The Tiny Desk Concerts are seriously one of the greatest perks about working here and editing them, well now that's just heaven.