Dirt By Amy Stewart

The View from Varick

When I go to New York, I always visit my publisher, not because I really need to, but just because it seems like an author-ly thing to do. They recently moved to an office on Varick Street, just below Greenwich Village. The view from their building is amazing. I love all of these rooftops, and of course having the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building in the distance is not bad, either. This is 5 x 7, oil on 1/2 in board with dovetail slots in the back for easy hanging. Click here to bid and go here to see other paintings I've posted on eBay.

Topless Gardening

Yeah, that headline caught my eye, too. Turns out that's only what you'll WANT to do after you imbibe a basil martini, according to the San Diego Union-Trib's cocktail writer. This is one of those summer drinks that we can only dream of as the wind howls through the rafters. So, in honor of it almost being Friday, dream away:

Muddle sugar and fresh basil
"Bathe in vodka and sweet-and-sour mix"--no proportions given.  Figure it out.  I'd go heavy on the vodka.
Squirt of lime.

That's nice, but there are other options.  Cocktail Times lists any number of herb martinis--ever floated a sprig of rosemary or cilantro in that glass?  They leave out lavender, which is suprisingly good in a cold gin martini. 

But my favorite summer cocktail is an adaptation of something I had in a bar once that we've since come to call Amy's Garden Party.  Crush some fresh basil in the bottom of a tall, skinny glass, add ice clubs and slices of fresh jalapeno, and pour a gin and tonic on top of it.  The perfect drink on a hot day.

Now all we need is a hot day.

St. Mark's Place

I'm on a real New York kick right now. In 3 weeks I'm headed there to take a painting workshop with Karin Jurick, a painter whose work I absolutely love. I'm still working from photos from last year's trip, but expect to see a lot more when I return in June!

I'm still debating whether or not to take an easel. It's not required for the class, but I figured that as long as I'm going to all the trouble to pack my paints and other supplies, I might as well bring and easel and paint in the park a few times.

This is the corner of St. Mark's Place at Cooper Square. St. Mark's is a lively little street that is very crowded with cheap trinket shops, but there's also a few great little places to eat there. It's a street I walk down a dozen times whenever I'm in the city. I always find something worth painting there.

This one is 8 x 10 oil on 1/8 inch masonite panel. Click here to bid, and go here to see the other paintings I have listed on eBay.