More scenes from a Friday

Lexi and Joe: Daredevils


Lexi, taking time out of her busy schedule to read Jack a book.


Lexi, taking time out of her busy schedule to radiate some coolness in her cousins' general direction.

Johnny C's

There's a pizza place near my sister's house that's so good, we have it every time we come. So good, we get it even though we had a big ole Cheesecake Factory lunch.


It's called Johnny C's, and it's on 75th street. The interior reminds me of a quintessential 1980s pizza parlor -- long tables, wicker-backed chairs, pool hall stained glass light fixtures, beer and pop by the pitcher, video games in the back. Mom got carryout tonight so we could have the pizza party we bribed Joe with this morning.


For years, I wondered what made this pizza so special. Then I realized: It's the cheese. Johnny C's uses this otherworldly American/Swiss/something else combo that melts like a dream and tastes just as good unmelted. And if you're nice, they'll sell it to you by the pound.

On the Plaza

Lexi and I are in K.C. for the weekend to help my mom babysit the boys and to attend an open house at Crystal's new photo studio in Lawrence. The boys went to school today, so the girls went to The Plaza for the morning.

We started with lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. This is the restaurant Wichitans most often tell me they want. The Cheesecake Factory, in turn, tells me to tell Wichitans to keep dreaming.


Mom had fish tacos. I had a Cuban. Lexi had sliders. Yummm.


Here you go, Wichita. Keep dreaming.


Afterward, we went to a shop called 1154 Lill Studio. It's a place where you pick out the fabric you want and they make it into a purse or bag for you. Annie and I were getting one for mom for her birthday.


Here's mom consulting with her bag lady.


I was pressuring her to pick the fall-ish tapestry with orange trim, but she went with the equally attractive red flowers with red trim. They'll mail it to her in three weeks.

More updates to come, including one from Crystal's open house on Saturday.

In search of...

Attention friends, friends of friends, and people who have stumbled across my blog accidentally.

There's some stuff I want, and it doesn't have to be new. In fact, I'd prefer it if it weren't.

1. I really want an old, antique looking piano that actually works. The above photo shows sort of what I've imagined. People are always trying to unload these things, and I know this because everyone I know except for me has one. (My aunt, my mother-in-law, my friend Joe.) I'm also willing to pay. If you hear about one, CALL ME!!!


2. I also want to get Lexi a swing set. These wooden-style ones are my favorite, but I'm not so sure people are always trying to give them away because they're quite pricey. Again, I'm willing to pay. If you know someone...

For parents with a sense of humor

Here's a pic of a baby I shot at that wedding Jaime and I did a few weeks ago.

I seriously thought about getting one of these pacifiers for Lexi when she was at the pacifier age. But I couldn't get her to take a pacifier and decided not to push it. Funny, though.

Hope it wasn't painted with lead.

Town & Country

For years, I've been curious about Town & Country, a legendary down-home cookin' restaurant on the west side that always has a jam-packed parking lot.

But until today, I'd never gone there. Why? Town & Country is notoriously ALL smoking. As in, they don't have a non-smoking section. And I just can't tolerate that.

This year, T&C is turning 50, and I'm doing a story on the restaurant to run later this month. Today, Jaime and I went there to get some pictures and interview some regulars (and there are a LOT of them.) It's actually a good little restaurant with a cool back story, and the longtime staff members are very nice and professional.

Jaime and I decided to stay for lunch, and amazingly, we didn't leave smelling like smoke. You notice it, for sure, but it's far from overwhelming.

What's not to love about a restaurant that puts this beauty on the table before the meal comes out?

Hey, I'd been waiting to try it for ten years, so I figured I'd better go for the speciality -- chicken fried steak. Jaime had the more sensible Chef's salad.

Dad -- whaddya say? Can you handle it?

Sweet white dress

Grandma bought Lexi the sweetest white dress while visiting this weekend. I thought it looked extra cute out in the sun when we were blowing bubbles tonight.