south of the loop

When I stayed with the Lattimores, Angela, Tim’s mum, made a salad I fell head over heels for. I’ve been making it ever since I got back, and I want to share it with you because it would be a crime not to tell you about it. It’s simple and takes five minutes to throw together, but the flavors blend in lovely and unexpected ways.

Angela’s Salad

fresh spinach

fresh mint

peas (I zap some frozen peas in the microwave, which works just fine)

small cubes or chunks of feta

Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. And try to save some for the rest of the family.

Filed under: favorite things, food, london, recipes by ellembee
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I think the term “Boxing Day” is gaining notoriety in the States, though it’s certainly not a federal holiday. According to the Internets, the term “Boxing Day” doesn’t have a singular definitive origin, but according to my friends in London, it was historically the day that you boxed up your unwanted gifts to the poor. Which is a pretty good reason for a federal holiday, frankly.

This past Boxing Day, Tim and I joined his dad for a ramble through Hampstead Heath in north London. It wasn’t at all the manicured park I expected—more a sprawling, muddy lawn, with gravel paths and dozens of dogs happily racing through the mud and muck. (I should have worn my new patterned wellies but didn’t realize just how muddy it was going to be. I finally caught on near the end of my stay, after I ruined a pair of jeans by constantly dragging them through muddy paths).

After a good post-Christmas walk and a cup of tea, Tim and I headed toward Waterloo so I could take a few more pictures with my proper camera (as opposed to my point-and-shoot). We walked through the compound that houses the British Film Institute, the National Theatre, and other cultural buildings, which were decorated with small white lights hanging between the buildings. The moon was bright that night and not quite full. I loved the asymmetry of the moon and the broken string of lights.

Filed under: london, photos, travel by ellembee
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I’m back in Chicago and over the jet lag, though my mind is not fully Stateside yet. The Chicago accents greeting me in O’Hare were jarring, the tea here is terrible, and the museums cost a fortune. Until I figure out how to move abroad, I’m keeping myself busy. A few job-related notes:

- I was featured on a Chicago Public Radio blog last month in a series called, “Give me a job, please!” Check it out: Storyteller, art lover, wordsmith, factory tour enthusiast.

- Starting in about a week, I’m joining Chicagoist’s Arts & Entertainment bloggers covering museumy things. I’m pretty excited about it, and I’ll keep you posted.

*      *      *

People keep asking what my trip highlight was. That’s impossible to answer — I was there for five full weeks and packed a lot in. I did catch a couple shows at The National Theatre — we had hoped to see more, but it just wasn’t meant to be — and I realized how much I’m missing out here in Chicago. I live in one of the best cities in the world for theater, and I think I’ve seen maybe two shows since I’ve been here. Unacceptable. I’ve done some poking around, and reduced-rate tickets are available at almost every theater, either by queuing up the morning of, or via HotTix.org (also usually the day of). Here are the current shows I want to see. Who’s in?

The Year of Magical Thinking — Court Theatre (in Hyde Park; based on Joan Didion’s book of the same name)

American Buffalo — Steppenwolf Theatre (a David Mamet play)

Private Lives — Chicago Shakespeare Theater (a Noel Coward play)

And just about anything at Looking Glass Theatre and Second City.

Email me or leave a comment if you want to join me. In general, cheap tickets are around $20 (compared to prices anywhere from $40 to $60+, so it’s actually a good deal).

Filed under: chicago, london, theatre, travel by ellembee
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In the East End near Brick Lane.

Filed under: art, graffiti, london, travel by ellembee
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View of the South Bank from Waterloo Bridge last night. I only had my point-and-shoot with me, but I was able to steady it on the bridge and set the shutter speed to one second. The ferris wheel on the left is known as the London Eye and was built to celebrate the millennium. You can just see the Houses of Parliament behind it and to the right.

Filed under: london, travel by ellembee
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UK customs officer: Can I see your return ticket?

Me, suddenly sent into a blind panic worsened by severe sleep deprivation: Return ticket? Um, it’s ticketless travel…

Customs officer: Surely you printed out the itinerary.

Me: Um. [digging madly through my coat pockets, bag pockets, everything]. There’s… this. Oh crap, it only has this leg.

Customs officer: When is your return flight?

Me: January 8.

Customs officer: What time?

Me: 4:30pm.

Customs officer: What flight?

Me: Uh. It’s on American? I don’t know the flight number.

Customs officer, looking at the printed itinerary, and then looking at me as though I’m the biggest dolt to pass through Border Control: Your return flight is right here.

Me: *wipes sweat from brow*

Customs officer, examining printed itinerary more closely: Who is [dad's name]?

Me: That’s my dad. The ticket was purchased on his frequent flyer miles.

Customs officer: Fair enough.

He looks at my landing card, on which I’ve identified my profession as ‘writer.’

Customs officer, smarmily: So your dad had to buy you the ticket because you’re a struggling writer and can’t make any money?

After a few more questions about the nationality of the friends (British) I was visiting and how I met them (at Oxford), he said, “we’ll take that, then. Go on.”

And now I’m at a kitchen table in southwest London looking out at a lovely garden and drinking tea. Life is good.

Filed under: london, travel by ellembee
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