OH HEY BOO, YOU MISS ME?

You can now find me "officially" at vinasana.com! 

xoxo, vin

Miemo: I saw a recipe for 'Asian ravioli ...ain't that shit called dumplings?

I mean, 72 ain't bad

Steph: This guy at work is trying to eat 100 McNuggets in an hour. Everyone is betting against him. (an hour later) He got to 72 and threw up. 

Lot of things happening and I promise to update sooner rather than later. 

Mostly good things, one very sad thing - life things in general.

Hope all is well, talk to you soon!  

If you don't know me by now, Mint - you will never never never know me.

me: Mint is sending me “Unusual spending on Food & Dining” emails. I feel like Mint judges so hard.
Cooper: I once exceeded my restaurant budget by 2000%. Mint don't know me.

vinstagram: turnip for what?

TURNIP FOR WHAT

A few days late, but a most awesome birthday gift from my sister. 

Dave 1. Chromeo perfection at 9:30 Club.

“This was my inspiration, miss vina.” - Chef Larry Cage

Douglas Gordon's Play Dead, Real Time at Hirshhorn's After Hours

Uppercase, Bold, and double exclamation points. I like your enthusiasm, Plan9. 

Fall in Love

Happy Sunday! I finished a bunch of errands AND got a surprise ticket to tomorrow's Phantogram show at 9:30 Club! See y'all there! 

me: I may or may not hold your hand and cry when they play “Fall in Love.”
Naty: Uhhh I will most likely cry so no judgement.

Side note, awesome day in New York yesterday, photos soon. I'm trying to post photos in a timely fashion after events, then again I never posted about Jamaica and that was in April so...there's that. 

had to rack my 90s brain for these track titles

Nick: No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom still holds up. Sunday Morning. 

me: Excuse Me? Mister, I'm Just A Girl. Hey You, I'm going to End It On This: You Can Do It. Happy Now? 

Side note, cut to me spending a few minutes trying to decide between “rack my brain” or “wrack my brain” - it was nerve-(w)racking for sure. No Doubt. 

just barely Thursday morning

sounds like: American Horror Story/Freak Show (Scary clowns. No.). Could I Be coming home with Sylvan Esso? Current favorite driving song: Bang Bang by the Monophonics.  Will You, Daniel Wilson, will you? Supreme guilty pleasure song, though def can't blast this one down the streets of Old Town: Lil Dicky's Ex-Boyfriend. 

tastes like: Hot wasabi spiced peanuts. Black garlic from Union Market, though I don't know what to do with it yet. 

feels like: I turn 31 on Saturday. I'm throwing an ice cream social because I'm an adult and I make adult life decisions. In all realness, I'm excited to spend a nice (maybe rainy) afternoon eating ice cream—cough-photographing ice cream—with my best friends. I've also decided to design menus after shindigs such as this one - keep my personal design skills fresh, ya know? 

smells like: dried lavender and perfume on my pillowcase. It's time for bed. 

photo via Not Without Salt

Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma? I DO.

The only time I won't use an Oxford comma is when Twitter's 140 character limit doesn't allow for it. Just know that I'm probably weeping on the inside if that is the case. 

make funk, not war

The funk lordz are in town!
If you're not doing anything tonight, put on your dancing shoes and join me at 9:30 Club!
(but not really since I believe they are sold out. Sorrz. Dance with me in spirit.)

me: Miss Sandy, hi. I just wanted to say have a wonderful tonight at your gala and I wish I had my best Chromeo dancing partner tonight! Have an awesome day!

Sandy: vina, my darling. I shall be there in spirit, and I have my vina-face cut-out sign ready to go with me tomorrow, worry not!!

I mean, if the skinny jeans fit.

Nick: I think I'm a hipster. I used a straight razor today while I waited for my pour-over coffee. And I smoked pipe tobacco last night. 

I'm a p*rn star! Well, a food p*rn star.

I'm so very honored and thrilled to be named one of Thrillist’s DC Instagrams to follow for serious food p*rn!

Full story on Thrillist | Follow me on the Instagrams

Esso and Etto. Play it right.

Sylvan Esso at The Howard Theater. Phenom. 

Burrata and lemony kale salad at Etto on 14th. 

Some marvelous rye cocktail and pizza with anchovies, dandelion greens, and a runny egg. I mean, come on. 

and if there's anything good about me - I'm the only one who knows

I seem to have caught some kind of bug—perhaps developed a ragweed allergy, summer to fall season change malady, who knows—I've been sleeping on and off all day and, save for water I drink when I take cold meds, I haven't had anything to eat or drink today. I know I say this all the time (at least whenever I get sick which, thankfully, is rare) but I am all kinds of whiny and pathetic when I'm sick, like why isn't someone at my bedside mopping my brow with a cool washcloth? Who do I have to sweet eye to bring me soup and Florence Nightingale me into health? Come on, I make good pancakes. 

This was my day: ughhhhhhhhhh, ok ok ok work times, what should I wear today? Should I go to work? I feel absolutely weary. Maybe I'll stay home. If I stay home then I can take it easy. Ok, I'll let them know I'm not going in. Maybe I should do laundry and clean. Sleep for three hours. Oh, goody, 15 text messages. Sleep for an hour. Oh, Todd Thrasher calling me now. Hiiii, Todd! No, I'm not at the Fair, I'm sick today. What? You need a cocktail sign for that benefit at Volt? I gotchu! Design sign, sleep for next three hours. Oh, Castle's playing, I've never seen Castle, maybe I'll watch Castle. Fall asleep during Castle. You had dinner with Lynne, Justin? I miss Lynne! No, I haven't eaten anything all day. Ugh, because I don't feel like it. Let me hop on a computer, I haven't really checked the things all day. Jack White singing in a French château? Done. 

On the upside, the "sick times" tag on Lemonade Lists can be quite hilarious after the fact. I should retitle it, “the ramblings of a madwoman on cold meds she probably doesn't need to be taking.”

Ta-Da! Society Fair's new Demo Kitchen flyer!

I'm a fairly decent designer when I want to be. 

While I can't speak for most graphic designers, I tend to toggle between “HEY YO BOO, I DID THAT! I DID THAT!!” and “ughhhhhhhh I'm the worst designer in the worldddd”. 

It's a vicious cycle for sure. 

“Be a citizen of the world, and at least attempt to know a little something about life outside of your own InDesign files. Be aware that, in the end, when all is said and done, this thing we do, design, is a kind of joyous little game, and we are lucky to be paid to play it. Meanwhile, others watch stock tickers or change bedpans for a living. Have some perspective and be grateful. Engage in something that matters to you more than your latest project. Some perspective and a modicum of circumspection will improve your mood, expand your horizons, and improve your design work.”

- Peter Mendelsund, book jacket designer

sunday dinner menu

• honey/thyme/lemon chicken and oyster mushroom gravy
• goat cheese mashed baby red potatoes
• roasted green beans with balsamic glaze
• corn on the cob

Hello (Kitty), President Obama

me: I just sent you this great piece by a Canadian writer about America's disrespect for President Obama.
Justin: Thanks! I just posted on Facebook about Marvel superheroes dressed in Hello Kitty gear and therein lies the difference in our lives.

sorry, boys

ain't no shame in my ramen game!