procrastination at its best
April 18th, 2010 | Written by hurricanic
I should’ve been working Monday afternoon. SHOULD, mind you. It’s peak season trying to get all our clients what they need for graduation. So, let’s just keep what I’m about to tell you between you, me, and hurricanic.com. (sssshhhhhhhhhhhh…) I would hate for them to realize why their photos are a day later regarding delivery. Thanks.
I finished up a shoot over at my studio around 3 p.m., leaving me at minimum two full hours to get orders ready to send to our lab, or design graduation announcements, or respond to e-mails, or, or, or… I decided instead to shop. Well, kind of.
My studio is down the street from the Kansas City Culinary Center. I’ve always wanted to take a class there, so when my new friend Taryn saw that there was a sushi class coming up, we decided to go together. Seeing as it was a beautiful afternoon, I gave myself a few minutes off the clock to go sign us up. I walked down to the center and introduced myself. We are, afterall, neighbors. My visit was not merely an interest of class registration. It was also a form of, “Hi, Culinary Center…I’m Photography Studio.”
As I was leaving, I realized I could walk next door to the quilting store to ask them about an issue I had with my latest project (yes, people, I AM quilting again). My old roommate Whitney is having her first baby and I decided to take the opportunity to not only quilt again, but this time DESIGN my own quilt. Why? Because I’m an idiot. What brainiac thinks they can do this with their fourth quilt when quilting by its very premise is a practice of precision? I frankly just don’t know enough about quilting (ney…sewing in general) to set out and do this kind of thing. I figured they could help.
After another version of, “Hi, Quilt Shop…I’m Photography Studio”, I told them of my dilemma. Their solution unfortunately was not to give me an easy answer. No, that would’ve been too easy. They told me I should come to “The Quilter’s Studio”, an open session where you can come in with projects and have an instructor help you work through things. Sounded good, I guess…UNTIL SHE TOLD ME IT WAS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. Are you freaking kidding me? I’m well aware of the fact that gift giving should not be something I do while simultaneously quantifying personal cost, but geez. Friday night? There are easily seventeen dozen things I’d rather do on a Friday night than be at a “Quilter’s Studio.” I wish I could tell you I didn’t go, but I can’t. I hereby publicly admit I was walking into a quilt shop with a sewing machine in hand at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday night. I was not, however, wearing a track suit. The good news is I learned a ton. Mostly that I never want to get so into quilting that it becomes my social connection, but that’s another story. The women were lovely, and they’re passionate about their craft (the room was full of people who do this all the time…it was like a club, and I was an outsider). I just wish that the workshop would’ve been on a, well, Monday night or something. I wouldn’t have felt like such a nerd.
But let’s get back to Monday afternoon.
As I left the quilt store, I decided I would walk down the opposite side of the street on my way back to my car. As I walked, I opted to visit almost every store I passed.
“Hi, new bakery…”
“Hi, new craft/art/photography/gift store…”
“Hi, spice and seasoning store…”
It was a blast. I loved the people I met. I loved seeing their stores, learning their stories. I frankly just love the energy that’s growing in historic downtown Overland Park. It’s a pretty fantastic little place these days.
The last place I stopped in was my absolute favorite. A month ago “”The Tasteful Olive” opened up in between Pensey’s and Ten Thousand Villages. What’s ‘The Tasteful Olive”, you ask? AN ENTIRE STORE FILLED WITH OILS AND VINEGARS. Some of you will not understand the need for me to shout that last statement. But oh my gosh…if you like to cook or simply eat great food, you would completely get why this place was incredible. They have containers of each kind they sell so you can sample them before you buy. Wild blueberry balsamic you could drizzle over ice cream…honey ginger vinegar you could pair with sesame oil…Tuscan olive oil, infused with rosemary and basil and all sorts of goodness. It was insane. The couple who owns and operates this place is amazing. I think everyone should go and buy lots of things from them because I very much want to see their store succeed. Please pass on the news to all foodies everywhere about this store. It’s brilliant.
You know what else is brilliant? There’s a new cupcake store opening down there next week. When, you ask? ON MY BIRTHDAY. Yeah, I know. It’s like downtown Overland Park is saying, “Happy Birthday, Photography Studio.” Ah, shucks. How sweet. (Enter drum sound here for corny joke.)
Excited to hear more…