Travel Results: Yarn, Good Food, and Great Company

Last weekend, I was down visiting in Birmingham, Alabama for a short break.  Although it was supposed to rain for most of the weekend, it managed to hold off and there was some fantastic weather and sunshine to be had.  I visited In the Making, a little fabric and knit shop and picked up some KPPPM sock yarn.  It's a delightful shop and if you are ever in the area, I would highly recommend it.  It's very close to The Summit Shopping with everything you could need, full of great places to grab a bite to eat.

I couldn't resist these colors.  I don't know what type/pattern of socks they will become, but they reminded me of Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night.  I had to have them!

While visiting, I learned that the Birmingham metro area is quite the place for foodies/new gourmets.  Each time I visit, our list of places to try just expands.  We worked on the list over the weekend and tried:

• Friday night, we stopped by The J. Clyde for burgers and THE most extensive beer selection I've seen lately (12 pages!) where I tried some of the Innis & Gunn Irish Cask from Scotland (a must have again sometime). 
• Pizza cooked in a wood burning oven at Bottega Restaurant and Cafe just outside the Five Points area.  Lunch outside in pretty good weather, with good company and divine dessert.
• Dinner downtown on Saturday night at Cafe Dupont that came highly recommended and did not disappoint.  The lamb with the strawberry mint compote was perfect for spring and wine list encouraged me to save before our next visit.
• Finally, we had brunch in the bright sunshine at Dram on Sunday.  Their entire wine list is half off on Sundays and the restaurant was busy, but not overwhelmed with waiters that know their stuff.  Shrimp, scallion, and goat cheese omelet with fruit was perfect to start a relaxed Sunday.

p.s. - I miss the sweet tea already!