When I was twenty and working at a newspaper in Michigan, I was assigned to cover a belly dancing class at the library. I arrived to a henna-haired women in her late fifties whooshing colored scarves around and instructing the four children who were participating. Four children. How was I supposed to write a story […]
Author: The Next Dinner Party
Okay, I Get It. I Think.
I’ve said previously that I am no fan of running. But if I really remind myself of it, it’s true that I’ve been a reluctant runner at various points in my life. There was that time in college when I had a dog and ran up stairs to the mostly abandoned East Campus at Western […]
Three Days in Barcelona
Back when I used to tell people I was moving to Madrid, one out of three times they’d respond with “Barcelona is amazing!” I started to get a an inferiority complex about my soon-to-be city. So when my parents visited back in May coincided with my 30th birthday, I thought “What better place to celebrate […]
My Favorite Appetizers
A have a rotation of truly delicious vegetarian appetizers that I go back to again and again. These tried-and-true crowd-pleasers and wow-eliciters range from an easy bowl of nuts to the special occasion savory stuffed mushrooms that recall the flavor of Thanksgiving stuffing (with none of the dryness). There is a magical place in Washington […]
The Case for Books. (Okay, a Bookcase).
I’m one of those stodgy people who refuses to own a Kindle. I know e-readers are super practical and all, but “I just like the feel of an actual book,” I’m known to say. (“I know an automobile is super fast and all, but I just like the feel of an actual horse, you know?” […]
Before and After: City Balcony Turned Chill-Out Spot
As anyone who lives in a city knows, having a little outdoor space – no matter how tiny – is a true luxury. When we moved to our Madrid digs in the winter, our 1970s ugly-tiled little balcony didn’t look like much, but I wasn’t about to let an outdoor space to go waste. When […]
Notes from Paris
I just spent ten intense and inspiring days in Paris as part of a New York University’s MFA creative writing program. I suspect it will take me weeks to process all the thought-provoking lectures and suggestions for my own writing that I received. Until more grand thoughts and plans of action emerge, here’s a quick […]
When Creating the Perfect Dish Gets in the Way of Having Fun
Last week was a crushing one, food wise. After a few fancy food fails, I’m feeling like I need to take a break, stop pretending I’m a secret vegetarian chef, and serve up PB&Js and bags of chips for a while. I can be a really competitive person. At least over things I feel that […]
Galicia: The Ireland of Spain
Spaniards say the northern region of Galicia is home to some of the best food and wine around. So when Mr. Dame in Spain’s mom and stepdad come to Spain for a visit, we figured Galicia – situated above Portugal and surrounded on two sides by Atlantic Ocean – would be perfect for a four-day […]
Best Bites: Spain To Date
There are two types of people: Those who enjoy looking at pictures of other peoples’ food, and those who do not. This feature is for the first group. If you’re part of the latter group, can I direct to earlier posts on home decor or cats? Welcome to a new regular The Dame in Spain […]
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