Preservation's Valentine's Day Massacre

On the 14th, Congress slashed and in some cases eliminated funding for preservation in this country.  Honestly, I can understand why preservation isn't at the top of the list for funding, but it's difficult to understand how job creation doesn't seem to include me.  Preservation is actually pretty important and should be more prevalent.  The problem is how we talk about it.  Preservation isn't synonymous with museum, but there is a connotation associated with the term that makes us think "don't touch".  What we need to work towards is conservation and sustainable adaptive re-use of historic properties.  While in Europe I observed that there was rarely any new construction and buildings were never torn down.  Europe's culture is very focused on recycling and that extends to buildings as well.  Americans love visiting Europe because of the Old World architecture and historic towns, funny, we don't seem that enamored with our own historic structures.

That's my soap box.

My Feet HURT and the Restaurant Opened

I have been super busy training at the restaurant.  I work at Zuzu, a hip restaurant featuring new American Mediterranean cuisine.  We've had wine tastings, plate practice (you have to be able to carry three plates in one hand), cleaning parties, etc.  Yesterday we were open for business!  It was fun!  The food is so good!  I had the best french fries I've ever had in my life--hand-cut fries with salt, pepper, and truffle oil.  AMAZING.  Also got to try potato leek soup and gnocchi-I definitely won't go hungry.  The only bad part is my feet are killing me!!!  The floors are concrete and standing in front of the hostess station is just painful.  I've asked if we can get a fancy mat that provides so cushion because I'm not going to last too long.  I feel old, but if I was walking around and not just standing it would be different.  

Here is a link to the restaurant--www.zuzujolie.com