OOO #46: Outfits, Ohio, and Other Things I Like
Seasonally appropriate, a cafe/resto combo, and a walk around my living room
Outfits
Ohio
Last week I took some of my colleagues to one of my favorite gems in German Village: Sycamore. I first learned about it from my sister-in-law about two years ago, and after I found out someone I know works there, I decided to try it. Sycamore is one of those spots that operates as a cafe in the morning (with pastries and breakfast/lunch) and switches over to a lovely restaurant for the evening.
I really enjoy heading to Sycamore for an easy breakfast/lunch/brunch. The coffee/espresso drinks are excellent. I have also really liked their chai latte and their peach lemonade. I’ve tried a wide selection of their baked goods, and they’re all really tasty—I definitely recommend their cookies if you’re looking for a place to start. Recently, I had their Veggie Omelette, and I would have it again.
Sycamore’s evening menu is also fantastic. Their bartenders are highly skilled and do well with both standards and their own cocktails. I have loved every meal I’ve ever had for dinner, and to my husband’s delight, Sycamore is one of the few places in Columbus where we’ve seen tagine on the menu.
I’m already going to Sycamore again next month while my mother is in town (it was the first place that came to mind to take her), and I’m already looking forward to it. I know my husband is too, especially since I spied a bottle of chartreuse on their shelves the last time I was there.
Other Things I Like
I have been woefully lazy lately and have spent a lot of time on my couch. Growing up, my parents’ decorating style was completely eclectic and based around books, family photos from past generations, incredible finds at the antique shop, and their travels/job, and that mentality has completely informed how I make my own spaces. In the past twelve years or so, I have collected an assortment of random items to make a cozy living room where I can relax and recreate a semblance of the magic of that house on Long Island; here are a few of my favorite pieces that make my home feel like home.
Frasier is one of my favorite television shows ; I’ve seen every episode a dozen times, easily. It is, as millennials and Gen-Z might label it, my comfort show. A few years ago, a friend of mine gifted me this little painting of Frasier and Eddie, and it has lived on my bookshelf ever since.
My husband is a big fan of woodland creatures, but I can’t really vibe with taxidermy (the whole vegetarianism thing is a big part of that). A perfect alternative? This mounted deer head from Cardboard Safari. Cardboard Safari has animals of all types, and these make an easily transportable gift for your quirkier friends. We have at least two.
I love this little corner of the living room. Some of my favorite books, at least one of which I’ve had some childhood, sit on my great grandmother’s table. Other treasures include my favorite wedding photo, a bust of Aphrodite that doubles as a vase, my first wedding gift (a candelabra), and a little glass box that I got in Egypt as a child.
I love this map mirror from World Market (and we all know I love World Market). A friend gifted it to me a little while back before he moved; it was the defining piece of art in his apartment as well. We completely lucked out that the dimensions worked well in this space. While this is perhaps the worst map projection on the planet (Gall-Peters FOREVER), I love that the map is in French, which is a helpful supplement to Duolingo (I am kidding). I really like having a mirror above the fireplace as it definitely enlarges the living room, plus I like the travel vibe it creates, but mostly I love that it came from a friend.
As I have established, I am totally into Tudor History. I believe I wrote about a quarter of a screenplay about Anne Boleyn when I was 13, so none of this quasi-obsession is recent. My mother, who is always looking out for interesting gifts that intersect with my niche hobbies, found this bookplate at a print shop over a decade ago and framed it for me for Christmas (side note: if you know a good frame store in Columbus, I’m on the hunt). It always makes me think of both my mom and what an eccentric kid I was, and it has earned a permanent spot in my gallery wall.
Last but not least, this ashtray belonged to my grandfather. I love the color, and it’s the perfect item to keep my jewelry in as I inevitably take it off while lying on the couch (I definitely removed a ring and a bracelet before taking this photo).
I hope you enjoyed this little tour of my living room! I’ve realized that much of my decorating comes from a mix of sentimentality and weird little obsessessions, and I really like the color green way more than I thought I did.
That’s it! Have a great rest of your week!
Did you know Frasier is coming back? I hope there will be a dog.