My rescue kitty, Ember, "helps" me stem cilantro leaves for a batch of Superbowl salsa |
Over the years, the friends who rented the warehouse space graduated from college, married and bought homes of their own. No one needed the flat anymore. We held our annual Superbowl party in assorted public venues for a time, with varying degrees of satisfaction. Eventually the gang started renting out the Ottobar for their yearly event, a Baltimore city live-music venue whose dark and primitive interior echoed the industrial vibe of the old warehouse space.
Organizing the food for a large Superbowl party was fun for me until last year, when the event grew to overwhelming proportions |
There were hundreds of people last year, most of whom were not part of our core group of friends. I only knew three people in this photograph |
My next door neighbor in Baltimore County graciously invited me to watch the Superbowl on his giant screen. But he and his wife and their two little girls caught nasty colds a few days before the game. It wouldn’t do to burden them with company when they were so miserable.
What to do? Watch the game on my old fashioned cathode-ray tube television set? I pondered the purchase of a new flat screen TV. It seemed an extravagance for someone who watches almost no television, yet I felt as though I should make some sort of effort to join the 21st century, technologically speaking. A smallish television I could hang on the wall sounded like just the kind of baby step I could handle.
Now you see my new flat screen television... |
...And now you don't |
My cunning strategy was ultimately successful. I became the owner of a new flat screen television. I bribed Jesse with a promise of a juicy game-day ribeye steak, grilled just the way he likes it, along with a fully-loaded baked potato, his favorite vegetable and a special salad of field greens, caramelized onions, toasted pine nuts, crumbled blue cheese and my signature vinaigrette. I further enticed my dear friend by proposing a project. The talented woodworker, construction manager, interior designer and architectural model maker can’t resist a project. Instead of hanging my new television on a wall, how about mounting it in my window, up high where I could hide it behind my mini blinds when it wasn’t on? Jesse was intrigued by the challenge of installing a television in a window.
As with most of my projects, I started with a rough sketch and some measurements |
Elfie, left, and Ember wondered what was to become of my old media cabinet |
First, an interior shelf and mirrored backing were installed |
Then, strips of LED lights were fastened to the back of the new shelves |
A hidden switch allows me to illuminate the pretty bottles from behind |
The 81 bottles of liquor in my collection stay out of sight behind Tambour doors when not in use |
Cheers,
Lynell
Very nice conversions and innovations. Glad you enjoyed your Super Bowl this year.
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