I Never Thought I'd Be Drinking Absinthe at the Duquesne Club on a Friday Night

Liz Berlin and Evan Edelist

@

Pittsburgh's Duquesne Club March 7th

w/ The Andrew Carnegie top left

(he used to be a member and not only the wealthiest

man in Pittsburgh but one of the world's)

The Duquesne Club is noted as one of America's
Best Urban Clubs.
In a recent Vanity Fair article about
Richard Mellon Scaife,
V.F. called it "a sanctuary for Pittsburgh's wealthy elite"



The Duquesne Club has the largest and most valuable collection
of art out of any private club in the country


Liz Berlin and Evan Edelist
C.S. and guest
@
Civic Lght Opera Wine Tasting Benefit
@
Pittsburgh's Duquesne Club
March 7th



Evan and Chuck



Hollywood is holding court.

"Members Only"

- Even though the C.L.O Wine Tasting Benefit

was being held at the Duquesne Club,

you still had to be a member or with a member for the bar.

Thanks to Carol S.
"Members Only"
- Even though the C.L.O Wine Tasting Benefit
was being held at the Duquesne Club,
you still had to be a member or with a member for the bar.

Duquesne Club Hallway I like

My Absinthe Giver at the C.L.O Wine Tasting Benefit

@

Pittsburgh's Duquesne Club
March 7th

John French

after leaving Duquesne Club

March 7th

Her Man is on Absinthe

Best of the Roses,

John French

mystrawhat.com

Behind = Behind the Scenes for Mr. Small's = Rusted Root = March 1st

"Hollywood Emmy Guy"

Pre-show at Hotel bar acorss from PNC Park.

John French Pre-show. Picking-up Hollywood Emmy Guy
at Hotel bar acorss from PNC Park.


VIP Guests



Really = If there were no Mike Speranzo,
there would be no Mr. Small's
(and allot of people would be sad)



Drinks and expensive sound equipment don't mix

George - The House Sound Guy -

Kevin and Billy = Point Park University Film Students

and C.L.S. interns

Mike Speranzo and his security staff for Mr. Small's

Hollywood Emmy Guy and Liz Berlin

Michael LaMana = VP of Operations for Le Launch Group

Hollywood Emmy Guy, Billy the intern, Kevin the intern

and Orlando SkatePark Pete

Hollywood Emmy Guy and Orlando SkatePark Pete

Mike Speranzo and security for Mr. Small's = All Clear After the Show

Liz Berlin and Hollywood Emmy Guy

Chris-the-bartender-at Mr. Small's-who took great care of me

Writing-on-the-Wall in GreenRoom A

at Small's

John French

@
Mr. Small's = After the Show = Rusted Root = March 1st

(P.S. I know Mary Rambin says, "turtlenecks are a no-no" for me

but the winter time winds were blue & freezing).

Best of Rusted ROSES,

John

mystrawhat.com

"Clean and Crisp: It's All about Being Fresh This Season" ..

John French

Toward the End of Winter '08.

Best of Winter Roses, John

Some of Home ... March 2008 ...

The armour is made of rose and pear wood and is an actual antique

from China (w/ papers) from a period of late 1500's to mid 1800's .

My shirt is Ralph Lauren Western although I know Mary Rambin says,

"no cowboy."

BUT, there's something to be said for just be-ing "me."..

The mirror is made from recycled material obtained from demolition in NYC.

And, wow, the lamp I purchased at a charity auction for the Society of Contemporary

Arts & Crafts and then a few months later saw the artist and the lamps were

picked-up by Sundance and in the Sundance Catalog.

Two mirrors, two sinks = key to happiness for two.

Pottery Barn = The third one shipped out.

Ah, roses in the bathroom.

When we were in New Hope, PA chilling out and seeing WEEN and

staying at the Mansion Inn and antiquing across the Deleware

in Lambertsville, NJ - we saw these French doors hinged together

and distressed and put in a corner as a "work of antique art"

which cost $2, 500.00. So, I made a promise to take the two

we found in the basement that used to separate two of our rooms

and turn them into something useful and happy again.

The overly expensive frames from the Sewickley Frame Shop

include matting for two pictures of Penn State University:

what's known as "The Mall" and also "Old Main."

This furniture is 1976 stamped Ethan Allen and

had to be restored because of water damage. The

restoration was as much as brand new pieces however

we elected to use the money for restoration as these

1976 pieces are made of 100% real wood.

New Ethan Allen is not.

(It's just that simple).

This whatever it is for the table comes in handy

and has roses all over it (just like Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and the

suit he wore during the second song on SNL).

Best of the Roses,

John French

mystrawhat.com

Spring at My Parent's Home In the Early Hope of 1990

My parent's home was built by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright and is among the California Ranch style - Although one friend of mine I brought home from University said that the brick and rot iron securing the courtyard entrance from the drive and once within the courtyard and around the patio makes one feel like they will surely see armed-guards walking on the roof.

The kitchen was in Architectural Digest in the 1960's for its large open-ness and exquisite cabinetry.

This view overlooks the Ohio River flowing along in Beaver Valley.

Best of the Roses, John French mystrawhat.com

Wicked Weather: Snowy Saturday Night March 8, 2008

What wicked wintry weather for a Sewickley, PA Saturday, March 8, 2008!

Snow came all the way-up on the back porch and covered it - which I had to sweep off.
Luckily the wind calmed down so I could use our Electric Patio-Caddie - Even though
it's electric it also has hickory briquets for real hot grill flavor.



We grilled salmon with fresh rosemary. Parker had his 8 oz fillet too.

"OK, everyone is surprised because I am so big for a little Lhasa Apso - Well,

if you could see these huge turkey vulture up in the trees in the meadow

out back, then you'd understand why my Daddy grills me 8 oz of salmon

and I eat like I'm a bigger doggie!"

A wintry garden.

It won't be long until these grape vines sprout green life again -

Just a couple weeks until springtime.

Instead of green pine in the flowers boxes off of the porch,

they'll be spring flowers to keep the climbing hydrangea

and the ones in the ground good company.

Everyday is wonderful

but I think allot of people are thinking spring.

And we didn't even get pounded as much

as those did other places - Even down a couple towns

over along the Ohio River and also up north they got

much more snow than we did here in Sewickley...

Best of the Roses,

Giovanni French

mystrawhat.com