List 51

Love: The standard "April in Paris" (Sarah Vaughan's version gets my vote) always makes a Spring trip sound alluring. A sun-dappled afternoon on a bench with a book at Place des Vosges or the Jardin du Luxembourg, then a stroll through the city streets, then an aperitif and a late dinner? Oui, merci.

Like: The Sun Also Rises. Read in high school, this was the book that first carved out Paris' space in my imagination. The Lost Generation that the book portrays, literally and figuratively scarred by World War I, had its many issues, but the details of their life in Paris (and on a trip to Spain), were hard to resist. Especially if you were 15 and growing up in Milwaukee.

Discovery: This riff on the classic French 75 Cocktail (which was invented during WWI and named after a French heavy artillery gun): Mix 1 cup of chilled gin with 1/2 c thawed lemonade concentrate. Stir in 2 2/3 c of Champagne. Garnish with a sprig of tarragon.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/lemon-gin-sparkling-cocktails-50400000111989/

Obsession:Finding a new place to stay in Paris. Next time we go, I'd love to ditch hotels altogether and rent an apartment. This one is beaucoup de bucks but would certainly qualify as living the life.

Complaint: GQ's current issue has an article called "The Liberation of Paris" about the new wave of restaurants that are forging their own non-Michelin-star-obsessed path. The piece has added a bunch of names to my list of places to try, including Chez L'Ami Jean, Frenchie, Le Dauphin, and La Cantine du Troquet. Alas, we have no visit on the horizon.

List 50

Love: Using brown eggs, rather than white ones, for dyed Easter eggs. The colors turn out mellower and more interesting, with speckles showing through.

Like: These Peeps tributes to iconic movie scenes, sent to me by my friend Gigi, who knows how much I dig any kind of diorama.

Discovery: Risotto for brunch. I never would have considered that before, but this recipe for Bacon and Leek Risotto with a Poached Egg looks like the perfect Easter brunch idea.

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/04/bacon_and_leek_risotto_with_poached_egg

Obsession: I like dark, moody paint colors for the house - "Monk's Cloth" brown, "Thunderhead" grey, etc. But I have always wanted a room inspired by certain Easter colors - like Robin's Egg Blue, or sea green. Maybe a slightly darker Peacock blue would be a nice middle ground.

Complaint: Easter is almost upon us and I have yet to enjoy my annual Cadbury caramel egg.

List 49

Love: Portland's Little Bird and Seattle's Book Bindery - the restaurant highlights from my trip to Portland and Seattle. Little Bird is a gorgeous jewel box of a bistro, with great details (I love the antlers over the kitchen, and the unexpected blue wall color) and even better classics like marrow bones and coq au vin.

The Book Bindery is former Per Se sous chef Shaun McCrain's showcase. An old friend of mine, Jill Kinney (Shaun's partner), runs the front of the house. I really liked the space that co-owner Patric Gabre-Kidan created - it's unconventionally elegant: peacock wallpaper, books, candles, a model ship, oil paintings, a rustic wood ceiling. And the food? Sublime. To start, Heirloom Potatoes with House Smoked Sturgen, Horseradish Panna Cotta and Meyer Lemon. In the middle, Shaun sent us his Hand Made Smoked Cavatelli with Foraged Mushrooms, Pickled Onions and Foie Gras Emulsion. It was an effort not to lick the traces of the emulsion from the bowl. And then my main course was Caramelized Sea Scallops accompanied by warm citrus and sunchokes. The desserts lived up the rest - especially the Frozen Butterscotch Parfait which was so enticing we forgot to take a picture.

Like: The way that Hitchcock, a jewelry store in the Seattle neighborhood of Madrona, changes its windows and entire interior design every few months. It might be horse models, or a Preppy Handbook tennis club, or a 1960s space theme - anything goes. Whenever I visit my sister, I always look forward to seeing what Hitchock is up to.

Discovery: Taking the Amtrak Cascades from Portland to Seattle, instead of driving as we'd always done before. It was slower, to be sure, but relaxing and super scenic.

Obsession: Seattle is Geek Central right now, with a Star Wars exhibit at the Pacifc Science Center and a Battlestar Galactica exhibit at the Experience Music Project.

Complaint: "Jeld Wen Field", the Portland Timbers' new stadium's name. We went to the Timbers' opening match Thursday night. The stadium itself is beautiful, and the Portland supporters (the Timbers Army) are hardcore. I just wish another local company had stepped up for naming rights. Specifically, I fantasize about the idea of "Pendleton Field". Pendleton Woolen Mills could have created a special Timbers plaid and then sold scarves and blankets for the game. #missedopportunity

List 48

Love: Swedish girl group Those Dancing Days' infectious song "I'll be Yours." They recently opened for Belle & Sebastian on some European Tour Dates. That's a double bill I'd love to see.

Like: A lunchtime getaway to Hog Island Oyster Co. Most days I only have time to quickly eat something uninspired at my desk while continuing to work, but twice in the past few weeks I've had the chance to walk down California Street to the Ferry Building. It's always worth the trip, and the hike back up the hill helps to work off the clam chowder.

Discovery: Stella can do tricks.

Obsession: Acme Pain au Levain is the monkey on my back. Especially when paired with a dish of McElvoy olive oil sprinkled with sea salt.

Complaint: That I don't have my own copy of Ken Burns' The Civil War. Today is the 150th Anniversary of the firing upon Fort Sumter and I'd love to acknowledge that by re-watching parts of this great documentary. Years before there was a "Ken Burns Effect" in iPhoto, his ways of bringing still photography - not to mention our history - to life were pretty revolutionary. And that Sullivan Ballou letter? It never ceases to amaze. (The embed doesn't appear to be working. You can watch that scene at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=693065493279283445#.)