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#.)

List 47

Love: Having good friends with a place in Sonoma. R and D are generous and wonderful hosts and we are very lucky to be invited up - most recently this past weekend. Even a quick 36 hours up there can feel like a week away. Our proximity to the wine country is one of the things that makes it hard to ever imagine leaving the Bay Area.

Like: 14 Ft in Healdsburg. It's one of the stores I most look forward to stopping by anytime we're in the 707, and it's full of mid-century finds. Last Memorial Day we scored a set of Saarenin dining chairs and a teal baby Bertoia chair for Stella (and sometimes our cat Clara).

Discovery: Medlock Ames, the sexiest tasting room in the valley. We used to stop at the old Alexander Valley Store to pick up basics like milk. Now the store has been replaced by Medlock Ames and it's unrecognizable. The interior design hits all the right notes. I might rip off some ideas for the backyard studio we are building.

Obsession: Ad Hoc's Brunch. We've never been but are desperate to try it.

Complaint: I always look forward to some lazy hours spent reading when we head North. But this past weekend I didn't make much of a dent in my new book, The Tiger's Wife. Young Tea Obreht's debut novel has gotten ridiculously great reviews. Hopefully next week's vacation will mean time to see if it lives up to the hype.