They had me at “wine cafe.”

If you haven’t been to Boheme in the Midtown/Montrose area (on the corner of Taft and Fairview), well… you should go, it’s that simple. I’ve been a few times now, but always after 8pm. A group of friends decided to meet there yesterday for Happy Hour (what Accenture does best), and the atmosphere was much quieter until around 6pm, when it started to get more crowded. The bartenders are always really friendly and happy to help with drink selections (go for the St. Germain and club soda!), the food is magnificent, and the atmosphere/decor is truly unique. I love how much outdoor seating there is (see pictures below) – this place will be a staple hangout spot in the coming (cooler) months.

Beaucoup de vin. C’est chouette.

Mojito and Merlot.

Pat’s drink made me reminiscent about Buenos Aires – Quilmes is everywhere.

I love everything about this picture (found on 100 Layer Cake)- especially the fact that the bike looks just like McKenzie’s new Trek! She took it for a spin yesterday for the first time, and now I’m totally jealous and feel like I need one too! Cycling around Houston has not been the safest thing historically, but it’s becoming more and more popular. McKenzie told me about “Shrink Houston,” which is the brainchild of Bobby Heugel (of Anvil and Hay Merchant). The organization for which he is a co-founder, OKRA, will donate bike racks to restaurants and bars, to encourage a more active mode of transport and hopefully reduce the amount of road traffic in Montrose (only the coolest part of Houston, obviously). To read more about the effort on Culture Map, click here.

Saying goodbye is not a strength of mine. I absolutely, utterly, 100% despise it. Especially when it involves your best friend of 24 years leaving the United States of America to return to Scotland. During a rather late night out with friends in Scotland during the summer of 2005, Alisdair and I devised a plan for him to come to Texas for our senior year. A month later, he arrived with two bags, high socks and long “man-pris” (think capri pants). Graduation came, and Alisdair decided to make another move – this time, to Austin, where we were neighbors – also where he met his wife, Erica. After a total of seven years in the states, they have gathered their stuff and are heading back to the motherland – much to my grief. Feeling nostalgic, I pulled out the photo albums (from 1988 onwards!), and scanned some of my favorite pictures. There were literally hundreds and hundreds to choose from. Oh how I’ll miss that joyous face. Thank the good Lord for Skype!

In our primary school class in ’93 – wee five year old best friends! I’m row one, far left and Ali is row two, splitting center in navy.

Pool rats during a visit in ’97.

Inseparable.

Ali’s 9th birthday – the first in the US!

One of many family photo sessions.

“It’s a brother and a sister kinda thing…”

Ali and Erica’s wedding in 2010.

My best, best, best friend.

Baby Pierson is at home now, and I’m not kidding y’all, he’s the cutest baby ever. There is plenty of photographic evidence below. When Sasha and I arrived at Ashley and Brian’s {absolutely perfect} Height’s abode, he was already peacefully sleeping, which was perfect for my shutterbug desires. The schematic theme of the day? Definitely red. Look at Ashley and Pierson’s matching red and white stripes and Trumpette cowboy socks from me and Sasha Pants.

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{This is my favorite. Look at those freaking tiny fingers!}