Chef Tim & I braved NoVa yesterday and scored seating, water glasses, plates & flatware for the wine bar. His 8 month old son AJ was a top-notch wingman--flirted with the ladies at Fortessa and got us a sweet discount on antipasti plates! While our strike on Ikea could only be described as surgical in its precision, we were three hours late getting back to RVA thanks to the whims of 95.But what a surprise awaited me upon return--it was dark out and Secco was all lit up with a perfect view of the bar Tom started installing yesterday. Who knew
two, practically free pallets of framing end pieces would make such a beautifully textured finish? Well, Tom did, of course. He never ceases to amaze me in his ability to take unlikely, often discarded material and turn it into compelling design. He possesses both vision and frugality--great traits in a business partner!Lincoln (pictured on the ladder here) has almost finished painting and re-installing the old ceiling, and is now bondo-ing, sanding and prepping the back bar for local artist Chris Milk to start on our seasonally changing art installation. People--this is gonna look GOOD!
So today's task list (how did I/we ever survive before google calendar & google document sharing?) includes finding a new bar sink, putting together 17 chairs, getting parking lot signs made, working on my taxes, ordering plates, unpacking scores of wineglasses, putting together a press release, working on website content, filing a damage claim with FedEx for the vacuum sealer, refrigeration refrigeration refrigeration, ordering cork for the tables and bar, ordering wallpaper for the bathroom (counting on the diverse talents of my other partner Stephanie here), uploading recipes for kitchen staff, scheduling Micros training and submitting staff info for payroll processing. Oh, and catching up on inventory--glassware, compostable to go containers, sugar creamer sets, candles and holders, cheese slates and straws are all here, but where the hell are our linens, bar naps, salt and pepper shakers, and...what else are we missing???
