While we don’t really celebrate February 14 in our household, we do generally observe it. This morn, I expressed my #Valentines love via pancakes. My dear @amyleerva, these maple syrup’d hearts – and mine – are yours.

A 3-ring circus of Vita, Jules & Walken. Good luck taming any one of these characters.

2018 proved to be a demanding, amazing year for me. Yet one of the most challenging for my family. After topping it off with an especially decadent December, I needed recalibration & grounding. The hard reset for body, mind, spirit? A serious fast. Enter the #MasterCleanse. After 2 days of raw-only, on the eve of Sat, Jan 26, I shared an apple with @dolce_cecilia_vita. It was the last food I ate until this afternoon. 9 days of sustenance by lemon juice, grade A raw maple syrup & cayenne pepper. I still did life. Baked bread w @megjinsunmi, sliced mortadella for @evacolen @dereksalerno, took @amyleerva to @alewiferva, meditated in the woods, hosted a wine dinner attended by @ecscb, chilled past midnight w @simonesez @chefdavidguas. Only water, I took. “Listen to your body,” said @rasahealth. Last night, I hosted at @barboursville w magnums paired w estate pork followed by a Super Bowl after-party w @catherinemiles @adamcaperton. Only water, I took. “Listen to your body,” said @thegordinier. Today, I saw this bowl of root vegetable broth from #PalladioRestaurant and hesitated not. My body was ready; my mind was even. I savored each spoonful, grateful for its rich warmth, nourishment. Guests were partaking in a vertical of recent #Octagon vintages and barrel samples. Luca told the origin story, how there may or may not be any remaining bottles of that 1995 First Edition. “I’ve never even seen it,” I told him, “and I’ve only tasted Second Edition one time about 15 years ago.” He admitted that he hadn’t tasted it in a decade. He smiled, “Let’s open one!” There are 9 btls left. I decanted the 1997 for us and sipped it slowly with my broth. Thanks in part to a pristine cork, the wine’s brightness survived totally intact and alive, with meaty, umami notes, unbelievable freshness. My fast is joyfully, gracefully complete. And while I do not recommend it lightly, I cannot overstate the transformative powers of #fasting: clarity, balance, restoration, healing among them. I am again present to the plate and each bite and sip before me. I’m certainly not against decadence, but I am even more for mindfulness.

I didn’t grow up there, but I became a grown-up there. First book, first wife, first Chartreuse VEP... all in the 404. Thrilled to shout Atlanta for @esquire on the eve of #SBLIII. I built my house in #RVA, but my foundation was laid in The A. Grazie to my amazing contributors: @chefkevingillespie @gina.hopkins @chefnickleahy @bartsasso @millerunionchef @thedrinkingcoach @sommsouth @thatsommlawyer @chauneuf @jacobgragg1 @sweetkaceyjane @psychopia @cdieterbush @roycetakespics @dloveatl @360mediainc @organizednoize @dungeoneze @ricowadedf @sleepybrown @englishanj @cathyhuyghe

This #Sagittarius is feeling the pull of that hella #fullmoon in #Cancer. Proper light show for the longest night of the year. Marveled over La Luna’s Mares and Craters through a @celestronuniverse #nexstarevolution6 and then aimed a @leicacamerausa #vlux skyward for this shot. Farewell 2018 ... and hello new cycle as our Sun enters #Capricorn. Renewal awaits us all. #lookupmore #scienceiscool #astronomyphotography #moon

Got to be on the other side of the table and just enjoy @barboursville as an overnight guest. Grazie mille @kittytompkins for spoiling @amyleerva and I with #PalladioRestaurant and the #1804Inn’s Octagon Suite overlooking these historic #Ruins. ❤️ me some #VAwine. #birthdayweekend #sagittariusseason

Before dawn, I spied Venus, Alpha Virginis, and this #thumbnailmoon conspiring in the southeastern sky. Thanks for zooming me in, #vlux.

My #redletterday just turned radically yellow. #ginkgo

Crisp and sunny #redletterday in #RVA. Hopping the @ridegrtc #PulseBus to @parlorva because you gotta #useyourcity. Grazie @thenorthface for keepin my bod & noggin toasty & stylin.