Woodworking is in my blood. My first "big" project was a computer desk I built, with my dad's and brother's help, during a period of funemployment in 2009; I used leftover hickory from a new ceiling my dad put in, and I'm writing these words at this desk 17 years later. Throughout Melt's run in NYC, whenever we needed something built in wood - our kiosk on the High Line (complete with built-in coffee station and deep-fryer!), our counters at our Orchard Street HQ and our DUMBO mini-storefront, our market booths and kiosks - I did it myself. Lots of practice!
When Sam and I moved to our log cabin here in Bristol, finally with a wood shop of my own, I decided to take things to a bigger level: after throwing together some Adirondack chairs and a small table, I found some clear vertical grain Western Red Cedar (for a song), and used it to build a hot tub. It continues to thrill and relax us! I still had about half the cedar I'd found, so while it's an unsual choice for a bar, I used it to build the wine bar (and shelving, silverware rests, and other odds and ends) at Pintxo.
As I begin printing my photos again, my focus in developing this skill turns to framing. More to come on that!