It doesn’t get much better than that.

• Friday: After a semi-productive day off, I drove into town to see Helvetica, a documentary film about the typeface of the same name. Yes. A movie about a font. Expect that it’s actually a movie about a small piece of modern design, the widespread acceptance of Helvetica and the almost violent reactions that some have to its use. Beautifully shot, very funny, exceptional soundtrack (I’d never heard of El Ten Eleven prior to Friday night, I downloaded two of their CDs when I got home). Its Pittsburgh run is over — The Wife got shut out of its last screening Sunday afternoon because it sold out — but those with any interest in design, especially those with any interest in design who happen to live in Cleveland and go by the initials HP, should absolutely make an effort to see it at the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Cinematheque on Oct. 6.
• On Saturday we got up fairly early and headed to Construction Junction for their first shot at a beer festival. Lemme tell you, boys and girls — Construction Junction nailed it on the first try. The Steel City Big Pour had a exceptional lineup of breweries, great food, interesting art projects on the side, live music, a big-enough space as to not be too crowded … I’m raving, yes, but not exaggerating. In the newspaper biz you’re always a little skeptical of anyone who claims to be organizing the First Annual anything, because the Second Annual whatever often fails to materialize. But I begged anyone wearing a staff shirt at Saturday’s first session to bring it back next year, and heard over and over and over that that was to be the plan.
• While at the Big Pour, I traded interviews with Father Spoon and sickpuppy of the Should I Drink That podcast. I met them at Podcamp, and thought the festival would be a good chance — and hopefully the first of several chances — to collaborate. I had a blast talking to those guys, and my stuff will be ready for the October beer column (I’ll set you up with a link when it’s ready), and I guess my contribution to their show will be up in an episode or two.
• Took in the Washington game while at the Sharp Edge. Good stuff. I wasn’t worried about the slow start, and the overall offensive performance was more than enough to ease my worries about that side of the ball. Defense, gave up some bigger numbers, but then we weren’t playing MAC or I-AA schools — they continue to look solid to outstanding.
• After a trip through Brighton Heights to check out a couple of houses and a stop at Three Sons to buy some beer that neither of us were interested in once we got home, we got home. And then we slept. In an apartment filled with blissfully cool autumn air. Nice.
• And then there was the Browns. The Wife and drove back down into town to stop at a couple of open houses Sunday afternoon, and I was grudgingly listening to the Browns on the radio. The game was almost to halftime when we really started looking — check out this place — and while I was happy the score was close, I still wasn’t expecting much. So when I got back in the car to head to work, I was amazed to find that the total score was close to 80 and the Browns were winning. I got to work in time to see Leigh Bodden’s spectacular interception at the end of the game, and just stood there, in front of the newsroom televisions, with my mouth hanging open.
• How can you not love Chad Johnson jumping into the Dog Pound?
• I only wish I had found a bookie and taken the over. Because I would have cleaned up.