Work, moving, meeting, traveling, more work. The last 12 days have dulled my motivation and kept me from the food that inspires my words. But last night I got my groove back — and it wasn’t even at a restaurant. Blue is a favorite of ours. We settle in at a two-top, lean against the deep red walls that envelope the long, narrow space and lose ourselves in the music. Singer songwriters at 7:00, followed by “anything goes” at 9:00.

Mark Tipton and his New Orleans jazz band wow the crowd at Blue

We’ve seen Celtic, Middle Eastern, Blues, Old Time, Jazz, Folk — you name it — at this Congress Street lounge and music venue. On the Eve of Christmas Eve we reveled in classic carols re-imagined by the styling trumpet of Mark Tipton and his mod Jazztet. On an earlier visit he wowed the crowd with a New Orleans-style jazz band.

Neighborhood buzz fills the air between songs, flatware clinks against bowls of hearty pasta or plates of tasty snacks. Microbrews — including Maudite from Unibroue and the latest from Dogfish Head — flow from the tap. Folks don’t come any nicer than owner Barry Martin. And his ever-present girlfriend Therez? Well, Therez has baked her way into my heart. Not with fancy pastries or complicated desserts, but with bakery traditions made with care.

At Thanksgiving her pumpkin pie was more spice than sweet and topped with luscious homemade whipped cream. Christmas brought a plump and flavorful gingerbread — part chewy, part crumbly and all good. Last night she debuted her streusel-top apple pie a la mode. Hints of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg,  and — if I’m not mistaken — brandy steamed up from the generous slice that disappeared all too quickly.

I can’t wait to see what Therez bakes up next.