I work for a gallery and we ship very valuable framed pieces all the time (always via FedEx). I agree with meowmix about the layers of bubble wrap and building a box around it. I have two things to add...

1. If the item behind glass is irreplaceable, consider covering it in protective film or even making an "X" with packing tape on the glass. That way, if the glass were to break during shipping, the artwork won't get sliced up.

2. Mark the package "Fragile" in as many places as possible. Might seem obvious but you'd be surprised how many damaged packages we get that aren't marked as fragile.

Not to keep this long thread alive but I must add the following 2 cents:

I returned to Skinner's Loft recently to find a new menu and (I was told) a new chef. I urge anyone who had a bad experience there or was unimpressed to try it again.

In addition to the food being perfectly prepared, the presentation of each dish was something you'd expect to find in a 5-star restaurant. It was *not* bar food as you might expect.

Among the dishes we tried and adored were the duck and sweet potato ravioli in sage butter, double cut pork chop with caramalized apple and pear on a bed of sweet potato, crab cakes with some kind of caper sauce, chocolate mousse, coconut flan. Yum! We will be going back again and again.

What is the location/address of this building?

(Also, how can I find out when Historic Preservation Commission meetings are taking place? I keep checking the meetings calendar on the city's new website and have tried calling the HPC but no dice.)

Took friends to Sawadee who are massive Thai food hounds. They loved it! I can recommend the green papaya salad among other things. I'm also a fan of Fusion. I don't see it as "one or the other." Enjoy both!

Tried Skinner's Loft last night, their first night open. Loved the menu and beer selection. The food was great (crab meat hush puppies). And what they've done to the place is amazing... check out the upstairs. It's very cool! So glad they're finally open!

Eeriegal-- Yes, I noticed your steps too... and it was nighttime when I went by! But, I'm posting to let you know that painters I contracted with and who work downtown all the time told me you do *not* need approval from the historic preservation office for painting, as long as you choose one of those historic colors. So, paint away and good luck with everything!