Greetings from the land of the cherry blossoms. The blooms are about to burst into their little cotton candy puffs and dot the nations’s capital in a sea of pink. What could be better? All these pops of pink call for a pop of pink Champagne. I might have to bust out the Billecart-Salmon rosé in honor of the blossoms and my mom’s wedding reception this weekend. We are off to fête with the fam Texas style in a hoedown to celebrate my mom’s recent nuptials to her longtime sweetheart. Should be fun minus the plane rides with the bebes. Now that they are so squirmy, I’m more than a little nervous to travel with them. If you have any tips, please send them my way.
Here’s a fun post of David Lebovitz’s recent jaunt to Champagne- pretty sweet to be invited by Veuve Clicquot to Reims for a food and bubble-filled weekend- a swoonful read.
A pretty pink pairing for these pretty pink blossoms:
NV Billecart-Salmon Rosé Brut: this one definitely makes my top 5 Champagne list. I’m usually partial to a vintage Champagne if I’m going to go there, but this one always delivers. Mostly Chardonnay, some swear that’s the secret to this blend, but there are many factors at play here. The chalky terroir, the complexity of its notes, the meticulous winemaking, the list goes on. It’s rich and complex with a fine mousse and smoky flavors, bright berries and chalk. Pretty close to perfect. $74.95 at Crush.
Cin Cin! What are you up to this weekend?
{Images: Cherry Blossoms: Andrew Bossi and Smoke Art: Graham Jeffrey}
Anthropologie’s Poisson Paillette Peep-Toe flats. Because I know I will wear these every friggin’ day and I’m a sucker for anything metallic- the best neutral.
Springtime in Paris- ooh la la. A darling little mini globe of Paris so a girl can spin while she dreams. Perfect for the bebes’ room.
Smadar Shani’s silver basket bags. This Israeli designer has a way with brushed silver and leather.
Trader Joe’s sells this Blason de Bourgogne rosé brut cremant for 12 bucks and it’s delicious. Fizzy, bright, rosy and like a mouthful of strawberries- you can’t go wrong.
I just ordered this book because who doesn’t want to eat where the pros go? Just another indulgence for my everlasting list making.
I’ve been looking for a great affordable gold cuff for this season. I love a constellation- sold.
I’d love to hear what’s on your wish list for spring.
Does this look like fun or what? I love Austin. Any town that knows how to string a strand of lights to optimal effect is ok in my book. I count myself lucky to have family that lives in Austin, which gives me a great excuse to visit and often. I’ve put together a spanktacular list of great things to do with the help of my co-contributor and Austin local, Lauren Crandall aka my sister-in-law and girl about town. She knows the dealio and is always the first to know about the next great place.
Austin’s motto is “Keep Austin Weird”- although these days you’re more likely to spot a bumper sticker that read “Austin Sucks”. Not to worry- the locals have not turned on their beloved hometown, just trying to deflect the rest of the world that seems to finally have caught on. With Apple moving its headquarters to the capital city, it’s hard to imagine how this town can really maintain its quirk. But knowing the Texans- especially the Austinites- they’ll do their damnedest.
Stay@: San Jose Hotel
Nosh@: La Condessa
Dance@: Barbarella’s
Moviego@: Alamo Drafthouse
Play@: Barton Springs
Eat@: Uchi
Swirl@: Apothecary
Listen@: East Side Showroom
Shop@: Feathers
Chill@: Thunderbird
More on these to follow. Now, let’s get down to brass tacks and talk turkey.
Look out San Fran and Brooklyn, Austin has turned foodie. It’s been in the works for over the last 10 years but Austin now hosts a bevy of establishments to rival the top foodie towns, USA.
Downtown:
Congress: fancy pants prix-fixe dining with both a three and seven course tasting menu offered. Upscale all around.
Counter Cafe: I love this place. A great little diner with a modern vibe, saddle up to the counter and order one of Austin’s best burgers or the very yummy grilled pimiento cheese sandwich. The sweet potato fries are delish too. Walk across the street to take in a real live… wait for it- BOOK STORE. BookPeople is a great local bookstore if you can believe it with recommendations from real live people that work there. I don’t know how much more time they have, so take it in while you can.
Hula Hut: kid-friendly Tiki-tastic Mexican surfer food and right on the water, makes sense to me.
Justine’s Brasserie: I ate at Justine’s about 2 years ago and fell in love with it. An old East Side Austin house housing a record player turning out a crackly Edith Piaf, delicious French bistro food and wine all under a few lovely strands of lights. Ok, it’s pretty hipsterish, very Fort Greene circa 2007, but in a really good way. They could bump up their wine list a bit to the discerning French vin drinker but there’s plenty to pick from especially from the Languedoc which is right on for a place like Justine’s. I dig it.
La Condessa: this place just rocks out the traditional Mexican food with a ridiculous tequila list. Everybody loves this place. Just go.
Lambert’s: fancy downtown delicious bbq, great digs in an old warehouse.
Swift’s Attic: another small plates farm to table phenomenon. Serving up delicious eats and promoting the “Creative, Whimsical, and Delicious” with an interesting wine list to boot, this is the kind of place you’d like to find yourself any night of the week.
North Austin:
Hillside Farmacy: so charming. One stop-shopping- an eatery and grocery in one. Get your farm fresh eggs on the table and a pork chop cut to go. And down a few oysters while you’re at it, they have a great raw bar.
Olive & June: a small plate and sophisticated Italian spot in Rosedale, a very local ‘hood just north of downtown. Yum. (pictured above)
Tacodeli: excellent tacos and that’s saying a lot in Texas. Get there early though, they close at 3pm.
Uchiko: Japanese Farmhouse dining presented to you by one of Austin’s finest and James Beard award winner Tyson Cole. ’nuff said.
South Austin:
Barley Swine: one of last year’s best new chefs, Bryce Gilmore reigns king in this kitchen. A small plates style establishment serving up local fare, this place does it right with a great wine list, craft beers and tasty food. I love that their website bios everyone from the chef and owner to the cooks.
Elizabeth Street Cafe: Noodles, Bahn Mi, Boulangerie- does it get better? An idyllic little place serving up delicious French Vietnamese fare. I will be hitting this place up on my next visit.
Lenoir: a tuned up French restaurant aiming for the local clientele run by chef power couple Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher. The space has a very global and organic feel- very ABC Kitchen- and anyone that puts a sparkling Gamay on the list is ok in my book.
Maudie’s: a self-proclaimed Tex-Mex heaven. Good stuff- if that’s what you’re looking for, this is where you should be.
Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar: One of the best patios in town to while away your day. Savor a few fresh oysters and some crispy Texas Gulf snapper, then wash it all down with a Simonnet-Fevbre Brut Rosé by the glass. Yumminess ensues.
South Congress Cafe: a good go to spot for brunch where it is served daily. A mainstay, this place takes diner dining to new heights. Right on the main drag in South Austin.
Sway: Recently opened from the La Condessa kids, I just tried this place this past December. Ridiculously delicious authentic yet modern Thai that really has that Texas kick to it. My tastebuds always have to readjust when I land in the Lone Star State and this place is no exception. So tasty, so stylish and so friendly- I even saw a couple of car seats in this stylish joint.
Uchi: the fancier version of Uchiko with contemporary Japanese cuisine.
Food Trucks and Trailers and Airstreams- Oh My!
This town is chock full of them giving Portland a run for its money. Here are a few standouts:
East Side King: Top Chef Texas winner Paul Qui’s food truck empire on Austin’s East Side. This guy is on a roll- from Uchiko to East Side King to the soon to be opened Qui, you know you want to check out his food. Grab yourself a flip happy crepe.
Gordough’s: donuts that are not to be believed- this truck is Paula Deen’s dream. The Mother Clucker is somehow a donut with fried chicken strips and honey butter icing. I don’t even get it. If you go, let me know what you think.
G’raj Mahal Cafe: As Lauren puts it, “absurdly delicious Indian” and she’s tough, so this one’s a must.
Hey Cupcake!: that adorable airstream with the pink cupcake on top (see top image). How can you pass this place up, it’s just so cute.
Cocktails & Libations:
Bar Ilegal: (above) is a quiet respite from the notoriously douchey Rainey Street bars. Step inside and may the douchiness disappear as you savor the all-Mezcal menu. A sipper’s paradise. The cantina style stone building will make you feel like John Wayne saddling up to the bar in a John Ford western. Who doesn’t love that.
Bar Congress: this marble topped bar serves up an excellent cocktail list by some of the city’s top ‘tenders, it’s swanky too.
Easy Tiger: fun, laughs, good times- name that musical. A quirky beer garden with a retro personality and obscure wine and beer picks right along Walnut Creek- pretty.
Lala’s: a complete hole decorated in Christmas lights year round, with a fair amount of Hobbit spotting (aka Elijah digs it).
Midnight Cowboy: an old brothel, the original sign reads “Midnight Cowboy Modeling Oriental Massage” (Modeling… really guys- just who did you think you were fooling?), this place is now a swankadoo speakeasy with killer cocktails. With a checkered past, you know this place still maintains its intrigue when its home page reads, “please refrain from excessive displays of public affection and unwelcome advances towards members of other parties.” It must get crazy up in there. Reservations required via their website.
Peche: with over 10 different Absinthe infused cocktails, this place is a mixologist’s delight. Pony up to the bar where you can indulge in their delicious bar menu alongside one of those lip smacking cocktails.
Vino:
Apothecary Cafe & Wine Bar: swirl it up in this darling north Austin spot where they take great pride in their rotating wine list and they should, it’s a good one. It would be tough to stay away from the Pierre Peters grower champagne, but there are lots of wonderful old and new world bottles.
Aviary Lounge and Home Decor: unique and very Austin, this South Austin spot is actually a home decor store with a cute little wine bar and a killer wine list as an added bonus. I love it- the good things in life. The couple who owns Aviary were just written up in Apartment Therapy for their chic style. See their home tour here.
Red Room Wine Lounge: An Austin sommelier’s home away from home. This is where the pros go- need I say more? Bill Elsey, Texas’ Sommelier of the Year 2011 is behind the bar to guide your tastebuds and impart some of his vast knowledge. No food, no beer, no cocktails. Just vino. I like it.
Vino Vino: one of my favorite wine bloggers, Jeremy Parzen of DoBianchi, regularly leads tasting events at this local oenophile’s fave. That’s kind of reason enough for me to patronize this place, I’m sold. My brother and sister-in-law annually attend their sparkling fest every December and are big fans.
Wink: specializing in old world wines with over 45 wines by the glass, Wink Wine Bar is a cozy little spot behind the noteworthy restaurant. Kick back with a great glass and food from Wink in a more relaxed environment.
Taste:
Antonelli’s Cheese Shop: ok, so I’m still talking about eating but this is another great little cheese shop in North Austin offering a plethora of great cheese classes. If you find yourself with some time and a curiosity for camembert, this is your place.
Whole Foods: stop in to see the 80,000 square foot flagship store downtown. Most locals I know prefer Central Market but it’s still fun to peruse.
Chill:
Jo’s Coffee: this place is sort of what I pictured Austin looking like. Truthfully I think it may host more out of towners as the South Congress locale is adjacent to the Hotel San Jose but it’s still pretty fun to sit at the outdoor counter, read your iPad (I dare you to bust out a paper) and take in your cup of joe.
Thunderbird Coffee: I dig this place too. Relax with a latte or a Lone Star and take in the neighborhood. Two locations.
Romp:
Barton Springs: jump into this natural spring fed pool. If you’re there on a full moon, join the rest of the werewolves as they howl at the moon for a night swim every full moon at 9pm.
Lake Travis: cannonball into the teal waters of Lake Travis. Limestone lines the bottom of the lake so the water is an unbelievably pretty color- just like the Barton Springs pool. Rent a boat, a canoe, fish or just take a dip.
Zilker Park: hike, bike, canoe or ride the tiny train in this pretty park.
Moviego:
The Alamo Drafthouse: the most badass movie theater you’ve ever been to, in the traditional sense- we’re not talking about viewings of La Dolce Vita projected onto an Italian villa here- we’re talking about good old-fashioned moviegoing. You can never go back to your regular AMC again after experiencing the magic that is the Alamo Drafthouse. Stadium seating rocks it out, the food is really good and they feature craft beers, cocktails and a really good wine list. They also just get it. These guys know what they’re doing and who they’re catering to- a nostalgia-obsessed culture. When the new Die Hard movie is released, they know how to kick it old school and throw it back to 1988 with a screening of the original to get everyone psyched, no matter how bad the new one is. They show Roman Holiday alongside new releases, host 80s sing alongs and the best part- you get kicked out for talking. I like these guys. Thankfully they plan on taking over the world. An Alamo draft house is scheduled to open near DC this spring.
Shop:
Allens Boots: this is a must. Aisles and miles of beautiful cowboy boots right on South Congress.
Feathers Boutique: I try to stop in every time I’m in Austin. The buyers are fantastic, you can find a kickass vintage Oscar de la Renta silk top next to some vintage Nacona boots.
Parts & Labour: exclusively Lone-Star state produced goods, but of course.
Roadhouse Relics: if you’re a fan of signage, you’ll love this gallery where neon artist Todd Sanders shows and sells his fluorescent creations.
Shiki: 2nd Street has become the go to place for boutique shopping in Austin. Shiki was one of the first to open its doors there and a great place to pick up a cool clutch or shop up and coming designers.
Uncommon Objects: an expertly curated antique goods store- don’t miss this spot. Curiosities galore.
Listen:
The Continental Club: swing, rockabilly, country- the usual suspects- pack the house in this swingin’ club retrofitted to its 1957 roots.
East Side Showroom: take in the accordion, a steel guitar, the Flying Balalaika Brothers, a tango milonga and a Japanese cocktail at this east side haunt. Surprised by any of this? At this point, it all just seems normal.
Stubb’s Bar-B-Q: Nick Cave, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fall Out Boy- the big guys play this beer and bbq venue with a Sunday Gospel brunch to boot.
Kick Up Your Heels:
Barbarella’s: if you really want to dance it out nightclub style, this is your place. Mostly college students, but if the urge to dance the night away strikes you, you know where to go.
Donn’s Depot: a piano bar and saloon housed in an old train depot with 2 dance floors and a blackjack table just for the fun. This place is the deal. You’ll find a real mix of Austinites in this place.
Stay in a souped up Airstream: Soak up Austin in all its retro glory by renting the above airstream via airbnb.com for $65/night. Looks pretty cool and would definitely be memorable.
Hotel San Jose: do as the hipsters do and stay at the San Jose. This place really is cool and couldn’t be better located for your stay, right on the main drag in South Austin. The interiors and grounds are inspired. Rooms are decked out with cowhide rugs, mid-century furnishings and prints of rock legends. From $175 for a shared bathroom Euro style.
The Driskill: go old school and stay in this landmarked beauty. Built in 1886, this beauty has been fully restored and is now one of the Historic Hotels of America. Right downtown Austin, this hotel adds a little vintage luxe to your visit. From $259
W Austin: it’s a W. We all know what those are. Modern and fun, this one is right downtown in a great location with a swanky pool. This would be a great stay albeit pricey. From $429.
Four Seasons Austin: blow it out and stay at the Four Seasons. Also smack in the middle of downtown Austin. From $459.
If you are traveling with kids or just prefer a cozy stay with a kitchen, both airbnb.com and homeaway.com offer some fantastic home rentals. Austin is chock full of darling 1920s and 30s bungalows that have been tricked out and filled with smart furnishings perfect for a comfy stay.
Festival Town U.S.A.
Austin is always hosting some sort of festival. Austin City Limits (above) and SXSW are the biggies and there are plenty more. They’ve got a kite festival, a hot sauce festival, a reggae festival, a crawfish festival and Food & Wine has even set up shop with an annual gustatory festival every April. If you’re planning your getaway around one, do so early- accommodations book up fast.
Excursion
And lastly for the vino inclined who didn’t get enough in Austin proper, there’s an excursion to Hill Country where they’re churning out some awfully good wines. The heart of Texas Hill Country’s Wine Country is Fredericksburg, a charming little town. It’s a 70 mile drive from downtown so you could stay the night or just come out for the day.
4.0 Cellars: a newly opened collaboration between three excellent winemakers- Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery, and McPherson Cellars. In a modern and beautiful Texas limestone space, you can taste up to 5 pours from each label. Located in Fredericksburg, they also host live music on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Newly opened and named as one of Food & Wine’s Best New Places to Drink in 2012.
That should do it. Please leave your comments with your top Austin picks- I’d love to hear from you.
Yippee-Kay-Yay and Cin Cin!
{Images: Hello Cupcake: travelmuse.com, Barbarella: Xgray/flickr Alamo Drafthouse: Raquel Hill Design/flickr, Lake Travis: Kevin Vandivier, Uchi: ThatFoodieGirl.com, East Side Showroom: thehealthyirishman/flickriver, The Continental Club: Brett Harned/flickr}
It’s not everyday that we find ourselves Popeless. What does a Popeless world look like? At the risk of coming off completely sacrilegious and materialistic, it looks like this:
I’m not a Catholic though I do suffer a bit of Catholic-envy- I love a ritual- but this whole Popeless phenomenon is pretty fascinating. Rome is all a twitter (quite literally, with even some Cardinals tweeting in) as the College of Cardinals prepare for their Papal Concave to name the next Pope. Meanwhile the streets and souvenir shops of the Eternal City are buzzing with fire sales of Pope Benedict keepsakes and memorabilia. I’m a sucker for a Popener. When I lived in Italy as a student, I actually stood in St. Peter’s Square as the Pope blessed the crowd while holding out about 30 Popeners. I gave out Papally blessed Popeners as gifts for years- big hit. But let’s get serious here, you’d better get your Pope Benedict Soap On A Roap it while it lasts because these goods are going going gone, just like dear Benedict himself who has already hightailed it helicopter-style out of Rome. He’ll be back to live out his days within the Vatican but for now he’s outta there. The Gammarelli tailors are busy making three different sizes of Papal robes in the hopes that one of them will fit the next leader of the Church, and an online Papal betting bonanza has hit full stride. Sites like paddypower.com are taking bets on everything from who will be named the next Pope (Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana is the odds on favorite at 5/2 with our own Cardinal Sean O’Malley not so terribly far behind at 25/1), to the length of the Papal Concave, to how many ballots will be held and bets on when the next Papal resignation will happen. Seriously. Today’s stats:
Holy Concave! I’d love to be a fly on the wall in the Sistine Chapel when the voting begins. Can you imagine the politicking going on within Vatican City. Those Cardinals really know how to bring the drama. While some refuse to speak to the press, others are media darlings, some are even blogging (read Sean O’Malley’s blog here). However, once the Conclave begins it will most likely be mum’s the word for all Cardinals involved. And the world will be waiting with bated breath. Those lucky enough to be in Rome during this history making event can convene outside St. Peter’s to watch the black smoke rise from the Vatican signaling the ballots being burned until finally… the white smoke appears announcing that the Cardinals have made their decision. It’s all so Hollywood- you can’t write this stuff. Dan Brown wishes.
My mind is a bit of a jumble today as I scrambled to make my 8am train from NY back to DC. Made it. Did get on the wrong train, but it’s all good- headed to the same place. Whew. This is what 9 month old twins do to a 37 year old brain and I even had the night off.
A few random thoughts for the day:
1. Tick Tock, Ya Don’t Stop
You gotta love NYC Cabbies. I left my friend’s West Village abode at 7:43, hailed a taxi and was inside Penn Station at 7:49. Yes. In DC, the cabbies operate on an entirely different clock. You actually have to ask them to make it snappy. NYC cabbies- for all their faults- know what time it is.
2. Motown Mary
While zipping through Penn Station trying to grab a last minute latte and NY bagel, I spotted my pal Ariana Debose all dressed up as a young Mary Wilson, smiling down at me. Well, lookie-loo I thought, there she is, Little Miss Broadway. At 22, she’s on her 2nd Broadway show with a giant poster splattered all over NYC to boot. Hooray and go girl. More from Miss Ari later this month as she gives us a sneak peak into her Motown world working with legend Berry Gordy and costume fittings with Project Runway favorite and Motown designer, Emilio Sosa.
4. The Crib Dibbler
Need I say more? We gave this to my friend Katy last night at her baby shower as a gag gift. She stared at it for about 2 seconds before saying (1/2 laughing 1/2 horrified), “Is this for real?” Pretty funny. There’s a whole slew of prank boxed gifts here. I love a good prank.
I’m probably the last person on the planet that’s watching this series to STILL be watching. I couldn’t subscribe to the binge viewing that is sweeping the nation. Not because I don’t want to, but because I’m literally too tired to. My twin-induced octogenarian sleep habits prohibit me from staying lucid past 9:30. Sad, right? Well, what can I say- the bebes are still not sleeping all the way through the night. Well, one of them is, but alas… In any case, I am on the early bird special so after I get the bebes to bed, I’m good for an episode of Jeopardy and 1 episode of House of Cards. I know, so dorky right!
I have to say, I am really digging it. It took me a few episodes in to really get hooked. I didn’t really know who I was rooting for as the characters all seemed really cold and unlikeable but the onion has started to peel its layers and I am Team Claire all the way. Robin Wright’s portrayal is nuanced, calculated and vulnerable all at once. I’m kind of in love with her. The best lines of the series though have to be the words that come out of Janine Skorsky’s mouth. My favorite line of the series to date “Hey, Twitter Twat- WTF!” Now, that’s good writing.
Any random thoughts flooding your brain today? Do tell…
I spy 5 pretty cool exhibits. If you’re in the neighborhood- that is, NY, Chicago, LA and/or DC- these exhibits look to be browse-worthy.
1. Barbara Kruger sets up shop in the lower level of the Hirschorn where her Belief + Doubtexhibit will hold court for a few years. No rush on this one but it looks like a fun and graphic event. This one would be especially fun with the little ones.
2. Kubrick fans rejoice! The Stanley Kubrick retrospective runs at LA’s LACMA through June. The first ever exhibition of Kubrick’s full body of work, the exhibit showcases his LIFE photographs through Eyes Wide Shut and everything in between including Napoleon and The Aryan Papers- projects still in development at the time of his death. If you are a Kubrick fan or a fan of film at all, this one is not to be missed. I need to get my behind to the west coast pronto.
3.The Art Institute of Chicago celebrates its relationship with Picasso in Picasso and Chicago, on view through May 12th. In 1913, the AIC made art history by becoming the first American institution to show Picasso’s work. This show is the largest Picasso exhibition in Chicago in nearly 30 years pulling from private collections throughout Chicago and the museum’s pieces.
4.Applied Design at the MOMA aims to show us why design is not just about pretty chairs but how modern design is now woven into our cultural context through science, technology, politics, and you name it- pretty much every aspect of our lives. The exhibition highlights design that improves the world we live in through sustainability and acumen. An interesting example is the land mine detonator above, made from the desert sand and powered by wind. Pretty cool. Applied Design opens Saturday and runs through January of next year.
5. And lastly- this is just wacky- an entire room sculpted out of beeswax is now a permanent installation at DC’s The Phillips Collection. The Laib Wax Roomis a tiny little wax sculpted room for two lit by a single lightbulb. Sounds like a party, I’m there.
Any good shows to catch in your neck of the woods? Do tell.
{Images: The Hirschorn, Kubrick on the 2001: A Space Odyssey set courtesy of Warner Brothers, the Art Institute of Chicago, Rene van der Hulst, Lee Stalsworth}
I always wanted a winter wedding. I actually got married during a downpour in the middle of August- it. was. awesome.- and I wouldn’t change a thing, but there’s something about a winter white wedding that is so fresh and fabulous.
I love this look for a winter wedding. It’s very Carrie Bradshaw Goes to the Rockies. If I were getting married in the winter, I might have to wear this.
My friend Molly eloped this weekend to Aspen with her soon to be hubby and twin boys. It’s going to be a beautiful private and small ceremony in an historic church in Aspen followed by S’Mores and Champagne at the chic and landmarked Hotel Jerome. I picked out the Bollinger NV Special Cuvée for the newlyweds. Tempted by the Chartogne-Taillet, I opted for the more traditional Bollinger as her hubby is kind of old school. Hopefully-if she doesn’t read this blog today- it will be a surprise from our gang of girlfriends. Later they will hold court in the Rock Star booth for sushi at Kenichi. They are going to have a blast.
There is a tight group of us from college that couldn’t bear to miss her wedding (even though we weren’t technically invited as it is an elopement after all), so we all sent our crafty friend Natalia a few photos. She photoshopped them together and made them into a poster so that we can hang out in one of the pews in the church and be present for her wedding. Clearly, we just couldn’t stand not to be there.
Missing a wedding is always such a bummer. I love the idea that if you can’t make it to a friend’s wedding, you can do something creative in your absence like sending a video or a life-sized cutout to take your physical place. My friend Amy sent along a life-sized cutout for my wedding when she and her hubby couldn’t make it. She was 8 months pregnant and living in Hong Kong so she had a good excuse. Still, one of my favorite memories from my wedding is those two hanging out at our reception. A fun idea and a great memory maker.
Almost Real Stand Ups‘ etsy shop will do a 6 foot cut out for $90. Not bad considering you won’t be paying plane fare, accommodations, etc.
Below is Molly’s big surprise at finding us waiting for her in her condo. Very Real Housewives of Ann Arbor. We all went to school together at the University of Michigan so for those of you fellow Wolverines familiar with Chipatis at Pizza Bob’s and Pizza House (I am Team Pizza Bob’s by the way, except for the breadsticks at Pizza House of course- oh college!), my friend Steph came up with a great tagline for our sassy intro: “I know a good Chipati when I see it and I’m not afraid to eat it!”.
The note that accompanied us:
My friend Amy, her hubby and soon to-be-born little one (or rather, their cutout) at my wedding:
One of my best girls, Amy Har-Even is Volatizing’s newest international contributor. She has been an expat in Hong Kong for the past 5 years where she lives with her family. Amy is a mom of 3 young girls, a writer and former copy editor for Elle Decor and a children’s wear designer with her own label, Ribbon Candy. Inspried by batik fabrics found in Bali, she designs the cutest little dresses for little principessas- seriously the cutest. She just gave birth to her third little one so she has put her business on hold for a minute, but we’ll see more Ribbon Candy delights soon. Amy is hilarious and has such a unique perspective and take on the world. She and I have logged in some serious time together and I love watching the world go by with her. I’m so happy that she is going to play with us. Stay tuned for more reports from Amy Abroad.
One of Amy’s little cuties decked out for Chinese New Year in her traditional cheongsam dress.
Chinese New Year
by Amy Har-Even
It’s that time of year, when Hong Kong empties of expats and fills with mainland
Chinese tourists, here to buy luxury goods and take pictures of my blond
daughters. Those of us expats who didn’t think to book a vacation a year ago
for this week do our part by dressing our girls in cheongsams and our boys in
Chinese pajamas and wandering around town to check out the local color.
And that color is RED. For Christmas, the decorations could not be more of an
eyesore: tacky North Pole snowscapes dreamed up by people who’ve likely
never seen snow, they hew to the aesthetic that can only be described as More
is more. But for Chinese New Year—the real deal out here, obviously—Hong
Kong is significantly less tarted up and, though never subtle, the trimmings are
often lovely. That onslaught of red (lai see money envelopes, lanterns, flags and
banners galore) is tempered by the sudden preponderance of cherry blossoms
and calamansi plants—dark green bushes covered with tiny oranges—helping
the city put on a pretty face for the holiday.
And Chinese New Year would not be complete without a few deafening lion
dances. No one would blame you for thinking you’d entered a war zone if you
weren’t expecting the banging and clanging that accompanies the young men
and their brilliantly painted lion as they roam the streets, even the small villages,
nearly waking the dead with their fireworks-caliber pitch. All in all it adds up to a
fantastically festive week and by far my favorite of the Chinese holidays.
Doesn’t this look amazing? For $220/night, you can sleep in your own glass-ceiling igloo under the Northern Lights. Of course you have to get yourself to northern Lapland, Finland first but hey good things take a little doing, right? Put it on the list. Hotel Kakslauttanen’s Igloo Village
It looks to be a wintery white weekend for our friends in the northeast. Let’s hope they don’t get hit too hard. In the meantime, make yourself a great cup of coffee and drink in these winter days. If Punxsutawney Phil is to be believed, we are headed for an early spring so make snow angels while you can.
On a less warm and fuzzy note, the NRA has announced its very own NRA Wine Club. Really guys? This is a serious WTF! Let’s think about this- guns and booze? Brilliant guys, really. I don’t like to get too political here but I couldn’t help but call this one out. This has to be the world’s worst wine club and I didn’t think there could be such a thing. Ay yi yi.
For your weekend reading, here’s an interesting article on Django Unchained and the Oscar race in NY Mag by Frank Rich. We just saw Django and loved it. My only complaint- no strong female character? What’s up Tarantino? Still, I loved it. Christoph Waltz is ever the charmer and Jamie Foxx- a total badass and anytime Franco Nero shows up, I’m there. It is stylish and brave. I highly recommend.
Enjoy your weekend!
{Image Credit: Birch wood and Coffee- Cathrine Aarsland}
Former showgirl, forever travel junkie, sometime sommelier, and mom to twin bebes. This little blog is a mixed bag of tasting notes, travels, tales of motherhood, and current musings. Thank you for stopping by. Cin Cin! (photo by Amy Dickerson for Anthology Magazine)
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