Dinner Party in the Vines

A couple of summers ago I gathered my family, some home-cooked food, a photographer and a food writer together for a late lunch in the Virginia wine country. My family and I had recently moved to Virginia from NYC and in trying to shake off the Manhattan-centric blues, had discovered the riches of our newly local wine region.

I was approached by Anthology Magazine to host a dinner party for my dancing family, paired with local wines, smack dab in the middle of Virginia wine country, and I mean literally in the middle of it. We feasted, fancy picnic style, in between the lush Virginia vines of Paradise Springs Winery, just outside of DC. The stuff of dreams, a lot of cooking and prep went into this dinner, along with a lot of honest to God sweat as it was a 95 degree day, but there were definitely no tears. It was one for the books, er, magazines. As the story was only available in print, I’ve had a few requests to post it on the blog, so here it is dear readers- Enjoy and Cin Cin.

Anthology Family Issue Summer 2014

Dining Among the Vines
Text by Anna Watson Carl
Photography by Amy Dickerson
Styled by Kelly d’Amboise

anthology cov1

Antho title

antht3

anth7

 

 

 

 

 

anth4

 

anth2

 

anth5

 

anth3

Anth1

 

anth6

 

 

Related posts:

Presenting: The Kiddo
Happy Weekend!
The Analogue Guide: 5 Clinks in London
  

Harvest with Hobo Wine Co.

mtmf-kenny

Last fall, Amy Dickerson and I took a top secret trip to Santa Rosa, where we hung out with winemaker Kenny Likitprakong for a day in the life of his harvest. The fruits of our labor (and his) are currently out—ours in print, his in bottles. What a thrill to spend a day with Kenny and his crew—his crew being comprised of a few hardworking wine folk including his wife Lynn and their two darling girls. Lynn is not only a big part of Hobo Wine Co., but has her own illustrious wine label as well—my kind of woman. Fun fact: their[…]

  
1 comment | Tags: travel, vino

Disney with Toddlers: The Do’s and Don’ts and Next Times (because you can’t possibly pack it all in and please don’t try)

Disney with Toddlers

Ok full disclosure here, I’m from Orlando so I know my way around Disney World. This was not a novice attempt. However, maybe because I’m from Orlando, I’ve never been a Disney nut. I like it, sure, but have never been cuckoo for the culture, just never really bought in, and was certainly never one of those people who dreamed of one day taking their kids to Disney. That is, until my daughter started donning Princess gowns on a daily basis, making several “costume changes” per day and renaming Cinderella the much cooler and far superior, “Pissy-Ya-Ya”. And my son,[…]

  

Thursday Thrift

GLADIATORS

I just picked these babies up for $24 smackers and they’re comfy as all get out. And I love the chunky white sole. All hail Tar-zzhhay. Claudia Gladiators Related posts:Five Things For FallMonday is for MatineHappy Monday!

  
0 comments | Tags: style

Hello Again, Hello

Slim Aarons Ill Pellicano

A swanky speedboat landing at Il Pellicano by Slim Aarons. Yes please. This place is forever on my hit list. For now, I might need to just procure myself a print and dream of this coastal Tuscan wonderland, Speedos and all. Hi all. It’s me. I’m back from hiatus, or perhaps more appropriately put, the “no time for anything except motherhood and job”. And so it goes, what the hell did I do with all of that time pre-kids. Time is a funny thing, no matter how much of it you may have, you always manage to fill it up-[…]

  

Happy Weekending!

awesome people hanging out

I love this photo.  What are you all up to this fine spring weekend? We might brave the crowds and take in the wonder of the Cherry Blossom during peak bloom. My friend Rashmi advises to get there at sunrise, that’s what her family does to capture the true beauty of the blooms sans crowds. Sounds magical, we will aim for it with the expectation that we will probably arrive around 10:30 just in time to whisper swears out of ear reach of the kiddos when there is not a parking spot left to be had. We’ll take in my[…]

  

Say Hello to Your New Favorite Drink: The Perfect Springtime Cocktail!

springtime cocktail

So the blogosphere and your favorite feeds are flooded with “the perfect springtime cocktail”, yeah yeah… well, my friends, let me assure you- you can Pin no further, for I have found the ultimate drink for spring, and not just for springtime drinking by the way, this cocktail may become your most favorite for anytime sipping all the year-round. I know I will be serving this up at my birthday party this summer- and that’s saying a lot for a vino gal whose go-to is almost always a straight up glass of French bubbly. Discovered at my friends’ recent glam[…]

  

Happy Monday!

Black Sesame Ice Cream

Black Sesame Ice Cream, anyone? Yum.  Well, I missed my weekly Weekending post, so here’s a Happy Monday for you all. In the midst of being a bit overwhelmed with work/life balance (what’s new, right), I have been slowly and surely finding my way to a more simplified way of life, it’s on my mind a lot lately. After accepting too many gigs here and there that have left me exhausted and feeling like I rarely my family, I have decided to study and learn the art of the graceful decline. The problem is- I’m a city girl with a[…]

  

Thursday Thrift

Thursday Thrift flutter tee

I’m constantly on the hunt for tunic-like tees that aren’t frumpy. I just like something a little loose fitting and not so tummy-hugging- is that so much to ask, designers of the world? Cute and comfy- at this point in my life, that’s kind of what it’s all about. I love this little flutter sleeve tee from Gap. The shoulder is so flattering with just the right amount of flounce to put some sass in your step, and it’s long enough that I can wear it with my stretchy legging-like jeans (note: I did not use the term jeggings- I[…]

  
2 comments | Tags: style

Happy Weekending!

Press for Champagne

I need one of these next to my pillow.  Happy Weekend folks. What are you up to this winter’s-still-holding-on-but-officially-spring weekend? We’ll be hanging with the kiddos and then venturing into DC to see the legendary Rebirth Brass Band with some pals (thanks for the invite Linz!). Sunday, we’ll drive up to a wedding at NYC’s Four Seasons Restaurant (cue Bauhaus geekout- I’m such a nerd for this place). Our friends’ nuptials will be officiated by the incomparable duo of one James Lipton and one Betty Fussell (cue Actors Studio and culinary geekout). I have been dying to meet the iconic Fussell since my friend[…]