Red, White, and Blue

Image via Paul Costello

Happy 4th of July to all! Heading to Atlanta for an impromptu visit and cannot wait. Pool parties, lake visits, pup kisses... Here I come!

Sunbaths



My mom sent me this picture of my wild girl/ dog-hummingbird, Mlle Barker, taking a sunbath this morning at our lake house in North Georgia. Look how happy she is, snoozing in the sun. There is no where on this planet I would have rather spent my morning than sitting on our front porch enjoying the view, drinking coffee, and eating peaches and sausage biscuits with this little one.

I am going to my first Yankees game tonight. This girl wants her some cheesesteak and baseball.

It's Here....

Summer in the city. Three days in a row of 90+ degree weather on tap for NYC and I am loving the suffocating heat, so familiar and missed by my Southern bones. Excuse my absence. I am having a shockingly busy week.

This day will come for me, I know it.
Photo, Slim Aarons.



Charlotte Rampling

I stumbled upon photos of the British actress Charlotte Rampling somewhere in the blog kingdom a few months ago and was struck by her timeless beauty and style. Charlotte began acting in the mid-1960's, but sadly I am only familiar with her role as Kiera Knightley's mother in The Duchess (I love period-movies, and this one did not disappoint). Regardless, the photos I found of her in the 60's and 70's are serving as my style and hair  inspiration this summer.

Weekend: Smiles and Turf

Saturday's View from Above

My weekends have been following a very predictable pattern lately: dinners out, iced coffees, reading in the park, many bites of something sweet, small doses of exercise, and quality time with favorite people. This weekend followed the pattern very nicely.

Saturday was one of best days I have had in such a long time. I picked up my favorite- iced, soy latte- then tried a new recipe for breakfast for my roommate and I (baked oatmeal, try it, you will not be disappointed). We had a late lunch at Grey Dog in Chelsea then a few drinks on the roof our friends' apartment. What a view.

Perfect night to follow a perfect day... My sister and I finally ate at Frankie's 570 which included rosé, crostini, meatballs, homemade pasta, and great conversation. I have been wanting to try Frankie's 570 since it opened and am happy to say that it lived up to my expectations: fresh, simple, casual Italian in a great setting. We then leisurely walked to SoHo (via some ice cream and drooling outside the Phillip Lim store) to see The Best, Exotic, Marigold Hotel. I love dry English humor, so this film, with some of my favorite English actors, was right up my alley.

I spent Sunday reading, splitting a lobster roll, running on the Westside Highway, enjoying this home cooked meal, then watching the Game of Thrones finale. The only thing missing from my weekend would have been a kiss from my sweet pup, who is living up her summer in Atlanta without me.





3.1 Phillip Lim

This food truck has set up shop in my favorite park. I tried the lobster roll-- perfection.
The smiles and turf weren't bad either.

Weekend: Memorial Day at Meeting House



Foggy morning on Meeting House Lane, Amagansett



I hope that everyone had a happy, sunny, and safe Memorial Day holiday!

I spent my weekend in Amagansett at the house I am a 34th-part-owner of for the summer. One weekend down, 6 more to go. The weekend went by in a flash of waiting in line (lines, lines, and more lines...), Cyril's BBCs and lobster rolls, and hearing "Call Me Maybe" more than a few times.



I am a wee bit of a breakfast connoisseur so I was beyond excited when I saw that our house is walking distance from the Amagansett Farmers Market. They have a make-your-own iced coffee station, beautiful flowers, and killer breakfast sandwiches. I walked to breakfast there both mornings and can see this becoming my summer weekend habit.



Self-service. Come to Mama.



Saturday: Iced coffee, oatmeal with granola, Hamptons Cottages and Gardens



While I had the best time this weekend, and am excited about more to come, I feel a sense of dichotomy about weekends like this. Location, lifestyle, choices... I was daydreaming while walking to breakfast Saturday about the alternative... Waking up feeling 100% rested, no-dull aches from sleeping on the floor or anxiety-ridden hangovers to battle. The only conclusion I can reach is this will be a summer of wanting "both/ and". I am not ready to give up it up, but I want more at the same time.



Frat beach? Not quite the original (St. Simons) but it worked!



I came back to the city Sunday night to beat the rush and meet a good friend who was visiting for brunch on Monday. We got to catch up, split a prosciutto sandwich, and have a cupcake for dessert then went off to enjoy the rest of the Mem Day scorcher in NYC.

Going to Foster the People tonight in Central Park. Happy Tuesday to all!




I found these little ditties on my way home from brunch.
Mara Hoffman for Soludos.

 

Weekend: Rosé Colored Glasses

It's amazing what a dose of sun can do.




Reading by the Highline: my sliver of paradise.



A full weekend of happy things: perfect weather, dining al fresco, bowls of pasta, reading in the park, brunch at Gemma, new birthday vests, Georgetown cupcakes, reminiscing while making very important lists, Wren visiting, Rosé tasting, and installing... an air conditioner (finally!).



Georgetown Cupcakes and Svetich





Gemma 





Weekend: A Taste of Summer

Finally, sun and warmth on a Saturday and Sunday. My prayers answered. Until this weekend, it has seemed that the most beautful days of the week were Mondays and Tuesdays when I can't be outside to enjoy them.

Friday night I went to a late dinner with some friends at Kittichai. My happiness over the perfect weather was magnified by borrowing this lovely blouse of my sister's and spending a night catching up with one of my favorite people.




Bad self-photography.
Top, Sandro.



I spent most of Saturday and Sunday laying out in the island of grass by my apartment and enjoying little luxuries: a delicious grilled cheese from Lucy's Whey in Chelsea Market, new bedroom lilies, reading Vanity Fair cover to cover, and watching Birdsong. Last night I topped it all off with a bowl of spaghetti pomodoro and a pilgrimage to Ben and Jerry's. It really doesn't get any better than that.

Oh, and I met this guy who was also enjoying his Saturday strolling through the West Village. We bonded over a shared love of M&M's.