Monthly Archives: August 2015

L’ OSTERIA | TUSCANY

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We were pretty excited to leave the heat of Venice, and hop into our tiny air conditioned Fiat 100. On our way to Porto Santo Stefano, we detoured a bit, and made sure to drive through the beautiful winding roads of Tuscany. Out tiny two-seater could only fit us and our suitcases stuffed with swim trunks and suncreen. Our bellies were grumbling by the time we found our exit in Chianti. Past the beautiful vineyards and olive groves, we noticed a small wooden sign that said “L’ Osteria. Aperto.” Restaurant. Open. We pulled into the driveaway of a tiny church, beautiful Renaissance-era homes that looked untouched for centuries, and an old man smoking a cigarette, reading the paper on the porch of the restaurant, Il Rifugio Del Chianti. Quiet, but we figured we attempt to get a good meal. We walked in only to find another man dead asleep on a chair and a strong whiff of smelly cheese coming from the kitchen. We managed to wake him and had him stir us up a simple cheese and proscutto panini. No sauces. Untoasted. But it was incredibly delicious.

We sat outside the little L’ Osteria, and met Marco…the old man on the porch. He seemed happy to have some visitors to chat with. With my Italian being so bad, I just nodded and smiled, as Mickey did all the talking. We found Marco lived right next door to the restaurant, and probably sat there every single day, simply smoking a cigarette and reading the paper. He called out to his daughter to come out and meet his new friends! Carlota was sweet and spoke very good English. Her main question to us was “why do Americans come here? To Italy?” We started laughing. I guess I understand why she didn’t get why us Americans, coming from the Big Apple, found her little town of 18 people (yet perched so beautifully on the side of a mountain) to be charming. It’s true…why Italy? Maybe it’s for the romance, the adventure, the accents. Maybe it was just to get a bite of that simple cheese and prosciutto panini…something I’d normally never order back home in NYC. But it was all of these things. Italy is a place unlike any other. Us Americans just want a taste of it.

They helped us map out our way out to Porto Santo Stefano, and took off, tired as can be. I knew we would be arriving way past midnight to the hotel going at our rate. But we were in no rush. That’s the beauty of traveling. Making your own schedule and going with the flow. We bought some wine at the vineyard of Castella d’ Albola, but we really we just needed coffee. Driving under the hot Italian sun was making me sleepy. With one last pit-stop, we met the lovely Maria Pia! Her name rhyming and rolling off my tongue. I couldn’t help but feel right at home with just one look at her bubbly, smiling face. She served us extra strong espresso and homemade biscuits for the road, knowing we still had hours of traveling ahead. We were on our way.

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// Raen sunglasses, RED23 tee, Coach sandals, Free People bandana, Vintage shorts and belt //

TO OUTSIDE LANDS

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As you know, I’m a total festival go-er. I love getting down and dirty, traveling with just a tote, and a great pair of sneakers. Reef just launched the Reef Rover Slip-Ons, making the trek to through airport security to long days at the festival grounds a complete breeze. What’s coming up this weekend? Outside Lands in San Francisco. This music festival is definitely on my bucket list for next year. Man, I really do miss my West Coast family, but my Reef babes have me covered and I’ll be following along from home in NYC. You know I’m such a Rover girl. They’re like walking on a foamy cloud. That may be the best way to describe them. They call it Swellular Technology. Something that truly allows you to slip even wet feet after a day at the beach, to dancing at the bar at night. I like these best with bare legs, an indigo tie-dye romper, and a good hat to shade me from the sun. San Francisco is calling my name.

// REEF Rover Slip-Ons, Love Shack Fancy romper, Jerome Boccio handbag //

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LOLLAPALOOZA 2015

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I have survived yet another festival. One I’ve always wanted to attend. LOLLAPALOOZA! Lolla! Lolla! Talk about fun. And tons of great music. I shimmied in some killer little get-ups by Missguided. Full on printed wide-leg jumpsuits. Bell sleeved rompers. And retro little shift dresses. Anything and everything made for dancing and running around town in the 90 degree heat. Lolla is a huge festival. Roads blocked off down Michigan Avenue and stages spread out through the entire park. The sound was insanely clear and with the downtown skyline twinkling in the distance, you couldn’t have asked for a better place to listen to your favorite bands. Between stops at the craft beer garden and munching on some of the best bahn-mi sandwiches I’ve had in a while, I still discovered a ton of new music.

FKA Twigs: This girl can seriously dance.

METALLICA: These rockers gathered the biggest crowd at the festival. Think Hells Angels rolling in straight from the metal bar. I love classic metal. Just steer clear of the giant mosh pit.

Sylvan Esso: The song Hey Mami is the newest addition to my playlist

Tame Impala: I’ve seen them at just about every festival this year, but they sounded extra excellent. Maybe it was just the Chicago air. Dragonflies everywhere, the perfect end of day breeze, that made their sound extra magical at sunset.

The Chainsmokers: one of the best DJ sets I’ve heard this weekend, kicking off after the tornado storm caused a Lollapalooza evacuation! Once the storm passed, everyone quickly swarmed back into the festival…with more energy than ever.
Toro y Moi: Nothing beats classic rock n’ roll.
Wild Belle: I saw them at Surf Lodge in NYC and was so happy to see this bohemian babe perform again at Lolla.
Albert Hammond Jr: Being the lead guitarist in his past band The Strokes, his sound definitely reminded me of that Lower East Side classic rock.
First Aid Kit: I’ve been listening to these Swedish sisters since they released “Ghost Town” in 2010. Folk, and oh so charming!

Between shows, you’d find me plopped down on my blanket with my girl tribe. Quick naps to keep us going. After 3 full days on our feet, we spent Sunday night at this amazing taco joint, Big Star, down in Wicker Park, to close our weekend with a good michelada. The Black Angels was blasting on the record player. Psych rock goodness. Reminding why I love Chicago and festival season. This weekend in Chicago was all about celebrating the love of music and I had a complete blast.

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// MISSGUIDED jumpsuit //

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// MISSGUIDED romper //

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// MISSGUIDED dress //

TO LA BIENNALE

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Lucky for us, we were in Venice just as La Biennale was happening. (The contemporary art festival that only happens once every 2 years). I was intrigued by the interesting art from around the world…all in one special place. Each country’s pavilion with a different artist. Some had short films projected on a wall. Some drawings scribbled so small you had to squint to see them. Others a room just full of rose buds. Everything felt home-made and raw. All their own vision of our future. Most of the art we saw was dark, and not very positive…but it was the best way to understand our world from a unique perspective. War. Extinction. Innovation. Technology. “Time is running out!” screamed Australia’s pavilion full of ticking clocks. Cobwebs covering cans of paint. Great Britain’s yellow imagination and the French’s moving trees. As you kept going from building to building, everyone’s stories seemed to intertwine. The world’s problems something we’re all still trying to understand. Some countries had their pavilions off-site. Like the Iran pavilion was in a gorgeous Venetian home just off the Grand Canale. Quiet, and filled with drawings and artwork of the children, those who were taken away from their families or affected by war. You could just sit in a room on a bench, listen to the TV playing, and stare at all of these pictures, framed side by side. La Biennale was a memorable and educational way to spend our last day in Venice. Sort of hitting you in the face with reality amidst the romantic, dreamy vibe a tourist feels when just embarking on the best Italy trip of all time.

But it’s funny how easily we snapped back into honeymoon stage the moment the sun went down. Venice will do that to you. Clams in delicious tomato sauce swirling in my bowl. I’ll take another glass of Chardonnay please! Complete with a perfect view of the gondolas…their shadows bobbing in the water just outside the restaurant. I stopped on a bridge for one last moment to soak it all in. Our adventure was just beginning. We still had a car to rent the next morning, a beach to get to, and a drive through the small roads of Tuscany waiting for us. See you soon Porto Santo Stefano. I was dying to meet a place like you.

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// Joie blouse, Donni Charm scarf, Biko choker, Vintage denim shorts//

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