Summertime Trips...a look back

Well it's official: FALL hit North Carolina, and now WINTER is on the way. I left the Museum (yes, I get to work in this beautiful, Southern bungalow turned American art museum) yesterday to a sea of falling yellow, red, and orange leaves. As a child, I remember visiting my grandparents and being in absolute awe of the changing seasons. When you grow up in a season-less area surrounded by palm trees, fall is kind of an anomaly. Anyways...as fall hit and I busted out my sweaters and scarves, I wanted to take a little trip down memory lane to highlight some of the fabulous trips I spent with great friends this summer.

First stop...Charleston, South Carolina
I'd been DYING to experience Charleston as an adult. I visited once when I was younger, but honestly, I don't remember much other than our awesome, white Aerostar mini-van breaking down on the side of the highway, followed by my parents, brother, and I cramming into the front of a tow truck as we ventured to the nearest motel. I'd actually prefer to block that out. Despite that lovely memory, I headed down to Charleston this summer with some friends to enjoy the delicious food, nightlife, and of course, quality beach time.

Favorite stops of the weekend: 
Social Wine Bar: Delicious tapas, extensive wine list, and of course, perfect dirty martinis
Pearlz Oyster Bar: A Charleston staple, finishing the night off with a few rounds of oyster shots
Poogan's Porch: Amazing brunch spot (I die for the Fried Green Tomato Benedict) in a classic 19th century Victorian home
King Street Shops: Thanks to one of my favorite Design blogs, Design*Sponge, this amazing Charleston, South Carolina Guide outlined so many of the unique design shops to hit up on a free afternoon
Blossom: Perfect way to end a girls weekend with local produce, seafood, and a great atmosphere
 


Ladies at Pearlz, oyster shots obviously

 Next...Washington, D.C. and Hagerstown, Maryland
I usually engage in the typical "barbecue and brews" Independence Day festivities, but thanks to the roomie, I took off to visit our nation's capital and some of Maryland's historic battlefields for the 4th of July.  By far one of the most patriotic holidays I've ever had, I had quite the history lesson on our tour of Antietam Battlefield, but I also truly enjoyed seeing the almost eerily beautiful landscapes.



Barn at Roulette Farm

 Followed by...Chicago
Another city I'd been itching to visit! My best childhood friend, Molly B, has lived in Chicago since she ventured there for college, and I'm quite shocked (and disappointed in myself) that I made my first trip this summer. This weekend kicked off my summer wedding round-up with Molly B's Bachelorette Party! While I'm bummed I missed the trolley around Chicago the first night, I'm glad that my face at least made it on a stick for photo opportunities...


Molly B and I gearing up for the night...



You know how much I love my wine...

 Anyways, when I finally arrived to Chicago, we celebrated Molly B's last hoorah at Pitchfork Music Festival. As a music junkie, I couldn't wait to hit up the festival, especially since Winston-Salem, North Carolina doesn't offer a ton of live indie music. I'd heard mixed reviews about Animal Collective live, but they absolutely rocked it...couldn't have asked for a better show or more fun/unique way to celebrate a bachelorette.

A few other fun stops from the weekend:
The Terrace at Trump: The $20 glasses of wine are totally worth the views at this rooftop bar!
MCA Chicago: Compelling and innovative art of our time, definitely worth a visit for a contemporary art lover
Urban Remains: A fun vintage/thrift shop just west of downtown Chicago...think vintage signs, stained glass windows, unique majolica tiles, and ornamental pieces
Millenium Park: A trip to Chicago wouldn't be complete without visiting one of the greatest parks devoted to public art and architecture...love love love when cities understand the importance of public art in communities



 Animal Collective at Pitchfork Music Festival





Views of Downtown Chicago from the Trump Hotel





Molly B and I Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate in Millennium Park

 And finishing up in...New York City! 
Lastly, special thanks to KTbabe for choosing to have her Bachelorette Party in my old stomping grounds! We couldn't have asked for a better weekend to celebrate being with great friends, dancing until the sun came up (or a chandelier fell from the ceiling), and eating delicious food.

A few obvious loves, and a few hidden ones:
Otto Enoteca: Honestly one of my favorite pizzeria and wine bars...an especially good deal if you go with a large group for the prix fixe. I've never seen so much food, and the wine kept flowing...
675 Bar: Great music, great drinks, great dancing...until chandeliers fall out of the ceiling...
Poco: Spanish inspired all-you-can-drink brunch spot that plays old school 90's favorites from TLC to 'NSync? Yes please.
The Rusty Knot: Trip wouldn't have been complete without a stop at  this dive bar on the West Side Highway to get their signature drink, the Rusty Knot, some guac, and hang out with my grad school friends.




All the ladies at the Gansevoort Park Hotel

 That's all for now...heading off for warmer weather this week to celebrate Molly B's nuptials in our hometown, Palm Beach, Florida. Hopefully will have lots to report back on...but for now, back to work and Happy Tuesday!

Newest Playlist Addition...

I could honestly listen to this on repeat all day...

Monday Musings...

Just a couple (out of many) reasons why I love being back in North Carolina:
1. Great friends who live just a drive away makes for an abundance of reunion weekends
2. Wake Forest Football, or more importantly, tailgating prior to WF football...

Couldn't have asked for a better weekend, and looking forward to more visitors making the trip down South from NYC this weekend...a few highlights from the weekend:

New Beginnings

Oh this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
Goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun

It’s official, I’ve finally begun my foray into blogging after months, well years, of always saying that I should start.  Working in an art museum, I’m surrounded by masterpieces daily, but what I love most is the simple pleasures I find in all things creative and cultural (fine art, music, food, fashion, and travel) that ultimately reflect my personal aesthetic.

A native South Floridian, turned New Yorker, and transformed, yet again, to a Southern Belle in North Carolina, I have an unique, aesthetic flare (think bamboo furniture and Ikat prints, mixed with Indie concert posters and industrial metal accents, and finally touched off with shabby-chic, distressed pieces).  I know, its a lot to take in.  But these mixed styles create the spaces that I love, and, most importantly, remind me of the all the places I’ve called “home.”

So I hope you’ll enjoy this new beginning for me: a look into some of the simple trinkets & truths that inspire me daily. 

Quote courtesy of the talented Colbie Callait