Lobstahs

Matt and I are headed to Maine bright and early tomorrow! I can not wait to get my paws on a lobster roll or six. And I think Portland is my most favorite little city in the country—good eats, good shops, good scenery. I hope to get some posts up while I'm out there (if I can just remember to pack my pesky camera cord, I forget it on nearly every trip). After Maine I'll be camping out in Boston with my brother and sister-in-law for a few nights, where there will be more lobster! Then I'm going to head down to NYC for about a week—where I'm hoping to convince my friend Kim to have a lobster roll with me. Long trip to the East Coast—I guess I need to get my fill (of lobster) while I'm still close by...because, it's official, we're moving back to L.A. in mid-July! Have a great weekend everyone! Above: John Derian painted lobster tray ($80).

Stick Lighters

The accessories of smoking are so much cooler than actually smoking. Don't hate the player, hate the game? Oh well, there's always candles and bottle rockets. These slim and sleek little lacquered lighters by Tsubota Pearl ($30)—Japan's it designer of smoking paraphernalia—are so fun.

Cindy City

I'm currently digging the new Cindy Lamp by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell. I think it would look great in a super-sleek office—it's certainly got a lot of flash. I especially love the bold color palette including platinum, bronze, mint green, tangerine, ultramarine, flamingo, gun metal and violet—in true Kartell style. I don't know who's retailing yet, so not sure of the price, but will let you know when I know.

Cy Twombly at the New Wing

On Sunday, my friend Kim and I scoped out the new modern wing of The Art Institute of Chicago, which was brilliantly designed by architect Renzo Piano. We had a very special tour from a docent-friend and were both blown away by all of it, especially the Cy Twombly exhibit. Twombly is back in Chicago at the Art Institute after nearly 60 years (his first solo exhibition in 1951!) with large-scale pieces that represent his signature style of merging painting, drawing and writing. Run, don't walk, to see the new wing, it's free after 5pm on Thursday nights.

Have a great weekend! Hope you can spend it all outside. I love this time of year when the days are so long that the sky is cobalt blue around 8pm (iPhone pic from North Avenue Beach a few nights ago).

Priscilla Woolworth wasp catchers

I can't believe Memorial Day Weekend is here and we're already kicking off summer. Matt and I have been eating al fresco every day this week and it was especially Summery last night when we made a summer salad using local farm fresh corn and tomatoes. Yum yum. These wasp catchers are so simple and great looking (and cheap!); and I swear they'll be the smartest thing you'll buy this entire season. Fill the wasp trap with sweet liquid or sugar water, hang it from a tree branch or put it away from the table and the wasps will immediately be attracted to it leaving you to eat your meal in peace. Get them right here ($5-$10).

Tord is Lord

The latest from iconic Dutch designer Tord Boontje is his 2009 Future Flora pendant lamps ($90) made from silver-plated, laser-cut stainless steel. There are three varieties: Laure, Nadine, and Rugiada, each one a supposed intersection of nature and technology. They ship flat.

Watch Bond

So, say your wrist is looking a little less like a British spy's and a little more like an average Joe's. You want to do something about it, but you're not ready to dive in and buy a new Rolex. How about a new watchband? In Goldfinger and Thunderball, 007 wore his watch on a black cloth NATO* strap with twin gray regimental stripes (accompanied by a Rolex Submariner 6538—but who's counting?). Swap out your metal or leather band this Summer for one of these, it'll give your wrist a whole new casual-yet-hardcore look. And I think, legally-speaking, you'll be licensed to kill, Rolex or not. Get one here ($14-$17).

*NATO straps are military-issue length which are typically longer than regular watch bands, allowing you to wear it on top of a sleeve or fighter jacket, say.

P.A.M. (Post about Monograms)

One topic that keeps coming up among friends and family is what I'm going to do about my name after I get married. Keep the byline? Change it completely? Change my name personally but not professionally? All I know at this point is that I'm not hyphenating anything. It's been fun to play around with different monograms that Matt and I can both use. I forgot where I found the above image from the Encyclopaedia (sic) of Monograms, but somewhere out there in the blogosphere there are others spending too much time thinking about monograms too—and that brings me great comfort. I like that top left one under EM-continued. Leontine Linens has an great selection of old-school monogram styles—some of my favorites below.

Encantado Resort

What an spectacular hotel just outside of Santa Fe! We had such a great weekend there. There are a few highlights I wanted to point out on the blog before I got any further with my day.

Watch out Post Ranch Inn with your Lexus hybrids, Encantado's bellhops have electric cars.

LewAllen satellite art gallery on the property.

Terra Restaurant designed by AvroKO.

James Beard award-winning chef Charles Dale pointing out some of his herbs growing outside Terra.

Fire pit that often is accompanied by homemade marshmallows, Hershey's bars and graham crackers.

Hotel bar and lounge.

It's very important to stay hydrated in the dry hot air at a high-elevation. Santa Fe is 7,000 feet up!


I'm not sure how this Amy Winehouse silkscreen fits in with the rest of the rustic early 20th century-inspired and desert-influenced design around the bar. But, it did get a lot of attention.

Interesting way to stack gilded edged books.

The rooms are all spread out in little clumps of casitas around the property.

Great rooms. Very comfortable, no wasted space, and the bathrooms have heated floors.

Robert Redford headed for the Spa.

Private sauna for two.

Encantado hiking trail head. I didn't see any coyotes, jackrabbits, roadrunners, horned lizards or pinacate beetles, but I did see plenty of Nopal Prickly Pear cacti.


A real getaway spot.

1973 Bloomingdale's Book of Home Decorating

How badly do you want this book!? Imagine all the early 70s goodness in there. And what a great color of purple on the hardcover? Get it here ($125).

Enchanté, Santa Fe.

I'm headed home in a few hours and I have to say I was very surprised by Santa Fe—it's a lot more than I imagined it would be. Yes, there are still massive amounts of kitsch at bad art galleries, but there's also a wonderful sense of remoteness, serenity and enchantment. I guess that's why a lot of celebs flee L.A. and New York for the high-altitude desert gem (did I mention I roasted a marshmallow with SJP last night? Not to mention Hugh Grant, Vince Vaughn and Robert Redford who were also spotted on the Encantado property). But what I loved most was all the color. Thanks Santa Fe, it was nice to meet you again.