Leucadia Art Walk 2009

In it's fifth year, today is the Leucadia Art Walk, bringing over 100 artists along the 101 to sell array of fine art of all different mediums.  In addition to the art, there is also live music, a wine garden and other family fun activities.    

I spent some time perusing the booths, which many were set back in parking lots and grassy spaces off the 101.  The event was spread out,  and since it was rediculously hot outside, the free water from the Main Street Association was fantastic!  

There were a lot of talented artists and adorable shops (many which you miss driving by), but I'd have to say the two that caught my eye were photographer, Maggie Marsek, and the Eric Phleger Gallery (which was currently showing pieces from Raul Guerrero).  

Maggie's photography (images above) captures the Southern California and Baja environment and culture from a stylistic vantage.  As much as I thought that her landscapes, many of the surf, were beautiful, I particularily favored her detailed images.  The grill of a car, a hanging wetsuit, signage, small statues- not only were the articles somewhat random, which was interesting, but her colors were so bright and vivid.  Perhaps I selfishly liked these pieces because my own eye focuses on the little, often overlooked, items that make up the scenery around us.  Regardless, I am so glad that I found Maggie, and look forward to adding some of her pieces to my own collection.  

 

Lazy Sunday..... Cardiff

beautiful morning.  bright sunshine.  fresh flowers.  chirping birds.  calm breeze.  

lyrics on canvas

Layer 3, and I picked out the text for the final later (I still have a few to go....)

Lyrics from Billy Joel:

She’s got a light around her,

And everywhere she goes a million dreams of love surround her

lemons to lemonade

I've heard this saying from my mother many times, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"."  Well, life gave me (and my dog) an unhappy skunk, with an unpleasant aroma. The putrid scent has made its way deep in my carpet, clothing, and just about anything that can soak up smell, and my house is not a desirable place to linger too long.  So, since I have to air out the interior and have been banished (I say this lightly) to my porch outside, I figure, make lemonade out of these lemons.  Hence, make paintings while you have the undisturbed time alone in the backyard.  Pictured is layer 2 of a yet to be titled piece, which is part of my new series of paintings.  For what could have been a boring and frustrating day, I have made quite enjoyable :)

Cafe Noir: San Diego

I have walked past the tiny black house in San Diego's East Village with the red neon sign, Cafe Noir, many times.  I always wonder what exactly it is, but I am always on a mission to get to my destination, that I never stop in.  But this past weekend, on the way to a San Diego Padres baseball game, we decided to pop in and check it out.  Cafe Noir (447 9th Avenue) is a small coffee house and cafe in a renovated Victorian house with a small wrap around porch and a large backyard patio.  They serve a variety of specialty beverages, from espressos to mochas and the menu contains light fare, like sandwiches.  But, what caught our attention on that warm summer afternoon was the $2 beer specials.  In downtown, this is unheard of.  After ordering at the counter inside a bright red and black interior, we sat out back underneath large round paper lanterns strewn across the patio at metal tables and enjoyed the sunshine.  In the backyard there is also a stone pathway that leads to a tree-house structure surrounded by greenery for additional private lounging.  They also have a black swinging chair tucked into the corner for those who'd rather relax than people watch.  More unique than your average Starbucks, I will definitely return to Cafe Noir!

sleeper sofa: sohoConcept

In the September 2009 issue of Dwell magazine, Apartment Therapy co-founder, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan reviews a handful of sleeper sofas.  I had to agree with the article, that more often than not the sleeper sofa elicits bad memories and poor expectations.  But keeping with optimism, I thumbed through the examples and found myself picturing some of the colorful sofas in my own living room.  So, it would only be appropriate that when I spent an evening in downtown San Diego, I chose to try out the sofa over the guest bed.  This particular sofa was the sohoConcept Metropolitan Sofa Bed.  In a soft cream color, the large sofa is sleek and sophisticated with clean lines.  The back is adjustable, split into two sections and rotates in three stages depending on the desired position.   For a sleeper, the polyurethane foam internal upholstery was firm and very comfortable.  I had plenty of room (length and width) and slept very comfortably.  So not only is the Metropolitan Sofa Bed great for overnight guests, but it also stylish to fit into any modern living space.  Thumbs up from me!

Fresh Rosemary & A Good Salad

This past June I came across an article in the NYTimes that I really appreciated, Urban Farming, A Bit Closer To The Sun, about farming in the sky as part of the green roof movement.  I  sent it to my friends in Brooklyn, who had created an amazing patio and garden outside on top of the nasty blacktop roof outside their kitchen in their apartment building.  Packed with potted plants, lounge chairs, and bathtubs full of vegetables, Neena & Jeff's new living space was the perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon BBQ'ing.  On a smaller scale, near downtown San Diego in Point Loma, my friends, Jess & Micah, have begun their own rooftop garden, with herbs and tomatoes.  Lining their sundeck with terracotta pots, they have already begun to reap the benefits of growing your own produce.  Last week, Jess brought me a bag of samplings from their garden, and I made the most delicious salad with the fresh rosemary:

ROSEMARY CHICKEN SALAD

Boil (with cloves, salt & chopped onion) chicken & pull

Boil in 1" water: green beans & chopped sweet potatoes (separately)

Mix with chopped red onion, fresh rosemary, kalamata olives, feta cheese, lemon juice

Serve over arugala, S&P to taste

Enjoy with a glass of Pinot Noir

Bottle Cap Magnets_ Erin Foley

Happily for planet earth, the 'go green' movement is becoming much more hip.  People are welcoming the need to reuse and conserve wherever they can.  But long before being resourceful became cool, Erin Foley always channeled her creativity through an array of  recycled projects.  I first became aware of Erin's unique ability to find a new use for everyday items during our annual Christmas parties growing up in Virginia.  Today, Erin lives in Long Beach, California, and her need to sew, stitch, construct and create is still evident.  Her latest project is a series of bottle cap magnets.  Inspired by a present, of vintage photos in bottle caps, from her friend, Mary Kenyon (also a fellow crafter), Erin decided that she too wanted to try to find a use for her waste.  With the summer heat and a handful of friends enjoying cold brews, the recycling bin quickly fills up.  She decided to pull out the bottle caps, fill them with resin and add items; like magazine pieces, scraps of junk mail, or dried flowers.  The result was awesome.  The bottle caps, which she has made into necklaces and magnets, are all different and contain so much texture and color.  For me, I am a bit finicky about what goes on the face of my refrigerator.  I don't like clutter and like balance, almost like it's a palette in its own right.  And Erin's magnets were the perfect addition, like mini pieces of art themselves!  I absolutely love them and have received so many compliments on them (perfect to give as gifts!).  Erin intends to continue making and selling the bottle caps (shoot her an email for more information).  She is also looking for another source, similar to resin, that is less toxic to use and handle, so let her know if you have any ideas!  

Tablecloth: Anthropologie

I love to host dinner parties, and I love to have a good spread.  I have become a fan of the table linens at Anthropologie and own a handful of colorful table cloths from this fabulous chain store. Recently I purchased the Teeming Tree tablecloth.  It's a bit whimsical with the birds perched on long branches and colorful leaves, but it is bursting with color and looks great on the patio! Anthropologie does a great job changing their selections, so every time I go in, I am bound to have my eye on something new!  

Cali Orange Crush: Opening Reception Pictures

 furniture*mixture, pillows*station, fish and flowers*che bella, art*meganchristine, wine*waterfront and porto vista, charity*stay classy and ARTS ..... a wonderful evening of creativity and conversation.  thanks again to everyone who came!

SHOW

I have never been to Show, which is located up in LA's Los Feliz neighborhood, but I think I am already infatuated with the store and it's products. My friend, Amy, recently moved up to LA to attend USC's MBA program, and quickly reported back on her find. I checked out the store online, and their modern and funky home products, accessories and lighting are right up my alley. She purchased my awesome Artecnica bright springtimes tea light from Show, which are unique and garner a lot of attention. I used them recently at a patio dinner party I hosted, and the bright colors made such an impact on the spread! I can't wait to check out this 'lifestyle store'!

Salmon with Dill-Almond Pistou

The other night I adapted the below recipe from Bon Appetit.  I used almonds instead of pistachio (only because Henrys ran out of them in the bulk aisle), and I served over jasmine rice (we have a small obsession with this rice).  I also used a fair amount of lemon juice and olive oil to keep the dish from getting too dry.  It is a great light summer meal!

Salmon with Snap Peas, Yellow Peppers, and Dill-Pistachio PistouBon Appétit | August 2009

A chunky pistou with full pistachio flavor adds depth to this fresh salmon dish. Want even more vegetables? Slice lemon cucumbers (a wonderful farmers' market variety that looks somewhat like a yellow tomato) and add a squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of dill to make the perfect starter. Yield: Makes 4 servings 1/3 cup chopped fresh dill 1/3 cup finely chopped green onions (about 2) 1/2 cup shelled natural pistachios or almonds, toasted, finely chopped 1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons pistachio oil or extra-virgin olive oil 2 yellow bell peppers or orange bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch strips 1 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed, strings removed 1 garlic clove, minced 1/4 cup water 4 6-ounce salmon fillets Mix dill, green onions, pistachios, and 1/4 cup oil in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Pistou can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers and sauté until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add snap peas, garlic, and 1/4 cup water; sprinkle with salt. Sauté until vegetables are just tender and water evaporates, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 1 rounded tablespoon pistou. Transfer vegetables to platter; tent with foil to keep warm. Reserve skillet (do not clean). Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in reserved skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper. Place salmon, skin side down, in skillet; cook until skin is crisp, about 3 minutes. Turn salmon and cook until almost opaque in center, about 3 minutes longer. Arrange salmon fillets over vegetables on platter. Spoon some pistou down center of each fillet and serve, passing remaining pistou alongside.

Forward

I got this forward and it made me chuckle.........

Random Thoughts of the Day:

Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn'twork? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fixthe problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how tofix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We justfigured it out. Today's kids are soft.

Cali Orange Crush: Opening Reception

Today is the opening of my Cali Orange Crush show!  I've been feverishly working this weekend on last minute items for the reception this evening.  I am really excited for it!  

Monday August 17, is the Cali Orange Crush opening reception at Maida, 1910 State Street (downtown, in Little Italy).  The event will begin at 7pm, and run until 10pm.

In addition to seeing a new series of original photography, there will also be a hosted bar, music and outdoor lounge.  Also, any donations collected at the event will benefit ARTS, a wonderful local nonprofit.

Obsession: Dexter

Beyond a handful of shows (none which I religiously watched), I have never been one to watch a lot of television. I never got into reality shows. I don't know names of actors or movie titles. I would much rather be at the beach, out at a restaurant or running around town. But, something has changed, I can't get off my couch, I am obsessed..... with Dexter! Thanks to a friend's suggestion (and Blockbuster Online), I have found a show that I can't get enough of. Michael C Hall plays a serial killer who only kills those "bad" people that deserve it, and ironically he is also a forensic blood spatter expert for the Miami police. It's got it all: suspense, drama, horror, romance..... Now Chris is hooked too, and I just can't let him get episodes ahead of me- ha! We are actually kind of pathetic. Giggling together at Dexter'ish jokes, talking about what might happen next over fine dining, and even ignoring humanity to hole up in our house and blast through an entire disk of episodes. I don't know what it is, but it's addictive. The girl at Blockbuster was clearly just as excited about Dexter last night, when she almost spilled the beans about Season 3... can't she see on her screen that I am only on Season 2! I am actually contemplating getting Showtime this Fall........

Cali Orange Crush: Flyer

Cali Orange Crush: Ferris

The beginning of the San Diego summer could be marked by the annual opening of the Del Mar fair. This particular picture has special meaning to me, as it was my first ever ferris wheel ride.  High in the sky, I sat with two of my girlfriends and watched the sunset over Del Mar Beach.  It was a happy memory!

Cali Orange Crush: Che Bella

I was thrilled when Carla Bassi told me that Che Bella would create a floral arrangement for the reception table at my Cali Orange Crush opening. Using fresh-cut unusual flowers their creations are balanced and beautiful. Their open air store is full of sweet aromas and with poetry lining the space, romance exudes from all corners.

From my July 2008 Design Guide:
Che Bella: The inside-outside floral boutique opened in 2002 in a Fir Street cottage-shop, supplying the area with a selection of unique flowers. Entering the market-like setting through a delicate iron gate, Che Bella creates beautiful custom floral arrangements, which are complimented by elegant vases, including Christian Tortu glass and Bauer and Heath Ceramics. Owners, Carla and Jim Bassi, recently merged their two stores, Che Bella and Che Bella Nido, which offered the finest in modern, organic home furnishings and accessories. Amongst the funky and lush flowers, the store now includes an assortment of pieces, like Chilewich and Jan Barboglio.

Mix: Jennifer Luce

On Saturday afternoon I made my way down to La Jolla cove to the Museum of Contemporary Art to join a handful of other art-minded people to meet Jennifer Luce, one of nine San Diego designers featured in the exhibit Mix.  Mix showcases these designers through six project rooms, with an atypical presentation of self-analysis.  Che Bella organized the event, and the opportunity to walk through Jennifer's room with Jennifer herself was amazing.  She explained her history, the objects she chose, her influences, her projects and her interests.  While it is easy to appreciate a final product, it is rare that one gets a glimpse into the process behind it.  

(Full story will post this week)

With Birthdays, Come Flowers

I was a lucky girl this weekend, and with the celebration of my birthday, came some beautiful floral arrangements from friends & family.  My house smells so sweet & fresh.  Thank you :)

Food: Ancho-Rubbed Chicken Tacos

For a spin on the Ancho-Rubbed Pork with espresso sauce, tonight we hosted a dinner party with Chris' family, and had an outdoor taco bar adapting our favorite recipe into tacos.  I think Chris would be happy to use the espresso sauce on most anything, but happily, I think the dish was a hit with all.  It was the perfect evening to sit on our patio and enjoy good conversation and company.  Before we knew it the coffee pot was empty and the last bite of carrot cake was scrapped from the plate.  Mmmmm... I am going to sleep good tonight!    

Tacos:

- Chicken (use Ancho-rub from previous post), grill and chop up

- Yellow & Orange Peppers with Onions, sliced and grilled with s&p

- Black Beans with Onions

- Shredded spicy cheese (like pepper jack)

- Spicy Yogurt Sauce (yogurt, lime & hot sauce)

- Shredded purple cabbage

- Espresso Sauce (from previous post)

- Whole wheat tortillas, cook on the grill

- Cilantro, chopped

Cali Orange Crush: Station Pillows

I met with Kristi Steffen at Station Boutique today and we picked out the items that we are going to use when we stage the Cali Orange Crush opening.  

I am like a kid in a candy store inside Station.  Kristi has great taste, so her selection is always full of a wide variety of great finds.  In addition to some small accessories, we focused on what pillows we could add to the furniture I am using from Mixture.  We chose three pillows by Lauren Saunders.  Lauren's designs combine textured yarn with fine colored threads to create subtle shifts in color.  I first saw pillows from her Design Series at the Garner's San Diego condo, and immediately loved them!  The other two pillows are Jonathan Adler, both which are from his bargello waves collection.  These bold statement pillows definitely add pop to a couch!