Finally! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, particularly those of you that get to relish in a long holiday weekend. Make it count!
Photo via.
A New Orleans Moment
I've got New Orleans on the brain. The line-up for the annual Jazz Fest was announced just a few days ago which seems to get more impressive each year (Elton John! Dr. John! Trombone Shorty! Allen Toussaint! Chicago!). Suddenly, I find myself craving the strawberry bourbon cocktails we concocted in the parking lot before last year's shows. This morning, with the aid of my favorite NOLA expatriate, we sent off a list of restaurants to a dear friend and I'm salivating just thinking about the lunch shenanigans at Galatoire's, hurricanes on Bourbon Street and shrimp and grits at La Petite Grocery.
Since I'm having a New Orleans moment, I revisited my archive of homes and interiors in the crescent city. Above, designer Sara Ruffin Costello showcased her New Orleans home in Domino Magazine back in May 2013. The home she found with her hubby on holiday and was the catalyst for leaving New York. I love the moody wall colors, mix of antique pieces with the velvet sofa and the collection of shot-guns rested against the fireplace. The ornate chandelier is lovely, drawing attention to the 14 foot ceiling.
See more, here and if you continue to have the south on the brain like, moi, read about my Great Grandmother, 'The Most Unforgettable Character I've Met' published in 1955 in Reader's Digest.
Catherine Deneuve & Château de Primard
Catherine Deneuve listed her Parisian countryside estate with Sotheby's several months ago. The French actress, YSL's muse and global style icon, listed her eight bedroom chateau known as Château de Primard, for €3.99M ($5.5M). The grounds were landscaped by Belgium based Jacques Wirtz (who sculpted he hedges of the French president, among other notorious gardens). There is no denying that this property is beautiful, but frankly, I'd get Jacques back for a little face-lift of the grounds, in addition to a little sprucing of the interior (see here). Interestingly, the listing has vanished from the Sotheby's site since the last time I checked, so I wonder if someone has already transacted!
'A Tuscan Dream' indeed.
The desktop on my work computer has for years, always been a lustrous scene at Il Pellicano, one of my dream destinations. In fact, one of my first C&C posts was on this tuscan gem (see here). I love the history behind its inception, the magical romance it never ceases to illustrate in both words and illustration, and the modern day allure it continues to exude despite being a fixture of the 60's jet-set culture. I was so pleased to see it featured in the WSJ Magazine. Slip into the lens of Marie-Louise Sciò, the hotel's Creative Director, by reading here.
Salty's Got Game
Sometimes when you see your parents or grandparents in their mature ages, you forget that at one point in their lives, they were young, vivacious, athletically ambitious and fierce. They were, to a degree, versions of your current self in what might feel like a distant lifetime ago.
Living in the Newport area, it's no surprise when you visit friends' and neighbors' homes that they are dusted with some sort of silver dish or plaque from a sailing regatta in our local waters. My house is no different. Silver, pewter and various shades of mahogany and teak are scattered around our house that remind us of my Father's triumphs on the water. From champagne buckets to punch bowls, to catch-alls and odd figures and frames, they truly come in all forms. I've even smuggled a few of these out to San Francisco with me.
Over the holiday, my Father and I pulled out boxes upon boxes of his sailing trophies to reminisce on his glory days. As my Dad enthusiastically rattled on about the time his J-24 was on the cover of Sail Magazine in '79 and the week he spent with Dennis Connor and the Freedom team tuning up before the America's Cup in '74, I was reminded that my Father had it all happening. In my opinion, the best part of his adventures on the race course back in the day, was his ability to reflect on them in the present, 30 years later with his daughter he taught how to sail.
Above: A quick snapshot of some of Salty's trophies in all shapes and sizes, including signature beer cans from the 1974 America's Cup in Newport, Rhode Island.
The Grandest
Mothers are the grandest and mine does not fall short by any measure. Happy Birthday to you, Mom! Love you to the moon and back! xx
Hump Day
In the grand spirit of hump day, I present to you a shot from Ralph Lauren's Spring-Summer 2015 campaign. Shot by Bruce Weber, model Sanne Vloet is joined by 5 camels to help evoke the collection's safari and desert influences.
Image via.
About Town in Boston: B&G / No. 9 Park
Boston restauranteur Barbara Lynch Gruppo has left a twinkle in my eye. During a brief stay in Boston, I had the pleasure of dining at B&G Oyster and No. 9 Park, two of her eight restaurants in the Red Sox nation. B&G Oyster proved to be the perfect landscape for an afternoon lunch on a chilly winter day in the South End. We shared oysters, a snap pea salad, brussels sprouts and moules frites accompanied by wine. The restaurant is a modern take on the classic New England oyster bar. In the summer, their patio is apparently all the rage.
That evening, we braved the cold and went to Beacon Hill and ate at No. 9 Park. Tucked away in a historic townhouse, the restaurant is an elegant jewel box that has rightfully earned acclaim for their outstanding wine collection and French and Italian inspired cuisine. Dare I say, the cheese platter alone outdid some I've swooned over in San Francisco, and lamb accompanied by a decadent gorgonzola fondue was impressive. Both experiences proved to be memorable and I'm looking forward to returning.
Above: a snap from our lunch at B&G Oysters.
E. E. Cummings
Lettermade
I must have been a good girl this year because Santa was quite generous. One of my favorites included these lovely cocktail napkins from my sister. I love personalized gifts and these blend a perfect balance between the classic monogram and contemporary whimsy. Crafted by Lettermade, the company offers a collection of beautiful cocktail and dinner napkins, a sure thing for your next host/hostess or special friend. Now who is coming over for cocktails??