The City Sage

Ticket Giveaway: Mr. Roboto Presents Halloween Party!

Halloween is just around the corner and it's hands down my favorite holiday. I'll be ringing it in this year with no less than three--that's right, three!--costume parties. If you're in the Bay Area, I've got tickets to give away to one of them: the Mr. Roboto Presents 10th Annual Halloween Party! It's going to be super fun. There's a $1000 prize for the best costume, DJ's, live music and more!

I won't tell you my costume; it's top secret. (I'm especially enamoured lately with Southern Gothic spookiness: think Dracula meets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.) San Francisco takes Halloween very seriously, so you can bet I'm going to have some heavy competition. Just leave a comment here and you're in the running for two tickets to the Mr. Roboto Presents Halloween Party!

Guest Blogging: Mountain Living Magazine

I do love a good Outfit to Room, so I jump at the chance to do a series of pairings--especially when Mountain Living Magazine invites me to guest blog for them. Yesterday I shared some rustic interiors and wardrobe musings over in that neck of the woods--take a gander!

Images: 1. Anthropologie 2. Oh Pioneer!

Get Organized: Sleek, Chic Office!

You know how Spring is the time of year when some people go on a cleaning and organization frenzy? Not me! I'm all about an Autumnal back-to-school regroup, even though I technically haven't been a back-to-schooler in years. And Monday's black and white interiors inspiration has me dreaming of an office in keeping with that spare, sophisticated palette inspiration.

Brightly colored desk accessories would be de rigeur in an otherwise spartan work space. I absolutely adore Keel's Simple Diary for its rainbow hued covers and its cheeky writing prompts! And while I've yet to make it to the stationery store in real life this year, I did have fun browsing the virtual shelves for a kicky mobile, bookmarks, Sharpies, a clock, ink and tape to round out this post!

Interiors Images: 1, 2, 3.

Whitney Port and The Eve of Hope

I've never seen an episode of The Hills or The City, so I don't get the Whitney Port hoopla. But I am familiar with her fashion label Whitney Eve; plus several of my friends and family members have been effected by breast cancer. So when I was invited to attend a National Breast Cancer Foundation event that Whitney hosted at Domaine Chandon, I was delighted.

Whitney debuted her Spring 2012 collection, and guests were treated to delectable eats and bubbly. But most importantly, funds and awareness were raised. When I spoke with Whitney earlier that day, she expressed her passion for spreading the word about early detection--and shared that several of her own family members have benefited from exactly that. Cheers, yes?

Photos: All by me with the exception of bottom left, which is Drew Alitzer. P.S. The lovely ladies in the pic with me? That's Amber and Gigi. Total dolls, I tell you!

Tuesday Tunes: Release the Sunbird

Last weekend I did my favorite thing I the whole world: I hit the road. The occasion? My friend Nic Pope needed a ride. He's a brilliant audio engineer, and he was doing the sound for the band Release the Sunbird when they opened for Death Cab for Cutie near Pasadena. How did this affect me? Fourteen hours round-trip in the car, backstage pass, sheer heaven!

We started off at 8 am on Friday. Muffins and coffee from my favorite bakery fueled us across the Bay Bridge as the sun began its climb in the sky. The endless miles of California highway stretched before us as Nic DJ'ed with his iPod and I tapped my toes along on the dash. We reached our destination--the concert was fantastic of course!--then turned around and got home at 6 am Saturday.

And if you're not familiar with Release the Sunbird, you must acquaint yourself. A new project from Zach Rogue (of Rogue Wave fame) it's exactly the type of music you want on a road trip. Think spine-tingling harmonies, guitar chords that you can close your eyes and get lost in. I dare you not to want to sing along to this acoustic version of Running Away from Me. Happy Tuesday! xo

Image Credits: Fashion Images, Kalle Gustafsson for Marie Claire October 2011. Others coming soon (I have to track 'em down! Eep!)

Black and White All Over: Marie Claire Maison

Oh boy. It's that time again. Time for me to look around my apartment at the warm oak floors, brass accents and pale touches of color on the walls and muse: 'Gosh, wouldn't it be awesome to paint everything black and white?' And here are the images that've got me thinking about this drastic move--a glorious interior from Marie Claire Maison!

I just love when an old space--in this case a late-18th century structure--is stripped of all adornment and its architecture is allowed to shine. Mouldings and balusters, broad planks and marble tiles, each and every detail is spectacular! Spare decor elements (a glass cloche here, a Bertoia chair there) are all the more appreciated as they're clearly so carefully selected.

Let's talk about the writing on the staircase risers in that first image. It reads, 'L'enfance trouve son paradis dans l'instant. Elle ne demande pas du bonheur. Elle est le bonheur,' and it translates as 'Childhood finds paradise in the moment. It does not demand happiness. It is happiness.' And yes, that definitely deserves to be the only pink in this whole space!

Images: Marie Claire Maison, November 2011.

Get Dressed: 90's Nostalgia

Lately people have been calling the 90's vintage. And I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I do know that I'm pretty happy to see some of my favorite 90's moments back in action. Because let's be honest, chicks like Liv, Winona, Gwyneth, and Drew are still pretty rad right now, but they kicked major girl-power butt back in the day.

So have an unadulterated 90's moment. Watch Empire Records, listen to The Sundays, rock a minimalist outfit with unexpected proportions. Daydream about the boys who dated those girl-power gals. (Ethan! Johnny! Brad! Keanu!) And if you must, listen to the Spice Girls. 'Cause admittedly Wannabe was a darn catchy tune.

Outfit Details: Cropped sweater, 3.1 Phillip Lim. Booties, Alexander Wang. Sunglasses, Juicy Couture at Endless.com. Clutch, Jendarlingbags.

Lately Loving: Vintage Marilyn Monroe

Maybe it's my nostalgic sensibilities, maybe it's a recent flood in the number of pins to Pinterest, but it seems that Marilyn Monroe images are everywhere, and I for one can't get enough. The legend, the myth, the mystique of Marilyn captivates me, and I find myself wanting to know more about the woman behind the radiant smile.

The best images are the ones in which she seems caught off guard, and we can imagine what she was like when not playing to the camera. They capture her daydreaming, laughing as the wind blows her hair into her face. Many of them are at the beach my favorite spot too--perhaps a reason for my fascination? Tell me: Do you have an iconic star from days gone by who you would love to meet?

Interiors Images: 2. Unknown 3. Tartelette 4. decor8 book 6. Elle Decor 7. Toast 8. Crush Cul de sac

Book Review: Open Studios with Lotta Jansdotter

What is it with our desire to see not only into people's homes, but also into where they work? I'm just as guilty as the rest of us--I can't resist peeking behind the curtain and getting a glimpse at where the magic happens, especially when that magic is the creative process of an artist or a craftsperson. So I'm loving the book Open Studios with Lotta Jansdotter.

You've probably heard of Lotta Jansdotter. A Swedish-born designer who has spent the last few decades here in the States, she wrote this book because just like the rest of us, she's a workspace voyeur and she's not ashamed to admit it! Filled with charming lo-fi photos by Jenny Hallengren, this slim volume will give you your Peeping Tom fix and then some.

Divided into sections that include Brooklyn, Stockholm, and Tokyo, Lotta gives us a look at the studios of painters, photographers, ceramicists, textile designers and more, all narrated in her warm and casual voice. There are familar friends like Sesame Letter Press and Hable Construction, plus plenty more I'd never heard of. All in all, a real treat!

Images: Jenny Hallengren for Open Studios with Lotta Jansdotter, published by Chronicle Books.

Etsy Is My Kryptonite: Tatter and Fray Vintage

This definitely falls into the category of 'can't afford it so blog about it'. Tatter and Fray is one of those Etsy jewel boxes, a brilliantly edited little shop that manages to find all the best vintage nuggets for home and tabletop. They comb the junk sales and bargain basements for you, braving funny smells and sticky residues so you don't have to. Um, brass camel anyone?!

I'm especially fond of this little dacschund valet--sold since I first drafted this post! From the item description, "rings could be threaded over the tail and a watch around the neck". How incredibly adorable is that? It's probably for the best that someone snapped the little fella up before I did, but I can tell you I'll be lurking at Tatter and Fray for more goodies to come!