folk fest magic

Well, my favorite summer weekend came and went this past weekend- The Newport Folk Festival.  There were so many wonderful acts and despite either the crazy rain or insufferable heat, we still had such a blast.  Their were surprising performances, great energy and beautiful, sincere music all around.  If you want to  hear what all the fuss is about, festival organizer Jay Sweet put together a great list on Spotify:



You can also listen to the whole festival over on NPR Music.

Here are some photos of my favorite acts and a taste of our fun times.

 (commuting to the festival at the fort is best via ferry)

 (Joe Fletcher played over at the Family Tent on the first day, so we caught an intimate performance. One of my favorite things about the festival is you never know where performers will play other shows all over the place).

 (Lots of rain on day 1, but all smile, especially with Old Crow Medicine Show making everyone happy. Their energy and excitement was infectious - they just looked so happy to be playing there!)

 (And the sun did eventually come out...)

 (Inside the sailing museum, there were small workshops and Q&A sessions. We got a text from a friend saying the Avett Brothers were doing one in the morning on the second day, so we high tailed it over there - such a magical, intimate performance).

(and of course they nailed it on the main stage at the end of the day)

(I also really enjoyed Houndmouth from day 2.)

                                      (ran into two of my cousins!)             (heat was intense, but we didn't care)

(The Wheeler Brother kicked off Day 3 with a bang)

(and I didn't expect to have Lord Huron play with such energy, but man, everyone was on their feet)

(The Lumineers came and played in the crowd, and lucky enough, I was standing right by there!)

(boats drop anchor in the harbor to hear the acts on the main stage)

Another beautiful, joyous folk festival - see you next summer, Newport.

home for the holidays

(Christmas Tree in Orange County, CA)

 (Bellagio Garden in Las Vegas, NV)

Please excuse the probable lack of posts until 2011.  I'm currently heading to Laguna Beach, CA and then flying on Christmas to Las Vegas, NV for my yearly sojourn to both my homes to spend some much needed time with family.

Merry Christmas!

May you find joy this season, warmth in love and merriment in friends and family.  Love, Rie

*Images courtesy of Pic Vicious & Rose Brand

table top inspiration.

My Pottery Barn catalog came yesterday; perfect timing with fall on my mind!  I couldn't help but gush over their perfectly set tables.  I simply enjoy a well set table.  If you're having people for dinner, it really sets the mood.  And while I deplored setting the table as a child, now I look at table setting as something creative.  Really, it's an art.

(fresh flowers are always lovely and I love hand written baby menus)

(great dishes, great color, great details at Jamie Meares from ISuwannee's shop, Furbish)

(obsessed with making pop art of your friends in place of place cards - doubles as a gift! a Coco+Kelly idea)

(Pottery Barn Fall 2010 catalog fav & inspiration for prethanksgiving at the Berkeley Penthouse 2010)

Now, I can't stop thinking about ideas for how we'll set our table (er, in two months).  We have about 30 people to a SIT DOWN potluck, with passed food, so that means extraneous stuff takes quite a backseat and makes it more of a challenge so we can make sure to fit everything and everyone.  Check out pics from previous years.

(fall leaves, baby votive candles, cranberries and flowers)

(still leaves, flowers and cranberries; names written on plates to determine place)

Already collecting ideas.  Love putting names on wine glasses as a place card.  We could do something similar.

(from the improvised life)

 Another Pottery Barn inspiration -

(cutting out leaves and putting them and a pencil in a flute and have everyone write what they are thankful for.  Cute and functional!)

Any ideas to set a beautiful table without taking up too much space?