Summer Doldrums.

I feel like I am floating amiss in the grips of the late summer Doldrums. If you don't know about the Doldrums, well, the Doldrums are the area around the equator (also known as the equatorial calms) that have a light and varied wind due to the heat at the equator. During the peaks of summer, the Doldrums wind dies down to almost nothing. Back in the cool old days of pirates and sailing, the Doldrums became notorious with sailors because of their periods of deadly calm. The area could trap ships for days or weeks on end. Boats would have to sit and just wait for enough wind to power their sails. They were powerless to move until enough wind came to fill there sails and propel them forward again. Thus, in colloquial usage, "being in the doldrums" refers to being in a state of listlessness, despondency, inactivity, stagnation, or a slump.

I am definitely in the summer doldrums.

It could be the heat. It is hot here in San Antonio right now. So, so hot. We are on our 58th day of temperatures over 100 degrees. There is no sign of it letting up, and I am tired of being sweaty. So while my inbox if full of emails hailing the "The Warm-up to Autumn" (Anthropology) and "Fall Shopping Lists" (Lucky Magazine) and "Our Fall Preview Event" (Gap), I still feel like I am melting in an inferno.

It could be work. This summer my office turned over 67% of our labor force. We are a five person staff and we saw three of the five leave. We hired two new people to serve in the management position. We also hired a fresh-from-college kid into one of the vacancies. So now I am the veteran employee, and essentially the only person with any historical memory in the organnization. Transitions in the work place are always tough. They are even tougher when multiplied by three. I find coping with the day to day frustrations of an all new team to be an all-consuming, and not in a good way. I know that time and patience will turn the situation around, but for right now, work is a bummer.

It could be I've just plain lost my mojo. My sewing mojo, my crafting mojo, and dare I say it, even my cooking mojo. Last night I attempted cappuccino creme brule for dinner club. It should have been easy, but it did not set right, and we had the hardest time melting all of the sugar with the butane lighter, so the sugar was grainy. Don't get me wrong, we all ate it anyway and the taste was good, but the overall product was just so "eh" (and it's such a shame, because I baked all the desserts in our china coffee cups and had such a cute theme of after dinner coffee going on).

Sewing is not going so well either. I have botched two projects I was really expecting to succeed with. The "Everybody's Favorite Claire McCardell" dress is going to have to change its name to the "ALMOST Everybody's Favorite Claire McCardell" dress. I just could not get the bust to fit correctly. More to come on that project. I am also working on the 1950's collar confection blouse, and experiencing the same bust fit issues. And I have a beautiful Liberty print of red poppies lined up, so I have to get my mojo back.

I know the summer Doldrums are not permanent. Like any good sailor, I just have to wait and let nature take its course. Until the winds pickup however, I will just be out here floating, waiting for the breeze to fill my sails so I can get back on my way.

A little pickling factory.

This weekend Sam and I became a little pickling factory. We pickled peppers. We pickled onions. And we pickled grapes. Yes, grapes. And they are good.

I have wanted to pickle for a long time. And Sam loves pickles. He actually loves them so much that Sunday, as we were cleaning up and jarring our pickles, he decided to drink some of the leftover brining liquid. It was a mistake which he promptly followed with several Tums and a Zantac. It turns out pickles are not the best food for a guy with stomach acid issues. However they are delicious, and therefore worth a bit of heartburn.

My kick into pickling action came last week at the bi-monthly dinner club. John and Lauren made the most delicious Potted Chicke Rillettes recipe that included no less than four sticks of butter. They served the dish with an assortment of pickles, including homemade pickled peppers. The peppers were delicious, and the perfect accompaniment to the rich chicken dish. Since Sam and I have about 4 lbs of peppers in our fridge courtesy of the summer CSA, the pickling commenced. I like to go all out when I try something, and I have been storing a few pickling recipes since last summer, so in addition to the peppers we also pickled red onions and grapes.

I found the pickled grape recipe courtesy of my favorite food bloggist, Bon Appetite columnist, and book author Molly Wizenburg (aka Orangette). Only this time the recipe was on NPR (is there any cool place that this girl isn't publishing?). It was in the archives back from 2007, and it is an editorial on pickles. Only not your normal pickles, exciting pickles like onions, prunes, and grapes.

I was further motivated, because I have actually had one, single, delicious pickled grape in my life. My sister Anne made Orangette's recipe this summer, and she fed me one succulent grape over my fourth of July trip. I was hooked. They taste like a slightly tart cinnamon treat. They are crisp, bright, and completely unique. Now Sam and I have three little jars of pickled grapes in our frige, on a shelf full of pickled produce. It is wonderful.

We have a lot of pickled produce to eat in the next few weeks, but already I am planning my next foray into pickling. Next up, pickling carrots. And Maybe okra. I have a lot of summer CSA okra in my fridge. Oh yes, and prunes. Is there anything that can't be made more delicious through pickling? Pucker up, its about to get real tangy around here.

Pickled Grapes
from Molly Wizenberg (aka Orangette) via NPR

According to Molly, "These may sound curious, but they're a real crowd-pleaser: crunchy, sweet and warmly spiced. The recipe is adapted from Susan Kaplan of Boat Street Kitchen in Seattle. I like these grapes best within the first four days after they're made, but some people like them even more after a week or two. Their pickled flavor gets stronger over time, and their skins will wrinkle slightly."

1 pound red grapes, preferably seedless
1 cup white wine vinegar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 (2 1/2-inch) cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon salt

Rinse and dry the grapes, and pull them carefully from their stems. Using a small, sharp knife, trim away the "belly button" at the stem end of the grape, exposing a bit of the flesh inside. Put the grapes into a medium bowl, and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; then pour the mixture immediately over the grapes. Stir to combine. Set aside to cool at room temperature.

Pour the grapes and brine into jars with tight-fitting lids (or cover the bowl with plastic wrap), and chill at least 8 hours or overnight. Serve cold. Makes about 3 cups.

Tubing is Texas Culture.

The United States if full of culture. I get so fed up with people that compare us to Europe and say that us Americans are nothing but a bunch of blah schmucks without original cuisine, art, past times, national attitude, or, well, or CULTURE . We have culture, and I think tubing proves it. I mean, floating in a truck tire inner tube down a spring fed Texas river with hundreds of other folks, all drinking beer...? It is as absolutely as culturally relevant as sitting in a Paris cafe smoking cigarettes. Yet somehow we all think of the French and their cafes endearingly, "Oh, those French, they have all this culture." It bugs me. And don't even get me started on the relevance of BBQ to culture. If croissants count as culture, brisket in a sweet-n-spicy sauce surely does too.

Last weekend Sam, my sister Claire, and my cousin Chrissie and I all hit the river for a healthy dose of Texas culture. We tubed. It was hot, it was a bit messy, and it was authentic. Yee-haw for my Texas culture.

My cousin is a size four.

My cousin Chrissie is tall and slender and lovely. That is why it is so much fun to go vintage shopping with her. She is visiting this weekend with my sister Claire and today we went down to Jive Refried, a vintage shop on South Alamo that features the funky and quirky, with the occasional gem hidden among the hoards of second hand goods. Chrissie scored three beautiful dress. Two need a bit of tweaking to bring them into her current style, but here are the "before" photos for you to admire. We will certainly post the afters if all goes well.

My sister Claire also has a lovely figure, different than Chrissie's and a little bit larger, but very attractive in vintage clothing. Sadly, she is not very interested in vintage shopping. She loves Anthropologie, and she likes to look nice, but she does not have the patience or the creativity to sort through the vintage racks looking for Anthropologie-esque originals. She was a champ and tried on a few outfits for me, but in the end she only left with a pretty bracelet, and no clothing.

I also ended up with a piece of clothing that I hope to convert into a smokin' top this weekend. I will certainly post if all works out. I hope it does, because how great is it to wear a one-of-a-kind piece of clothing? People stop you on the street and say "Oh I just LOVE your dress, where did you find it?" and you get to say "Oh this old thing, its vintage." And then they stair longingly for a moment and you get to relish the joy of having something totally original in this homogenized world. You just don't get that feeling with off-the-rack.


I love the floral pattern on this dress. I swear it looks like it could have come off the rack at Anthropologie (hear that Claire...?), except it only cost $15, and it is authentic, not a shameless reproduction. We are going to take these bat-wing, dolman-style sleeves up a bit so that they fall more like a cap sleeve. Isn't the print on this dress pretty? She wants to wear it with cowboy boots or leather sandals and a vintage belt (maybe with a vintage belt buckle) for that Austin-hip look. It is 100% cotton and lined, so I think it is a real steal. Man, I love living out my vintage fantasies through thin people.


This dress is damn near perfect. It needs a steam to get out some of the wrinkles, but otherwise it fits just as it should. In fact, it is a big snug. Poor Chrissie can't lift her arms over her shoulders (we asked her to fix her hair, but she couldn't reach it so Claire did if for her), but we figure you don't need to move your arms much if you look this good. The back scoops down into a low scoop that shows some shoulder blade. Very sexy. It was marked a size medium in the vintage store, but it only has a 26 inch waist, which measure a size 2 or 4 in modern clothing. I would call that a small, bordering on the extra small. It is a bit tight on Chrissie, but like I said, she looks so good that we all agree pain is beauty.

We are going to lop off the skirt of this 80s number and turn it into a 1950-ish pinup top. It has a boat neck in the front, and just wait until you see the back. It has a low, square-shaped scoop that shows off her shoulder blades. Again, very sexy. Plus, there is a giant bow back there that we are going to try and mend,to give it that little embellishment that says "sexy with a innocent twist." With some dark trouser or wide legged jeans and heels she will look stunning.

Cake Balls.

In addition to bread and cheese on the patio, my fourth of July weekend in Colorado also involved a foray into the world of weird dessert baking, when my sister Anne and I undertook the blogtastic "cake ball" recipe that has been sweeping the Internet this year. Cake balls are odd little things, but strange in a tasty way. They are essentially the amalgamation of a good bite of cake, but all squished up into a bite sized package. In fact, cake balls are so ball-y that in a way it is almost as thought the cake has been pre-chewed for you. Yeah, I know that is not appetizing, but that is what I mean when I say that the cake balls are both odd and tasty. The little desserts were almost too moist, but at the same time they are full of frosting and covered in chocolate, so they can't be that weird. Also, they remind me of something a 1960's stay at home housewife would make to bide her time before her cocktail-hour martini, in anticipation of guests. It just has that casserole-and-jello-salad-era nostalgia to it. But maybe that's just me.

Most cake ball recipes you will find on the Internet call for a boxed cake mix and a can of frosting from the grocery aisle. To that I say, don't go there people. Don't even think about going there. Cake is simple, frosting is even easier, so do it from scratch. I put two good recipes below for your ease of baking.

And once the cake and frosting is out of the way, making the cake ball is, well, a piece of cake. Just bake a cake and let it cool. Whip up a batch of frosting. Then use a fork and break the sheet cake into crumbs and large chunks. Stir into frosting until combined. Using your hands or a cookie dough scoop, portion bite sized balls of cake mixture onto a baking sheet or plate and refrigerate or freeze until firm. The next step is where you can get creative. Dip the cake balls in melted chocolate or white chocolate. If you are fancy and experienced in candy-dipping, you might consider adding a bit of food-safe wax or shortening to help the chocolate coating dry smoothly like a truffle. You can top with sprinkles, nuts, candies, confectioners sugar, and even lollipop sticks.

When dipped, cool, arrange gracefully on a tray, put on your best string of pearls and your crisp hand-sewn apron, and serve. Preferably to yourself, bon-bon style. Enjoy.


One-bowl Chocolate Cake
from a Martha Stewart cupcake recipe

Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons safflower oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners; set aside. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.

Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.

Summertime patios.

Ah summer, what better way to celebrate your long, warm days than with wine and cheese on the patio? Over the 4th of July I went home to Denver and spent an entire day with my sister Anne in her urban garden and her apartment kitchen, assisting with a summertime feast. My other sister Claire, her friend Claire (yes, two Claires were in attendance), and my brother-in-law Blake all joined in for the eating part of the evening. And eat we did.

Anne prepared a beautiful salad from her garden with homegrown greens, tiny tender carrots, baby beats, freshly snapped peas, and a little bit of cheese, oil, and vinegar with seasoning to top it off. There is almost nothing more delicious in this world than homegrown, fresh cut greens. Seriously, they are so tender, so flavorful, and actually have a texture that is velvety and gentle to the palette. Anne also made an amazing marinade for the chicken using preserved lemons and the spiciest Asian salsa I have ever tasted. She roasted potatoes with garden herbs, and for dessert we feasted on cakeballs and homemade frozen yogurt with honey and almonds. Oh yes, and did I mention that she made the apricot jam we served with cheese herself? She is a wonder to behold in the kitchen, full of creativity and a knack for spontanious creations.

Blake toasts the cheese!

In-n-Out Burger in my tummy. Yummy.

Our recent trip to Southern California included the mandatory stop at an In-n-Out Burger, as I had never been, but heard about the chain every time a friend visited California. "It's the best" they all said. And for the most part, it lived up to its mythical fast food God status. It was fresh, it was greasy delicious. And of course, it had ample American cheese, which is always a plus. But the best part, in my opinion, was ordering using the code language devised through years of In-n-Out tradition. I had a double double animal style, which in English means two patties and two slices of cheese with everything, including grilled onions. If you are savvy you can get all sorts of not-on-the-menu treats there, like a Neapolitan milkshake (strawberry, vanilla, AND chocolate), animal style fries (french fries with grilled onions, pickles, and the secret sauce), or a Flying Dutchmen (two meat patties and two slices of cheese and nothing else, not even a bun!).

And best of all, the wait time while they prepared our fresh, never frozen burgers gave me and Will some time to check out the macro features on our digital cameras. We both have Cannons, but mine is old and his is new. Despite the old and clunky nature of my camera, I still think it takes a pretty great close up. Look at the ketchup, couldn't you just dive right in?

A litttle Pearl in the great oyster of San Diego.

The courtyard and pool, complete with a giant movie screen for "dive in movies" and hammock chairs.

Two weeks ago Sam and I spent a weekend in San Diego with our friends Will and Carmen, and we stayed in the most fun little boutique motel called The Pearl. As they say themselves, "Life is good here, because the livin’ is easy." And they weren't kidding. The place has a vibe that encourages lounging. In our few days there we spent several leisurely cocktail hours by the pool, indulged in nightcaps at the bar, enjoyed an extended brunch with bottomless mimosas on Sunday morning, and relaxed with afternoon rests in the comfy beds in our rooms. The place just begged for us to be relaxed and easy going, and we obliged.

The Pearl's theme is a reimagined classic California hotel atmosphere, with a focus on preserving the spirit of mid-century design alongside a thriving new modernism. They use artwork, furnishings and architecture to create a feeling of hip comfort. I know, I know, it doesn't seem possible that hip can still be comfortable, but it is at The Pearl. When the Pearl revamped the motel a few years ago, they made sure that every single little space had a purpose, either as a tiny lounge for two, a side patio with a Zen fountain, a nook with a blossoming flower, or an eye-level shelf with seashell trinkets. It takes great skill to mold every nook and cranny into something purposeful, but I think the Pearl succeeded. Plus, they incorporate extensive plants and foliage in the decor to add natural beauty and color.

Perhaps the best part of the experience was the price. Amidst the vintage-modern ambiance, we got a smokin' deal. We paid $289 for a two-night package that included $100 of credit at the bar and restaurant, which we gladly indulged in. I drank many tasty cocktails thanks to this bargain, including a plum Tom Collins and a lavender and grapefruit scented prosecco cocktail called a Marie Antoinette. And when all was said and done, even with a few extra drinks on the tab, our rooms still clocked in at less than a hundred bucks a night. It was Motel 6 pricing with big bucks ambiance.

To be fully up front in my review, the rooms do reflected the price to some degree. I would describe them as comfortable and modest, with a purposeful aesthetic created on a budget. Everything was nice and clean and the bed was comfortable, but the carpet was rough and scratchy, the towels were not overly fluffy, and the grout in the shower and tub had seen better days. I am not complaining, because I know that elevating those amenities to the status of a Hilton would drive the price up double what we paid, but I must admit that the ambiance in the public space was so posh that I felt a tinge of surprise every time I entered my room and found it less upscale. Nonetheless, I am not complaining and recommend the place without reservation.

The whole place is a tiny 23 room u-shaped motel surrounding a small kidney-shaped pool. The bar and restaurant spill out from underneath the rooms to take over the poolside deck, making the entire place feel like a living room. The bar and restaurant were open air, with one open wall that pulled the patio to the inside and vice-versa.

Their kitchen, called Restaurant at The Pearl, featured California Coastal cuisine, friendly table service, and stunning interior design (you HAVE to check out the bathroom sinks, even if you don't have to go). One evening we ordered the popcorn shrimp with our cocktails, and it came with my favorite - slivers of fried citrus. Plus, there was hot pickled okra. Weird but good. For brunch I had the Smoked Salmon Hash with salmon, bacon, poached eggs, and a dill lemon creme fraiche. Carmen had the Pearl Burger - at 10:30 a.m. - made of house ground beef with caramelized onions and pommes frites. The frites were good, complete with a garlic alioli. Everything we saw come out of the kitchen smelled great and had beautiful presentation. If we had been staying a little bit longer we certainly would have eaten more meals in.

I loved the hotel. I think you should all book a night. Find them at:
The Pearl Hotel
1410 Rosecrans Street
San Diego, CA 92106
1-877-PEARL-SD

p.s. The day we left they were setting up for an evening wedding, prompting me to wonder if I could plan my own wedding part II here someday. And check it out, look what I found on the website... "OWN A HOTEL FOR A DAY: Who said you can’t have it all? Imagine owning The Pearl Hotel for a day. Yes, you heard it right. With food, beverage and hotel room packages starting at just $9,495.00, you can have up to 150 people join you for a private event at the Pearl. This is the perfect package for corporate events, holiday parties, weddings, birthday parties,anniversaries, family reunions and more." Imagine a one-of-a-kind wedding for $10 grand, including food and drink. It's brilliant. If you live in San Diego I urge you to consider it.

The view from my room. I love the palm tree.

The Pearl's restaurant and bar. Our room was right above the dining area.

The vertical garden at the pool sat right next to the tubular towel rack. It was such a pretty way to add vegetation and color without taking up space.

Check out the vintage rocking patio chairs. You can't find pieces like that these days!

Every room comes with a beta fish. Ours was named Barnaby, and he was feisty.

The Pearl encourages you to sit on the floor with pillows, shag carpet, and board games.

This cherry red retro convertible sat outside for much of our visit. I think it adds some extra authenticity, don't you?

Where in the world is Carmen? San Diego!

I spent an entire week in the beginning of July at the Public Radio Development and Marketing Conference in San Diego. While I know that sounds entrancingly interesting to all of you out there in blogland, I will save you the gripping details of the conference and instead skip ahead to the photos from our extended weekend stay.

This may in fact be Sam and mine's very first "weekend getaway," which I am pleased to report was a smashing success. In fact, the long weekend vacation was such a treat we are already dreaming of more. Sam flew out the last day of the conference and our dear friends Will and Carmen drove down from their digs in Los Angles for a long weekend (hence the childhood computer game jingle title to this blog). Together we explored the wonders of San Diego. We stayed at a charming motel named The Pearl (more on that to come soon, but some teaser photos below), ate fish tacos and sushi, splashed in the cold, clear ocean off the beach, and in general soaked up the laid back vibe of this ocean city. I have nothing but nice things to say about the entire trip (conference included!), but I will let these photos speak 1,000 words. And please, call me if you are ever in the mood for a long weekend getaway in Southern California. I'm game.

p.s. It was also my first successful change to play with our plastic fish eye camera, my new favorite toy. Enjoy the enhanced angles.

p.s. There she is, that's Carmen!

A sneek peak II.

Behold the second sneak peak into my new Etsy shop. I am still not ready to debut the project in its entirety, but I have been working on it diligently and I can't resist showing off my work just a bit, even if it is obscure and mysterious.

I learned recently that interestingly enough, most Etsy sellers are college educated women in their twenties and thirties. They are not the usual older women you imagine crafting while wearing a sweatshirt with a cat applique. Upon further research, it turns out Etsy crafters fall largely into the category of Third-wave feminists. Unlike our mothers’ generation of Second-wave feminists, who rejected all things associated with the home, Third-wave feminists are reclaiming knitting, sewing, and other crafting activities traditionally feminized and associated with the private sphere. The theory goes that through this reclamation, contemporary women want to reconnect with the female-dominated arts in order to legitimatize the importance of previously undervalued crafting. The idea is to show that 21st century women have the privilege to express themselves through craft, thanks to the hard work of the Second-Wave feminists.

I guess the idea is that by embracing domestic arts while identifying as feminists, Third-wave feminists are making the choice to embrace domesticity. Choice is the key word there. As long as it is a choice, not a social mandate, its totally cool to cook and knit and darn socks and have a bunch-o-babies. The cultural movement is proving that women want to be women again, and many of us enjoy the privilege of baking pie and sewing dresses and housekeeping and child rearing. It was not until today that I really thought about my crafting from a social and political point of view, but it does raise some interesting thoughts, doesn't it? I will ponder as I finish up these sneak peak projects and hope to return with additional insight, as well as a finished project and open storefront, sometime soon.

In the meantime, enjoy the peak.

The perfect mix - Anthropologie in Austin.

This month's Anthropologie catalog arrived a week or so ago to my great delight. The publication is always a beauty with good design, quality paper, lovely photography, and of course interesting items for sale. I save all of them as future sewing inspiration (as my long-term goal is to improve my sewing skills to a point where I can recreate their clothing, tailored for my personal shape and taste). So naturally this edition of the catalog was a welcome addition to the mail pile. I picked it up right away. Imagine my delight when I opened the cover, and lo and behold, there were images of my favorite Texas city as the backdrop to the issue. Anthropologie featured Austin, Texas! I am very proud to say that I recognize many of the places in the catalog, which only serves to reinforce my self esteem and affirm that indeed, my tastes are as cool and hip as those of my favorite overprices store.

Being so delighted with the featured location, I spent very little time looking at the clothing, and much more time looking at the sites and scenes in the catalog. So I guess it turns out that location may be my #1 favorite fashion accessory, not shoes.

To prove my passion for the city, I have featured some of my favorite locations in the catalog along with personal anecdotes (and ramblings) about how you too can partake in the magic of the place. Just don't forget to wear your best folk-urban, drapey-fitted, multi-layered, vintage-yet-fashion forward outfit. You will fit right in.

South Congress Street:
This model is undoubtedly standing on South Congress Street, a main north-south avenue that runs from the Texas State Capital south past the river and into South Austin. This is where the street gets interesting. Rumor has it that in days before my time, this street was rampant with nothing but ladies of the night, sleazy bars and cheap motels. Now it hosts quirky local eateries, hip shopping - both local boutiques and chains, and my favorite hotel of all time, the Hotel San Jose (its a revamped 1930's motor court!). You may remember my ode to cupcakes at the airstream bakery Hey Cupcake! from a few months back. Well that is just one of the notable features of South Congress. I can (and sometimes do) focus my entire trip to Austin on this stretch of road.

Jo's Coffee:
This little caffeine haven sits in the parking lot of my favorite hotel ever, the Hotel San Jose (see above). Granted, it is a bit presumptuous of me to call it my favorite hotel, as I have never stayed in the place, but I have sneaked in to use their bathroom on multiple occasions and that offers some credibility (the lobby restrooms feature transparent frosted glass doors and vintage music posters on the walls). I have also spent time drinking sangria on their pool deck with the beautiful people of Austin. But the hotel aside, Jo's is my favorite place for coffee in Austin because of their signature drink, the Iced Turbo. It's part coffee, part sweetened milk, part chocolate, part ice, and part utterly delicious. Also, they are a strictly outdoor venue with a big covered patio where they play live music and where I once pet the most beautiful gray standard poodle. Good times.

The Alamo Drafthouse:
This place is a signature Texas thing to me, as it is pretty much the first place where I have had the chance to catch a flick, grab dinner, and relax with a pint all at once. That's because The Drafthouse does it all, and they do it with attitude. They show standard and unique films. They serve food. And as you can tell from the name, they also serve beer. It's good. Every row of seats has a generous bar in front to accommodate your pints (or wine glasses, if you prefer). You can order and eat throughout the movie. The theater, now a Texas chain/franchise, plays a lot of new releases, but they also have a strong local event schedule with special features to suit their regulars' preferences. Think along the lines of a "The Big Lebowski" screening, where anyone wearing their bathrobe receives a free White Russian. They also broadcast sports, Oscar award ceremonies, and this year they did a special season finale screening of Battlestar Galactica. They spotlight homemade pre-show entertainment (my favorite includes "What to do in case of zombie attack" with instructions in retro-styled graphics on how to destroy a zombie's brain), plus lots of local micro brews, and good food. It's a casual movie-going experience that focuses on the whole experience of attending a flick, not just the film itself. And the most beautiful theater is in Austin, pictured above.

Deep Eddy Pool/Austin Swimming Holes:
The model above is standing near a Deep Eddy Cafe sign. I have never been to the cafe, but I can vouch for the Deep Eddy itself. In classic Austin fashion, Deep Eddy is a spring fed public pool fed by crisp Texas waters. Not only that, but the place is historic, complete with a renovated bathhouse. The Deep Eddy Bathhouse provides me an outlet for my outdoor shower daydream. Just look at theirs. The men's room even features an outdoor pagoda and shower. I love outdoor showers. Someday I will share with you my plans for a dream backyard (hint, it involves installing my very own custom outdoor shower), but for now just enjoy the though of an old-school Austin swimming hole and cocktails at the cafe after your dip.

Austin's vintage and boutique shopping:
Austin is full of great shopping - vintage, kitsch, boutique, artisan and generic chain shopping. The one problem with shopping in Austin though is that everybody is shopping in Austin. That means that sometimes the pickin's are slim, and always the prices are high. Just try to find a second hand plaid button up shirt or a pair of vintage leather knee high boots for thrift store prices...fat chance. The beautiful people of Austin have already swiped them up, and for three times what you would pay in another city. But I am not complaining, because even though I rarely buy in Austin, I love to browse. Austin stores stock the kind of hip, funky stuff that the rest of Texas can only dream about and drool over in glossy magazines. I mean look at that location in the photo above, it looks like an Anthropologie set, but that is a bonafied real store. Wow.

* As a quick side note, I am IN LOVE with the "Airy Surplus Sweater" featured in this picture. What a dream with its drapey sleeves and cut and cinched in waist with three covered buttons. I see myself it with a blue camisole barely peeking through, a chunky blue or green necklace, and maybe a headband.

I couldn't let this catalog tour of Austin end without showing you this picture. I don't know where this photo was taken, but it does indeed embody Austin's vibe. The place is retro, fun, and casual, but still maintains a very large and in charge attitude. I love this picture though, probably because I love large letter postcards.

So there you have it. One of Texas' most perfect cities, feature in all of its glory as the set for an unnaturally perfect retail chain. And this of course brings me to one final point about Austin AND Anthropologie. They are both a bit unattainable. Austin sometimes feels like a walking Anthropologie catalog. It is full of beautiful people, most of them well dressed and painfully hip. I attribute this to the massive student population. Those that are not overly hip are undoubtedly independently wealthy from lucrative business ventures. So it is hard to feel like a standout among the city's population. Nonetheless, if you aren't there to make a splash, it is one of the more charismatic and friendly cities to enjoy. I hope you visit soon.