When wanderlust strikes, I have a tendency to set my sights on far off destinations like the Pontine Islands and the Faroe Islands. But the Nashville travel story in Issue No. 9 reminded me how many interesting places there are closer to home that I have yet to explore. I’ve been pondering some drivable trips from the Bay Area, and there are a few warmer weather places that would make perfect getaways while we still have cool, grey weather this winter.
Sunny Palm Springs has long been a popular getaway for Californians with its year-round hot desert weather, beautiful mountains and mid-century charm. It’s out-of-the-way location in the Coachella Valley has helped Palm Springs keep its small town feel despite a steady stream of vacationers. The thing that’s got me wanting to plan a trip south isn’t any of those things though—it’s the kaleidoscopic Saguaro. Just up the road from the famed stretch of Palm Canyon Drive that is home to many popular shops and restaurants, the Saguaro looks like a modern oasis. I think it would be impossible to be anything but happy at this hotel with its rainbow hues.
{Images from JVD Hotels}
One of my all-time favorite Anthology stories has to be the “Conversation” with Amy Sedaris, which was published in Issue No. 7/Spring 2012. I’ve long admired the work of the actress, comedian, author, and crafter. Well, this month, Sedaris can add textile designer to her list of accomplishments. Her collaboration with Windham Fabrics—a collection called “I Like You” (also the name of her first book)—is now available.
Not surprisingly, the patterns are bold and a bit offbeat. I can totally picture using these designs to whip up some fun kitchen wares—such as aprons, potholders, and oven mitts.
Of course there had to be a gingham print in the collection. In the photo below of Sedaris in her NYC apartment, her fondness for the motif is evident!
{ Photos of Amy Sedaris by Todd Oldham for Anthology Magazine. Swatches from Windham Fabrics. }
This weekend, the Anthology crew gathered in Yountville, California, for a team meeting and to kick off the new year together. We had a wonderful time relaxing and exploring Yountville. One of the highlights was Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery, which was so delicious it warranted not one, but two trips during our short stay.
Despite stopping in twice and my best efforts, I wasn’t able to try everything Bouchon had to offer. But what I did have was so mouthwateringly good that I decided acquiring the Bouchon Bakery Cookbook was a must. While I wait for it to arrive, I’m planning to try out the well circulated recipe for the namesake confection, the Bouchon. These tiny, dense chocolate cakes dusted with powdered sugar are studded with dark chocolate. They sound like an ideal dessert to have on hand for a Monday night. I think I’ll master those before moving on to the more advanced croissants and macarons.
{Images via Bouchon Bakery}
Like many people, I found myself on a few flights over the holidays. Leaving the midwest after a blanket of snow came down, the landscape below looked peaceful and serene—and completely transformed from the brown patchwork we’d seen flying in. It reminded me of these images from the USGS EROS Center, taken by various satellites. While the colors aren’t quite true to how we’d perceive them due to the different wavelengths captured, the textures and details are stunning. Rivers, streams, farm fields, glaciers, and mountaintops take on an other-worldy character.
I’m not planning any dramatic flights in the near future, but scanning through the galleries is like a mini-getaway. I found myself searching out more information about the locations of the images and imagining grand trips and adventures. If you’re looking for a little escape this Friday, visit the EROS Center Gallery where these images and dozens more are available to the public.
{Images via USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center}
Toward the end of January, Issue No. 10 will be hitting newsstands and mailboxes. While reviewing the galleys before the issue went to print, I got a chance to relive the trip to Philadelphia that inspired the travel story for the issue. Meg, Anh-Minh, and I spent several days visiting many of the terrific restaurants, shops, and sites in historic Philadelphia. It was in a particularly great shop called Art in the Age that I was first introduced to the work of Peg and Awl, a Philadelphia-based company run by a husband-and-wife team. They focus on taking discarded, neglected materials and transforming them into beautiful, useful objects. (In addition to carrying many of their hand-crafted products, the back corner of Art in the Age was occupied by the best looking chicken coop, created by the duo!)
Since our Philadelphia trip, I’ve spotted Peg and Awl goods at a few other shops and always find myself pining for them. There are three I have my eye on particularly. First, the Desk Caddy Organizer, which is made from reclaimed pine floor joists from old Philadelphia houses. It comes in a variety of sizes, but the Epic version, pictured above, is enough to make me drool. I also love the Chalkboard Pad, which I’d use for a daily to-do list, and the Stacking Sinker Pine Boxes, to catch and organize the continuous stream of papers, tools, receipts, and mail that have a way of accumulating on desks.
{Images from Peg and Awl}
