Twenty Thirteen

Happy Halloween

The leaves are changing, the pumpkins are carved, and the sweater weather is here!!! In honor of the glorious season, here is a spooky site design and some terrifying type treatments that I did for a recent death themed advertising event. Happy Halloween!!! http://undeadphilly.com/

Sunday Best

Cape May, New Jersey

My annual tradition started 6 years ago when I decided to treat my (now) native Kentuckian husband to a weekend get away for his birthday/one year anniversary/4^th of July in my childhood beach town of Cape May, New Jersey. Typical of a young 20 something, I didn't try to book the trip until the weekend before, and as you can imagine... almost all of the town's accommodations were sold out. I called and called to no avail until I spoke to one inn keeper who said she had one room left for the weekend... how was it possible that a bed and breakfast half a block from the beach, and completely affordable, had availability for the 4^th of July? I was nervous, but I booked it.

Flash forward 6 years later, we loved it so much that we have stayed there every 4^th of July since. That innkeeper I spoke to, well she is like an Aunt to me now, and our summers wouldn't be complete without our annual visit. And now that it's the hight of the season I get asked several times a week for my recommendations on what to do in Cape May, so here they are:

Where to eat Breakfast

The Mad Batter

Besides the line, it’s everything you could want in a seaside family breakfast joint. People watch while sitting on the porch, or cool off inside, but dive into that stack of fluffy blueberry pancakes and wash them down with a mimosa. www.madbatter.com

Aleathea’s

Inside the Inn of Cape May is a laid-back hotel dinning room relic that feels like a bizarre-o visit to your great-grandmother’s house if it had ocean views and crab eggs benedict. Don't forget to pop through the slightly creepy antique shop in the hotel lobby on your way out. www.innofcapemay.com/aleatheas.html

Where to eat Lunch

The Blue Pig

For a leisurely lunch, nothing beats relaxing on the porch at The Blue Pig in Congress Hall. It’s more about the ambiance than the food, that and the frosty glasses of pinot grigio. www.congresshall.com/content/bluepigtavern.html

Tisha’s

…or stop off at Collier’s for a beverage and byo to Tisha’s on the mall for an Italian sandwich and some people watching. www.tishasfinedining.com

McGlade’s

If your feeling self-conscious about being in a bathing suit, step off the beach and onto the boardwalk for McGlade’s on the Pier. Front row ocean views, and an unexpected commitment to healthy fare (no soda or french fries here). www.mcglades.com

Hotdog Tommys

For an even quicker lunch, stand in a soup nazi-esuqe line for a fantastic hotdog and self-proclaimed, “cheerful service and bad jokes”. www.hotdogtommys.com

Where to eat Dinner

The Union Park

A necessary splurge is The Union Park in the Hotel Macomber. Less snootie then some of the other fancy restaurants, their menu is classic, tried and true, and the BYOB factor is an added bonus. www.unionparkdiningroom.com

The Lobster House

For thee quintessential kitschy seafood experience, head to The Lobster House. Sit in the dinning room, outside or on the schooner in the harbor… but get there early or be prepared to wait, no reservations. www.thelobsterhouse.com

Honorable mentions: The Island Grill, Martini Beach, 410 Bank Street, Frescos Trattoria...

Where to drink:

The Virginia Hotel

Perhaps my favorite place on planet earth, the front porch at The Virginia Hotel. Just go, trust me. www.virginiahotel.com/frontporch.html

The Merrion Inn

For after dinner drinks, The Merrion Inn has a beautiful old bar where there is live piano and a legit old-school bar tender. www.merioninn.com

Where to Shop:

The Pink House

Better then your average beach shop, I’d actually shop here even if it were in the city. They don’t have a website, but they have the best collection of women’s clothing and accessories in the whole town. (33 Perry Street, Cape May NJ 08204)

Victorious

This small shop room inside Congress Hall has a super covetable mix of antique and on-trend jewelry, not to mention some seriously cute purses that I still dream about. www.victoriousantiques.com

Good Scents

An adorable little shop with an intriguing selection of books, jewelry, music, and smelly items. www.goodscentscapemay.com

Fralinger’s

A perfect old world candy shop where you can stuff a souvenir bag with tasty saltwater taffy in just about any flavor you can think of. I recommend the sour grape! www.fralingers.com

What to do:

Bike Ride

No trip to cape may is complete without a bike ride to the point. You can inexpensively rent bikes at Congress Hall or Shield's Bike Rental www.shieldsbikerental.com and then be on your way! Along the way, make sure to stop off at:

• Beach Plum Farm: hang out with the chickens and smell the fresh hydrangas

• Wilde Cock Winery: Go for a tour or enjoy a tasting

• S.S. Atlantas Concrete Ship: Don’t expect it to be floating

• St. Mary’s by the Sea: an beautiful nunnery worth seeing

• Cape May Light House: race to the top, or just enjoy it’s shade

Take a Walk

Cape May is second only to San Francisco for the largest collection of Victorian Architecture in the entire country! The entire city of Cape May was officially designated a National Historic Landmark, making it the only city in the United States wholly designated as such. In other words, take a long walk and check out these gorgeous houses.

Walk Around the Washington Street Mall

Grab an ice cream and stroll through the art galleries and boutiques http://www.washingtonstreetmall.com/

Lili’s Massage

30 minute 30 dolla! Not much English spoken here, but they do a legit deep tissue back massage and a reflexology session that will have you floating out the door.

Tour the Southern Mansion

This operating B&B gives daily tours where you can catch a glimpse into the relaxed opulence of another time, and hear torrid tails about previous guests.

www.southernmansion.com

Take a historical trolley ride or a ghost tour

By your tickets earlier in the day if you want to ride at night because it will sell out. http://www.capemaymac.org/content/subpage_main.aspx?id=162

Mini Golf & Arcades

There is a mini golf on like every corner, or hit up one of the 2 boardwalk arcades for some classic ski ball

Take in a show

See what’s going on at the Cape May Playhouse www.capemaystage.com or The Cape May Convention Hall www.capemaycity.com/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=103&TPID=12613

Things I want to try next time:

The Red Store

I heard several people talking about this place, it sounds like the real deal.

www.capemaypointredstore.com

West End Garage

Philly Mag keeps writing up this indoor shopping market so I can’t wait to check it out. www.thewestendgarage.com

Enjoy

(PS: If you want to know where we stay, email me, and if you're lucky maybe I will tell you ;)

(PPS:We learned early on that SciFi channel has an annual Twighlight Zone marathon every 4^th of July. To understand why Cape May has extra significance to us advertising folks, watch the “A Stop at Willoughby” episode here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha0QL-dgqVQ&list=PLXArhh9-YNg_633g7swZYJcvlm26nKr2i )

Where a man can slow down to a walk and live his life full measure...

Happy Father's Day!

This year for Father's Day, I organized all the old family photos that I had amassed from various family members over the years, and organized them chronologically in an album which I had printed by the lovely people at Blurb.com. The album (which ranges from the 1920s until the 1970s) was really fun (albiet it time consuming) to put together! Now that all the leg work is done, it can be enjoyed forever, and I can't wait to give it to my Dad!

Happy Father's Day yall!

BCN | Barcelona

Freshly inspired and rejuvenated from our amazing week and a half in Barcelona, I put together a helpful list of our favorite places organized by neighborhood for any future travelers (places that absolutely should not be missed are highlighted bold!!!) 

I would definitely recommend staying in the Ribera neighborhood as we found the best restaurants and funky boutique shopping right there in our own “backyard”, not to mention you have an amazing park right there to enjoy a siesta in.

La Ribera: Museu Picasso, Palau Música Catalana, Santa Maria del Mar, Hang out and watch the dogs play in Parc de la Ciutadella

Eixample: Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, La Sagrada Família

Day trip with Explore Catalunya: Montserrat Monastery & Basilica, Santa Cecília, Codorniu Winery

El Raval: Palau Güell, Sant Pau del Camp, Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu, Stroll through Mercat de La Boqueria

Barri Gotic: Catedral de Barcelona, Stroll and shop Portal de L’Angel and Avinyo

Gràcia: Go to Park Güell, then walk down through Gràcia, follow a map to hit every Placa on the way back to city center, Walk down Verdi with all its restaurants and bars

Montjuïc: Fundació Joan Miró, Castillo de Montjuïc

Lounge on the beach at the end of Barceloneta, pay 6€ for a beach lounger

Restaurants:

Cal Pep, El Xampanyet, Montiel Restaurante, Tapeo, Taller de Tapas, El Gran Café, Bodega La Palma

Bars:

Gimlet, Hook Bar, El Born, La Cerveteca

One Today is worth Two Tomorrows

Sometimes when I am bored or need inspiration, I google Benjamin Franklin quotes and just read them for hours. He has so many fantastic sentiments, and even some that are a bit controversial (The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason). Around the holidays, time spent with loved ones is of the essence more then usual. So, after poring over pages and pages of quotes, this quote felt like it could be the perfect holiday gift!

Below is a peak into the process for this print:

"C'est si bon" in letterpress

One color letterpress type-ustration, made from scratch! 

A Smooth Sea Never Made for a Skillful Sailor

If you're on a bumpy ride, struggling with a frustrating situation, just remember:

Choose Joy

No matter what happens in life, we always have a choice when it comes to how we let things affect us. It may be easier to sulk and be bummed out, but it is so much more productive (and not to mention fun) to Choose Joy!