Like the back of my hand: Portland, Maine

I'm just planning a July 4th getaway at the moment and it's bringing back wonderful memories of the  trip my boyfriend and I took to Portland, Maine last year. We whizzed up in the car - it took us about 5 hours from NYC in total - taking in all the scenery along the way and listening to one of my favorite records of 2010, The National - High Violet.

The Pomegranate Inn, living room

We stayed at The Pomegranate Inn in the Western Promenade neighborhood of the town. The Inn was so adorable and beautifully decorated with antique furniture and art by local artists.  We stayed in Room 7 in the Carriage House which had its own private terrace - it was the perfect place to relax after long days of exploring. The area itself is lovely - I partly felt like I was in Hampstead, London, and partly like I was in Savannah, Georgia! 

Coffee by Design

We ate a LOT but here are the standouts. Fore Street in the Old Port, was where we had dinner on our first night. The space (nestled above the Standard Baking Co.) is industrial-looking with exposed brick and concrete floors, but it is welcoming and warm - the focal point of the restaurant is the hearth. The food was incredible! Like a lot of Portland restaurants, the ingredients are sourced from local farmers, fishermen and suppliers - I had the turnspit roasted pork loin, not knowing it was one of their classics but soon understanding why! We fell in love with Coffee by Design after popping into the India Street location (East Bayside seems to be the Brooklyn of Portland!) where I had the best ice coffee ever. We still order their coffee beans to be delivered to us in NYC!  Of course you can't go to Maine without having lobster...  we went to Portland Lobster Co. in the Old Port right on the water and had DEEElicious steamers and lobsters washed down with local Allagash beer.  We also had a great brunch at a Portland classic, Bintliff's.

July 4th Fireworks

It sounds like all we did was eat (which isn't far off!) but we did take in the July 4th fireworks on the Eastern Promenade - the Portland Symphony Orchestra provided the sonic backdrop - which was spectacular.  In pursuit of culture, I dragged my boyfriend to the Portland Museum of Art which had a fantastic exhibition of American Moderns. And I was very proud of myself for finding the coolest fashion boutique in Portland: Black Parrot which had an excellent collection of clothes and home stuff.

Very sad to leave this lovely town, we took a detour and stopped off in idyllic Ogunquit where a lot of my new 'friends' from the American Moderns had lived and worked.  We had yummy lobster rolls at MC Perkins Cove and continued on our merry way home listening to a classic record, The Cure - Disintegration, and thinking that bands never make song intros that long any more!

King Lear - That's Entertainment!

This weekend, my boyfriend and I ventured to the BAM Harvey Theater in Brooklyn to see the Donmar Warehouse production of King Lear. We went in fairly blind (neither of us had seen or read the play before), but came out enlightened! I haven't really done that much theater going since I moved here - it somehow feels more accessible (or less expensive!) in London. But the performances and production of this show really put into perspective just how incredible the theater can be as a form of entertainment. I was riveted throughout the show and some of those scenes will stay with me – Derek Jacobi, in particular, was excellent. I am also a sucker for a fantastic set and this one, designed by Christopher Oram, is simple but rugged and provided the perfect backdrop to the black costumes and complexity of the characters and story. I believe it is close sold out, but if you can get tickets I urge you to go!

King Lear

Presented by the Donmar Warehouse and BAM

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Michael Grandage

Missing London - The Cow, Notting Hill

There’s something about a rainy day in NYC that really makes me miss London! One of my best friends from home has been staying with me and we have been reminiscing about some of our preferred London venues for hiding from the drizzle.  

The Cow on Westbourne Park Road in Notting Hill, London

The Cow in Notting Hill is possibly my favorite place in London, if not the world! It’s so homely and British and I have very fond memories of spending long afternoons there drinking pints of beer and eating pints of prawns. It is owned by Tom Conran who also has Crazy Homies and Lucky 7 down the road, and Tom’s on Westbourne Grove. 

The menu is seafood-centric and you have to try their plates and platters of seafood - delicious, and so fresh! I also love their fish stew and bangers & mash. There is a more formal dining room upstairs but I am happiest in the cosy bar downstairs with a big table of friends.

Tracey Tanner

Finding the perfect wallet was becoming to feel like an endless quest... Until my discovery of the lovely Tracey Tanner and her beautiful hand-made leather goods. The craftsmanship is evident in her work and my 'Sarah' wallet, although over a year old, still looks great.  The leathers she chooses are unique - I particularly love the cracked metallic and distressed ones. Tracey's goods are sold in stores all around the US including design Mecca, ABC Carpet & Home.  But her website www.traceytanner.com has just had a revamp and she is offering a promotional 15% off any orders made on the site through May 30th. Just enter the code: MEM15. These are investment pieces and I can't wait to build my collection. Enjoy!

Makeup Medium in Purple Distress