New tunes are getting me through this Monday afternoon...that and some coffee :)
Glen Hansard of The Frames, The Swell Season with Marketa Irglova, composer/singer of Academy Award winning song "Falling Slowly" and now Tony Award winning musical, "Once" releases his first solo album: "Rhythm & Repose." Listen here.
And Fiona Apple breaks her more than six year hiatus with "The Idler Wheel" and it explores a whole array of (sometimes heartbreaking) emotions, true to her style.
On Friday night, my roommate and I went to Ochre Ghost gallery to check our friend, Morgan Pease's, art show, aptly titled "Red, Wood & Blue"....I have always liked the geometry (despite my hate for the actual subject in school ha!) that he focuses on within his work, "looking at the movement they create"...here are a few shots from the evening!
Check out Morgan's website for more info on him and his work! More pictures and things from the weekend coming soon :)
Last night we celebrated our friend Sam's birthday with some bowling! If you had asked about three years ago if I would want to go bowling, you would get a big fat no/running out the door/rolling of the eyes/a million suggestions for anything other than bowling! I just did not have any interest in it at all. Period. Lucky for me, I swallowed my fears/dislike for the sport & participated in a bowling league through work (made up of a handful of area non-profits) and it managed to cure all my qualms about it! I found out I wasn't that terrible and it really is just another fun way to socialize with your friends (or coworkers).
I was definitely glad we went last night; I managed to break 100 on my first game-always a personal goal and we had a lot of fun with our friends!
Now the weekend is practically here and it's the first time I won't be working or traveling in awhile, so I am really excited to just have a good ol' fashioned weekend here in Duluth. A friend of ours has a gallery opening at the Ochre Ghost gallery, so my roommate and I are going to head over there to see his work. I am also realllyyyyy excited to finally be making it to the infamous Park Point garage sale on Saturday, deemed to have "over 100 yards with sales and four miles of great bargains!"
The lift bridge & Park Point
Park Point, a neighborhood of Duluth, is about seven miles in total and is connected to Duluth via a lift bridge...it is a really adorable neighborhood and the beaches there are where you will find many a Duluthian throughout the summer (and winter too!) catching some rays and playin' in the water. Since it is supposed to be nice & toasty out all weekend, I am hoping to enjoy the lakefront, along with some awesome bargain hunting. I will be sure to report back with any great finds :)
Do you have that music, maybe one song or a whole album, that just brings back memories and puts you in a happy place? Well, for me one of those singers is Brandi Carlile and she just released her new album yesterday, entitled "Bear Creek".
Of course I had to get it right away...her voice is just real and authentic, so there is not question about always supporting her work. I haven't always been the first person to purchase music, but after too many years of downloading from random sources, I decided it was time to give some real support to the artists I love!
The Seattle Times writes: With her latest release, "Bear Creek" (named for the Woodinville-based studio), Carlile has fulfilled her true potential. Where she once easily and rewardingly genre-hopped through bluegrass, folk and pop-rock anthems, she has seamlessly integrated and transcended influences toward a more complete voice. On "Bear Creek," Carlile becomes an American original no longer in need of critics' endless comparisons to other contemporary artists
I definitely recommend checking out the album....I'll be rocking out to it today!
Take a listen to "That Wasn't Me" from the new album...
p.s. bonus, the official video for this song too! Enjoy!
How awesome are these finds from the Knit Kid shop on Etsy?! Seriously talented and not at all what you would imagine for homemade knitting...might have to save & get something in the near future from this Berlin-based talent, Sabrina Weigt.
Also on the same note, how wonderful is etsy?! I love having access to so many talented people's work from all over. I have a whole heap of shops saved for when Ry & I have our own place to help with decorating and furnishing (I'm sure he can't wait!)
Finally! I managed to focus for about 30 minutes and accomplished a long over due diy...chalkboard wine glasses! So simple and it adds a fun touch to the glasses, especially if you are having company over.
The whole process was very easy, you just need:
-wine glasses (big red wine goblets are my favorite) -chalk board paint -a paintbrush *Special thanks to Ry for providing all the supplies...back in December (see I told you this was overdue!)
The process really couldn't be any simpler....
1. Open the paint; mix the paint with a paint stirrer...or a plastic knife like I did!
2. Dip paint brush in & apply the first coat to each base of the wine glasses
3. Let dry for about 20 minutes
4. Repeat step two and apply a second coat to ensure the base is fully covered
5. Let the glasses dry a full day before using chalk on them....viola!
After the first coat-looks dark, but trust me-a second coat is best!
Second coat applied!
Now to wait a day...then it's chalk time!
If you have some spare wine glasses, I definitely recommend giving this a whirl-it was so easy, I only regret taking so darn long to sit down and do it! Did you DIY this weekend? I hope I can find some time to get a few other projects on my list completed-check out all my favorites ideas on my d i y pinterest board!
Well, Ry is off in the Boundary Waters for a canoe/camping trip with the boys, so I'll be on my own for the weekend, but I've got some fun things to look forward too! Tonight I am hoping to make it to one of our local galleries, Prove Collective, which is hosting an event for the Duluth Superior Film Festival! The show will feature the latest collection of art that has been curated by the Collective, as well as a special cinema installment by local filmmakers, Kathy McTavish and Jacob Swanson. I haven't been to Prove as often as I would like, but every time I am there it reminds me of gallery shows I have been to in Chicago-always a good DJ and tasty beer (this time FREE beer from the local Lake Superior Brewing Co.)
As I mentioned yesterday, I will be volunteering for the film festival this Saturday and I am really looking forward to being a part of this event. I am stationed at the Zinema and they will be featuring the following films: "Northern Lights," "We Run Sh*t," and "Holiday Beach"...all of the films have interesting stories to tell, some documentaries and others based on true events. You can watch the trailers for these films and all the others on the festival's site here.
I'm also hoping to get some major organizing done, I know reallllyyy exciting, but sometime it is just necessary! Other than that, hopefully relaxing and catching up on some reading will get accomplished as well : ) What are your plans for the weekend?
