From sundown to sunup

You know it's a good weekend when your steps from your front door but feel like you're on vacation!

This weekend was far from "typical", starting with dinner: a reindeer hot dog stuffed with cream cheese! I bought a wristband to the Underground Music Showcase and spent the evening hitting up bars and listening to live music up and down Broadway! The highlight: The Flobots!


But the music was just an appetizer. At 2am, the VIP after-party was just kicking off at the Skylark, and we were determined to find a sneaky way in. Needless to say, mission accomplished. The bar was full of local scenesters and band members galore (though I hadn't a clue who was who). We saw JD, the manager of our favorite wine bar, Sketch, and made a new friend, RJ, the chef at Deluxe! Dave and I went to Deluxe for Valentines Day, and are still talking about the rock shrimp and saffron sauce entree. We had to restrain ourselves from licking the plate clean.

At last call, RJ kindly invited us over to Deluxe for a private sampling! HELL YEAH! We were so stoked to nibble at our favorite restaurant after hours!

RJ, the talented chef that he is, took good care of us. He whipped up some TASTY steaks and prepared mouthwatering lettuce wraps. He grilled up some artichokes and seasoned some truffle fries, and served a crisp white wine.



It felt like I was in a movie. Pinch me, is this for real?

We went home very happy. Can't wait to do it again!

Laurent's Wedding: Nimes, France

After two fast days in Paris, I head to the South of France, to attend my good friend Laurent's wedding party! While he and his wife, Lydia, officially tied the knot in Switzerland earlier in the week, they saved a tux and wedding gown for the celebration of the century in the South of France!

Don't they make a lovely pair!


Laurent is a dear friend of mine from Australia. We were roommates when we studied abroad in 2004. It is Laurent who set my travel bug loose. I have so many happy memories singing songs on road trips, sleeping in strangers basements / on humid beaches / in nasty gagaju-tents...giggling until our stomachs hurt, photographing the world a mile a minute. It's been many years since then, but we have found creative ways to "drop by" when we're in the neighborhood. We've since met up in Vail, CO, San Francisco, CA, Geneva, Switzerland, and, now Nimes, France! I'm so glad we've stayed friends all these years.


I had traveled thousands of miles to attend this party, and I was not the only one! Guests came from Switzerland, France, Syria, the US; we were quite a group! It was crazy I even knew a few of them, too, from past trips with Laurent! Hello Guillaume! Hello Bastien! Hello Alex!

Check this out: "Pumping times", just like the old days! (Bidi: You pump down, I'll pump up)

It was a memorable evening.
We ate. (foie gras)

We danced. (with belly dancing hip scarves, I should add)

We swam. (some, more willingly than others)


Morning came too soon.


But there was plenty reason to wake up.
There's nothing better than brunch, European style: Fresh bread, fresh fruit, great cheeses and great meats.



I might move to France for this.

Ever play cards with a European deck? Who calls the King a "V" card? It's quite hilarious when you're in the mood to ask "questions", remove the little green man, and adopt a British accent.


The next few days were at a leisurely pace. The hundred-degree heat was a big change for this newfound air-conditioned office chick.


When I wasn't lounging by the pool or dining al fresco (sipping wine at mosquito hour, mind you), I was able to catch a quick glimpse through the region.

We took two trips to the beach, one by car and one by horse!



Laurent is still crazy about kite surfing! And, of course, his wife Lydia is, too!



Remember, this is France. No tops. Little bottoms. Man or woman.

All in all, I had a great time in Nimes, the land of lavender and denim (Did you know denim was originally made in Nimes, thus the name de-nim)! Not only is it a beautiful place to reunite with old friends, is was also great spot to drink some Rose wine and Pastis!