Archive for June, 2010

  |   Newer Entries »
June 8, 2010

Austin: Sailor Jerry’s and Hori Smoku

There’s a girl, who I’ve never met, who sent me the info on this event. She grew up in CO and TX, where I now split time, and get this–she grew up in the tiny town of Sugar Land, outside of Houston, where I was actually born! It’s crazy. And, it’s crazy how much synchronicity there is between Austin and Aspen. The guy who runs Aspen Skollie went to UT, and I got an email from a B&B that has properties both outside of Austin and Aspen. Whaaaaa?

Anyway, this isn’t about all that, it’s about the gritty, historical, fascinating and award-winning documentary Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry, which is screening for FREE on June 13th and 14th. The film pays homage to the life of Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins, who apparently expanded the color palette of modern day tattooing with the creation of purple ink, and his custom-built tattoo machines are still revered today.  He was one of the first American tattoo artists to correspond directly with the Japanese tattoo masters (known as Horis), earning him the moniker ‘Hori Smoku’. More importantly, this correspondence led to the development of Sailor Jerry’s own unique, artistic style that changed American tattooing forever. And rum.

The movie is a juxtaposition of rare interviews, photographs, and archival footage, unveiling the past, present and future of this global tattooing phenomenon. The documentary also features extensive interviews with famous protégés, including Ed Hardy (ha). No word on if free Sailor Jerry’s rum will be distributed … :-)

Screenings are at 9:30pm June 13 & 14 at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. They are free, just RSVP ASAP to http://horismokumovie.com/austin_screening

Posted in film, free, Good people/services | 2 Comments »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
June 7, 2010

Austin: Brunette Victory! and Eric at Massage Envy

Brunettes win! In a low-scoring game, a last-second touchdown led the Brunettes to a 6-2 stunner over the Blondes, who were rendered scoreless by the Brunettes’ stifling defense. A safety in the first quarter stemming from a botched sack-interception call led to the Blondes’ only points on the board. With just 12 seconds left, the QB (erm, me) threw a pass in the endzone to her former high school basketball and track teammate, Caitlin (in the foreground in the slot position below), who was the Brunettes’ most prolific receiver.

The game was tons of fun. But I woke up Sunday morning barely. able. to. move. What hurt? The question is what didn’t hurt? Right away I went to see Eric at Massage Envy Westlake for a deep tissue massage. He’s worked on me before, but this time was out of this world. He knew with how sore I was that deep tissue was out–we were more about promoting circulation, getting blood back into the muscles, and flushing out lactic acid. It felt heavenly. I was still sore through the evening last night, but I woke up this morning with ALMOST NO SORENESS. This is miracles, people. DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) should have set in, but instead I’m better than ever. Thank goodness!!

So while I know I used to tout Chad, and he might still be good, I’ve made the switch to Eric at Westlake. He’s got the touch, he’s super smart about what he’s doing, and he’s sweet and friendly. Massage Envy always has the cheap intro deals and their monthly subscription plan is just $39 a massage, so hop on over.

Congrats again, Brunes, we are awesome!! LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Posted in Good people/services, Sports/Fitness | 1 Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
June 4, 2010

Austin: WINNER of Blondes vs. Brunettes 4-pack is …

Drumroll …

Random number generator says congratulations to … Jessica! She says:

Congrats, Jessica! Your name will be on a list at the House Park gate +3. The rest of you fools can still buy your tix for $20 today by clicking here or bring cash money to the gate on game day. Tomorrow, Saturday June 5, 2pm at House Park.

Look for me, I’m #17! (my daddy’s number … awwww)

Posted in free, Good people/services, One-time event, Sports/Fitness | 1 Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
June 4, 2010

Aspen: Chili Pepper & BrewFest

In an event you’d think you’d see in Texas, Snowmass is hosting the 7th annual unofficial summer kick-off, The Chili Pepper & Brew Fest.

The chili is legit–it’s part of the International Chili Society’s chili competitions and tastings in Snowmass, while microbrewers face off in a prestigious summer ale competition featuring 50 plus breweries (listed below). New this year, there will be a European and exotic beer tasting tent. Fanny Hill rocks with hot music like Brett Dennen and George Clinton all weekend.

The Fest is today (starting at 5:30pm) and tomorrow (starting at 3pm), tix range from $25 for a one-day concert pass to a $75 two-day Champion pass good for chili, beer, and concerts.

For an extra $15 with your ticket or $25 without, you can hit the Official After Party After Dark at the Viceroy pool. Doors at 10pm.

Breweries include: Odell Brewing, Oskar Blues, Ska Brewing, Tommy Knocker, Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub, Aspen Brewing Co, Avery Brewing Co, Bristol Brewing Co, Great Divide, Stone Brew, Left Hand Brewing, Wynkoop, Deschutes Brewery, Twisted Pine Brewing, Sierra Nevada, Flyingdog Ales, Breckenridge Brewery, Alaskan Brewing Company, Full Sail Brewing Company, Eskes Brew Pub, Redhook, (Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc.), Kona, Widmer, Shiner Beers, Durango Brewing Co, Del Norte, Steamworks, Rifle Brewing Company, AC Golden Brewing Company, Upslope Brewing Company, Santa Fe Brewing Company, Crazy Mountain Brewing Company, Boulevard Brewing Company, Rockslide, Trumer Pils or Bridgeport Hop Czar, Brew Dob (Scotland), Wine Cru Distributing, Coopers (Australia)

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
June 3, 2010

Flash Sales – $$$

Deals sites, sample sales, flash sales, designer sales … it’s all about getting the limited-edition hot deal these days. Below I’ll list the companies I have invites to if you want to join, but first, some nerding-out business news about these sites.

According to WWD, the leading four members-only shopping sites are HauteLook, RueLaLa, Gilt Groupe, and ideeli. Today, HauteLook reveals that they are receiving $31 million in a third round of funding led by Insight Venture Partners, bringing total funding to $41 million (Gilt Groupe has raised $83 million in funding). The company launched in 2007 and became profitable earlier this year. It does not buy inventory, but has 175 employees (2 of which are recent hires in Arthur Lewis, former SVP of adult merchandising for Old Navy, and Tim Lewis of Neiman Marcus) and more than 2.5 million members.

ideeli also has around 2.5 million members (it has more than doubled from one million base in December ’09), largely from households with an annual income of upward of $100,000. They have 100 employees and expect to surpass $150 million in revenue this year.

Envite.com is the most recent one I’ve signed up for, and it aims to stand out by shipping items within 24 hours.

There’s also the site for wine, which, if I had more money, I’d buy and never have to the leave the house. Winery Insider.

Invite to Hautelook
Invite to RueLaLa
Invite to Gilt Groupe
Invite to ideeli
Beyond the Rack: enter code NLA09083B57 at Registration
Invite to Billion Dollar Babes
Invite to Envite.com

[UPDATE] Here’s a link to join Daily Candy’s Swirl!

The flash sales trend is crazy … beyond shopping for clothes, accessories, and other luxury gear, there are tons of companies doing it by city, with restaurants, salons, and adventures like whitewater rafting. Even Aspen is getting in on the action with a mobile coupon that texts you a deal once a week! Aspen Deals

Groupon and Living Social are the big dogs, with deals in Austin, Denver, and more. In Austin-only sites, there’s Adealio and Localiter.

If you know more I haven’t heard of, post in the comments!!

Posted in Beauty, Good people/services, Shopping | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
June 2, 2010

The TOMS Wedge

I did not jump on the TOMS bandwagon, despite thinking it’s awesome that they donate a pair of shoes for every pair sold, the bottom line is that TOMS are just plain ugly. I mean, the wrap-boot-mummy atrocity that they put out after the slip-ons? I die. And not in the Rachael-Zoe-I-Die-Is-Good-Way, in the way where I’d rather curl into a ball in the fetal position than wear these wrap boot shoe things.

I do not wear ugly shoes.

Enter the TOMS Wedge, many years later, with the casual-cool style perfectly appropriate for a wedge. The canvas. The stripes. The peep toe. The raffia. It’s all right. And kids still get free shoes! (Not wedges, lest you were concerned. The ugly other ones)

Available for a cool $69 from the website.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
June 2, 2010

Austin: Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

The better-than-Firefly Texas-only Sweet Tea Vodka has been mentioned on this blog for months, as you could snag some at the EndlessBeauty.com launch party, The Blondes vs. Brunettes 4th & Goal Gala, or any number of other events since SXSW in March, apparently it’s OFFICIALLY launching this month. Because, naturally, June is National Iced Tea Month AND the 75th Anniversary of Deep Eddy (the pool).

Anyway, Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka is pretty special, since locals Chad Auler, 39 (founder of SAVVY Vodka and son of Fall Creek vineyard owners) and Clayton Christopher, 37 (founder of Sweet Leaf Tea) combined their talents to create a Sweet Tea Vodka made 100% in Texas:

Ingredients:

  • Water from an aquifer deep beneath the Texas Hill Country
  • 100% pure cane sugar from Sugarland, Texas (my birthplace!)
  • Clover honey from Austin’s Good Flow Honey Co.
  • Vodka distilled 10 times through a column still, which produces a much smoother spirit than the pot stills used by other sweet tea vodkas.

And what of the bathing lady the company uses as a logo? A vintage Deep Eddy Bathing Beach poster that features a woman in a red bathing suit sitting on the end of the Deep Eddy diving board, dipping her toes into the pool below, naturally.

Now, Deep Eddy is FAB with a splash of water and a squeeze of lemon. It’s also dangerous, because the vodka is so smooth you can’t really taste the alcohol.

Chad & Clayton’s faves are both iteration on the +water theme:

Chad’s 72 and Sunny (much closer to Aspen’s weather than Austin’s, Chad) is Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, lemon-flavored mineral water, and a wedge of fresh lemon

Clayton’s Deep Eddy Splash is Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka and a splash of Topo Chico Agua Mineral.

Easy, simple, summer.

Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka is available at Austin faves Hula Hut, Abel’s on the Lake, Guero’s, Cedar Door, Red’s Porch, Kung Fu Saloon, and The Ranch. It may also be found in select restaurants and liquor stores, including Specs and Twin Liquors, in Austin and other cities throughout the state. Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka retails for $20.99 per 750 ml bottle.

Posted in Good people/services | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
  |   Newer Entries »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 46 other followers