If you’re a reader of this blog, it’s no surprise that my most alive moment of 2010 was in Marfa, TX. Thinking back on the past year, many of my favorite moments occurred there and throughout parts of West Texas. I’ll never forget 2010 as the year I decided to make this West Texas town part of my life.

I had the privilege earlier this year, of working with Bright Sky Press author, and good friend, John Demers. John has been traveling to Marfa over the last few years and has published a series of murder mystery tales that take place in Marfa, Big Bend and along the Mexico border. As part of promotion for the book, we took two groups of journalists to the tiny western town to experience the atmosphere John describes in his books.

I had heard about Marfa for years. As a buzz word in the Houston arts community, I had always been curious about the town and was excited to get to travel to see what everyone was talking about. I really had no idea what to expect, and now, thinking back, I wouldn’t have even be able to prepare for what I discovered.

It was magical. And I’ve been unable to find the description that does my trip justice since then.

The juxtaposition of Donald Judd’s minimalist, cold, concrete structures sitting in a pasture with farm animals; the quiet, sleepy, lazy main street; the character-like locals who all seemed to turn up at every spot at the exact right time like some Truman Show scene; the striking beauty of the hard and dangerous Presidio County border towns.

I still can’t describe it. But all I know is I think of it often, like after your first kiss. You’re so curious, you can’t believe it took you this long to discover, and can’t wait to do it again.

I felt most alive in 2010, returning to Marfa for a second time in May, sitting in a window, atop the Courthouse, overlooking Highland Ave. John was speaking to the journalists in the background, but all I kept thinking was how lucky I was to be staring off for miles into a small town where no one knew my name, and no one cared how many Twitter followers I had, and how forward I was looking to getting lost in my thoughts over the next few days.

This feeling has stuck with me since that day. I strive to get it back. I’m actually returning in a few days with John to fix up his new place there, and can’t wait.

You’ll no doubt be hearing much more on Marfa in the #reverb10 recaps, as it was such a special memory of 2010 for me.

More of my Marfa photos here.

Blog posts from first two trips here.

I couldn’t find my face this morning.

It was rocked off at last night’s My Morning Jacket show at Terminal 5 in New York City.

I’m here witnessing this epic run of shows as they play each of their 5 full length albums, 5 nights in a row at Terminal 5.

I say epic, because that’s exactly what it is. I still can’t find my face.

Last night was the first night, their first album, The Tennessee Fire, recorded in 1999. As promised, each track was played from first to last. Jim James was visibly giddy, as he thanked the crowd for joining them on this journey. “Some of these songs have never been played live before.” Whoa.

Here are a few pics I snapped,

…and a video of one of the SEVEN encore songs they did, Rod Stewart’s Hot Legs; among Elton John’s Rocket Man, Erykah Badu’s Call Tyrone, and Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit.

Full Set list here:

Next up tonight: At Dawn

Less pics this time, more enjoying things with my own eyes. Here are a few of the trip thus far.

New stuff this time includes Austin Street Cafe and Pizza Foundation. John’s cooking dinner at Q Wine Bar tonight and we’re attending a Star Watching Party at El Cosmico.

More later. More Marfa.

prada marfa

Hotel Paisano

katherine. laura. jenny.

[full set here]

Texas Pie Company, Kyle, TX

Laura and I were celebrating the 1 year anniversary of both of our blind leaps into the world of entrepreneurship. Last April 15th, both Laura and I quit our corporate jobs, and headed into a world of the unknown. And neither of us has looked back since.

The last year has been a blast, to say the least. It’s taken me from Soho in NYC to SLC in UT. On a road trip across the country, working on the campaign of our next Texas Governor, and meeting countless number of new friends and clients. Whew. It feels like it’s been 5 years.

At our recent Block Party with my partners, Primer Grey, we installed a quote on the bathroom wall, just visible as you glance in the mirror. “Are you where you’d hoped to be ten years ago.”

I’m not sure how many people can answer this questions with an honest “Yes.” But I know I’m lucky to be one of them.

—

I’m unpacking tonight, and re-packing for Marfa, TX in the morning. I’ll be taking a group of media to the sleepy west Texas town on a press junket as part of promotion for John Demers novel, Marfa Shadows.

I’m not sure if I even remember where I thought I’d be a year from today, but I’m pretty sure the answer wasn’t Marfa, TX.  Wonder where I’ll be headed April 15, 2011?

image: kenziepoo.com

Ok, yes it’s been almost three weeks since the Altitude Design Summit. And it’s taken me that long to get over the fact that I’m the worst skier in America. Maybe even North America.

Way overdue is a wrap-up post on the wonderfulness (that’s absolutely a word) that was the first annual Altitude Design Summit. There are many,  many, many, many, many more timely, great wrap-up posts. Instead of recreating those, I decided to pick my top 10 best memories from ALT. The things (and people) that 3 weeks later, I’m still thinking about.

I was completely honored to be a part of this amazing gathering of creativity, technology, and community. I know where I’ll be in Jan of 2011 (not on the slopes).

1. The SLC Welcome Wagon: Steve Urquhart + Alan Dayton

By far my favorite part of Salt Lake City was meeting and hanging out with these two. Who would have thought that two Utah politicians could be such a hoot? Not me. But that they were.  Taking us far and wide from the streets of SLC to Sundance in Park City, Steve and Alan graciously volunteered to spend time away from their rad families to serve as our official tour guides. I have a feeling that when the Olympic Host Committee visited SLC, these two had something to do with the win. I’m eternally grateful to their hospitality and look forward returning the favor in Texas one day.

2. Those Stunning Stanley Girls

I love hanging around families that are close. And even better, families that are close AND are all creative geniuses. Take the Stanley family, of St. George, UT. I first met Gabby Blair (Design Mom) 2 years ago and was instantly in love with her wit, brain, and heart. Next, I met the hilarious, talented Jordan Ferney (Oh Happy Day) at last year’s Mom 2.0 Summit. At this year’s Alt Summit I had the pleasure of meeting yet another Stanley sister, Sara Urquhart (wife to Steve) who was one of the main organizers of Alt. As an event planner, I can say that the 48-hours leading up to the event resemble something of a war zone on speed, and you would never tell by Sara’s fun and calm demeanor. She truly did a bang up job of organizing this vast undertaking. Also in attendance, Liz Stanley (Say Yes to Hoboken) who married into the Stanley clan, and if you know my freakish obsession with Hoboken, NJ, you can imagine my thrill. I’m so lucky to have gotten to know this family over the last few years. And they cease to amaze me with all of their talents. (Also FINALLY got to me the infamous Ben Blair! woo!)

3. My Conference Partner in Crime: David All

David All sat on the Politicopia pre-ALT panel that I also sat on Wednesday. He and I, along with Colin Delany, Laura Mayes, and Ric Cantrell taught a half-day social media workshop to local Utah politicians. David runs a grassroots communications company in D.C., The David All Group. I was instantly impressed with his presentation and work with recent clients such as Congressman Joe Wilson, and results his firm was able to achieve using social media (or as David will argue, Direct Media, tactics.) I got to know David over the next few days, and found that we had lots of common, outside of our political affiliations. ;-) (I think I confused him when I mentioned Halliburton. “Wait, you’re a Democrat?”) David also showed off his stellar snowboarding skills at Solitude, as I was rolling down the mountain trying to keep my skis in tact. We packed a lot of fun in 3 days and look forward staying in touch with David, and working on future projects together.

4. Meeting Joslyn Taylor of Simple Lovely. She’s simply that. Lovely.

I’ve been a HUGE fan of Joslyn’s blog, Simple Lovely for a long time.  Always incredibly beautiful content. And, she’s a Texas gal! Joslyn was the host of the Dallas Kirsty Book party last Fall, and I was so happy to finally meet her in person. Joslyn moderated a panel on creating a community online, and I was excited to hear some of the ways she chooses content and manages her blog. Hope to see more of Joslyn in the future!

5. Jyl Johnson Pattee showing me the Mormon gang sign.

Man are mormons fun. Yes, fun. as. hell. Which I’m sure was entirely judgmental of me to assume that weren’t. But Jyl topped them all. She was the life of the party at the Thursday night Opening Social. I haven’t thought it was possible for someone to be so fun sober since I was 16. Ok, 15. Jyl showed me the Mormon gang sign. Ok, so yes just an upside down #3, but I was highly amused. Her intoxicating laughter put a smile on everyone’s face. Damn, Mormons are fun.

6. LEAP!

I love Kirsty events, because it means I get to spend time with some of my favorite gals in the world. This trip was no different, and I finally got to meet Kirtsy guy, and Laurie Smithwick‘s other half, Bob. I sat in on Laurie and Bob’s session on Friday (along with Bryan Mason of Typekit and StruckAxiom) where the panel discussed the intersection of design and programming. A particular interest of mine.  Later in the week, I had a blast with Laurie and Bob at Solitude Ski Resort (they are expert skiers!). However, my favorite thing about this Leap Design duo is their exquisite taste in music. Always get new, great recs from these two. Excited to be seeing them at their home in Charlotte this March as Andrew and I travel there during his solo tour. Get the East Coast ready for us, Laurie and Bob!

7. Joy Deangdeelert Cho of Oh Joy

I’ve been a fan of Joy and of her blog, Oh Joy, for a long time. This Christmas, I found out that Joy has recently been designing a line of products for Chronicle Books (also at Alt), when my assistant Kara gave me a super cute notebook designed by Joy. I was ecstatic to find out that she would be a speaker at Alt. Laura and I joked on the plane that I would stalkerishly reveal my notebook to her casually at Alt.  I was thrilled when she walked into the session I was leading on Friday on Twitter for Designers. Until we discovered that, yes, Twitter was DOWN. For an hour during the session Laura and I taught Twitter, without access to Twitter. I will tell you, this is not easy. The attendees were super great about it and seemed to get at least something out of it. I snapped this pic of my notebook, and Joy. I know. Geek. It was pretty rad.

8. Erik Natzke + DJ Earworm = BEST CONFERENCE SESSION EVER.

Seriously. This session blew me away. Blew us all away. I was sitting in between Amber and David and we keep looking at each other like, is this for real? Erik is an artist, designer, and programmer, who creates and gives material substance to his ideas through immaterial computer code. Natzke’s work focuses on aesthetics and methodology, in which code and numbers generate beauty. When Natzke wants to draw something, he doesn’t pick up a pencil. He opens his Flash software editor and starts writing code. After Erik’s amazing presentation, DJ Earworm gave an amazing demonstration of how he creates a mashup. It was amazing to watch him find similar elements of entirely unrelated songs, and make it work. Check out a mashup he played for us of Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy” and Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” or as DJ Earworm has dubbed it, “If I Were A Free Fallin’ Boy.” This was seriously the most entertaining session I have EVER seen at any conference. EVER.

9. The Goodie Bags. Dude, Seriously. Awesome.

Here is a great post from Not Martha on the goodness that was THE goodie bag.

10. My Roll Dawgs: Laura + Amber

Last but certainly not least, my Texas girls Laura and Amber, who made this trip unforgettable. With out them, I’d never have had as much fun, or ever made it down the mountain for that matter. I’ve had so much fun with these girls over the past few years. So many adventures, and so many more to come. Love you, guys!

—

header image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/harpy

images 5, 6: gabby blair’s flickr stream

images 2, 8, 10 alt summit flickr stream

Every time I visit NYC, or any other large city for that matter, the city gets more and more demystified. I remember my first trip in 2003, and I feel like the city was a thousand times bigger. The more and more I’ve traveled there, I’ve learned my way around the city, pride myself on my subway knowledge, and continue to develop my list of “How to Get Mistaken for a Local in Any City.”

Tip #1 is walk with a purpose. I always try to figure out where I’m headed before I leave the hotel. I’m not directionally challenged like a majority of my friends, so this is a little easier for me. There’s nothing more embarrassing than standing on a street corner with a folded out map and a confused look on your face. I will say, the iPhone’s GPS has made this a helluva lot easier to do.

Tip #2: Yawn. Yeah, yawn. You rarely see people who are not relaxed yawn. Yawning gives an impression of familiarity and comfort. So, you wanna look like a local? Yawn on the subway. ;-)

Tip #3: Dress the part. Sure we can’t all afford a designer wardrobe. And I’ve never touched a Jimmy Choo, much less had one touch my big toe. However, I always make it a point to hit up a few local boutiques the first few days I’m in town. We did plenty of shopping this trip, and it didn’t break the bank. You just gotta know where to go. And Google can help with that. Or awesome iPhone apps like Not For Tourist.

Tip #4: Go at it alone. Don’t be afraid to wander around by yourself. Many travelers travel in packs and can easily be targeted as visitors. One of my favorite things about traveling, even when I’m traveling with others, is to take a half day to myself to wander around. I imagine to myself what it would be like if I were to live in this city. What would be my route to work? How would I get to my favorite restaurant, or best friend’s house?

So Friday morning, our third day in New York, I took off on my own to explore the West Village, Greenwich, and Chelsea.  My previous stays in the city had most been on the Upper West Side and Union Square. Our hotel, The Jane, was in a fantastic neighborhood, the West Village, just south of Chelsea. I did some shopping in Greenwich and Chelsea, and ate a slice of pizza on Carrie Bradshaw’s stoop on Perry Street. Ok, ok. Very touristy, but couldn’t resist.

I walked up and down Bleecker window shopping, it was a beautiful day, nearly 60 degrees and sunny. We actually lucked out on weather the entire trip. Got a little snow on Saturday, but other than that was perfect!

Tim Burton Exhibit, MoMA

About 3pm I headed uptown to visit the MoMA {11 West 53 Street}. I had read about a fantastic Tim Burton Exhibit that was showing, and wanted to check it out. And, hello. It’s the MoMA. The design store alone could entertain me for hours. After a sweep through the exhibits, the book store and the design store across the street, I walked over to Rockefeller Center to meet up with Maggie to check out the Tree and Holiday Decorations.

Jimmy Glenn, Jimmy's Corner, Midtown

We had BIG plans of ice skating at the Rock, but after we saw the tiny rink and the forever-long, cluster of a line, we bailed and opted for window shopping at Saks and a dive bar on 44th called Jimmy’s Corner {140 W. 44th}.

We had multiple beers at this shotgun bar in midtown, owned by Jimmy Glenn, a retired boxing coach. We learned all this, of course, by reading the hundreds of articles and pictures covering the walls in old glass frames, before we glanced over and spotted Jimmy sitting next to us. Of course we asked for a picture with him. It was too hard not to. ;-)

Company Bar, East Village

After a few beers at Jimmy’s we headed to meet Chester and some colleagues for happy hour at Company Bar {242 E. 10th} near Union Square in the East Village. New York happy hours are one thing I wish Houston had more of. Very common to find 2 for 1 drinks, and Company bar obliged.

We chatted with a few of Chester’s friends, and even met a girl from Mississippi who was starting a dating website specifically for Southerns in New York!

Next, we headed to dinner with Julie Gomez, our delightful and willing host for the evening. I met Julie at the Caroline Collective in Houston last year when she was working for Boo Town. She’s since moved to Manhattan and is enrolled in NYU’s grad program for Arts Administrators. On Wednesday, while we were setting up for the Kirtsy party at Meet, I got an email from Julie who said she had seen in my eNewsletter that I was going to be in town throwing a party and that she was going to stop by. She did, and I’m so glad she did! She offer to take us to an Italian Restaurant in Chelsea, which we soon learned had since closed. But being the trooper she is, she steered us right to another fantastic Italian joint, Pepe Giallo {253 10th Ave. & 25th}, whose proud slogan was “No Diet Coke, No Skim Milk, No Decaf!”  Maggie learned this the hard way after she ordered a Diet Coke. The pasta and wine was delightful, and we wrapped up dinner and headed to China Town’s Apotheke Bar, a spot Julie wanted us to check out. She promised cute bartenders. She didn’t have to twist our arm on that one.

We were greeted by a few of Julie’s friends, and also a velvet rope and line. It was pretty cold out, so I was relieved when she suggested we head to the East Village instead to meet up with her boyfriend, Tim. Because, you know, I don’t do lines. Not any kind. Well, unless it’s the checkout line at TJ Maxx.

The Library, Alphabet City

We walked over to Alphabet City to meet Tim at The Library {7 Ave. A}, a very divey bar that reminded all of us (Tim also from Houston) of Poison Girl. We ordered a few beers, plopped down in the back, listened to extremely loud metal music, while watching Sixteen Candles projected on the back wall. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip, even though sleep deprivation was probably showing all over my face. Chester and a friend met up with us as well and we laughed as 5 Houstonians sat around a table in the Lower East Side drinking Tecate and watching Molly Ringwald.

Coming up: More Puck Fair Fun, Shopping in Soho, snow! The New Museum, Taxi Cab Counselors, Hoboken, yummy sushi, and Brendan + Cory. And that’s only Day 4. Whew.

polaroid image: flickr user [toy box]

The reason for the trip was a laundry list of too good to be true chain of events: Well, there was the Kirtsy Book party, one in a series of parties I’ve been helping Kirtsy throw all over the country to celebrate Kirtsy Takes a Bow; Then there was Maggie’s 26th birthday, not to mention how Maggie and I first met, at her 21st birthday, which was reason #3, our five year friendiversary. And icing on the cake? Stef has been in Jersey for the last month helping out her mom, so we couldn’t wait to see her in her ‘hood. If that wasn’t enough, Maggie and I just needed a good getaway. And boy did we get it.

the jane hotel

We flew in Wednesday afternoon and met up with Kirtsy gals Laura and Laurie at our hotel, the absolutely adorable Jane Hotel {113 Jane St.} in the West Village. Thanks to Phillip Marshal for the fantastic recommendation. If you’ve ever decided on a hotel strictly on the inventiveness of their website, you’re my kinda people.

We headed for Soho to setup for the party. The event was being held at an amazing space called Meet {101 Crosby St.}, owned by (as I held my star struck tongue) the founders of the Wooster Collective, Sarah and Mark Schiller. I’ve been a fan of the WC website for years (thanks to Brent), and I was certainly shocked when during the party, a man approached me and remarked, “Is this you?”, shoved an

Meet, Soho

iPhone in my face, pointed to a tweet I had made days earlier about the Wooster Collective, and I, a bit reluctant replied, “yes?” He stuck out his hand and said, “Hey! I’m Mark Schiller!” It was one of those moments that you are praying that your effusiveness isn’t seeping through your pores. We talked for a while about the Wooster Collective and, what else but, Twitter! It was by far one of my favorite moments of the trip, meeting and talking to Sarah and Mark, standing in a beautiful space in Soho. There was plenty of pinching myself happening. Hourly. (p.s. they are working on a new WC book to be released soon!)

The party was fantastic. Lots of great people! I met lots of Kirtsy book contributors, and had a fantastic conversation with Redbook Magazine editor Stacy Morrison, about how social media is transforming publications and magazines.  The Tide folks were on hand to give out awesome Tide To-Go pens and talk about their handy new “stain brain” iPhone app.

puck fair

I got to catch up with my Houstonian-turned-New Yorker friends, ex-Boo Towner Julie Gomez, ex-Houstonist fellow contributor Chester Soria, and Nesta Mayo, who you may remember as the sweet soul who nursed me throughout the stomach flu during the trip to Laura’s wedding this summer. Chester and Julie ended up having mutual friends in NYC, and we all planned to hang out later during weekend. More pinching of myself, as I thought to myself what amazing opportunities I have been given this year. And a ton of them thanks to Kirtsy. I’m forever grateful for those gals.

After the party wrapped, Sarah sent us down the street to Puck Fair {298 Lafayette St}, an Irish Pub she and Mark often frequent. We grabbed the remaining Tide gift bags, rounded up the troops, and headed down the street. We were quite the hit of the bar, if you can imagine 3 Texas girls barging into an Irish pub in Soho handing out Tide-to-go Pens. People. Love. Tide. No joke. We had people coming up to us asking if we had more. I think Laurie has some great pics of this, I’ll have to hunt them down.

me, stef, mags at puck fair

After our goodie bags were exhausted, we got comfortable at the bar and chatted it up with just about anyone who ridiculed us for saying y’all. Which was pretty much the whole bar. We made fast friends with resident bartender and Irishman, John Francis O’Brien, yes, actually his name. Little did we know at the time, we’d be seeing lots more of John, and of Puck Fair. It continued to serve as our home base throughout the trip. Highly recommended if you are visiting. Ask for John. Tell him Texas sent ya.

As 3am rolled around, we found ourselves already dreading leaving on Sunday. However, we had just arrived, and had much more to cover in the next 4 days. I’ve split this post up into 5 posts. I just can’t handle it all in one.

Coming up: Rod Stewart sighting, shopping, Cake Boss! shopping, Cory Chisel up close and personal, some shopping, Texas BBQ in NYC, The New Museum, MoMA, and tons and tons of dive bars.  Check back tomorrow for nyc: day 02. God, I miss it already.

{December 1: Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?}

Can a trip I haven’t taken count? I leave tomorrow morning for New York for 5 days. #1 for Maggie‘s Birthday, #2 For me and Maggie’s Friendiversary (5 years!), and #3 to throw a kick arse Kirtsy Book Party at this kick arse place. Activities planned: Shop ’til our heels fall off. Scope out as many dive bars in the East Village that we can in 4 days. Hang out with Steffie in Hoboken (w00t!). Generally rock out.

Yeah. I’d say this could be my trip of the year.

However, I’ve made lots of trips this year that would stand as contenders.

Boulder in March for Gwen + Joel’s Wedding.

San Francisco for Laura + Anthony’s Wedding.

Tucson in August for Taneka + Jeff’s Wedding.

Do you see a pattern forming here?

For 2010 I’ve already a few trips planned: Chicago to visit my little Miggelita, back to Colorado for Kasey + Dave’s Wedding, and to Orange County.