spring break

A long weekend came and went, and all I'm left with is a peeling sunburn. Just kidding. Kinda. Our trip to Miami was really relaxing—full of great food, a birthday celebration, some time with friends and family, and a bit of sun. We stayed at the Shelborne hotel on South Beach for a night, and though the weather didn't always cooperate, we got a quick tour of SoBe and its characters while walking around Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road. Of course I didn't take nearly enough pictures, but here are a couple of colorful shots. Can you tell how much I miss those palm trees?

rodrigo y gabriela

Even without a full-time job, I still dread Mondays. Sure, I get to sink into the comfort of a squishy couch, gobble snacks and do minimal work on my own laptop, but there's no escaping that sense of  gloom that lingers like a weekend hangover. The good news? This Friday kicks off a long weekend in (hopefully sunny) Miami. Enter Rodrigo y Gabriela, whose funky flamenco jams will be getting me through this week of couching and waiting. If you haven't seen the duo's version of "Stairway to Heaven," you're welcome.

follow me

Photographer Murad Osmann has turned his Instagram account into the newest viral phenomenon with his stunning series, "Follow Me". Osmann snaps stunning pictures of his girlfriend as she leads him through some of the world's most exotic locales, from the beaches of San Sebastien to the crowded streets of Hong Kong, to Venice during Carnival. Not only are the photos artfully composed, but they evoke a undeniable sense of romance, mystery (we never see her face), and full-on wanderlust.

manifest destiny

I've become tangled in a love affair. Though a lifetime resident of the east coast, in recent years I've found myself itching, pining, yearning for the west. So when my brother relocated to Colorado for work in January, I was secretly, selfishly thrilled at the plethora of excuses to visit. A weekend trip, split between the city of Denver and up into mountains, meant lots of family time, serious skiing and even more serious cowboy food.

springing forward

Growing up in Miami, FL, we had two types of weather: hot and hurricane. It wasn't until I moved north for school that I got to appreciate, and anticipate, the changing of the seasons. In one word, scarves. As temperatures climbed to the mid-60s this weekend (more than appropriate for daylight savings time), the entire city shed winter coats, slipped into Sperrys and headed outside to savor the first signs of spring. Obviously it's only a matter of time before I'll be lamenting the heat and wishing for winter, but until then I'll find every excuse to head outdoors with my SPF 30 and a DIY pedicure. I wrote about some kewl places to enjoy springtime here.

thievery corporation at 9:30 club

I first saw Thievery Corporation about a year ago, also at the 9:30. I actually went to the show by myself, which was not a big deal except that Thievery is one of those bands who make you want to turn to your friend and dance/cheer/fist bump the night away. Needless to say, this time around I was thrilled to have an awesome crew along for the ride. Fists were bumped, and fun was had by all. Here's the write-up, with some sweet pics of the party (one of which I stole and pasted above).

stacked

Ai WeiWei's retrospective at the Hirshhorn Museum proves an obligatory stop when visitors come to town. WeiWei's photography, large-scale installations and dissenting political commentary make "According to What?" one of the city's most intriguing exhibitions. "Forever Bicycles," a commentary on overpopulation, is probably my favorite piece in the show, so I was blown away when coming across photos of "Stacked" currently on display at Italy's Galleria Continua. Of the mesmerizing installation, MyModernMet says: "As the main mode of transportation in WeiWei's homeland of China, the installation criticizes mass production....The towering piece reflects the overpopulation of 'things,' and, thus, the people that own them."