Before you watch (if you watch) this semi-awesome video that I made re: Palm Springs, here are a few disclaimers:

1. This is the very first time I’ve ever recorded and edited together a video of sorts. That’s why it looks like your 5 year old sister in kindergarten was the cinematographer.
2. I apologize to my poor iPhone for giving it shaken-baby-syndrome. I need a steadier hand.
3. I used an iPhone app called 8mm to get the neat effects. My good friend Ann-Marie has posted REALLY CUTE videos on her blog using this app as well (I copied her).
4. The song used is “Black Water” by Timber Timbre.
5. My next video will be cooler, I promise.

Palm Springs/April 2011 from The Style Eater on Vimeo.

As I mentioned in the last post, Kyle and I went on an impromptu trip to Palm Springs.  I absolutely love hot, deserty weather so Palm Springs is right up my alley.  We stayed at the Ace Hotel + Swim Club and it was beyond wonderful.  Besides the fact that we’re quite fond of Ace Hotels in general (see NY here), our experience at the Palm Springs location was one of my favorites.

The hotel itself has a chic, retro vibe, the atmosphere is laid back and relaxing, and the food and libations are a-plenty.  Kyle had his fair share of bloody mary’s and I had my fair share of coconut french toast.  Yum.  Ace, I’m comin’ back at you real soon.  Miss you already.

And of course, my slew of Instagrams (that app is addicting!):

So yesterday, Kyle and I planned a very last minute trip to Palm Springs. I’ve never booked a hotel one day in advance before. Quite spontaneous of us!
Random stats:
Hotel: Ace Hotel + Swim Club
Weather: 90 degrees
Degree of untanned skin: PALE ALERT
Nail color: Essie Polish, French Affair
Poolside book: “Delirium” by Lauren Oliver
Board Games: Bananagrams (Scrabble minus the board)
Music of choice: Lykke Li
Number of hipsters: Astronomical

Be back in a few days!

This past weekend, Kyle and I took a small vacation to San Francisco to celebrate New Year’s.  The entire trip revolved around exploring new districts of the city and indulging in delicious food.  I swear, San Francisco has the best food!  On Thursday night, we started our trip in the Marina District, stumbling into a gastrotavern called The Tipsy Pig.  Best. Decision. Ever. Not only is The Tipsy Pig a lively bar, it also has some of the best comfort food I’ve ever had.  3 words: chicken pot pie.  TO DIE FOR.  I have no photos from this gem though, the lighting was too dark sadly (read: I had 2 brewskies).

The rest of the trip was just as magical, from our New Year’s Eve spent at the W Hotel’s bar/club (where I forgot my ID card and had to go back to our hotel to get it – $30 later in cab fare and a total NYE FAIL) to the adventures we had with my very good friend Kristen (a San Franciscoian) and her boyfriend, C.J. (brunch at Absinthe Brasserie, several trips to Zara, searching for Maiden Lane, being tourists in Union Square, deep dish pizza at Little Star).

Here are some highlights from our getaway to San Francisco:

Lunch & tea on the top floor of the Grand Hyatt in Union Square with Kristen and C.J.:

Standing in line at Tartine Bakery for 30+ minutes just so we could stuff our faces with these:

Finally stuffing our faces with Tartine goodness (in the form of a chocolate croissant):

…and some more Tartine.  Spicy turkey and brocollini pesto panini:

Being touristy in front of the Golden Gate Bridge:

Kyle wanted a photo too (how adorable is he):

Wandering around aimlessly:

Kristen and I “hearting” each other forever:

Barney’s telling us to “Have a Foodie Holiday”…and we did:

Kyle carrying my bags while I took pictures of him (whoops):

…from San Francisco!

Wishing you a new year filled with endless joy, prosperity, and health.  Love you!!  Happy 2011!

As I’ve mentioned before, Vancouver never disappoints.  My family and I had a jammed packed week in British Columbia full of exploring, eating, and lots of beer drinking.  We hiked in Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain, wandered through the markets of Granville Island, went on a tour of Victoria and Butchart Gardens, and of course shopped and ate endlessly in downtown Vancouver.  I’ll let you know about all of my favorite places in the next post!

Here is a snippet of our 800+ photos:

In approximately 5 mins, I’ll be departing for Vancouver.  I’m so excited!  It’s one of my favorite cities in the WORLD.  Good food, clean air, friendly people, gorgeous buildings, great stores/boutiques, city skies, open wilderness.  What more could you ask for? It has everything.

I’ll be gone the whole week so I’ll see YOU next Sunday!!  In the meantime, don’t spill the beans about what happens on True Blood and Mad Men.

If you want to see (or read?) all the shenanigans I get into in the gorge city of Vancouver, you can always read my tweets: twitter.com/TheStyleEater

And P.S. the last time I was in Van, I ate at the most delish restaurant, Chill Winston.  You can read about my experience here.

Besos!! …oops that’s South America.

This past weekend, I stayed at Ace Hotel in New York City. Besides the fact that this hotel is loaded with static electricity and every doorknob and elevator button you touch shocks the heck out of you with a visible, miniature-sized lightning bolt, this is one very cool place.

Located in Midtown east of Chelsea, I would describe Ace Hotel as vintage bohemian meets total hipster. If Ace Hotel was to open a branch in the Los Angeles area, it would be in the middle of Silverlake – that’s the level of hipster I’m talking about. If you’re not aware of this correlation, I’d be happy to explain it to you via email.

Anyways, Ace Hotel is perfect for the twenty-something and thirty-something crowds. During the day, the hotel lobby and bar is filled with local New Yorkers on their laptops (free wi-fi), drinking cappuccinos from the hotel coffee shop. At night, the bar transforms into a very hip lounge attracting a large after-work crowd. Sometimes there’s even entertainment, including live bands and DJs. On top of all that, the lobby bar has great drinks and delicious food. Let me tell you, I was not afraid to order the chocolate-filled donuts on the dessert menu even though many a New York skinny minny was giving me dirty looks for enjoying them so wholeheartedly. SO GOOD!! The drinks were unique and tasty as well – my favorite was the Hound on Fire, complete with Stoli Vodka, grapefruit juice, and rimmed with chili salt. Overall, the lobby bar scene was fun and lively and their vintage couches were very comfortable.

As for the room itself, it was not your standard hotel room – and that’s what I loved about it! Though it was still very nice and comfortable, it was super eclectic as well, filled with, again, very vintage-inspired and bohemian furniture. So unique in a world dominated by Hiltons and Marriotts.

Oh, I forgot to mention the best part of Ace Hotel: the tall, dark, and handsome doormen (Kyle calls them “retired male models”). A very nice addition, oh la la.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay at Ace Hotel NYC very much. They have several locations across the U.S., including Seattle, Portland, and Palm Springs. Next spring, I think I’m going to stay at the Portland location. I highly recommend this hotel! It’s a hipster heaven, I assure you!

The corner of Broadway and Broome St in SoHo houses Madewell in all it’s preppy-chic glory (at the very corner) and Topshop, the UK-based trendy haven (two stores down). My friends, these are my two favorite stores. You could imagine the jubilee I was experiencing whilst navigating my way through the hundreds upon hundreds of frenzied holiday shoppers packed and herded into each of these shops.

Bliss, I tell you, pure bliss. No but in all seriousness, I would consider the corner of B’way & Broome on my top 10 list of ideal heavens, right between Edward Cullen’s Forks mansion and Santorini, Greece.

Of course I had to take a picture in front of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. It didn’t matter that it was pouring rain and so intensely windy that many an umbrella was inverting inside out (quite a hilarious site if you’ve ever witnessed). The tree was just gorgeous! I risked waterlogging my camera to post this photo FYI.

Besides the fact that it was raining on Sunday, the weather in New York City could not be more beautiful. It was chilly but not too cold with mostly sunny, blue skies. So gorgeous.

I love traveling to New York and this trip was no exception. I had an AMAZING time. I went to the Audrey Kawasaki art show in Chelsea, visited the Jane Austen exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum with my good friend Laurie, shopped in SoHo, and was wined & dined by Kyle. Couldn’t have been better!

Over the next few days, I’ll be reviewing some of the restaurants I went to, the places I visited, and the hotel I stayed at. So check back in for more NYC love.