October 14, 2010

I’m Back Lets Dance!

Let’s make up for lost time!

I know it’s been a while since my last post but do not fear, The Traveling Pickle is here to stay! It’s always a little more difficult at the beginning of the semester to explore and blog simply because school takes over for a bit. Enough about that and more about my finds! I have become a little obsessed with KidRobot toys as well as fun upbeat music I can walk around the city to, so of course this post will be about those awesome things! Let’s do this.

Jon Burgerman

One of my favorite artists right now is Jon Burgerman. I found out about him when I purchased one of his toy lines with KidRobot called “Heroes of Burgertown“. Since buying my first toy, named “Tiny Hero”, I have been in love with all of the creatures and projects that the Burgerman himself has come up with. There is something really adorable about a monster-like figure with different sized eyeballs and teeth and arms! My friends constantly ask about my display of toys and what they are supposed to be, but come on people not everything has a purpose or a meaning, some things are just cute and silly. Jon Burgerman’s artwork isn’t only limited to toys, he has an entire online store, Burgerplex, with different mediums he puts his unique monsters on. Recently I found a wall paper he created that has a slew of his characters in black line so that whomever buys it can color it in! This is on my Christmas list already. Yes I know that you think I am five years old, but Burgerman’s artwork is for all ages to enjoy! We could all use a dose of goofy, colorful, oddness. Take the seriousness out of your life and buy something by Jon Burgerman!  He will bring your imagination to life and make you want to draw all sorts of funny looking things!

Jon Burgerman

Burgertown Heroes

Wallpaper

Wallpaper

Jon Burgerman Book

 

The Limousines

Wanna dance? The Limousines will provide an excellent soundtrack to any dance party! Two guys, Eric Victorino and Giovanni Giusti, from the San Fransisco area make up the entirety of this fun band. Eric sings while Giovanni makes the head bobbing, toe tapping beats. Their song “Internet Killed the Video Star” off their debut album “Get Sharp” is absolutely excellent. It’s a new take on an old idea, singing about youngsters while playing music they would definitely be listening to. Most people would compare them to MGMT because they have a similar electronic rock sound, however I enjoy The Limousines much more because they are upbeat and straightforward with what they are singing about. The Limousines are all about not taking things too seriously and having fun with the sounds and lyrics of their songs.  Check out their album “Get Sharp”! The only excuse to not start dancing a little is that you’ve got no moves!

The Limousines

Get Sharp

I hope you have sincerely enjoyed this little rant about fun art and music! Dance a little draw a little and get to exploring for yourself!

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

3 Comments

Filed under art, Exploring, music

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

July 22, 2010

Pancakes and Music!

Oh My!
Some craziness happened between this post and my last,  but I am here now and ready to share some awesome things with you!

Nowadays I am blogging even more! The Traveling Pickle has a sassy younger sister named DailyStreetFeet.com, which consists of daily posts about cool links and things I find online. Exciting things are happening and now its time for some cool finds!

Mumford & Sons

Positively my favorite band right now! Mumford & Sons is four guys from West London making folk-alternative-rock music. They remind me of bands like Avett Brothers or The Swell Season with there wonderful overlapping harmonies and excellent instrumentals. Their story is simple, they wanted to create music that meant something while not taking themselves too seriously. Their debut album, ‘Sigh No More’  was released through Gentlemen Of The Road / Island Records in the UK in October 2009. Mumford & Sons writes music that is easy to sing along but if you are looking for the meanings behind them you’ll have to really listen to figure each powerful song out. The vocals are slightly raspy and have hints of their British accents. They use a lot of strong imagery in lyrics while telling stories of epic love and loss. Mumford & Sons has a musical personality that is unique to just them. They aren’t trying to be like anyone else, just playing and singing how they feel and letting the world interpret whichever way they wish. I think my favorite part of their music is the banjo! It’s becoming one of my favorite sounds and it always adds an exciting and upbeat tune to their songs. My favorite songs are Roll Away Your Stone, Little Lion Man, and Awake My Soul. Please check out their music, it is absolutely fantastic!

Sign No More Album Cover

Mumford & Sons band members

Soul Pancake

If you have a question, ask it. That’s the basic premise of SoulPancake.com. A website for you to ask anyone about anything and get a bunch of different opinions back. Rainn Wilson among others created this site to ask and answer “life’s big questions”. The site is easy to navigate and once you create an account you are welcome to respond to anyone and ask anything you chose! It’s one part silly and one part serious, with a goofy name, funny backgrounds, interesting people and thought provoking questions. SoulPancake is a wonderful collection of people and ideas coming together to search for new ways to think and see the world. The only rule they have is to be polite, if you don’t like what someones asking or their opinion, be respectful. I have been a member for the past couple months and I really enjoy it. One of the best things is the daily email with a top question that makes me think about something I usually wouldn’t have. You can even ask about planning a Holiday to San Francisco or Boston and you can find people on SoulPancake from anywhere and everywhere that will give you tips and answers! You can ask anything about any topic and get a great variety of responses. Join a collective, make a group, post a question, answer,and  think.  SoulPancake is pretty awesome. Please Check it out!

I hope everyone enjoys my finds :-) ! Summer is for listening to good music and thinking differently so give both of these a try!

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

And don’t forget to check out Daily Street Feet!

2 Comments

Filed under Exploring, music, Websites

Tagged as , , , , , ,

June 2, 2010

Summer is for…

Wonderful Tunes!

I’m home now, after the most exhausting and trying semester of my life, and ready to relax and unwind with some excellent music!

I’m certainly the type of person whose mood is directly influenced by the music I’m listening to.  I can go from sad and depressed to excited and fun, bad day to bearable and rainy and annoyed to calm and collected. It’s amazing  to me how musicians and songwriters can alter and affect us in such a profound way. They can capture a feeling and a moment and explain it to us all in four minutes or less.  It seems almost ludicrous to not go on and on about their talents, influences, and experiences. They are the the reason why we can survive that hour commute to work or school, or stay up all night to finish a project or cram for a test. Music and lyrics show us how to live and keep us feeling alive.

I want to tell you all about a few bands that have kept me going lately and maybe they will shift your moods or brighten your day just as they have mine. Enjoy! :-)

Locksley

Want some music to sing and dance to while walking down the street? Locksley is your band! Four guys from Wisconsin moved to New York City a few years ago to try to make it as musicians. Unrepresented by any big record label, they recorded their debut album “Dont Make Me Wait” and released it in early 2007. Recently Locksley’s second album “Be In Love” came out and is also excellent!  Their tunes are upbeat and fun in nature; every song is a sing and dance along.  Locksley uses mostly traditional instruments like the electric guitar, bass, drums, and tamborine.  They are Heavily influenced by The Beatles and other British and American pop/rock bands. Locksley will remind you of bands like The Ramones, The Wombats and The Fratellis, fun fun fun music. Their lyrics are excellent yet simple:
“Would you like a city by the sea then get a life with me
Don’t think twice i think it would be nice a life of over-flattery

It’s something so surreal, the stupid way you make me feel
When everything is said and done somehow you are still the one”

They have been touring with bands like Rooney, The Hives, and OkGo, which are perfect compliments to their entertaining and lively sound. They are a fantastic band to listen to with the windows down and the stereo up real loud! Locksley is definitely my summer band!

Be In Love- Locksley

www.locksley.com

The Spring Standards

In the mood for some folk-rock? Then The Spring Standards are all you need! 3 members, a whole bunch of instruments, and amazing harmonies. I was lucky enough to catch this awesome band open for Wakey!Wakey! at The Bowery Ballroom. They set the mood for the night with the intense energy they brought to their music. While listening to their tunes you would think that they consist of many members playing tons of different instruments but in actuality it is just three talented people making it all happen. They are always moving, drumming, and strumming to get a very unique and heavy folk-rock sound. They released their first full length album “Would Things be Different” in April 2010. It’s filled with wonderful melodies and vocal harmonies, fun songs, and slow songs. And one of my favorite things about The Spring Standards is that they switch between all three members for lead vocals. One song you will hear calm and pretty female vocals and the next will be a different sound with male vocals, always keeping me interested. My favorite songs off of “Would Things be Different” are, Skyline, Halcyon Days, and Unravel Unwind. Check them out!

The Spring Standards

www.myspace.com/thespringstandards

E-grand

Folk-Alternative-Pop-Rock-whatever you want to call it, E-grand is great! He’s a guy from the UK with a lot to say about music, and an easy listen with excellent layering of sounds and vocals. E-grand makes all of his songs for the toe tappers and music lovers.  His vocals are never too overpowering and the instrumentals are calm as well, but don’t mistake his subtlety for boring because it is far from it! Inspired by John Lennon and bands like The Flaming Lips. E-grand sings about love and hate and the times and ways of the world. It’s truly lovely to listen to this music. Check out his album and definitely the song “As Long As You Believe in Stars” You will love it!

E-grand

www.myspace.com/egrandmusic

I hope you guys are listening/purchasing right now because all three of these bands are awesome and a must listen! After you download, go outside and enjoy the absolutely beautiful weather! My dogs and I are now heading outside to play some fetch :-) (pictures of my new puppy are coming!)

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

May 9, 2010

Happy Happy

Mother’s Day :-)

To the woman who taught me how to be strong, independent, outgoing, loud, confident, sensitive, caring, loving, and most of all GOOFY!

Momma Bear with an Elvis impersonator when we were in LA

She has always been a trail blazer!

Happy Momma’s Day to the best momma in the world!  I had the absolute best day with you today :-) .

<3 Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

p.s. Thank you for teaching me the art of exploring. Without years of watching you find deals and walk the walk while shopping the shop, this blog would never be what it is!

4 Comments

Filed under Exploring, Uncategorized

April 19, 2010

California

Dreamin‘

Just thinking about what I’m about to tell you brings me so much excitement!  For spring break this year, I was lucky enough to go on an absolutely lovely trip to California!

Two weeks before my spring break, my parents told me that we were going to Los Angeles and San Fransisco, and any stress I was feeling was lifted. Sunshine, friendly people, bright colors, and amazing shopping; it was everything I needed.

We landed in LA and spent the first day at Venice Beach. I put my toes into the pacific ocean for the first time and checked out the boardwalk with my sandy feet. On the second day, my dad and I went on a Warner Brothers studio tour.  I was able to see some of the coolest things from countless movies and some cool actors too, including the ever-so-famous Ducky (Jon Cryer) from the John Hughes’s movie Pretty In Pink :-) . I also found out from the magic hat in Harry Potter that I was meant for the Hufflepuff house! After completing the walk of fame and putting my feet and hands in all of the cement in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, I was done with my short LA stint and was off to Monterey. We took the coastal route and I was able to see eight hours of some of the most beautiful scenery our country has to offer. In Monterey I went to the aquarium, where outside, I saw otters and seals swimming freely in the bay. After one day in Monterey we were off San Fran! Now, I could write for days about how much I love San Fransisco, but I’ll try to keep it short. San Fran is absolutely perfect for me from the people and temperature to the sea lions and shopping :-) . I rode the trolley and went to the wharf, shopped for records and vintage clothes on Haight street, and wished that I was alive back in the 1960′s! California is everything you see and hear about and definitely so much more. What a wonderful place and until I go back, sooner rather than later, I’ll be California dreamin’.

tippy toes in the pacific O!

My mom and I in front of the Chinese Theater

My mom and I infront of the Chinese Theater

Bird of paradise flowers!

My dad and I on the Friend's set!

My hand fits in marilyn monroes print!

Now for some of my favorite finds of the trip :-)

Varga

On my second day in Los Angeles, we went to the walk of fame and stumbled into a few touristy stores. We finally walked into the Westside Pavilion, a shopping area that overlooks the Hollywood sign. I noticed a few cute boutiques where  I did a quick walk-in walk-out because the prices were ridiculous. Then I tried one last time at the very adorable Varga Store. There were old varga pin-up girls on the walls and great accessories and clothes everywhere. I literally could not stop picking up clothes to try on. Once I finally made it to the dressing room, the VERY nice girl that worked there told me “this is going to be so much fun, you have to give me a fashion show and let me play dress up!” and I did just that. After about an hour of playing barbie doll to her and my mom, I ended up with 4 dresses, a belt, and a scarf! I can not rave about this store enough! The prices are more than reasonable, each dress, under Varga’s own label, cost about $35. Varga also had great discount bins filled with accessories that were $5-$15. This was certainly my BEST shopping experience ever, I was helped with sizes,colors and styling all while loving everything in the entire store! I could go on about how much fun I had there but you’ll just have to go and enjoy all the style and character that Varga has to offer for yourself! :-)

Varga

Melissa, the very vibrant girl that helped me at Varga!

Varga

Unknown Artist

In Venice Beach I walked into a little makeshift shop that had cool screen printed tee’s.  I started to talk to the girl who ran the store and found out that all the shirts were designed and printed by a husband and wife who go by the label Unknown Artist. I’m currently taking a screen printing class so I was really interested in the style of the shirts. They are all printed on tri-blend american apparel tee’s and tanks and are so soft. The artwork is simple and cool; there are designs with scissors, dream catchers, bears, guns, and peace signs, all of which are awesome. My mom and I were immediately attracted to this T-shirt with a yelling bear in sunglasses and a bandanna, so we both got one in different colors. And they also had this awesome design of  people that walked into a peace dove formation! The shirts are  hand printed and have very decent price tags that range from $15 -$25. Please check out these awesome artist’s and screen printers from Venice Beach, CA! www.unknownartistapparel.com

Neon

When I got to San Fransisco, I knew I wanted to go to the famous Haight Ashbury district and shop like crazy. One of the first stores I walked into on Haight Street was Piedmont Boutique.  The shop was created back in 1972 and still holds onto the spirit of those times. There were leggings, shirts, and pants in every pattern and color imaginable, wigs and lingerie, as well as a crazy wall of awesome jewelry. There was literally no way I could leave this store without purchasing something. I had a really nice girl showing me around the store, which somehow made the massive amount of color in this small store seem manageable. While walking me around, the sales associate told me how everything was made in house in San Fran, and I was so impressed because there was obviously so much labor and talent that went into all of the merchandise. After sifting through all the patterns and colors, I ended up with some parrot earrings and a lace turquoise top, though I wish I got more! I have to say, even for a district filled with cool shops of unique merchandise, this place topped them all for me with their outrageous style, nice people, and nonconformity.  Check them out at http://www.piedmontsf.com/

Piedmont Inspiration

Amoeba Music

The moment my parents told me we were going to San Fransisco I told them I wanted to go to Amoeba Music on Haight Street. Amoeba is the world’s largest independent record store with three locations in California. I knew I had to get to at least one location while I was out there! We walked all the way up Haight Street until we finally reached Amoeba, which was surrounded by tons of buildings covered in graffiti. I got a record player for Christmas from my boyfriend so I was very excited to add to my humble collection of vinyls. I spent an hour or so going through rows and rows of albums and then realized I had only defeated the rock section! Amoeba was really interesting because they somehow had almost every record by every band.  They would offer multiple copies of the same record to accomodate all types of budgets. The prices for each record depend on the condition of the exterior, but all the vinyls were in perfect shape. I had my arms full of awesome finds; Madonna’s Like A Virgin, The Cars, Joni Mitchell, Crowded house, to name a few.  After searching, I was quite pleased with the 13 records I ended up with!  I have never been exhausted from looking through records, but Ameoba’s vast selection certainly achieved just that. This was by far my favorite stop during my trip to California, and for any record lovers I would highly recommend checking it out and please take me with you! To find out more about locations and music, check www.amoeba.com

Me at Amoeba Music

outside scenery

Now that you’ve heard about my finds and stories, I am completely caught up in how much I enjoyed my trip out to Cali. My parents are the best for bringing me on this wonderful trip, and my Dad especially for sitting outside countless stores while I indulged in my now favorite shops. If you are out in California, you have to check out all of these awesome finds and tell me about your explorations so that I can make a list for when I go back!

Here are some more pictures from my trip!

Yes of course he has his own star!!

Santa

Santa Monica Pier, wish you were here

Driving up the coast with my parents!

Driving up the coast

Jellyfish at the Monterey Aquarium

The Fisherman's Wharf

Photo from the trolley, sunset from the Golden Gate Bridge

:-) I hope you enjoyed this and have a lovely week!

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

3 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

April 1, 2010

One Year!

Happy One Year to The Traveling Pickle!

Oh my, Oh my! It has been a year since the beginning of this wonderful blog. We will celebrate by having a post filled with goodies! I have been hording great music and places, and now it’s time to share a couple with you fine people :-) . I’m glad that I’ve been able to open your eyes and ears to new things this year and I’m excited to continue on exploring and sharing! Let’s jump right into this celebration with the same city I started this blog with, NYC :-) .

Pearl and the Beard

I am delighted to tell you about Pearl and the Beard, two girls, one guy, and a bunch of instruments .  Formed in New York City, this folk alternative band fuses instruments like the glockenspiel, the cello, the guitar, and vocals to make their awesome sound. Lyrically, Pearl and the Beard are unique: they layer and weave words to create fantastic melodies. They have 3 albums out and 2 EPs and in 2009 they released their LP “God Bless Your Soul, Amanda Richardson”. Pearl and the Beard play a lot of shows around the city but are currently on tour and just finished up at SXSW. To get a taste of this lovely folk band for yourself, you can head over to www.thefamilyrecords.com and listen to their full albums!

Pearl and the Beard

Chloe Temtchine

Chloe Temtchine is a singer/songwriter and New York City native. I recently went to see David Choi at the Highline ballroom and was lucky enough to see Chloe open for him.   I was immediately impressed with her clever songs and easy arrangement with just two guitars. Her music is elegant.  Somehow every song reveals Chloe’s self while connecting easily with the listener. The songs are a soul/pop mixture, and the lyrics share raw emotion while the instrumentals are simple and classic. Chloe has some tricks too: she can speak English, Spanish, and French fluently, and brings that knowledge into making more diverse and beautiful songs. Beatboxing is also one of her talents that she casually adds to her songs. Chloe just played at SXSW and  you can also catch her around NYC quite a bit. You can purchase her debut album, “Between Day and Dream”, here: http://www.chloetemtchine.com/media/.

Chloe Temtchine at the Highline Ballroom

Reminiscence
Whether I’m looking for gag novelty gifts or vintage clothes and accessories, I go to Reminiscence on 23rd between 5th and 6th avenues. You know all of those overpriced funny gifts you find at places like Urban Outfitters? Split the price in half and triple the supply and you’ll find yourself in the little shop of Reminiscence. They have everything from racing toy nuns to vintage army gear. The front of the store is filled with novelty items and prank gifts while the back is a vintage shop. I can’t walk in this store without giggling and purchasing. The people who work there are friendly and they don’t bother you while you push all the buttons on the toys to see what sounds they make. Reminiscence has been a real gem in Manhattan since the 1970′s and continues to be one today. Head in just to browse or buy, their merchandise is excellent and the prices are decent! It is certainly one of my favorite shops in NYC!

Front section of Reminiscence

Vintage section of Reminiscence

The Postelles
Toe tapping, singalong, and old school songs are what the band The Postelles are all about. These four New York boys write fun songs that bring me back to the type of music that makes me want to shake and dance. I recently saw The Postelles open for the band Hockey at Bowery Ballroom in NYC and was immediately hooked to their sound. They are a really easy listen with catchy lyrics and beats. The lead vocalist reminds me of Julian Casablancas a bit, while the music is a little more casual than The Strokes. They are currently on tour and just finished up with some shows at SXSW. You can purchase their “White Night” EP at http://thepostelles.com/ and it’s definitely worth your $3.50! The Postelles are simply a great listen, please check em out and enjoy some toe-tapping!

The Postelles "White Night"

Before I finish up I have to tell you about Wakey!Wakey!‘s new album “Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said the Last Time I Saw You”, it is absolutely fantastic! As I told you on a previous post, I fell in love with their sound while listening to the “War Sweater EP”  but now I am head over heels. I listen to them while sewing, drawing, walking, and whenever else I can. Mike Grubbs vocals are even stronger and they play around with instruments and song layout much more on this album. Check them out at http://wakeywakeymusic.com/ or you can listen and buy the album at http://thefamilyrecords.com. Enjoy!

Wakey!Wakey!- Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said the Last Time I Saw You

I hope you have enjoyed all of my NYC finds.  Thank you for making this a wonderful year and for all of your support!

A special thanks to my biggest fans- Mom & Dad: for always reading this, supporting my crazy ideas, and for helping me explore everywhere from home to Europe.  Dan: For inspiring me to start this blog and for continually showing me different ways to view the world, I love exploring with you. Emily and Michelle: for being my lovely personal editors and allowing me to email you about funky sentences late at night. Aunt Rosemary: for all of your love and ideas.  Josh: for always reading and commenting (Jackson still loves me more). Sarah: for having awesome brainwaves.  Thank you everyone :-D

Love,

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

p.s. Stay tuned for my California post coming this weekend :-D

5 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

March 16, 2010

Kiss Me

I’m Irish!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all!

My Irish luck has been working against me as of late.  Things are looking up but my lovely three year old MacBook Pro is currently at the Apple hospital getting it’s logic board replaced.  I have this awesome post all ready and saved on my Mac so hopefully it comes back to me unharmed and I will have tons of good finds to share with you for my epic one year post!

Anywho for now I simply wanted to take this opportunity to say a quick Happy St. Patty’s day! I’m 100% Irish and it would be a shame if I didn’t spread a little joy to you all on this holiday!  So don’t forget to wear your green and have some corn beef and cabbage tomorrow.

Me being silly at the St. Patty's Day parade in NYC last year.

Also! If you’re in Manhattan I highly recommend that you go to the parade, it’s one of my favorite things that happens in the city. There are tons of Jolly people wearing ridiculous green outfits and you may even find your own leprechaun!

Fitting photo of the Apple store on 5th Ave. with the bagpipes passing by.

Embody some Irish spirit tomorrow and have a wonderful St. Patty’s day :-) .

This is my best friend Sarahs Dad Allan, he says "cheers!"

Slainte!

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , ,

February 7, 2010

It’s Time For Some

Love, Love, Love.

I just got back to my overly-drafty-apartment in Manhattan after a lovely weekend at home playing guitar and going for walks in the snow. Upon sitting down at my desk I suddenly realized that I hadn’t blogged in a long while! The main reason for my lack of posts is because of school and work, as usual. Having time to explore and find hidden treasures in this city filled with commercialism and corporate this and that, is a true treat. Lately, due to my hectic schedule, I find myself only having time to discover new tunes.

I promised myself a while ago that even if I only had one band to share with you that I would post it.  I love this blog and it’s really therapeutic to just sit here and rattle off why I like bands and restaurants and so on.  About this time last year I was looking to express myself in a new way and I came up with this blog. I had no idea that it would change the way I look at the world.  Now when I go on walks I never neglect to look in every store window, wondering what that new or old place has to show me. Every time my friends talk about new music, I never knock it until I try it; some have turned out to be my favorite bands. I suppose the message I’m getting at is to try something new, it just may turn out to be your favorite thing.

This post is going to be about Love :-) . It’s always the season to show the people you love just how much you do. These are some of the things that remind me of the people I love.

City And Colour

City and Colour is Dallas Green, guitarist and vocalist from the Canadian band Alexisonfire. I recently got his second album “Bring Me Your Love” which was released in 2008. It is a wonderful album filled with his personal stories about love and dealing with the world around him. This solo project is very different from the hardcore sounds of Alexisonfire.  “Bring Me Your Love” is mostly acoustic, with some harmonica, banjo and piano. The first song I listened to off of the album was “The Girl”, a beautiful song about understanding and respecting what people do for love.

“I wish I could do better by you,
’cause that’s what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work.

While I’m off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I’m yours to keep
My beautiful girl

When you cry a piece of my heart dies
Knowing that I may have been the cause
If you were to leave
Fulfill someone else’s dreams
I think I might totally be lost
You don’t ask for no diamond rings no delicate string of pearls
That’s why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl”

City and Colour is one of my new favorite bands. Dallas Green’s voice is so soothing and calm, his lyrics are honest, and the music is the perfect backdrop for everything.  Please listen, he will make you see love in a new and more poetic way.

City And Colour, Bring Me Your Love Album Cover

http://www.cityandcolour.ca/

Cupcakes

What better way to show someone how much you love them than with 40 red velvet cupcakes with pink frosting in a formation of a heart? I’m usually one of the most festive people around but on Valentines Day I usually tone down my decorating habits. This holiday to me is not a day to shower a loved one with expected chocolates and roses. It is a holiday that gives us all an excuse to leave the rest of the world behind and only focus on that one special person in your life. I like Valentines Day. It may very well be over commercialized but the day isn’t about that stuff. We all get distracted on a normal basis and don’t have the time to make grand gestures of love, this holiday makes everyone slow down for a minute to love and be loved. So this Valentines Day don’t get caught up in the annoyance of the media forcing you to plan the perfect date or buy the perfect gift. A day spent with the person or people you love is what this holiday is truly for!  If for some reason you have far too many valentines, bake everyone a red velvet cupcake…they always make me think of love :-)

Red Velvet Cupcakes I baked

I’ll be spending this Valentines with a very special boy, I’m excited for whatever it is we decide to do… Maybe we’ll take a stroll in Strawberry Fields, go to an old bookstore, or make some dinner together :-) .

My Valentines! www.TheLondonBroil.com

If you are me, February 14th is a VERY important holiday because it is my Moms Birthday :-D so HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone, I hope it’s filled with lots of love!

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

P.S. Little unknown fact about TheTravelingPickle! The ducks in the photo on my header were from a photo I took in central park last Valentines Day.

3 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , ,

January 13, 2010

New Year

New Music

What better way to start off the new year than with some good tunes? I have been getting floods of new music and loving all of it. The iPod touch and record player I got for Christmas have already been put to good use! My winter break from college is almost done and it’s been quite rejuvenating to sit around for a couple of weeks and enjoy time with friends, family, and a cute pup. Now that it’s almost time to go back to the big city, I’m equipped with some great music to keep me calm and thinking about the ways of the world. I have three excellent finds for you, so get your ears ready for some magic.

Wakey!Wakey!

Wakey!Wakey! is essentially Mike Grubbs, a musician that now claims New York as home. Living the dream of coming to New York City to become a musician and succeeding, he is truly making the rest of us look bad. Wakey!Wakey! released their first EP, War Sweater, in May 2009. The EP consists of five powerful songs with a lot of piano and acoustic guitar (my favorites). The way Grubbs writes is very personal, there’s raw emotion that isn’t laid out into metaphors or similes about life, it’s just real and in plain terms. One of my favorite songs is “War Sweater”-

“New York is dangerous, littered with thieves
We’ve no morals here, we just do as we please….
But I don’t wanna go home where they all stare at me
cause I’m tattooed, and fired up, and drunk, and obscene…

You wear your religion like a War Sweater.
You ask for the truth, but you know you could do so much better,
and you sat on your fences, you’ve screamed no retreat…
So now what will your legacy be?”

There’s a connection that most young New Yorkers can feel towards this song and many others, without knowing Grubbs specific emotion behind it. In most cities it is easy to feel confused about the ways of people because everyone just does what they want to with no questions asked. That can be disconcerting on most days, but none of us want to go back home where minds are closed and confused as to why we wear our hair the way we do. Mike Grubbs has captured a very unique sound with his strong vocals, piano and easy strumming of the guitar, it is so easy to listen to. You can catch some of Grubbs musical stylings on CW’s One Tree Hill, he currently plays the bartender with a hidden musical talent. Wakey!Wakey! is a must listen to!

http://www.myspace.com/wakeywakeymusic

Wakey!Wakey! -War Sweater

Wakey!Wakey!- War Sweater

Hockey

Hockey is a band that makes you want to move your feet.  They started out playing parties and evolved their sound to fit what people could groove to the most.  After the success of their upbeat first EP, Mind Chaos, it seems that Hockey IS the party. Their Bassist, Jeremy Reynolds describes the bands goal as “[wanting] to make dance music that was infectious, almost like: this is a band but it might as well be a DJ.” They released Mind Chaos with Capital records in September 2009. This includes eleven tracks that one could easily get down with. Just because their focus is on making people move  doesn’t mean that they don’t have excellent lyrics.  In fact, unlike most other dance music trends, Hockey’s lyrics don’t just simply repeat and annoy. I’ve been loving the tracks “Song Away” and “Learn to Lose”. They sound a lot like a mix of Head Automatica and The Strokes. If you’re looking for something fun and excellent for the New Year, then Hockey is a great listen!

http://hockeyband.ning.com/

Hockey-Mind Chaos

Broken Bells

Broken Bells consists of The Shins lead singer, James Mercer, and artist/producer Danger Mouse.  When I first heard about their project I was very excited for them to pair up. I just recently acquired their self-titled debut album and am completely hooked. It is the perfect mix of The Shins alternative rock and metaphoric lyrics and Danger Mouse’s experimental sounds and beats. They don’t have a foreign sound but it is definitely fresh. The vocals are played with but there is still a real sound, while the music is electronic but not over done. They have released a free download on their website for “The High Road,” an excellent sneak peak into a very sweet album.

“The dogs who ran all night
The son who hoped it would
Break from the warfare in your house
To each his own
The soldier is bailing out
And curled his lips on a bar
And I don’t know if the dead can talk
To anyone”

The full album will be released in early March 2010. They are such a smooth and enjoyable listen, and a wonderful pairing of musicians! Definitely check them out!

http://www.brokenbells.com/

Broken Bells-The High Road

On a side note, my good buddy Alec Milewski just released his three song EP ” Trialogue With Myself” on iTunes. It is much more developed lyrically and musically than his previous endeavors. Great acoustics with excellent lyrics such as:

“Through the glass can you see me? My breath fogs up but no ones there, Finger prints give me away. Catch me if you can.”

I’m very excited to hear much more from him but you’ve gotta check it out!

Alec Milewski

http://www.myspace.com/ajmilewski

I hope that everyone is excited about all of these new bands and tunes. You better be purchasing or downloading right now! Enjoy the good music and a Happy New Year to you :-)

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

8 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

December 21, 2009

Merry

Holidays!


I hope everyone is enjoying holiday festivities and/or singing Christmas carols very loudly and poorly. I am sorry for not posting in the past month but as a college student it is easy to get caught up in finals at this time of year! I’m now done with finals and sitting here in NYC looking out my window at the sun beating down on the fresh snow, listening to some Dean Martin “Baby it’s Cold Outside”. I know this post will fulfill your much needed holiday fix. I have some lovely finds for you to enjoy :-) .

The Restaurant

Rolf’s is on 21st and 3rd avenue in New York City and is a true Christmas spectacular! I went to Rolf’s for the first time this past week with some friends for a holiday celebration and I was in awe of the decorations. Even though it’s a very a tight space filled with old wooden booths and a bar, they decorated the entire ceiling with garland and different colored ball ornaments. There are porcelain dolls and white lights in the garland, which creates a remarkable scene. The food is quite good, we ordered a couple things to share at the table, some potato pancakes, beef stew, chicken cutlets, and spetzle ( a German noodle). I was very pleased with the German menu and couldn’t stop eating the potato pancakes!  Rolf’s isn’t too expensive, each plate will cost between $10-$25. This is the perfect place for a fun holiday outing or date, you’ll feel like you’re at a loud family gathering!

Inside Rolf's

The Pie

I have never had a better pie than the one from Town Crier Bakery in Lahaska, PA. My parents and I enjoy going to Peddlers Village every year right before Thanksgiving to start Christmas shopping and pick up our pies for the holiday. Every year I crave for their apple crumble pie. I know that a lot of people are big on their pumpkin pies and other pastries but I cannot deny my need for this specific pie. It has a sweet moist crust with a perfect apple center and a gooey part cheese and sugar filling, with crisp cinnamon and sugar crumbles spread on top. The cheese might sound odd to you but it is AMAZING! What’s even more unique about this special shop is that they create, make and bake all of their treats from scratch. During the holiday season there are many bakeries and places to find your desserts but everything I have had from Town Crier Bakery has been delectable and delicious. It is a must try and their pies will soon be a must have for all of your holidays as well!

Apple Crumble Pie

http://www.towncrierbakery.com


I hope I have your mouth watering and your holiday cheer meter up! Go explore and find some holiday favorites of your own to share with me!

See some of my holiday festivities below!

A very plaid Christmas celebration with my friend alyssa

Rockafeller Center with my roommate Michelle

At Rolf's with my friend Sarah

Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

-The Traveling Pickle (Kristin)

3 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,