TURF Festival and Toronto Visit

Nick and I flew up to Toronto for two days this past weekend for what would be our last trip home before Henry comes. Since it was such a short trip and we were actually going so that Nick could see some bands that he works with, we stayed downtown the whole time, which was a nice change.

Despite a delayed flight, a fight against traffic to get from the airport, and waiting for an hour to check into our hotel, we made it to Fort York’s Garrison Commons for the first ever Toronto Urban Roots Festival.

We saw one of Nick’s favourite clients, Frank Turner, play plus Matt Mays & El Torpedo, and a few others. The best part for me was seeing all the Canadian music industry friends I hadn’t seen in quite some time. It was overwhelming having my ex-coworkers and all the other great people there, each one a surprise to run into! One of the best moments: Nick telling me how much he loves to watch me interact with “my people”. Ha!

I also ran into some friends like Alex and her cute little family. Her daughter, Addie, is Frank Turner’s #1 fan.

On Sunday, we got lunch with Julia, Jay, and Karen at our favourite spot. Then I headed back to TURF without Nick to meet up with friends, even though the sky looked threatening…

I got there in time to see Yo La Tengo and meet up with Alex, Jana, Sarah, and more (thanks to Sarah for the photo!) We got in some hangs before the skies opened up.

That night, we headed to Lee’s Palace to see Frank Turner, Northcote, and Larry & His Flask. You may ask “Hey wait a minute, aren’t you nearly six months pregnant? Where did you find the energy to do all of this, plus attend a wedding on Friday night?” Well, I was just so excited to see as many people as possible that I pushed on through two days of festivals and two nights of club shows. By 9:30 on Sunday night though, my belly felt strained from yelling over loud music and I was getting a headache so I sent myself home.

Sadly, I didn’t get to see everyone I hoped to, but I didn’t want to hurt myself. I had such a great time there though, and I’m so glad we got back home to Brooklyn before the massive storm and flooding from Monday night!

I love you, Toronto! The Storches will be back when we can.

Memory Lane

When I moved to New York, I gave my parents about five boxes to store. Those boxes included irreplaceable things that I didn’t feel comfortable shipping to myself, including my collection of photo albums from the pre-digital camera days. I wouldn’t look at those old photos too often when I had them, but thinking about something happening to the only physical copies of these memories gave me so much anxiety! So this Christmas, while I was visiting my parents, I managed to scan about 300 old photos.

It’s so funny to see how I’ve changed throughout the years…

Julia and Jay Get Married

Saturday September 8 was the best day of the summer. Possibly the best day of the year. Definitely the best day of Julia and Jay’s lives. It was the day these two lovely, brilliant, loving people got married.

The day started out with hair and makeup at the bridal suite at the Ivy Hotel.

What a gorgeous hotel!

Us ladies were soon joined by Rick the super wedding photographer.

After much primping, we were finally ready! But first, some shots of Julia in her dress before we leave for the church.

The most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen? Yes.

The ceremony and reception were both held at the Berkeley Church. The ceremony was beautiful. Obviously there are no photos from me (yet!) as I was lucky enough to stand up for Julia. The best part? When Julia started to get choked up saying her vows. Cathy, the maid-of-honour, was ready with a tissue for Julia, but Jay took out his handkerchief and gently dabbed away her tears. That’s the moment we all lost it and succumbed to our tears of joy for these sweeties.

After the ceremony, the wedding party had a little photo shoot then got to relax and mingle in the courtyard with the guests. It was so fun to see all of my friends all dressed up!

After a short while, we all headed back into the venue for the reception. After the bride, groom, and wedding party were announced, we sat down to dinner. Following dinner, Julia and Jay had surprises for each other.

Jay serenaded Julia with a Johnny Horton love song and Julia played Jay a surprise video she made for him. Did I mention this is a talented couple?

Nick didn’t get to sit with me since I was at the head table, but his seat was right behind mine at a table full of friends. I’m so lucky!

Our place cards were written on the back of Tattly temporary tattoos! Heart badges that read “loved”.

Paul did a great job as MC! He even got us to make barnyard animal noises between toasts.

We all had fun playing in the photo booth.

Before long, the entire wedding turned into a giant dance party.

Oh look, it’s the best man in a beaver hat.

I think Julia had a good time.

All in all, a fantastic day. I was so happy to be part of the wedding, even though I no longer live in Toronto. Can I tell you how hard it was to leave the wedding that night, surrounded by some of my best friends in the world? Very hard! What wonderful people I have in Canada.

Congratulations again, Julia and Jay! Enjoy your honeymoon in Belize and your first week of married life! xo

Bachelorette Cottage Party Weekend

This Labour Day weekend, some of my best friends and I celebrated the remaining single days of our good friend Julia with a cottage bachelorette weekend! I flew to Toronto on Friday and met up with Sarah and Karen to drive up there together.

Unfortunately, we managed to lock our car keys in the trunk and the trunk release button inside the car was broken. Luckily, this very nice Thrifty man came to help us and wait with us for an hour until they could send someone to save us. I don’t think he was too upset about hanging out with some pre-bachelorette party girls for that long.

We missed all the traffic and got to the cottage just in time for tacos and to see Julia open her obligatory embarrassing bachelorette gift from her cousin.

Slutty lingerie? Check. Gaudy “Bachelorette” wine glass? Check!

The weather was lovely all weekend. Not too hot, not too cold. We managed to get in a good amount of sunshine time on the dock and in the yard. Is Sarah naked here? Only we will ever really know.

We also got in a lot of cardio, thanks to the 800 stairs down the hill to the water!

What a pretty bride-to-be!

Canadian reading and Karen’s gimp. (Remember gimp bracelets, girls?)

There was kitchen dancing.

And games.

And Jana’s famous Magic Juice.

And best of all, lots of lady friend times in the sun.

Together, we helped Julia choose the music for her ceremony. By the way, it’s going to be AWESOME.

Dock pilates, for some reason.

The last night there, we had the best dance party in ages, all of us outfitted in vintage gowns by Sarah Curtis. Those photos won’t make the internet, so you’ll just have to use your imagination. Karen was very excited about the pile of silky gowns!

All in all, a fantastic bachelorette cottage party weekend and the perfect send off for Julia into married life. Love you, ladies!

Julia

Tomorrow I’m flying to Toronto to spend 10 days in Canada, all in the name of one of my best friends, Julia.

Julia and I met for the first time in 2004. I knew right away she was a keeper from her sense of humour alone.

We have since had parties…

Karaoke nights & food fights…

Halloween costumes

(Yes, that’s Julia dressed as a worm with a bottle of gin in her lap)

Heart to hearts & so many laughs…

And thank goodness, visits back and forth from Toronto to New York.

Julia is one of the best people I know. I’m so lucky to be able to stand up for her in her wedding on September 8 when she marries Jay, the perfect man for her.

I’m also fortunate to watch her get silly this weekend at her bachelorette cottage party, where there will be many more funny photos to come (if you’re lucky, internet!)

I love you, Julia!

Whirlwind Trip To Toronto

Always nice to see you, Toronto, even if it is for just 2 1/2 days!

Death Cab at the Waterfront

On Tuesday night, I went to see Death Cab For Cutie and Frightened Rabbit at the Williamsburg Waterfront. While waiting for Nick and Annie to meet me, I was interviewed by Winkball.com about how long I’ve been listening to DCFC and I realized I had been listening for ten years! It’s amazing how time flies when it comes to great music. It seems like only yesterday I was listening to “Something About Airplanes” and it certainly doesn’t feel like 8 years have passed since I saw them at the tiny Toronto club, The Horseshoe.

Death Cab For Cutie

Frightened Rabbit

If you live in New York and haven’t been to a show at the Williamsburg Waterfront yet, I urge you to go. It’s great to listen to music while the sun is setting and you watch the Manhattan skyline light up.

Plus, you can sip on Australian wine, like Annie & I!

Canadian visits

I just got home yesterday afternoon from a particularly great trip in Canada!

I saw lots of family…

…like my nephew, Ben

…my Dad and my red-headed niece, Jillian

…my Mom who’s always surrounded by her grandkids

…my silly sister, Jenn (I have to admit, I didn’t take this photo, Ben did!)

…my Grandparents and Aunt Deb even came to visit for a day!

I was lucky enough to be invited to my former employer, The Agency Group‘s 15th Anniversary party on Thursday night.

It was so great to see old friends and co-workers, like Eli!

Robbie T.

…and a whole lot of other great people that I miss working with. I know it sounds unlikely, but Canada truly has the best entertainment industry, just for the people alone!

Unfortunately, I didn’t stay for the entire TAG party, I caught the last train back to the ‘burbs and when I walked into Union Station, I found myself on a TV set.

I spent the following night out with some of my favourite friends at Clinton’s on Bloor.

Julia and I

…and who could miss Rob Blyth?

The next morning, I was lucky enough to have the service at our brunch spot be so slow that I got an extra couple hours with my girls!

The perfect ending to my trip had to be watching the Junos with my parents on Sunday night. I forgot what a game of “I spy” Canadian TV can be. My favourite part was when Shania Twain said she loved “Canada’s bush” in her acceptance speech.

This trip was particularly special and enjoyable because I got to spend 6 days with friends and family and saw almost everyone I’d hoped to. It was also my Mom’s birthday and I managed to take a meeting with a former co-worker that turned into a new freelance gig for me, doing what I do best – design, web management, and social media. Turns out, I just needed to go back to Canada to find a job! ;)

I’ll see you again soon, Canada, I love you!

A Saturday in the Village

After using the gift certificate Nick got me to Angel Feet for a reflexology session, I spent this splendidly sunny, warm March afternoon in the West Village. A visit to the Village is always interesting if you’re not completely familiar with it – it’s one of the only areas of New York that is not a grid so the streets start going diagonally and running into each other, the numbered streets aren’t necessarily in order anymore, and so navigating is a bit of a challenge. I took this rare opportunity to get lost and wander in circles past a bunch of cute cafes and shops and even perused some stores for the first time. Did you know that there is a Marc Jacobs bookstore?

I also had some time to take a couple photos with my compact camera:

Oh and if you ever have the chance or the extra dough, I’d highly recommend a reflexology session from Angel Feet. I had an hour massage for just my hands and feet and it was divine! It’s so interesting how talented the practitioners are as well – afterwards she told me what she felt from my pressure points: apparently my tension is held in my spine, shoulders, and hips. These are the places I need to make sure I stretch and take care of, which is very true!

East Coast Winter Storm, take 4

On Tuesday night, New York got pounded with a massive winter storm for the fourth time since Christmas. There was thunder and lightning, rain and snow, but mostly snow. Needless to say, I had to document this urban tundra with photos of the morning after.

Contrary to popular belief, New Yorkers are quite polite and courteous of each other in times like these. The sidewalks are often only shoveled enough for one person to walk down at a time and are rarely plowed wide enough to be able to pass a slow-walking stranger. You hear a lot of “excuse me”s and “thank you”s and it’s all very uplifting! That is, until about a day or two after the storm and we’re all tired of dealing with the snow and ice and become rude again ;)