love or hate: lana del ray

initially i ignored all the hype surrounding lana del ray.  i saw her as kind of a faux-indie girl that was being pushed through the ranks by her good looks and rave reviews from the fashion/blog worlds.

so i never listened to her music, dismissed it as a fad.  even watched the painful SNL performance on youtube.

and so when i got a mix from a friend a few weeks back i was digging all the new stuff, mash-up's and wait...lana del ray re-mix? gah, it's stuck in my head. i can't get enough? it's either hauntingly good/bad?

so listen up!  Lana Del Ray - Video Games (Lockah Remix)

via

now listening to: family of the year

family of the year "st. croix"

listen here: http://www.myspace.com/familyoftheyear

http://familyoftheyear.net/

going on tour this spring!!

on repeat - GROUPLOVE

i can assure you you will not take this album off your ipod. so so good.

GROUPLOVE - Never Trust A Happy Song

dc record fair

it was so nice to be back in DC this weekend.  after 4 weeks of travelling on the weekends and a conference for work in Columbia, SC last week i was beyond happy to be in my own bed and sleep in.

DC always has so many fun and interesting things going on and i had been missing our mini weekend excursions within the city.  so on Sunday we headed to the DC Record Fair.  bagels and perusing thousands of albums on vinyl...talk about a good morning.

serious browsing

i couldn't resist...

dorky/happy

tuesday tunes

my musical wells have been dry as of late.  i've had the same tried & true favorites on repeat all summer and into fall.

a few things i would like to refresh with.

Grouplove

The Kooks

The Naked & Famous

Yuck

looking for some iTunes gift cards please :)

current obsessions

it's been non-stop around here lately.  lots of travel & work with hardly any down-time in between.  despite the hectic schedule (and my lack of blogging) the obsessions have been brewing up in my cranium.

and so they go:

STYLE

via Vogue

I cannot get enough Emmanuelle Alt, the current queen bee over at French Vogue.  Her tomboy chic attire just sends me through the roof - the definition of effortless chic.  If you haven't read the profile on her in September's issue of American Vogue, do so immediately.  Can you say girl crush? Oui!

via Tom Binns

Tom Binn's jewelry is so beautiful.  The punk pave collection is simple and delicate, but oh so edgy with the mini spikes.  I need this ring to be worn on middle finger ASAP.

EAT

via

Peregrine Espresso.  I love this place.  Their coffee is absolutely delicious - bold and rich, but never bitter.  It is the perfect treat.  I especially love their pedaler service - where they deliver your coffee beans to you for home brewing via bike.  

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Baked Mac 'n Cheese. this isn't really a current obsession, more like perpetual, but ever since we ordered it at Cafe Chloe in San Diego (literally - best food & date ever) I have been dying to re-create and indulge in some mac 'n cheese.  

MUSIC

Starfucker - Reptilians . on repeat. 

we saw them live last week at the Black Cat.  seriously good tunes.

via

Black Keys live at Virgin fest fueled my love for the incredibly talented and down right awesome Auerbach. Nothing better than listening to this record on vinyl and relaxing with a good beer in hand.

OTHER

via Tibi Blog

mis-matched, but coordinated, bridesmaids dresses a la Tibi (but of course).  my BESTIE is getting married :)

Swoon.  I love everything in the post.

Off to sunny LA for a beautiful wedding.  Can't wait for all of the laughs, glasses of champagne, and many photo's to come.

xo

summer playlist

summer is sunshine, grilling out, the beach, and most importantly concert season!  if you've been reading the rix-mix for awhile, you know that concerts have a special place in my heart.  listening to live music and discovering emerging bands is so enjoyable for me.  in an effort to spread the word about bands i'm loving right now, i figured i'd give you...

rix-mix summer albums/playlist. vol 1.

givers - "in light"- seriously, every song on the album will make you dance

smith westerns "dye it blonde"- if you haven't bought this yet, you will not regret. it is best listened to anytime, anywhere

foster the people "torches" - upbeat for hangin' out

cults "cults" - just good

holy ghost! 

fitz & the tantrums - "breakin' the chains of love"

the lonely forest - "arrows"

dale earnhardt jr jr "it's a corporate world"

fleet foxes "helplessness blues" - relaxin'

the elected "baby face"

hello - martin solveig & dragonette - i heard this on the dreaded radio, but it's catchy.

sleepyhead (le chev remix)

also, not only does Vogue know fashion, but apparently they've got some good taste in music too (but of course!)  the vogue summer playlist is awesome. highly recommend!

this is what i'm going to look like all summer. casual cute, hanging out outside and listening to good music.
a la Alexa Chung & Harley Viera-Newton @ the Mulberry Party during Coachella
photo via Vogue, by Gia Coppola

belated birthday

back in april, i took a trip to miami with my bests & had a fab rooftop happy hour to celebrate my birthday in the city...but one gift was saved for now.

drum roll please.....

RJ surprised me with tickets to the sold-out Death Cab show at the 930 club.  Not only is Death Cab my favorite band of all-time but they hardly ever play smaller club venues like 930 anymore - needless to say I was excited.   So after 2 months of waiting, the show finally arrived...

first, a little pre-show dinner with friends at Marvin.  the moules marinere and a glass of bubbly is on of my favorite meals.

of course we had to peruse the merch table...i just cant make myself wear a t-shirt though and concert posters just dont fit with the "theme" of my new bachelorette pad.

to say it was the best DCFC show i've ever been to is an understatement.  ben rocked out, said the 930 club was his "favorite club in america" and they played some 2 hours and 20 songs of death cab new and old.  

what a lucky lady i am.  thank you arj! <3

this is a terrible picture, but i had to give the man some props. and yes, i wore my fake hipster glasses. 

must download

can't get enough of this song. happy tuesday kiddies <3

Starf*cker - "Bury Us Alive"

being nerdy at the rock show

ok so i did it. i broke down and embraced my inner nerd.

warby parker here i come

thoughts? i am not going to lie i loved every minute behind those crystal clear lenses.

friday night i had the perfect excuse and venue to test out my new look (and be incognito in case i really did just look like a fool) at The Red Palace on H St.

the openers Lucius & The Spring Standards were on point.

The Spring Standards

Followed by a lively Ha Ha Tonka

Ha Ha Tonka

NYC & LCD

wow. monday. i made it back from one insane weekend in nyc (albeit a little worse for the wear, but totally worth it)

friday beebs & i had a ridiculous dinner at Hillstone.  their veggie burger is out of this world, no missing the meat on this monster.  

saturday morning started off strong with a hot power yoga class at Pure Yoga.  this yoga studio is insane, i mean anytime they offer a cold, eucalyptus infused towel post-vinyasa i am one happy camper. 

anndddddd the whole reason i made the trek up to the city was LCD Soundsytem's "last show ever" an epic evening of dancing ourselves clean & electro music goodness.  the show streamed live on Pitchfork, which you can catch here. followed by a crazy late night dance after-party at the Ace Hotel. this hotel is total hipster heaven - people watching extraodinaire.

LCD @ MSG

the Ace Hotel

loving life. what a good weekend.

new music

i refreshed my play lists last night and bought two great new albums/EP's

highly recommend & happy listening folks.

The Strokes - Angles

Broken Bells - Meyrin Fields EP

hipster appreciation

this one goes out to all my "music friends"

TGIF lovers <3

headed to Charleston this weekend & taking the camera. lots of fun pictures to come.

le ruse

a ruse it was! i was very much looking forward to the Oberhofer & Tapes N Tapes show at the Rock N Roll Hotel last night mainly to hear my favorite t.n.t. song "Le Ruse", but they didn't play it. color me disappointed, but it was a great show none the less.

Oberhofer is awesome and they were totally into it.  I can so appreciate a band that really puts it all out there dancing and jumping, etc.  check out "Awy Frm U"

after i got over my initial disappointment, i decided to make "conquest" my favorite song of the evening.

i also was not disappointed in Rock N Roll Hotel.  first show at this venue, other than going to it just as a bar and it had great energy.  nothing better than when the opening bands join the crowd after their sets and hang out in small venues like this. 

things that make me happy on a rainy day

 Smith Westerns album - listen to "Weekend"

 JCrew lookbook - can i have that life?

clubbin'...

...not really but i did go see Two Door Cinema Club & Tokyo Police Club play at the 930 Club last night and that validates the post title "clubbin'"

good times before-hand at American Ice Co

the rocketeer

arrrrjjj & mc being awkward

show was pretty amazing.  this is the 3rd time i've seen Two Door Cinema Club in the past year and they have yet to dissapoint

followed by Tokyo Police Club, who i just got to know after buying tickets to this show.  tunes i would definitely thumbs up & they rock live

Yur Not Dead

My ears are still buzzing from the rockin' show last night.  It is unreal seeing one of your favorite bands in such an intimate setting - such as an unfinished basement with 75 people you sort of know.

This one is definitely going down in the books as an all time favorite - good music, good people -  all the elements of a killer time were present:

Atmosphere

Good People

PBR's & Mason Jars

& 2 killer bands

The Moderate opened the night strong...

The Moderate

Followed by Futurebirds, who at this point you probably know im just a little bit obsessed.  The guys were chill and the music was LOUD, just the way it should be.

best song of the night - "Yur Not Dead" during the encore...it got a little crazy and i loved every minute of it.

*Sorry for iPhone pics only.  Didn't want to lug the SLR.

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL