Halloween party prep
Once again my house has just taken on its annual spooky Halloween inspired decor! While the rest of the year I like to think my home is all about sophisticated (yet still kid-friendly) design, there is something joyful and fun about unexpectedly encountering giant spiders hanging from our kitchen chandelier, an oversized furry bat on the closet door or the black raven on the fireplace mantel.
All this decorating zeal is of course just prep for our upcoming annual Halloween party! We’ve been hosting it for about ten years now and at this point we can proudly say it has become a highly anticipated event for our neighborhood. Virtually everyone dresses up…adults and kids alike. It’s a bit stressful as we’ve got about 75 people descending on us in about a week. And we’re exhausted for days afterwards. But it is totally worth it and the kids adore it. Accordingly we try to out do ourselves each year.
To keep things interesting we always pick a different theme. We transform our basement into a haunted chamber based on the year’s theme. One year it was “Ancient Worlds” complete with the Oracle of Delphi and a soothsayer telling fortunes. Last year was the “Spooky Wild West.” The basement became a haunted silver mining town with carts full of silver balls, cobwebs, lanterns, sculls of ancient miners, and pick axes. This year we’re doing “Classic Spooky Hollywood.” Enter the Creature From The Black Lagoon. Spanish moss, dry leaves and of course the creature himself will be taking up residence in the basement. Still working ideas for the creature – got any? – but I have no doubt Rob will help me pull it off!
Naturally, all this fun can’t be had without a signature party themed cocktail….an adult beverage and a non-alcoholic kid version. Hey – it’s only fair! This year we’re thinking an old fashioned sidecar!
Be sure to check back for some photos post-party!
- Katharine
Was that a gunshot?
Today is the official kick off of Boston HarborFest 2010. Starting the celebration with a bang, the Constitution, will be doing sequenced gun drills using the 24 pound naval gun, from 12-3:30 today, Pier One, Charlestown Navy Yard.
Harborfest, now in its 29th year, is considered the largest patriotic celebration in the nation with visitors enjoying more than 200 land and sea activities during the six day long Forth of July Festival. Events showcase the not only the colonial and maritime heritage of the historic City of Boston, the cradle of the American Revolution, but also the beauty of the city itself. Tour the crypts of the Old North Church, take a moonlight duck tour, kayak on the Harbor Islands, tour the Golden Dome, watch the Constitution engage in gun battles near Castle Island. These are just some of the daily events, check the website for more information Boston HarborFest 2010.
Opening ceremonies today 12-12:30; at Faneuil Hall Marketplace
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Flour + water= Cambridge!
No longer do you have to dodge traffic on the Mass Ave bridge or kids and strollers in Fort Point to get the best goodies in town! Flour Bakery has embarked on it’s newest venture, bringing delectable treats over the river into Cambridge. Chicken/Brie sandwiches, chocolate cupcakes, peanut butter cookies, whoopie pies, the list goes on and on! All you can say is yum! For all those Cambridge foodies, this is sure to be a treat! Per the website, Flour Central Square address is 190 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA.
This past weekend, i dropped into Myers +Chang for their finger licking pork buns, and that is where I heard the Cambridge buzz. The Cambridge vibe will be this, the music will be that….we just hope their dessert case is the biggest of the three! Bravo Flour, Cambridge is sure to be a hit!
doing the Dew?
Get your skateboard out, cause the 2010 Boston Dew Tour is back! Get ready for tricks so outrageous, you can’t believe your eyes! Skaters so close, that you could touch them! All at TD GARDEN this weekend for the DEW TOUR.
Last year we went with teenage fans who knew all the players, which made it more fun! even if you don’t know who is who…the tricks are so awe inspiring that it doesn’t matter. The outdoor “event” space was great. This is a fantastic family event ! 
Nudes in ‘da Haas
Rem D Koolhaas, that is! Creative Director and architect Rem D Koolhaas’ United Nude Shanghai location is now open for business on the exclusive IT shopping street, Huaihai Road.
United Nude, a brand known for conceptual design, elegance and innovation. was founded by architect Rem D Koolhaas and seventh generation shoemaker Galahad Clark, and features injection molded shoes to high-end carbon fiber heels. The store’s collection of shoes are displayed in LED back-lit boxes with colors constantly shifting across the surface, the “dark-shop” is completely dark in all areas other than those where the products are showcased and literally highlighted.
For those heading to Europe this summer, you can also see visit their flagship store in Amsterdam.
trash to treasure
Friday fun find: Rug we love for bath, kitchen, kids room or mud room. It’s green AND eco friendly! The T-shirt rug. Since 2006, ETSY craftsperson, Talking Squid has turned our discarded tshirts into treasure. “I believe recycled products don’t have to look “recycled.” Detail, functionality, and usefulness are important. Creating fresh, urban & modern designs from 100% recycled t-shirts is my main focus.”
The 100% recycled rug is handmade from discarded t-shirts. Made with hand cut t-shirt strips sewn on a durable cotton jersey t-shirt base. Soft and luxurious this rug is doormat size, around 20″ x 30″. Size may vary slightly due to material. Safe for pets and children.
Decadently desirable!
Luxurious, sexy and sophisticated…yes, sexy light fixtures.
In part two of Friday’s fun finds, we celebrate Zia Priven‘s recent launch of their website. Thanks to Design Milk for the resource! Zia Priven’s husband and wife team, crafts exquisitely beautiful chandeliers, pendants, sconces and lamps, made in the USA. Their hand crafted treasures have been featured in House & Garden, and Architectural Digest, Interior Design, Elle Decor in addition to designing custom pieces for Architectural Digest’s top 100 notable interior designers.
As an added bonus, for one lucky reader today, if they comment on Design Milk’s Zia Priven blog, they will be entered to win a EMMA, a silk artisan pendant light.
