As some of you may know, I have a real day job. Like many Austinites, I work at a tech company. I’m sure that conjures up images of a playground-like workplace and casual dress codes involving shorts and flip flops. And you’re kind of right.
Years ago my life was much different and I worked at a Gap store. Retail can be a nightmare but I got to hang out with people I loved and talk fashion and style with customers every day. One day I came into work wearing something like this outfit: A short sleeved plaid shirt, slim khakis, and loafers. One of my Gap friends laughed and said I looked like an IT guy.
Which brings me back to modern day. I often find myself wearing that exact outfit and wondering if looking like an IT guy is such a bad thing. These days short sleeved button downs are a staple of hipster style and not just Office Space cubicle farms.
One of the my favorite things to do during the summer is picnic at Cinema East screenings. There’s nothing better than laying out with a bottle of wine, some friends, and a giant outdoor movie screen. I’m so happy to hear the film series won Austin Chronicle’s 2015 award for Best Non-Theatre Film Venue. They definitely deserve it.
If you’re unfamiliar with the program, every sumer Cinema East plays independent films fresh off the festival circuit at the French Legation. Usually a Q&A session with the filmmakers follows the screening.
I really appreciate how they take films that people outside of film festivals are rarely exposed to and make them available to the masses for half the price of a normal movie ticket.
This past summer, one of my favorite screenings was Naz & Maalik, which followed two gay black muslim teens around New York City. It was refreshing to see a queer film about a community that’s typically overlooked.
Not only has Cinema East given me some great summer evenings, they’ve also enriched my wardrobe with this amazing graphic tee. It’s quickly become one of my favorites – which says a lot considering there are only a handful of graphic tees I even wear. I really believe your personal style should not only be a reflection of who you are, but a reflection of the things you love. Aside from being super cute, when people ask about the shirt I get to talk to about some of my favorite things: art films, summer nights, and style.
So again, congratulations to Cinema East and I can’t wait to see the film line-up they put out next year.
Last month, I found myself business traveling through Europe and had the chance to take a quick trip for fun to Berlin. I’d been dying to check this city out and was determined to make the most of my 48 hours there. Here’s my guide to Berlin.
Where to Stay
Since I was only going to be in Berlin for a short time, it was really important that I pick a place that offered a great location and an even better experience. The Michelberger Hotel offers both of those things. Located in the eastern part of the city, there’s a train station right across the street and a second one just around the corner from there. It’s also a short walk from a bustling entertainment district.
Most importantly, the hotel is a total hipster haven and everything is Instagramable. A certain indie rock band was even checking in at the same time as me, but I ain’t no TMZ. Aside from trendy interior design, the hotel also leaves quirky notes around your room reminding you to lock the door or informing you about what time you can get breakfast at.
Eats
Eating is one of my favorite things to do, just ask my jeans. In all seriousness, I was excited to try the Berlin food scene, especially anything that could be considered Modern German. For lunch, I hit up the trendy deli Mogg & Melzer. This restaurant is easy to miss since there’s not an obvious sign on the street. It’s inside a building that also houses the Kennedy museum.
For my last night, I really wanted to treat myself to a nice dinner so I headed to Lokal. They were pretty booked for the night but I was able to snag a spot at the bar. The menu’s only available in German but the staff was super helpful and translated it for me.
Drinks
Aside from eating, drinking is typically a major part of my vacations. Maybe it was because I took this trip alone but I rarely drank in Berlin. I set out with a list of trendy watering holes and skipped each one. But if you’re in the area, or staying there, the Michelberger Hotel’s bar is excellent. I actually ended each night with one of their speciality cocktails. My absolute favorite was the Rosemary Bourbon Sour made with lime and maple cinnamon syrup.
Sights
Berlin has an insane amount of museums. It’s overwhelming if you’re in town for a short time. Also, be aware that unlike the US where museums tend to be closed on Mondays, museums in Berlin are closed on Tuesdays. I was in town for a Tuesday and Wednesday. After trudging around to closed museums, I made it to the Jewish Museum which was open. It’s huge and contains so many thought-provoking pieces and moving installations.
After I’d given up on getting into museums on this trip, I happened onto the KW Institute for Contemporary Art on Wednesday afternoon. Their current exhibit, Fire and Forget. On Violence, is a collection of work that examines the conventional ideas about war and weapons. I saw plenty of interesting pieces you can find on my Instagram.
If you know anything about me, you know I love graffiti and street art. Berlin is covered in the stuff. If you’re a fan, check out East Side Gallery, which is a huge section of the Berlin wall covered in artwork. It makes for wonderful photo ops. There are also plenty of famous sites that are easy to check off your list. My favorites were the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the Fernsehturm Berlin, also known as the TV Tower.
Shops
If you’re looking for a great shopping strip, you’ll definitely want to check out Breitscheidplatz which contains tons of larger stores. I was most excited by the abundance of neighborhood boutique shops. One of my favorites was Feinspitz, where I picked up some adorable gifts for my pup.
Visiting Berlin was an absolute pleasure and I only wish I had more time to explore the city. If you’ve ever been, please let me know your favorites in the comments below!
It’s always been my achievable gay dream to visit Palm Springs. The midcentury design, desert landscapes, swimming pools, glamour, old gays – literally everything I’ve ever dreamed of. It’s where I’ll spend the Liberace era of my life, I’m sure of it. My friends had been discussing taking a trip to celebrate the New Year and that’s when I began my Palm Springs campaign. Luckily, they’re gay, too and heeded the calling of the gay mecca.
If you’re thinking of making a trip out west, here’s my guide to making the best of it.
Eats
When a group of gays goes out to the desert, there’s a fine balance between dining in trendy restaurants and showing off culinary skills at home. This trip was mostly to hang out and relax, so we didn’t hit up too many restaurants. But our first night in town, we did order take out from Pepper’s Thai Cuisine. It was actually pretty authentic and delicious. Plus, there was a long wait for a table, so ordering to go is the best way to get a meal here. We also had a great Italian dinner at Appetito another night. They have excellent paninis and I couldn’t resist their brussels sprouts. One afternoon we hit up Tyler’s Burgers, which is a local favorite. Do be warned, it’s quite the wait. They also don’t really have any indoor seating, which probably isn’t an issue in the summer. It happened to be somewhere below 50 when we visited and they also don’t have heaters.
Drinks
The Amigo Room at the Ace Hotel is a great spot to grab a drink. It’s pretty intimate and if you stop in on karaoke night, it’s a tight squeeze. Hunter’s Palm Springs is allegedly the “young” dance club. The crowd was pretty mixed the night we stopped in, which was great, and there’s a separate dance room.
Sights
Joshua Tree National Park is probably one of my favorite hiking spots now and it’s so close. You should definitely make a day trip out here if you’re in Palm Springs. Most of the hiking trails seemed pretty easy and there are tons of photo ops. I’m already planning to make a camping trip to the park in the future.
Shops
Palm Springs is home to an amazing amount of midcentury modern home interior stores and vintage clothing stores. Like, tons. So many that I actually got tired of browsing furniture and I thought that would never be possible. My favorites were Modern Way and Just Modern. I also loved checking out the Mr. Turk store. Definitely pick up some gay garbs if you’ve got some coins to drop.
Let me know if you have any favorite Palm Spring spots in the comments below! I’d love to hear them for my next visit.
Sometimes all you want to do is get away. Most of my vacations involve carefully curated spreadsheets with the most talked about restaurants, bars, dance clubs, and sites. There’s no time for relaxing because I’m always out to get the best feel for wherever I’m visiting. It’s pretty exhausting. This time, I decided to take a trip out west for some peace and quiet but of course in the artsy hipster haven, Marfa.
Geographically, Marfa is close to my home town, Eagle Pass, and the terrain is very similar. I’ve actually been to the area numerous times growing up when I competed in speech and drama competitions at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. But Alpine, isn’t Marfa and I’d been dying to get out there for years now.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of great places to stay in Marfa, depending on what you’d like to do. You can rent a trailer or camp out at the beautiful El Cosmico, stay at the lovely Thunderbird Hotel, or you can do what I did and rent a house. I can’t recommend the house we stayed in enough. It was extremely peaceful and comfortable. There was plenty of space for all 4 of us to gather together or disappear to do some reading. Owned by a writer from Brooklyn with impeccable taste, the home was outfitted with gorgeous decor and furniture. With the amount of photos taken on a gay getaway, that’s very important.
Eats
Surprisingly, there are plenty of great places to eat in Marfa. The only problem is, in a small town in the middle of nowhere, they kind of open whenever they feel like. You’ll definitely want to check their websites or Facebook pages for their hours or to see if they’ve closed up for the day.
You’ll find the Food Shark trailer serving up creative Mediterranean dishes under a shady pavilion by the rail road tracks. Be sure to stop by and pick up a hearty Marfalafel with hummus. You can also find some decadently delicious sandwiches at Fat Lyle’s, a food truck near the Chinati Foundation. Expect plenty of fried delicacies and be sure to try their brussels sprouts and fries. It’s okay to eat the carbs. You’re in the desert and sweating it off, right? Spend your evening having a nice sit down dinner at the trendy Cochineal. Start off with one of their amazing cocktails or a glass of wine from their 250 bottle list. Most of the greens and veggies are grown in house and the new American menu changes daily. You won’t be disappointed, whatever you choose to nosh on.
Shops
Along with delicious eateries, you can find some great shopping in Marfa that offer everything the proper gay gentleman needs. Again, be sure to check the stores’ Facebook pages or websites to see if they’re open. If there’s something you’ve absolutely got to have, many of the stores even open up by appointment.
Pick up books on art or West Texas at Marfa Book Company, then swing by Cast & Crew for some modern home decor like a 24k golden Eames chair. Around the corner, you’ll find Cobra Rock Boot Company, where you can place an order for some custom made boots that look more southern gentleman than cowboy. If you’ve got room to haul wares back home, you’ll definitely want to check out Garza Furniture where you can find beautifully minimal furniture and inviting textiles. If you’re packing light, you can still stop by and pick up one of their trendy graphic tees or table linens.
Sights
Marfa may be a small town, but there’s still plenty to see. Visit the Chinati Foundation and take the full collection tour. You’ll be in for a day of hiking between buildings at this former air force base turned art museum which features works by Donald Judd, John Chamberlain, Dan Flavin, and special exhibits.
If you’re up for more art tours, check out the Judd Foundation’s tour of the artist’s home and studio. A quick 30 minute drive on Highway 90 takes you to the Prada Marfa, an art installation intended to slowly degrade back into the natural landscape.
If you hadn’t heard about Marfa’s art scene, you should have heard tales of the mysterious Marfa Lights. Sightings of the phenomenon may be rare, but spending a night under the stars at the viewing pavilion is worth the attempt. Roll out a blanket, snack on a light picnic, and get to star gazing.
If you have any time left, there are plenty of nearby state parks for hiking and camping if nature’s your thing.
Have you ever made a trip out to Marfa? Let me know about in the comments below!
