Mint in Madison, Mississippi

We kicked off the first day of our affectionately nicknamed "tour of eating" with Mint - a new restaurant to the area known for a unique and creative take on traditional Southern food.  The interior is modeled after a historic New Orleans brothel, and we thought the red chandelier was the piece de la resistance. The menu was incredible, including a fantastic beef tenderloin carpaccio, mint julep chicken and waffles, and white truffle mac and cheese, just to name a few.

mintherestaurant.com

South of the Mason-Dixon - Jackson, Mississippi

Pearls grew up in Mississippi, and we've got some great friends down there, so this April we took a trip down South for some good food, nice weather, and some time spent with friends.

Whiskey hasn't spent much time in the South, so it was our mission to help him experience some of the best things Mississippi has to offer, including incredible food, gorgeous homes and beautiful scenery.


Our vacation included:
a trip to the Jackson Country Club
a driving tour of Jackson's beautiful neighborhoods
dining at an array of local restaurants
a day/night trip to Oxford, Mississippi

Sardine in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is one of the best cities in the country for food. With more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the nation, the options are plentiful!

One of our favorites is Sardine, which sits right on the shore of one of Madison's lakes, with beautiful views inside and out. The food is incredible, from baked eggs with prosciutto and gruyere to grilled salmon with French lentils and beurre blanc. They also make a pretty mean peach bellini... 

the art of Blanca Gomez

We just purchased 2 prints by Blanca Gomez, and we couldn't be happier with them! They're so fun and bright that they instantly lift the mood in the room. They can be found at Velocity Art And Design and are happily quite affordable!    

Blanca Gomez at http://www.velocityartanddesign.com/

The Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island, MI

Though Michigan is surely just as cool and rainy as Wisconsin right now, we are dreaming of a summertime escape to charming Mackinac Island. "The old-world elegance of Grand Hotel envelops you the moment you step onto Mackinac Island and board a horse-drawn carriage taxi or stroll the short distance to the hotel. Either way, your passage will be peaceful; cars aren’t allowed on Mackinac Island--one of the many traditions that still reign from the opening days of Grand Hotel back in 1887. This Victorian-style hotel possesses the world’s longest veranda--a 600-foot porch that stretches the full length of the property, one of Michigan’s oldest golf courses and a wide variety of leisure attractions." We especially like the fact that the Grand Hotel experience includes dressing for dinner. Evening wear is required in all areas of the hotel: coat and tie for gentlemen, and dresses or pantsuits for ladies.

http://www.grandhotel.com/

She & Him - Volume 2

We just can't get enough of the musical pairing of actress Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward.  She&Him's Volume One was great - a happy surprise, and from the looks of this video, Volume Two should be even better.

She & Him - In The Sun from Merge Records on Vimeo.

"She & Him make music for an eternal springtime, when the temperature is warm enough to go riding with the top (or at least the windows) rolled down and the radio turned up. They occupy an alternate universe where the saddest of songs feel as warm as sun showers; the rain may be coming down, but somewhere nearby, everything looks bright. What began as a fascinating, no-strings attached collaboration on 2008’s Volume One has evolved into a bona fide, touring band, and She & Him are here to stay. Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward are as comfortable and complementary a musical pair as Les Paul and Mary Ford; hearing them again on Volume Two feels like getting together with two old friends. This time, the harmonies have grown more angelically layered, the string arrangements more dramatic, the songwriting even sharper and more confident. But, as with Volume One, the prevailing mood is bittersweet, dreamy, and romantic."
http://www.sheandhim.com/#

Lands' End - Canvas 1963

As "pearls" is on the design team for Lands' End, we felt it only right to feature their new line, Canvas, as our first style post.  The brand's first collection officially launched in November 2009, and its success so far has been so exciting. Check them out for great casual preppy apparel, outerwear, and accessories.