It’s been a good long year or so since I’ve taken a vacation. Even when I take vacation, it’s not really a lot of R & R. There are just too many things I want to see, do, eat and I typically want to do them in major metropolitan environs. Naturally, a couple of the greatest places to do them are Chicago & NYC.

In Chicago for a friend’s wedding, my boo and I stayed downtown at the Hotel Sax. The decor in this place is terribly cool as is the Crimson Lounge.

The Crimson Lounge, Hotel Sax. 

And I’m not sure why, but every time I visit Chicago, I feel the need to visit my old stomping grounds post-college.  Living in Wrigleyville/BoysTown are some of my fondest memories of becoming an actual adult. Wait…that has yet to happen.  Anyway, I am crazy for the iconic sign outside Wrigley Field.

EVERYONE needs a break. No joke.

And of course museums provide all sorts of inspiration and general awe-inducing.  Here are some favorites of mine from The ‘Tute.  AKA… The Art Institute of Chicago.

Mondrian.

I didn’t capture the artist name, but the color composition in this is so rich!

OK, onto food! Weird transition>>???  This meal was from 25 Degrees in Chicago. Crazy good veg burger & onion rings. The decor was funktastic…

Crazy awesome bathroom wallpaper!

AND THEN……..we went to NYC. Here are some moments on the other coast…

Takashi Murakami classic painting at MoMA. 

And onto food again…

Babycakes NYC. I finally made it to this legendary vegan baked goods shop after years of lusting and trying their recipes from the 2 cookbooks by founder Erin McKenna, one righteous, brilliant broad.

Every NYC trip requires a pilgrimage to the flagship Dean and Deluca in SoHo.

So, aside from tons of walking, overindulging, overspending, how can this possibly be relaxing?  For me, it was actually one of the first times in a VERY LONG TIME that I really turned off any business. OK, honestly, I checked every few days, but it was all under control.  I also didn’t check Twitter or Facebook or my personal email or text messages with a reactionary tick. I was enjoying the moment. I didn’t even drag my big fancy camera along to every site. I took a few shots, like those here, with my iPhone. The rest of what I saw, I am just going to rely on my memory. What I felt, experienced, is nothing that can be translated fully into a tweet or a status update. I can share the excitement, but the moment was mine to be had & shared with those around me.  I realized, I need to do more of the same when I am NOT on vacation.  While social media has an important and integral place in marketing a small business, face-to-face interactions carry even more weight. I’m making it part of my manifesto to talk to people with my voice and not just my keyboard….And with that, I am on my way to work with the fine folks at Seattle Humane Society on our upcoming Tuxes and Tails.  Getting out in the world IS part of my work. I am reinvigorated to get out there….

For the last few years now, I have been on the Volunteer Leadership Council representing the Special Events team at Seattle Humane Society. Procuring auction items, strategizing event flow, selecting table linens (very important stuff, people!) are just some of the activities I assist in for the annual fundraising extravaganza known as Tuxes and Tails.

And what’s more is that Shindig donates an event package and this year it is a HUMDINGER!!!  You can check it out here on page 116, item #22. In tandem with Ride The Ducks, it’s a super fun day into evening activity that makes party planning for the auction winner a total BREEZE.

In addition to the TOTALLY AMAZING (really!) Shindig package, there are incredible live and silent auction items that have been donated by generous animal lovers all over Seattle and beyond. Restaurant gift certificates, autographed sports memorabilia (thanks, Cousin Bret!), to fancy beauty parlor packages, there is something for everyone.

Wanna donate? Check out more here or if you have some wine that you would like to contribute to our “Wine Pull” special auction (see page 22 of the catalog), that would be extra fantastic! Details about how to get your wine in the right paws here.

Tuxes and Tails is Saturday, May12th at the Hyatt in Bellevue. Get your tickets here before it sells out…I think it just might! Last year we exceeding our goal hitting $875,000. Can we make it to a cool MILLION this year?!!! Let’s make it happen! It’s for the animals! Hooray!

- Kelli

For the love of JUNK.

On my recent travels to Madison, Wisconsin (yeah, Sconnie) for my cousin’s wedding, I added an extra day of R & R so I could revisit this super fun town that I hadn’t seen since about 1994.  WOW. Things have changed. But one thing that remains the same is that antique malls are aplenty & have THE BEST prices. While I found many amazing things, I left empty-handed because I didn’t want to deal with checking a bag at the airport. I KNOW.

Here are some of the treasures I may or may not (likely NOT) have procured on my adventure in the Midwest.

Bob Hope puppet. HOURS OF FUN.

Groovy for your Mad Men tricked-out bar.

This would not fit in my carry-on. CURSES.

These were pretty cheap all over. I was THISCLOSE to getting this one.

This just reminds me of Raising Arizona!

Vintage Valentines are so fun to give today!

As far as dolls go, these Addams Family crew were pretty bitchin’.

I seriously thought this was a Village People doll. Only $9.50!!! SHIRTLESS!

EWWWWWWWWWWWWW. OK. I am done.

Well, hi there peeps! While we’ve been silent over here at The Shindiggery, we certainly have not been still. Wedding planning is in high gear for our clients and we are in love with all of the creative ideas that flow from our fun, talented couples.  And what else? Oh, just a little launch party for Cinefresco!  Finding the best way to convey what went down at Melrose Market Studios on 3.1.12 is best explained in pictures. Here are some taken courtesy of the queen of fun photography, Barbie Hull.

Moi with James & Nicole. Do I have the cutest help EVER or what?!!!!

Guests strolled the red carpet

Adorable invitations from Wyatt Ink are part of a Cinefresco package

Cho & Gumbeaux of Magnolia Rhapsody DJ spun the movie soundtrack tunes all night.

Classic candy and Seattle Popcorn Company treats makes the Cinefresco experience delish!

Photo booth hamming with the gals from Seattle Met Magazine

Todd from Hilliard's (with Adam at right) was SUPER PUMPED to be a part of this shindig!

Kids love Cinefresco! Just ask Ruby! OK, maybe she’s crying she’s so happy????

A Kurant Event cuties May (also of Wyatt Ink), Megan & Kate

Everyone chills to the "backyard" screening of Pretty in Pink

If you weren’t there, sorry we missed you! If you want to see more, check out the photo booth hijinks on our Shindig Events Facebook page.  Thanks again to our amazing sponsors Barbie Hull Photography, Hilliard’s Beer, Seattle Popcorn Company, Wyatt Ink, Magnolia Rhapsody DJ and mad props to A Kurant Event for assisting in decor setup, and for the gang at Melrose Market Studios for having the one of THE BEST event spaces in the city.

We’ve got some Cinefresco nights on the books and will have more photos throughout the summer months. We can hardly wait. Want to book yours? Drop us a line at info at shindig events dot org.  Is summer here yet, anywayzzzzz?

Hard to believe the Cinefresco launch party done come and gone!  Soon we’ll have some fab photos from the event as shot by the super fun awesome photog Barbie Hull of her namesake biz.  She also was the amazing director of energy behind the lens of our photo booth.  Here’s a sneak of all of that funness…. (and how cute are my lil’ staffers?!!!)

Click here to view the Vimeo video of the booth action! Were you at the event? What did you think? We want your feedback!

AND HEY, YO!!! We’ll be on hiatus from the blog until March 19th, so stay tuned to shenanigans on Twitter and Facebook!

Oscar Sunday at the Columbia Tower Club

This week is one all about the movies here at Shindig! As I type, I watch the Oscars telecast and root for my favorites…and fear the bad jokes.  Earlier today we set up at the Columbia Tower Club‘s members only Academy Awards Party…and as you already may well know… this week is our Cinefresco debut! If you haven’t sent in your RSVP to the March 1st event, please do so ASAP to info at shindg events dot org!  At the party we’ll be munching on Seattle Popcorn Company treats and jamming to classic soundtracks via Magnolia Rhapsody DJ and other awesomeness that we have yet to announce! We’ll have a movie playing in the Cinefresco viewing area, but this isn’t a screening, per se. The entire event is to give you a feel of what we do & what we will bring to your own party!  So join us & meet some peeps & start getting a feel for your next Shindig Event. HOOO-WAHHHH!

YAY! New websites! It’s like getting a pair of fresh new skivvies. (Too much?) I think it’s especially awesome because my designer & web dude showed me how to update it ALL BY MYSELF. Scary, but good to know I don’t have to pester him when I want to add a photo, remove a busted hyperlink or make any other adjustments. So if you see mile-long run-on sentences, chances are those came from my hand!

As if getting Shindig Events revamped wasn’t enough to keep two people busy, we also created one for Cinefresco.  Since there was so much good stuff from our photo shoot for it,  as well as plenty of info to let people know what the deal is with this movie party thang, it needed a site of it’s own.

Here are some more highlights & outtakes from our shoot…

Boys will be boys... Loren makes his, um, appearance on the screen.

Busy has a moment of uncontrollable laughter!

Baby, it was COLD outside. Summer shoot in February!

Sometimes you have to eat the props.

Sippin' on gin and juice...and a PBR wizard pole.

DUDES.  It is almost here. I can’t even begin to tell you how exciting this Cinefresco thing is. I want this to be in every backyard in Seattle, every rooftop garden in Bellevue and anywhere within bridge view of downtown PDX.  And I want you to get a sneak peak of it first.

Yeah, yeah, I keep posting these sneak peeks of stuff that is in the works at Shindig Events. And hopefully the suspense is KILLING YOU. Well, I don’t want anyone to die, but maybe FREAK OUT a little bit.

So, WTF is happening in this picture of you, Kelli?  This was from a photo shoot over the weekend. It’s part of the process of the rebranding, logo overhaul and refresh of your favorite funky event planning services.  Yes, that’s a wizard pole of PBR cans. And yes, those are dirty glasses, Cheetos, and brie past its prime.  So, to all you food stylists out there, I applaud you. That is some hard, sloppy, anxiety-inducing work.  You move one tortilla chip to the left & it looks too positioned, but to the right & on top of the other chip, it appears organic.  It’s a beautiful thing, this making things messy…

We mushed up this confetti cake and threw some actual confetti to create this crazy disaster. Eventually, a gold sequined pump ended up in the frosting.  Stay tuned in the final cut at the soon to be renewed to the world ShindigEvents.org