Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Sundance Part 1 Recap

Bummer.... Sundance Part 1 has come to a close.  Fun times.  3 more days until Sundance Part 2 weekend.

Last post I updated Thursday and Friday- now here is Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Saturday
Relaxation
Movie #2- "Breathe In"
Starring Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones and Amy Ryan
Decent. Typical Sundance film.
Yummy steak dinner at Grub Steak House (delicious salad bar)

Sunday
Gym
Trip to Sundance Resort for brunch
Lots and lots of tasty food followed by shopping, walking, hanging by the ski lift fire pit
Movie #3- "Before Midnight"
Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy- 3rd in the series
Ok- great writing and acting, but not the best story this time

Monday
Movie #4-  "Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes"
Starring Jessica Biel- best movie of the weekend- loved it
Followed by lots of food, drinks, shopping, walking and celebrity stalking on Main Street
Super fun day!
Movie #5- The Rambler
Starring Dermot Mulroney..... Awful. That's all. Nothing else to say.

Highlights of weekend #1-
Purple Sage dinner- wow! Loved the fried chicken without the bone
Massage at Align spa
Hanging out at Sundance Resort on Sunday
Blueberry stuffed French toast at Foundry Grill during brunch
Bellinis at brunch too
Seeing Jane Lynch, Chris Noth and Casey Wilson on Main Street on Monday
And, of course, Amy & Kari!

Love Sundance!!!!! Thanks Robert Redford.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Sundance 2013

And so another year of Sundance is upon us. Best week of the year! The films, the celebs, the general excitement in the air!

I guess I never have explained how this works....
Sundance started in Utah in 1981 by Robert Redford.  Each year it seems to get bigger and bigger.  Park City has a population of approximately 8,000 that increases to approximately 50,000 for the 11 days of Sundance. There are approximately 100 films that premier about 5 times each in various theatre venues.  Most often, the celebrities who star in the films attend the #1 premier and conduct Q&A after the film.  This is the best!  Private parties, great restaurants, musical events, cocktails and shopping surround the films.  And lots of relaxation and spa time for us too!

I fell in love with Sundance and Park City when I first visited over 12 years ago.  Because of this, and how expensive it is to attend each year, I decided to invest in a condo which I purchased about 3-4 years ago. Now I experience Park City more than once per year!

Now for the Festival itself..... Not as easy as simply showing up. Movie tickets are hard to come by- registering for various lotteries and time slots months prior. Dinner reservations must be acquired months prior. Lots of planning and juggling times & events. Some ups and some downs- luck of the draw many cases.  But after several years, without industry connections, we seem to have mastered the game the best we can.  Now that you have the background, here is a little bit of the start of Sundance 2013.

Thursday Jan 17
Arrival day!
Amy and Kari for Sundance Round 1 (Thursday thru Tuesday)
Settle, shop, sip is a good way to describe the start
Dinner at the BEST place in Park City- PURPLE SAGE
Amazing food, service and libations- Purple Bubbles was the new cocktail this year!
Meeting the Gasoline Lollipops on Main Street after dinner (you had to be there)

Friday Jan 18
Gym, spa, relax, Film #1
"Two Mothers" with Naomi Watts & Robin Wright Penn
Started out the festival with a very traditional Sundance flick- this one was about 2 best friends who fall in love with each others son. Huh.
I enjoyed it. Naomi Watts was there. Great way to start the films (1 of 8 for me).
We missed Dave Grohl's Sound City concert, but we saw the heart of Sundance with this film.

Today is a new day. Saturday brings a ton more. Stay tuned.









Sunday, January 13, 2013

Golden Globes Sunday!

The best awards show of the season- don't get me wrong... Oscars are huge (but too long and boring), Emmy's (TV only), People's Choice (just fan votes) and SAG (SAG comes in a close 2nd).  Golden Globes are the best because they are film, TV and the best fashion!  So excited!

Red carpet starts in 30 minutes!  Love Seacrest, Guliana, Kelly, George.... (I can do without Joan Rivers in this case).  And I am also excited that they take place BEFORE Sundance this year, so I do not have to miss them.  But before they begin, a few cold January Sunday thoughts.

It is beautiful, but FREEZING cold in Park City, Utah this weekend... BRRRR!!!
Is anyone else as excited for "The Carrie Diaries" to start as moi? SATC prequel.... Love it!
I had Subway for lunch..... First time I have been to a Subway that is Zagat rated with a sticker!? I guess Nations #1 healthiest fast food option is good, but....
Does anyone else feel like they have an icicle on the tip of their nose right now? Again, BRRR!!!
What do you think of HBO's "GIRLS"? Just watched a few episodes. I think I am intrigued.
I just read "Rockettes, Rockstars & Rockbottom" by dancer Keltie Colleen. I am a slight bit obsessed now & have been doing some internet/google stalking.

Ok, enough for now.  Time to prep some tea (warm) to watch the Globes.  Can't wait! More fashion info to come!
Ta Ta once again.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Post Holiday Weekend

Back from a little more than 48 hours of fun in Minnesota with friends and family.  Here is how the excitement worked out:

Stayed with Mom & Dad
Lunch with Fun Amy at Big Bowl
Delivery Pizza Luce with Andi, Mark & Noah
Breakfast with Eve & Erica at Jensen's
Lunch at Mill Valley Kitchen with Grandma, Mom, Kathie & Carrie
Apps & cocktails with Sue, Kelsey & Maggie at Cafe Maude
More cocktails with the 4 above plus Brian & Katie
Brunch at Emily's shower
Last dinner with Jen at Granite City

Do you see a theme here? Food & friends. Lots of each.  Oh- I did see Kari for 30 mins and Shannon for about 20 mins without food (well, does the produce department at Target count?)

Good news is I did work out Sunday morning, while Mom  chatted with me, to work some of it off.  Super great time seeing everyone and catching up after the holidays.  And Minnesota weather cooperated. That is rare.

Lucky to have the frequent flier miles.  Luckier to have such great people in my life.
Pictures will be posted soon!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Post Holiday Celebration

You know how there is often a big let-down after Christmas & New Years?  Not here! Taking the red-eye tonight to spend 3 days in MN to hang out with family and friends.  How fun!

After a little sleep and work, let the excitement begin....

Lunch and dinner with various good friends the first day
Breakfast with the girls Saturday morning, a cousin's lunch and cocktails of some sort that evening
Some exercise, a tad more Mom & Dad time, a baby shower and ending with one more friend's dinner
Sprinkle in a little snow, shopping & sipping (wine, that is)
Back home Sunday night

2.5 days (.5 due to work and sleep)- opportunity to see over 10 friends and family members.  Not bad..  Lots to accomplish.  Fabulous people to see.

Giggling infants to visit, babies on the way, favorite restaurants that I have missed, gossip & stories- it's all anticipated.  Now just trying to stay awake before I head to the airport....

Have a fabulous weekend- see ya next week with more updates.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!

Happy 2013 Blog-land!

The new year is here and I am anticipating a great one!  Move on from 2012 and bring on a prosperous 2013.
As I have said before, I do not do resolutions- they simply set you up for failure.  Therefore, just a few focuses on how to live life in the new year:

6 things for 2013 focus for me- 4 that I will talk about and 2 are just for me and God (and I discuss with Casey kitty too)- plus, they are about others and not me- not fair to share.

* Continue a healthy lifestyle- exercise, sleep, vitamins, relaxation, eat healthy and treat myself from time to time
* Love what I do for a living- whether it's my current job or a different one, only do something I love for work
* Plan fun adventures with people I love all year long- vacations, weekends away, trying new things....
* Home Improvements- update and fix things that have been "on the list" in both San Fran and Park City homes

That is all.  Not "stop smoking" (I don't smoke) or "loose weight" (again, failure- just live healthy).

I feel like 2013 WILL be lucky 13, but as always, it's what you make it.
Starting with:
Just got back from a long walk (healthy)
Excited for work this week (work)
Sundance in 2 weeks! (fun)

Way to go 2013!