Art & Design: Conrad Christopher Crespin

Came across this Portland artist's work via Fine Line Magazine. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Houseguest Gifts for Bear In Heaven

This weekend the publicity firm I work at is celebrating 15 years by bringing in some of our favorite acts we've gotten to help throughout the years.

The Bear In Heaven guys are staying with me for a few nights. I love those dudes, and I only get to see them every so often, so I wanted to get them a little something special. I was planning to give them all house keys so they can come and go while I'm running around working festival events, and the leather man at the J&J flea market whips these up real fast and inexpensively. I picked out a little something that represented each of them, and though I haven't met their tour manager Steve yet, I figured you can't go wrong with a fierce eagle.

Pitchfork Fest: Day 3

 

Looks like I'm finally finishing my Pitchfork Fest posts just as the next big weekend for me rolls around: the 15th anniversary of the publicity firm I work with Bear In Heaven, Olivia Tremor Control, Akron/Family, and more. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, except that both the frying pan and fire are too busy but stressful things that involved hugging lots of your favorite people.

So many great things at the poster fair, but I was good and only left with a few buttons to mail friends.

Thee Oh Sees

Look who it is! Patrick from the late great Jookabox!

Nick Butcher and I sending a big hello back home to the Hometapes family. 

Do you have the proper press credentials to be in the VIP area with that bubble camera, ma'am? 

 Chavez, and a specially delivery for my co-worker, Shil.

 

The Olivia Tremor Control night-time club show was close to Chinatown, so we got to take a dinner break and eat a real sit-down meal in air conditioning. 

 

My sweet pals Page and Dan made it into town for the Olivia Tremor Control club show Sunday night. They perform as Dreamboat, and have a beautiful record out this fall on Cloud Recordings.

Love me some good bathroom graffiti.

Pitchfork Fest: Day 2

Friday's rain made my leather purse bleed leather dye onto my skin and clothes like a bad self-tanner job. Luckily, we stayed downtown, so I had a chance to pick up an umbrella and a new bag for Saturday morning. Unfortunately, Goth Target, pictured above, was not yet open for business. 

My friend Nevona is my favorite American Girl doll. Free People snapped her photo right after this, but I can't seem to find it online!

 

Dodged the rain under the record fair tent and said hi to my pals Graveface Records and Sub-Pop.

  

Olivia Tremor Control had one interview that wasn't on our schedule: Bradford Cox! 

 Finished the night off with tacos and the Liturgy after-show with the Thrill Jockey crew.

Pitchfork Fest 2012: Day 1

 

When you're on the way to Pitchfork Fest in Chicago to be on-site with Olivia Tremor Control for publicity, is there a more fitting gate to fly out of than E6?

 

A package from Hometapes was waiting for me at the hotel. I've never actually had a package waiting for me at a hotel, so as someone who loves mail, I got a kick out of it.

 

Mmmm tacos from Big Star. My potato taco was so spicy I had to chug a Mexican Coca-Cola, flip over the picnic table, smash the bottle, and roar victoriously. The only part of that which really happened was the chugging of the Coke.

 

Loaded up on brunch before the festival at Lula Cafe. Writer pal Matt and rad fellow publicist pal Joan are psyching out the pastries. 

 

Went on a little adventure after brunch to visit my friends at Thrill Jockey Records. Their office is in a Latino neighborhood with the most beautiful artwork everywhere. Even the metro station had very few surfaces unpainted. Wish I could have spent a few more hours trying some of the restaurants.

  

Thrill Jockey office

 

This was outside of Ojala Spiritual Gallery. Wish I'd had time to go inside.

 

 

Crowd was packed for Olivia Tremor Control despite the on and off rain. Awesome feeling seeing friends/clients on a jumbotron.

 

Dirty Projectors

 

Long overdue to see these ladies: Nevona (Partisan Records, Young One Records) and Jackie (ICM.)

 

 It was great to see my pal Dean from Spacebomb. As Sibel pointed out, no, I am not wearing a choker. That's just my hair. 

  

Purity Ring

Heading out in a few to get back at it again for another day of music and thunderstorms!

Creamy Gorgonzola Pasta with Peas, Mushrooms, and Sausage

Photo: Mine. Visit Pimento, Cheese Please for recipe.

I came across the blog Pimento Cheese, Please about a week ago, and drooled all over my keyboard at the Treasure Trove Pasta. Thursday I had some gals over for dinner and drinks, and modified the recipe to use Tofurkey Italian-style veggie sausage cut into slices at an angle instead of regular Italian sausage.  I also used the whole bag of frozen peas, since it was a slim chance that I'd remember to use the remainder before they disappeared into the freezer-burn pit of despair and forgotten foods. It turned out exactly as I was hoping, and the leftovers were delicious, even when eaten directly from the fridge after a night of cocktails. (It's been a busy week, okay?) Next time, I'll try subbing the pasta for a bowl of sauteed veggies in gorgonzola cream sauce.