June 9th and 10th
On the 9th, my second full day in Paris, Angie and I got an early start for Pere LeChaisse, the cemetery where Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde and other notable people have been laid to rest. I had an inexplicable high there. I will never forget the way the trees and paths wound through the cemetery. The landscape, the air, everything. And of course I got to Jim's grave site which in itself is modest, but is a pilgrimage spot for so many people worldwide. On this same day we went to lunch on my favorite Rue in Paris (so far) and to the Louvre with our new friend Kent. In the evening we had a 5 course home cooked dinner at Kent and Fab's Paris apartment on Rue St Denis, a meal and party that lasted well into the wee hours of morning. Absolutely brilliant day full of new experiences.
The 10th was a travel day from Paris to Annecy. I really love trains as a mode of transport, and the journey into the Alps was beautiful. I read Anais Nin and listened to MGMT and got lost in the beauty of the ride. In the evening there was a rave in the park with DJ Martin Solveig! Huge party in the park in a city brand new to me, with the water and mountains all in view. A bottle of local rose with Devin before the show. A great time with about 15,000 other people at the rave and film festival. It was one of those pinch-me-so-I-can-make-sure-this-is-real times.
June 27th
New York. Rachael and Sharon came from London and Bristol for holiday. We got their friends and mine, including my Manhattan residing sister of course, together for dinner for 8 at Spring Street Natural, one of my favorite spots in the city. Shared several bottles of wine, had a big social dinner followed by quieter bar time with a few who hadn't quite had enough yet and partied til the early hours with Elijah Ocean, a friend and musician who now lives in Williamsburg. Another night ran into day which included a water taxi out to Liberty and past Ellis island. But that would make this day count for two, so I will stick with Sunday though Monday had it's own reasons for being pretty cool too.
July 2nd/3rd
Nateva Festival. Oxford, Maine. Marcel Hamel and I went to Nateva with camping gear and coolers full of everything we could possibly want or need for one overnight. This was my first time ever camping in a tent! We saw lots of great music, but I think Friday is the day I'll put in the top 10 spot because we drank plenty of very good wine, lost a little track of space and time, took in the Passion Pit set and partied and danced in the front of the crowd during Moe. We didn't even plan to see Moe! The music lured us back there. What a great time. Forget that I took a hard fall over a branch on a dark path and put holes in my jeans and my right leg. Well worth a few scars.
July 15th
Portland. Gorgeous sunny, hot summer day. Alive at 5 outdoor show with Holy Boys Danger Club and Zach Jones. Drinks outside with friends new and old. Dinner at Shays and good times with Holy Boys and Devin Ivy, followed by an invite to Marion Grace's band practice which was totally magical and is covered in a previous blog if you scroll down. I loved this night. It felt like a turning point in that wheel of fate kind of way where you know much bigger things are at work in the universe. I guess that must be true, but I have yet to understand this in its fullness...if there is more to understand at all?
July 17th
Portland. Sunshine and swimming on a beautiful summer day in the 'hood. Thievery Corporation Live on the Maine State Pier at night. Dinner and drinks at the Salt Exchange. New friends. Lots of party. Beautiful night. Excellent company. A bottle of prosecco on ice waiting in my car for after party. I had a concussion at the time and I over-partied considering that, so Sunday was not a top 10 follow up day. But Saturday was just right.
August 5th
Portland. The outdoor version of Alive at 5 was canceled due to rain! A few of us, including Jason Spooner and Billy Lynch, sprung into action looking for a venue, and in an unprecedented move, got Alive at 5 moved indoors! Spooner trio and Marion Grace put on a very cool show at the Big Easy! Proving that you really shouldn't take no for an answer unless you really have to. This day felt a little bit legendary.
A video version of the story is here:
August 11th
Portland. I took the day off from work just for a birthday week break. Woke up late (9:30), lounged around the house and made breakfast. Hit Scarborough Beach. It felt like the most perfect beach day of the whole season! Hung out in the ocean for a long while. Leaving the beach I got a text from friends and ended up at Brian Boru for a day that turned into night with 3 other Leo ladies-spontaneous birthday celebration, lots of Miller lites, and a simple, perfect, spontaneous time.
August 13th
Portland to Boston. Mallett Brothers Band road trip to Boston for a show at the front room of House of Blues. This was a total blast! Sunny day with Michael driving us in the good, old Loverless van. Party time from the moment we hit the road! Michael, Wally, Lara Sullivan, Brian Higgins, Will Mallett, me, Nick Leen, Shaun and Dave, friends of the band, traveled together. Pre-partying was more than sufficient. Mallett Brothers Band had lots of friends at the venue and an excellent set! They made the absolute most of a 45 minute performance. Some of us bailed on the ride home and decided to just stay in the city. For a bunch with no plan we made an excellent time of it, even though we nearly got in a fight, did get kicked out of a bar and didn't get into a couple of others! We scored an awesome suite for a good price and had kind of a strange trip home Saturday that involved walking through the city, riding the T, a shuttle and a rental car, Dunkin Donuts, mac n cheese, and more. Important conversations were had. Pacts and "personal management" deals were made. There was even a little bit of philosophy a-la Thoreau and Nietzsche. We went for the "upgrade" in every way.
The remaining 5 made it a 24 hour event. There will be a sequel. A trilogy at least! Summer of the Mallett Brothers Band is in full swing at press (blog) time.
August 31st
There's not a lot I can tell you right now about why this very hot summer night places in the top dozen. The word extra-ordinary (as in not ordinary) might best describe it. I will tell you it involved a rooftop, costume changes, antique teacups, fruit, booze, sunset, co-creators, and a camera. At some point the documentation will surface, but at this time it's in creative process. Mysterious, I know.
September 5th
Hampton Beach and a 24 hour getaway. Jen, my good friend from Rochester, New York, her friend also named Jen, and I spent the day and night at Hampton Beach. I joined them late morning and we spent hours on the beach, hanging out, catching up, taking pictures and being "girls". Following beach time, we hit a deck for lobster and other beach type lunch items and beverages.
I had some radio "duties" to take care of involving a guitar, a contest winner and 30 Seconds to Mars. Tough job but someone has to do it. I brought this guy to meet Tomo, who I guess I can now say is like an old friend. I hung out during sound check while Tomo gave the promised guitar lesson, caught up with Jared L. a little, and 4 of us hit up a "Mexican" bar around the corner for a few cape cods and other pre-show drinks and food.
The show was old school 30 Seconds to Mars good, and we got crunched in the thick of the crowd, met a few cool people who are in my radio audience regularly, saw some other familiar faces and friends, and all around enjoyed the show. I grabbed our winner and we ran up on stage for the final song and a group vocal of Kings and Queens. Jumping on stage and taking some pictures during "This is War" was a perk of having the working pass to escort Neal, the guitar winner too.
I liked the show so much better than the last one I saw in April. This was, if I've calculate right, my 29th 30 Seconds to Mars performance. I was wishing it was 30, just because.
Jen and Jen and I made a day and night of it for sure. It's not easy to find good places to party in Hampton Beach late night though. The bar crowds were amusing at best.
So the best days of summer did last right into Labor Day.
Summer 2010 was good to me.
