Creating a festival from scratch isn’t easy though, so Cait and Emily have called on some of their friends to put in a good word about what they are doing. And their latest friend that is giving ATX a shout-out is none other than iconic TV and Film creator/ director Garry Marshall (yes, that Garry Marshall who directed your favorite flicks like Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride). See what he has to say and then check out the ATX Festival Kickstarter Campaign to purchase badges early and donate to getting this festival up and running! Because we need somewhere to celebrate TV.

There are more venues, fewer lines and, in most cases, better music.  During my short trip there, three nights ended in a melee on the dance floor, with arms-a-flailing, heart pumping and sweat pouring.  The only complaint came from my feet (and if you’ve seen my heels, you know I don’t listen to them much anyway).

Starting with…

MAGGIE’S: What better way to kick off a dance off than with some 80′s music?  Everyone can find some way to groove to the elctro-synth-pop tunes, and doesn’t that just make it that much more fun?

In an homage to Margaret Thatcher and all things of decade, Maggie’s (sister bar to Bart’s the speakeasy) is over the top in its adoration of such stars of era; with Rubix cube tables, Cocktail-inspired bar and bartenders, and Margaret Thatcher herself played on a loop in the loo’s sound system, for anyone who wants a refresher on her speeches.

Maggie’s
329 Fulham Road
London, SW10 9QL
T: 020 7352 8512
E: info@maggies-club.com

THE BOX: Like its NYC original, the cabaret prides itself on its collection of curiosities, showcasing world-class performance artists to a terribly hip crowd.  After taking in a show or two- where you might see twin contortionists or out of this world human beat-boxer- head upstairs, past the loo, breezing past the bouncer with a wink, to the back bar where the DJ plays much better dance tunes than those on the main floor.  Take to the dance stage or one of the poles and free your inner exhibitionist to classics from Ray Charles to Salt-n-Pepa. 

The Box
11-12 Walker Court
Soho, LondonW1F OED

Oh, by the way: Even the karaoke rooms provide a great place to get down.  While singing to our hearts content, tucked away in a private stall and dancing to whatever tunes were on the karaoke queue, the crowds outside our door raged to a DJ at the at Proud Camden, a stables-turned-industrial dance hall.

Proud Camden: The Horse Hospital
Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road
Camden Town, NW1 8AH
t: 0207 482 3867
f: 0207 424 9778
e: info@proud.co.uk

Let’s be honest: People don’t give dancing as a workout enough credit.

Accessorize: If the best dancing is an homage to Margaret Thatcher, the best outfits are an homage to Sienna Miller.

These sand suede pleated shorts from Topshop are sold out, but any of the options below (paired with booties or heels) will have you looking hot on the cool London nights.

GESTUZ ‘Scan’ Shorts

ALTEWAI.SAOME Pleated Shorts

MM6 by MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

On my recent London trip I was jazzed to discover new haunts, but couldn’t miss an opportunity to stop by my old fave, the Tate Modern.  Just as MoMA is my favorite New York Museum, the Tate’s modern art outpost (as opposed to the plain-old Tate Museum) is my go-to spot for some contemporary artistic inspiration in London.

Here are a couple of the pieces that I found most stunning:

As you saw in our London Debate, I was a bit blasé about a return, thinking that since I’d been many times before, there’s would be nothing more to excite me in Londontowne.

But clearly cities- like the communities they house- evolve, flourish and expand. Nothing is static but their monuments to history.  And thinking that by visiting a city numerous times that I actually know it, is like assuming one knows what a man will be like as a boyfriend after only just sleeping together casually a few times.  It takes more than a couple visits to really know what’s going on under the surface.

So any assumptions I had of London being what it’s always been were (not shockingly) overly simplistic.  Jolly old London is expanding and inventing new neighborhoods, just as much as anywhere else.  So while other tourists prefer those monuments to history, I was most excited about jolly new London.

One of my favorite new discoveries: Shoreditch.

Londoners familiar with New York compare it to hipster Williamsburg, but for my tastes (which included cringing at the word hipster…and, well, Brooklyn), I prefer to think of it in its own terms. New and up-and-coming, graffiti on the brick walls, art galleries, elegant yet casual restaurants, bars by the blocks.
Not overdone, just done enough.

If you visit, check out some of my favorites for…

…Cocktails
Callooh Callay: Where the cocktails are crafted with mixologists’ care and the interior is midcentury modern-meets-1970′s swingers lair-meets-ode to the party gnomes. Totally fun, totally sexy, and with a great sense of humor.  The drinks menu is an homage to an Ikea instruction booklet. (Love!)

Callooh Callay
65 Rivington Street
London EC2A 3AY

This place is über cool, check out their full photo gallery here.

…Dinner
The Princess of Shoreditch: Updated version of a classic pub.  A gorgeous chandelier in the front glassed stairwell is refreshingly unlike the standard oak and leather-lined decor of the haunts we call pubs here in the States.  The Princess’s large windows frame the candle-lit couples and groups of friends huddled and sharing a good glass of wine.

The Princess of Shoreditch
76 Paul Street
London EC2A 4 NE

NOT pub 'grub'.

…Post Dinner Drinks
Electricity Showrooms: More casual than The Princess, Electricity Showrooms’ dark wood-paneled interior with brass sconces is a throwback to its original incarnation as purveyor of lightbulbs, gramophones and vacuums in the 1920′s.

Electricity Showrooms
39A Hoxton Square
Shoreditch, London N1 6NN

PS- I loved sampling some of London’s locally-brewed beers at many of the pubs I frequented, like Sambrooks Brewery‘s Wandle and East London Brewing‘s Nightwatchman.

Enjoy! xx

As seen behind the Electricity Showrooms' bar

This V-day take a moment to pick out something festive that will help you get in the loving mood.

Ariel Gordon Square Love Necklace

Liz Palacios Heart Cuff

Marc by Marc Jacobs Heart Necklace

Blank Heart Earrings

Bauble Bar Silver Love Necklace

So it happened, I fell in love in Atlanta. With my friends in tow, we hit every happening spot on our itinerary and incase you were curious; we did find some amazingly cute southern boys. There was one blonde in particular I had my eye on and since we didn’t get to have a coherent chat on the dance floor at Johnny’s (vodka, Backstreet Boys, and disco balls hindered any remnants of eloquent conversation) he was nice enough to get me out and about for Sunday brunch at Atlanta hotspot, West Egg.

This restaurant took my heart and topped the list as my favorite brunch in Georgia. The ambiance has a New York vibe to it with a great playlist coming through the speakers, retro photo booth and good looking people nestled in every corner of the super packed joint. While the wait was long, it wasn’t dreadful – a really great cappuccino (and perhaps the pretty blue eyes of my cohort) kept me quite entertained. The architecture is clean with stark lines, high ceilings, a beautiful bakery area and classic wood tables to round out the charm.

Oh, and then there is the food… the brunch menu is packed (so much so I’ll admit to only reading through one page before I had already desired 7 things).  With delicious fare from banana bread French toast to a PB&J burger – it’s classic brunch with a twist. I ordered the Peachtree Plate which was loaded with eggs, brown sugar bacon, pimento cheese grits, and fried green tomatoes topped with a melt in your mouth biscuit… perhaps a heart attack waiting to happen, but so good that a few more minutes at the gym this week will be totally worth it.

Turns out I did leave my heart in Atlanta after all…the fried green tomatoes stole it. I never had a chance.

Oh By The Way:  The Fried Egg Sandwich was touted by ATL publication, Creative Loafing, as one of the “100 Dishes To Eat in Atlanta Before You Die”. So, yeah, it’s probably pretty good too.

Let’s Be Honest: As for the boy…oh please, I’m not Carrie Bradshaw. My lips are sealed.

Accessorize: It’s a place to be seen, so look your Sunday brunch best.

Allison Chomer Silk Drawstring Top

Rag & Bone Jeans in Pewter (exclusive to Intermix Boutiques)

Frye Jane Tall Boot

Pleased to see that the site of our Thursday night outing, Barts, made the list.  A good ole speakeasy tossing expertly crafted cocktails tucked away in a residential apartment.  And unlike so many of the new speakeasies in NYC, this one actually strives to be somewhat exclusive and difficult to find.

Mary’s Pet Peeve #857: An Obvious Speakeasy.

Oh, by the way: Barchick says…
BARTS – If you like dressing up

This hidden bar has the perfect attributes for a good dumping spot. Once you have had “the talk” you can say you’re going to the toilet, and then proceed to raid the dressing up box for the best outfit you can find and either mingle with other people or duck out. This place has a sort of hide out den feel to it, so it’s the perfect place to drown your sorrows away from the world outside. Also, the dumpee is bound to get drunk and maybe get lucky with someone rich.

Let’s be honest: Now I just need to find someone here to dump there.

Accessorize: with an oh-so-casual club outfit…

Off the Shoulder tunic available on Polyvore

Skinny Leather Pants by Asos

Stuart Weitzman Hitime Booties

I once heard a wise person say, “Facebook has ruined our closets.” and really, it’s ever so true as the dress that you used to be able to wear to two or three events (that didn’t have the same crowd) is now plastered all over your social media outlets to let everyone know if you are a repeat outfit offender. It’d of course be magnificent to be a starlet and have designers FedEx you whatever you please, but unfortunately I don’t have those kind of connections yet, and my pocket book isn’t remotely deep enough to be able to purchase multiple couture gowns. So, what’s a girl around town to do? Luckily I can now turn to New For The Night.

The new to Houston “rent today, return tomorrow” concept is opening next week and I cannot wait to become a repeat customer (I have five weddings already on the schedule for this spring and really my black dress is just getting SO over done). New For The Night is a rental retailer that lets you borrow dresses for just a few days for a fraction of the actual price (think designers like Jay Godfrey, Cynthia Steffe, Tibi and more at 90% off). What’s even better for us lucky Houstonians is that along with the delivery concept, they also have a showroom here in Houston packed full of their frocks. So, instead of just picking out the dress online you can actually go and try it on to make sure its the one (well at least for the night).

Oh, By The Way: Sign up now and get the latest news on their deals, steals and the newest dresses in stock

Let’s Be Honest: Come to think of it, it’s the perfect one night stand.

Accessorize: Here are some of the gorgeous gowns they have…

Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna Dress

Allison Parris Dress

Cynthia Steffe Dress

Tibi Dress

Catherine Deane Dress

]]> http://www.girlaroundtown.net/2012/02/new-for-the-night/feed/ 0 http://www.girlaroundtown.net/2012/02/love-or-hate-london/ http://www.girlaroundtown.net/2012/02/love-or-hate-london/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:11:07 +0000 Leigh http://www.girlaroundtown.net/?p=6539 Read More]]> Another one of Mary and Leigh’s debates. Mary is off to London (begrudgingly) and Leigh is stuck in the states with visions of royalty dancing in her head. London is much like LA – you either love it or hate it.

State Apartments Windsor Castle

LOVE:

I think I always knew I would love London even before I ever got there (actually this is similar to my love affair with Los Angeles as well). There are some things in this world you are just connected to (i.e. Kristen Bell and the Sloth) and you innately know you are in love. So, touching down in London for the first time was a bit like coming home for me. I have a tiny obsession with castles and royalty, so just being around all of the history of such a dynasty was captivating. I was such a tourist that first trip and did all of the things Londoner’s most likely think as cheesy, but that I just adored. I saw Buckingham Palace, watched the changing of the guard, was mesmerized by the Crown Jewels and found the house I long to have when I grow up when I took a train out and toured Windsor Castle. But there is more to London than royalty – the shopping is also unreal. At the time Top Shop and H&M had yet to make it to the States, so I spent hours there. Not to mention the adorable finds you can catch in Notting Hill. And then there’s the pub scene which is crowded, but somehow comfortable and I just love that anything can be solved with a cup of tea and a bit of milk. On my trip back one time I was strolling through the streets and someone stopped and asked me for directions – I blurted out (in what was for sure Texas twang) “Oh my gosh, you think I’m from here!” – needless to say the poor man didn’t get the directions he needed, but it made my day to know someone thought I belonged in that city.

-Leigh

AMBIV:

London has heritage, sure, it just doesn’t feel foreign enough to me. It has cathedrals, pubs and museums in excess…but so does my beloved New York. If journeying out on an international adventure, I feel that more fitting locations are countries without a majority of White Anglo-Saxon Protestants speaking English in fun accents. (I make this same argument for travel to Australia and Ireland.) At one time the shopping was so different here, but now- as Leigh mentioned- international chains are available to us stateside.

As much as I sound like a London naysayer, I must confess that it’s also the foreign city I’ve visited the most. So in a way, just feel that I’ve done it. There won’t be elephant rides or safaris or significantly different religious customs. As lovely as it is to have a proper cup of tea, or coffee like only the Europeans can craft, I wonder as I embark on this trip how much more there really is to see of London. Once you’ve done the tours (FYI The Jack the Ripper Pub tour was a good one), the palace visits and dined on fish n’ chips and chicken tikka masala (each alternate being named Britain’s National Dish), what is there to do, really? More pubs and more galleries? Ok, but is that worth a hop across the pond?

Regardless of these protestations, I am in fact traveling to London, so there must be some allure there. And my ever-adventuresome spirit does not yearn solely for observing African tribes or equatorial rain forests (let’s be honest, I’m too pale to enjoy those anyway), it seeks out all that is new and different, even in the most familiar settings. If I can discover a pub in a minuscule Texas town of 300 people, I will most certainly relish seeking out new haunts in one of the most metropolitan cities in the world.

Here’s to a new adventure in old Londontowne.

-Mary

So, since my BFF’s are oh so obliging to my single life (even though one is married with a baby) they have set up a weekend full of fantasticly fun activities with “sight seeing” being the key to each place chosen.

Here’s the itinerary:

Thursday Happy Hour

We start things off at 5P (which although looks like a total dump) is apparently THE place in Buckhead to grab a post work cocktail.

Thursday Evening

We will then be moving the gaggle of girls over to the ever more posh St. Regis Hotel Bar where we can see and be seen with some of Atlanta’s hottest young things (ourselves included, of course).

Friday Happy Hour

Our Friday HH will be spent getting our hair done at the Dry Bar. While this might not be the place to see cute boys it will certainly help get you noticed later in the night. Oh, and yes, they offer champagne while styling your tresses.

Friday Night

With our fab hair in tow, we will head off to Bocado where we have a reservation for a large table full of some of Atlanta’s finest (aka my friend’s friends). Looking forward to this farm fresh fare – fried green tomatoes and home made gnocchi – yes please!

Saturday Night

It’s girl’s night out on Saturday and we will be kicking off the evening’s festivities with dinner and drinks at Eclipse di Luna. We’ll be indulging in yummy tapas, delicious wine, and get to see live latin entertainment – it’s going to be a high energy dinner.

Post dinner we will be heading over to shake our tail feathers at Johnny’s Hideaway where I’m sure one of us is bound to fall down while trying to get low. It will be entertainment at it’s finest.

Sunday

It’s certain I’ll be leaving my heart in Atlanta after this weekend full of cute boys, good food and good friends. You can bet I’ll be planning another trip soon.

Huge thanks to my wonderful friends for planning such a fun filled weekend. xo.