Rose Island Lighthouse

There is a little island in Newport Harbor called Rose Island.  It has a historic lighthouse that has been lovingly restored by some very dedicated group of local residents and supporters involved with the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation.  Can you imagine my delight when I found out you can stay in the lighthouse?!   Rumor has it that they can host small wedding receptions (!), so we set out to do a very serious investigation.

We approached the island in a shroud of fog, which made the experience of discovering this little gem even more special.  It felt like our island...even though two other couples were staying overnight also.  I guess that's better, because it might be a bit too scary to be all alone for this first night!


You can only get to Rose Island by boat.  This time of year - off season - the Starfish, a lobster boat reclaimed by the Foundation, brings overnight guests in the morning.


At every turn I was overwhelmed with what I was seeing, hearing, smelling...seeing sights that made me feel thoughtful and calm, hearing water lapping at the rocks, faint foghorn, a little bell on a nearby buoy, smelling foggy sea air, wet rocks and sand.  We stayed in the brick building on the left, called the Foghorn Room.  I highly recommend it - very secluded with stunning views right out to the rocks and water.  The main Light Keeper's Building (on the left) is restored to circa 1912, and looked amazing, but didn't seem as private.



The Foghorn Room on Rose Island Lighthouse was a dream.  Even though we had to keep our provisions in a cooler (no electricity) and get our water from a water cooler (no running water) , it didn't bother us because we were keen on getting away and unplugging from the city.  Sounds a little like camping, and it was a bit, but if you know what to expect and prepare, it's a unique experience. There were very nice "out houses" and an outdoor shower using collected rainwater.  It's a green, eco-friendly destination for sure!  

I fell in love with the island a little bit, and craved to go back when we left.  It would be a dynamite place to go with a few couples or group of friends and have a great weekend away.   And a wedding?  With a little imagination and a lot of planning - perhaps!

Happy Easter!

Are you going to the Easter Parade?  Kitty here is all decked out on her first trip to NYC.  I think she could fit right it.

My San Francisco

Motel Capri

Burrito love at El Farlito in the excelsior district.

Eclectic vintage at Boneflowers on Polk Street.

The Beauty of Things Left Behind

Over Memorial Day I spent some time in Southampton, and one morning we went out to this estate sale on Gin Lane by the ocean.  The house was modest by today's standards, but I imagine that back in the day it was quite elegant.  There was a beautiful hazy ocean sunlight streaming in everywhere.  Tattered antiques and lonely personal items made for some beautiful vignettes, this time captured with my iphone and instagram app.

The room above is just about the most perfect space I could imagine to make into a photo studio.  Those windows and perfect slanted skylight - I almost died when I walked in!

I loved the old labels on the bottles!  I bought a few to turn into vases or what not.  Here is the view as you approach front door - very Grey Gardens.

Where have all the gentlemen gone?

Robert E. Bryan at home, NYC, April 2011

The exquisite gentlemen of The Dandy Portraits have a new home at dandyportraits.blogspot.  At the end of last year I gave them this dedicated venue.  I also started a tumblr at dandyportraits.tumblr as a way to share images and refer back to the main blog.  So now you can get lost in the rabbit hole that is tumblr!  Oh, and you can also "like" the project on Facebook.  Phew!

I feel the world has gotten ultra complicated - do you agree?  I kind of like all these different ways to connect, but if one is seeking simplicity...well, it's frustrating.  It helps to see all these venues as having slightly different uses,  and benefits...here is my list:

Blogspot - Pros: better for longer form stories with images and writing - Cons: harder to share and customize, generally wonky.

Facebook: Pros: everyone uses it - Cons: Big Brother is watching, or Stalker's Delight?  Getting personal with strangers is uncomfortable. 

Twitter:  Pros: tune in to what info streams you want, do not have to be "friends", very easy, best for breaking news - Cons: your tweets or ideas have the life span of about 2 seconds, not good for images.

Tumblr:  Pros: images spread like wildfire, tune into feeds, and don't have to be "friends", very easy, good for driving traffic,  - Cons: addictive (rabbit hole), images can lose their source/credit too easily, attention span of 3 sec.

Flickr:  I just use right now as image hosting for the main blog.  I did it because it has a great search engine.  Nicely features and design.

Well those are the ones I use, but there are many more.  Since I started twitter, I kind of like the idea of tuning into feeds, instead of the "friend" thing which devalues the idea of friendship.   If anyone has another venue that they think is brilliant, please do tell!  

A Brooklyn in Brooklyn

Yesterday I had the fantastic pleasure of photographing Sean Crowley, neckwear designer, and Meredith Modzelewski at their home in Brooklyn.  We made lots of pictures for my personal book project, The Dandy Portraits.  Watch for the full post coming soon!  In the meantime, here is a tasty tidbit...Mr. Crowley expertly mixed up these exquisite little Brooklyn cocktails, which tasted as good as they look.


Homemade Amer Picon.


Best enjoyed iced cold - don't dilly-dally!

The Brooklyn Cocktail

2 oz Rye or Bourbon

3/4 oz Dry Vermouth

2 tsp Amer Picon (Torani Amer)

2 tsp Maraschino Liqueur

1) Stir in a mixing glass with ice

2) Strain into a cocktail glass

3) Garnish with a cocktail cherry


(from Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, by Ted Haigh)

Night's End

John at the bistro, after New Year's Eve-Eve, NYC, Dec 30, 2010

Celebrating the New Year's the night before was a surprise pleasure - smaller crowds and no hang over on New Year's Day!   This was the scene at the bistro down the street from The Players Club as we all went to grab a bite and make the night last just a little bit longer.  Farewell 2010.

Wit's End, Once Again

 Dreamy blury grainy jazz inspiration.  This is the bowler of Mike the Barber, who is indeed a barber, and a DJ.  

Dancing at Wit's End, NYC, Sept 2010

Wit's End

Wit's End is a lovely monthly soiree in the city, which takes it's name from the place that Dorothy Parker and Round Table friends used to gather.

10 Minutes to Brooklyn

Amelia and John dancing on the L platform at Union Square, May 29, 2010

After Wit's End.