Language lessons.

The summer before last, my father went on a trip to Costa Rica all by himself. It was a study abroad program for adults, of sorts, and he did it so he could practice his Spanish. (And also to have an adventure.)

Right before he left, I remember him telling me his daily itinerary.  "First," he said, "I attend a Spanish language intensive class in the morning, and it lasts until early afternoon.  And then," pausing for emphasis, "I have the option to sign up for extra afternoon practice.  Which I DID."  I was impressed.

"And then," dramatic flourish, "I go home to my host family, where we talk about our day using more Spanish!" He was truly thrilled.

One of the most wonderful things about my father is that his job puts him into contact with many ESL individuals.  He is an attorney in San Antonio who works largely with the Hispanic community, and while he's long spoken just a bit of Spanish with them, this trip would imbue him with more.  Much more.

My dad can now hold his own with native Spanish speakers, and while you wouldn't necessarily want him to direct your next heart surgery, you could certainly rely on him to get your Mexican food order right.  To tell you where the nearest bathroom is.  It all comes out in his twangy Dallas accent of course, but it's Spanish alright.  The real deal.

So when my friend Margaret told me recently that she and her language teacher friends were starting up a Spanish and French school here in town, my ears immediately perked up.  "Maybe I'll finally learn Spanish once and for all," I thought.  I, like many Texans, possess only the faintest traces of Spanish fluency.  But I think I would be more motivated in a setting like this school.

Freestyle Language Center is pretty darling.  Every Saturday morning, they host "Coffee and Croissants," which is a little table for breakfast from La Boite, and French conversation.  I peeked in last Saturday.

Elizabeth and Lilia - the French teacher and Spanish teacher at Freestyle - showed me around their sweet space.  Every Friday night they host Foreign Film Night (which I have already deemed a future Date Night for husband and I), Lilia teaches cooking classes (in Spanish!) and next year, they are going to start offering ESL, too.

Elizabeth told me, "all of us wanted to teach language and culture in a different way than we had been from the university setting.  We wanted to do it in a relevant, fun, and social way."  Which is why, on top of their basic core classes, the ladies host multiple drop-ins (like Coffee and Croissants) each week, as well as specialized language courses, like French business and literature, and Spanish medical and legal.

Me, calmly plotting to steal this couch.

Can I tell you a secret?  The property where this is the same property where Ross and I got married.  It's in a little school next to a big mansion (the Perry Mansion) in the middle of Hyde Park - my Hyde Park - and we exchanged vows on the mansion's back patio.

Here is a picture of a wild, Grey Gardens-esque bridge on that property.

During Coffee and Croissants on Saturday morning, the snatches of French I heard in the air made me so nostalgic.  I've only been to France twice, but the last time, it was to Paris.  And my traveling partner?  My dad.

Eastbound & down.

It happens like this every year. 

I go to East Austin Studio Tour, hang out in a few print shops / ramshackle galleries / wooden lean-to's with pottery inside of them, and decide: I REALLY NEED TO LIVE HERE.   (The neighborhood lust is out of control these days.)

I have very confusing feelings toward the east side.  Sort of like the way you probably aren't 100% sure how you feel about Justin Bieber.  Oh, you think you know how you feel.  But have you actually watched him in an interview?  Just try it.  Not so sure now, are you?  Kinda appreciating his charming little personality, huh?

I used to pine for our future east side home, and laugh off the suggestion that parts of the neighborhood could be dangerous. "God, you're so white" I'd say, every time someone worried aloud about getting their car broken into.  Then my friend's car did.  Then my other friends got their house broken into.  Then a bad man yelled at me.  And I sheepishly had to say to those white friends, "ok ok.  So there's a little crime." 

Still.  Each time I'm there, knowing that I shouldn't be naive, I just ... want ... to stay.  Forever.  It's the gentrification cocktail that I am sipping, of pretty, sparkly coffee shops and boutiques and salons mixed in with the east side's wild, warehousy environs.  I'm guilty.  But into it.  I don't want people's rent to go up.  But damn, that's a really cute bar. So many feelings, all at the same time!

Anyway.  Where were we?  Ah yes: EAST.

So the reason lots of artists live / have lived on the east side is the rent, which historically, has been cheap.  That may change eventually, but for now, there are well over 100 studios over there.  My friend Amy and I visited like, six, and even so I took a billion pictures.  I'm pretty sure this is going to be Part One of a two-part post.

(Also, how adorable is Amy?

Answer: Very.)

Our first stop was Busy Being, a tiny art shop housed in the back of Domy Books.  It's run by Amber Abramson, who just moved to Austin from LA with her son, and told me a lot of the art comes from her friends.  I recommend checking out her totally fun Tumblr with all of Busy Being's art.

We strolled into Domy Books ... where the gallery has gone temporarily monster-themed.

Then we headed to Big Red Sun, this magical plant + decor + nursery space.  The old location was already dreamy; this new spot is more modern, open, and full of curiosities. 

Like this, for example.  What is it?  I have no idea.  But I want it.

This tiny dog had an identical twin and I ran around trying to snap pictures of them both.  He is attempting to capture a leaf here.

love you, east side.

The Wig Party.

I've been meaning to blog about Coco Coquette for a while now.  If you live here in Austin, it's entirely possible / probable that you've heard of this delightful business already.  

I heard about Coco Coquette a while back, when I was writing a little story for CityGuide on Austin beauty hot spots.  It was the only business on my list that included wigs, and Reader, let me ask you a question.  When was the last time you wore a wig?  No matter your answer, I'm going to say: too long!  Unless you currently have one on your head right now, I'm inclined to say that we, you and me, don't wear wigs often enough.  That goes for the rest of American society too.  Across the pond, our British friends are downright fearless with their headwear.  Why is this?  How are we so timid in comparison?  I say we start a wig uprising. 

Coco Coquette shares a property space in this adorable old house with Charm School Vintage, replete with creaky wooden floors and crystal chandeliers.  If my husband were gay, it is exactly how I would decorate our home.  In fact, I was looking through my old pictures yesterday of Charm School and Coco Coquette, so I could get inspiration for our living room!  (Don't tell him.)

I visited Coco Coquette a few weeks ago, to get all wigged up for a party my friends and I threw.  I went with a blue bob, but before that, Allyson Garro -- Coco Coquette Headmistress -- had me try on this pink cotton candy affair.

That's a pretty flattering face, huh?

In all seriousness, I think you should stop by Coco Coquette if you haven't already.  If you're enjoying EAST next weekend like me, pop in!  It's on E. Cesar Chavez.

Also.  This is really important.  If you're reading this post right now, can you pinky-swear that you'll come back tomorrow morning?  The reason is because I have super exciting, national-scale news to share!  Not about me.  But about a close friend.  And I promise you'll like it.  Ooh, the anticipation!  I'll narrow it down for you just a bit: It has nothing to do with the lottery, pregnancy/babies, or Mr. T.  Sorry to disappoint on that last one.