Quaintrelle X Chicago

It's no secret at Northwestern that we take Chicago for granted. Whether we blame the commute, our workload, or even the weather, it's easy to find a reason to stay in Evanston instead.

We made this short video to show you why the trip is worth it.

+ Featuring: Dylan's Candy Bar & Lush Cosmetics

+ Filmed and edited by yours truly : )

+ Music: Different Colors by Walk the Moon

Much love,

Emily

The 126th Annual Rose Parade

Given that it feels like -18˚ outside in Chiberia, I thought it only made since to brighten everyone's day with flowers. 

Hundreds and hundreds of flowers.

Over the holiday, I celebrated New Year's in Pasadena + got to watch the 126th Annual Rose Parade. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the spectacle, each float featured in the parade must be made  out of organic materials only; seeds are used to outline the decorations, fruits and vegetables are used to add texture and variety, and just about every single type of flower imaginable is added at the end to more than the fifty magnificent floats. 

The results are spectacular.

These shots were taken both during and after the parade. I focused on capturing the details of each float, as it's almost impossible to comprehend the magnitude of detail that goes into them otherwise.

Much love,

Emily

Chicago from the sky

Hey.  You.  Do you go to Northwestern?  Oh you do!  Well that means you live approximately 12 miles from a very exciting, very beautiful city with some very tall, very majestic skyscrapers.  Lucky you!

Here’s an idea: go into that city, and go to the top of one of those skyscrapers. Say, the Hancock Tower!

At night. 

At Christmas time.

When the 94th floor is deserted. 

It’s just a suggestion.

But if you think Chicago is something special, wait until you see it from above.  It will certainly take your breath away. 

And you’ll be very glad you did. 

Beverly Hills + Beyond

The famous Rodeo Drive boasts boutiques from nearly every notable couture house in the world (my favorite stores: Agent Provocateur, MaxMara and Lanvin).

Palm tree shadows and Chanel embossing.

A broader view of the street. For a great lunch + some pretty fantastic people-watching, I recommend eating on the patio at blvd, a restaurant attached to the Beverly Wilshire hotel.

A Taschen boutique; they are most famous for their publication of large-scale coffee table books. 

Southern California aesthetic; eighty degree weather calls for a white oxford shirt + leopard print (grrrrrrr).

The windows at Valentino.

After marveling at the palm trees one more time, I made my way over to West Hollywood.

Rainbow pride in the American Apparel store in West Hollywood.

The Lulu Grid Crop Top + Mini Skirt from American Apparel.

Seriously cannot get enough of this shirt.

The area of West Hollywood I visited is best known for their strong gay and lesbian community; it shows everywhere.

Captured that vintage L.A. feel, thanks to this Hamburger Haven billboard.

Industrial color.

Street art on Robertson Blvd.

After walking around Robertson for a few hours, I needed a pick-me-up. This Citrus Cleanse juice from Open Source Organics was perfect to sip on while I browsed cheeky clothing at Kitson Studio. 

At around three o'clock, I stopped for lunch at Ivy, a hotbed of celebrity sightings. 

Cobb Salad from the Ivy.

Los Angeles, unknown to many, is not simply the land of starlets and surfers.

I followed my dad down to Beverly Hills for a quick business trip this past Monday. While he worked, I photographed two (completely) different areas of the city: Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. While Beverly Hills flaunts its perfectly manicured palm trees, Rodeo Drive and affluence, West Hollywood (specifically, Robertson Blvd.) gives off a more artistic, personable and youthful vibe. I broke down my day through the nineteen photos above. I left the city at about 5 pm, but I had an absolute blast exploring on my own.

Much love,

Emily

listening to: Different Colors by WALK THE MOON (from their new album, Talking is Hard)

Ella

While Sacramento certainly isn't a mecca for cuisine connoisseurs, there are plenty of quirky, upscale restaurants that satisfy just about anyone's need for fresh California cuisine. 

Among one of my personal favorites is Ella, a dining room and bar located only a few blocks from the State Capital. Since the menu changes seasonally, it's not hard to order a completely different entrée each visit. On their current menu, you'll find dishes like Hog Island Oysters and Croque Monsieur. If you're feeling more adventurous, try their bone marrow appetizer or Honey Badger cocktail (while I obviously haven't tried the drink, this video comes to mind…so I know it must be pretty good).

 Of course, no meal is complete without their house-made soda (Thyme Limeade, my favorite, is pictured above), or Sticky Toffee Pudding. 

Much love,

Emily