Seattle lifestyle & fashion - FreshJess.com: 10.11

10.30.2011

Fresh Happenings - Seattle events for week of 10/30/11

A carefully curated list of Fresh Jess's favorite events coming this week in Seattle (updated as needed):

Monday, October 31st

Neumos Halloween Bash f/Champagne Champagne

Neumos / 925 E Pike St, Seattle 98122 / 9:00p.m. - close

FREE / 21+ / RSVP on Facebook
Moe Bar Mondays / TigerBeat

Tuesday, November 1st - Thursday, November 3rd

Seattle Interactive Conference Trailer from Seattle Interactive Conference on Vimeo.

Seattle Interactive Conference

The Conference Center / 800 Convention Place, Seattle 98101 / Conference & party times vary

Pass prices vary / See Banyan Branch discount

I've been on the team helping coordinate this conference and I'm so excited it's come to fruition. We're expecting over 2500 attendees for the first-ever Seattle Interactive Conference, bringing together the best and brightest minds in tech, digital, motion, social media, UX/UI and more for two days of amazing sessions and great speakers. While SIC's stacked with educational content, the parties are equally stacked with talent, with Shabazz Palaces, Presidents of the U.S.A. and Mudhoney scheduled to perform. Parties are open to SIC attendees only.

Tuesday, November 1st

Fat Tuesdays

Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge / 601 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle 98109 / 9:00p.m. - close

FREE / 21+ / RSVP on Facebook
Twitter: @FeverStreet

Expect a weekly dose of classic New Orleans energy, ambiance, style and vibe. Just enough of the Voodoo mentality, Louisiana Creole influence and southern hospitality, with our own unique modern Seattle spin on just how the nightlife should feel. We'll have great weekly food & drink specials, a full sound system and the most talented entertainment and DJs & musicians anywhere in the city. Tuesdays just got a whole lot better!

Wednesday, November 2nd

isangmahal arts kollective presents: poetics & consciousness

Theatre Off Jackson / 409 7th Ave S, Seattle 98104 / 7:30 - 9:00p.m.

Tickets: $5 students / $7 general admission / RSVP on Facebook
Twitter: @1sangmahal

Thursday, November 3rd

Young Professionals Network at Pacific NW Ballet for "Love Stories"

McCaw Hall / 321 Mercer St, Seattle 98109 / 5:30 - 9:30p.m.

Tickets: $15 members / $20 non-members
Twitter: @SeattleChamber

Join YPN, Backstage Pass and SAVOR Catering for an evening with the arts. Come and experience a dress rehearsal performance of PNB's newest ballet, Love Stories. Love Stories encompasses some of the most romantic duets from the ballets Baiser de la Fée, Afternoon of a Faun, Roméo et Juliette, Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty. Such a sweet deal for a fun event!

Friday, November 4th

The Symphony Guild presents: The Last Wonder of the World

Benaroya Hall / 3rd & Union, Seattle 98101 / 8:00p.m.

Tickets: $40 3rd tier - $60 orchestra
Twitter: @SymphonyGuild

Each one of us has the ability to be heroic. The only question is how do we tap into it? The Last Wonder of the World, The Symphony Guild’s 14th annual benefit concert, explores the complexities of the unbreakable human spirit in all its beautiful abundance. This year’s concert celebrates the enduring hope and unbreakable spirit of Seattle Children’s Hospital patients and of all of us.

Saturday, November 5th

Black Star, TheeSatisfaction & Abyssian Creole

Showbox Sodo / 1700 1st Ave S, Seattle 98134 / 8:00p.m. - close

Tickets: $35+ advance

Mos Def & Talib Kweli. Need I say more?

Tyra Banks Gets Schooled!

Do you remember getting up early every day for school? Most of us do now anyway for work or college, but in high school, waking up and starting the day off right seemed like a nearly impossible task. Lucky for those of you in high school now, the Get Schooled foundation is making those crucial morning moments a whole lot easier to manage.

Get Schooled engages young people and their families through media. They want to make sure that more people are aware that small actions – like attendance or just filling out a financial aid form – can make a big difference in reaching your goals. Get Schooled to share stories of celebrities, kids, educators and communities that are making change happen in their own lives and in their schools.

This school year, they've partnered with celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Common, Wiz Khalifa, Trey Songz & Ciara to get high school students revved up and out to class on time. From now through the end of the school year, students 13 and older can sign up to receive a recorded call from a Get Schooled celebrity education ambassador.

Tyra Banks was in high school once, but to get to where she is today took a lot of hard work and discipline. It all starts with showing up. Check out Tyra telling Hip Hollywood why she Gets Schooled:

If you want to sign up to hear from Tyra Banks and other celebrities in a Get Schooled Celebrity Wake-Up Call, fill out the form here. You can also find more details about the initiative and GS's goals at GetSchooled.com.
*Disclosure: Get Schooled is a client of the agency I work at. While I very rarely mix work and FreshJess, I think this is a cool initiative and I wanted to share it with my readers here. I mean, if I could I'd love to have Nicki Minaj call me every day and tell me to get my Barbie butt to work every morning! If you know of a student who'd be into this, please share. Thanks!

10.23.2011

Fresh Happenings - Seattle Events for Week of 10/23/11

A carefully curated list of Fresh Jess's favorite events coming this week in Seattle (updated as needed):

Monday, October 24th

Rich Kids Brand 2011 Fall Launch Event TEASER from Rich Kids on Vimeo.

Rich Kids Fall Collection Launch Party

Sole Repair / 1001 E Pike St Seattle 98122 / 8:00 - 11:00p.m.

Invite only; email michael@richkidsbrand.com for guest list info

I'm a fan of the Rich Kids hooligans. Join them as they celebrate the launch of their 2011 Fall Collection. Party guests will be welcomed with Rich Kids Brand party favors, drink specials, special giveaways, a look at the Rich Kids Fall lookbook, networking opportunities, and much more. This invite only event will play host to the freshest faces in the city, so look smashing, and be ready to celebrate! "Rich is not what you have, it's who you have beside you." Live Rich.

Seattle Night Out presents "Social Media: What Works & What Doesn't"

Hard Rock Cafe / 116 Pike St Seattle 98101 / 5:30 - 9:00p.m.

Tickets: $5
Twitter: @SeattleNightOut

Shameless plug: I'm speaking on this panel on social media for professionals in the Seattle music & nightlife industry. It's just $5 and almost sold out, so if you're a Seattle-area musician, DJ, venue rep or promoter and you'd like to network and discuss social media tips for success - come check us out!

Tuesday, October 25th

Skrillex

WaMu Theatre / 800 Occidental Ave S, Seattle 98134 / 7:00p.m. - midnight

Tickets: $42 w/Ticketmaster fees

Wednesday, October 26th

Fall Night of Fashion at The Bravern benefiting MOMentum

The Bravern / 11111 NE 8th St, Ste 120, Bellevue 98004 / 7:00 - 10:00p.m.

Tickets: General Admission $50 - VIP $150 (special discount at Gilt City Seattle)
Twitter: @GiltCitySeattle

Celebrity stylist and former Nordstrom Couture Director Pia Jacobsen will share her tips for cultivating refined personal style and putting together a chic fall wardrobe. Pia will celebrate the launch of her new book “Pia … Me,” where she channels her background into modern style advice through a concept she calls “Piastyle” - interpreting the glamour of the runway with an individual’s wardrobe. Get your closet ready! The event benefits MOMentum, which installs outdoor gyms in urban parks to help busy moms encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Thursday, October 27th

Bri Seeley Trunk Show

SPUN Sustainable Collective / 1515 14th Ave, Seattle 98122 / 6:00 - 9:00p.m.

Free / RSVP on Facebook
Twitter: #SeeleyTrunkShow / @BriSeeley / @ChooseSPUN

Join us for drinks and light appetizers in a special evening with Seattle designer Bri Seeley! See and purchase the Bri Seeley Fall Collection, including the Seattle Magazine "Seamless in Seattle" award winning "Best Coat" which is offered exclusively at SPUN Sustainable Collective! Preview the new Bri Seeley Spring 2012 collection and find out about her inspiration for the collection.

Fall Style Social at The Gap hosted by The Emerald Closet

The Gap Northgate Mall / 401 NE Northgate Way, Seattle 98125 / 7:00 - 8:30p.m.

Free / RSVP on Facebook
Twitter: @Emerald_Closet

Travis and Adria, the faces behind The Emerald Closet, will highlight their favorite fall pieces at The Gap, styled on local fashion bloggers who will be models for the event. There will be a presentation about the styles, going over which pieces look best on which body type. The participating style bloggers will also have the opportunity to style mannequins, showing how they'd wear The Emerald Closet's favorite pieces. Food and beverages will be provided by Sushi Maru. There will also be swag bags for guests who RSVP. Swag bags will include samples, coupons, and gifts from other Northgate Mall stores. Prizes include AmEx gift cards, an exclusive Gap discount, restaurant gift certificates, and a grand prize of a $100 gift card to the Northgate Mall and a one-on-one personal styling session with The Emerald Closet!

::Tsar:: - a NeoDandi fashion performance

Munchbar / 505 Bellevue Square, Bellevue 98004 / 8:00p.m.

Tickets: General Admission $75 - VIP $125+

A Fashion Show unlike any other, Neodandi House of Couture presents ::TSAR:: A Neodandi Fashion Performance stretches the bounds of the typical runway show by introducing a new form and function for an interactive, individually engaging Fashion Performance modeled as a Theatrical Symphony.

Wine Up hosted by Team Up for Non-Profits

Wine World / 400 NE 45th #130, Seattle 98105 / 6:30 - 8:30p.m.

Free / RSVP on Facebook
Twitter: #WineUp / @TeamUp4NonProf

Team Up is providing an opportunity to get in first and taste some of the wines being poured at 20something - the new vintage (held this November). Come and experience a fun evening of wine tasting and music in the largest wine store in the Northwest. Eight Washington wineries will be taking time out from harvest to pour a selection of their wines JUST FOR YOU! Games of chance will include opportunities to win a pair of tickets to 20something, an overnight stay at Hotel Max, or a gift card to Artist & Craftsmen. Plus everyone receives a tasty treat as a parting gift!

Trashed & Neumos present Spank Rock & guests

Neumos / 925 E Pike St, Seattle 98122 / 8:00p.m. - close

Tickets: $18 (21+)

Friday, October 28th

SAM Remix

Seattle Art Museum / 1300 1st Ave, Seattle 98101 / 8:00p.m. - close

Tickets: Members $12 / Non-members $20 / Students $15
Twitter: #SAMremix / @IHeartSAM

I'll be guest tweeting at this month's SAM Remix w/my girl Jen Joyce! SAM always does a great job with making a great party out of Remix. This time, the Luminous: Art of Asia is their featured exhibit. It'll be a blast! Check out the full details of the event here.

Saturday, October 29th

BOO'd Up at Good Saturdays

HG Lodge / 722 E Pike, Seattle 98122 / 9:30p.m. - close

Free guestlist before 11p.m. via email (RME206@gmail.com) / $10 cover
Couples & groups in costume are free all night!

Sunday, October 30th

Halloween Mac Miller afterparty

The Woods / 1512 11th Ave 3rd level, Seattle 98122 / 10:00p.m. - close

$5 cover / RSVP on Facebook
Twitter: @Tigerbeat206 / @dj100Proof / @DJClockwork

10.20.2011

Recap: Dolce Gusto dinner at Crush

A couple of weeks ago, Nescafe invited a few Seattle food & lifestyle bloggers out to Crush for a private dinner party to sample their new Dolce Gusto line of at-home coffee machines & flavors. For those of you who may not be familiar with Crush, it is one of Seattle's finest culinary gems. James Beard 2010 award winner Chef Jason Wilson and wife Nicole have created an absolutely top-notch experience in both venue and menu at Crush. After our first time there with dear friends Sarah & Frank (Going for Seconds), it's become my top recommendation for any intimate dinner or special occasion. So naturally when this opportunity came to me, I couldn't pass it up!

A Dolce Gusto cappuccino

NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® combines the expertise and history of NESCAFÉ® coffee making with the hallmarks of Delonghi® precision, engineering and technical perfection. Now coffee rookies like myself can make cafe-style beverages like a pro, in the comfort of our homes! For the dinner party, we enjoyed amazing appetizers and a trip to the Crush backyard garden, where Chef had us picking our own herbs for the crab cakes we'd have later. Not being a foodie on the level of some other bloggers I know - it was such a treat to have my favorite chef in the city give us his time and energy for this dinner! Our dinner was capped off with sweet sea salt caramels paired with various Dolce Gusto drinks.

Truffled chevre gougeres

Hawaiian ahi tuna crudo w/black garlic & sunchoke

In the Crush garden w/Chef Jason Wilson

He's laughing & I'm in disbelief I'm standing there!

Read more...

Fresh Happenings - Seattle Events for Week of 10/16/11

In an effort to save my time and sanity while still featuring as many of Seattle's great events as I can - I'm consolidating events into a weekly roundup of FreshJess' favorite happenings in the city. I'll update the post as needed, but you can expect to see this post every Sunday. Hopefully :)

Tuesday, October 18th

Fall Comforts tasting event hosted by Seattleite Magazine & Gilt City Seattle

Wing Luke Asian Museum / 719 S. King St. Seattle 98104 / 7:00 - 9:00p.m.

Tickets: $55 w/Gilt City / $80 VIP
Twitter: #TasteTheSeason | @Seattleite | @GiltCitySeattle

Join the lovelies of Seattleite and Gilt City Seattle at the beautiful Wing Luke Asian Museum for an evening of delicious bites and drinks from some of the city's best restaurants, including: Revel, Tavern Law, RN74, Dianne's Delights, Staple & Fancy, Bastille, Rover's Artusi & more.

Thursday, October 20th

Pink Power Hour - GPH Breast Cancer Awareness event

Swink Style Bar at University Village / 4610 Village Court NE Seattle 98105 / 6:00 - 8:30p.m.

Tickets: $12 for GPH members / $20 non-members (21+)
Twitter: #pinkpowerhour | @GirlPowerHour

Girl Power Hour presents Pink Power Hour Annual Breast Cancer Awareness and Networking event featuring Elisabeth Dale, founder of The Breast Life and Dr. Pourmassina from the Polyclinic who’ll be discussing prevention and detection. Indulge in makeup touch-ups and dry styling from Swink, pink treats, Rose, hor’s deourves, swag bags, door prizes and more sponsored by David R. Stephens MD. Purchase the Breast Cancer Plume feather clip in extensions with all proceeds going towards Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Runway to Freedom
Pnk UltraLounge / 600 Pine St. Seattle 98101 / 8:00p.m.

Tickets: $30 general / $50 VIP
Runway to Freedom blog

This production by Lauren Grinnell and team benefits New Beginnings, a support group for domestic violence victims and features local independent designers, retailers, music artist performances and more.

Saturday, October 22nd

Splendid Bellevue Square grand opening

Bellevue Square Mall / 1:00 - 3:00p.m.

Free!

VXRSI Appreciation Sale
MMA fans and those who love them: Thanks to the success of the UFC Fan Expo in Houston, you can enjoy 25% off at VXRSI.com all week with "HoustonFanExpo" and get some of the flyest gear in the industry.

10.14.2011

Coastal Seattle's Going into Hibernation Oct 30

Coastal is one of my favorite boutiques and though it breaks my heart a little every time they go into hibernation, I understand. Seattle's not a year-round surf city :)

Come and wish them a happy fall before they return briefly in December for the holiday season. Pick up some sweet fits from Northwest faves Casual Industrees and Coal Headwear, popular brands like TOMS, Quiksilver, RVCA, Lifetime Collective and Volcom, or a sweet Coastal tee.

Happy hibernation, Coastal! We'll miss you. xo

10.12.2011

Recap: IADT's IMAGINE Fashion Show

Last weekend, I attended the IADT IMAGINE Fashion Show at the beautiful Benaroya Hall. The sixth annual show was such an elegant, well-put together production, with music accompaniment by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra; sponsor love from Macy's, DList Magazine and more; appearances by Miss Washington and her court; and emcee duties by Teresa Gonzalez of the local Univision chapter.

IMAGINE featured casual/daywear, cocktail and evening wear designs from IADT students. One designer was awarded the Designer of the Year in each category by a panel of Northwest fashion community representatives, including David Blackham of David Lawrence and Alison Brownrigg of NW Source.

Thanks to Jocelyn Chui and Tony Wong of the Seattle Chinese Times for some of these great photos!

Photo by Tony Wong of Seattle Chinese Times

10.11.2011

Bellevue Club's Couture du Jour fashion show - this Fri Oct 14

Really looking forward to the Bellevue Club's Couture Du Jour show benefiting Overlake Hospital!

Sip cocktails, mingle with models and check out the latest styles at this glamorous annual event benefitting Overlake Hospital Medical Center's Ensuring Excellence fund.

This year's event features:

ADICORA Swim

La Bijou

VINCE

David Lawrence

Built for Man

Hendricks Park

La Belle Reve

The show will also feature two up-and-coming local designers, chosen with the help of members and friends of the Bellevue Club:

Mary Kelsay's MEKA Clothing

Kathy Sabin's Kreati Ka

Special Performance by Rose Renee; Seattle's newest rising star Show

Produced by: Hotel Bellevue

Show Directed by: Eduardo Khawam

Tickets are now on sale at brownpapertickets.com, with a limited number of VIP tickets available, which include front row seating and a swag bag. All ticket holders are invited to the preshow party.

VIP Tickets - $120, includes private reception from 5:00 - 7:30pm with hosted wine, front row seating and swag bag.

Tier Two - $75, Second row seating and reception from 6-7:30pm

Tier Three - $45, third row seating and reception from 6-7:30pm.

Buy tickets here

10.10.2011

Urban Unveiled - this Weds Oct 12 at Benaroya Hall

Urban Unveiled, the celebrated wedding show for those with style, sophistication and a passion for the unique, returns with its sixth show this Wednesday, October 12th.

The annual Urban Unveiled event held at Benaroya Hall is more than a wedding show; it is a celebration, a cocktail party for those getting married and the creative partners who make dreams come true. The event will be held at Benaroya Hall and showcases over 50 premier wedding industry vendors, as well as raffle drawings for attendees, and a one-of-a-kind Luly Yang Couture fashion show.

The theme of Urban Unveiled 2011 is "Diamond," which brings a chic cocktail couture ambiance dripping in sparkle to Benaroya Hall. I'll be there for the award-winning designer Luly Yang's fashion show, where she'll debut her 2012 Bridal Collection, also appropriately named 'Diamond.' While Luly has always held a fashion show at the event, this year Urban Unveiled will feature a full-scale expanded bridal runway show to cap off the evening. The "Diamond" collection is an ultra feminine, fluid collection of romantic bridal and evening wear gowns inspired by diamonds and precious metals. Experience the brilliant sparkle and unique beauty of diamonds and crystals transformed into exquisite bridal gowns and luminous evening wear.

For additional information and to purchase tickets please visit Urban Unveiled's site.

10.09.2011

Thread Show Seattle coming 10/23 - Want Tix? (Giveaway!)

THREAD Show is coming back to Seattle - and I've got two pairs of tickets to give away!

THREAD is a curated showcase of the best emerging, trend forecasting, style breaking, genre bending fashion designers, and the music and art that rock their world. It's a dynamic, one-day retail environment, bringing new fashion and art to more than 200,000 fashion savvy, trend pushing, music loving, taste making movers and shakers, all keen to get first dibs on what drops next in the emerging fashion designer world.

In Seattle, expect to:

Shop from loads of trendsetting designers bringing you men's and women’s clothing, accessories, shoes, jewelry and more
Have some artsy fun at the DIY booth with live crafting on site
Bro down with us in the new THREAD Man-cave
Sip away on amazing signature cocktails
Get a mini-mani
Snatch up giveaways coming from the DJ booth all day long
Make it a memory in the THREAD Photo Booth
Chill out with quick rub down in the THREAD Well Lounge
Check out the top designer looks on the model blocks
Get styled with a new do and a make-up touch up in the Style Lounge
Super sweet gift bags stuffed with love
Art gallery featuring top local artists
Snacks, drinks, magazines and loads of free stuff

Tickets are $5 with RSVP and $10 at the door (/no RSVP.)

Want to attend for free? Here are the ways you can enter to win:

1) Follow @ThreadShows & @JessEstrada on Twitter and tweet "I want to hang w/@ThreadShows & @JessEstrada in Seattle 10/23 - "

2) Post on the Fresh Jess Facebook page: "Hi Jess! Would love to see you at THREAD Show in Seattle 10/23!"

I will draw a winner NEXT Tuesday, October 18th at 5:00p.m. for THREAD Show Seattle.

Good luck! Hope to see you there!

10.07.2011

Seattle Style: Laura Haithcock

Believe it or not, there are a lot of style mavens roaming the streets of the Emerald City. Seattle Style is a monthly feature on FreshJess, giving you a look at some of the city's most stylish - who they are, what they do, and some of the very best out of their closet!

This week, meet the iconic Laura Haithcock:

J.Crew pencil skirt / Gap blouse / H&M belt & ring
Photo credit: Andy Westbrock

What do you do?

Advertising account management, web production and design, blogger, milliner, vintage inspired styling. And baking, lots of baking.

Deco Modiste blouse / Express pencil skirt / Steve Madden purse / Banana Republic cuff / vintage orange pearl earrings
Photo credit: Andy Westbrock

How would you describe your style?

I enjoy gathering inspiration from all kinds of places, but love taking super feminine style cues from female Motown icons, French yé-yé girls, cute rockabilly attire and bombshells from the 60s. I lean towards fashion that works for the female shape and draws from classic, well-tailored standards.

Anthropologie dress / H&M cardigan / vintage gold and mother of pearl bracelet
Photo credit: Andy Westbrock

What are your favorite shops?

I love a good search through the Seattle vintage shops for pieces that are unique and that will have timeless appeal, but also shop at Anthropologie, Nordstrom and local shops including Meadow, Velouria, Queen Anne Dispatch and Rhinestone Rosie's.

What's your favorite thing about Seattle?
People in Seattle commit to their interests and that has made for a city full of individuals who are inspiring, intriguing and entrepreneurial. There is constant creative energy that is contagious and exciting. I'm repeatedly inspired by friends who are trying new experiences, creating startups and finding ways to promote community involvement.

Thanks Laura!

Find her at Birdie Royale and on Twitter.

10.06.2011

Recap: Girl Power Hour 4th Anniversary

Girl Power Hour kicked off Bellevue Fashion Week by celebrating its fourth anniversary last week and it definitely lived up to its Glambition name! Founder Darnell Sue and her team of Power Girls have worked super hard to make GPH one of the most popular, most consistently high-quality networking events in town. While normally for ladies only, the Anniversary Party is open to the fellas too - and both genders came lookin real fly.

Thanks Darnell for a great party! Congratulations GPH on your fourth year - and to many more!