How lovely are these photos of the brown bears in Katmai National Park in southern Alaska? The bears, about 2,200 of them, are drawn to the park for the abundant sockeye salmon in Brooks River (fun fact: more bears than people are estimated to live on Alaska Peninsula). As many bear populations around the world decline, Katmai provides some of the few remaining unaltered habitats for these amazing creatures.
Visitors get in on the action (from a safe distance) from a viewing platform at the adjacent Brooks Camp, situated at the mouth of the Brooks River and the shore of Naknek Lake. While you're there, the park also offers stunning spots for kayaking, and the change to see the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, the site of the world's largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, from the air. Meanwhile, here is a link to the Brooks Falls bear cam and more photos by photographer Christoph Strasslër.
It's turning into a Marfa-themed week around here. I posted Tuesday about the whimsical, wonderful hotel/campground El Cosmico and, while doing a bit more poking around about this Texas town, came across the glorious furniture of Garza Marfa.
Designed by husband-and-wife team Jamey Garza and Constance Holt-Garza, the line's leather furniture has a wonderful modern-meets-Western vibe to it. I'm particularly charmed by their saddle leather cot which, when decorated with some of their vibrant, folksy pillows, looks like the perfect thing for an afternoon of lounging. Here are a few more of my favorite Garza Marfa pieces, and you can view their whole collection here.
I was so taken with Marika Shioiri-Clark and Graham Veysey's wedding on Vogue.com. The whole celebration has a very chic-yet-accessible vibe to it, with an aesthetic that reminded me both of the Coachella Music Festival and Frida Kahlo's paintings. The last image really struck me: it's of the Sioux-style tepees at El Cosmico, a hotel and campground on 21 acres in Marfa. Visitors can also opt to stay in renovated vintage trailers, safari and scout tens, and even a Mongolian yurt. There are communal spaces throughout the property, like a hammock grove, to an outdoor kitchen and dining area, and a reading room, and you can even pack your pooch since the hotel is dog-friendly.
El Cosmico's onsite events are equally whimsical (see their workshop on botanical beverages and love potions) and they also host Monday movie nights and live music at sunset some evenings. Guests can unwind at the end of the day by renting one of their wood-fired hot tubs. How great would a soak beneath the stars here be?
Here are a few more photos from around El Cosmico's website and dreamy Instagram feed.
Of all the holiday movies out there, A Charlie Brown Christmas remains one of my favorites. Not only is it a classic with a sweet message, but it also has a wonderful score I often find myself listening to as I walk around New York City during the holiday season (if you haven't done this, do. It's magic!) The music for the TV special was famously performed by the Vince Guaraldi Trio helmed by pianist extraordinaire, the late Vince Guaraldi, who also scored the TV special A Boy Named Charlie Brown.
Each season the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers fans the chance to visit and see a screening of A Charlie Brown Christmas, alongside a live performance of the score. This year, it will be performed the Rob Schwimmer Trio, and there's even a festive sing-along. There are four performances on December 19th and 20th, and tickets include admission to the museum, which will have their annual Christmas tree on display.
