Wedding Season

Summer is officially here, and wedding season is in full swing. Between being newly engaged myself, regularly managing weddings for MXPsf and taking on new projects with some of the Bay Area's top productions companies, my summer calendar is filling quickly with all things wedding. 'Tis the season!

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to spend a day in Napa for a wedding at the gorgeous Carnernos Inn, managing a super talented band called The (415)s for Entire Productions. With five star vendors collaborating in such a beautiful setting, the day was sure to be flawless.

Coolest band trailer ever

Coolest band trailer ever

Band/Band Management: The (415)'s and Shea Ross with Entire Productions; Photo Credit: Shea Ross

Good, Clean Eats

Since moving to California, there's nothing I love more than cooking clean eats with fresh ingredients grown locally. Recently I whipped up this particularly gorgeous summer salad, which turned out as mouth-wateringly good as it did photogenic.

Flank Steak Summer Salad

Flank Steak Summer Salad

Flank Steak Summer Salad

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

  • Wild arugula (~7 oz.)
  • Flank Steak (~12 oz.)
  • Trader Joe's Champagne Pear Vinaigrette
  • Mini heirloom tomatoes
  • Blue cheese crumbles
  • Avocado
  • Hard boiled egg
  • Shallot Gold

Directions:

Season your flank steak with salt and pepper, then grill or pan-fry to perfection using your favorite technique (my go-to for pan-fried flank steak perfection is here). Let the steak sit 10 minutes before cutting, then slice thin strips against the grain.

Lay down a bed of wild arugula and top with sliced avocado, sliced egg, tomatoes, shallot gold, flank steak and blue cheese crumbles. Dress lightly and serve.

Pairs well robust red wine. Cheers!

Mount Shasta, California

My boo and I have been lusting over the Pacific Northwest, so we were super excited to finally plan a trip to Portland for Memorial Day weekend. We planned to meet our friends from Seattle -- they took the train in. I found cheap flights, but Richie was disappointed -- he, of course, wanted to drive. "It's supposed to be so pretty!" he said. We left Oakland on a Friday afternoon, and planned to drive halfway to Portland and stay the night in Mt. Shasta City. Mt. Shasta is one of California's tallest peaks, snow covered year round and about an hour from the Oregon border.

We stayed at the Shasta Inn -- an adorable inn complete with house band and bar. We had beverages in the lounge and enjoyed the sounds of Mt. Shasta's apparent own Jimi Hendrix (he played the guitar across the lounge to tell the front desk lady when we arrived). In the morning, we found breakfast just .2 miles away at the Seven Suns Coffee & Cafe. With bellies full of lattes and breakfast sandwiches, we headed onward to our final destination of Portland, 5 1/2 gorgeous hours in the car away.

Whether you need a place to stop on a Bay Area > PDX road trip, or want to spend a weekend hiking some of California's prettiest trails, a trip to gorgeous Mount Shasta is one worth taking.