As anyone who lives in a city knows, having a little outdoor space – no matter how tiny – is a true luxury. When we moved to our Madrid digs in the winter, our 1970s ugly-tiled little balcony didn’t look like much, but I wasn’t about to let an outdoor space to go waste. WhenContinue reading “Before and After: City Balcony Turned Chill-Out Spot”
Author Archives: The Next Dinner Party
Notes from Paris
I just spent ten intense and inspiring days in Paris as part of a New York University’s MFA creative writing program. I suspect it will take me weeks to process all the thought-provoking lectures and suggestions for my own writing that I received. Until more grand thoughts and plans of action emerge, here’s a quickContinue reading “Notes from Paris”
When Creating the Perfect Dish Gets in the Way of Having Fun
Last week was a crushing one, food wise. After a few fancy food fails, I’m feeling like I need to take a break, stop pretending I’m a secret vegetarian chef, and serve up PB&Js and bags of chips for a while. I can be a really competitive person. At least over things I feel thatContinue reading “When Creating the Perfect Dish Gets in the Way of Having Fun”
Galicia: The Ireland of Spain
Spaniards say the northern region of Galicia is home to some of the best food and wine around. So when Mr. Dame in Spain’s mom and stepdad come to Spain for a visit, we figured Galicia – situated above Portugal and surrounded on two sides by Atlantic Ocean – would be perfect for a four-dayContinue reading “Galicia: The Ireland of Spain”
Best Bites: Spain To Date
There are two types of people: Those who enjoy looking at pictures of other peoples’ food, and those who do not. This feature is for the first group. If you’re part of the latter group, can I direct to earlier posts on home decor or cats? Welcome to a new regular The Dame in SpainContinue reading “Best Bites: Spain To Date”
Flamenco and a Fancy Hotel In Seville
My parents recently visited us in Spain and we had a go-go-go two weeks, trekking to Seville, Cordoba, and Barcelona, with some in-between time in Madrid and surrounding cities (including Segovia and Toledo). I didn’t know much about Seville before, and knew even less about how to pronounce it. Turns out both suh-vill and say-vee-yahContinue reading “Flamenco and a Fancy Hotel In Seville”
Before and After: Modern Gray Bedroom
Both my mom and I have been having a recurring dream for years where we discover hidden rooms in our homes that we never knew existed. One time I dreamed that my guy roommate had a bowling alley and a garden room through the closet in his bedroom. Here we were sharing a small twoContinue reading “Before and After: Modern Gray Bedroom”
Alone Time
A few weeks ago, Mr.Dame in Spain was away and I had the place to myself for six whole nights. I started to have flashbacks to all those years I was a single lady in Washington DC. Those times, oh those times, they were such a mixed bag of emotions. I’d be with my girlfriendsContinue reading “Alone Time”
Sunny Chartreuse Living Room
Chartreuse is the happiest of colors. It’s like if grass mated with the sun. I even love the word chartreuse. Elegant, vibrant, and so very French. The color is actually named after a liquor French monks first made in the 1700s, which makes me like the color even more. I’ve always loved chartreuse. My momContinue reading “Sunny Chartreuse Living Room”
There Ain’t No Party Like a Spanish Party…
…because a Spanish party don’t stop. Or at least it goes really, really late. Mr. Dame in Spain and I had an important milestone this past weekend: We hosted our first party. This is important because we love throwing parties, and because it means we actually know enough people that will come to our party.Continue reading “There Ain’t No Party Like a Spanish Party…”