Tunes Tuesday, "Party Kids," Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside

I mentioned that Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside opened for Thao & The Get Down Stay Down last week (that's a lot of ampersands). I've been obsessed with Sallie Ford's  single "Party Kids" since then. Fans of Alabama Shakes will definitely want to press play.

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside will release their second album, "Untamed Beast," on Feb. 19, 2013 on Partisan Records. "Party Kids" offers a preview of the album, recorded at Jackpot! Studios in the band's hometown of Portland, OR.

​Photo via Sallieford.com

Sallie's voice will knock you over, but even though she's singing about not giving a shit and knowing where the party's at, she still sounds more Portland cute than badass to me. Maybe it's because I saw her in person with her adorable retro glasses. Maybe it's because the lyrics mention "dancing in the living room, drinking white wine." Whatever it is, this song is rootsy fun.

Weekend Notes: Le Grenier and a Practice Pup

Shameless self-promotion first: ​I compiled a long list of restaurants with special Easter menus, so check it out on Eater if you need Easter plans! There are so many delicious-sounding brunch items. I've been tasked with finding a restaurant for my family on Easter Sunday, but the caveat is that it needs to have dog-friendly patio seating. This twist surprises no one who knows my parents. I actually might have an answer: perhaps Art and Soul's puppy patio could fit the bill? I'm worried it will be too cold to eat outside though. This has been such a cold spring.

Speaking of Easter, have you seen this marketing tactic on H Street? It's for a leasing office, I think, and they've set out baby chicks in the window as a "live peep show." The chicks looked so anemic and helpless, it mainly made me sad. And I wondered what would happen ​to them after Easter is over. I don't think this is PETA-approved.

On Saturday, I went to our friend's charity chili cook-off, and in between all the crockpots of chili, there was a tiny, fuzzy puppy napping in the corner. I took a picture for posterity. Here is Alex, with a plastic spoon in his blazer pocket at the ready for chili sampling. It looked quite jaunty. Not pictured: a Miller Light in the other pocket.

Then we high-tailed it over to Le Grenier, the new French bistro on H Street. The Le Tigre menu is charming, oui? It's sort of obvious to use the adjective "charming" to describe this place, but it's definitely fitting. We sat at the bar and snacked on a little bowl of frites and an assortment of five cheeses, with chutney and a yummy pate. But the best part is the bartender kept serving us piping hot baguettes straight from the oven. Keep it coming, I say! 

​Joe is dog-sitting for a whole week, so we said it's a good way for him to experience a taste of the responsibility of dog ownership. This is his practice dog. She is very sweet! Meanwhile, I had lunch with my dad on Saturday. We had to eat outside, of course, because Dad brought the dog along. While we were eating, Rain the dog took her nose and knocked my dad's plate out of his hands, then proceeded to eat all the food that landed on the ground. It was diabolically clever, and I have to give Rain props for that one.

Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down at Black Cat

This is embarrassing: I was totally focused on working on my R29 Thao Nguyen story, yet I neglected to buy tickets to her show at the Black Cat and it sold out! But there's a happy ending. My friend Carolyn was my indie rock fairy godmother and her boyfriend Alex graciously gave his ticket to me. So I got to see the show after all!

​They sounded so great, and played nearly all the songs on the new record. Thao really gave it her all. Plus, she busted out a Ludacris rap ("What's Your Fantasy"), and talked about her summer gigs pre-fame, like playing Potbelly restaurants all around NoVa and working as a bouncer at Guitar Center. The show ended with a rendition of The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" sung by both Thao and Sallie Ford, who opened the show with her band The Sound Outside. Really good vibes! 

Tunes Tuesday, "Kindness Be Conceived,"

​Thao Nguyen's music is always a must-listen for me, so it was thrilling to get to interview her for Refinery29! She's a NOVA native, a talented musician, an activist, and has a cool sense of humor to boot. Check out my interview with Thao at Refinery29, and if you wanna see Thao & The Get Down Stay Down on March 20 at the Black Cat, you better loiter outside looking for a ticket, because it's sold out now.

"Kindness Be Conceived" (featuring Joanna Newsom) is from the new Thao & The Get Down Stay Down album 'We The Common' out February 05, 2013 in North America and February 04, 2013 in rest of the world.

​In a collab dreamed up in indie music heaven, here's Thao and my fav Joanna Newsom singing on "Kindness Be Conceived," a track off Thao & The Get Down Stay Down's new album, We the Common. This song is lilting and California granola crunchy, and so pretty. But there's some rocking out on We the Common too. That's what I love about the album — all the songs sound so different, yet Thao's style is unmistakable.

Boots With The Fringe

My irrational dream right now is — drumroll please — ivory white booties. Not only are the boots I'm lusting after stain-magnet white, they also have fringe. I've owned white boots before, incredibly, and they were a massive mistake but apparently I've learned nothing.

Sam Edelman Louie Fringe Boots, $160

​OK, I know what you are skeptical. But stay with me. How cute do they look in this Shopbop editorial? The boots go with everything from dresses to rocker skinny jeans, and they almost look practical. If that word can be applied to fringe boots.

​I showed my roommate these boots and she said "They look like a pony in the wind."

Exactly!​

​I consulted with my online shopping buddies, Debie and Lani, and they were onboard with fringe-y boots, but not with the white. Which is understandable. Sugar Rock Catwalk fashion blogger extraordinaire Lani gave me some great suggestions for less spendy boots in darker colors that could possibly withstand Coachella.

​Pink & Pepper fringe boots, $60, Charlotte Russe fringe boots, $19.99, Betsey Johnson Yola boots, $75

She also suggested the leather version of the Sam Edelmans, and unfortunately for my pocketbook, I think I still like them the best. The black version is pretty rock and roll, and via the blog Le Catch, I found a photo in R29 of Lucky editor Elle Strauss wearing the black Sam Edelman Louie boots and looking chic. P.S. Le Catch is incredibly addictive, Marlien has such an eye! I found it this weekend and read back pages and pages. Do you read it already?

I'm still on the fence about fringe boots — Joe is not on board at all — but here are some Clarks taupe lace-up boots I actually purchased last week. I had a very similar pair that I loved but somehow managed to spill bacon grease on while attempting to pour the grease in the trash can. It missed the trash can entirely, missed the floor, and instead landed on my boots. Spot on. A direct hit. Bummer, man. Anyway, the replacement boots are adorable and have all the comfort you'd expect of Clarks, and they (theoretically) look good with dresses too. 

I'll let you know if I pull the trigger on a fringed pairs. As always, weigh in by leaving a comment. Fringe boots: sassy or spazzy?​

Fit to Be Tied: The Best in Bows

If something has a bow on it, chances are high that I will buy it. Bows are girly as all get out, yes, but they are so pretty and whimsical that I can't resist them. I made a collage of some gorgeous bow-ed items that have caught my eye recently, including a sweetly sexy dress, a Parisian-cool t-shirt, and classic little bow earrings.​

​Dress: Erin Fetherston, $375 (it's a little bridesmaid but I'm obsessed with it!); T-shirt: Mademoiselle Tara via ASOS, $135.65; earrings: Kate Spade via Nordstrom, $48 (Kate Spade should be your first top for bow-bedecked items, BTW); Clutch: Rebecca Minkoff Mini Sweetie Bag, $209