Erin Geiger Smith

The last day of vacation is when we all start feeling a little anxious, worrying about all those unanswered emails, the pending early flight, and getting back to the real world. I talked to happiness experts, creative travel planners and people just really great at vacationing about how to own that last day of vacation. Basically, you save the best for last and catch the final sunset with a cocktail in hand. Matt Lauer was really into these tips.

The Wall Street Journal, August 23, 2017

Last summer and leading up to the election, I saw so many displays at book stores featuring stories about strong females and developing female leaders. Wonderful! But, what, I wondered, are the equivalent books for boys that recognize their complicated feelings and teach them how to become inclusive leaders -- and also keep them entertained. I learned so much reporting this, and the authors I spoke to very hugely creative and inspiring. And very, very funny. 

The Wall Street Journal, March 20, 2017
Illustration by Rob Wilson for The Wall Street Journal

Book clubs are meant to be a chance to bond with fellow readers and achieve a little intellectual growth, perhaps while sipping a nice glass of wine. But what happens when you choose the wrong book (Big Little Lies for serious Brooklyn literary types, for instance)? This one was lighthearted and amusing, for me anyway. 

The Wall Street Journal, March 6, 2016
Illustration by Bob Neubecker for The Wall Street Journal

Children's museums across the country are opening their doors after dark for adults only parties, speciality drinks and scaling climbing walls often included. Museums see them as money-makers, but also as ways to teach big kids STEM lessons -- Austin's version even had a science of sex night. 

The Wall Street Journal, December 12, 2016
Photo by Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Wall Street Journal

Video stores! They still exist, and way more than you think. I came to think of them as the beloved local book stores of movie buffs (which Kai Ryssdal of Marketplace seemed to like). Check out the offering at the cool town or old-school vacation destination nearest you. 

The Wall Street Journal, November 26, 2016
Photo by Matthew Mahon for the Wall Street Journal

This story started because my editor feels bad he hasn't read his wife's favorite book -- Lolita. I talked to authors, think tank leaders, and the head of Penguin Classics to hear what book is on their I Really Wish I'd read list. My book guilt only grew reporting this one.

The Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2016

Ben Eisendrath's company custom designs grills for nearly every chef you can name. His idea of relaxing is waking up at 4am to go deep sea fishing. He tells friends who join to pictures something more akin to jaws than a relaxing margarita in the sun. 

The Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2016
Photo credit: Nick King for The Wall Street Journal

Soma CEO Mike Del Ponte is a young guy running a company that sells pretty water filters. But he takes the charity component of his company seriously, and practices what he preaches as far as re-fueling via wife-free escapes. This writers' retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains will make you check AirBnB.

The Wall Street Journal, September 14, 2016
Photo credit: Angela Decenzo for The Wall Street Journal

Burton Morris focuses on Warhol-like pop art, reimagining iconic brands for fans like Kanye and President Obama. He also painted a lot of the art in the Friends coffee shop, Central Perk. So basically we all know his work. Side note: He offered to send my son a Statue of Liberty painting. (Obviously I had to turn that down.) 

The Wall Street Journal, July 19, 2016
Photo credit: Emily Berl for The Wall Street Journal

Chefs and restaurant owners spend endless hours on their playlists. My favorite background idea for a playlist came from, not surprisingly, a Tex Mex spot: “We came up with a concept of: What if you were Willie Nelson, T Bone Burnett, Buddy Holly and Johnny Cash driving along” the highway?

The Wall Street Journal, July 5, 2016
Photo courtesy of Greg Powers

Griz Dwight (real name!) is the go to architect for DC restauranteurs. His designs tend toward the uber-urban, but his favorite getaway is the century-old barn on his rural Virginia land, where he builds sailboats with his kids and tries to hide from the resident snakes. 
The Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2016
Photo credit: Greg Kahn for The Wall Street Journal

The Disney ninjas are parents who know how to work the system. They use crowd predictors to choose vacation days, they know how to prioritize rides, and they know that to ensure that princess autograph you better reserve it six months in advance. There are spreadsheets and apps and 6am calls. There is no waiting in line. 
The Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2016
Photo courtesy of the Gardenier family

Mary Margaret Jones created the green spaces for the London and Sydney Olympics, designed San Francisco's Chrissy Field and Houston's Discovery Green, and made what sounds like the prettiest tiered wildflower extravaganza ever for a private Bridgehampton residence we'll never get to see. But for her own Soho roof deck, she is yet to buy a plant. 
The Wall Street Journal, February 10, 2016
Photo credit: Ben Sarle for The Wall Street Journal

"We acquired a rather dusty brand, but we also felt that it was a hidden gem," Wild Turkey's parent company, Campari, told me of the overhaul of Wild Turkey's labels. So they spent nearly two years making the turkey prouder. Their "Jake" (that's the name for a baby turkey!) became a "Jacob." 
The Wall Street Journal, January 26, 2016
Photo courtesy of Wild Turkey

If you've been in a baby's nursery recently (and definitely if you've been in mine), you've probably not seen a lot of pink and baby blue. Instead, parents are making their nursery work with the rest of their home. And major brands like Giggle and Pottery Barn are pushing the chic-ness. If you're a new parent, enjoy that brief period of time before Elmo weasels his way in.  
The Wall Street Journal, January 12, 2016
Photo courtesy of Jamie Curtis

The skincare guru's Notting Hill home has a conservatory that defies flowery British tradition in favor of Damien Hirst wallpaper and an iconic photograph of Faye Dunaway. 
The Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2015
Photo credit: Jude Edginton for The Wall Street Journal

From Austin to San Diego to ski towns, hotels are encouraging girls' trips and family bonding by building rooms that accommodate bunk beds. Closeness, with higher thread counts. 
The Wall Street Journal, December 2, 2015
Photo courtesy of Nick Simonite

Peter Buchanan-Smith designed album covers for Wilco before he founded a New York-based company that encourages people to get outdoors. It's everything you need to camp, but it's beautiful enough to keep your indoors chic. When his girlfriend broke a window dismounting from her yoga handstand, he used it as an excuse to triple the size of his mountain view.
The Wall Street Journal, November 4, 2015
Photo credit: Jennifer May for The Wall Street Journal

Top stylists use the constantly, Veronica Beard's line is based on them. Michael Kors loves them. Just make sure you spell it with an -ey.
The Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2015
Photo courtesy of Veronica Beard

Lionel Ohayon and his design firm were behind the redesign of JFK's terminal 5, and all their projects aim to be up-to-the-minute technologically advanced. Unwinding, for himself and his employees, happens at his upstate property, where teepees overlook waterfalls. I assume those not creative enough risk being tossed in the water. (Fair.)
The Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2015
Photo credit: Richard Beaven for The Wall Street Journal

Questions online retailers ask get personal in an effort to know your body shape, your style, and how to get you what you want, sometimes before you know you want it.
The Wall Street Journal, August 5, 2015
Photo credit: Danny Kim for The Wall Street Journal
Styling by: Anne Cardenas

Sam Calagione is the godfather of craft beer. He's endlessly enthusiastic and is not afraid of being different. Or of buying a giant steel treehouse for $1 and spending more than $80,000 to get it up to code.
The Wall Street Journal, June 17, 2015
Photo credit: Joe Lamberti for The Wall Street Journal

Pastry chef Kaysie Lackey visited every continent but Antarctica over the last year, instructing aspiring cake decorators who are fans of her Tim Burton-inspired creations on how to decorate their own confections. It requires packing 36 knives and creative sketching tools.
The Wall Street Journal, June 16, 2015
Photo courtesy of Kevin Fujii
 

21st Amendment Brewery was frustrated its low-alcohol IPA wasn't selling as well as its competitors' offerings. The thought its name, Bitter American, and its dark can featuring a sad-looking chimp in space were hurting sales. By changing the name to Down to Earth and landing that beloved chimp in a beach vacation they made it a summer favorite, and saw shares increase threefold. The beer-makers and the graphic designers hit a homerun. A little story that was a lot of fun. 
The Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2015
Photo courtesy of 21st Amendment Brewery

Jim Thompson was a top ad executive for decades, and in retirement he's shot a golf documentary, written screenplays, and worked with an old architect friend to design his extremely modern house behind a century-old facade in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. The home's conversation piece is the cube he built on the roof, which lets him feel like he's outside even in brutal winters. 
The Wall Street Journal, April 1, 2015. 
Photo credit: Katrina Wittkamp for The Wall Street Journal

Marcus Antebi does  a lot of box jumps, and to prove it he'll jump on a table basically anytime, anywhere - or at least at company meetings and on a Juice Press table in front of me. He's amazingly diligent and specific with his workouts, which include Muay Thai boxing and pulling 100 pounds in sand. 
The Wall Street Journal, March 2, 2015
Also: Mix some Muay Thai does into your workout
Photo credit: Brian Harkin for The Wall Street Journal

Patterned leggings -- florals, glittery prints, etc. -- started interrupting the all black Lululemon, all the time norm at my barre classes. Then they became the majority. When I started interviewing for the story, I quickly found small company after small company, all female-owned, that were seeing sales increase steadily. And retail giants followed their lead. It's a billion dollar industry, after all.
The Wall Street Journal, February 24, 2015
Photo credit: Steve Remich for The Wall Street Journal

Craft beer makers pride themselves on creativity and independence. But even they have to test things out before committing. Breweries all over the country host one-off nights, where ingredients include things like guava, coconut, and onions. Sometimes it's a huge success that leads to a new beer on the market. Other times ... not so much. The Wall Street Journal, January 28, 2015
Photo Credit: Johnny Autry for The Wall Street Journal

I didn't know Maker's Mark was a family company until I met its former chief executive, Bill Samuels. He was a bit bummed I wasn't up to testing their strongest bourbon during our lunch, but still charmed me throughout with family tales new and old. This story, of his family's ties to the end of the Civil War and Jesse James's brother handing a child a pistol, came from that lunch.
The Wall Street Journal, December 31, 2014.
Photo credit: William Deshazer for The Wall Street Journal

Chris Mittelstaedt runs a company that provides companies all over the country fruit from farms local to them. He likes weightlifting because he can't think about anything else while doing it. And that relaxes him. Nice guy, very heavy weights.  
Also: How to lift weights without the pain
The Wall Street Journal, December 1, 2014
Photo credit: Jason Henry for The Wall Street Journal

Museums survive on corporate sponsorships, and children's museums are no different. Is it harmful for kids to climb the New Balance wall, try out cooking surrounded by H-E-B branding, or take out fake cash from a Bank of America ATM. Experts say ... probably not, but the museums walk a fine line, and (most) of them know it. Parents are, not surprisingly, too busy chasing the kiddos to really notice.
The Wall Street Journal, November 12, 2014
Photo courtesy of The Children's Museum of Houson

Her clients include Bey, J. Lo, and many other people recognizable by their nicknames. And she never tells them no, jumping from New York to LA to wherever their sets happen to be with shocking regularity. She essentially travels with a hair salon in two Burton bags. She's a super positive person who says she never gets jet lag. 
The Wall Street Journal, October 14, 2014
Photo credit: Rebecca Greenfield for The Wall Street Journal

I assumed many top notch bartenders would turn up their nose at the idea of cocktails mixed in large quantities and served from beer-like taps. Nope! From New York to San Fran to South Carolina to a traveling bar in an Airstream, master cocktail makers said they can guarantee quality while getting your your drink quicker. Cheers! 
The Wall Street Journal, September 10, 2014
Photo credit: Nick Johnson for The Wall Street Journal
 

What does a traveling dentist carry? Everything your dentists has, but smaller versions in a rolling bag. His clients include executives who squeeze in tooth care after their kids go to bed, and elderly patients who can't leave the house. 
The Wall Street Journal. February 3, 2014
Photo credit: Jason Henry for The Wall Street Journal

When chef Erik Blauberg leads groups of travelers on luxury, food-based vacations, his bag holds a mix of kitchen tools and be-prepared-for-anything gadgets. Even when staying in castles, it means things like satellite phones, solar chargers, a specific electric toothbrush, and a space pen. 
The Wall Street Journal, August 13, 2014
Photo credit: Ramsay de Give for The Wall Street Journal

Chris Stang and Andrew Steinthal's successful restaurant review site, the Infatuation (that #eeeeets thing you see all over Insta? It's theirs),   lets you search for restaurants in various cities by your food/neighborhood/specific occasion needs. It's not a job where they can cut back on food, so they run, a lot, and mix in other things as well. It's all about balance, sort of. 
Also: How to kick start your own workout after eating like a maniac
The Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2014
Photo credit: Bryan Derballa for The Wall Street Journal  

Georges Kern's home office in Switzerland, overlooking Lake Zurich, includes numerous autographed photos of him with Hollywood heavyweights like Cate Blanchett. But the CEO of luxury watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen's most prized possessions is a book that sits between biographies of Steve McQueen and Francis Ford Coppola. 
The Wall Street Journal, June 25, 2014
Photo credit: Robert Huber for The Wall Street Journal

My first WSJ story, and something near and dear to all of our hearts ... great tips on how to make your food pictures look good on Instagram. Lighting, overheads, and why drinks are so difficult to capture. Austin photographer Jody Horton was great to talk to, and updated me on the Austin food scene. Now where's my Pulitzer? 
The Wall Street Journal, January 15, 2014
Photo credit: Matthew Mahon for The Wall Street Journal

Saeju Jeong of weight loss app Noom travels back and forth to Asia so much he keep detailed packing lists on the refrigerator of his homes in New Jersey and Korea. He also brings memory cards full of seriously heavy metal and a flask engraved with language the WSJ censored. His good luck charm is cuff links that remind him of the place he's going. 
The Wall Street Journal, July 16, 2014
Photo credit: Noah Rabinowitz for The Wall Street Journal

When those encouraging political resistance called for citizens to send postcards to lawmakers, the stationery world -- from tiny companies to Paperless Post -- went straight to their drawing boards and letterpresses. Many of the cards are non-partisan; nearly all of them are pleasing to the eye. 

The New York Times, April 20, 2017
Photo courtesy of Dahlia Press

How do we know Katie Couric loves Dunkin Donuts and sleeps on a Casper mattress? Because she tells us so in the ads on her podcast, the medium where she and other A-listers find themselves touting everything from socks to at-home meal services. My favorite quote in the story is from former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau: Selling underwear on a podcast was always my highest aspiration.

The New York Times, March 24, 2017
Photo provided by Jared O'Connell

The beautifully landscaped backyard of the Cooper Hewitt design museum is the go to spot for neighborhood parents who want to grab coffee or a glass of wine while their kids take a spin in the "Spun Chairs." The director wanted to be the friendliest place of museum mile. She also called it "a gateway drug" for design. It's a little piece of Paris in Manhattan -- just don't stand on the art. 

The New York Times, November 10, 2016
Photo credit: Karsten Moran for The New York Times

Who doesn't love getting a handwritten note or card in the mail? If you recently received one that made you laugh, it likely came from a young, female business owner making her way in the still-bustling world of stationery. 
The New York Times, June 1, 2016
Photo credit: Stefania Curto for The New York Times

Fast-growing fitness wear store Bandier sells all the independent brands the most fashionable fittest of the fit are wearing. 
The New York Times, March 22, 2016
Photo credit: Stefania Curto for The New York Times

Even though when you see her you know there's no way she couldn't have been a model, there is no one who hates talking about her former job more than Topaz Page-Green. But she can talk all day about the Lunchbox Fund, the charity she's founded to make sure thousands of children in her native South Africa have lunch every day. It keeps them in school, it keeps her extremely motivated. 
The New York Times, October 21, 2015
Photo credit: Isak Tiner for The New York Times

More than a year before ClassPass doubled their prices, I looked into concerns boutique fitness regulars were expressing about the all-the-classes-you-can-take service. They added up to a collection of issues the start-up couldn't ignore.
The New York Times, April 1, 2015
Photo credit: Kirsten Luce for The New York Times

When NYT editor Katie Rosman asked me if I knew about Mexican Coke, I said, "Of course, I'm a Texan." It turns out its popularity is far reaching, including a venture capital firm that based its "living room" decor around it, a rap duo who named a song after it, and a Minnesota Whole Foods worker who customized a #Mexicoke koozie for her dad. (Of my own stories, one of my all-time favorites.)
The New York Times, October 3, 2013

Learning to enjoy one of life's great pleasures, and how an entire bar once applauded my job change. 
Cup of Jo, August 5, 2015
Photo courtesy of Judith Marilyn

I don't know a lot of celebrity chefs, but I know most couldn't possibly be as nice as Curtis Stone is. Enjoyed talking to him about his new LA restaurant and butcher shop, Gwen, which is named for his grandmother. And just LOVE this WSJ Mag cover so much, was thrilled to have a spot inside. 

WSJ Magazine, July 2016

You know that feeling of full-out obsession you get when there’s a shiny (and usually expensive) new bag, bootie, or dress that you — and everyone else, too — just must have? I recently realized it doesn’t happen to me anymore. 
A (somewhat rare) personal essay. 
Racked, June 16, 2016
Photo by Kristen Sinclair of Getty Images

I bought my husband a nice bottle of wine for our 10th anniversary, to hopefully drink together on our 20th. I talked to an expert in Napa Valley about how to keep it aging property, even without a wine cellar or fridge. I also asked how many days an open bottle will last, which is info I need much more regularly. (Fun side note: this happened to run on our actual anniversary.)
Cup of Jo, July 8, 2015
Photo by Henri Cartier Bresson

People are determined to find a cure for a hangover. Of course, there is only one real cure: total prevention. But if you're not doing that, here's a round-up of the helpfulness-level of some common "cures". Working out and hair of the dog seem to be the favorites.
Cup of Jo, June 17, 2015
Photo by J Danielle Wehunt for Stocksy United

One of the country's top bartenders, Erick Castro, broke it down the purpose of a session cocktail for me: they're refreshing and you can sip them all day long with out feeling what I euphemistically call "over-served". A Lady Stoneheart, anyone? (Really, all delicious, recipes included.) 
Cup of Jo, June 3, 2015
Photo by Slim Aarons

This changed the way I order wine. Straightforward tips on how to read a wine menu and what to tell the sommelier to help you get exactly what you want. My favorite wine expert, the lovely Alison Whittinghill, was so great for this. 
Cup of Jo, May 20, 2015
Photo is by Irving Penn for Vogue

Lexi Mainland, she of endless ideas, suggested this one. I wasn't sure there'd be enough to write about, but I knew just who to ask: Marshall Altier of Road Soda. He knows all there is to know about making a great drink on the move, and he did not disappoint. Read this so you know what to steal from Starbucks in the terminal.
Cup of Jo, May 6, 2015
 

Report on emerging companies enough, and it starts to feel like all the founders know each other. Often it's because they've figured out ways to co-promote without swapping any cash. It's how they get your email address. 
nc. magazine, April 2015

Diane von Furstenberg, famous for her wrap dresses, has a design patent on a chain mail-style bag. The popular French line Celine has one on the envelope-style handbag sported by countless fashion experts at New York Fashion Week. IP law is murky for fashion designers, but they have teams of lawyers trying to cover all bases.
Reuters, September 12, 2013

The smartphone patent wars have lit up courtrooms around the world. Next up: the smartphone case wars. The makers of protective cases that shield cell phones from coffee spills and sticky-fingered toddlers are entangled in countless lawsuits seeking to protect their designs. Some cases can survive floods, but can they survive a courtroom?
Reuters, January 31, 2013

Fashion law is now a thing -- there're are multiple law school clinics and big firms have practice group. I wrote this in 2012, when it was just starting to gain traction. Because behind every Proenza Schouler is a female law partner negotiating their real estate deals, and behind every Alexander Wang is a guy protecting those trademark studs. 
Reuters, September 11, 2012

Sam Calagione is the godfather of craft beer. He's endlessly enthusiastic and not afraid of being different. Or to buy a giant steel treehouse for $1 and spend more than $80,000 getting it up to code.
The Wall Street Journal, June 17, 2015
Photo Credit: Joe Lamberti for The Wall Street Journal

The National Stationer Show used to be huge retailers or paper stalwarts holding side parties at the Plaza. Some (stress on some) of those companies are still there, but it's dominated by small, female-owned companies demonstrating their passion for art and the written word. 
The New York Times, June 1, 2016
Photo Credit: Stefania Curto

Patterned leggings -- florals, glittery prints, etc. -- started interrupting the all black Lululemon, all the time norm at my barre classes. Then they became the majority. When I started interviewing for the story, I quickly found small company after small company, all female-owned, that were seeing sales increase steadily. And retail giants followed their lead. It's a billion dollar industry, after all.
The Wall Street Journal, February 24, 2015
Photo credit: Steve Remich for The Wall Street Journal

Report on emerging companies enough, and it starts to feel like all the founders know each other. Often it's because they've figured out ways to co-promote without swapping any cash. It's how they get your email address. 
Inc. magazine, April 2015

Even though when you see her you know there's no way she couldn't have been a model, there is no one who hates talking about her former job more than Topaz Page-Green. But she can talk all day about the Lunchbox Fund, the charity she's founded to make sure thousands of children in her native South Africa have lunch every day. It keeps them in school, it keeps her extremely motivated. 
The New York Times, October 21, 2015
Photo credit: Isak Tiner for The New York Times

More than a year before ClassPass doubled their prices, I looked into some issues boutique fitness regulars were noticing with the lll-the-classes-you-can-take service. Some seemed minor, but they added up to a collection of issues the start-up couldn't ignore.
The New York Times, April 1, 2015
(Photo credit: Kirsten Luce for The New York Times)

The skincare guru's Notting Hill home has a conservatory that defies flowery British tradition in favor of Damien Hirst wallpaper and an iconic photograph of Faye Dunaway. 
The Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2015
Photo credit: Jude Edginton for The Wall Street Journal

Griz Dwight (real name!) is the go to architect for DC restauranteurs. His designs tend toward the uber-urban, but his favorite getaway is the century-old barn on his rural Virginia land, where he builds sailboats with his kids and tries to hide from the resident snakes. 
The Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2016
Photo credit: Greg Kahn for The Wall Street Journal

Peter Buchanan-Smith designed album covers for Wilco before he founded a New York-based company that encourages people to get outdoors. It's everything you need to camp, but it's beautiful enough to keep your indoors chic. When his girlfriend broke a window dismounting from her yoga handstand, he used it as an excuse to triple the size of his mountain view.
The Wall Street Journal, November 4, 2015
Photo credit: Jennifer May for The Wall Street Journal

Lionel Ohayon and his design firm were behind the redesign of JFK's terminal 5, and all their projects aim to be up-to-the-minute technologically advanced. Unwinding, for himself and his employees, happens at his upstate property, where teepees overlook waterfalls. I assume those not creative enough risk being tossed in the water. (Fair.)
The Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2015
Photo credit: Richard Beaven for The Wall Street Journal

Craft beer makers pride themselves on creativity and independence. But even they have to test things out before committing. Breweries all over the country host one-off nights, where ingredients include things like guava, coconut, and onions. Sometimes it's a huge success that leads to a new beer on the market. Other times ... not so much. The Wall Street Journal, January 28, 2015
Photo Credit: Johnny Autry for The Wall Street Journal

Saeju Jeong of weight loss app Noom travels back and forth to Asia so much he keep detailed packing lists on the refrigerator of his homes in New Jersey and Korea. He also brings memory cards full of seriously heavy metal and a flask engraved with language the WSJ censored. His good luck charm is cuff links that remind him of the place he's going. 
The Wall Street Journal, June 16, 2014
Photo credit: Noah Rabinowitz for The Wall Street Journal

The skincare guru's Notting Hill home has a conservatory that defies flowery British tradition in favor of Damien Hirst wallpaper and an iconic photograph of Faye Dunaway. 
The Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2015
Photo credit: Jude Edgington for The Wall Street Journal

From Austin to San Diego to ski towns, hotels are encouraging girls' trips and family bonding by building rooms that accommodate bunk beds. Closeness, with higher thread counts. 
The Wall Street Journal, December 2, 2015
Photo courtesy of Nick Simonite

Wineries all over the country are offering fitness classes, from yoga to barre to bootcamp. So yes, it is the best of both worlds. 
The Wall Street Journal, May 27, 2015
Photo courtesy of Aubrie Pick Photography

The Disney ninjas are parents who know how to work the system. They use crowd predictors to choose vacation days, they know how to prioritize rides, and they know that to ensure that princess autograph you better reserve it six months in advance. There are spreadsheets and apps and 6am calls. There is no waiting in line. 
The Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2016
Photo courtesy of the Gardenier family

Mary Margaret Jones created the green spaces for the London and Sydney Olympics, designed San Francisco's Chrissy Field and Houston's Discovery Green, and made what sounds like the prettiest tiered wildflower extravaganza ever for a private Bridgehampton residence we'll never get to see. But for her own Soho roof deck, she is yet to buy a plant. 
The Wall Street Journal, February 10, 2016
Photo credit: Ben Sarle for The Wall Street Journal

If you've been in a baby's nursery recently (and definitely if you've been in mine), you've probably not seen a lot of pink and baby blue. Instead, parents are making their nursery work with the rest of their home. And major brands like Giggle and Pottery Barn are pushing the chic-ness. If you're a new parent, enjoy that brief period of time before Elmo weasels his way in.  
The Wall Street Journal, January 12, 2016
Photo courtesy of Jamie Curtis

Craft beer makers pride themselves on creativity and independence. But even they have to test things out before committing. Breweries all over the country host one-off nights, where ingredients include things like guava, coconut, and onions. Sometimes it's a huge success that leads to a new beer on the market. Other times ... not so much. 

The Wall Street Journal, January 28, 2015

I assumed many top notch bartenders would turn up their nose at the idea of cocktails mixed in large quantities and served from beer-like taps. Nope! From New York to San Fran to South Carolina to a traveling bar in an Airstream, master cocktail makers said they can guarantee quality while getting your your drink quicker. Cheers! 
The Wall Street Journal, September 10, 2014
Photo credit: Nick Johnson for The Wall Street Journal

"We acquired a rather dusty brand, but we also felt that it was a hidden gem," Wild Turkey's parent company, Campari, told me of the overhaul of Wild Turkey's labels. So they spent nearly two years making the turkey prouder. Their "Jake" (that's the name for a baby turkey!) became a "Jacob." 
The Wall Street Journal, January 26, 2016
Photo courtesy of Wild Turkey

When NYT editor Katie Rosman asked me if I knew about Mexican Coke, I said, "Of course, I'm a Texan." It turns out its popularity is far reaching, including a venture capital firm that based its "living room" decor around it, a rap duo who named a song after it, and a Minnesota Whole Food worker who customized a #Mexicoke koozie for her dad. (Of my own stories, one of my all-time favorites.)
The New York Times, October 3, 2013

My first WSJ story, and something near and dear to all of our hearts ... great tips on how to make your food pictures look good on Instagram. Lighting, overheads, and why drinks are so difficult to capture. Austin photographer Jody Horton was great to talk to, and updated me on the Austin food scene. Now where's my Pulitzer? 
The Wall Street Journal, January 15, 2014
Photo credit: Matthew Mahon for The Wall Street Journal

21st Amendment Brewery was frustrated its low-alcohol IPA wasn't selling as well as its competitors' offerings. The thought its name, Bitter American, and its dark can featuring a sad-looking chimp in space were hurting sales. By changing the name to Down to Earth and landing that beloved chimp in a beach vacation they made it a summer favorite, and saw shares increase threefold. The beer-makers and the graphic designers hit a homerun. A little story that was a lot of fun. 
The Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2015
Photo courtesy of 21st Amendment Brewery

Learning to enjoy one of life's great pleasures, and how an entire bar once applauded my job change. 
Cup of Jo, August 5, 2015
Photo courtesy of Judith Marilyn

Chefs and restaurant owners spend endless hours on their playlists. My favorite background idea for a playlist came from, not surprisingly, a Tex Mex spot: “We came up with a concept of: What if you were Willie Nelson, T Bone Burnett, Buddy Holly and Johnny Cash driving along” the highway?

The Wall Street Journal, July 5, 2016
Photo courtesy of Greg Powers

Fast-growing fitness wear store Bandier sells all the independent brands the fittest of the fit are wearing. 

The New York Times, March 22, 2016

Questions online retailers ask get personal in an effort to know your body shape, your style, and how to get you what you want, sometimes before you know you want it.

The Wall Street Journal, August 5, 2015

Top stylists use them constantly. Veronica Beard's line is based on them. Michael Kors loves them. Just make sure you spell it with an -ey.
The Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2015

Her clients include Bey, J. Lo, and many other people recognizable by their nicknames. And she never tells them no, jumping from New York to LA to wherever their sets happen to be with shocking regularity. She essentially travels with a hair salon in two Burton bags. She's a super positive person who says she never gets jet lag. 
The Wall Street Journal, October 14, 2014
Photo credit: Rebecca Greenfield for The Wall Street Journal

When author Mary Blume moved from New York to Paris in the early 1960's, a friend introduced her to Florette Chelot, the top saleswoman for fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga. The friendship that developed with Chelot was the initial impetus for Blume's 2013 book, "The Master of Us All," which borrows its title from designer Christian Dior's description of Balenciaga. I talked her about her experience reporting the book, and the joys of learning about a reclusive icon.
Reuters, February 7, 2013

You know that feeling of full-out obsession you get when there’s a shiny (and usually expensive) new bag, bootie, or dress that you — and everyone else, too — just must have? I recently realized it doesn’t happen to me anymore. 
A (somewhat rare) personal essay. 
Racked, June 16, 2016
Photo by Kristen Sinclair of Getty Images

More than a year before ClassPass doubled their prices, I looked into concerns boutique fitness regulars were expressing about the all-the-classes-you-can-take service. They added up to a collection of issues the start-up couldn't ignore.
The New York Times, April 1, 2015
Photo credit: Kirsten Luce for The New York Times

Patterned leggings -- florals, glittery prints, etc. -- started interrupting the all black Lululemon, all the time norm at my barre classes. Then they became the majority. When I started interviewing for the story, I quickly found small company after small company, all female-owned, that were seeing sales increase steadily. And retail giants followed their lead. It's a billion dollar industry, after all.
The Wall Street Journal, February 24, 2015
Photo credit: Steve Remich for The Wall Street Journal

Chris Stang and Andrew Steinthal's successful restaurant review site, the Infatuation (that #eeeeets thing you see all over Insta? It's theirs),   lets you search for restaurants in various cities by your food/neighborhood/specific occasion needs. It's not a job where they can cut back on food, so they run, a lot, and mix in other things as well. It's all about balance, sort of. 
Also: How to kick start your own workout after eating like a maniac
The Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2014
Photo credit: Bryan Derballa for The Wall Street Journal  

Fast-growing fitness wear store Bandier sells all the independent brands the most fashionable fittest of the fit are wearing. 
The New York Times, March 22, 2016
Photo credit: Stefania Curto for The New York Times

Marcus Antebi does  a lot of box jumps, and to prove it he'll jump on a table basically anytime, anywhere - or at least at company meetings and on a Juice Press table in front of me. He's amazingly diligent and specific with his workouts, which include Muay Thai boxing and pulling 100 pounds in sand. 
The Wall Street Journal, March 2, 2015
Also: Mix some Muay Thai does into your workout
Photo credit: Brian Harkin for The Wall Street Journal

This was one of my first freelance projects post-Reuters. NYU Law has amassed a seriously impressive intellectual property faculty, more than doubling in size in just a few years. Several had been sources for me at Reuters, so it was a fun transitional project.

New York University School of Law Alumni Magazine, Spring 2015

On Halloween 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on whether anyone can own the right to the stripes on cheerleader uniforms. Really! Varsity, the undisputed top of the pyramid in the cheerleader world, says certain stripes are all theirs. One small refused to admit defeat. And that's how the Justices ended up discussing whether uniform decorations involve protection-worthy design or simply serve the function of sweat-wicking. America! 

The New York Times, October 30, 2016
Photo credit: The Associated Press

As the presidential election neared, we heard (on repeat) about how Bill and Hillary Clinton met at Yale Law School. Secretary Clinton's running mate met his lady lawyer love in law school as well. Law.com asked me to find other law school couples who are (happily) married. Sweet story.

Law.com, October 6, 2016

I talked to two experts on preparing for leave after a lawyer or their spouse has a baby. Apparently preparation and anticipating roadblocks is key. But the bottom line was it's still tough out there to be a big firm lawyer and a parent. Times aren't so much a changin'.

Law.com, August 3, 2016

While the rest of the world went casual a while ago, law firms aren't exactly cutting edge. But jeans Fridays are a thing at many top firms now, and the fashionable-types enjoy various interpretations of the more laid back firm lifestyle. Sneakers, however, still only fly in LA.

Law.com, July 13, 2016

This was also part of the NYU piece, but it's one most current copyright lawyers -- or just a regular music lovers -- is likely to enjoy. The man who helped found ASCAP repped nearly all the big show biz names of the 1920's, includign Mae West, Charlie Chaplin, and MGM.

I covered the litigation between live TV streaming start-up Aereo and the major broadcast companies, as well as the side lawsuits it spawned, from the district court level. I left Reuters before it was argued at the U.S. Supreme Court, but a source tipped me that the broadcasters (ABC, FOX, etc.) were going to forge ahead with asking the high court to hear the case rather than let it run its course in the trial court. So we broke that piece of news in this big, well-watched case.
Reuters, October 11, 2013

Even when a film is more than 30 years old, families and studios can still be battling it out over who owns which rights. The classic "Raging Bull" took its fight heavyweight -- all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Reuters, October 1, 2013 (team effort with Lawrence Hurley)

The smartphone patent wars have lit up courtrooms around the world. Next up: the smartphone case wars. The makers of protective cases that shield cell phones from coffee spills and sticky-fingered toddlers are entangled in countless lawsuits seeking to protect their designs. Some cases can survive floods, but can they survive a courtroom?
Reuters, January 31, 2013