alec vanderboom

April 10, 2014

10 on 10

10 on 10 - April

alec vanderboom

April 10, 2014

10 on 10

Today is a good day, and not just because it's another 10 on 10 post. Today is my favorite sister's birthday! Okay, she's my only sister, but even if I had ten, she'd probably still be my favorite. She's that cool. AND, this last weekend, I was able to take a quick trip for some sister time in the 303.

While I grew up going to Denver on occasion, it was fun to see Syd in her new town, and to actually see the city as an adult. She showed me all her fave spots and we went and toured around downtown. Naturally, we also got some ice-cream, because really, what is a downtown tour without ice cream?

What a pretty sister I have! I'm so glad that I was able to visit this little lady and to see her in her grown-up city. I love seeing the woman that she has become, and can't wait to see the path that she builds for herself. She is even heading back to Tanzania in a few months. Remember when she was still in college and

just got back from TZ

? She keeps astounding me with how awesome she continues to become.

Thanks for the fun weekend Denver and Syders. Hopefully we can do it again soon.

Make sure to check out the other 10 on 10ers this month. They're sure to have some good eye candy for you to drool over.

CLB Creative

Twinty Photography

Anya Elise Photography

Button Media

Until next time...

alec vanderboom

March 23, 2014

Bottoms Up!

alec vanderboom

March 23, 2014

If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that Nabil and I got the opportunity to go to a food tasting at the Heathman Hotel this week. I'm not quite sure how all this happened, but a few weeks ago I got a message from someone who works at the Heathman Hotel in Portland. She mentioned that she had read my blog (to which I gave a big screachhh on the inside), and then she invited me to the Heathman's Restaurant and Bar for an exclusive tasting. Free drinks and hors d'oeuvres? Count me in! I think it took me all of ten seconds to reply back with an emphatic "heck, yes!"

So here's the scoop. Kathy Casey and Michael Staton have created a new drink and food menu for the Heathman Restaurant and Bar. We were invited for a meet and great and to taste the new menu. It was all delish, but my favorite was The Providence (below, left). Those little fire sticks are actually an edible plant that tastes vaguely like asparagus.

Here's a little taste of the drink menu:

Luxury Spiced Vermouth Manhattan - rye, house-spice infused red vermouth, Liquid Kitchen Golden Era Bitters; stirred and served up with a spirited cherry & 23K gold flakes

Signature Tea Court Lounge Punch - rum, Cognac, pomegranate, guava, orange & lemon juices, Fonte Earl Grey Tea Spiced Syrup, Angostura Foam (with an individual tea pot service)
Vineyard Margarita - Reposado Tequila, Combier d’Orange, fresh lime, organic agave nectar, fresh rosemary, topped with a float of Willamette Valley pinot noir
Northwest Grapefruit Negroni - house-bottled local gin, Carpano Antica, Campari, Combier Pomplemousse
Oregon Berries & Bubbles - local vodka, Oregon raspberry puree lemon elixir, Argyle sparkling

All the invitees even got a cute little gift basket with some stir sticks and a DIY spiced, red vermouth ball. How fun is that?! Martinis at the Zerizefs' anyone?

Thanks again for the invite and for showing us a good time Portland Heathman Hotel. We had a great time.

Until next time...

alec vanderboom

March 10, 2014

10 on 10

10 on 10 - March

alec vanderboom

March 10, 2014

10 on 10

That's right! And at the chance of sounding a little too cliche, what happens in Vegas ...ends up on the 10 on 10 blog, or at least in bits. Nabil has been to Vegas once before, but this was

very first time. I compounded visiting a big photography conference,

WPPI

, and (mostly) celebrating one of our great friend's 30th birthday. It was probably one of the most fun trips we've had. We unfortunately didn't win the jackpot, but we got to have a good time with some friends we haven't see since college. Everyone was just so excited to see one another and hang out,

Now you may notice that this month's 10 on 10 is a little scattered. As much as I would have loved to fully document the trip, it's a little cumbersome to lug around the camera, especially when there is a drink or two involved. Our first stop on the photo tour is at the

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

Being a Las Vegas newb had me walking around like a true tourist. You know that feeling you get when you have big expectations of something, and then you experience it, and you're disappointed because it wasn't as good as you built it up in your mind? Ya, that didn't happen. It was just as big and glamorous as I thought it would be, probably even more so. Not to mention, the view from

our suite

was pretty unbeatable. Hello Bellagio Fountains!

When they go off, it makes you feel like this (thanks for modeling Nikki):

So despite the fact that everyone went home with their wallets weighing a little less, we all had a great time.

And now that you and I are both back to reality from Vegas-ing, make sure to stop by our other 10 on 10ers posts. You may notice there is another photog in our midst! Travis Button Photography is a fantastic addition to our group, so go and check them all out. Go, go!

CLB Creative

Anya Elise Photography

Jamilah Photography

Travis Button Photography

Until next time...

alec vanderboom

February 10, 2014

10 on 10

10 on 10 - February

alec vanderboom

February 10, 2014

10 on 10

Part of me was a little unsure about this month's 10 on 10. I had nothing planned and wasn't feeling a major touch of inspiration. It's been nice to have a normal, uneventful past month, but because of that, I got nothin'. And then out of nowhere Portland was hit with their once every five year major snow fall. Now, Nabil and I are from Wyoming, so we're no strangers to lots of snow, and while it's nice to live in a place where we don't have to sludge through ice and muck for 5 months out of the year, when the white billowy flakes finally start coming down, I revert back to my 3rd grade self waiting for a snow day.

This was legit snow too. It wasn't the inch or two the Portlanders call a snow storm that ends up melting in three hours. No, this has been an 8 inch, slick powder that has lasted for about five days and now has half an inch of freezing rain ice on top.

One of the great things about this last weekend was how everyone in our neighborhood was out enjoying the day. We love our neighborhood, and love living in an area that is walkable and has gorgeous forest trails. On Saturday I brought my camera to scope out the scene.

After my walk, Nabil and I braved the snow-packed roads and went to see the happenings downtown. Now, I often joke about how when the rain turns white, people in Portland tend to loose their minds. And when it sticks around for longer than 24 hours, it's sheer pandemoniac panic. Abandoned cars on the interstate, school closures for about a week, businesses shut down, the shelves in the grocery store run almost empty. You think I'm joking, but I'm not. This kind of thing just doesn't happen in Wyoming. And before I start sounding a little cold hearted, you should I know that I get it. There aren't enough plows to clear the roads and when it only happens twice a decade, no one

needs

to learn to cope. But, for someone that learned to drive in the winter and where school was only cancelled if there was about 8" of snow overnight and the plows didn't have time to hit all the school bus routes, it's

a little

a lot comical.

So as I was saying, Nabil and I went downtown to find a ghost town. However, there were a few breweries that were open, and we headed over to one of our favorites,

Deschute's Brew Pub

. Needless to say, they were packed. The 4-wheel drivers, the people that live in the area, and a few brave cyclists all met up at the local watering hole. Because really, what is better than good beer on a snow day?

Courtney Z Photography downtown Portland

So that's what we have for you from Portland this month. Hopefully it didn't make you too cold. If it did (or if it didn't), make sure you head over to the other 10 on 10ers for a little warm up. Our whole crew is back this month, so be sure to check them all out. It promises to be some outstanding work.

CLB Creative

Twinty Photography

Anya Elise Photography

Grace Photography

Jamilah Photography

Until next time...

Hey there

Thanks for taking the time to stop by the blog and read my ramblings. Once you're done here, you can learn more about me, wonder around home base to see some work and get a feel for my style, or just shoot me a message so we can chat.