The Blog

  Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or just because--there's always a reason to share a gift with the people we love. And sometimes those people are travelers! And sometimes those people are actually just ourselves. That's okay, too! Travel inspires so many great gifts (including JSC jewelry, of course!) and below you'll find just a few more of our faves to either take for the ride or enjoy while reminiscing of travels past or plan for the next big adventure.    QUE BOTTLE Do you know what takes up a ton of space in your luggage? Water bottles! But staying hydrated is super important. What to do? Cue the  Que Bottle! Que has created this super cute, silicon water bottle alternative. The bottles expand to fit up to 12 or 20 ounces of water depending on the model, then spiral down to be nice and compact when they're empty. They're great for trekking across Europe, days hikes, or just a little jaunt in the park. There are tons of colors to fit your style and Que even makes a handy little stainless steal cap with a loop so you can clip it somewhere to be more accessible.     SCRATCH MAP Is there anything more satisfying than a scratch off ticket? How about one that complements your wanderlust? And looks cool hanging in your living room? For those among us who love to log and list their adventures, the Scratch Map is a fun, visual way to keep track of where you've been and where you wanna go. Every time you cross a new destination off your to-do list, scratch off the gold foil to reveal pretty colors of accomplishment. Plus, they make new rainbow foil editions and scratch globes, too!         AIRPORTAG THROW PILLOW  Dream of  travel when you cuddle up to, you guessed it, an IATA Code pillow. Airportage Throw Pillow makes tons of square, squishy options to honor your favorite destinations all over the globe from to Auckland to Zurich. That's A to Z in travel talk. And you can choose the perfect size (from 16" X 16" to 26" X 26"), and  even customize them with passenger names, origin, and other flight info from the best trip ever. If you're feeling crazy, Airportag also makes comforters, shower curtains, backpacks, sleep masks, and kind of everything for house and home and travel.     HOMESICK CANDLES There's no place like home! And nothing smells quite like it. Homesick Candles knows that better than anyone and offers a whole product line based on the idea of olfactory memories. Their natural soy wax candles represent cities, states, and countries abroad with tons of different, complex scents that make us feel like we're right there once again. I mean, Vermont is a combo of apple, maple, and baked pie. Brazil is orange, mango, and ocean breeze. Who could argue with that?      ATLAS COFFEE CLUB Your coffee addiction, I mean, interest just might be your ticket to world travel! Indulge in your favorite morning pick-me-up and get a taste of amazing locations around the globe with Atlas Coffee Club. Each month you'll receive a bag of java from a new location complete with brewing tips, flavor notes, and an adorable postcard! Over 50 countries produce coffee so there's more than enough to sample. Choose your preferred roast and bean type and they'll do the rest. Bon voyage!     

Ah, the refreshing simplicity of a classic road trip! Just you, the open road, some good friends, and a state of the art GPS system. Each mile invites us to sing along with the radio at the top of our lungs or simply bask in the glow of a glorious sunset. And while you’re not getting lost (even with the best GPS system, believe me), you’re making the kind of memories that last. Buckle up and pack your bags, we’re reminding ourselves that life is sweet because well, as we sing with the radio at the top of our lungs, life is highway.  EPIC PIT STOPS WORTH PULLING OVER FOR   Road trips are all about where you want to go. But also where you want to stop. That's right: pit stops. Now, there are pit stops and there are PIT STOPS. We're talking about the off-road gems that are totally epic--the kind of places that make you whip out your camera and wonder why you haven't been here before!   Get ready to raise your pinky finger as you waltz through the grand halls and endless gardens of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  @biltmoreestate #historichome   Nevada’s Valley of Fire isn’t called that for nuthin’. Stretch your legs and casually admire some prehistoric petroglyphs in the red sandstone that feels like you’re walking through a sunset.  @valley.of.fire #NVStateParks   Wonder where Hemingway got his inspiration? And a cocktail or two? The literary giant famously checked in to New Orleans’s Hotel Monteleone where the bar is an actual, revolving carousel. @hotelmonteleone #MonteleoneMemories Wanna learn more about the best of the best of NOLA?    ROAD TRIP FLICKS TO GET YOUR READY TO HIT THE ROAD        Remember that crazy time you and your bestie hit the road only to outrun the law and find yourselves flying over the Grand Canyon in your ‘66 Thunderbird? Oh, wait. I think that may have been someone else. Either way, road trip movies inspire some of our best adventures so grab some popcorn and start planning your next on-wheels getaway.   Thelma and Louise (1991) Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Easy Rider (1969) It Happened One Night (1934) Almost Famous (2000) National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) Y Tu Mamá También (2001) The Muppet Movie (1979) Planes,Trains, & Automobiles (1987) The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)   MUSIC MAKES TRAVEL SWEET    Your trip= 47 hours. Your playlist= 47 hours. Wait, how? Spotify’s very handy, sort of new “soundtrack your ride" feature lets you customize your perfect playlist to match your musical tastes and how long you’ll be out on the road. Sweet! Get started HERE 

Two words. Two perfect hot, sweltering, summer day words. “Beach Day.” You can feel the sand beneath your toes and permanently stuck in your bathing suit bottoms just hearing it! A day at the beach can be so many things. It’s salt in the air, it’s blue skies that stretch on forever, it’s the perfect beach read, it’s the sunburn you never saw coming, and for some, it’s the surfing. The thrill seekers among us head to the beach to zip up their wetsuits and ride the waves. And probably still get a sunburn. Even if you’ve never stepped foot on a board, there’s something so quintessentially summer about surfing, you can’t help but feel like you’re riding the waves right there with them! This week we celebrate surfing and one of the reasons why life is sweet, especially in summer. SURFIN’ USA (AND BEYOND!)     The Beach Boys harmonized the praises of surfing in America but it turns out, chasing waves is a great way to travel the whole world. And if you have the balancing skills to be able to stand up on a big oval in the middle of the ocean, then more power to ya! From the Philippines to Costa Rica we’ve got your top spots to hang ten. Or you know, things surfers say!   Jeffreys Bay, South Africa UluWatu, Bali, Indonesia San Clemente, California, USA Oahu, Hawaii, USA Puerto Escondido, Mexico Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia Cloud Nine, Siargao Island, Philippines Playa Grande, Costa Rica Hossegar, France Nazaré, Portugal   TASTE OF SUMMER!   What’s better than an all inclusive trip to Hawaii??? Probably nothing. But in the meantime, some popsicles to honor one of the top surfing destinations will do! Just take one of Hawaii’s favorite drinks, the Lava Flow cocktail, add a little freezer time and you’ve got a poolside treat that’s a little taste of paradise. Ingredients 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks 1 cup pineapple juice 1/2 cup canned full-fat coconut milk 4 oz. coconut vodka (optional) 3 cups frozen sliced strawberries 1 1/4 cup apple juice 4 oz white rum (optional) Plus popsicle molds and sticks!  Directions Combine pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut milk, and coconut vodka in blender until smooth. Put aside. Blend strawberries, apple juice, and white rum then place to the side. Fill popsicle molds, alternating between the pineapple and strawberry mixtures. Pop in popsicle sticks and freeze for 3 hours. Cool down and enjoy!   Recipe and image courtesy of www.thelittleepicurean.com All About Art in East Hampton     If East Hampton was a member of a 90s boy band it would definitely be the sporty one. You know, with all its surfing, swimming, fishing, and sailing stuff. But it would also be the artistic one. The land of magical sunlight and sprawling natural landscapes, East Hampton has long been the muse for painters like William de Kooning and photographers like Peter Beard who venture to the Long Island’s east end to get inspired. And you will, too! Get an eyeful of some fun facts about the East Hampton art scene. Read more HERE.   EXPLORE

 Looks like someone’s got a birthday coming up! And not to gossip or anything, but she’s getting pretty up there in years. Break out the party hats and start singing because it’s America’s bday! She’ll be 244 this year. Doesn’t look a day over her bicentennial. And her slightly younger upstairs neighbor, Canada, will be hitting the big 1-5-3 on July 1st. These gals have seen a lot over the decades with all the proud moments and growing pains you’d expect. This year, the party might look a little different but you can still RSVP. And with a little creativity, tech savvy, and spirit it’s guaranteed to be a celebration that’ll go down in history.   It's a Celebration Independence Day might look a little different this year but she’s still going strong!     Los Angeles’s Grand Park is moving its annual block party online with all the comedy, live musical, cooking demos, and fun a patriot could dream of!   @grandpark_la #blockparty     You can (still) dance if you want to! Catch Chicago SummerDance’s special Independence Day SummerDance in Place broadcast to learn some new salsa moves and bust ‘em from the privacy of your living room.   @chicagodcase #chicago4th     Do sandwiches exist in cyberspace? The Wawa Welcome America Festival says yes! The longstanding Philadelphia festival and founding father of Hoagie Day is doing it all virtually!   @july4thphilly #celebratephilly    Oh, Canada Quiz   What do you know about the US Neighbor to the North?   YYZ is not just the name of a famous classic rock jam but an airport in which Canadian city? Poutine is a delish dish that comes from Quebec and is made up of french fries, gravy, and what other ingredient? The red and white Canadian flag features what symbol front and center? What nickname was given to Canada’s one dollar coin? Hint: Think bird with a real case of the giggles. You oughta know the name of this famous Canadian singer-songwriter whose music recently inspired a Broadway musical. Answers:  Toronto/cheese curds/maple leaf/Loonie/Alanis Morissette   Stay Cool in these American Art Museums The Metropolitan Museum of Art  New York, NY   The Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL   High Museum of Art Atlanta, GA   San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco, CA   National Gallery of Art Washington, DC   The Museum of Fine Arts  Boston, MA   Los Angeles County Museum of Art Los Angeles, CA   Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, PA   Rhode Island School of Design Museum Providence, RI     Guggenheim Museum New York, NY  

More often than not, the most amazing cities in the world boast the most amazing art museums. And while you can learn a great deal about the history of important movements and iconic artists within those hallowed halls, there's something so raw, real, and "right now" about the art you find when you're just walking down the street! Take a look at this shortlist of cities around the world that are home to some of the best street art to simply stumble upon.       São Paulo, Brazil Beco do Batman is a hidden treasure in  São Paulo and the place to go for vibrant street art. Located in the neighborhood of Vila Madalena, Beco do Batman does, in fact, translate to Batman Alley and yes, you will find some walls dedicated to the comic book character. It all started with a single Batman drawing back in the 80s and the street art never stopped!                  Source: Nana Marques    Berlin, Germany   Nearly a mile long, the East Side Gallery in Berlin, Germany is not only the longest open air gallery in the world but features the longest intact section of the Berlin wall in existence today. Artists from all over the world flocked to the scene when the wall came down and the gallery officially opened in 1990. Must-see murals include  Birgit Kinder’s "Trabant" (which features this common East German car "bursting through" the wall) and Dmitri Vrubel’s notorious " My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love," more widely known as "Fraternal Kiss."                     Source: GetYourGuide   Toronto, Canada   Perhaps the most Instagram-able part of the Canadian city, Graffiti Alley is a 3 block stretch of street art running parallel to Queen Street West. And it's all city-sanctioned. After some spats over the difference between murals and vandalism, the  Queen Street West Business Improvement Association succeeded in their fight to keep art alive. Since 2011 StreetARToronto, or StART work to secure funding and approval for public works like these.    Source: PlanetWare   Melbourne, Australia   At the edge of the Melbourne's East End, an area brimming with galleries and creative types, lies Hosier Lane. The cobblestone laneway is a little dead end street with a lot of personality. Massive masterpieces occupy every square inch of the block and give insight into the culture and politics of its daring artists.    Source: Wikipedia Buenos Aires, Argentina   Breathtaking street art runs rampant throughout Buenos Aires, in areas like Plaza Matienzo, near the Mercado de las Pulgas fleamarket, and in the off-the-beaten-path neighborhood of Villa Urquiza just to name a few! What is definitely worth a look is the world's biggest mural completed by a single artist! The massive masterpiece was completed in phases by artist Alfredo Segatori over the course of about a year and a half. It covers three buildings and is entitled "The Return of Quinquela" in reference to the famous Argentinian landscape artist,  Benito Quinquela Martin, who is featured at the center of the mural.    Source: BA Street Art   Rishikesh, India    The so-called "Yoga Capital of the World" is chock-a-block with ashrams and temples for spiritual studies including the Beatles Ashram. And therein lies some pretty special street art throughout its abandoned grounds. Built in 1968, the  Ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi hosted the Beatles during their stays where they wrote hit songs and maybe even honed their yogi practice. After its abandonment just a few years later, artists gave the empty space a creative makeover where art and nature live in harmony.     Source: Jessica Beavon   Brooklyn, NY   Located in the outer-borough of Brooklyn, New York, the Bushwick Collective is an outdoor street gallery featuring artists from all over the world. Founded by Bushwick native Jospeh Ficalora in 2012, the gallery began as an effort to celebrate and beautify the neighborhood and has since become a major destination for street art admirers and tourists.    Source: Mad Hatters NYC   Bristol, England   What better place to see anonymous England street artist, Banksy's work in its natural environment than Bristol, England? Here you can get a glimpse of Banksy's cheeky " Well Hung Lover" painted on the side of a health clinic as well as the modern-day parody of Vermeer's masterwork, known here as " Girl with a Pierced Ear Drum." The streets of Bristol are all adorned with other well-known artists in addition to hosting "Upfest," the largest annual street art festival in Europe.    Source: Independent  

Summertime is in the air! The days are getting longer, the shorts are getting shorter, and that itch, that urge, that desire to explore is getting stronger! We’re missing travel big time right now but we’re powering through by reminiscing about all of those meals, museums, summits, shopping, flights and festivals we’ve been lucky enough to experience. All those adventures and, admittedly, misadventures we’ve had along the way. But those just make for funny stories later, right? And while travel may be on pause for the moment, summer is not cancelled. Neither is our imagination. We’re walking down memory lane and getting a little creative to serve up some virtual vacay recommendations that remind us that life is sweet. TRAVEL MEMORIES: A Weekend Getaway to Santo Domingo   The sun! The surf! The not being in my living room! Get in on this armchair travel to the cultural capital (and actual capital) of the Dominican Republic. It may be the off-season, but that just means more "me time" on the beach! Get the full scoop on what to eat, drink, see, and experience during your trip to Santo Domingo HERE. Cheers to Vacay!   Can't get enough of those Caribbean vibes? Try this! The Dominican favorite translates to "to die while dreaming" and is certainly to die for...or dream about for that matter. A surprisingly delicious combination of milk and orange juice, this drink pairs perfectly with dinner or some mid-day relaxation.  Ingredients 4 cups of evaporated milk 2 ½ cups of orange juice (ideally fresh) ¾ cup of sugar 1 tbsp vanilla extract 2 cups of ice (may be cubed or crushed) Directions Chill the evaporated milk Add sugar to your taste Stir in vanilla Add ice while stirring Pour in the OJ and stir to perfection. Sit back, sip, and enjoy!   Recipe and image courtesy of dominicancooking.com Summer Staycation Snapshots     New Yorkers get their Vinyasa on with virtual yoga classes hosted by Bryant Park. You can join in on the downwards dogs Tuesday mornings at 10:00 AM or Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM EST right on their IG. Stay tuned for park reopening in the future!   @bryantpark #ParksAtHome     Pandemic, but make it fashion!  This Parisian gallery is opening its doors but not without mandatory distancing hats for visitors. Brainchild of French artist, Dominique Pouzol, the hats are not only meant to protect museum-goers from COVID-19 but also act as a big, bold way to prompt questions about protection from intolerance, violence, and other societal ills will persist post lockdown.    @59rivoli #parisart     You can still enjoy a walk in the park in San Francisco, just stay in your safety circle, that's all. Parks across the land of the Golden Gate including Dolores Park, Washington Square Park, Little Marina Green, and the green near Jackson Playground are adding a little geometry for the sake of social distancing and to avoid full on park closure.    @sfgate #socialdistancingEXPLORE