The Petite Portlandian: A very large and detailed miscellaneous post on summertime.

Summer Jams: Pot Kettle Black- Tilly and The Wall, Where is my mind?- The Pixies, Swim- Surfer Blood, Ooh La La- The Faces.

At last, the sweet freedom that is summertime is here. Though the weather is somewhat dismal...(we live in Portland what do you expect?) I am adapting to the living in the easy state of mind, quite easily in fact. It's undoubtedly splendid being done with school especially if you're like me and well...lets just say I decide to be proactive when necessary- as in, when finals roll around. I've enjoyed these first three days of freedom by being considerably less proactive then in the start of the week. While lounging around at home, much to my mothers dismay, I did some cultural research. So far, I have planned for a summer full of culture, art, literature, music, dance, fashion, and anything else that strikes my fancy. So for those of you who have some free time on their hands, and actually care about reading this compulsively long blog, below I have an assorted list of summer reading, concerts, events and what ever else I choose to throw into my pot of culture soup. First off, I think I will have many opportunities to experience all sorts of art in New York this summer so here is what I'll be doing when I'm not dancing for 7-8 hours.

(Yes, I have a picture of Kate Moss shirtless to symbolically express summertime, your point?)

Reading list (work in progress):

Some of these books are promises I made to myself that I would read, and some not so much...

100 Years of Solitude (preparing for junior IB English, oh joy)

The Electric Kool- Aid Acid Test (A good following book to Ken Kesey)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (I feel really awful for saying I read this in 8th grade and this year to get extra credit so... I owe it to myself, my English teachers at least, to thoroughly read this one)

Harry Potter and The Half- Blood Prince and, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (Summer tradition to re-read, and then I will most likely re-read the entire series in reverse order)

Summer Concerts/ Music Festivals

This summer I have the luxury of being in both Portland and New York which means, more music! And good music at that. As shameful as it is, I must confess that last summer my taste in music was er...questionable and I didn't quite grasp too many opportunities to experience good music. But this summer will be different! While still super busy I have saved time for some kick-ass concerts/ festivals.

She & Him 7/7 New York, NY

Siren Music Festival 7/17 New York, NY (Featuring, Surfer Blood, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Matt & Kim, Screaming females and more. It' free, and at Coney Island, what could be better?)

Vampire Weekend 8/31 Portland, OR (outdoor concert at Edgefield, perfect way to end summer)

Musicfest NW 9/8-9/12 Portland, OR (held at various venues in the Portland area, includes Ra Ra Riot, The Thermals, Tallest Man on Earth, The National, Okkervil River, The Helio Sequence, and basically many other of my faves)

And as for some of those miscellaneous activities you will find me doing this summer and those of which I recommend you experience as well include:

Seeing a variety of shows on Broadway such as, Billy Elliot, West Side Story, The Addams Family, ABT's Romeo and Juliet and whatever else comes along the way...

I love going to markets during summertime and there are plenty in New York and Portland. For my Portland friends I suggest the Saturday market and various farmer's markets. And don't forget to hit up our food carts! In New York I'm planning on visiting the Washington Square Summer Fair and to be perfectly honest I have no idea what's in store though I imagine I will get many promising photo opportunities.