The Heist Tour: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Last night I saw Macklemore and Ryan Lewis live for the first time. I went to the show with my awesome little brother and best friend.

  We waited outside for a little over an hour before doors opened. As you can see, we totally lucked out and made it to the second row. 

He put on an outrageously entertaining show. I really can't say enough about him. Not only does he make incredible music but he writes about life lessons and sets a great example for all of us. He spoke to the crowd about equality and love (pretty great timing with gay marriage becoming legal in Illionois today! WOOHOO). He shared his hilarious stories and his struggles. 

The show was absolutely unbelievable. I am still in awe. People... if you EVER have the chance to see Macklemore, do not pass it up. Last night was a blast. (all photos by my trusty iPhone)

xxAli

Preview of Felix Mag Editorial!

Very excited to share with you all a preview from a recent editorial for Felix Magazine! I worked with an amazing team that made these images possible. More images to come in the near future.

©Ali Stone Photography

Model: Stella Stefanova

Hair: Erin Graham

Makeup: Anjelica Bannos

Styling: Rachel Bare

xxAli

new website: up and running!

I've recently worked on re-vamping my whole website and I am so happy with the (almost) final outcome! Take a look here: www.alistonephotography.com

xxAli

Chicago Photographer: Alicia Davinia

Last week I bought two prints from Alicia Davinia, a classmate of mine and a wonderful, unique photographer with a style different from any other. Her photos have a very ethereal feeling to them, they leave you wanting more and that's hard to find these days. Here are a few of her favorite images but to see more take a look at her website: http://www.aliciadavinia.com/

xx Ali

what a doll.

Images from a fun shoot this past week! Many thanks to my great team!

Model: Elisa Harding

Makeup: Lee Balkin

Hair: Erin Graham

Styling: Rachel Bare

Assistant: Gabbi Reiter 

xx Ali

© Ali Stone Photography 

victory.

I made a gif of what in my opinion was the best finish at Battle of the Paddle last week (still more photos from the event to come)... A great friend of mine, the ever talented and so humble, Connor Baxter took an amazing second place win at BOP. As he caught a little wave into the beach, he laid on his back kicked his feet in joy and summersaulted onto the beach as he ran to take his huge second place victory! Congrats, Con! It was so fun to watch you kill it as always!

xx Ali

beachy.

This past weekend I was in California for Battle of the Paddle, one of the largest paddle board races of the year (photos of the event coming soon)! It was a lovely, weekend packed full of work and play. On Sunday I was able to do a quick shoot with this beach babe... Ashley is an old and dear friend and not only is she the coolest kindest surfer girl you will ever meet but she's stunning (obviously)! We had such a great weekend and it was beyond awesome to see her and other great friends after years of being apart. Thanks Ash!

xx Ali

like sister like brother?

(sweater: aritzia, skirt: zara, shoes: elizabeth and james)

Yesterday felt like the first day of fall here in Wisconsin...  Fall is my favorite season to dress for so, we decided to start the season off right and document our first day of fall outfits. 

That's my (not so little) brother in the top photo and as you can see that kids got style. (I like to think he got it from me...)

xx Ali

noatak.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from my recent trip on the Noatak River in the Arctic Circle of Northern Alaska. It's hard to show the vast beauty of this place in photos but I did my best! We paddled and hiked, we fished and camped and froze our a**es off in the tundra. We saw sheep, fox and thirteen grizzlies. It was a crazy adventure and overall a wonderful one. 

xx Ali

from the concrete jungle to the great outdoors.

One week ago, I moved home from New York. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to have worked for a publication such as Bazaar. This week the September issue hit the stands. I am proud to have worked on such a beautiful book! It is the largest issue of Harper's Bazaar ever! The gorgeous, Sarah Jessica Parker graces the cover while we have Miley decked out in amazing couture on the inside. There is more work that goes into this book than you could imagine and I think it shows. This really is a stunning issue. Congrats on the biggest issue every Bazaar, you know how to get it done! I learned more than I could have imagined and was able to work with and get to know countless talented, creative people.

Moving to New York and working for Harper's Bazaar was definitely one kind of adventure. But tomorrow, I set off on a very different kind of adventure. My Dad and I are flying to Fairbanks, Alaska tomorrow morning and from there taking two float planes to get to the Noatak River. We (along with four others and two guides) are being dropped off two hundred and fifty miles from the nearest road, completely out of civilization with our camping gear and our stand up paddle boards. We will be paddling the Noatak and camping for ten days. I have never been to Alaska before and can't wait to see all the amazing sights it has to offer. Not to worry, my camera equipment is all packed up and there will be plenty of pictures to come once I am back. 

xx Ali

weekend wear.

(pants: Free People top: Chaser)

After weekdays in heels all I want on the weekend is to be in comfies. These Free People pants that I found last year are perfection. I may or may not wear them way too often but why wouldn't I? Happy weekend, all!

xx Ali

 Photos by: Jolie Greenstone

happy birthday, Andy.

A tribute to the great, Andy Warhol on the day that would have marked his 85th birthday. To the talent who has been a huge inspiration to myself and countless others on this earth, happy birthday!

xx Ali

allen stone & andrew mcmahon.

Yesterday evening, I went to see Allen Stone perform on a yacht on the Hudson River. A company in New York puts on these concerts and believe it or not... the shows aren't any more expensive than a show at a normal concert venue! Crazy! Any who. I have been looking forward to this show for awhile now and it seemed to be a fun way to spend one of my last nights in New York and it was. It was a beautiful night, we watched the sunset on the bow of the boat and enjoyed the fresh air. 

Before Allen Stone went on stage, I checked instagram (as per usual) to see that one of my favorite artists, Andrew McMahon (first known as the front man of Something Corporate, then Jack's Mannequin) had just posted a photo of the sunset with the caption: "View from the deck of the horn blower NYC. Looking forward to Allen Stone's set." I have looked up to Andrew McMahon for almost a decade, he has been a huge inspiration to myself and many others in countless ways. I have been to many of his shows throughout the years but have never had the chance to meet him. Clearly, I was excited that he was on the same boat as we were and decided I wanted to meet him... and I did.

I introduced myself and explained that I have been a huge fan for years and thanked him for being an outlet of hope and an inspiration to all of us. He smiled, reached his arms out and said: "give me a hug. I can't tell you how much it means to hear you say that." He was so kind and so gracious. 

For those of you who don't know his story, when you have an hour and a half or so, watch the documentary, Dear Jack. Andrew documents his journey as he is diagnosed with leukemia. It is an inspiring, hopeful amazing story about life, love and music. The music this man writes is beyond beautiful, take a listen if you haven't!

On the topic of beautiful music... soon after this, Allen Stone came on stage. Let me tell you something... This man knows how to put on one hell of a show. He is so full of soul and energy and seriously rocks the house (or in this case, the boat) The crowd loved him as always and it was a set full of singing, dancing and great energy. Also, see below for some of the horn players great dance moves. They were very entertaining to say the least.

xxAli

sleep no more.

Last night, I visited the Mckittrick Hotel to see the show; Sleep No More. An interactive play

 based off of Shakespeare's Macbeth, Sleep No More blew me away. As audience members, you are let loose in the hotel unhallowed to speak and required to wear (and not allowed to take off) a mask so that you are unrecognizable. The New York Times says: "An unimpaired sense of balance and depth perception is crucial to attending “Sleep No More,” which leads its audience on a merry, macabre chase up and down stairs, and through minimally illuminated, furniture-cluttered rooms and corridors." You follow whichever characters you choose from one floor to another, in and out of rooms in order to catch the action. "These jaded figures can be found in bedrooms, bathrooms, ballrooms, hospital rooms and nurseries getting dressed and undressed, doing the foxtrot, making every kind of love, killing one another and washing off blood." Just when you think you've seen everything... you come across something completely new. Sleep No More guarantees a a night unlike any other.

xxAli

crepe heaven.

This morning, I had brunch in Williamsburg. We wandered in and out of a handful of places and didn't seem to be in the mood for any or the wait was too long. Then we stumbled upon this at this adorable french place. They had a great looking menu but my friend and I both went for the crepes. Unbelievable. That's really all I can say. I ate the fig honey crepe with goat cheese and caramelized onions... my taste buds were as happy as my stomach. Pates Et Traditions is definitely a place to try next time you find yourself in Williamsburg.

xxAli

Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Art has always been a driving force in my life. Whether it is photography, a painting,  a sculpture or a drawing... done by someone very famous or someone completely unknown. Hanging in the Guggenheim or plastered on the street... It inspires me. This inspiration Wednesday is dedicated to one of the greats, an artist who I have been inspired by since that lecture given years ago by my high school art teacher. Jean-Michel Basquiat shows us that we as artists have no limits. He teaches us to do what you do and even if the world doesn't appreciate it right away, the time will come.

Last month, I was fortunate to see the amazing Basquiat exhibit at Sotheby's. A room filled with breath taking pieces that I would kill to own. If you ever get the chance to see an exhibit of his, don't miss out. He was a monstrously influential and inspiring artist and man who left this world much too early.

xxAli

moon taxi.

 There was no better place to be last night in Manhattan than on the water... and on the water with great live music? Even better. Well, thanks to Moon Taxi, we cruised up and down the hudson for the night. The cool breeze, great tunes and fun people made for the perfect Friday night. If you haven't already, take a listen to their music, you don't want to miss it. Have a great weekend!

xx Ali

Midwest SUP Fest.

This past weekend, I flew back home to Madison for the third annual, Midwest Standup Paddle Festival that my family puts on. It's a day of stand up clinics ranging from stroke technique to beginner classes to SUP yoga. There is also a 6 mile elite race and a 2 mile rec race. We had pros from all over fly in to race and teach at the event. It was a great day full of hard work and a lot of fun. You can see more photos from the event here. Some of my best friends came in from all over to help out which made the day even more special. It was so great to be home with my family and friends for a few days! 

For those of you who haven't had the chance to SUP you should! Everyone (and I really mean everyone) can do it. It's a great way to spend time outside while getting great exercise and the best part is, it's a blast. For more information visit: Paddleboard Specialists and learn to SUP!

xx Ali

sundays in brooklyn.

(hat: UO, top: free people, shorts: levis, shoes: rag and bone, bag: alexander wang)

The Brooklyn flea is my favorite thing to visit on Sundays. Tons of great art, jewelry, food and people watching and a beautiful view of Manhattan to top it all off. Attempt to cool down with a large sun hat and cut offs like I did... But, let me assure you, it won't work. I guess that's a New York summer for you. Expect to melt.

xx Ali

(photos by: Jason Frank)

inspiration wednesday.

Today hereby marks the first (drum roll please) inspiration Wednesday! 

This evening, I ate dinner at the Prince Street Kitchen, cute little place for a 

quick bite in Soho with friends. Afterwards we walked to our all time favorite, 

(visited much too often) 16 handles. We chatted and enjoyed our desert on the bench

 outside, a few minutes later in walks Leandra Medine aka The Man Repeller. 

Seeing as this was my second Wednesday in a row seeing her, I felt I had to 

introduce myself, which I did. She smiled, shook my hand as acted if she was just 

as happy to meet me as I was her. What a humble gal. So, I am telling you this story 

as a backing to inspiration Wednesday... As mentioned before, Leandra is my 

biggest blogspiration and I must react accordingly. Hopefully I can show you 

somethings that inspire you the way her blog inspires me to keep blogging! 

So this first inspiration Wednesday is a shout out to the Man Repeller herself.

She is quirky yet high fashion and very chic all at the same time. She has 

an ability to put together outfits that nobody else would think of and damn 

does she know how to layer. Her individuality and goofy nature is what made me 

like her in the beginning... But, once I started reading her blog and actually 

laughing out loud, she became my favorite blogger. She dresses for herself, 

not to impress anyone else and I think that is something we can all learn 

from. To wear what YOU want and look and feel great no matter what other 

people think is something empowering... Something I am still working on. But, 

when I am unsure of how others will think of me I can say; if she can do it, so can I!

 Happy Wednesday all!

xx Ali