A Cavallo's Wedding Feast in Easton, PA

Meryl and Lee were married in the presence of family and friends by Allentown's Mayor Ed Pawlowski at Cavallo's in Easton.  Wedding guests were treated to a unique "slow food" culinary adventure orchestrated by accomplished chef Shirley Cavallo.  Guests enjoy food that is local, organic, free-range and made from scratch.  Cavallo's has been a well-kept secret in the Lehigh Valley for thirty years and is situated on 100 acres along Delaware Drive just outside of Easton. Here is a NY Times Review of Cavallo's.

Hair and Makeup by Bodacious
Dress by Nicole Miller
Flowers by Something Unique Boutique  610-863-5876
DJ: Wesley Works
Wedding Favors by La Dolce Vita 

Bossert Baby Bonnet: Newborn Baby Photo Session

When this sweet 14-day old infant floated into my studio on the arm of her daddy, sporting a Nancy Bossert original, I knew she'd steal my heart.  She was pretty patient with us.  The infant-adult ratio was just about right...one infant to three adults.  After years of experience I know babies can't be rushed and that keeping the studio toasty for her comfort is a top priority.

Here are a few photos from this week's session:

You can find Nancy's hats at Connexions Gallery in Easton or Mixed Bag in Bethlehem.

Zoe Keating at Le Poisson Rouge on Bleecker Street

It was pouring buckets Sunday night but inside Le Poisson Rouge, cellist Zoe Keating's rare appearance on the East Coast packed the house.

Her mesmerizing compositions of looping and layered musical textures for electric cello kept us all transfixed. "Escape Artist" and "Optimist" from her newest album, Into the Trees, were among my favorites. At the end, she played an improvisational duet with the opening performer, the wonderful violinist Todd Reynolds, a longtime member of Bang On A Can, Steve Reich and Musicians and an early member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project.  The concert was live web-cast by Q2 and tweeted by @Q2music and @wnycradiolab. 

 

Wedding Planning Mobile Apps!

For the digitally organized bride, check out some new mobile apps for your Android, iPad, Blackberry and more.  Get control of your wedding planning! Use them at this weekend's bridal show (March 5th from 11am-4pm) at the Reading, PA Goggleworks Center for the Arts.  Visit my booth to chat and register for a chance to win a free engagement photo session.

Reading's Goggleworks presents "Art of the Wedding! A unique Bridal Experience"

The Goggleworks Center for the Arts in Reading, PA will be hosting

"Art of the Wedding; A unique Bridal Show experience"

on Sunday March 5 from 11AM until 4PM.

Please stop by my booth to say hello and 

register to win a free engagement photo session!

My Latest Book: Mountain Springs Lake Resort

Mountain Springs Lake Resort - Images by Armen Elliott Photography 
Sage and Dennis had a very beautiful autumn wedding in the
 Poconos and I couldn't resist creating a book about it!

Win a free wedding at Woodstone Country Club- Feb 5 & 6th !!!

Woodstone Country Club will be having its annual Bridal Show on February 5th and 6th from 12 noon until 4PM.  Please stop by my booth to say hi and see sample albums and don't forget to register to win a free wedding!!!  Admission is free to brides and their guests who pre-register...Here's the link: Woodstone 2011 Bridal Show  Good Luck!

Winter Wedding at The Stroudsmoor Inn

It must have been the luck of the Irish that was responsible for dodging the winter storms that arrived just days before and after Jim and Laura's wedding in the Poconos.

After their ceremony at St. Anthony's in Easton and a visit to Porter's Pub, they made their way through the lovely wintery landscape best admired from inside Woodsgate's windows. 

 With fireplaces aglow.... good food and music, the dancing and merriment continued long into the night with many guests staying overnight.

Dress from Bridals by Sandra (Thank you, Marianne!!!!)

Flowers by Bloomies

Hair by Apotheca Salon

Bagpiping by James

Adamo Limousine (Thank you George)

Armen Elliott Photography Awarded "Best of Weddings 2011" by The Knot!

What a great way to start the New Year: The Knot chose me as a top wedding professional in "Best of Weddings 2011"!  A special thanks to my awesome brides, without their lovely reviews this wouldn't have been possible.  Making them happy is what makes me happy!!! 

Click here to read the rave reviews! 

Paris Pt. 2-Inspiration from Paris to Pennsylvania

After going to the European Photography Centre and seeing the outstanding work of Mimo Jodice, Michael van Graffenried, Antoine Poupel, Phillippe Perrin and Servulo Esmeraldo, we headed over to the two retrospectives I was really looking forward to. . . Lisette Model and Willy Ronis.

 Lisette Model's incredible work was on view at Jeu de Paume.  Lisette Model is one of the twentieth century's most significant photographers. After seeing the show,  I saw the very clear influence she had on Lehigh Valley's Larry Fink's work, (one of her more famous students along with Diane Arbus).

I thoroughly enjoyed the retrospective of  Willy Ronis' work at the Monnaie de Paris.  He was the last of a generation of French photographers who were central to the medium's development during the 20th Century.  Like his contemporaries Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau and Brassai, Ronis showed tender expressiveness while chronicling the romantic vision of Paris now firmly lodged in the public imagination.  I was absolutely delighted to discover several years earlier that my close friend in Easton, Nan Ronis,  is a relative of this incredible French photographer! 

We were lucky enough to be in Paris during 'open studio' night at Les Frigos, part of the underground art scene.

Les Frigos used to be a cold storage warehouse and is one of those mythical places in Paris that is definitely off the beaten path. Since the 1980s, large numbers of artists have squatted in this large building on the banks of the Seine and the building has become synonymous with art, rebellious spirit, and creativity.  After years of trying to expel its tenants, the mairie of Paris bought the building to insure that the artists could stay and create. -- jazz musicians, painters, sculptures, photographers, videographers and craftsmen.  (See the nine photos below.)

The main stairwell

An ephemeral sculptural installation which led to a recording studio 

The walls everywhere were covered with art and grafitti

A painter's studio

A photographer and model in a hallway

Jazz performance in a hallway

Back in the United States, Mass MoCa (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) is another example of industrial space that's been converted into gallery space, professional offices,  retail shops and restaurants. My daughter, who first introduced us to this wonderful museum years ago,  just began an internship here during her winter term.  (See the eight photos below)

Retail shop

Restaurant

Museum gift shop and Cafe behind it

Entrance hall leading to gallery space

Reading, Pennsylvania's Goggleworks is yet another wonderful example of the reuse of industrial space.  It used to be an eyewear factory and now houses artists' studios, gallery space, retail shops and a film theater. (See the photo below).

The next four photos below are of Easton, PA's Silk Mill Project. The development and reuse of buildings at The Easton Silk Mill is an exciting project in the beginning phase. This summer, "Movies at the Mill" was attended by over one thousand people! 

Films were projected on the exterior wall at the Silk Mill in Easton right after dusk. 

A reception was held inside one of the 13 buildings on site after the movie screenings ended.

The inspiring, Oscar Award-winning film "Music by Prudence" was introduced by its director, Roger Ross Williams, an Easton native!

Once again this year, animated shorts by Magik World were among my favorites. 

I'm looking forward to more exciting developments in the City of Easton in the new year!