“If you can find any way to make it to San Francisco next week, you should! Skip, swim, fly, walk, hitchhike…” ~Matt Mullenweg, Founder of WordPress

My husband Bronson and my cool grandmother indulged my fascination with polygamists this summer on an impromptu trip to Hilldale, Utah (where FLDS is headquartered).

The best part was standing in line at the grocery store with a few of the polygamist wives—their hair all doused in Aqua Net, donning the customary pastel dresses.

You don’t have to be a native to experience the polygamist lifestyle up close. Identity Tours is a Utah-based company started by two brothers, Heber and Richard, who were exiled from the FLDS in 2003 by now jailed church leader (and convicted rapist) Warren Jeffs. On the 4-hour bus tour, titled “The Polygamy Experience: A Guided Tour of Colorado City,” Richard Holm answers questions about the history and traditions of the legendary polygamist community. (more…)

First Look: at my shortened marriage equality spot. I submitted it to Project Pushback. You can also help by embedding or forwarding the ad using the tools in the player below.

Thanks everyone!

I took this photo in the last hour of my visit to Utah to see my mom 0n Mother’s Day.  She really liked this picture. That made me smile.”

Cowboy Turns 41 from Sam Page on Vimeo.

Snow Canyon was one of my favorite places as a kid. On March 17, 2009, Bronson got to experience it for the first time, along with my grandmother.  —Sam

THERE ARE HOTELS THAT FEEL PRETENTIOUS and there those rarer destinations that feel like home, kind of like an episode of déjà vu. After at least a dozen weekend trips to Palm Springs in as many years, the spankin’ new Ace Hotel and Swim Club ranks at the top of my list for getting nearly everything “right.”

Well Done Thing #1: The Marketing. I found their stylishly designed matte postcard at my local Rudy’s barbershop in Silverlake. That should have been my first clue that my husband and I were in for a truly “underground” treat. We were indeed, with a standard $89 room (upgraded for no additional charge by Jesse upon arrival). Cool lobby details: Fake deer antlers, the Scoutmaster handbook, and a photo booth.

Well Done Thing #2: The Rooms. Think “the W goes camping.” A huge, comfy bed. Slatted walls for hooks, bathrobes and magazine clippings. A big flatscreen TV with high speed Internet (included) and a roomy shower with an enormous rain-style can showerhead. Canvas-covered walls with grommetted canvas flaps instead of curtains. Oh and that faux-mini bear rug? Genius.

Well Done Thing #3: The Service. I’ll be damned if we didn’t phone the front desk at 3am for an extra pillow (big boys need two apiece) and they actually brought it to the room within 10 minutes. Much earlier poolside, We asked for a pour of Hendrick’s gin and the waitstaff made it happen. Then there was that seamless upgrade I mentioned earlier. And keep in mind, we were there on opening weekend, when everything’s bound to go wrong.

There were a couple hiccups. The poolside staff hadn’t stocked towels, and the steam/sauna in the Spa wasn’t up and running on our trip. The indoor restaurant wasn’t open (but the outdoor section was pretty much packed on a pretty chilly February night). But these were minor glitches in the Matrix.

The best part about the hotel was that it allowed us to really unwind and find a little peace (and love!)  before returning to the sometimes frenetic, chaotic city life. That’s what a good hotel should be all about. And that’s why the Ace Hotel and Swim Club is all aces, baby.

THIS IS THE FIRST ENTRY OF “MY FAVORITE 3 WEB DISCOVERIES” — A NEW WEEKLY COLUMN. Articles, websites, videos, contests, applications, pictures … you get it.  If you’ve seen something already, my apologies, sometimes I’m a little slow.

My favorite discovery this week was Ice Blink, a documentary about the Martin family, whose cruising lifestyle has potentially transforming lessons for urban types.

Next, this video, shown to me by Bronson & Conny cracks me UP!

I love ambient/downtempo music, so I loved this weird music video to a remix of Alice. If you like ambient tunes, check out Buzzoutroom (it streams in iTunes under the Electronic category):

In keeping with the “peace” of the blog: my friend Ken Robinson (a former U.S. Ranger and special forces officer) co-authored with Deepak Chopra a widely published piece today: A Military Solution to a War on Terrorism is Doomed.

It’s outstanding—check it out.

I caught Ice Blink tonight on PBS and was incredibly inspired by the story of the Martin family. If you are interested in lifestyle design (or re-design), then I recommend this 1-hour documentary. It’s now airing on PBS (check your local showtimes) but you can also buy the film on DVD directly from the family.