The Long Weekend ‘First Half’ 2026 Report

Greetings, and welcome to the middle of August. A languid time for slowing down, feeling sticky & sticking with it as whispers of fall begin to appear. What a whirlwind the first half of the year has been! For you too?

Big welcome to everyone new here who has joined from recent conversations with Bianca (Creative Currency), Andrés (Sotiyo) & April (Above Board).

If you’re new, this newsletter is a tight edit and loose itinerary of the worlds I inhabit: style, travel, hospitality, creativity, and connection. I share what’s happening inside and around Long Weekend (my creative studio) and thoughts and things that make life more beautiful: memorable hotels, great design, small rituals, big ideas, and notes from the road (all a glimpse into the art of a long weekend ;). This is a space for wonder, curiosity, and hot tips. Feel free to share yours or make requests — I love a good exchange.

And with that preamble, please enjoy...

The first half of 2026 held some real range, and mileage. Long Weekend took part in thoughtful, beautiful, imaginative and practical brand work for clients & collaborators near and far.

The theme for the year so far has been ‘the scenic route,’ in part because I was on the road a lot. The literal road. Over the span of six months, I’ve driven to nine hotels for different projects… and enjoyed all the space, views, and clarity that the road provided along the way.

I also took a month in Greece to work, think, slow down, be inspired, dream about what’s next, and let it all soak in.

I am continually learning not to rush. Learning the benefit of letting each step of a project breathe. To take the time, and trust that the product comes out better, stronger & more irresistible when you just slow down a little and take time to let it breathe.

The Inn At Langley & Passage Opened

This one has been in the works for over a year, so much intention and so many hands, voices, and minds have shaped this project. I’m excited for it to finally be emerging into the world. Perched above the Saratoga Passage on Washington state’s Whidbey Island, the Inn at Langley has reopened, and begun a new chapter shaped by landscape, season, and the rare pleasure of unhurried time. Travel & Leisure just showed it some love (shoutout to RALUCA STATE for her incredible PR), and I can’t wait for many seasons and years of guests to fall in love with it just like we did.

Long cherished as a Pacific Northwest hideaway, the 28-room waterfront retreat has been thoughtfully reimagined with refreshed interiors by the incredible Cate Ellison Mills of Ellison Mills Studio, a new signature restaurant, Passage, led by Michelin-starred chef Johnny Spero, and a renewed focus on slow living and seasonal cuisine, both rooted in the rhythms of the island.

Long Weekend led the strategic positioning and brand development for the Inn’s evolution.

I can attest to the transformative power of spending a few nights soaking in your bathtub here watching the sunset over the Saratoga Passage. The last soak on the final night of our install week really allowed the depth and magnitude of this project to sink in. I’m so grateful to Akin Hospitality (property owner & operators) for entrusting Long Weekend with the stewardship of this beautiful brand project.

On the road with Marc & Rose

I’ve kicked off a collaboration with Marc and Rose to reimagine what programming looks like at one of their flagship properties, and to collaborate on a few other cool launches. Over the past six months, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting La Playa in Carmel, High Country Motor Lodge and The Scott. Don’t sleep on their properties. There is a lot of magic in this brand and many stories to discover.

I’m going back to their spot, Casa Loma in Laguna later this month. They just launched Fadeaway Sessions (their live music series) here, and dublab is curating some really fun musical evenings for hotel guests. Here’s the August lineup, see you there?

Desert obsession: Cuyama Buckhorn

We had the pleasure of partnering with Cuyama Buckhorn to take a look at the narrative that shapes their identity. Their hotel is growing into its own, and deepening into its unique positioning and offering. If you’re in California and want to experience some of the most incredible expanse of desert you’ve ever seen, you better drive out to the Hidden Valley of Enchantment.

Thanks to my friend Matt for so beautifully capturing the wild desert spirit of the place on his ride with Huckberry.

You already know I’ve been on the road a lot this year...

Travel offers me a sense of perspective, a way to see, feel, and experience the world. It’s a fast track to inspiration and always an eye-opener in one way or another. Professionally, it is inspiring to experience great hospitality, and work in person with clients. Also, personally, it is inspiring to get out there and experience new things and shift patterns. Travel interrupts habits and the timeline, and I love that disruption. It is fertile soil.

I’ve been spending a lot of time in Greece, and at wonderful hotels. More on that trip, and the other islands I visited coming out soon in Club Yolo’s newsletter.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about a part of travel we don’t often discuss, the return.

The return is something so often overlooked, but it’s just as important as the preparation (if not more). If you believe, like I do, travel is transformational, then you need to give it time to soak in. The art of the return is something we could spend a whole newsletter talking about, but I will leave you with the one large discovery I had as I settle back into LA upon my return from Greece… resist rushing.

You see, my goal in life, and at Long Weekend, is not just to create beautiful things, but to live a beautiful life. I want to spend my days feeling joy, creating joy for others… and this does not express itself through over-scheduling or rushing.

Remember, we each choose the frequency and pace with which we operate, so what are you choosing today?

Moving into the second half of the year, I am focusing on the things in life that are simple but not easy. Our mindset creates our reality, and I’m being intentional with mine.

Slowing down, less rushing

Allowing time for transitions

More trust, more space

For my next itinerary, I’ll be traveling to Sicily for my annual sail & some additional island exploration (plus, a bit of antiquing in the South of France!). In the studio, Long Weekend is kicking off some brand work with a very cool new private club in West Palm Beach, Florida (more on that soon). I’m working on launching a new way to celebrate creative connections, and people I love… watch this space!

I’ll leave you with an invitation.

Take a minute to reflect on what you’re proud of so far this year. What you’re still yearning for. And finally. What would it look like to live the rest of this year a bit more bravely?

xo,
TG