The History of My Future

In Remembrance Of Bea Arthur...

2009-04-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

(Better late than never.) Here's Rufus Wainwright's California, where he pleads, "my new Grandma Bea Arthur, come on over." I like to believe he wrote this, because Bea was some form of electric comfort via his television set during lonely times away from NYC.

He loves to tell the story of meeting Bea and spilling out this long, wordy tale about his including her in this song. The reason being that he and his Grandma really bonded while watching Golden Girls, and Bea, of course was their favorite on the show. Ever the sass-mouth, Bea just looks at him dryly, and retorts, "I'm not your fucking grandmother!" and walks past him!

Determinator.

2009-04-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my lack of attention, but-- um-- I got a job. Oops!

I have stuff to post though.

Like this!

Doing The Robot: An Android With A Familiar Face

Soon all those with social anxiety may toss away their cares. ThatsMyFace and MechRC have teamed up to provide a solution to rule out human interaction altogether: A remote control robot with a customizable photorealistic face. ThatsMyFace offers free facial analysis using two snapshot photographs, ultimately creating a statuette of the pictured face. This is then applied to MechRC's robot, which contains 17 precision servos capable of up to 180 degree movement ready to serve you. This new companion comes with 100 pre-installed motion files, and can be further programmed with drag-and-drop 3D software using a personal computer. Now Billy Idol's song can become your reality-- you can truly be dancing with yourself! The ThatsMyFace MechRC bot will be available in the Summer of '09.

Blander

2009-03-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

Holy Schmoly! Blender magazine has bitten the dust, leaving only two, Spin and Rolling Stone, vying for the spot as mainstream music's most shameful. I can't tell you how many times I applied for a job at this rag with this no response. Oh whelp! I suppose the saddest part is that their final cover has American Idol's Kelly Clarkson on the cover.

Being the first American Idol winner, Clarkson represented that even a small town gal from where-ever-the-eff-she-was-from could be a star, and live the American Dream. With her face gracing the cover of Blender's last issue, one could go as far to say that perhaps the American Dream is dying-- or maybe just shitty over-produced music fueled by reality TV shows is dying. Let's hope it's the latter.

For all those unhappy now-jobless pups who wouldn't hire me at Blender, I recently found this really cool artist, Richard Perez who can empathize:

CHECK MORE OF HIS WORK ON HIS FLICKR

LOW-LARIOUS!

2009-03-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

Seeking cheap lodging?

via Best Recession Ever

All The Boys And All The Girls Are Dying To

2009-03-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

I've always loved Britney Spears. I even dressed as her my sophomore year of college along with my dormmates for Halloween. (See below. Hit Me Baby One More Time Brit, Stronger Brit, and ME! Slave 4 U Brit.) I was always rooting for her in those crazy shavin' head times, through the weight gain, the K-Fed years, the Brit Brit, and the crotch flashin' party times. I look on her lovingly as I do Drew Barrymore, Liza Minelli, Lindsay Lohan, and Corey Feldman-- Hey, Dream a Little Dream was a great film!!

Now after hearing the new single off of her latest album CIRCUS, If You Seek Amy, I know my love will never die. Britney Forever!

MAD STYLE

2009-03-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

I don't know much about these fashion-y fashion blogs. I look at 'em, but I'm not much of a participant. They often bore the living daylights out of me, but one person that has definitely caught my attention is THIS GUY:

Arlo is the son of none other than Mad Men creator, Matt Weiner, so who can blame him for having such great style?

Check out more pics of his daily steez HERE, and maybe learn a thing or two!

And Their Eyes Were (Making) God's (Eyes)

2009-03-11T13:29:00.000-07:00

As noted the other day by Keren Richter, this puny economy has certainly encouraged me, and many of my comrades to pinch pennies and find new more cost-conscious ways of entertaining ourselves. I've always enjoyed entertaining in my home, and recently Leti inspired me to host a craft night, which I hope will be followed with more.

How to have a CRAFT NIGHT:

1.) Make some snacks!

2.) Have everyone bring work materials/refreshments; Set up work area with materials, refreshments, and example.

3.) Get to work!

**Some people might want to make costumes. This is okay.

** And some people may want to work on other projects. This is also allowed.

4.) Show off your work in an exhibition.

5.) OPTIONAL- Go to a party afterward to celebrate your hard work!

Something to think about New Yorkers (and LA)!!

2009-03-10T14:05:00.001-07:00

Friend of Dorothy

2009-03-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Today, Callie posted on the Bust blog about the TV movie version of Alice in Wonderland which, like her, I remember loving as a child-- but also being a bit freaked out by. In fact, I think the scary aspect helped heighten my intrigue.

This reminded me of another movie in that category: RETURN TO OZ

Oh yeah. That's a little Fairuza Balk as Dorothy!

This came out in 1985 (as did Alice in Wonderland!), and is something of a sequel to the The Wizard of Oz (starring Judy Garland, of course). It's actually based on the novels "The Land of Oz" and "Ozma of Oz" which were the second and third books in the Oz series begun by L.Frank Baum. There were fourteen in all! This one has a much darker spin from the beginning in comparison to its predecessor starting with when Dorothy is taken to a mental hospital by Aunt Em to treat her insomnia and for the crazy stories she tells about the Land of Oz! The doctor in the hospital is said to work miracles with electricity AKA gives SHOCK TREATMENTS! Dorothy escapes with the help of a mysterious girl who helps her back to Oz. Unfortunately Oz has become a terrible place due to the Gnome King's rule and she must rescue all her friends, and save Oz!

By the movies that I liked as I kid, I think I was just destined to do drugs. There was no way around it. Watch the movie in its entirety HERE, you'll see what I mean.

Stuffed Cabbage

2009-03-07T07:42:00.000-08:00

I mean, I always thought basil was pretty good-- but then again maybe I'm just lame?

Ashley is totally Juliette Lewis if she were a comic book character! I hope she wins!

Is That Depression In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Unhappy To See Me?

2009-03-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

INTERNSHIPS FOR THE JOBLESS
Lois Draegin, 55, lost a six-figure editing job. She now works unpaid for a start-up website, trading her knowledge for new online skills.

Do You Have Tickets To The Gun Show?

2009-03-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

Michelle Obama does-- and it seems like the rest of country has something to say about it. After wearing sleeveless dresses four times (GASP!) in one week, one time during the State of the Union Address, and for her Official White House Portrait, people (with too much time on their hands) were in an uproar. According to Salon.com, "The Washington Post reports that it has received hundreds of reader complaints on the subject." Wow. HUNDREDS of people have found time in their days to write and complain about arms. ARMS! What's next? Pants? Ankles? Doubtful, but come on. In The Huffington Post's coverage on the subject, the First Lady responded to the talk via Social Secretary Desiree Rogers stating, "If I want to wear no sleeves to hear my husband speak, that's what I'm going to do." HA!

My favorite comparison photo in the Salon article is the one below of Jackie Kennedy at JFK's State of the Union Address. She's surrounded by shrewd old ladies with her own arms shining! That's right, Jackie, flaunt those biceps, you dirty girl!

With that I say-- Show off those pythons Michelle! GRRRR.

Don't Dream It Be It

2009-02-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, one of my dad's favorite movies was The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This may sound odd for a Southern middle class business man, but hey-- everybody has their guilty pleasures, I suppose.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show - 20th Century Fox
Uploaded by Columbia-Pictures

The cast included Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon, and Meat Loaf who all went on to very promising performing careers, but I often wondered about the rest of the cast. I knew Richard O'Brien, who played Riff Raff and wrote the musical, went on to write and perform in sequal stinker, Shock Treatment. The only returning cast members happened to be his good friend Patricia Quinn who played Magenta, and "The Lips" in the opening credits (See above), and Little Nell Campbell who played Columbia. Little Nell has proved to be the most interesting to me as I've traced her career.

After Rocky Horror, Nell tried her hand at a singing career where she had a moderately popular single in Britain called "Do the Swim", and then went back to acting. She was a groupie in Pink Floyd's The Wall (although I doubt you'd be able to spot her), and starred in several of Derek Jarman's movies-- most notably Jubilee.

From the mid-80's to 1998, she owned 3 nightclubs in New York City, most famously Nell's (oft mentioned in Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho), and known for turning away A-list celebrities for fun. You may recognize the lounge in The Notorious B.I.G.'s video "Big Poppa", because not only did he frequent the place, but he shot the video here. After being reincarnated as A through C list celeb hangout NA, Nell's Nightclub became The Plumm in 2006, another club trying on the exclusive vibe, but I'm pretty sure the space has has already had its hay day.

Here's a video of Nell being totally amazing (and probably under the influence of some unmentionables.)

In 2005, she had a kid, and returned to her home country of Australia after selling her Boerum Hill house to Heath Ledger, where presumably Michelle Williams still resides.

I Slipped I Tumbled I Fell

2009-02-27T08:01:00.000-08:00

Major confession, y'all: Until the other day, I never really understood Tumblr.com! I have a blog and I have a Flickr account, so I really couldn't figure out what need I would have for another site for posting. But this was until the other day when everything changed! I actually looked at the site at the urging of my friend, Katherine, who told me she started her own Tumblr as an organizational tool of inspirational material. I guess that is really the reason for it, and what a good idea it is! I have a terrible habit of emailing web links to myself (only to lose them in my email), saving images that I like (only to forget where I found them), and this Tumblr thing really does a good job of getting all that in order.

Once my (ex)boss sent me a random email on a day off :

Do you know who shot this??

I'm sure she had the file on her computer, ran across it, and hadn't noted the photographer or origination. Had she had it all organized virtually on Tumblr, she could have easily figured out that it was taken by Mary Ellen Mark, and possibly noted why she saved it in the first place-- Not to mention linked back to where she found it!

So um yeah-- Anyway, I started one. If you have one too, lemme know and I'll link you up!

This is mine:
http://thehistoryofmyfuture.tumblr.com/

And Katherine's is:
http://practicalfancy.tumblr.com/

Baby Baby It's A Wild World

2009-02-23T19:22:00.001-08:00

Just realized in addition to the ones I posted about the other day, this Georgina-Chapman-of-Marchesa-as-Marchesa-Luisa-Casati spread appeared in the March issue of US Harper's Bazaar.

I went crazy trying to find animals for this shoot-- especially the cheetah. The cheetah that ended up being used was a "plush cheetah sculpture" handcrafted and painted by artists at Hansa Toys. Before finding this life-size wildcat substitute, I was put in contact with a man named Larry Wallach who lives in East Rockaway and wrangles wild cats and other exotic animals. He literally has tigers in his back yard, and had even recently rescued an albino kangaroo from a coke dealing ring who were hiding blow in its pouch!

COKE-A-ROO!

Some may remember the national news story about the man who was keeping a 500 lb Bengal tiger in his apartment, and Larry the "Tiger Man" was the one who helped rescue the cat.

Here's a news story about Larry Wallach AKA "Tiger Man" and one of the biggest characters I've ever had the pleasure to speak with.

This kind of stuff is why I loved working at a fashion mag with a decent budget for shoots! Speaking of fashion, see below for some of the inspirational shots of Marchesa Casati used for the shoot. Just like the animals she so loved, she was a dangerous creature--Sadly most of all to herself.

Joseph Rous Paget-Fredericks (As seen on the cover of Marchesa's biography Infinite Variety)

At the Ball of Famous Paintings 1935 Man Ray

Paul Poiret with model

1922 Man Ray Portrait

1912 Baron de Meyer

Shoe Bee Doo Bee Doo

2009-02-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

My friend, Catherine recently started a shoe company with her friend, Haley, and their website is finally up!

Please check it out!

MARAIS USA

Cute video alert HERE.

ME- RRROWWWW!!

2009-02-20T11:06:00.000-08:00

In honor of Fall Fashion Week I found a bunch of funny old jeans commercials that are pretty amazing.

this is a newer one, but it's one of my favorite commercials

Hmm, now what should I wear today?

Ms. Christensen You're Trying to Seduce Me

2009-02-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

While I was still at Harper's Bazaar, I helped coordinate this photoshoot with Chuck Bass-- I mean, Ed Westwick and Helena Christensen in the March 2009 issue. I thought it turned out pretty awesome! (In response to the much discussed SJP/Vreeland editorial and cover: The newstand cover is (and are always) a total collage made by the art department, and the photos of SJP were based on actual photos of Diana Vreeland. If your qualm is with SJP's age, well, she ain't gettin' any younger, folks!)

Now on to Bass:

Photos shot by Terry Richardson at the St. Regis hotel and Tom Ford store

Also worked on this editorial called 'Street Chic' shot by Peter Lindbergh that turned out so much better than I'd imagined! It was shot right before Halloween weekend and Catherine McNeil actually borrowed the bunny suit for her Halloween costume. Funny.

See the rest: STREET CHIC

Heart to Hand

2009-02-17T19:38:00.000-08:00

Hopefully there will only be a few more frigid weeks to winter, but no matter the weather I always tend to constantly be wrapped in a blanket when couch-potatoing in front of the tube anyway. Rather than opting for the couch potato's BFF, the SNUGGIE (Gross!), I stick with an old quilt made by my mom's aunt.

I've always loved old quilts and the stories they tell. Women used to make them from rags and ragged clothing to keep their family's warm when they had no other choices. They were also made from the clothes of different family members and gifted to new babies as memory items.

I have one hanging above my bed given to me by my mother, and sewn by an unknown person in my family. This one was just made as a decoration:

Recently, I ran across Julie Floersch's sculptural quilts, and found them to be really intriguing and beautiful. Her work truly makes you appreciate the art of the needle. You may experience her work for yourself and all its tessallated goodness at Jan and Aya in Greenpoint, Brooklyn until March 1st.

Remember the movie, How to Make an American Quilt starring Winona Ryder (pre-klepto days)? They were making a wedding quilt in that one.

OOOOH BONUS TRIVIA: A group of people making a quilt is called a quilter's bee!

Take Me To Bed Or Lose Me Forever

2009-02-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

I made these delicious chocolate truffles for Mike for Vday. The flags note all the reasons why I think he's awesome.

RECIPE

Grenache (The Middle):
12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 small chai tea teabags (I used orange and spice tea)
2.5 Tb unsalted butter
3 Tb alcohol or extract (I used Blue Mountain Mist, which is AMAZING, but I think you can only get it in Jamaica or online-- You can use Grand Marnier, Kahlua, Almond Extract, Peppermint Extract, etc.)

Coatings:
Cocoa Powder
Confectioners Sugar

Place chocolate chips in a medium sized heat safe bowl. Set aside. Heat cream with tea bags to a low simmer. Remove from heat and steep tea bags for 5-6 minutes. Remove tea bags, and add butter. Heat again then bring to a boil. Immediately pour boiling cream over chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Add liqueur. Cover and place in refrigerator until truffle mixture is firm (This will take several hours or overnight).

Once grenache sets, place powdered coating in a bowl. I used plain cocoa powder, and a mix of cocoa and confectioner's sugar. Using a melon baller, spoon, AND YOUR HANDS, form the chocolate into roundish bite-sized balls. Immediately roll the truffle in the coating and place on tray. Cover and place in the refrigerator until firm. Makes approx. 30 small truffles.

I also think this fingerprint jewelry by Imprint on my Heart is totally adorable without being too mush-mush.

HERS?

Sterling Silver Fingerprint Vertical Tag with Initials $375

HIS?

Sterling Silver Long Vertical Tag $425, shown with rough finish

See more HERE.

Citizen Stain

2009-02-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

Wife Swap used to be one of my favorite shows. My roommate and I used to DVR it each week. I'd lost interest in the past year though, until the REIGN OF STEPHEN FOWLER and the media frenzy that has surrounded him.

For those who don't know, Fowler is a British expat living in San Francisco with his American-born wife, Renee, and two kids. The two claimed to be environmentalists, and were raising their kids as "citizens of the world". Renee ran a business as a weight-loss hypnotherapist. They swapped with Alan and Gayla Long of Missouri, a family whose diet consisted of fast food, and favorite pastimes were playing paint ball, and riding ATV's. Alan believed Gayla should handle the domestic responsibilities of the home, calling it "skirt work."

Real controversy began when the media began repeatedly showing clips of Fowler berating simpleton Gayla, failing to show the negative side of the Missouri family's lifestyle. While a sweet woman, Gayla is clearly undereducated, and Fowler took every chance he got to say terrible things to her calling her "undereducated, over-opinionated, and overweight" to her face. There is no excuse for Fowler's behavior, but Alan Long was pig-headed in his own rite, failing to care for the health of his kids nor their futures. The rules in which Gayla tries to implement in the home are not exactly the most valuable, nor the best way to approach Fowler-- especially in comparison to those that Renee Stephens brings to the Long home.

See rule change here:

By the end of the episode, the Longs do learn from Renee's rule change-- mainly that they need to change their diets, as well as concentrate a bit more on education for a brighter future, where as the Stephens/Fowlers come away with nothing. Alan Long surprisingly makes one of the most pertinent points at the table meeting when he tells Renee, "Your support system will mock your passion." This emphasizes for me that no matter the level of education, beauty, or well-roundedness, they may all be discounted by lack of kindness. I'm sure Stephen Fowler will be paying for his sins far after the media forgets.

OCTOMOM: Eight Lies To Sell You

2009-02-12T23:19:00.000-08:00

CLICK PHOTO TO VIEW LARGER

VDAY: What's the V stand for again?

2009-02-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

I'm not one to really buy into the Valentine's Day hype of cheesy heart-shaped boxes of cheap chocolates, but I love to make things for people at any occasion, especially my most special person. I found these simple vegan Vday treats made by The Discerning Brute and Todd Oldham, and thought they were shareable (though I'd probably still put some real butter and milk in that cake! I come from the Paula Dean school of thought!)

DBTV Valetine Special: TODD OLDHAM HEARTS YOU from The Discerning Brute on Vimeo

After that I got to thinking about Todd and his House of Style days, but couldn't find any real crafty tips. I did find clips from his more recent show, the total snore, Handmade Modern, including this hilarious one where Amy Sedaris appears to be making Todd nervous while terrible muzak plays over their craftmaking:

Then this lead me to Amy's appearance on Chelsea Lately to promote her book, I Like You, where she (along with Todd) give Vday a whole new meaning.

BAILOUT BALL

2009-02-10T12:25:00.000-08:00

Top Private School Tuition: $32,000 a year per student

Mortgage For a Park Ave Apartment: $96,000 a year

Nanny: $45,000 a year

2 Family Vacations a Year: Minimum $16,000

Chauffeur’s pay: $75,000 and $125,000 a year

Nanny: $45,000

Daily Frozen Hot Chocolates from Serendipity: $8.50

Realizing the President wants to cap your annual salary at $500,000: PRICELESS

PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTS TO CAP THE SALARIES OF THOSE BANK EXECS WHOSE FIRMS TOOK BAILOUT MONEY.

READ THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE REGARDING HOW NYC BANKERS ARE USED TO LIVING, AND WHAT THEY FACE WHEN AND IF THIS HAPPENS.

Christian V. David

2009-02-09T13:35:00.000-08:00

HAHAHA.

Deaf Combo

2009-02-08T20:54:00.001-08:00

This is how I felt about the Grammys:

(That's Grace Slick abusing her baby with her moms for LIFE mag, btw.)

Why do they feel the need to "refresh" songs by forcing two artists that don't make sense to perform together???? Sugarland and Adele? I hate Adele. J.Timb and T.I.? Awkward. Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers? Well, he couldn't tell who he was singing with so I can't blame him. Who let John Mayer sing Bo Diddley??? Barf. I kind of liked the marching band with Radiohead, but I'm so sick of Radiohead these days I could just die. Apparently Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift sang a song together. I'm really glad I missed that. Jay Z and Chris Martin?? Oy! Need I say more?

I'm bummed Lil' Wayne didn't win Album of the Year, but he got rap album (and performed with a very preggo MIA plus T.I., Jay-Z and Kanye), so everybody wins. Robert Plant's still kickin' around. I guess he deserves it. I listen to Houses of the Holy all the time.

Here's that Katie Couric interview where Katie talks to Wayne about smoking pot, and makes weird gestures implying that her butt is sizzling hot. Just watch if you didn't:

Gold Sledge Hammer? Really???

2009-02-07T10:04:00.000-08:00

I know MC Hammer went bankrupt some time ago, but I didn't realize Ed McMahon was so hard up! I'm not even talking about their claims in the commercial either. I can't believe these guys would even stoop to the level of appearing in this commercial, but I'm so glad that they did! (So hilarious how they title MC Hammer as "Famous Rap Star"!) It originally appeared during the Super Bowl , so I assume they actually did receive quite a bit of compensation for this-- unlike Cash 4 Gold's customers. I did some investigating in this company in the past (Just for kicks, because it seems like such a crock, right? Wow. I have no life.).

Here are what some actual real-life "clients" have said about the company:

" 88 days ago by Kathy [send email] 0 Votes
I received a check from Cash 4 Gold that was very low in value to the items I sent to them. I phoned and emailed customer service and told them I was not pleased with the check and asked to send my items back to me. At this point I told them I was contacting the Better Business Bureau regarding their ads beinng untruthful. I then got a call from them to call them back and I did tell them I did contact the BBB and wanted my jewelery back. The BBB contacted them but it took Cash 4 Gold a long time to respond and did not respond to the final response requested by the BBB. BBB closed the case but Cash 4 Gold has this on their record."

" 51 days ago by mary currie 0 Votes
Cash 4 Gold ripped me off! I wish I had done something when I had the chance. The small check they sent me was a joke! Everytime I see that commercial on TV it makes me sick!"

" 8 days ago by Kim 0 Votes
omg, i sent in my jewelry and they said they nevered recieved it, i should have know better. now i have to fill out a claim and who knows if i will every get any money from this bottom dwellers"

OTHER FUNNY (AND SOMETIMES SAD) SCAM TESTIMONIES:

1.) Exstenze - http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/extenze_complaints

2.)SNUGGIE!! - http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/snuggies_complaints

3.) Velform Sauna Belt- http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/velform_sauna_belt

4.)Hair Club for Men and Women- http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/hair_club_for_men_and_women_complaints

I Can't Hardly Stand It

2009-02-04T20:17:00.001-08:00

R.I.P. LUX INTERIOR oct 21, 1948 - feb 4, 2009

While driving through California, Lux Interior, born Erick Lee Purkhiser, picked up a flame-haired hitchhiker named Kristy Wallace AKA Poison Ivy. By 1976 the two married, moved to NYC, and birthed the psychobilly sleaze band, The Cramps-- A sound that consisted largely of psych, garage, blues, country, and surf rock. Other members of the band have changed over the years, but the two continued to perform together until today when Interior sadly passed away of an existing heart condition. The Cramps were important members of the blossoming music scene of the 70's and 80's happening in the East Village and LES, namely at CBGB and Max's Kansas City. Interior was well-known for his Iggy Pop-esque gyrations on stage, flamboyant get-ups, and hiccuppy, growling vocals. Music fans have already begun clogging fan sites with messages in remembrance of him. My heart goes out to his "bad girl vixen", Poison Ivy. He will be missed and remembered.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I remember the first time I heard The Cramps. I was in my ex-boyfriend's car (who was only a friend at the time) when we were living in the mountains in Boone, NC. He only had a tape deck in his car, so he would make tons of mixtapes that he would title "Coolsongs #". He probably had 150 of those tapes, plus the ones other people gave him. I had just gotten in the car, when I heard the opening clangs to "I Can't Hardly Stand It", and then the aching, hiccup of a voice (Reminded me of my beloved Elvis), "We-heh-heh-ll the sun's gone down, and you're uptown...I-i-i-if you don't know. I love you so. You got me all tore up." At the time, I was madly head over hills for aforementioned friend, and I couldn't believe how this song seemed to be coming right out my own soul! Such a cheeseball. So that weekend, I went on a trip to Chapel Hill and sought out Bad Music for Bad People. I can't even tell you how many mixtapes that song has gone on (Sorry dudes I've sorta liked and maybe loved before.)

Evening Weather Update

2009-02-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

It's still snowy and cold outside.

If it doesn't stop, I'm a little worried for my sanity.

Oh no no nooo. Don't be silly, sillies! I don't have a job. It'd be nothing like that!

Okay. Back to reading 25 Things About Me Memes. Ahhh.

NEVER LEGO OF NYC!

2009-02-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

I LEGO NEW YORK By Christopher Niemann

During the cold and dark Berlin winter days, I spend a lot of time with my boys in their room. And as I look at the toys scattered on the floor, my mind inevitably wanders back to New York.

Moz Life Crisis

2009-02-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

By the way, what in the Sam Hill is this??!?!?!
Even before I read The Guardian's own digs at Morrisey's art for the inner sleeve of his new single, I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris (What a barfy title!). The first thing I thought of was:

But then I thought of:

EWWW! GASP! SHUDDER! A good movie, but nevertheless, a real comedy! I've never been a fan of The Smiths nor Moz's solo work. Every time my friends wanted to go to Sunday nights at Sway, I'd revel in the few songs that were NOT Morrissey related. I still think he's a fine guy though. My roommate is obsessed with him, and sings his songs in the shower. HOWEVER-- I do not need to see this much of him, and ESPECIALLY not his band. Mid-life crisis much? C'mon boys! Fuck some models. Buy a McLaren. Do SOMETHING that does not require THE. WAXING OF. YOUR. BODY. HAIR!!!

The Fairest of Them All

2009-02-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Remember X-Girl, Kim Gordon's sporty sister clothing line to X-Large?

I wasn't even a teenager when the first line came out, but around the time I clasped the hook on my third or fourth training bra, I remember ordering catalogues from the back of my Seventeen magazines alongside Delia*s all the way to my tiny town in North Carolina. (I really had a thing for adolescent skater boys.) After receiving one or two, they stopped coming, and I believe the store closed in NYC in 2006 or so. The brand, along with X-Large, is still insanely popular in Japan.

It's no lie that Kim has always had incredible style, and is one of the coolest chicks around. So it's pretty sweet that in the past 15 years her fashion sense has matured into a new 60's France-inspired collection called Mirror/Dash. (Little Known Fact: Mirror/Dash is also a Kim Gordon/Thurston Moore musical side project. See video HERE.)The only bummer is that it's being distributed via Urban Outfitters, but I'd brave a pack of NYU kids and even dumpy-butted tourists any day for Kim's garb. She's working with designer Jeffrey Monteiro, ex-head designer at Derek Lam on the line, and it'll be available in UO on Feb 16th.

Only two photos of items of the Mirror/Dash line have been released:

The Hardy Jacket inspired by the ever-chic Francoise.

And this slouchy little dress

While you wait for the rest, here's a little retrospective of Kim's looks from the past.
(And read the interview BUST did with Kim regarding the line too!)

The Late, Great Silver Jews

2009-02-04T00:51:00.000-08:00

I apologize for the tardiness, but I'd like to have a moment of silence for the Silver Jews who played their final show 2 days ago at Cumberland Caverns (an underground cave!) in the quaint town of McMinnville, Tennessee. Some past Jews members were in attendance and played alongside the band including founding drummer (and former Pavement drummer) Bob Nastanovich, but unfortunately not the third founding member, Stephen Malkmus (most notable for fronting Pavement.)
REVIEW OF SHOW

Please gaze upon the below photo taken by Dave Black of final permanent band members Cassie and David Berman whilst you ponder such great albums as American Water and Tanglewood Numbers.

And here is a mesmerizing video of a girl belly dancing to "The Wild Kindness" off of American Water.

SIDE NOTE: Years ago I happened upon some work by (the now sadly deceased) Jeremy Blake called "Sodium Fox" in a gallery in Chelsea. David Berman is one subject of this work, and narrates a video included in the exhibition. Post-Silver Jews, I hope he continues to participate in this medium, though Berman noted on the Drag City message board that he plans to concentrate on "screenwriting or muckraking"-- whatever that means.

Everybody Is A Star

2009-01-25T20:05:00.000-08:00

Check my review of a band with the unfortunate name, Gringo Star in the new Bust.

BONUS: You'll also find the always stylish Louise Sturges (of Besosyfotos fame) and her winter coat featured in the Looks section.

truckin'

2009-01-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

NAPA VALLEY, CA - DEC 08

Beauty Booty

2009-01-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

As the winter seems to be closing in on us here in NYC (Currently 26 degrees F!!), I celebrated MLK Jr. day big time in my apartment getting over a head cold, and wallowing in my own pity. With my cold has come lots of scaly skin, raunchy smells, and of course, aches and pains. Wanna make out? Just kidding. Luckily, pre-leaving-fancy-magazine-job, there was a sale of all beauty products given to the mag for testing, and I acquired something like a bushel of shmancy skin swag for so cheap I can't even discuss it!

My faves out of those that I've tried:

DOUBLE DEFENSE Face and Body SPF 30 By Somme Institute
This moisturizer is thick enough to deal with my winter scales, but not make me feel like I'm wearing a grease mask. Since I've been blowing my nose every five minutes, I've developed quite the attractive chap 'stache, and this stuff has been a soothing godsend! I'm also digging the 30 SPF provided I get to see the light of the sun again!

NEOCUTIS Bio-Restorative Skin Cream with PSP

Not that I need to reverse the signs of aging, but my boyfriend used this stuff, and said he totally noticed a difference in his skin. As a (mostly) ex-smoker, he says this stuff reversed the havoc that the cancer sticks began around his eyes.

SOS KIT FIRST CLASS FLIGHT Pure Rosewater Mist by Sheerin Okho
I don't think this particular mist is sold anymore, but now comes in a sheer lotion. Whether working all-nighters or traveling coast to coast, this spritz was an automatic eye opener, and smells amazing due to its natural ingredients (Rose, jojoba, ginseng).

I'll update when I get to the rest. My bathroom would look like Sephora if I had all the stuff I scored in view!

Chug A Lug Donna

2009-01-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

While in San Francisco, we also celebrated my boyfriend's parents' 40th wedding anniversary. As they have become avid wine collectors in the past couple of years, we bought them a Vinturi Wine Aerator for evenings when they just can't wait for a decanter to do the work.

After pouring through this little contraption, it makes a weird farting sound, and then-- um POOF?--the wine is automatically fuller and more robust in flavor in seconds! Pretty amazing and perfect for having just one glass-- or for pouring directly into your mouth!

In Vino Veritas

2009-01-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

Bouncing in the back seat of a luxury conversion van with the commentary of a football game (Or maybe it was baseball? Basketball?!) booming in acoustic flush surround-sound under walnut wood trim was not the way I envisioned my introduction to Napa Valley wine tasting-- but who am I to complain? I wasn't paying for it. So I just sat back, tried to refrain from hurling up the bottle of Malbec plus all three Manhattans I'd imbibed the night before, not to fail to mention my breakfast (an In and Out Burger) as we jounced through the twists and turns of Northern California. On my occasional peeks out the window, though the morning was dreary and overcast, I saw some of the most beautiful land I'd seen in a long time. Living in New York City, natural greenery is like gold to me. However, being that it was December, all the vines were dry and barren, but one could imagine the lush fruit that they might produce as Spring draws near. This reminded me of my favorite Greek myth of Persephone, Goddess of Spring, Queen of the Underworld, daughter of Demeter; Demeter, Goddess of Grain and Fertility, and ironically AKA Amphictyonis-- wouldn't you know it--Goddess of Wine. With Persephone's relationship to the wine goddess, it is no surprise that she teeters between darkness and light (Remember that scene in the movie, Sideways?). Hitting a particularly sharp curve, my stomach is further reminded of the dark side of that grape, but saved when my boyfriend's sister declares that we have arrived at our first winery.

Stop 1: Dutch Henry Winery
The tastings at this winery were conducted among the barrels of wine being distilled, which proved to be an interesting sight in comparison to the sometimes bustling, other times snooty shops I'd been to before. As I was still crawling out of my hangover, I have no recollection of the wines tried, nor whether I liked them that much. The winery did have a pet cat named, Lucille (after the song and/or B.B.King's guitar) that made a stronger impression on me than the wines. The wine did provide a certain animal quality for me that was helpful, though it was more canine than feline.

Stop 2: V. Sattui Winery
As we pulled up to V. Sattui, I wasn't sure if we'd arrived at an enchanted elven village or a typical American roadside attraction. I later decided that it was a mash of both, minus the the elves-- although I think I did see a midget-- err little person. Having been attacked by twisting vines and stucco, this place really is quite lovely. Upon entering their shop, we realize that this is the Costco of vineyard shops. Bargain wines, multiple tasting stations, and an abundance of bulk wine sales greet us. Amid all of the boom, I feel like I'm going to barf, so I make a run for the cheese tasting section to try to get something more solid than a greasy burger in my stomach. I squeeze my way between a rotund fellow tasting every cheese on the chopping block, tried a morsel or two to ground my rolling belly, and score wedges of Garrotxa, Chipotle Cheddar, and Piave to munch on pre-dinner. Finally, I run back to the tasting room to, luckily, find a gentleman just opening up his station before all of the other plebs (I suddenly think I'm royalty in this fake enchanted village.) We try the wines. One of them tastes like strawberry cough syrup and is described as, "Great with pizza!" I'm almost losing faith, but we eventually come to a dry Reisling (2007 Johannisberg Dry Reisling) that I actually liked. I don't usually go for the sweet stuff, but this had a surprisingly crisp taste, and I have been dying to sip it again since we purchased some-- but alas, we are saving it for a special occasion, because back to reality--WE are the plebs. (FYI: All the wines sold at V. Sattui are only sold at the vineyard, and they welcome you to pop open a bottle and picnic on some cheese on one of their many picnic tables located on the vineyard grounds.)

Stop 3: Whitehall Lane
Quite the bare bones establishment to V. Sattui. This place had a rather small tasting counter with several reds I enjoyed, but an oaky Chardonnay that made my toes curl! Nevertheless we made it away with an equally oaky and nutty, but subtly sweet and rich Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a good buzz. The glass-capped Reserve Cab is still on our wish list.

Stop 4: Robert Sinskey Vineyards
Lastly came this charming little tasting room, which offered a drink menu that came with a bonus: SNACKS! For each bottle tasted came a particular hor d'oeuvre to enhance the taste. After about five glasses of wine (Spitting is for dorks-- and well, we had a driver!) the munchies were most welcome. I'm pretty sure I liked all the wine here, but by this point, I cannot be trusted. We bought a bottle of a blended red called POV. All the bottles at this vineyard have photos taken around the vineyard. Ours has a sheep on it. How adorable.

On the ride back, I forgot all about my hangover, and Persephone, and the swerves and the curves. I think I just fell asleep. Cheers!

Energy

2009-01-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

Having been stuck at home 1.) sick 2.) with no job 3.) afraid of frost bite, I've been getting a healthy dose of T.V., so I just saw that Pepsi Commercial with The Apples in Stereo's song 'Energy' in it. I actually didn't even realize it was them until I googled it, but after I did, it got me thinking. This could be bad.

First of all, here's the real video for the song directed by none other than Elijah Wood:

The video is pretty blah, but the song has been motivating me out of my personal blahs.

Second of all, I once won tickets to see The Apples in Stereo off my college radio station in North Carolina for their 2003 tour. It happened about this time 6 years ago. At the time I was going to UNC-Greensboro, and loathing all of my surroundings. Teen angst! Yessss! So I found my rather puerile review of the show.

I was 19, and looked something like this:

Apples in Stereo were really good, although the audience was being pretty lame. I mean, you would expect some people to dance or something with the kind of music that they are...but whatever. I mean, people started leaving before they even cut the lights back on in the club, nevertheless, the band came back and did an encore for the remainder of the polite people who paid to see their show. They look different than I thought they would...but they seemed really friendly and and bubbly...which I guess matches their music. Also...it was very smokey in Cat's Cradle(worse than usual)...and I thought my eyes were going to fall out. I am so glad they outlawed smoking in clubs in NY...one more reason to live there! (NOTE: BAHAHAHAHA!!!!) After the show, of course we had to go to:

(a 24-Hour greasy spoon in Carrboro. popular with the college-folk.)

(This is my friend, Adam at Time Out. He lives in Oakland now, and is married to a friend of the girl seated next him.)

So that was it...then we got back really late...and i had to park in BFE (Translation: Bum-Fuck Egypt)...and walk all the way ACROSS campus to my dorm, carrying my huge cd book, among other things. It was freezing outside. This was definitely my least favorite part of the evening.

p.s. i only have $35 in my bank account. uh mom? help...?

Not much has changed, I guess. I have since purchased an Ipod. (Although, I still have all my disks and tapes-- most likely covered in a layer of dust-- in a trunk in my apartment.)

Related.

2009-01-13T22:21:00.000-08:00

Tears of a Clown

2009-01-13T21:23:00.000-08:00

Speaking of a slacking economy-- Looks like Patches the Clown has taken a hit!

Poor Patches!

I know I'm a Little Late But...

2009-01-13T21:03:00.000-08:00

Failing Economy? Schmailing shmeconoshmy! Buy Some Stuff!

2009-01-12T23:10:00.000-08:00

ANTHEM magazine was supposed to be doing a "Cool Stuff In '09" article, which in a sad, sad 20 page cut, turned into an online project. I know some of the items were included in their Holiday Gift Guide, but the other 70 some odd items disappeared into dust. They may have appeared on Anthem's site, but I'm not sure.

Regardless, here are some of my blurbs:

PROJECT YOURSELF

The Optoma Pico Projector, an itty bitty video projector retailing at $430, hit shelves this December—it’s perfect for slideshows of holiday folly and impromptu, lo-fi movie dates. This little baby projects an image from most smart phones, iPods, and other handhelds for instant entertainment straight out of your pocket, with a maximum image size of 66 inches. One caveat: the amplified sound is as teeny as the 4.2-ounce device itself, so get an earphone jack splitter to watch with a buddy.

RETRO FLASH
Buying a digital camera can be tricky these days. On one hand you need something pro for those weather-beaten captures of your cross country trip next summer. On the other, you need something fast to bust out when you find your roommate locked out in nothing but his socks. Olympus understands. Not much bigger than a Twinkie, the compact, Olympus Micro Four Thirds Camera is smaller than its big bro the Four Thirds Camera, and comes fully equipped with auto-focus, interchangeable lenses. To top it all off, looks like a mini-version of your dad's leather bound job from the 70's.

THE DUTCH ODDITY

It's a motorcycle! It's a car! No-- It's a Carver One. This 3-wheeled Dutch hybrid vehicle steers like a car, but carves like a motorcycle for tight handling, earth-friendly fueling, and safety. And did we mention it’s fast as hell? The compact design allows tandem seating for a passenger, and easy parking in crowded, urban environments. While this should be available in the U.S. by late 2009, you might have to swim across the pond to try out this ride sooner; the release date in the U.S. for this fuel-efficient car-cycle keeps changing due to our heavy road rules and regs. (President Obama: Do something!) Check it out in Europe in 2009, and cross your fingers for a swift American release.

Object Oriented

Every morning, without thought, I take her in my hand, get her wet, and stick her in my mouth. She feels so under-appreciated-- So used! (I’m talking about my toothbrush, with its stoic curves, of course). Have you ever thought to examine and appreciate the mundane accessories that populate your life—the toasters, the forks, the pencils? If so, take note: filmmaker Gary Hustwit is a lover of objects, and in his upcoming film Objectified, he and his associates show us the beauty in those every day objects that we often forget to adore. "The term objectified has two meanings, " Says Hustwit, "One is 'to be treated with the status of a mere object.' But the other is 'something abstract expressed in a concrete form.' It's the act of transforming creative thought into a tangible object, which is what designers in this film do every day." Although Hustwit will be giving thought to those tangible things that many consider mundane, Objectified features some of the top chihuahuas in the design and art world—Paola Antonelli, Curator of Architecture and Design at NYC's MoMA, Jonathan Ive, Senior VP of Industrial Design at Apple—so expect bells and whistles on those forks and pencils.

Old Mystery Sunsets Down On Water

2009-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Wino Forever

2009-01-10T14:29:00.000-08:00

ON THE ROAD TO NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, DEC 2008

Baby It's Cold Outside, But I've Got My TV To Keep Me Warm

2009-01-09T23:44:00.000-08:00

BIG LOVE season premiere january 18 9pm
I have been waiting for this for what seems like a DECADE! I've even resorted to watching the old episodes On-Demand. In fact, HBO is offering three 2 minute sneak peaks of the new season for those who can't wait till next week! The sporadic seasons of Big Love might be blamed on last year's writer's strike, but I'm not certain. With the wide spacing of the seasons, I get freaked out with all the kids on the show, because suddenly they've all aged so drastically. When the first season ended Ben, the eldest son was a soft-faced little boy, by the time Season 2 began, he returned 2 feet taller, and totally makeoutable! Margene's babies went from newborn to about 10, okay 2, and she herself went from fat to anorexic. By next season, I won't be surprised if Sarah, the eldest daughter is 35, with 5 or 6 of her own kids running around!

Ah! I love this show. The drama, the score, the characters. Can't wait!

GOSSIP GIRL
The season premiere was totally disappointing and boring, but I'll still watch it, and hope it gets juicier. Mmm, incest (It's not really though, right? They share a half sibling, but that doesn't make them related. It will just make for um, awkward family reunions. Yeah.)

ROCK OF LOVE BUS
Honestly, the premiere of this show made me nauseous. I will still watch it though, as I am sort of desperate.

REAL WORLD BROOKLYN
See above-- AND I went to Trash Bar to see a friend of a friend play one night. About 10 people were there, but apparently, they had been taping in there earlier for this show. I'll always find guilty pleasure in TV shows, movies, and books set in NYC so I can pick out the places I recognize. (i.e. The Real Housewives of New York, Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, Woody Allen movies, Rom-Coms, Cactus Flower, The Great Gatsby, American Psycho, and of course, Breakfast at Tiffany's)

MAD MEN
Does anyone know when this premieres?! Last I heard there have been no new scripts written!! If this show ends and more trashy reality shows replace it, I might lose faith in the media all together. Last season didn't start till last July, so I'm not too worried yet.

HBO Presents GREY GARDENS april 2009
I am also extremely psyched to see HBO's presentation of Grey Garden's in which Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange take on the roles of Little Edie and Big Edie, respectively. The film will not just be a reenactment of the documentary, but will delve deeper into the pasts of the women, and what brought them to the house that came to be Grey Gardens. I noticed much negative commentary over the choice of Barrymore for the part, but the makeup on her in the scenes shot inside the house is exquisite, and she truly embodies the part. As far as her acting chops go: She has done a lot of fluffy films, but her skills truly do ring out in films such as Woody Allen's, Everyone Says I Love You-- Lest we forget, she IS a Barrymore!

CLICK THE LINK FOR HBO'S FIRST LOOK ON THE FILM:

http://drewsevolution.110mb.com/greygardens.htm

Plus people tell me I look like her so, you know, I dig her.

December 2008 to Now.

2009-01-06T15:14:00.000-08:00

Got laid off from my (semi-)fancy magazine job, but I didn't care that much. Great experience, low pay. Note: No job in the magazine industry is fancy. Looks like six to ten of my acquaintances have had the same thing happen to them recently, so I don't feel like a total loser. Left for North Carolina two days after my last day on the job. Immediately upon landing headed to NorthLake mall in Charlotte. Only 4 shopping days till Christmas! Bought my boyfriend a couple books-- one of my favorites, Like Water for Chocolate, and The Koran-- He said he wants to read the major religious texts this year. Got the fuck out of there before my head exploded. Headed to Concord Mills, another mall full of fat, sluggish shoppers. Got a 20-minute massage in the middle of the mall by a small young Asian kid. Worried that my ass crack was hanging out of my jeans the whole time, but then sorta got into it (Not in a sexual way). Met back up with my mom, feeling tired and sick, stopped at a craft store for some yarn. Spent the rest of the night on my parents' new leather couch engulfed in their plasma screen making a scarf for my stepmom. Woke up the next morning feeling mildly hungover even though I hadn't drunk anything. Headed to another mall. Bought my dad a Studs Terkel book, my boyfriend a robe, socks, and underwear, and my mom the new one by John Grisham-- Oh and my brother a Panthers jersey. At some point, bought my mom some other stuff, but this is all getting boring by now. Christmas Eve morning I woke up still feeling exhausted, but feeling like I could run a marathon from the adrenaline I was pulling out of the reserves. Headed to my grandparents'. My grandma has an embroidery machine, so I embroidered some gifts for my boyfriend's family. Got in a fight with my mom, because I needed to meet up with an old friend, Maren, from college, but went anyway. Had shitty wine at an Italian restaurant where they tried to charge us for Frangelico that we didn't drink. I almost told them to leave it on the bill, and bring us the shots-- but didn't. Went to my Aunt's for my family's traditional Christmas Eve celebration. Played Christmas charades and the gag gift game. Wished there was alcohol or a nap involved. Stayed up till 3am helping my mom wrap my own presents, and thinking to myself how much a waste wrapping presents is. Christmas morning started at 9am. Stockings, presents, ate quiche. Got to my dad's by 11:30am- presents-- headed to my grandma's. Nursed a glass of wine. Headed to my other grandma's. Walked into a fight between my teenage cousin and my mom because she told him to stop texting at the table. Ah, kids these days! After dinner everyone is forced to open gifts one by one-- a close equivalent to a 3-hour Indian burn. Loved to see the family though. Back to my mom's. My friend, Matt came over to chat with me while I packed. We went to high school together, and he lived in NYC for awhile, now he's in Austin. I miss him. The next morning I was up by 7am and at the airport by 8am to head to San Francisco. My plane was delayed by 3 hours, but I made my connecting flight in Chicago by 5 minutes. On the plane to SF was trapped by the window by a lady with MS who couldn't move her legs. To get in and out, I had to fully straddle her, so I didn't get my free soda for fear of not being able to get out to pee. Met my boyfriend's parents for the first time. Felt anxiety over whether to shake hands or hug upon meeting them. I awkwardly did both. Had my third Christmas dinner of the season, but I was starving, so it was okay. Went to Fisherman's Wharf, and saw the seals, but most of them were retired for the winter. Had a decent soft shell crab sandwich, and bought some greens at the fresh foods market for New Years day. Tried every free sample I came across. Also, got a migraine, and felt like I was going to puke later in the day. Took a nap. Went to a restaurant called Bix that was all decorated like the 20's for my boyfriend's parents' anniversary. I mean, it was decorated like that all the time, not just for the dinner. Had marrow bones that were so rich the marrow dripped down my chin, tuna ceviche with jalapenos, and lamb sirloin. My headache was gone, so we met my friend, Leti from NYC at another bar that I forget the name of in the Mission, and later danced at a bar called the Knockout that my boyfriend claims he had been to before, but I dunno. Kind of drunk, we cabbed it back to the Marina, the hoity toity neighborhood my BF's sister lives in. Up and out the door by 10am for a ride to Napa Valley. We'd rented a van and driver, but the twists and turns on the way there were making me nauseous. Stopped at In-n-Out Burger. People rave about that place, but I'd take Wendy's or Taco Bell over that mash any day of the week. Yes, I got it "animal style." Stopped at a bunch of wineries. Ended up with three bottles in comparison to Mike's family's 6 cases. A meager, but good start to our collection. Napa is beautiful though. Go there to dream. That night, I think we had sushi at a place called Zushi Puzzle. Sashimi, sake, rolls, the usual. I can't remember what we did later. Might have just had wine with Mike's fam. The next day walked from the Marina to Lower Haight. My legs are still burning from it. Found a rad vintage Betsey Johnson sweater dress at some thrift store there, ate pizza, and gave some away to some gutter punks. On the way there Mike realized the Butthole Surfers were playing the Fillmore, and got Gibby to put us on the list. I was psyched because we didn't get to see them in New York. This old hippie was doing those crazy psychedelic oil projections behind the band, which was cool. Just to note: The bouncers at the Fillmore are fucking dickwads. Met a girl outside the venue from Spain. I think her name was Ana. She had recently married her ex-boyfriend of eight years and said, "As long as you love, nothing else matters!" Grabbed a cab to a bar in the Mission appropriately named Casanova's to hook up with Mike's friends. The ratio of dudes to girls was 4:1. I went in to pee, and overheard a convo between two highly made up gals, "Brian Boitano? Don't we know him?" "Yeahhh. Didn't he go to --insert high school name here--?" Regarding the scrawling, "I <3 Brian Boitano!" on the wall by the bathroom mirror. As I was jetting out of the place, ran into Mike's friends who ushered us to a bar around the corner surrounded by bikers. Slow-danced to Love and Rockets, So Alive with Mike, and established it as "our song." I know, barf. On the cab ride home, had an arab cab driver who wore a purple turban, and good-heartedly talked to us about love and marriage. Next morning realized our legs weren't the best mode of transport, and took the 22 Bus to Pacific Heights for some upscale thrifting. I got an incredibly short vintage Ungaro dress to wear New Years Eve. It's turquoise and looks good with my hair. Mike found an awesome three piece suit, but it was a tiny bit too tight, so he decided against it. Made fajitas for Mike's sister and her boyfriend, and rang in the New Year at a dive-y sports bar in the Marina called the Horseshoe. Mike's sister's boyfriend is obsessed with all sports, but especially the Oakland Raiders. Mike bought everyone tequila shots to toast instead of champagne. We wanted to get out of the Marina, so we went to another party that Leti told us about that was basically a college kegger thrown by adult goths and ravers-- Or those reminiscing "the good ol' days." She wasn't there though, so we met her at another party full of party kids whom I felt I might have been friends with a few years ago. We arrived back home at 6am. Slept the majority of the next day. Saw that Benjamin Button movie. The next day was Mike's 30th birthday. We had really good vietnamese in the Financial District, hot toddys at Vesuvio where I ran into my long lost friend Adele who was bartending there, then took BART to Berkeley, which was totally pointless. I wanted to go to this little Ethiopian place I saw there, but met up with Mike's sister instead, who drove us back into the city, and steaks at Izzy's in the Marina. Got really drunk later on Manhattans at another dive that I liked better than the last one we were at. We returned home to take stupid drunk photos of each other that we can never show anyone. The next afternoon headed to the Mission again on a bus. Buses in SF are not like NYC subways. Quickly learned to sit in back, as sitting in front will force you to sit next to every homeless and/or crazy person smelling of urine/feces that boards. One guy got on with his own squishy butt cushion smelling like a booze factory, and made friends with another who thought he was Howdy Doody. Got Mike Mexican food at a place that looks like it could be in LA, and new shoes from a store that mostly sold colorful suits to pimps or those who wanted to look like them. The food was mediocre, but the shoes are A+. Arrived back in New York a couple nights ago. I've been sitting in my pajamas for a full day now staring at two unpacked suitcases.

To Do In 2009: 1.) Unpack suitcases 2.) Find job.

(This has been an homage to Bret Easton Ellis.)

Nothing Could Be Finer

2008-12-28T22:40:00.000-08:00

I made it to San Francisco. A million photos and commentary from my trip to North Carolina &etc to come.

Win when?

2008-12-26T07:10:00.000-08:00

Super bummed in NC seeks ride to SF
I'm kind of annoying and can't give you gas money, but at least you don't have to be reminded of what a loser with no friends you are driving alone, and I won't be sitting in the airport all day. Win-win!

I almost forgot!

2008-12-20T10:38:00.000-08:00

I reviewed the new-ish Gang Gang Dance album in the Bust mag that's on stands now.

GANG GANG DANCE- Saint Dymphna

Historically speaking Saint Dymphna was the beautiful daughter of the Irish chief Damon who was tragically beheaded by her dad when she refused to commit him her hand after her mother’s passing. Her burial place is known to cure mental illness. Saint Dymphna is also the newest release by the experimentalist Brooklyn-based foursome Gang Gang Dance, who sounds like they could benefit from a visit to the Saint’s grave with the schizophrenic arrangements on this new work. We start in a psychedelic kaleidoscope of percussion and Asian inspired synths (Bebey), jump to techno blips (So aptly named House Jam), and then find that most surprisingly Gang Gang goes hip-hop with Brit MC Tinchy Stryder. One thing is constant: Lizzi Bougatsos continues to channel Kate Bush’s moans, whispers, and wails, but sometimes mixes in some M.I.A-like grunts. Most refreshingly, GGD seem to have climbed out of the cardboard box that they’d been recording in on their past records, and into a real recording studio as Saint Dymphna is crystal clear and headphone ready.

MARY-LOUISE PRICE

FUN FACTS:
-I saw GGD perform at the Social Registry's CMJ showcase at Santos Partyhouse, and it was truly an electrifying performance. PIX (not by me.)
-Much of this record was recorded at Vacation Island Studios in Bushwick, which I can highly recommend as a great place to record.

Pictures of Me When I was 22.

2008-12-19T19:11:00.000-08:00

THE FUTURE!

2008-12-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

This is the uniform at my office now. Sort of headache inducing, but hey, FASHION FIRST!

that's me in the spotlight

2008-12-07T21:52:00.000-08:00

THE CLOISTERS, NYC

that's me in the corner

2008-12-07T21:38:00.000-08:00

THE CLOISTERS, NYC

Handmade.

2008-11-24T13:41:00.000-08:00

Check out this video made for Etsy on the wonderfully imaginative comic artist and writer, Leslie Stein.

I met Leslie years ago when I found myself at a party at her house for the release of the comic, "YEAH IT IS!" I have no idea how I ended up there, but every time she sees me, we laugh about how there is a random photo of me standing in her kitchen (Guess you had to be there.) I have yet to see this photo.

Read all about her, and buy her comics and crafts here:
Handmade Portraits: Leslie Stein

And you can also catch her playin' the gee-tar for Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson-- well for another 2 days anyway
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/146510-castanets-miles-benjamin-anthony-robinson-tour
11-24 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
11-25 Boston, MA - T.T. the Bear's Place *
11-26 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall *

Go GREENS.

2008-11-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

I made this recipe that was recommended by my friend, Susan the other day for Collard Greens. It turned out to be an amazingly fresh alternative to my family's usual bacon fatty Southern soaked version.

Collard Greens with Currants and Almonds

1 BUNCH COLLARD GREENS, CUT INTO 1 INCH STRIPS
1 MEDIUM YELLOW ONION- CHOPPED
Approx. 2 TBS. OLIVE OIL
2 CLOVES GARLIC- Minced
1/4 C. CURRANTS
1/4 C. SLIVERED ALMONDS

Heat large pot on high. Add olive oil (Be generous; Add more than 2 Tbs. if necessary), onion and garlic. Simmer on high for 1 minute then add collard greens, currants, and almonds. Toss in a splash of water for steaming. Let cook for six minutes stirring occasionally.

*I'm also going to bring these to my family's North Carolina Thanksgiving table this year, but I'm going to give pine nuts a try in the place of almonds. Mmmm!

So cold cold cold

2008-11-23T13:50:00.000-08:00

I saw this on someone else's blog, and decided to let you in on my own very secret beauty secrets.

A: WHAT ACCESSORIES DO YOU WEAR EVERYDAY?
-A gold ring my mom bought me in Jamaica that I picked out because the stones in it were very rastafarian-- mother of pearl, black onyx, yellow agate, some green stone (Maybe adventurine?) Most of the semi-precious stones have fallen out in my many escapades, but I still love it. It reminds me of a rough time that I overcame.

-My glasses, duh. Contacts if it's an extra extra special vanity necessary event.

B: WHAT IS YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE?
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!! Oil of Olay Complete All Day UV Moisture Lotion, 'cause that's what my grandma uses and it contains an SPF 15. I use Maybelline Pure Makeup from Duane Reade as concealer when I need to cover up the circles under my eyes, and Make Up Forever Duo Mat Powder Foundation otherwise. I had a gift certificate to Sephora recently, and I got Laura Mercier Lip Stain in Scarlet that I've been obsessed with-- When not wearing that I'm a fan of Blistex, Lush's Lip Balm in Honey Trap, and Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in Raisin Rage. I also wear tons of lotion, or my shit gets aaashy. I don't use this daily, but one of my fave skincare products is Buffy the Backside Slayer by Lush. It's for use on your bumpy, dry winter butt, but it's great for sloughing the dead skin off your whole bod. I also love Lush's products because they are handmade and organic.

C: WHAT WAS THE LAST ITEM OF CLOTHING (FOR YOURSELF) THAT YOU PURCHASED?
I think it was a little babydoll dress I got on sale in Soho a few months ago. Hard times, folks!

D: DO YOU USE A DRESSER, CLOSET, OR BOTH?
I have an armoir, dresser, and 2 closets, and not a damn thing to wear!

E: WHAT TYPE OF EARRINGS ARE IN YOUR EARS RIGHT NOW?
None.

F: WHAT TYPE OF FIGURE DO YOU HAVE (MEASUREMENTS)?
"When it comes to females, Cosmo ain't got nothin'
to do with my selection. 36-24-36? Ha ha, only if she's 5'3"

Pretty close to that.

G: DO YOU WEAR GLASSES?
Yup.

H: WHAT TYPE OF HANDBAG DO YOU CARRY?
God. I have the ugliest handbags. I really need a new one. It's embarrassing. Right now I've been carrying this weird patchwork leather thing. It's hideous. I just carry a lot of crap, so I need big grandma bags.

I: WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL STYLE?
I've been trying to dress more like a grown up lately-- not sure if it's working.

J: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BRAND OF JEANS?
Um, my favorite jeans are actually from Old Navy 2 years ago.

K: DO YOU WEAR KNEE-HI STOCKINGS?
I've always been a fan of dressing like a doll. I like thigh highs better.

L: DO YOU *HAVE* TO WEAR MATCHING LINGERIE?
Do period stained panties count as lingerie? KIDDING! I have some stuff that matches, but my undie drawer is a wreck. I kind of prefer the mismatched look. It makes me feel reckless and dirty. TMI?

M: DO YOU WEAR MAKEUP?
YEAH.

N: DO YOU WEAR NIGHTGOWNS?
I actually have one nightgown, but if I'm wearing nightclothes, I prefer tap pants and tank tops, or my birthday suit.

O: WHAT OUTERWEAR DO YOU PUT ON WHEN GOING OUT ON A TYPICAL WINTER’S DAY?
A coat, a scarf, a hat, gloves, and headphones that are connected to an Ipod.

P: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PERFUME?
Too much perfume gives me headaches, but I have had a bottle of Jean Patou Enjoy Body Lotion that a friend gave me as a gift years ago that I dab on occasionally.

Q: IS YOUR MOTTO “QUALITY OVER QUANTITY” WHEN IT COMES TO CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES?
Definitely. I'd rather buy quality electronics, home, and food items over clothing though.

R: DO YOU WEAR RAIN BOOTS?
No. I always tend to be wearing the worst possible shoes for walking on rainy days. I have some boots that are perfectly fine for puddle splashing, but aren't rubber galoshes.

S: DO YOU WEAR SOCKS OR SLIPPERS WHEN YOUR FEET GET COLD?
I have more lounge wear than any person should. My favorites are a pair of old man slippers I won in a gag gift game.

T: DO YOU HAVE A SET OF TRAVEL LUGGAGE?
None of it matches, so I don't know if it can be called a "set" per se, but yes.

U: WHAT IS YOUR DAILY UNIFORM?
I'm not a cartoon character! Who has a "daily uniform"?

V: IF YOU ARE MARRIED, DID YOU WEAR A VEIL WITH YOUR WEDDING DRESS?
Not married.

W: DO YOU WEAR A WATCH?
No.

X: WHAT ITEM OF CLOTHING ALWAYS MAKES YOU FEEL BEAUTIFUL?
Dresses. Fancy ones. And scarves.

Y: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF YARN?
Yarn? I don't knit.

Z: DO YOU PREFER ZIPPERS OR BUTTONS?
Buttons.

men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses

2008-11-23T12:23:00.000-08:00

Why are glasses so en vogue now? It makes me wanna barf.

Being legally blind, I am happy that there are thousands of interesting frames for those of us visually challenged-- BUT for the rest of those out there who do not share my plight, I feel a little disdain, as glasses-wearing is not that great, never will be, and is mostly a pain in the ass. (Extra UGH to those who wear the frames without the lenses. At least fake bad vision if you're wearing the frames for style.)

One of the worst things about wearing glasses is the dilemma of laying down with the glasses on. Whether it be to watch TV or read a book, there is only one way you may lay, and that's on your back-- not always the most comfortable. Recently, I found a solution in this fabulous book, 101 UN-Useless Japanese Inventions by Kenji Kawakami.

Cranium Grabbing Glasses--

Amazing! Now if they only made these in neon colors (I kid.)

Hallo?

2008-11-14T23:51:00.000-08:00

Photo by Dave Johnny

I was:

BF was:
Check out the last minute construction of our costumes in the video a few posts back-- HERE

Katherine was Bad Sandy, Catherine was I dunno-- a 50's housewife or something. The only other person in that group I know is the guy on the end, Nate(Click the image for full view.), and he is Steve Aoki.

democracy tonight is your answer.

2008-11-08T23:22:00.000-08:00

cheers!

Some Things WILL Change!!

2008-11-05T18:40:00.000-08:00

Tupac was wrong!!

WOOOOOOO! WOOOOOOO!!!

R.I.P. Studs Terkel

2008-11-02T09:02:00.000-08:00

"My epitaph? My epitaph will be 'Curiosity did not kill this cat."

MAY 16, 1913 - OCT 31, 2008

"Perhaps it is this specter that most haunts working men and women: the planned obsolescence of people that is of a piece with the planned obsolescence of the things they make. Or sell. It is perhaps this fear of no longer being needed in a world of needless things that most clearly spells out the unnaturalness, the surreality of much that is called work today."

I was required to read the Pulitzer Prize winning Louis "Studs" Terkel's Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression in a history class in college by an awesome professor who had long hair and always wore tweed blazers with leather elbow patches. This was perfect for me as it reminded me of swinging on my Grandma's old porch swing while she told me of how I came to be. These stories are truer than those in any history textbook, as they came directly out of the mouths of those who lived them. Studs' uncanny ability to relate was also used as a radio host on 98.7 WFMT Chicago between 1952 and 1997, and a political activist. On his hour-long program he would interview guests as diverse as Bob Dylan, Leonard Bernstein, and Alexander Frey. Terkel, age 96, recently fell in his home this past October, and had been suffering since. He is said to have died peacefully Friday evening. I'll borrow Studs' weekly radio sign off and say, "Take it easy, but take it."

Check out his new book, P.S. Further Thoughts From a Lifetime of Listening scheduled to be released in December, and also these titles from the past: Giants of Jazz, Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, And They All Sang: Adventures of an Eclectic Disc Jockey.

Creativity Central!

2008-11-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

Being that my email is marylouise@gmail.com, I get TONS of misdirected messages to other Marys, Louises, Mary Lous, and of course Mary-Louises. It usually happens when someone forgets to tack on the last name. I've gotten everything from a hate letter from a woman to her sister to party invites in Georgia to photos of people's kids and their weekend getaways. I even had one woman incessantly argue with me when I wrote her to simply tell her she was sending her ridiculous chain letters to the wrong address.

BUT today I received this little gem of a forward from Miss Mary Pattie Butters. Such a cute name, and also interesting because there IS an aptly-named company called Mary Louise Butters who make brownies. Maybe she thought I was the brownie lady?

Anyway, I digress.

Now presenting...MR. CRAYOLA

Don Marco..... The Master Crayola Artist

Don Marco was born in Northern Minnesota in the late 1920's. His interest in art was evident even before starting school. As a young adult in the Army Air Corp, he began his life's career in Air Traffic Control, which continued until his retirement from Honolulu International Airport in 1973. Much of his spare time was spent as a professional artist.

Before retirement, Don started developing a technique to create fine art, using Crayola Crayons. Shortly after retiring, he published his first print. Living in Southern California, his work was in demand, including commissions from Burt Reynolds and a one-man show at his Dinner Theater in Florida.

Hard to imagine these are done with crayons!!!

(In addition to being the Bob Ross of the 24 pack, he has a dinner theatre in Florida where he PERFORMS! Woah.)

Burt is my favorite, but if you wanna check out more see Sandy's Thoughts in Houston, Texas

Oh, and here's his website:
THE MASTER CRAYON ARTIST

Prepare Yourselves...

2008-11-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Because it's gonna be a SCRRREAM! MUAH HA HA

CM-NoWAY!

2008-10-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

While everyone in NYC is going crazy over CMJ right now, I figured I'd update about some musical happenings beyond.

1.)

Below are the dates for the first ever Electric Owls (Members of The Comas) Tour. All dates are supporting Bishop Allen (As seen in the so cute you could puke, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and even though Electric Owls will be touring sans drummer like the fictional opener in the film 'The Jerk Offs', they sound nothing like that band. Here, just check out the myspace for songs, sheesh! http://www.myspace.com/electricowls)

BA tour:

Date Venue
11.01 Black Cat DC
11.0 Local 506 Chapel Hill NC
11.05 Opolis Norman OK
11.06 Bash’s Rip Rock 2
11.07 Hailey’s
11.10 The Loft @ UCSD
11.11 Echo LA
11.12 Independent San Fran
11.14 Kilbey Court Salt Lake
11.15 High Dive Denver
11.16 M-Shop Idaho?
11.17 Subterranean Chicago
11.18 Bear’s Place
11.19 Horn Gallery
11.20 Middle East (Downstairs) Boston
11.21 Olde Clube
11.22 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn
11.23 Music Hall of Wiliamsburg Bk

BEFORE the tour though (This is for all of you folks in Crack-a-lacka who don't read my blog.) is a free show in Asheville in support of BARACK OBAMA:

http://mergerecords. com/news. php?month=Oct+2008

Asheville, NC
10/28 @ The Grey Eagle
Bands start at 8pm

The Reigning Sound 1030
Tift Merritt 10
Chris Stamey (dBs) 930
Portastatic 9
Greg Humphreys (Hobex) 830
Electric Owls 8

2.)

Now other friends are on the road playing shows too, and they're trying to win this contest from Taco Bell, so they will get free tacos for a year or some such thing, so vote for them. Hymns from NYC.

feed the broke

*You might recognize some other folks you know on there, but trust me, these guys need free tacos worse than anyone else. I won't go into details, just trust me.

3.)

And back in NYC: The BF is playing drums Saturday night for a band. Go to the show.


Start Time:	Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 7:00pm

Location:	Leo Kesting Gallery
Street:	812 Washington St at Ganesvoort St
City/Town:	Manhattan, NY
	Google MapQuest Microsoft Yahoo

8 P.M. "Beach Bummed" by Sebastian Ischer starring Love as Laughter and This Frontier Needs Heroes (Comedy)
9 ~This Frontier Needs Heroes live electric band!
~ "The Good Life" by Matt Goldman (Homage to italian cinema)
10 ~Elizabeth Harper and the Matinee
11 ~Living Days

Really Special DJ's (Which means, probably Ivan and Sam Jayne or something)

Okey Dokey. Back to work.

Mad About Maddow

2008-10-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

I just want to say that I have a huge crush on Rachel Maddow--

And it seems a lot of other people do too! In the six weeks that her show, 'The Rachel Maddow Show', has been on air, she has DOUBLED the ratings of MSNBC for her timeslot in comparison to her predecessor! That's at 9pm EST, primetime TV, and a big deal!

Read more at NYTIMES.com.

up all night

2008-10-11T21:52:00.001-07:00

it's green being easy

2008-10-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

Palin' In Comparison!

2008-10-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

I could offer some over-opinionated blabber about last night's debate, and about how much of a dangerous cuckoo bird Sarah Palin is-- but I won't waste my time. I'll just note a few key statements of the evening.

1. Ifill: "As Vice President, there's nothing you've promised as a candidate that you would take off the table because of this financial issue?"
Palin: "There is not, and how long have I been at this? Like five weeks?"

2. "I may not answer the questions the way that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I'm going to talk straight to the American people." (So that I can dodge any questions I cannot or do not want to answer.)

Okay Okay, so Biden was definitely the "winner" of the debate in my eyes simply because he answered his questions, knew what he was talking about, and didn't mention hockey even once! Palin did what she needed to do, and that was not totally make fool of herself as she has in her recent interviews, nor run crying off the stage. She also placated to the hometown folk with her po-dunky, poorly crafted sentences that is gonna make all her fellow hockey moms say, "Aw, she's like one of us. She's a good girl." Who cares if the syntax was all wonky and she didn't really know what she was talking about? Neither do most of America! Oh well, keep your fingers crossed, and vote for our salvation at the polls people. That's all that can be done.

I figured this is also a good time to post the spoof of Ann and Nancy Wilson's F U to McCain for using 'Barracuda' as Palin's theme (Real letter here.):

Kenley Might Go to Bryant Park Too?!?!

2008-10-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

This is my only commentary on Project Runway:

Oh Say Can You See?

2008-10-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

The Fall 2008 ANTHEM is out!

Inside you will find Beck, Dennis Hopper, Ryan McGinley, Agathe Snow, Fleet Foxes, and my piece on NYC BIKE POLO (which includes photos by Jeff Vallee)!

Bonus: The above photo did not end up in the piece, because I never got this girl's info, but I thought she was cute.

Rick and Michelle's New Home

2008-09-29T22:01:00.001-07:00

New Orleans

July 2008

Koreoketown

2008-09-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

I started making a list of awesome karaoke songs I always sing, and most of them just happened to be from the 80's. People wore shorter shorts, and had funner hair cuts then (See?)-- No other explanation.

Awesome Karaoke in Koreatown Went Like This:

1. Bon Jovi- Livin' on a Prayer (Twice)

2. Guns 'n' Roses- Sweet Child O' Mine

3. J. Geils Band- Angel In The Centerfold

4. Heart- Magic Man

5. Journey- Don't Stop Believin'

6. Madonna- Like a Prayer

7. Aerosmith- Crazy

8. The Knack- My Sharona

9. The Clash- Should I Stay Or Should I Go

10. Abba- Waterloo (There were a lot of Swedes there.)

I've written before about how much I love karaoke. What I didn't write about is that the love of busting a note (A NOTE!) runs through my blood. My grandma is an amazing singer, and my dad is quite a songbird himself. Luckily, some of us (them) inherited a bit more talent than others (me).

My dad is kind of obsessed with a website called Singsnap. It's a social networking site that's half karaoke, and half American Idol. People sing along to any of the hundreds of midi files of popular tunes uploaded on the site, and are given the opportunity to compete in competitions organized by other members via message boards. Many people include videos of themselves singing, some make slideshows, and some don't allow any visuals at all.

Here's my dad performing Sweet Child O' Mine (He's even got the Axl sway down). Yes, the absurdly cute child in the slideshow is me (and the other pics of some person in their weird late teens-- well, I plead the fifth on that one.)

Though I find the site a bit strange, I understand the attraction. My dad claims it's good for his soul to perform for these strangers, much like playing dumb about belting out "Since You Been Gone" in the shower when you know damn well everyone in your apartment building can hear you. Their slogan is "Singsnap- Like You've Got Something Better To Do." I get that, but I still prefer to just take a couple tequila shots, and let the eighties hits fly IN PUBLIC! So, when I go back to North Carolina for the holidaze, I'm determined to get my pops to a local karaoke night.

So Inviting

2008-09-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

Amazing!

Diesel SFW XXX - Watch more free videos
XXX

His Eyes Were a Blue Million Miles

2008-09-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

RIP Paul Newman
You will forever live on in my bedroom atop this fabulous pillowcase (Scored on Ebay for 6 bucks!), and in my salads.

Here's a screen test from Paul's early years, alongside James Dean:

With that, we shall review a bunch of songs about blue eyes to remember the azure pools that were his.

REM- Pale Blue Eyes (Really Awesome Cover! Live in Passaic 1984)

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band- Her Eyes Were a Blue Million Miles (Big Lebowski fans?)

Elvis Presley- Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (Another version by Charley Pride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmVEMMnAQvo Willie Nelson also does a great job too, but duh. It's Willie Nelson.)

The Black Crowes- Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye (This song comes on my iPOD shuffle about every 3 songs. It's really weird.)

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young- Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (Live at Woodstock)

Stray Cats- Baby Blue Eyes (Where did Brian Setzer disappear now? Oh, he reunited these dudes for a "Farewell" to Australia--and to his pride-- tour, of course!)

The Blue Comets- Blue Eyes (Although it's all in Japanese, so who knows if that's what they're saying? Cool song anyway. Organ organ organ!)

Timmy Curran- Blue Eyes (This guy was a pro-surfer and just released an album. I actually kind of like this cheesy folky song, although he has a new souped up heavily produced version that's even cheesier with a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkrAZI92Oxo)

Bullet- White Lies, Blue Eyes (This is the kind of shit you start finding once you dive into a wormhole on Youtube.)

Steve Lawrence- Pretty Blue Eyes (This guy is like a white Sam Cooke-- sort of.)

Lastly, here is an amazing tribute video someone made to figure skater Evgeni Plushenko (Yeah, no clue who he is either.) to The Who's 'Behind Blue Eyes'.

THIS IS IT!

2008-09-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

The new Bust is out with my article on the amazing and fun Marnie Stern (and also some chick named Sarah Silverman on the cover). Go buy it!

Marnie in action at SXSW:

"Every Single Line Means Something" from Marnie's debut (Sophomore release, THIS IS IT out in October)

I'm Voting McCain

2008-09-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

A friend just sent this to me, and perhaps it should be called "I'm voting McCain" for I don't really like lumping all Republicans into his beliefs, but nevertheless this puts out a truthful (albeit satirical) message. Fave part: "If the label says it's food, that's good enough for me!"

What's the difference between Palin and Muslim fundamentalists? Lipstick!

No Roe v. Wade, no health insured birth control, no sex education in schools to prevent teen pregos, no Title X for the broke young moms! SHAME!!

Register now.
(Deadline in NYC is October 10th.)

Vote Obama 11.04.08 (Duh!)

Register now.
(Deadline in NYC is October 10th.)

Vote Obama 11.04.08

A Supposedly Fun Thing He'll Never Do Again

2008-09-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

R.I.P David Foster Wallace

DFW is one of the people that made me want to write. Sadly, he was found in his home around 9:30pm yesterday to have committed suicide. Much beloved by many readers, his sardonic wit will live on in his bestsellers, and will most surely be unsuccessfully emulated by imitators to come. (SOURCE)

Here is a link to his commencement speech to the Class of 2005 at Kenyon University. If anyone knew about the human condition, it was this guy:

http://www.marginalia.org/dfw_kenyon_commencement.html

Thug Presley In This Bitch!

2008-09-03T08:22:00.000-07:00

"I regret what happened. I'm so sorry," Says Kristopher Presley after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in District Court last Wednesday. Even prior to the charge, the Memphis-born distant relative of the most famous Presley and former Jailhouse Rocker, worked under the moniker 'Thug' Presley as a struggling hip hop artist in Las Vegas (Following family tradition.) According to a police report, a confrontation broke out in 2004 when one of Presley's friends uttered a racial slur, thus resulting in the murder. However, Presley has already served more than 1,100 days in jail during the case, and is expected to be released soon from the Clark County Detention Center. Greg Denue, Presley's attorney seemed optimistic following the trial, "He's tried to get on with his life--with his music."
SOURCE

Look out for Thug's first major label release, White Gold to drop next year!!

Original Gangsta

Pranksta

West Coast

Dirty South

There's Just No Kick With a Little Dick

2008-08-19T13:27:00.001-07:00

There's spray-on hair, spray-on tans, spray-on stain remover-- now spray-on condoms??!

As a teenager, [Jan Vinzenz] Krause [designer of the Jolly Joe Spray-On Condom], now 30, had trouble finding the right size condom, which set him on a quest to aid other similarly befuddled young men. "They told me, 'Mr. Krause, I don't understand why the industry doesn't develop a condom which fits you perfectly,' " he says. Hence his idea for a spray-on condom. "The condom fits 100% perfectly, so the safety is much higher than a standard condom's, and it feels more natural." Krause says men are reluctant to go to a drugstore cashier with a box of small-size condoms — for obvious reasons. His solution: he plans to sell his new line of different-size condoms online. "Men on the Web," he says, "they are very honest."
-Callie LeFevre

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1832445,00.html?xid=newsletter-weekly

They do say it's the motion in the ocean, not the size of the dog in the fight, and good things come in small packages, right? I'm not really sure how you peel these suckers (Ew!) off, and I certainly wouldn't wanna suck on one, but I suppose a tiny dude spraying one on is better than having his Magnum slink off spraying baby juice. Just don't shoot your eye out, kid-- or SPRAY it out. OUCH!

Country Mouse City House

2008-08-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

My old roommate and friend, Kate Hudson (No, not THAT Kate Hudson, silly!) just posted a bunch of photos on flickr that I thought you all might enjoy.

The way I met Kate was rather serendipitous. She contacted me via a friend of an acquaintance when one of the rooms in my apartment was available. If you know me, you know of my love of coincidences-- or things that appear to be so. We interviewed one young prim and proper girl, who was sweet as pie, but I knew would never be able to handle my frequent mood swings of the time. Kate was young and quiet, but I sensed that there was a bit of grime nestled under her fingernails and I liked that. Oddly, she was originally from North Carolina, as I am, and had grown up attending a Quaker school. My family were (mostly non-practicing, wanna-be) Southern Baptists, but two of my good friends had spent time in the sprawling fields of Indiana at a Quaker college, so it seemed that these two commonalities meant she should stay with us-- and she did for awhile.

Here are her photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitemule

www.drunkataparty.blogspot.com

2008-08-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

Bust's 15th anniversary was last Tuesday night. There were singers, there were dancers, there were comediennes, and romancers--- BUT most of all there were good times and drink tickets.

YAY! Happy bday Bust!

Who do voodoo?

2008-08-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

My friend has been in Zambia, Africa the past couple months working with the Lubuto Library Project, which is a program that built a library in Lusaka, Zambia and is aiding in bringing books and other learning aids to Zambia's street children.

She started a blog for the organization. Check it out at the address below:
http://hllp.blogspot.com/

She also started a separate blog detailing some other experiences in Zambia unrelated to her work, including a visit to a small village where she was the first white person the children had ever seen! A friend she met had grown up in the village, and took her back with him for a visit.
http://chilungugirl.blogspot.com/

All photos belong to Holly Morganelli.

Sleeved

2008-08-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

Sleevefacing has long been a favorite drunken activity, and most recently a way to cover an ugly mug on internet social networking sites. Today while, um "working", I found a slew of 'em on Flickr. My favorites were made in impromptu situations, but I did find a guy who has made the classic sleeveface into an artform.

He even did a whole collection of just Barry Manilow.
http://flickr.com/photos/cgstopgo/

Some of the rest below:

Fallin' For You

2008-08-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

This is mostly for Shea--The Niagara Falls photos I mentioned before:

Razoozled: 'Getting Razzed' Has A Whole New Meaning

2008-08-03T00:16:00.000-07:00

From the Razzoo's* website:

Is that guy in black face**? WTF? W.T.F??!

*Reference previous post.

**Yes, I do plan on seeing Tropic Thunder.

MMMMMM Toasty!

2008-08-02T13:07:00.000-07:00

When I turned sixteen, I got my first car for my birthday with the only condition being that I pay for the gas and maintenance myself. This resulted in my working in one of the offices of my dad's company for a couple hours after school daily for my final two years of high school. I pretty much had it made. 70% of my duties was going on ice cream runs for the gals in the office in my new wheels (White '91 Buick Regal with red leathuh interior!), and the other 30% of my time was spent gossiping with them. Finally, the day of doom came around when I was reprimanded for sporting daisy dukes and platforms in the office, and that was it. Being the pigheaded gal that I am, I decided anyplace must be better than that stuffy dump. That day I took my first steps down the long, winding, magical path of THE FOOD INDUSTRY!!

My first job was hostessing at Razzoo's Cajun Cafe, a chain whose only other locations are oddly in Texas. We opened the restaurant in Charlotte, and were taught to greet customers with a big ol' smile and a spirited, "Hey Y'all!!!" I was fired after a week and a half. I began thinking that perhaps serving others was not my forté . I took a leave of absence from the industry to think it over, and checked out the retail side of things slinging Doc Martens in the mall shoe store, Journeys--after all, their slogan is "An attitude you can wear."

Following that job, I jumped from movie theater employee, to Renaissance Fest serving wench, to bank teller, and eventually to a short stint at Quizno's, which is where I saved up a meager amount of cash to move to Bushwick, Brooklyn. Thanks Quiznos! It wasn't until I moved to New York that I really dove into the service industry head first.

My first waitressing job was in a dingy irish bar and restaurant that paid me just enough to barely make rent. The job ended 8 months after it began when the bartender threw a cup of tartar sauce on me. Though I stuck around in the service industry this time, I vowed to never waitress again no matter what.

Check out this great essay on the very industry that feeds you, me, and paid my rent for 5+ years:
IN WHICH YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE LOSING A PIECE OF YOUR SOUL

It's Like Asking Niagara Not To Fall

2008-08-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

This morning I sat pouring over someone else's memories. A tingle in my stomach, and gnaw on my heart soon coaxed tiny pools of water to puddle in the corners of my eyes. My eyes didn't cry though-- Just puddling, pooling, and drying. Sort of the anti-cry, because I knew it was silly to be sentimental for something I didn't even own. There was something inside me that wanted it for myself, but then I realized that one day I'll have just as many memories to sprinkle bittersweet tears on.

Some friends of my mine, HYMNS just returned from a small tour, and had stopped off in Niagara Falls for tourist time. This provoked me to look up funny photos of tourists taking photos of themselves in front of the falls (I shouldn't be telling people this stuff.), which lead me to this amazing cache of vintage photos from one flickr member. *

Here are her memories:

"I grew up on Conesus Lake, New York."

"My mother called this my Robert Mitchum look."

"During the summer of 1970, when my husband, Jeff, was 19, his parents went away for a short trip. He took this opportunity to have a party at his parent's house. Stories for the ages were made, but Jeff forbids me to add them here. Four of the nine have passed away -- a high mortality rate for a bunch of guys who should all be in their fifties."

"This was Jeff's childhood home in Carle Place, Long Island, NY. This was the end of the Colonial Revival period and Jeff's family lived in an area of Long Island developed by William Levitt of Levittown fame. "

"Mae Elizabeth Ann Quinn Richards, 1947, while dating my father."

"My father started working for Kodak after returning from the war in the Pacific. He was a manager in the department that produced x-ray film and worked there until his early death at 51 in 1971. I found this large transparency among his things after his death. It may have been a commercial photo for a Kodak ad."

These photos reminded me of a vacation my family took to visit my stepdad's parents in Florida. Early one morning we received a phone call from my grandpa who had been feeding our pets while we were away. His tired and weathered voice explained that the pipe leading to our washing machine had burst and leaked into our basement, filling up the entirety with about 1.5 feet of water. Stored in the basement were clothes, furniture, decorations, but most importantly, boxes and boxes of photographs! My mother was devastated. Upon cutting our visit short and booking it back to North Carolina, my mom sat on our back deck for weeks mixing her tears with the already sopping vintage glossies, and peeled them from their respective albums, wallpapering the wood with them as they dried in the sun. Those that weren't in albums were stuck together, and she worked diligently for hours peeling them apart with minimal damage. I now have many baby photos with smeary red lines from the water damage.

I hope one day someone finds our smeary memories, and gets a little bleary-eyed too.

*See Beverly's blog for a another flickr member's cache of great vintage photos.

MUSIC is BACK!

2008-07-26T22:49:00.001-07:00

"You're daddy moved out," Came my mother's rattled drawl as I descended the stairs on Saturday morning. "All his stuff's gone." Being only five years old, my thoughts weren't on the following days, or the days prior. I didn't think about the fighting, nor the tears, nor the fact that my mother's heart must be consistency of the the strawberry jam she spread on my toast every Sunday morning and served with eggs. I ran directly to my dad's record player declaring that he'd "better not have taken my music!" Sleeved and sitting a-top was Wheels are Turnin' by R.E.O. Speedwagon containing "our song," I can't Fight This Feeling-- A strange song for a father and daughter, but to me was just a memory of mid-afternoon dances on top of my pop's feet. That record stared back at me with assurance that he'd be back for me-- a promise we'd have another dance.

I spent many years after that listening to that old stereo in my Laura Ashley decorated bedroom, hopping around to the American Graffiti soundtrack. Finally, one day it disappeared, most likely around the time I realized it didn't play CD's. The Laura Ashley lilacs were replaced with paint my mother likened with the color of snot, and magazine cut-outs of Beck Hansen, and Kurt Cobain. Teenagers, sheeez!

Post-high school, I scooped up all of my musical affections, and realized I wanted my records and my record player too. Upon moving to NYC, I had my mom ship my/her/my dad's old turntable to me, specifying that she needed to provide proper cushioning and wrapping for each little piece. Well, my mom's no dummy, but she is busy-- so of course, the damn thing ended up at my door in knots and bits. Unusable! I was brokenhearted, and refused to throw it away for years.

Good news though! Today I picked up a whole stereo system off Craig's List with the following:

1. Rotel RX-403 Stereo Receiver

2. Technics Turntable SL-BD20D

3. Sherwood Double Tape Deck (Circa 1984)

4. Equalizer (But doesn't matter because we're not using it.)

FOR the grand total of (Drum roll, music dorks.) 20 BUCKS!

Yay.

Oooh Bernadette, You are so Expensive!

2008-07-24T17:04:00.000-07:00

Today I spent the majority of the day jamming out to Black Sabbath, eating Vietnamese food, and occasionally squealing after this young lady.

(Of course, there was some worky stuff too. Sheesh.)

CUUUUTE!!

The Big Sleazy

2008-07-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

MASS Meat-ia

2008-07-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

The new Bust is out with a couple music reviews I wrote in it.

Here are the unedited versions:

Dark Meat- Universal Indians

Vice Records' most recent addition, Dark Meat is a band sure to be likened to the Polyphonic Spree on acid or maybe David Koresh's flock with instruments. This Athens, GA based gaggle of gypsies boasts seventeen members, some of whom live in a communal 100 acre eco-village called Orange Twin, which could lead to some cultish misconceptions. Cult or not, the product of their mass codependency is pretty magical on debut Universal Indians. Heavy metal guitars are countered by male-female gospel vocals, while a full brass band plays between big band and free jazz styles on oh-so-poetically named "Assholes for Eyeballs;" Sticking with the ocular theme, "Three Eyes Open" sees the band taking a soulful blues trip, before vocalist Jim McHugh launches into "One More Trip, a Mick Jagger-esque foot-stomper. If two's company, and three's a crowd, then from the sound of Dark Meat, seventeen is a full on raging family style dinner fiesta. So, gather round the table y'all, and take a big ol' healthy bite
MARY-LOUISE PRICE

Indian Jewelry- Free Gold!

It's tough to be an experimental psychedelic noise electro-punk collective these days what with the name changes, rotating members, and myriad influences. Man, do they have a lot of influences! Luckily, Houston's Indian Jewelry settled on a name (after trying on 3 or 4), and released their third effort Free Gold just as the mainstream ear is getting comfortable with a little eccentricity, and electronic blips are climbing all over the charts. The group (consisting of three key members, and around twenty contributors) zig-zag their way through each experiment with spacey synths, strings, horns, repetitive non-sensical lyrics, and spirit conjuring tribal beats, concluding the job with nearly 8 minutes of fuzzy distortion, and piano banging certain to satisfy aging and newbie Suicide fans alike. While Indian Jewelry grope at the hippie dippy, space case-y, and the just plain noisy, their originality falls short, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and Free Gold is (for the most part) flattering to the ear.
MARY-LOUISE PRICE

Pick up the mag for visits with the band Ponytail, photos from the private collection of the Bouvier Beale family (not seen in Grey Gardens), and more and more and more...

Back On 'Easy Street'

2008-07-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

I've been on hiatus for the past couple weeks due to my aforementioned unemployment broke-ass breakdown crisis, etc. But now I'm back in business with a new job, staring at a computer for 8 hours a day. Oh, I also went on vacation too.

Anyway, until I think of more to talk about than myself, check out my buddy Sean's new project that he has cooked up with his special lady.

http://www.friendscanvastrunks.com

S/S FRIENDS is a label based out of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn dedicated to
runs of "seasonally specific" clothing items. Namely, swim trunks and
knit hats. Run by a designer and a musician, the line is heavily
informed by what's on the stereo and will often see new
collections paired with special music releases. Hello, soundtrack!
After years of making clothes at home, the couple officially took
their designs outside the house in 2008. They are indebted to friends,
family and the clothes that aren't being made.

SUMMER KIT
Inaugural package includes Original Trunks, Easy Street 7", Soundwagon record player, Summer Reading 'zine, badges, sunscreen and other goods. Enjoy a summer's worth of S/S FRIENDS. Web orders only.

-Original Trunks
Simple and classic style. Trunks constructed out of a breathable cotton/canvas that's both durable and quick drying. Our sidewalk surf trunks are designed for the streets and the beach. All pairs made in the USA. Not meant for the dryer. "Hang dry, Hang loose."

-S/S Friends Easy Street 7"
Dust off your record players 'cause we've got vinyl. "Easy Street" (b/w "Act So Casual") is a weird and winning study of early reggae styles and recording techniques.

Listen to tracks here: http://www.myspace.com/friendsforallseasons

Rain, White, and Blue

2008-07-05T20:10:00.000-07:00

Model Foreign Policy

2008-07-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

I mentioned my friend about a month or so ago who is currently living the fabulousmodellifestyle in Taipei.

She just created a site with some videos documenting her time that are really beautiful, and sometimes heartwrenching. I seriously recommend checking them out.

http://www.symposed.com/taipei/

All photos by Shea Prueger

King Khan Can Can

2008-07-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

After unfortunately missing Sam Champion's performance at the Prospect Park Bandshell Friday night, I toughed it out through Elvis Perkins' and the Cold War Kids' sets whilst enjoying a store bought picnic and the flitter of lightning bugs and small children scurrying by wearing glowstick necklaces. Had the music not been such a whinefest, I might have gotten confused and started tossing my own invisible globe or something--but then I remembered, I wasn't on ecstasy either. Ah shucks.

Following the show, I wiped the sleep (and tears) from my eyes and mustered up the energy to jet to Bushwick where King Khan and the Shrines were performing at Don Pedro's. I had been dying to see King Khan-- more so with "the BBQ"-- but King Khan with anyone is guaranteed a good show, so I booked it to get there.

Having no qualms about gimmicks, King Khan hits the stage dressed as something of a Rick James/Bootsy Collins love-child, wearing an egyptian headdress, gold cape, and nothing but some sort of necklace made of teeth, and a pair of black scivvies underneath. Khan's backing band consists of drums, brass, keys, guitars, and a pom pom girl, who spews 60's soul-infused psychedelia into a crowd of extremely drunk early 20-somethings. It's 2am in Don Pedros, and it seems that these kids have been hitting the tequila pretty hard. Khan fights to blurt out some James Brown-esque melodies over the brass band's squeaks and squawks in the tiny back room, while the kids thrash their heads and pogo about like it's a punk show. I sense some unrest in a slurring gentleman in red beside me who keeps trying to get on stage, ultimately halting the performance. He gets pulled down and a little violent. I tell him to relax. He tells me I'm cute, then squeezes me hard before telling me not to touch him. The next thing I know he's back on stage singing along with Khan's fat belly as it protrudes in the crowd, hands covering him. It seems that not only are you guaranteed a good show with King Khan, but you may just as well be guaranteed to be part of the show as well.

King Khan and the Shrines recently released "The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines" on Vice Records

I. NEED. JOB.

2008-06-29T13:57:00.001-07:00

I don't read Gawker daily, but I just caught up on the back-posts and, wow, they are on top of their shit! I wasn't really going to talk about this, but since GAWKER is, I suppose I will too.

Last Thursday, June 26th after organizing a huge breakfast for some PR company beauty product launch in the place of my previously happy employment, I was called to a meeting with the general manager of the place. In that meeting, the grand announcement was that the restaurant had been sold, and everyone there was immediately out of a job. That place was Bette-- owned by Miss Bungalow 8 "Nightlife Queen" Amy Sacco, which Gawker knew about the next day. CRAZY.

Here's the article:

Is this the end of Amy Sacco? We're going to say it is. The onetime NYC nightlife queen's restaurant Bette in Chelsea—formerly considered a complement to her club Bungalow 8, a food-and-fun empire that would never be destroyed—is closed. No big to-do; just a lock on the door, and the end of an era. What happened?

A tipster to Eater says:

At Bette last night for the closing party. I live and work in the area and dined there fairly regularly. The bartender told me that Amy Sacco sold the restaurant and gave the staff about 8 hours notice.

Cold. Why, we remember a few years back when we were talking about Sacco's "quest for total domination," and HBO was planning a story about her rise to fame. She had so much success in the city, she said she'd rather die than return to her native Jersey.

Then things started to slowly go downhill. Rumors flew that Sacco was stiffing her PR agency; the usual suspects started placing bets on when Bungalow 8 would close. Her doorman struck out on his own. She tried to export her magic to London, but failed to find the same popularity.

Sacco recently called New York nightlife—and herself—"overrated." Now she's been proven right.

YES, GAWKER. The notice given was completely cold. I cannot say much more, as I loved working at Bette. I loved all those I worked with, although I stood in the same room with Amy only once the entire time I worked there (She did give me hand-me-downs from goody bags she didn't want though, which was nice.) I actually had gotten up at 5am to throw a private event beginning at 7am that ended up being a total stressful nightmare, to only have my hard work followed by the news that I was out of a job before noon. I might as well tell you friends, lurkers, and stalkers, I was and still am in shock. The meeting promptly commenced with a round of drinks on Bette. Cheers!

(I did not attend the closing party, however. I chose to stay home and ordered Chinese food, watched movies with my boyfriend, and sulked like a good sport.)

NOTE: Even though it's easy and fun to pick on Ms. Sacco, we should all be looking at this from a much broader angle. I've watched the cover counts in several popular restaurants in NYC decline over the past year or so, and it wasn't because they had lost their edge. People simply can't afford to blow all their dough on decadent dining right now! Sacco's decision to chuck Bette was probably just good business sense. She's simply cutting off the (non-profitable) fat to save room for the meat (i.e. whatever other endeavors she is sitting on these days.) As I mentioned in my previous post, Jann Wenner may be looking to do the same thing! Everyone knows the economy is in the toilet, but if the rich kids are watching their backs, is anyone looking out for the rest of us?

Suicide Jumping: Not Just For NYU Students Anymore

2008-06-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

What oh what could make this beautiful 20 year old supermodel off herself?

I'm dumbfounded and it seems that her friends are too, but Russian model, Ruslana Korshunova, is believed to have leapt to her death from the balcony of her Downtown NYC apartment building yesterday afternoon. She would have been 21 on July 2. Source

In other celebrity gossip:

Jann Wenner may be selling US Weekly.

During Wenner's recent appearance on "The Charlie Rose Show," Rose questioned him regarding sales of Rolling Stone to Conde Nast getting rumors swirling. An industry rep from Conde Nast stated that it wasn't the Wenner founded Rolling Stone they wanted, but much more valuable US Weekly as it would "make perfect sense for Conde Nast to buy." Seems like Wenner is looking to make bucks ($750 million according to the NY Post) to keep his baby afloat in times of crisis, perhaps? If Jann Wenner is downsizing and conserving, how bad off are the rest of us? Yikes! If you're ever in midtown or the financial district, look out for flying dudes in business suits-- and models too, I guess.

C'est la vie

2008-06-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is about summertime that makes me want to do nothing but lounge around at cafes, sipping wine, eating cheese, and pretending I am proper Bourgeoisie, but that seems to be the case these days. A case, I might add that is driving me to the poor house! Ah! C'est la vie!

LAST FRIDAY:
I met Katherine at Cafe Gitane a teeny-tiny extremely popular, sometimes deemed trendy, French-Moroccan joint in Nolita. We arrived early, as the place always fills up fast, and actually got a table right away. I've had experiences where the staff has been slightly snobbish, but this time around our server was sweet as the honey atop our gorgonzola walnut crumble. The menu consists of several reasonably priced (Talking one to two dollar signs!) small plates, and a well-chosen, but relatively short wine list. I think Cafe Gitane is best for sipping wine, enjoying the night air (which drifts in frequently through the open door on nice nights), and snack until your tummy is full. Katherine and I started with a salad (a special that evening) then split a sandwich (Organic Roasted Chicken chipotle mayonnaise fresh parmesan roasted tomatoes on toasted baguette), and followed with some cheese for dessert.

Les Fleurs (and Mints)

Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Honey

WEDNESDAY:
My friend Holly is setting off in a couple weeks for Zambia where she will be working with the Lubuto Library Project for quite some time. She didn't make it to my birthday party, so we had a joint nice-to-see-you-again/farewell dinner at Tartine, another tiny French establishment. This one is located on a quaint side street of the West Village, not too far from Carrie Bradshaw's house and the Marc Jacobs store (Don't be surprised if you get asked for directions to either while in the area.) Tartine is BYOB, so I brought my fave aforementioned rose, and arrived early, because this place fills up just as quickly as Cafe Gitane--And no, they do NOT take names for a wait list-- First come, first served! Luckily, Holly and I scored a perfect table outside, and shared a delicious Beet and Goat Cheese Salad and a heaping pot of Mussels. We ordered another item, but were too stuffed to eat it. (The server was extremely rude when we wanted to cancel the order, but eventually she relented, and cancelled it.) Little did I know, but Holly had brought another bottle of sparkling wine in celebration of my birthday, because she had missed my party last month. She also ordered us two desserts-- a blackberry cobbler, which was delicious served a la mode, and an intensely rich mousse served with raspberries. I can't say I'll be kissing the staff at Tartine on both cheeks any time soon, but I'll definitely return, and make them kiss mine.

Remnants of the salad: Red Beets, Corn, Goat Cheese, Pine Nuts, Endive

Mussels in White Wine Sauce (One qualm: They needed more juice for dipping!)

Trying to hear a tiny ocean...

Mussel Beach

Surprise! Blackberry Cobbler and Chocolate Mousse

Oh, then we found this amazing hippie van right across the street from Carrie Bradshaw's house, and Holly just happened to look like she owned it. (I never even watched Sex and the City, btw.)

J'Adore

2008-06-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

I was somewhat embarrassingly googling a previous (nightlife) employer of mine, and was pleasantly surprised to run across this fun and witty blog (not by the employer though):

http://jadorejoey.blogspot.com/

Last week's posts included:

1.) An amazing video called "Censor Bar Art" set to the tune of one David Byrne:

2.) A UK commercial, which ended up being pulled from the air after 200 Wendy Whiners complained that it was "inappropriate for children, and forces parents to explain same sex partnerships." As if! I think it's adorable, and clever. See vid below.