I love New York

Top Ten Life Moment

2011-05-05T14:35:00.002-04:00

There are special places that one stumbles upon that stir something deep inside. When it is a beautiful night and there are people playing guitar on their stoop in the twilight, or an all day brunch fest on the cute street side cafe with good people watching, sometimes it can be Mid Summer Swing at Lincoln Center. The energy is better than good, everything feels calm, relaxed and happy. Charley and I were lucky enough to find ourselves in one such moment while in Copenhagen.Welcome to Nyhavn! A canal runs into the city for a length of space to allow beautiful tall ships to dock, inspiring envy and fantasy lives in which one lives on a boat and travels to all the Scandinavian countries in the summer, collecting fun people to travel with, regional booze to make late night cocktails to share with your new travel partners as they regale you with tales of far away lands. Like I said, fantasy life.... Anyways- the cobble stone street is flanked by this canal on one side, and a series of adorable restaurants and cafes on the other. All the outdoor seating is ready, even though it is still a bit cold for that. They have their heaters going and a blanket for each chair so if one chooses to sit outside, and one will choose to sit outside, one is warm and comfortable.
We rode down the street on our bikes and were immediately pulled into the scene. We wanted to drink! by the canal! and then we noticed that these cafes were not our only option! Yes! We could just pick up a six-pack and drink on the canal. Classy! Drinking outside is totes legal in Denmark.
Sitting down with our first beer on the side of the canal with loads of attractive, well dressed people walking up and down the street perfect for people watching, tall boats to our backs, and tall, attractive men to our left and right Charley turned to me and simply said "Nora, I think this is a top ten life moment. Right here, right now." I couldn't have agreed more.When the sun is shining in Copenhagen, everyone is happy!
We let go of life stresses, work, impending future life choices, and just were in the moment people. Who ate beers for lunch. I was decidedly, shall we say, drunk with happiness and also maybe regular drunk when we found our way back to our bikes. Sad to be leaving the canal, but happy to have spent the last hour there we mounted our trusty steeds and headed back to the apartment. Little did we know our plan was to be foiled! By a gallery opening! With more beer!
We rode past the gallery on our bikes, decided spur of the moment that we probably needed to go and performed a quick U-turn.
Aren't the Danes so cute. They hang out in galleries on the floor.
This painting below is a perfect representation of Charley and I. We're in a relationship.
Top Ten Life Moment, brought to you by-
Travel
Denmark
Attractive people (men)
BEER
Boats
Historic Architecture
Bike Riding
AND GOOD COMPANY (Charley, of course!)

More Photo

2011-05-04T12:27:00.001-04:00

Self promo time- check out photography of Basket I took in this pub- http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/boutiquedesign_20110506/#/78

Your Blind Passenger

2011-05-02T17:46:00.005-04:00

Hold your hand in front of your face, no really- do it. Can you see you hand clearly? All fingers there? If you were in Olafur Eliasson's Din Blinden Passager (Your Blind Passenger) you wouldn't. You might be able to find a blurry distant outline, but I wouldn't count on it.
The only museum I wanted to go to was the Arken because I had heard from my travel buddies that it was hosting an Olafur piece, and since I'm big into his work I knew I had to check it out.
We entered this box which brought us into a dark black room with a door on the other end. Once we were all inside we opened the next door- which led us into the tunnel...

The doors opened into a blinding light and fog/mist. I heard someone say as the fog envolped them that they could use some sunscreen and sunnies. Charley and I were the last ones to enter and almost at once Charley disappeared into the fog. I found myself utterly alone, which was terrifying. But only for a moment. We were in, all actuality, very close to each other but it was impossible to tell unless we spoke. It was also impossible to say where the walls were, and which in direction we were walking. Our senses were completely out of whack, totally on edge and going haywire, which was exactly the point.

(us on the outside, walking the length of the piece)

We slowly started our 90 meter journey to the other end of Eliasson's fog tunnel. Quite suddenly, and yet subtly, it came to our attention that the color was changing. We were now in a yellow tunnel instead of a white one. And then orange. For a moment, as we walked, we were plunged into total black, and emerged on the other side in this most peculiar orange that did a number on my eyes because I kept seeing flashes of pink. I felt like I was tripping. There was no way to see ahead as to what color might be next approaching. We were at the mercy of the whims of the tunnel.
The colors blended so seamlessly together it was hard to tell where one color stopped and then next began, we just knew there was something all together different. What I found fascinating is everyone I was with saw Blue and Purple, however I did not see those colors at all. Yet we were all in the same tunnel.
Because we would probably never have another chance to experience the tunnel again, before we were done at the Arken Museum we walked through it again. This time from back to front. We stumbled out the end, blinking our eyes against the natural light of the museum and crashed on the steps to recuperate from a total sensory overload-AKA top ten art piece ever.
Man, it was really special to see Olafur's work in his home country. What an amazing piece it was!

Note: I really wanted to upload a longer video (with me saying quite a few times "I feel like I'm tripping," but I was really having problems.

Charley and I have fun with words

2011-04-27T17:02:00.002-04:00

Charles- thingerr

me-pronouced like okrrr

or prrrrducting

*prrduction

Charles-prrrrducting!

me- DID WE INVENT A NEW WORD?

Charles-YES I BELIEVE WE DID

me-NO SERIOUSLY?

WHY ARE WE SO IN LOVE?

You know what it makes me want to do?

Charles- marry me?

me-well duh

that's already setteled

but no PEE

that's right

I went there

with an all caps lock pee

Charles-lets create a hazardous work environment with our pee

Charles-hah also, hot handy man who occasionally comes into our office to fix things died his hair this coppery blondish and it does not look good at all

dyed

not died

me-is that the hot man?

who was randomly in your office?

Charles-NO

not the hot unexplained man

although this guy WAS equally as hot

seriously, the dye grew out so it looks like really sloppy frosted tips

it's like the peroxidey color i think?

does not suit the hot handyman

me-jeeze hot nady man

hahah nady!

i meant handy

but im SO into nady

On Olafur

2011-04-25T15:10:00.004-04:00

I have a whole post planned about Olafur Eliasson and his amazing work at the Arken, but for now I just wanted to post this photo. Only because the second I started editing it and I saw how cool it came out I knew Blaine would cut me if I held on to it for a moment longer. This was kinda what happened within the exhibit, colors started changing. Some people saw blues and purples, and I thought it was bizarre that I didn't see them. As it turned out I did manage to capture it with my camera.

Geocaching

2011-04-20T16:53:00.004-04:00

The story of how and why I went to Copenhagen is too good, and I want to tell it correctly, so for right now I am going to leave you on the edge of your seats in wonder. I will say that I got VERY excited right after I purchased the tickets and did what anyone would do- brag on facebook. Of course some people were excited and everyone was jealous but the important thing to note is because I have the best friends in the world three people arranged their travel plans to meet me in Copenhagen. Which is a huge compliment and so flattering and amazing. Thank you friends!
One of those super cool, amazing friends was Rixa, who actually found out from the horse's mouth as she was my lovely guest during fashion week.
Charley and I met up with Rixa and her friends from Hamburg (which is only two-ish hours away making a trip to Copenhagen very easy. So easy in fact that I was surprised to learn she had never been there before!) to explore Christiania which is another one of those things that is hard to define exactly but is a kind of communal living space within Copenhagen with a small population of, for lack of a better word, hippies. There is probably a whole slew of things to say about the little town that are far more interesting than what I'm about to say, but this seems to be the number one talking point about the place- you can buy pot and its mostly tolerated by the authorities.
Whatever. So we met up and starting walking over there, but on the way we had to make a pit stop to find the Geo Cash. Which I didn't know what it was. But then I realized I misunderstood, its a Geocache. Okay- so I still didn't get what it was. I was told we were trying to find a Geocache which is a box left by some other intrepid traveler for other Geocachers to find and make their mark. Or something. It was clear I didn't get it all the way- BUT WE WERE ON A MISSION AND DAMN IT I WAS INTO IT.
So we walked down this very long road to a church at the end. The Geocache was in there, somewhere. But what does a Geocache look like? What are we looking for? Huh?
We got inside the church's entry way and according to Rixa's friend the Geocache was here. We didn't know what we were looking for and checked under surfaces, behind pamphlets, etc. BUT GUESS WHO FOUND IT!? That's right, gangsters, yours truly.
That plastic box is a Geocache. We wrote in the book (well I didn't because I'm not a Geocacher...yet) and took photos. It was then that I decided this was the coolest thing ever. But apparently you need a GPS thinger or something. So I lost interest, my phone doesn't even have photo texting much less the internet.
This is what Wikipedia has to say about Geocacheing- "Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook where the geocacher enters the date they found it and signs it with their established code name. Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (tupperware or similar) or ammo boxes can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value. Geocaching is often described as a "game of high-tech hide and seek," sharing many aspects with benchmarking, trigpointing, orienteering, treasure-hunting, letterboxing, and waymarking.

Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica.^[1] After 10 years of activity there are over 1.3 million active geocaches published on various websites. There are over 5 million geocachers worldwide."

Neat, right?

On hygge

2011-04-18T12:43:00.006-04:00

So I haven't been writing much lately, which is due to my non stop schedule. I'm a jet setter, didn't you know?
No, really, I owe posts on a plethora of things, so I'm going to start with my most recent adventures and work backwards, and we'll see how that goes hey?

So did you know I went to Copenhagen? Because I did and it was one of the most amazing cities I have ever visited. There is really too much to talk about in one post so its gonna get a BREAKDOWN!
Have you ever been to Denmark? In the winter? No- I haven't- but apparently its cold like woah. I mean, New York is cold, Chicago was cold, Quebec, well-we don't even have to talk about that, so I can holler at the idea of wanting to stay in and bundle up. In Denmark this is a way of life for their short winter days and braving the weather to go out is just not going to happen. From this self imposed pseudo imprisonment emerged a way of life that seems to permeate how people live year round. Its called Hygge, and defining it is impossible as there is no translation into English and not one Dane could give me a solid interpretation of it. When they talked about it they seemed to get lost in their thoughts. Trying to tack it down and give it a rigid definition is, apparently, besides the point, and also impossible. However its one of the loveliest things and I'm going to do my darnedest to get it right.
We stayed in this very adorable apartment in Copenhagen for the first couple of nights, and the woman whose apartment it was made it clear that the lit candles (it was day time) on the silver platter on the dining table were for us to use so please use them, just make sure you blow them out when you are done. So every night we used them. And sometimes also at breakfast.
It should be known that I am not really a candles kind of lady, and if you get me soap or lotion I usually re-gift that to someone else. I'm not really a girly girl in this regard, but something about doing candles while we had our mini dinner parties every night seemed right. Just like taking that five minute walk to the bakery every morning was exactly what I had to do because that fresh rye baguette made the room smell great and made our fresh eggs and cheese taste that much better. Which is almost impossible.
Then we went up North to spend two nights with Anette and Morton, Blaine's host parents from many years ago. Phenomenal does not even begin to describe the kind of hosts they were. The food they prepared for us every night was just SO GOOD. And again, there was a tray with a few candles on the table which got me to thinking, "Well is this, like, a Danish thing?" I eat up authentic local activities like candy when I travel, so I had to know- are candles on a platter a thing? So I asked.
"Well, no, not just candles, this is hygge."
And then I got schooled.
Basically it goes like this-
Hey, we're stuck at home, but lets celebrate that. You invite your neighbors, family, et cetera and have dinner together, sitting together around a table. Douse the lights and get the candles going. Eat until you're past full, drink until you are warm. We have to be home but we're making it special.
In attempting to write this post I did a little research about hygge and found this which seemed to adequately surmise the Danish inability to define hygge exactly. "Luckily, we didn't have to use near-synonyms like coziness, fellowship, security, reassurance or well-being. They just don't add up to hygge. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. "
So making dinner together with the music playing and glasses of wine is hygge.
You can't tell from this photo but every night Anette folded the napkins differently to create a little bit-o-hygge. But its not like she was trying- its just how it is. This is their lifestyle.
In writing this post I now realize how hard it is to nail down hygge and why my Danish friends had such a tricky time explaining it to me. Because it doesn't sound any different from being a good host, but it somehow is- and isn't. Its health and wealth and living life very fully. You make things comfortable and homey and welcome. You light candles and fold napkins and make sure there is always cheese to snack on. And hope that your new American friends, who eat dinner in front of their computers and grab the exact same lunch day after day in plastic take away tubs will somehow get it.

I take photos

2011-03-23T15:43:00.003-04:00

I know- I've been really naughty and not ever updating ever. You can shake your head in disappointment. Anyways, just a quickie- check out my photography on the New York Spaces blog. And also, the event I helped put together. Thanks to anyone who came!
http://www.newyorkspacesmag.com/New-York-Spaces/March-2011/Samuel-amp-Sons/

Paris- the sights

2011-02-16T13:31:00.003-05:00

The day after Christmas I flew to Paris for a little vacation. I desperately wanted to speak French, use Euros, and get so lost in another culture that I forget simple English. I mean Europe is not so far from our American customs- its no India, for example, but there are beautiful subtleties that are so perfectly foreign.

Mean Mr. Blizzard was crafty and decided that he would start dumping the day I was supposed to leave. I got an email from the airline that my flight was cancelled, and the one after that, and the one after that. I called first thing in the morning when the AirFrance offices opened so I could figure out how I could get my American ass into Paris. PARIS! Don't deny me Paris! After debating several options I was able to get a flight, but not until the 29th, cutting three days out of my Paris trip! How absolutely awful! Depressed I went ahead with the best option. I was transfered to my new carrier, Delta, to confirm the trip details. Then the Delta Angel picked up the line-

"Don't you just want to leave today?"

"What!? Yes! Of course!"

And she put me on the Magic Flight. A few hours later the snow started coming down. I checked the website obsessively, but every 20 minutes it was still confirmed that I would indeed be leaving. At the airport the greeters again confirmed that my flight was scheduled to leave on time. As I waited for my plane, I checked the departure board. CANCELED, CANCELED, CANCELED, Nora's Flight- On Time, CANCELED, CANCELED. Some how I magic'd my way on to the ONLY flight that left JFK that day. Some sort of Zen had settled over me, and I didn't even care that I had to sit in the plane for almost 2 hours while I watched them de-ice my wings. I was leaving. Magic.

There is something really special about the city. Everything is super compacted-on-top-of-each-other-why-you-all-in-my-grill and the architecture- well I can't get enough. I can see the city in its past, right in front of my eyes. This lends itself to the way they lead their lives. Everything somehow fits in these small spaces. Take their staircases-

Yes, you're supposed to carry your wardrobe, your queen bed, your sofa up these stairs. There is, of course, either no elevator or one so teeny that no more than two people can fit inside. In most of the apartments I had the pleasure of being invited it was filled with all this this old, worn yet truly beautiful furniture . As a lover as aged, wooden things with hand working details and worn down edges I was very charmed. I felt it very fitting that the furniture should fit with the buildings that housed them.

A detail from this door.

They keep their outdoor cafe sections open during the cold weather.

Street art!

Tourists!

Sacre Coeur!
I loved this building- which is actually very typical for Parisian architecture. I have trouble trying to articulate exactly what it is that I am so drawn to. Something about it massive presence, ability to host many people, and to be beautiful and unobtrusive all at once.

I was in Paris for a social visit only- I did hardly a single tourist thing. I did not even see the Eiffel Tower. But I did walk by Notre Dame at night. There is a reason its famous. Because its fucking impressive.

Perry Ellis

2011-02-09T11:43:00.003-05:00

And to end my fashion week coverage- Perry Ellis. Nothing stunning, but I'm into the clothes. Or the models. Or like the music, whatever.

Hey did you know?

2011-02-07T14:03:00.004-05:00

I kinda started Tweeting, which is something I said I would totally never do, but now I do. I promise that in general they won't be "I'm brushing my teeth." Except when I feel that teeth brushing would be interesting. Which it probably isn't.

Anyways- here is el link-o.

Since Fashion Week is quick appropaching...

2011-02-03T10:25:00.003-05:00

... and I still haven't gotten all my stuff about last fashion week up because I'm a lame-a-tron and also tres busy. The thing that has been taking up all my hours? Oh, I'll share in due time because I'm oh so excited about it.

I was also excited about the Betsey Show because it was bicycle themed and I love me a bike. The end of the show featured a collection that was about what one should wear for New Years Eve. They probably wouldn't really work with a bike but I'm not going to be picky.

RIGHT? How much fun is that collection? And then in typical over the top Betsey Johnson fashion (pun!) she went kuh-razy with the matching outfits at the end and also did her cartwheels as per usual. Yeah- a grandma who cartwheels. No big.

I mean is it high art, and sophisticated? Does any one wear all yellow checker cab outfits? No, but who the fuck cares, hey?

Holiday Sweater Time

2011-02-01T17:11:00.005-05:00

Remember when it was before christmas and not actually February already? Somehow time just ZOOMED on by and I couldn't even get any decent blog-a-loging in. First and foremost, hello to all the people who have just started reading! I can tell I already like you, mostly because you feed my narcism.

Secondly, its like, been a hot minute, but not taking a few minutes, however seasonally un-appropriate, to talk about the fabulous Holiday Sweater Party that Blaine and I threw would make me a Grinch. Why, it would be down right Scrooge-like!

My dog was not invited- but on Christmas he wore a sweater because he likes to and it makes him look handsome. Plus its got pockets for all the things he has to carry.

This is Blaine- and he takes me on the best dates. You might think you have taken a lady on a date that knocked her socks off, but you didn't because you're not Blaine.

That lipstick that Blaine is wearing, the color is called Leading Lady, he stole it from me on my birthday. This is what he had to say about the subject-

me: lets go to the bar we went to for my birthday

where you STOLE LEADING LADY

Blaine: STOLE!?!?! more like drunkenly liberated and applied to everyone in sight

i offered to give her back!

ten minutes go by

Blaine: we have duel custody over leading lady

What is even more important to know is that Blaine was the one who originally gave me the lipstick because he felt he no longer had a use for it, as in he went to Sephora and spent 22 dollars on it because there was a time that he had need for it. And then he needed it back because I had to go to the Sephora and buy another tube. I am realizing that I could actually write a whole post just on Leading Lady debauchery and funny texts regarding the lass, but this is about Holiday Sweaters, which it must be noted encompasses Ugly Sweaters, but casts a wider net. These subtleties should be recognized.

Our facebook invite to the masses went like this-

Because we have an unlimited supply of love for holiday sweaters but not an unlimited season an event must be had.

this is not a holiday celebration
this is a celebration in honor of holiday sweaters
I think the distinction is important
a celebration of awful holiday sweaters
co-sponsored by grandpa's and bad taste everywhere

Specialty cocktails and a bar crawl come free with your participation. And obviously there is a dress code, don't be a douche, we're giving you plenty of time to get your act together.

Crafting was especially encouraged, and I crafted the goddamn shit outta this amazing sweater Kirsten had lent me last year. That fucking cat needed a santa hat so hard. Also please note the sweet stockings Blaine hand personalized for the occasion!

Laura gets first place in the crafting bonaza. She made zomie santas and brains presents. HOLY COW! I also had no idea that Laura was into zombies, so I learned something new about Laura.

Grand Crafted Sweater Prize, however, went to Caleb and Jackie for making a hat that lights up, a 40 oz holder that is a stocking and sewing actual christmas bobbles onto a sweater. Plus matching outfits were all the rage! Just ask Rosalie and Lester....

... uh I mean Lisa and Isaac. Lisa found these amazing vintage holiday sweaters that were actually once her parents. If ugly sweaters are wrong, I don't want to be right! I mean the detailing in Lester/Isaac's sweater, those are PEOPLE either golfing or ice skating, being watched by other people! In a park! Near an office building!Roz was on "anti biotics" and "wasn't drinking."

Jealous of Santa, we tried to make our own beards from Jackie's garland.

In fact Jackie was so jealous of Santa she later did this-

Its ol' St.Jackie on her dresser/sleigh with three tiny "reindeer!"

And her voice lifted through the cold New York air with cheer-

ON BLAINE! ON CALEB! ON ASHLEY!

HAPPY SWEATERS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Penguins are RUDE

2011-01-22T21:32:00.003-05:00

11:50 AM Ankura has joined

Charles has joined

Charles: hi!

me: I want to talk about the ginger bread man chase all together

me: that was a good day

Charles: awww!

me: a great day even!

Ankura: hahahaha

Charles: super day!

me: as you can see I'm working relaly hard today

Ankura: i wish today could be like that day

Charles: better than squirrel appreciation day!

11:51 AM

me: OH CHARLEY

Charles: OH NORA

me: you have to fucking buy your dman tickets to boston

babs and I bought ours

me: if you're not on the bus with us drinking vodka you're not our firend

Ankura: superbowl weekend! in boston!

Charles: aahH!

hahah

11:52 AM Ankura: hot toddys will be drank

me: drink drank drunk

Charles: yay!

Ankura: and socks will be worn, to terrys party

air mattresses will be inflated

and space heaters will be used this time, haha

Charles: haha terry throws me off by sending evites and not facaebook invites

hahaha

Ankura: its because he's over 30, hahaha

11:53 AM Charles: haaaha

me: hahahahaha

HAHAHAH

I love ankura

Ankura: i love nora

Charles: i'm in love with nora

Ankura: i

oops

i'm in love with a gingerbread man

11:54 AM me: OH SNAP

as in ginger snap

wokka wokkame: FUCKING BUY YOUR TICKETS

Charles: listen woman

11:58 AM Ankura: have you guys ever had Bison Grass vodka?

me: don't think so

11:59 AM Charles: moi auci

me: aussi

dummy

Charles: you're a dummy

me: that's true

Ankura: haha

in quebec they spell it auci

(thats a lie)

Charles: hahaha

12:00 PM OUE OUE OUE

Charles: i got home 3:40am last night! boston doesn't exist after 1:30AM

me: charley, did you buy your ticekts yet?

Ankura: i know, it kind of falls off the map

Charles: it enters a temporal shift

Ankura: haha or that

Charles: and reappears at 6AM

Ankura: just in time for the T to start running

12:08 PM Charles: haha if a city's metro isn't running the city doesn't exist

fact

Ankura: so that means boston doesn't exist after midnight haha

Charles: it's like the whole if a tree falls in the woods thing

woa this random hot guy just walked into the office

12:09 PM Ankura: get his digits

Charles: he's just so attractive

me: CHARLEY
DID YOU BUY YOUR TICEKTS?

Charles: NO

let me get on that

me: this might be as important as your hot coworker

Charles: haha, i need the tough love

me: or you're gonna have to take the china town bus by yourself like last time

and babs and I will be on a honeymoon

Charles: nooo!

12:10 PM me: and you will have to hold hands with a crazy smelly person

Ankura: yes, you'll be forced to

Charles: it's true, they enforce handholding

Charles: this guy needs to stop being so good looking and in my office

me: because hes distracting you from buying a ticket?

Charles: hahaha actually yes he is

12:12 PM Ankura: clearly

bring him on the bus with you

Charles: he's totally unexplained too! i have no clue what he's doing here

12:14 PM Ankura: i sent him there

Charles: i bet you did

12:15 PM me: CAN YOU PLEASE SEND HOT MANZ MY WAY?

12:16 PM Charles: well my guy just left i'm sure he's on his way to your office nora

to just inexplicably show up, look hot for a while, then leave

Ankura: oooh, too bad i dont have an office

Charles: the world is your office

Ankura: maybe he'll show up looking hot in my house

12:17 PM me: and then things can really get serious

in a house as opposed to an office

Charles: wooo!

Ankura: this is true

i'm sure he's heading to port authority right now

12:18 PM me: I read that as the pot authrority

me: which was confusing

but not THAT confusing

Ankura: pot authority

nyc needs a pot authority

12:19 PM Charles: at the port authority

Ankura: yes, thats exactly were it should be

12:20 PM me: you're right

12:21 PM Charles: I BOUGHT MY TICKETS NORA

12:22 PM me: I just peed my pants

in excitement

Charles: clean up before the hot guy shows up

12:23 PM hot guys don't appreciate pee on the pants

they do appreciate squirrels

2:32 PM Charles: haha

12:34 PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11xs9mFKObs

just look at that penguin

12:36 PM digest that for a second. i'm going to grab a sandwich.

me: la la lives here

and this king penguin is really living like a king

I CANNOT DEAL

they gave him a backpack

that is PENGUIN shaped

Charles: I KNOW

12:37 PM me: and then he just SWALLOWS A WHOLE FISH

and walks away

and doesn't say thank you

Charles: I KNOW

hahha

me: he's a rude penguin

Charles: penguins are nature's assholes

12:38 PM me: hahahahHAHAHAHA he left his change in his other suit

and who names a male pengin LALA?

A year in review

2010-12-21T14:14:00.007-05:00

Despite how tired the idea that a year has flown by, I must admit that I subscribe to this cliche once again. Last night I finished a most delish meal (at Northern Sky in the East Village, you should all go, it is my new favorite place, especially since my old favorite place, Corner Shop Cafe, has yet to reopen) and a very good glass of wine. During dinner the conversation was mostly about travel, about the best places like Barcelona and New York, and the places I cannot wait to go to, like Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Greece, and the travels I am about to embark on in just a few days- Paris and Berlin! With a full stomach, a sleepy head, and good company I repeated a sentiment that has been happily coming out of my mouth more and more often.

"Life is good."

The same feeling when I'm hung over, but not that hung over and I'm eating good pizza and drinking wine and know I'm going to ride my bike again. Or when I'm at a party really good friends and I've drunk wine and dancing is happening and there is a really cute guy who wants to dance with me. Or I just watched a friend drink a whole double shot of oily gin to get the team back in the bingo game. Or just brunch. I fucking love brunch.

Maybe drinking is a running theme...

I don't know if I am the kind of person that is just wholly content ever, but I certainly feel like I'm on the path. Not to paint this year too rosy, I had a couple of months where I was not sure if I was making the right decisions. I lost my internal strength and my motivation, and with it I lost my way- but with faith that I would come out of it I let that weirdness take its course.

While it was happening I fell in love with rock climbing, which is the most best thing ever, and I'm totally obsessed. Right now I'm just a plastic puller, with occasional trips to a rock face which usually scare the crap out of me. After almost a year of climbing I still cannot do a single pull up, but I manage to climb hard anyways, developing my technique despite my muscles. There has to be a metaphor in there somewhere about finding your own path. I actually took trips out of the city- that's right, I desired to be in Not New York City- upstate to climb the 'dacks and go camping, which were mostly foiled by rain, but such is life. I talked about food politics, classical music, and how the human population's stupidity never fails to amaze instead.

I took a trip to Israel- which is such a weird, interesting, and nutty country that I encourage at least one journey there. I didn't fall in love with the place like many do- although the desert is just WOW- however I did fall in love with my travel companions. While ten days of non-stop bad food combined with long bus rides seems like a set up for no fun it just made us love each other more. Because of the relationships I made I have been to Upstate NY, Philly and Baltimore, with trips planned to CT, Boston and New Orleans. I have a friend who wants to join in on the baller "Buy a Brownstone in Brooklyn" plan, which will fucking happen goddamnit. Unless the "Buy a Plot of Land and Live in a Shipping Container" plan happens instead.

I switched jobs- my first adult job switch. If I thought asking for reviews and raises was scary, switching jobs is terrifying. I loved my old job dearly. My boss took a chance on me- as I was wholly unqualified for the position- and taught me the ropes, and eventually let me start steering my own ship. Now that I'm in my new position the lessons I learned are continuing to reveal themselves even though I hadn't realized I was learning something at the time. Funny how that works. Now I am really starting to feel settled in my new place of employment and while I had to trade in my short in-boro commute for an awful MTA trip twice a day I now have a window with a view of a park. We all have to make concessions.

Speaking of jobs, Phil and I were hired to make another video! As in, we're getting paid for our work. As in someone saw what we did, liked it and sought us out to make another one because they believe that it will help them sell their product. As in I couldn't be more flattered. And bonus- I get to make another video with my best friend, Philip!

I cut my hair and dyed bits of pink. I thought it was fancy. Someone still hired me with pink hair.

Last night when I was in the the lawn in Prospect Park at 2:40 am watching the first Lunar Eclipse on a winter solstice in 400 years with two of my friends who had also ridden there on bikes.

Four years ago leaving college was a very upsetting moment for me. I was SO happy to enter the real world, get back to NYC, and enter the next phase because I was done with Chicago- but I was heartbroken to leave my college friends. My fourth year I had a core group of friends and much like a well curated museum they all fit together and I fit with them. I loved them so hard and I knew I was leaving them. Last night I felt like I was close to cultivating those relationships again. I have found people who ride bikes (on 42 mile long 5 boro bike tours), climb rocks, like making things (and want to start collectives), wear wigs, fancy shoes, and might spend too much on a coats. Friends who will craft sweaters for holiday parties, and have me over for long platonic dates with cooking, eating, drinking and movie watching that rival any romantic date I've had. Friends who want to go camping on islands and friends who want to go on ski trips. Friends who fly in and take me to fashion shows, come to roof top parties at the Standard and basement parties in SoHo. Friends who call me from Brazil, Germany and France. Who are doing amazing Peace Corps stuff in Ghana. Going to grad school in Boston and Baltimore. Who work on Daft Punk music videos. Who go to all day concerts with me and let me take naps in the middle of Union Square park. Could I have more amazing people in my life? Probably not- I challenge the universe to throw some more at me. I think I can handle it. 2011, bring it on!

Also- Hot Toddies. Those make life good and will cure your colds. Get on it.

Why don't we do it in the road?

2010-12-06T14:22:00.001-05:00

A little teaser...

Vivian Tam

2010-11-29T13:26:00.003-05:00

Is there any place cooler to watch a show than from backstage? Chloe even let me put on a headset to listen to how exactly the shows are coordinated. The girls stand in line- waiting, chatting, being (omg) real people with personalities, then BAM they hit the corner and seriousface comes on. Every once and a while they would make a silly face at us as they came off the runway, or comment on something they did while they were strutting their stuff as they ran by, already getting their clothes yanked off by a wrangler. The second they finish they are running around getting into their next look. Super cool to see the inner workings, hear the commentary (because the people coordinating the shows, well they are humans too), and just get dazzled by the fashun.

Backstage Shenanigans

2010-11-16T17:31:00.002-05:00

Chloe knows I geek out when I get to see what goes on back stage. So she takes me. And I geek out.

I got to watch them testing out the HUGE VIDEO WALL. The back was just tons of cables coming out. Because I've worked in video before, I know there was a rhyme and reason to it, but it looked absolutely outta whack. I really liked seeing this super non-fashion dad on the screen.
There are secret tunnels that run all over the place. Chloe knows to make my little heart go pitter patter, all she has to do is text me "Lets meet by the tunnel." Usually she is running around like a cray cray because she has work to do, but she let me take a FIERCE FASHION POSE to satisfy my goofiness. Hopefully Tyra would approve of my finding the light.

Charley and I- New York Urban Planers, I mean Co-Presidents, I mean Co-Gods, I mean Kanye and his Phoenx.

2010-11-12T16:47:00.003-05:00

Charles: i say we just get rid of queens and slide brooklyn up

actually midtown too

so brooklyn is still close to downtown

and no one really needs midtown

me: I hate midtown

except for bryant park

Charles: maybe hell's kitchen can be an island

and we'll move bryant park into hell's kitchen

i like that reworking of the city

hmm, although losing queens might not be the best, make it an island too

i say replace it with staten island, but keep the subway connectivity

then just throw staten island into the middle of the atlantic

me: lets get rid of SI

take all teh ass holes, put it on the island and give it to NJ

Charles: yesss

me: we're so smart

Charles: we should be mayors of the city

me: yes

bicycling for everyone!

Charles: who needs midtown!

me: and lots of buses!

Charles: with bike racks on them like in SF

me: and chicago!

Charles: and congestion pricing! and upper manhattan being closer to brooklyn!

me: yes

Charles: i love how i'm charles in your gchat btw

me: hah

its your name dude

Charles: i should legally change my name to charley

like next job i have i want it to just be officially charley

in my signature i still put charles

like my formal signature

i'll still say regards, charley

and then charles ferrari client relationship manager IHS inc corporate corporate corporate

me: CORPORATE

Charles: that's exactly what it says

corporate blahdy blah

me: nice

I love that

when we start a company can it say that at the bottom of our signatures

Charles: yes

yes it can

me: when we are co-presidents of nyc

Charles: charley ferrari

co-president of nyc

corporate blahdy title manager relationship strategist specialist

me: hah

destroyers of midtown

Charles: lol

slayers of staten island

Charles: maybe we can swap williamsburg and greenpoint for inwood and washington heights

i mean they're kind of the same shape

and the architecture in north brooklyn sucks

me: green point is good stuff

Charles: the art deco apartments and hilly topography would be a nice complement to brownstone brooklyn

yea some parts are

ok greenpoing can stay

Charles: bye bye williamsburg

me: see ya bushwick

Charles: yeaaa

me: hello inwood!

Charles: just pop inwood sideways there

but keep the water surrounding it! so make it like a little inlet with inwood popping out

like seriously, we should be city planners, our plans are amazing

me: That's true

except this is more than city planning, this is earth planning

screw being co-presidents, lets me co-gods

Charles: yess

me: of nyc only

Charles: i really like this plan

we'd make awesome gods

the cloisters can be our mount olympus!

how AMAZING would that be

like i always thought, if i ever became a vampire, i'd totally live in the cloisters

me: yes charley- if you ever become a vampire

this is very likely so its good you have a back up plan

Charles: god or vampire is likely?

i think vampire is more likely

god is a good backup

i'll also be very content with satyr

me: five year plan?

Charles: hell yea

i would be an awesome vampire

i've been told on more than one occasion my teeth already look like fangs a bit

like my incisors are very pronounced

me: good to know

Charles: if you were to be something supernatural aside from a god what would you be?

besides a gho0o0o0ost

me: like an established thing, or something I can make up?

Charles: you can make it up, be entrepreneurial

me: I'd be a kanye

Charles: i could be your phoenix!

me: perfect

ADAM

2010-11-10T12:32:00.003-05:00

The show was phenomenal. The devil was in the details, because the show was very simple. If I remember correctly almost all the songs were Sleigh Bells, opening with this song: http://tinysong.com/v950 which you should probably listen to while reading the post as it gives the proper mood and delicately balances between light, airy and girly, and heavy and grownup.
The color story hung out mostly in the beige/white/light colors arena which is why this dress made such an impact. Hello red. Simple, charming, and mischievous running parallel.

This man knows about embellishments and really uses them to pump up the volume in a subtle way while still making an impact and strengthening the storytelling in the collection.
Like I said before- nothing ground breaking or brand spanking new, just a lovely collection that I would want every single piece from. It was well-rounded, cohesive, and just luxe enough. It showed a ranged from great knits and casual separates to fantastic night on the town looks, and kept the surprises staggered throughout.Oh hey guys...
high five?

C'mon, you can't leave Mr. Lippes hangin'!

Fashion Week- ADAM pt 1

2010-10-29T11:38:00.004-04:00

Man oh man alive did I drop the ball with hollering at the tents in any sort of timely manner. I will say that between the new job, and uhhhh life (?) I've been struggling to keep it all up. But I've been getting used to the schedule and I'm looking forward to keeping this a-going.

So did you guys totally freak out at the floating marble block over the entrance? It was soo well done. It lessened my apprehension about the new location (I don't like change). My little darling Chloe called me up to stop by check out the ADAM show.

She was allz like -Hey I ain't no model, don't take my damn photo. But I did because she's so darn ADORABLE.
ADAM just makes really beautiful clothes. Are they crazy off the wall? Are they twenty colors and oversized silhouettes? Nope. But do I lust after them? Are embellishments used thoughtfully? Are the proportions perfect? Yup. Its clear that Adam has a point of view, and its to create really top notch clothing for ladies.
I love the backstage craziness. The handlers took some time making sure this girl's shoes worked correctly.

I like to think these are someone's moms helping add last minute extra notches to the shoe's buckles. Remember when I said fashion is so not glamourous? This is the personification of that. Its hard work and crouching behind a trash bin trying to get one more hole- using a tired, old leather punch- on a fabulous pair of shoes.

I love seeing the designers talk about their collections. Sometimes designers have a lot of say and are really hands on with their collections, and sometimes they just provide more a face for the collection and might approve things that go through the system. Now I have no authority to say either way, I've never been to the ADAM studio, but it appears to me that Mr. Lippes is really part of the discussion, which makes sense considering his history- holding the title of creative director at one of my absolute favorites, Oscar de la Renta.
The front of house was super packed as to be expected.
I watched the show from the sound booth, which made be feel a little bit cool. In my head I pretended I was an important person overseeing the production. Basically I sat up a little bit straighter...

Show coverage next post!

Vote Transit!

2010-10-27T10:03:00.001-04:00

I'm super pissed that the price of the monthly is being raised, yet again. The MTA is fining the people that use it the most, their most loyal customers. And with noticeable service cuts (hello ten minutes late to work today), they are charging more for a worsening product. Not only does this personally affect me, and many of you, but more importantly it makes the fares prohibitively expensive to our fellow new yorkers who are not as fortunate as us to have a salary as high as mine. On a personal level the 17% (!) raise stretches my already stretched pay, and even paying back student loans and medical bills I can still afford it, I just won't go out to dinner, or see a movie. Consider the single parents, the perpetually unemployed, those who work several jobs, the disabled, etc and need the public transit to make their lives work, and also need the extra dollars to make ends meet.

I rarely support organized rallies, but this is my community, my city and my problem. This is our public transit. I'm going to this rally, for you, for me, and for those who cannot go to advocate for themselves and I hope that you will join me!

Details below- and info on the raise at this link-

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/m-t-a-meets-to-increase-transit-fares/?partner=rss&emc=rss

And from the Transportation Alternatives site:

VOTE TRANSIT! A rally to stop the fare hike and future service cuts.

Vote Transit! A rally to end fare hikes and service cuts

On October 27th, Transportation Alternatives' Rider Rebellion campaign is hosting a rally to stop the fare hike and future service cuts, "VOTE TRANSIT!"

Just days before the election, transit riders from all five boroughs will come together with a single message: if you want transit riders to stand up in NYC and vote for you on November 2nd, then stand up in Albany and vote for transit!

New York City's transit riders are tired of fare hikes, tired of service cuts, tired of dirty stations and tired of elected officials that won't do what's necessary to end New York City's public transit crisis. To fight the fare hike and future service cuts, the New York State Legislature must take bold action in 2011.

Be there!

Music and performances
Special guest speaker: TBA
Representatives from all of the major political parties

Start: October 27, 2010 - 5:30pm

End: October 27, 2010 - 7:00pm

Location:

Union Square, south side

East 14th St and Union Square East
Manhattan

That time that Kanye made a Matthew Barney film.

2010-10-25T23:24:00.003-04:00

I'd never thought I'd say Degas and Kanye have a few things in common...

Oh yes- I love this a lot-

Things of note:

Michael Jackson bizzare-o parade

Feather crotch

"Do you know your she's a bird?"

"No I never noticed that."

My favorite part- when Kanye remixes Power and she dances and then it cuts to the little boy in red running across the field.

This is really what people should be doing. Yes, its funny because its Kanye and he's a silly person, but damn at least he is making some fucking art son.

Duck Eggs

2010-10-04T11:09:00.004-04:00

Yes, yes- I've been naughty. Its been almost a month! So much has happened- including a new job for me! (and fashion week, bastille day at le bain, weekend trips to visit friends, plus next month is do it myself month, but more on all this later) That is part of the reason that I've been MIA, trying to adjust to the new schedule, making sure I have my ducks in a row (digression, the co-op had a sign next to the eggs section claiming they had duck eggs. I searched for them and upon finding none, asked a receiving coordinator for them- to which he replied "There are no more." Dejected I continued shopping only to be paged over the PA minutes later "Will the shopper who requested duck eggs please find me, we have them!" BALLER! I took the massive box from this hands and let me tell you, the box is huge because THEY ARE HUMUNGOUS! I brought them home and have yet to eat any. Truth be told, I am a bit nervous- but I'm excited all the same. I was also away all weekend so I was not duck egg-ing it up. I'll try to remember to let you know how it goes).

Anyways my first day of work I jumped right in and went to a party with my new co-worker. We headed into to SoHo to the NY Spaces fete at Sicis' showroom. YES! That amazing tile showroom where they do things with tile you never thought possible.

Happy birthday Mister President.
So in addition to amazing displays they had rows where you could just help yourself to tile samples. And it was just beautiful to look at. And rainbow bright-y.

Shake a Spear in the Park

2010-09-07T11:31:00.004-04:00

Bridget, who is near and dear to me as we've been pals since I was erroneously calling her Brittany way back in the 7th grade, hosted her second annual Shakespeare Picnic in Central Park, and it was a resounding success! Festivities included eating, drinking, reading and performing the good man's work, and wearing white (which I failed at, as it turns out I don't own white clothes). There were also two rounds of "Who's On Your Face?" which Bridget might not have been so happy about if she knew she had the Biebs hanging out on her forehead.Bri and her roommate and co-host, Brooke, amped us all up through really well written and witty emails in ..kinda-Shakespeare-english.
Below-a sampling!

Dear fair maids and squires of the greater New York metro area,

But one annum has not yet passed since our last foray into the great art of picnic, and yet the summer wanes, bringing us, yet again, to our favorite time of year. We invite you most heartily to join us from noon until dusk in Central Park to continue our grand tradition with the Second Annual Shakespeare Picnic in the Park.*

For those of you new to what can only be described as the literary event of the season, some history is in order. It all started with the opening scene of Much Ado About Nothing. As we watched the white-clad Messinians lounging on a hillside, drinking wine, painting, and reading poetry, we asked ourselves "Doesn't that sound like fun?" And answered with a resounding "Aye!"

Bernard enjoying the festivities and chillaxing. It was really just one of those great days.This year Barbara and I were asked to redo our rendition of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. Her "english" accent always sounds like she's dying and I always laugh. We're not too good at acting. Kelly and Brooke (above) are much better.

Tie Dying

2010-08-31T17:51:00.003-04:00

Rebecca is one of those fantastic ladies who while sometimes takes a wild ride on the train to crazy town, most of the time its a good kind of crazy. She's always making. She's a maker of things. If you want to feel inspired, watch her finger some new fabric she's just bought, or pull out plastic baggies filled with different kinds of beads and talk about its potential, her plans for its future. The best part is unlike most, she follows through. If you stop by a few weeks later, you can see the finished product, a gorgeous skirt, or a stunning necklace. There is no bullshitting in Reboc's world.
She decided that the latest thing of interest, besides learning French (she's in Paris right now, don't you know? Avoir l'amusement ? Tu me manques! Et dites bonjour a Agathe pour moi!), is learning how to tie dye. She invited her "besties" over for a day of fun in the sun and Avatar-blue hands.
When I got on the roof I was, admittedly, a few minutes (or an hour) late. But this is how I roll. Everyone was already tying up their tee shirts and pillow cases into little cloth sculptures in order to block the dye and control the pattern. We soaked them in a bath to prepare them for dying.
There were two kinds of dying to try out:
Tom here is doing an indigo bath, which I didn't realize wasn't just dying something blue. I learned that it actually needs to oxidize in order to achieve the correct color. When placing your garment in the bucket to dye it cannot be moved because that will introduce air into the mixture and oxidize the bath. It also cannot touch the bottom because some of the chemicals will have settled to the bottom and I guess its better to leave them undisturbed.
After the garment comes out of the indigo bath we laid them out to dry on this plastic sheeting. The pieces actually came out this awesome neon green and then we WATCHED them turn blue as the air activated the indigo. HOW COOL IS THAT?! Some of us lamented that we wished we could hold on to that great green color to which Rebecca replied "Its indigo, get over it!"
Jon tried out the other kind of dying, which is your more garden variety, sleep away camp style tie dye. We had a reddish purpleish and a yellow to play around with.
While we waited for our clothes to accept the dyes the sky put on a magnificent show for us.
And one trip to the laundromat later, we were Tie Dye Champions!
Oh yeah, I cut my hair. Its actually been short for a while, and check it, there's some pink in there too.
All in all this was a most fun day of making and hanging and drinking beers- and summer's not quite over so GET ON IT!

Camp Lo

2010-08-26T00:35:00.003-04:00

One day, way back when snow was still on the ground, I got an email asking me to come to Camp Lo from Terry, my Boston pal. Not really knowing the fuck Camp Lo was I inquired and I got this email responding to my inquiry-

hey nora,

camp lo is the best time of the year.

charlie or ashley never told you about it?

you should come... seriously,

terry-

So Camp Lo was to remain shrouded in mystery...
After some back and forth with Charley and Jersey (no one I know calls her Ashley...) I figured out it was like a sleep away camp for "grown ups" complete with an arts and crafts table, boating, tubing, hiking, and drinking. Lots of that.
And then I forgot because snow and cold doesn't make me want to leave my well heated apt and think about living on an island on Lake George.

Fast forward several months- the gang's all here, in size order, on a dock.... waiiitttinngg for the mystery boat to pick us up with our gear.
The prep email we all received said something to the effect of
"You don't have to call, just be there by 4 and you'll get on the boat. If you miss the last boat, you don't get to come to the island until the next day."
To pass the time Charley had the really awful idea of playing badminton with himself right on the edge of the dock.
45 minutes later we decided to call.
And our trip was able to begin! Being a city gal, getting on a boat to get to an island where there is nothing really like civilization at all is really exotic. Even if is only a ten minute boat ride tops. And a walkie talkie. And iPods.
The NYC kids (us) were supposed to be on clean up duty after dinner, but I missed the memo and came too late to really help. I contributed by taking photos of Babs cleaning the skillet. She seemed to be having such a good time I didn't want to impede on her fun.
And later that night we played round after round of 13-person-teamed Flip Cup. It was my third time playing. Ever.
I loved it!
We must have played close to 10 rounds of the game. My team won all but 9 of them.
(see what I did there?)
The next day it RAINED every single moment. This didn't stop anyone from going on a boat, tubing, or swimming in the lake. The weather just contributed to making me sleepy as fuck, resulting in the most EPIC NAP EVER! Now that's what I call vacation.
Babs made her beer can carpet all by herself! Babs also loves skull caps and Joe Boxer bathing suits.
And any favorite rainy day activity- FACE PAINTING TIME! By the time I left most ladies had facial hair. Its tres chic indeed.

Sunset

2010-08-19T11:10:00.003-04:00

Oh New York, the way your architecture grabs the last rays of sun, like a lover resistant to let go of its beloved's hands.
Oh, I can wax poetic.
This photo is an argument for the lost art of making beautiful buildings that have thoughtful details and static materials that are not GLASS and CEMENET, ones that have some staying power.
It is also a testament to my never ending love affair with the city. This just does it for me.

She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes!

2010-08-10T12:49:00.004-04:00

Oh fashion week- you're just a few measly weeks away. Oh yes, how I miss you, like long distance lovers waiting to be reunited, I stare at your pictures online and sometimes feel butterflies in my stomach, tingling in anticipation.
To tide me over until we meet, so soon, so soon- the Custo Barcelona finale- a video.

I know, my posts have been video heavy lately. Whaddya think? I'm kinda into it, but maybe there's a downside?
Lemme know!

PS1 Warm Up!

2010-08-08T23:09:00.005-04:00

Every summer PS 1 MoMA hosts Warm Up on Saturdays. Let me tell you about a good time. If you want to have one I think you should head over before it comes to an end. There are two things that make Warm Up better than just visiting the museum.
The first is there is always live music and people dancing. Usually its DJ stuff, but every once and while you get a band too. And its super fun to be dancing with all these people in the middle of the day with our devil may care attitude.
The second best part is the outdoor installation, usually interactive, done in collaboration by the Young Architects Program. This "gives emerging architects the opportunity to build projects conceived for P.S.1’s facility in Long Island City, Queens," according to the website.
This year the installation was so simple and subtle, that it really was just right, perfection. Like a reflection of a great summer day- one that involves both sun and shade, relaxation and activity. Streching over the expanse of the yard was a great trapeze-like net held up by several poles. The great net hosted plenty of brightly colored exercise balls which created nice patches of shade to hide from the sun. There were also strategically placed hoops through which you could bounce the balls out from the net and let them careen down to the ground (or attempt to throw back into the net... which I failed at spectacularly) to sit yer ass upon. Or bounce around. Or throw at your friend's face. The whole installation encouraged interaction, and not only did I see people trying to get the balls out, but every once and a while I spotted intrepid people climbing the poles:In the side room, the poles made different sounds as you wobbled them. They were connected to the internet, and if you had a iPhone you could control the volume of the poles with it.
Also there were a few hammocks scattered around, but it was almost impossible to snag one. They did look comfortable though.
The art inside I have to say was the worst collection thus far. I guess when you don't have Olafur Eliasson everywhere everything else just pales in comparison. There was this neat tree, cement dust installation- a comment of the de-rainforestation going on in Brazil.
I've heard that one before...
And of course the basement is always cool, both in temperature (zing!) and if you like old relics. Someone had been gold leafing bits and pieces everywhere, but all we saw of his/her presence was bits of gold scattered on the ground and smatterings of leaf on the vintage machinery.

We headed back outside to get some dance party in:

And from somewhere balloons floated out into the crowd. Those balloon combined with bubbles from a bubble gun added to the fun! I took a picture but BARBARA PHOTO BOMBED THAT SHIT!
Take two-
Also- this guy was there...
And these guys. They are art.

That Time That Phil Almost Got Run Over By A Camel

2010-08-06T00:07:00.003-04:00

PART TWO!

When I showed this to my mom she seemed to be enjoying it... right up to the point where I said "Oh my fucking god." Then she looked at me and went "Nora!" Mom doesn't like cursing.

Gas Stations and Camels and Deserts, oh my!

2010-08-05T17:47:00.002-04:00

This is from a few months ago, but so bizzare I had to share. This was within minutes of the first time I ever saw a desert in my whole life. I don't know how someone gets to be my age without ever experiences a desert, though I could understand how someone could go their whole life and never have the experience I had during this video.

Part Two- the Camel- coming up next!

3rd Ward Music Machine

2010-08-03T17:46:00.002-04:00

About a zillion years ago I headed over to the 3rd Ward to check out this interactive music installation they were raving about. Guess what!? I totes loved it.
The artist had created this electronic board that was basically like a metal piano keyboard that did not move. When a key was touched, it activated the kinetic parts, mallets hitting the metal curved bars. What was really cool is the sculpture went all the way down the hallway, taking over the whole space, creating pathways and visual interest.
There was a nice moment where everyone shut up and the artist played for us:

The Cooper Hewitt Shop

2010-07-27T15:28:00.003-04:00

Me and the company wanted to take the intern to the Cooper Hewitt to check out the Design Triennial. Of course due to poor planning on our part, we forgot to check what time it closed. When we got there 20 bucks a person for only a half hour just didn't seem to make sense. But it wasn't a total waste of time, the shop was open for us to peruse, for free! Brian, the curator? buyer? finder? come on my selector? for the store always makes good choices. It was hard to photograph my favorites because they were often under glass.
I totally dug these watch shaped wrist bands. Playful and sweet. I would like to wear them all at once, two for each arm.
These necklaces also charmed me. A much better version for ladies than the patronizing all-pink tool sets for ladies the Home Depot sells. Though I could see a hunky, hip man in a v-neck shirt wearing the saw one...
And these are just weird. There is a part of me that wants to buy a set and mail it to John Waters.

Ye Olde Schoole Shoppe Signe

2010-07-14T17:51:00.002-04:00

The corner store around the bouts of where I make da bling bling has been revamping their space. The took off their old skuzzy awning to reveal their even older and totes awesome sign! I hope they keep the sign going after they finish their remodeling, its so pure, subtley retro, and stunning in its simplicity. Please Super Ace Markets, keep love the old skool love alive!

The Invisible Dog

2010-07-13T16:31:00.002-04:00

The Invisible Dog, a gallery located on 51 Bergen Street, is really the something special the neib needed. Their story goes as such- the space was a factory, as were many on this particular block (I remember as a very young child walking past the cheese factory everyday on the way to school- and it smelling exactly how you would expect a cheese factory to smell, like kinda/almost good, and really smelly. This factory doesn't exist anymore, someone now lives where it once stood. I often muse to myself as I walk by "Does the space still smell like cheese inside...?") and this factory made many goods, but as the economy and the landscape of manufacturing changed the only thing the factory continued to produce, up until 2006, was those invisible dog leashes that you can buy at Disneyworld. Improv Everywhere used the leftover leashes for a fantastic and good humored prank a little under a year ago.
Now the factory is a wonderfully patina'd gallery space, hosting some really fantastic work. On the first floor was a mish mosh of all different kinds of work. I don't know if it was the space, the installation, or the curation- probably a combination of all three, but even though the works were not cohesive, it worked viewing them all together.

Off to the side was a nice group of work made out of old metro cards. This one I thought was particularly good advice:

One of the windows had a small step ladder, and I was up for a mini adventure-It led to a bizarre garden space.
I fell in love with this lamp, and the wall in which it was hung- and the mossy neglect. I know neglect is a word that usually has a negative meaning, but I felt there was no better way to show off the beauty of this wall than to leave it alone for many seasons. Let the Spring water find its ways into the cracks, and the freezing Winter chill expand the water droplets, growing the cracks, let the Fall spores find good, solid homes in the nooks and the Summer heat nurture the moss and the mold.
Somewhere inside me a hippie poet is fighting to get out.
And since we're talking about old relics, check out this sign I spotted on the way to third floor. Obviously from days of yore.

The Creator's Project

2010-07-07T13:01:00.004-04:00

I got an email a few weeks ago saying I should sign up now for the Creator's Project. I read the rundown, Interpol, Mark Ronson, XXXchange, NASA, Sleigh Bells, Spike Jonez, Graffiti Research Lab, arts, all at Milk Studios. Plus free booze. Yeah- I signed up right quick.
Little did I know exactly how cool this event was going to be. It well surpassed my expectations. Its impossibile to explain everything that happened here because it was a total sensory overload and there was SO much going on at all times, but I'm going to make the attempt.
Also- I have to say never have I been so pleased with the staff. The security guards were helpful and polite instead of assholes, the event staff were super chill and calm instead of stressed out. In fact, I'd say they were happy to be working the event. It was so well organized, everything came together with close to perfect timing. No waiting around for an act or event to start, and the crowding was kept to a minimum. Whoever organized this event, you go girl, it was as close to perfect as you could have hoped, and the people working it made all the difference.
Spike Jonez screened a really sweet film about robots in love. I won't ruin it for you but I will say it tugged on my heartstrings. The short featured a band that played during the movie and provided much of the sound track. The last scene had a really charming song to bring the film to a bittersweet end and as the last frame flickered against the screen, the screen rose to reveal the band playing behind it. The had actually played the last song live. It was a beautiful surprise. AND THEY WERE WEARING GOLD JUMPSUITS!
This was a really interesting/creepy installation. These two very attractive models would stand, android like, in front of the Plexiglas cone. As one approached it the boy on the right would take you into the cone, seat you down and say "Look into the scanner." Then everything went dark and the participant would be almost blinded by the light of the scanner. A curt motion was made to leave and it was over. A minute later a distorted version of the face of the participant would be projected above the cone on a circular screen.
This was a nice video installation that was a nice escape from the loud noises and crowds. Very calming in a way.
I might have enjoyed this interactive installation the most. A cube made of LED lights strung from the ceiling that the viewer could walk into and have an experience. While I was waiting my turn to go inside I could watch everyone else. It appeared that once a new person entered the piece the cube would choose a new sound-and-light show for each viewer. This is what happened when Barbara went inside-
This installation disappeared itself once the shows really started going. Basically one could play these instruments and they were connected to a video panel on the wall. When a drum head was hit it would play a short video clip. Very cool. There was a lag that was almost a full second so you couldn't quite get a rhythm going. Very annoying.
The only installation I didn't play with was the video game hacks. They were obviously popular becuase there was always a line and I hate waiting on line really. However, it is with regret as they did look creative, well produced and fun to engage with.
Remember how I said the Creator's Project was well organized. Let me elaborate on that a little bit more. They really took technology to the next level. There were interactive touch screen kiosks on every floor that had a schedule of when and where things where taking place, a map of each floor and information about each of the events. There were flat screens hanging on the walls saying "Hey! Check out this thing going on here right now!" to remind us what was hot and happening. Plus instant updates from their twitter feed right on the wall screens. PLUS instant live video feeds of other events happening in different parts of the building. The second Interpol's set was over a screen flew down and we were able to watch the end of Die Antwood's set, which was probably more fun to experience in person, but still cool that we could watch it, as it was happening, instead of trying to run through a crowd of people trying to get up stairs to catch those last sweaty minutes. Very very well done, you can color me impressed.
ON TO THE JAMZ!
We caught some of Sleigh Bells. Now I am in love with their music, I can't get enough of A/B Machines. I think they have put together some catchy-as-fuck tunes and my co-worker and I often have them blasting out of our computers and giving our office a swift kick in the ass. If only I could say their live show was as good. Because its not. Its kinda just noise. Letdown.
Oh man, Interpol. Can I just sum it up like that? They were number one on my list of bands that I had to see. It was my first time seeing them, and it was so good. Words cannot express. Neither can my photography really. What can I say... I was in le moment.Neon Indian puts on a damn good show, complete with Theramin playing.
And Mark Ronson ended the night in the most perfect way. The hugest, sassiest, balls-to-the-wallsiest dance party. I can't decide what was the best part- oh wait yes I can. Dancing really hard to "Work It" by Missy, making eyes at a really hot dude, and then realizing that dude is Josh Hartnett. Yeah, that was the best part.
I dare anyone to top this festival. DARE YOU TO. And if you do, please be sure to invite me, darling.
Video coming soon!

MOMO

2010-07-01T16:06:00.007-04:00

Last Thursday I headed over to the Invisible Dog gallery to check out the work of MOMO, or, as he was named, Maurice Maréchal. I've walked by the Invisible Dog gallery plenty of times, but this was the first time I ever went inside.
It was really a phenomenal space, and as with most things that appeal to my aesthetic preferences it was cleaned up just enough to have people and art inside- but the bones of what it used to be, the beautiful patina of years of use as a factory was still ever present. What a perfect host for art! I have a whole post planned on the Invisible Dog, so for right now- on to zee art!
There was framed work on every starkly painted wall. The tactile quality of the work sang inside the Invisible Dog's bare bones post-factory interior- thick gobs of paint created undulating paintscapes upon old ledger pages and found objects like sheets of old, oil stained butcher paper and tree leaves preserved by a glossy shellac found homes on the page. The work was emotional, textured, joyous and painful all at once, it had history and told a story. And this very affecting work was mostly housed in these... generic... frames. I don't think the work was diminished because of this, but I think the pieces could have been enhanced with a different approach. I guess I came away thinking the two were a bit incongruous.
Also- I hate frames in general...
Part of what made me want to stay with each piece was the level of detail within the work.
This was in her fore arm(sorry its sideways), and this-
on her other arm.
My favorite thing in the whole gallery was MOMO's sketch book. I could have spent the whole time just loving the book. I wanted to take photos of every page, but had to restrict myself.
And again he had beautiful details hidden in the work. But I could get up close and inspect it.
I found this character doing his angry rain dance on this page-
There were also pages in the old ledger book that appealed to my interests in fashion. Being ever the girly girl I liked these explorations in lace-
And the dip dyed effect gave such a nice ombre to this neck piece-
I waited for almost two hours in this really very hot gallery for Michel Gondry to show up and kick out the jamz (which may or may not have been my impetus to go in the first place). While close to 8 there was still no sign of him- I bounced out because my legs had gotten so sweaty that they effortlessly slid against each other as though I was in a pool. NOT CUTE!
Over all- great show! I can't wait to check out what else the Invisible Dog has to offer.

Gettin' Around

2010-06-29T14:34:00.002-04:00

Check out these baller ways to get around in the hot hot summer time heat. A TANDEM RECUMBENT BIKE! WHAT?
YEAH!
And one of these guys, you can even take the kids. Its like a car, but its not and its only for tourists. And awesome people.
And yes this is a car, of which I'm not the biggest fan, but if you have to get around in a gas guzzler, then this is the beautiful machine that should do it (minus the Havanas advert).

DUMBO Arts Center

2010-06-21T17:33:00.002-04:00

The DUMBO Arts Center hosts an open gallery event every first Thursday of the month. Many first Thursday's ago I was invited to check out the work of a friend showing there. It was my first time at the DAC but I was blown away by the quality of work.
I finally have a chance to present it to all y'all, and I'll do so without any commentary. Well I will just say that I was aesthetically drawn to this work on a visceral level and without outside information. So- without further adieu...

Climbing the 'Dacks!

2010-06-18T13:33:00.003-04:00

It seems like when I go upstate to climb the weather just turns to shit and makes any attempts at outdoor climbing almost impossible. Saturday it rained the whole time so we hollered at the indoor gym instead.While the gym is mostly a bouldering gym, as the ceilings are not super tall, I was able to get some leading in.
What a thrill. My gym has a super rigorous lead test on an inverted wall at a super high rating (not fair! I'm a lady, I never claimed to be able to hold onto a wall for that long, upper body strength ain't my forte) so I don't get to climb lead there (YET), but I am able to climb at AIR, which I love. The thrill pushes me harder, and I love a throbbing forearm. Its less climbing vertical and more traversing at this gym (again, because of the low ceilings I presume) which can be more intense, especially 20 plus feet off the ground.
Someone at the gym had set up a swing out, aka super terrifying. Brendan has climbed about 6 and a half feet away from his last clip in and is prepping to jump off the wall any second now. Its like trying to tell yourself to walk off a cliff.
Every good gym has a dog. This one is Riley. She's adorable.
Speaking of dogs, look how good Brendan's are. SOOOOOO CUTE!fdasklg;jasklag
We took the dogs camping with us, but since it was raining and gross we did "fake camping" at Nate's grandparent's cabin near the lake. It wasn't real camping, but it was a real good time. One bottle of Jameson later, we all went skinny dipping, something I haven't done since 8th grade graduation. Even the dogs joined us!
One hung over morning later we got ready for some outdoor climbing!
We got ready very slooowwlllyyy....
Across the street from the lake shack was this house, which is maybe the ugliest, most poorly decorated, designed, and thought out house ever. Lets chat about it, shall we?
Oh yes, the ever popular vertical siding, commonly used nowhere, a mysical floating colbat mirror orb on a pedistal, THE LETTER Q, and last but certainly not least, an empty shrine, or as Nate insisted, a urinal. So bizarre.
We brought the dogs climbing- check out that figure 8 on the static line we used to keep them from jumping off a cliff. YEAH!
The walls were so wet from the day before I really struggled against the slime. Also our first routes were crack climbing, instead of face climbing. The most common way of climbing a crack is by jamming, which is exactly what it sounds like. Shove your hand or foot into the crack and twist it around until it stays there. Some people say if it hurts you're doing it right. Needless to say I'm not a fan of crack climbing.We switched to a climb called Afternoon Delight, which was something like 65 ft high. The exposure was fantastic but boy oh boy did I get super scared up there. Total adrenaline rush! I can't wait to get back at the walls!

That's me just about to pee my pants doing the swing out.

Museum Mile

2010-06-17T12:02:00.005-04:00

Every year the Museum Mile happens, and every year I miss it. I have always had something or another going on and can't meet up for the live music, the street performers, the open museums and Fifth Ave, clear of cars and full of chalk drawings. Every year until now.
I met up with these three fabulous ladies to czech it out, but apparently this was the worst Museum Mile ever! Having nothing to compare it to I just loved on it. We only made it into one museum, the Cooper Hewitt, which was SO crowded that it just wasn't worth it, even if the exhibit looked interesting. What I really enjoyed was the outside-ing.
This band is from the Czech Republic! They played really cheesy, yet traditional (I'm assuming) music. I liked it in a funny way.
And some teens, doing it! Play it!
There was this really cute girl making really adorable art on the sidewalk also.
And the school for kids who want to play music did a little demonstration. These kiddies did much better than I can do, so its safe to say I was impressed!
Or- Its safe to say I can't play a string instrument!
Culture!

Hair...a remix

2010-06-16T14:08:00.003-04:00

What if I cut my hair so I looked like this?
Ladies and Gents, what do y'all think?

Dino Don's

2010-06-16T13:09:00.004-04:00

Hey hot stuff? What's going on with you?

My darling amazing friend and super duper pinkie-holding buddy invited me and some pals up to her dad's estate in a Philly suburb. I jumped on board right away, since it sounded like a nice relaxing weekend away from the city. Plus her dad is Dino Don.
I didn't know what that really meant but I soon found out it meant more good times than I had initially imagined. He is more or less the coolest dad.
Greeting visitors as they enter the estate, a Raptor. Its tail might be kinda molding off, but still, a highly original entrance. Little did I know that dinosaurs were wandering all around the estate.
Can you spot the Triceratops?
Also, a garage full of them.
Does this guy look familiar? Just a lil bit? This is why-
Yeah- Dino Don has the dino's from the movie. Baller? Totes!
And bubble Jimmy had fun with a fellow carnivore.
Another cool thing on the property was this electric car. ZAP! Check out what's under the "gas cap-"
A plug! That's right, you can pull it out and just plug it in. (that's what she said) Dino Don said that you can travel up to 40 miles on one charge, though it doesn't really go fast enough to sustain highway speeds. It can totally handle over 80% of most people's driving needs though, such as trips to the grocery store and stopping by your neighbors for a visit. Most errands essentially. And at (if I remember correctly) 20 cents a mile, totally worth it!
This is Paris and Nicole, the goats on the land. Yeah, that's right, Erica's dad is so impressively with it he picked out amazing pop culture names for these goats. And like the real Paris and Nicole, the goats were kinda vapid and stupid, only caring about food, but they were fun to watch!
The boys declared this a mostly shirtless weekend, which was good because there was swimming to be had!
You can't tell from this photo, but a dinosaur was totes creepy watching us from the corner.
The weekend was amazing, I got to see several kiddies from my Israel trip, hang with my best Barbara and my favorite pinkie buddie, eat good food and relax the shit out of the place. Thanks Erica and Dino Don!
Also, I got to wear my hippie dress. I just thought that was important to note.

Dinosaur BBQ

2010-06-11T17:48:00.002-04:00

Charley and I had grandiose plans that never really came to fruition in regards to our "training" for the Five Boro Bike Tour. We were going to bike through all the boros (yes! even Staten Island!) and find sketch bars, visit landfills, and get proper lost in different and obscure neighborhoods. We wanted to fall even more in love with our great city, and find that off the beaten path stuff we crave so. We wanted to meet crazies, and have good stories worth sharing. Of course our ambitions were bigger than our packed schedules would allow. However, we did make it to Dinosaur Barbque. Its apparently no big deal to the kids who went to Columbia, its right next door, and like a zillion other people who were there (the wait for a table was an hour!) but to me and Charley we were Dino virgins and totally amped about it. I mean its NAMED AFTER DINOSAURS!
Now I'm a vegetarian so I just drank a beer, but I was still kinda excited about this seemingly isolated restaurant, under a highway at 131st street. We were just riding our bikes past on the West Side Bike Lane and ESP'd to each other that this place was probably a good spot to grab a beer. We made a big circle and locked up our bikes outside.
It looks like they have live music often- and if you like gross BBQ food, but feel like Dallas BBQ is too touristy, check out Dino BBQ. It'l be a blast! Tell 'em Nora and Charley sent you! (ed note: They will be confused as to who we are.)
Happy weekend y'all!

Intrepid

2010-06-11T11:51:00.003-04:00

Oh look- its a whole bunch of douches, douching it up at a douche party!
OR IS IT!?
(hint: It's not)
Lisa invited a whole slew of us to the Columbia Alumni party on THE INTREPID! I've never been on the Intrepid before, so I signed up right away.
In college I once pretended to be a Columbia student and hopped on their ski team trip which happened to equal the most fun ever. Why not hop aboard the SSColumbia and see what good times developed?
Our strict instructions were to come dressed in nautical inspired garb, and the second we walked in we were given sailor hats by the museum staff. In short that doesn't make us douches, that makes us well dressed and appropriate for the event. And it was awesome.
Alex may have had my top pick for the night with his nautical themed tie.
But I was also truly impressed with Lisa and Issac's Yacht Club matching ensemble.
Fun Fact: Isaac's shorts had craw fish on them.
The party got into full swing, but unfortunately (or maybe this was good thing considering the copious amounts of booze swilling around) we were not allowed on the top deck. To make up for it they had plenty of things to keep us kiddies entertained.
Like a simulation roller coaster MOTHA FUCKERS!
I think we were all hoping it would be like this:
But it was a little more tame and was really like this:
But because we all had some booze, I think it was enjoyed by all. Barbara may have overly enjoyed it and screamed alot, but I think that's fun! (ed note: I may have screamed alot also...)
Oh no- this is what happens when you let a bunch of drunks steer a ship.
ICE BERG! Straight ahead!
And these photos were basically obligatory.
To take this photo (by the way, I'm so in love with my 40's pin-up stylin' outfit for the evening) I made a big sacrifice. To get inside the helecopter they provided a stool, which slid out from underneath me, causing my whole body to slam into the helicopter, my leg taking the majority of the hit...
...resulting in the nastiest bruise of my life.
The picture doesn't even do it justice. Owie. But totes worth it. Mostly because now when people ask me how I did it, I can say "I fell into a helicopter." That's kinda a fun thing to say every now and then.

Get it

2010-06-10T13:16:00.002-04:00

This is what is happening right now at the office.

I'm live blogging our office cat.

3 the Hard Way

2010-06-09T17:00:00.002-04:00

So today might be a bike-centric day, but that's okay! Its my favorite way to get around and play! So much to my dismay you can't make one out of clay, or ride one in a bay, unless its a water bike, HEY!
I saw this amazing bike out and about on a bubble weekend locked up next to Thompkins Square Park. This person can take two (little) people (maybe kids... probably kids) around with him/her. SO COOL!
When I was in Amsterdam, they all had bikes with attachments to seat at least one more human on the bike. My little fantasy while I was there was that I would be asked out on date, and he'd be all like "I'll pick you up at 8." And then he would show up (in like the best outfit) on his bike and take me out on the town on his bike, not a car. And then I would super swoon. And he would have the most adorable helmet for me to wear too. Well in A'dam they don't really wear helmets, but I like them. I like my brains, but I ain't no zombie.

Wow, that post did not turn out how I expect it to.
Unconscious writing!

That's fucked up.

2010-06-09T11:35:00.002-04:00

I've had my bike stolen.
It sucks really bad.
Brooklyn Bike and Board, the nicest bike shop around, all pleasant dudes who really believe in it, just got robbed. LAME-a-TRON.
Fuck that noise.

In happier news, a new bike lane just got thrown up, this week I think, on Prospect Park West! A protected bike lane! So, that's awesome.

Barbara-Q!

2010-06-07T12:33:00.003-04:00

Every year I invite my friends up to the suburbs to partake in a little mom and dad coddling-dog loving-backyard grass-ing-hammock swinging-frisbe throwing-bbq good time! Its really amazing to be able to open my house up to my friends to provide a quick escape from the city. Plus FREE FOOD!
This year the eats were all vegetarian (my first all veggie bbq-ever!) and mostly vegan. I made delish portobello caps marinated in terayaki sauce. MMmmmm! Also available were asparagus, cold sesame noodles, gazpacho, chips, vegan hot dogs and burgers, and sword fighting corn on the cob. To drink-lemonade, beer, beer, beer and mint julep! The day ended with vanilla ice cream, and soy pomegranate chip ice cream. Soooo good!

Bob and Josh brought a guitar and drum box that one sits on and hit between one's legs whose name I've forgotten, and I brought my uke so we could pump up the jams. Lisa's dad and James delighted us with an awesome collaboration. Guitar and Uke unite!

A freak rain shower forced us all in quickly, but the party still continued! We all sat around my mother as she told us kiddies the orgins of Fritz, our mounted reindeer head. And the night ended with Brendan and I playing two hands piano, of which I feel its pretty clear that I haven't played in 10 years. I even screwed up Heart and Soul.
It was a great gathering of my birthright peeps and my home town friends and moms and dads. Super good times!

The Frying Pan is a boat

2010-06-04T15:27:00.003-04:00

Hey, y'all! Wanna go to a bar that is like Discovery Zone for adults and is not Dave and Busters? But kinda full of assholes anyways, but is still really le coole? Even if you are thisclose to New Jersey? Sure you do! Head all the way to the Hudson river on 23rd street. There is a really big floating dock and two boats tied to it. On the dock is a bar with some food stuffs, and also an old Caboose. This place is called the Frying Pan. It is, in a word, ballerest.

That photo above, its a dance floor, complete with an old rustic outta tune piano. I've never seen anyone dancing, but once I turned on the turntables (hidden in a little room behind the piano, you can see the window cutout) and played some jam that was set up, which was kinda cool.
Yeah, yeah, its kinda for grown up frat boys (or bouys) (is that an oxymoron?) but its also really amazing. Basically there are two boats attached to the dock, and the first one is called the Frying Pan, and you can bring your beers on the boat and chill on the deck. Or if you're the adventurous type, which I know I am, you take your beers to the depths of the boat.
There are no signs that say anything is a forbidden zone so I explored the shit out of that place. I believe the boat was, at one time, totally chillaxing on the ocean floor so much of the space is all rusty awesome. There are some really nice relics, colors, textures and mess everywhere. It really feels like it shouldn't be allowed, but I'm oh so glad it is.
You can take a nap (or bang, presumably) in the captain's liars (but you will probably get bed bugs.)
Or "steer the ship" like I did.
And here is a really spooky and unlit place way near the stern of the boat, three stories down. I don't think any of those "Life Boat" things will help out. I think its just junk, but what do I know, I'm just a pedestrian.
A great way to spend Memorial Day!

Kartell Party, and then some. SoHo-o-rama

2010-06-02T13:05:00.004-04:00

Design Week ended more or less in SoHo. Our first stop was the Kartell party. I got there earlier than the rest of my peeps and was able to lounge like the coolest kid on the block in one of these sofas on a light up platform, whilst drinking a cocktail. Uber posh.
I was really excited to be there because Kartell makes my favorite piece of furniture ever. The Louie Ghost Chair designed by Phillipe Stark!HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT CHAIR?!! Really, just imagine it six of them surrounding a rustic, oversize wooden table with a gorgeous, metal chain chandelier hanging above. That, good sir, is perfection.
They have a great line in general. I'm a sucker for clear and plastic things, and lucite fits the bill to a T.
Finally, I was able to snap a photo of the most elusive creature in his natural habitat.
That dude with the Leopard Print Hair. Who is this guy? Why is he always around furniture? Does the carpet match the drapes?
Afterwards we jet-setted all the way across the street to the Artemide party, where we blah blah blahed our way past the door person into the event where everyone was drinking weird blue drinks that looked really gross. We left just in time to see Karim Rashid walking in, NOT WEARING PINK! So weird.

Our final stop was the Pin Up fete, where all the cool kids were. The fun b-list sighting was Julian Schnabel chatting up a cater waitress. So bizarre. Fun Fact: He looks just like Jack Nicholson in person.

And so we took a long nap the next day and had really attractive boys with washboard abs feed us grapes. Or we went into the office. Its a choose your own adventure post.

The Future Perfect

2010-05-24T16:02:00.003-04:00

NoHo, alas, I was only able to make the tail end of your parties. However I did manage to duck into the Future Perfect at their new location on Great Jones for a short moment, and I noticed a particular and peculiar theme going on.
At first it seemed to be very animal/taxidermy heavy. But then, upon reflection I realized it may just be my tendency to lean towards the animal motif. Does that make me particular and peculiar? I can't imagine why I like it, as I'm a vegetarian, but I guess that doesn't extend to compel my interior aesthetic choices.Plus, HELLO! a Golden Elephant Head!? Thanks, I 'll take it!These lighting fixtures repulsed everyone but me. There's a small chance that I kinda totally wanted them, both, in my apartment, stat.
Kooky!

Blu Party!

2010-05-21T15:51:00.003-04:00

Okay- so the best part of ICFF is the parties! Lots of boozing with the people that make my industry happen, the movers and the shakers, and lil' ol' me... Ever since Blu Dot moved into SoHo they have been known to throw the most baller parties in the 'hood. Their fetes always dominate the street with the well dressed design crowd overflowing to the curb outside.
Did I mention they are tons of fun?
Look! Carolyn found Alex from Rich, Brilliant, Willing!

And here's my posse. I love wearing a bedazzled turban. Really alot.
Congrats to Sight Unseen for throwing equally awesome events at the NoHo Design District. You go girls!

National Bike to Work Day

2010-05-20T12:52:00.000-04:00

Hey y'all-
Tomorrow is National Bike to Work Day!
Here's some ways to celebrate tomorrow. FREE FOOD!

The Javits

2010-05-20T11:55:00.004-04:00

I spent three consecutive days in the bizzare-o glass building that somehow lets no natural light in called the Jacob Javits center, hollering at ICFF. Its safe to say I spent time with furniture. Here are my highly coveted picks, my what were you thinking critiques, and the "I can appreciate what they were going for"s.
I'm in love with the tie dyed wooden chair- and its oh so comfortable.
But this dream of a couch is the epitome of comfort. I could sit in in all day, lounge, take long luxurious naps, wear silk komono pj's, you know, the usual. I basically want this right now, its singing my song.
Its rumored that furniture made out of wood just makes me swoon. And truth be told there is no tub I would rather have than this wooden tub. Its just so cool, a tub made of wood! And look what happens when we diverge from wood-
weird ugly tables. Although I do kinda like the idea of the Theory of Relativity in a table, its not something that appeals to me aesthetically.
And there are still stranger things made of wood.
Bangin' on this bed would be an experience, no doubt, but I'm not sure I'd like to be the owner of this contraption.
I totally loved this shelving unit. Although its styled for a children's room I feel it would fit nicely in my room, or the living room. I bet it could even work in the bathroom, holding towels.
Pratt had a booth where presumably students had drawn on these plastic chairs. This one was one of my favorites.
Though I really liked the mouth chair too.
And my love for lucite meets my love for wood. And here are some lucite lamps that charmed me, and they are NOT made by Kartell, who wudda thunk it?

Penthousing

2010-05-19T13:38:00.004-04:00

Now don't get jealous. I just happened to be able to hang out, in a penthouse, in the Plaza, for work. For a couple of days. Its not like there was a party with a cool jazz band, lots of champagne and some of my favorite people there.
Who am I kidding? This was definitely a super perk of the job! And a great way to start off ICFF week, with a posh party. It left a good taste in my mouth for the next coming days.
This being my third New York Design Week, I can now don my "old hat" and not be as excited about a week of nonstop partying. Except when PARTIES AT THE PLAZA PENTHOUSE ARE INVOLVED.
I'm sorry, was that not classy enough for my surrounding digs? I do apologize. Indeed.Here we are, our company, hanging out on the terrace (which I kept calling a Terrance) overlooking a view most people never get to see. I took a small moment to remember how lucky I was to be were I was, and then I took some more photos to make you just a little bit more envious of our super plush and luxe lifestyles.

Judy and I's favorite activity, especially during ICFF, is to take goofy photos, its our way or engaging with the space. We shared this tradition with our lovely intern and new best friend, Carolyn.
Yes, there was a yoga room.

Judy, workin' hard, or hardly workin'?

More ICFF coverage to come, perhaps less silly in tone, though no promises.

Upstate New York

2010-05-13T14:12:00.003-04:00

My recent obsession with rock climbing has not gone away at all. Its increased, there is more or less nothing else I want to do (except be the owner of every fancy dress and fabulous shoe out there, and lets face it, that will probably never happen) (also, except for laying in grass in a park, and/or listening to live music) (and also, drinking good beer in perfect weather) and last weekend I was given the chance to jump on some real rock in the Adirondacks, or the 'dacks if you like speaking in climber lingo, which I totes don't.
So I took a two hour train ride, and a two hour car ride to somewhere near Albany, and then the weather was stupid cold and stupid raining and stupid stupid. No outdoorsing for me. We did hit up AIR, an indoor gym, where I lead climbed (or lead, or leaded, what is the past of this?) for the first time and totally got high (ha ha, I'm very punny) from that alone. They also had miles and miles (or like almost two) of indoor caves, the only gym like this in the nation, which will make any claustrophobe throw up and any kid or kid at heart pee their pants with glee. Yours truly especially liked the zip line. A playground for adults!

So- upstate is nothing like the city, and its kind of boring, and you have to take cars everywhere, a personal annoyance of mine. And yet I had SO much fun on my break from the city (even though I was away I insisted we watch New York, I Love You) I only took this one photo of Brendan with his dog, Cooper. I was too busy drinking at bizarre bars, eating delish veggie food, and pulling plastic.
I love dogs, and Brendan's were really special and you should go and holler at them if you like handsome dogs.

Ok Go!

2010-05-07T15:09:00.003-04:00

Babs invited me to see Ok Go with her last week at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Since I was totally in love with their first album, and pretty much liked their second album too, I was like "totes!" Plus I've seen them live before (a few times), and if all else fails the lead singer is pretty to watch. Really pretty.
This time they had really neat-o stage tricks, like CONFETTI! Tons of it! For their encore I can only imagine it was inspired by Daft Punk, it was full of LED lights and lasers. Very cool/Burning Man-ish.
There was a beautiful part when the lead singer came into the audience and it was just him and his guitar, and us, and the mike. It was a nice attempt at intimacy.
Overall Ok Go might not make the most mind blowing songs, but they are really incredible, innovative, and catchy pop musicians. They took viral video to the next level several years ago with their dancing on treadmills music video, and they continue to shift a little left of center making work that is interesting on several levels, weather its a new jam with a cool beat, a video with the largest Rube Goldberg machine, or a fun and interactive stage performance. They are the full package, phenomenal entertainers. Plus they are really well dressed.

Below is part of a song they did totally with bells, which I thought was innovative and you can tell they took time to figure it out perfectly.

Bubble weekend

2010-05-06T14:34:00.002-04:00

A whole bunch of my bubble friends came to Brooklyn for a delish dinner (thank you Olive Vine Cafe!) and good times. It felt so natural to be all together in the same place again. As though we had never left our bubble bus to pursue real world activities again. As though we were in a dream land where bubbles never popped but just floated back to each other in bubble time...Alas, it was just a wonderful break to the real world. But during this fantasy evening I was able to, for the first time, ride a tandem bike. How fitting to realize a dream during such a fantastical night!
AND IT WAS EVERYTHING I DREAMED IT WOULD BE!
There is alot of trust one must put in their front driver, and it was nerve racking to ride without that kind of control, but it was also a kind of lovely. Perfect for a warm, springtime Brooklyn night.
These two amazing neighbors and I suggested we hit up Soda Bar afterward. We ordered a round of drinks but the booze must have gone to everyone's head. The bubbles were drifting off into various states of sleep, and so the night ended young. Dreams found their beginnings in the sleepy heads of my friends, and my tandem bike dream came true in the humble boro of Brooklyn.

Wake up my bubbles, gently, softly. I may just love you, a little bit.

HAIR

2010-05-04T13:11:00.003-04:00

OH YES! I know I just posted, but how AWESOME would this look? Or this?
It has to happen. Like now. Anyone know how to do awesome hair?
For the whole shoot go here.

OBEY!

2010-05-04T12:35:00.002-04:00

Look! Shepard Fairey wall paper at the Music Hall of Willamsburg!

Scott Campbell

2010-05-03T14:54:00.004-04:00

So- who doesn't love emails that start like this?

"This will be an extremely hip scene. Like, extremely. Want to be my date? I was told to bring my hot and fashionable friends. Come! Plus we haven't hung out in eternity.

Julie"

Basically she was a beautiful siren and I was a lost traveler pulled into her fold of the super schamzcy, ultra-scene-y art world. And I'm not even gonna front, I loved it all.This is what I walked into when I turned onto Crosby street. A street whose cup absolutely over floweth with hip art kids. It was filled with movers and shakers, art lovers, and just those who want some of that to rub off. And of course a grody dude or two who were hoping to get a rub off themselves. There was no way for cars to go through, and there was no way to find the gallery. It was just a black hole in a wall, disappeared by the tangled masses of well dressed people.
And once I found my way to the hole in the wall, and pushed my way into the space (a total fire hazard, with only one way in or out, and a total humid gross zone) there was no way to engage with the art. It was just so crowded (with the likes of Kate Lanphear, Oliver Zham, Terry Richardson, Kaws, and Waris Ahluwalia, to name a few. It was like that night at the Met) but really, isn't that the point of a gallery opening? Obviously to people watch, judge ensembles, network, and pick up attractive people. Otherwise you might as well go look at the art another time. Julie and I wandered back into the gallery space near the end of the night, and finally it had cleared out enough to spend some time with the work.

The work was by Scott Campbell, and made of dollar dollar bills, y'all. The bills were stacked in hundreds and then cut down to create intricate designs. I'm pretty sure much of the work was done with a lazer cutter, the edges has small burns. This one reads "Sweet" "Sour."

OHWOW is hosting the exhibition titled "If You Don't Belong, Don't Be Long," and did a really excellent job designing the space. The lighting framed only the pieces, and nothing else, creating an moody atmosphere for the whole gallery, forcing your focus to where it should be, with the art.

Some of the work was, well, a bit cheesy/cutesy, like this darling butterfly. Like this should be a tramp stamp for a stupid girl, but for whatever reason the butterfly didn't bother me. In fact, I kinda like it. I think I was totally hypnotized by the details. And that is a rarity for me, to let the workmanship sing over the content. I guess this butterfly just seemed to make sense within the context of the show.
"All That Glitters Is Not Gold." A really special piece, the only one in these dimensions. And someone commented on how it also looks like a NYC subway. Very clever, very subtle. I wonder if that was intentional, or a happy outcome?

And this was made out of dollar sheets, before they were cut, straight outta the mint. I liked these ones the best because I like large scaled pieces, they demand attention!

Yay technology!

2010-04-30T14:53:00.002-04:00

If you ride the L or have been to Paris you've seen the train countdown clocks. They don't make the subway come faster, and sometimes knowing that you have to wait THIRTY minutes is annoying, but regardless my station has one now, and I'm super amped! So is Barb!

Happy Friday. Here is so good happy Friday jam. This might be a new tradition, a jam for every Friday. What do y'all think?

Philadelphia’s Magic Mosaic Gardens

2010-04-27T13:15:00.000-04:00

Let me tell you whats overwhelming. Having 40 new friends that you really REALLY want to see scattered across the states (and the Netherlands!) (and Israel!). After my trip I was lucky enough to have made some particularly phenomenal friends, dubbed Beautiful Bubbles by our tour leader. Now-I'm not planning any trips over seas or across the country any time soon, but Philly seemed manageable. Two (extremely nauseous) hours later Bolt Bus delivered me into the city of brotherly love. Or, as I like to think of it, Bubbly Love. I met up with Lisa and Brian to tour the Magic Gardens of Isaiah Zagar. In a word- overwhelming- in the best way. Just like having 40 friends.
Isaiah is obviously full of krazy. But who doesn't love a krazy every now and then? Especially when they make really amazing art I can walk through? Every inch of the indoor and outdoor space was drenched with mosaic madness.
Isaiah often placed images of himself within the work, always having three arms and often in the nude. Also, if you cared to search the maze, you could often find all sorts of unique items he incorporated into the madness.Embedded into the wall were all sorts of tea pots, bottles, and other liquid containers.And here we found a Buddha just lounging, enjoying the view.
What was so cool about the space was how you could walk through it and really interact. I could feel the 3AM nights, where I imagined Isaiah tired as a mofo but working relentlessly regardless. The drive to make conquering the need for sleep.
Brian, Lisa, and I dreamed up the perfect wedding, designating different sections of the maze as a specialty cocktails area, a vegan pigs in a blanket station (well the vegan part may have been me) and a spectacular dance floor, no decorating required. There were unlimited nooks and crannies for the best man and a bridesmaid to get their make out on. Plus all the kids would just entertain themselves by playing hide and seek in the maze. Perfect!
What was really extra special was being able to spend all this time with these two wonderful people.
Because whats better than a reunion in a magical place?
Isaiah has either been commissioned, or took it upon himself, to mosaic much of the surrounding area. So there are people who live in houses adorned with his work, and store fronts covered with the stuff. Its like an exploration in alternative graffiti. It makes the neighborhood a really beautiful place to spend time in. I'm sure all the residents are saying-

Happy Earth Day! Everyday!

2010-04-22T12:58:00.004-04:00

Oh yes- I'm stepping back on my soap box. C'mon, you know you love it, and you only have to tolerate it ever so slightly.

Lately I've been having a bit of a personal moral compass crisis. Feeling overwhelmed (a all too familiar feeling when thinking about the environment) like I can't make change and the issues at hand are so complex that the right choice seems so inextricably tangled in a mess of consequences (unless I quit the city and move to a big ole plot of land, build a permaculture house and start my own farm- another completely overwhelming idea and who am I kidding, I love the city) that my brains kinda exploded for a little while. Acquiring new information was halted and my need for critical discourse rose to the surface. I needed enviro-cheerleaders, team green members, fans of the Earth.
So last night, egged on by PBS, I took the initiative and invited my friends to watch Food Inc. together. My friends, who I love dearly but usually see only at the bar, whose eating habits range from Vegan to "Its yummy," gathered together to partake in a mostly vegan, meatfree potluck and to watch a food politics documentary.
Afterward we engaged in friendly conversation. There was no finger pointing from the meat free to the chicken eaters, no high and mighty condescending tones, just chit chat about what are some small and personal steps we can take as consumers to make better choices.
What is so cool about eating is that it is something you have to do every day. It makes being an environmentalist very accessible. So everyday you have the luxury to make a choice, and you can choose to eat McDonald's, or you can bring your own lunch in a reusable container. As my very smart pal, Megan, said (when I moral compas crisis-ed all over her) "Nothing about it is easy. You can get bogged down in the process, but you have to just make good choices when you can."

I talked a little bit about Meatless Mondays last year, but I still think its a fantastic decision so go czech it out!

I continue to remain true to this idea- Before I'm a Brooklynite, a New Yorker, an American, a Westerner, I am a Global Citizen. To be an environmentalist is not a conservative or liberal action, this is a moral decision which we all must make, everyday. It is critical that we look at every action we take as a choice. Paper or plastic or canvas or nothing? What choice are you making?

I hope you have all are inspired to make this earthy day a little more thoughtful than last years!
Maybe today will be a meat free day? Or maybe you will go outside and enjoy the earth during lunch? Or something else totally baller!

Shabbat Brunch-o

2010-04-20T14:24:00.002-04:00

Last Saturday I invited many of my peeps for my very first Shabbat. For those of y'all who don't know, the Jewish sabbath is from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. And there are all sorts of ways people choose to observe the sabbath, from not carrying keys, using money, or actively turning on lights to hanging out and getting piss drunk. And some people choose not to observe at all.
Since I just returned from an amazing trip to Israel, and love so many of the people from that trip, I decided to continue my ride on the enthusiasm train and host a Shabbat to gather my Birthright peeps with my non-Birthright peeps. Jews, Gentiles and us half-eys all ate the most delish bagels from Bergen Bagels (no really, you'll pee your pants, these bagels are boner inducing) and I made a fruit salad, cut up peppers for the hummus, pancakes were a plenty as were oj, grapefruit juice and mimosas. That's right this was a vegetarian event darlin! Mostly organic, and totally local. Wassap!? And all the vegans had plenty to choose from because that's how I like to do a thang.
Tara (pictured below; left) was the pancake master and made all sorts of amazing shaped pancakes. This was her crowning glory though, a dino shaped pancake. It was requested, I had no idea how to carry out such a demand, but Tara was allz like "I know everything pancake," and knocked it out of the park. The Jurassic park. She also made a star of David pancake,and just a normal star pancake. Because she knows everything pancake.
Hey peeps! Thanks for coming and making it the best brunch ever! And thanks Birthright for picking up the tab! I can't wait to have another one- so amazing!

Lady in Green

2010-04-19T11:24:00.003-04:00

Spotted- on Bleeker near Seventh Ave. A lady who knows what's up. Who loves monochromatic color choices, especially when it comes to ensemble decisions. Diggin her boldness, her ballsyness, and I hope I am brave enough to be this unapologetically crazy when I'm older.

I haven't been posting too much about the city lately, and I have several "not NYC" posts planned, but I wanted to give a shout out to the place I do love indeed.

Happy Friday!

2010-04-16T17:06:00.002-04:00

I'm just excited about life- I'm hosting my friends for Brunch tomorrow- and that should be amazing (hello Bergen Bagels) and Sunday I'm off to Philly to holler at some bubbles, and getting out of the city for the day is never a bad idea (I love New York! Really!)
So because I'm in a good mood, here's a lil' something for you to feel jazzed about too.
xoxo!

Mine dogers

2010-04-14T13:02:00.003-04:00

"Hey, everyone, gather round. Let me tell you about this land. It was once Syrian territory which the Syrians heavily mined. Once Israel won this land, they also decided to add their mines to the bunch. This has resulted in the area being one of the most heavily mined areas in the whole world. OKAY! Let's go hiking!"
That is more or less what our tour guide shared with us right before this amazing hike through Nahal Jilaboun in Northern Israel. Israel is full of "not in use, well not right now anyways" military stuff, like old bunkers and shacks, like the one above.
It never stopped being strange to see tags thrown up on the sides of buildings, but have them not be written in letters I can read.
The landscape was remarkable, but also remarkably much like the North East. In fact, us Nor-Easter's commented that we could be hiking through the Catskills and wouldn't be surprised.
This one area two of my fav's, Randy and Erica, are posing in, so reminded me of the little bamboo swampy areas in Fire Island, if you've ever been there. I half expected to see a deer wander by. It was nice and cool down in the valleys, covered by trees and a small river running through. Unlike the rocks-
where there was no relief from the intense sun. However it was from these spots that we could see the landscape unfurl beneath us and really appreciate the hike.
The diversity of the plants was the only hint that, honey, we ain't in New York anymore. I can guarantee that there are no cactus growing upstate.
Something we learned, and then were reminded about all though our trip- since it was an off season for us to be there it was on season for Israeli schools. Apparently we were exploring the land during "Israel Take Your School Kids on a Trip Week," and kept running into very enthusiastic kiddies also exploring their homeland. These ones in particular stopped me to ask if I was from America, and New York in general (how did they know, I was dressing French!?) and totally needed to take a photo with me. I happily agreed in return for a photo with them.

At this point you're probably curious about the hats. Hats, hats all around and not a drop to drink (?). According to every tour guide in Israel the sun will kill you in 40 minutes due to dehydration and heat stroke, unless, of course, you're wearing a hat and then you're totally 100% fine. That is why everyone has a hat on. Its not optional, its mandatory.
Here is a place that you can "leave your DNA" according to our lovely tour guide.
And so concludes our Northern Israel hike. Just wait to you see the desert!

OH! And since this is a blog about New York, not Israel- I just found out about this really cool run that you can do ON JFK's RUNWAY! Its this Sunday, and I'll be outta town, but I think its a really cool thing that everyone should do, because how often do you get to do something like this?!

Spring time, dress time!

2010-04-13T16:28:00.003-04:00

What is better than wearing dresses every day? Probably not much (rock climbing, laying in the grass, dancing, picnicking, making out, bike riding... almost all of those things can be done in a dress) and now the weather is becoming more and more appropriate to be wearing a dress, and only a dress (and shoes!) and that makes me feel fancy. Fancy free! Spring time allergies make me feel like I have the flu, but that's another story.
Today I kinda sorta bought this dress, and I like it so much I'm sharing it with you, so I can spread my enthusiasm like my flu (its not a flu! You can't catch allergies, stupid). And keeping with the Israel theme, its Elli Tahari, and Israeli designer. BAM!