Top Ten Life Moment

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!)

Why don't we do it in the road?

A little teaser...

That time that Kanye made a Matthew Barney film.

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.

PS1 Warm Up!

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.

The Creator's Project

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!

The Frying Pan is a boat

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!

Ok Go!

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.

Spring time, dress time!

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!

Custo Barcelona

Look at this little sweetheart. Not only does she slip me backstage to the Custo Barcelona show, but she takes my coat and stashes it in a safe place. What a absolute darling.
Okay so lets rewind to June 2007. I touch down in Barcelona, my first time in Europe in 16 years. WOAH I'm so excited! And because my plans fell through with meeting up in Sitges, I didn't exactly have a hostel booked. My bus from the airport dropped me off at the top of Las Ramblas, and with my pack on my back and a photocopied page from an old travel guide book I set out for mystery hostel number one. Walking down the colorful and noisy Las Ramblas (if you've been to BCN you know its kinda Times Square-y without most of the awfulness plus live bunnies for sale) the store front for Custo Barcelona still managed to catch my eye as I walked by. Something about the colors screamed NORA!!!!!!! I walked by a couple more increasingly exhausted times in my quest for a hostel that would take me (and if you're curious I finally found one that let me sleep on the floor for only 12 euros) and made note to stop by when I wasn't looking like a sweaty crazy with a two ton pack on.
I ended up going inside Custo something like five times. Always engaged with the colors and textures. So totally Spain, completely Barcelona. I was in love. I looked into working for them but alas "Donde esta el bano?" is not good enough Spanish to work for a Spanish company...
So of course I jumped on the chance to check out the line this season.
Look, I'm loving it!
Isn't that sweater just, oh there aren't even words. COLOR and TEXTURE kinda threw up on it, but not in a bad way. In the best way.
And lets just have a conversation about the shoes. Chloe watched me take photos of them and just looked at me and said, "Those shoes are so you." And rolled her eyes-in the most endearing of ways of course. Ugh- I want to own them. All of them. I will wear them, every day, unless its raining.
The show was everything you want in a fashion show. The runway was lit with spot lights and the venue was otherwise very dark. The clothes were fun, funky, spunky and le coole. The models sped down to the bumping music- I wasn't the only one dancing in my seat. This wasn't an uber conceptual display of craft and thoughtfulness, this was FASHION! Oooooh, amazing.
Texture! Fur! Patterns! Layering! Shiny! Sparkly! Super Sass!
After the show there was the maddest of mad dashes to get everything back together and out of there. Chaos. Fashion. They go hand in hand.

Housewarming Pizzartay

Babs just moved to Gossip Girl land. Well not just, but rather recently. And then threw a fantastic party. All the important celebs were in attendance.

The party started out well, with plenty of booze. But an hour in someone got the bright (you'll see the pun in a second) idea to turn off the lights (see what I did there?) and then the real fun started.
Yeah, that's right, motha fuckin glow sticks, biatch. Whatcha gonna do?
Also please note in the background "Parrots Hilton."
These are Bab's co-workers. They are all investment bankers. These two are amazing, and I quite enjoy their straight and narrow company. We come from differnt sides of the track...errr east river, but they are so cool it don't even matter.
Scott is Babs' lil' 'bro. He continually styles himself after Clark Griswald from Vacation. I tell him this every chance I get.

As it turns out, the more lights are off, the more people want to dance. I'm not sure why this is, because I'll dance in the brightest of spots, but whatever makes da peeps want to get down with their bad selves I'm find with. Plus no lights and glow sticks is a simple joy that I'll gladly entertain.