LFIE

New Blog On Hold For...

2010-08-11T20:30:00.004-04:00

Iv'e set out to write a book in ninety days. Today is day two and I have just over a thousand words. Not a bad start. I'm writing a novel about a vampire named Jason. Aside from being a natural killer, he's a nerd that can't catch a break. And that's all I'm telling you about that! Thanks for reading my blog. See you in ninety days.

PS: If you're interested, the new blog was going to be Good Taste Daily at goodtastedaily.com

New Blog Coming Soon!

2010-08-05T18:27:00.001-04:00

You may have noticed that I have not posted here for over a week. I am on a summer break. Well, not a break exactly. I am more busy than ever. I am currently building a new blog that will be a lot like this one but better. The subject matter will still be food, fashion, and travel and I will still be the author but somehow I'm envisioning that it will be better. When it's done I'll announce the address here. I am also busy reading Stephen King's On Writing and Strunk & White's The Elements of Style. Sounds more like summer classes, no? And I'm still writing for citybuzz and YMI Obsessed. Are you looking for something fun to do in New York? Are you thinking of restyling your look to be more like a thirteen year old girl from the Valley but don't know where to start? That's what those two blogs are about. Hopefully the new blog will be ready in another week. Until then...

The High Line

2010-07-28T18:40:00.003-04:00

Once a passageway for freight trains thirty feet up, the High Line is now a sleek park in the sky on Manhattan's west side. Up here there are views of the Hudson River, Chelsea's glass and steel luxury apartment buildings (and a flasher or two in their windows, I've heard), and the unmistakable Empire State Building towering over the city's skyline. A team of top architects and landscaping experts collaborated to create the sophisticated yet natural-looking surroundings of the High Line park. Think: wild dandelions sprouting up between the wood planks of a walkway dotted with glowing recessed lighting. And the people watching isn't that bad either. The High Line is definitely worth checking out; it's one of those few city spots that's actually enjoyed by tourists and native New Yorkers alike.

Yellow Nail Polish for Summer Into Fall

2010-07-26T19:30:00.003-04:00

I'm predicting that yellow will be big this fall. It looks great with lots of unexpected hues but my favorite pairing is with grey. Here my yellow nails are offset by my grey Allsaints top and Stephan King's On Writing. Keep an eye out for yellow clothes and accessories in the next few months and into the fall.

Restaurant Week Midtown Lunch at Anthos

2010-07-25T10:18:00.004-04:00

Restaurant week has been extended until September 6th - that's quite a long week. So far I've gone to Aquavit for dinner and Anthos for lunch. Let me clarity: it wasn't just lunch, it was a weekday lunch in Manhattan's midtown during restaurant week (or in this case, the first week of the two months). If you have ever had a meal of this description then you know that it's not just lunch. The saying goes "when in Rome" comes to mind because at lunch in Manhattan's midtown at an upscale restaurant during restaurant week you have no choice but to go with the flow.
Anthos was packed, tables upon tables with just water were jockeying for the attention of the completely overwhelmed waitstaff. My friend and I were on a forty-five minute lunch break along with the rest of midtown's suits and khakis at an hour an hour and a half minimum meal. After a frustrating fifteen minutes with just menus and water we gave in and decided to go with the flow - and by that I mean go all out and have a four course lunch. Here's what I ate.
Seared diver scallops with greek yogurt, strawberry and endive.
Sheep milk ricotta dumplings with spinach, feta, and leek.
Skate wing with couscous, calamari, carrot, coriander, and baby watercress salad.
Roasted peaches with honey ice cream and thyme shortbread.

And that was the two hour lunch. Every course was fantastic. This meal definitely ranks among my top five. And once we set our time limitations aside the service was just fine. This restaurant is highly recommended for lunch or dinner, restaurant week or not.

Scoop and That East Hampton Look

2010-07-23T16:38:00.011-04:00

I've mentioned Scoop before. It's one of my favorite stores and has been for the last few years. However, before a few years ago it was a different story. I used to be intimidated by the store as silly as that sounds. Here's why:
When I was twelve years old I spent the summer in East Hampton at my godmother's house on the Circle. I stayed in the annex of the house that was affectionately called the Cowgirl Room. It was called this because the previous owner of the house had commissioned a mural on the main wall of the room of a cowgirl and an Indian woman looking at each other longingly. This mural served as my introduction to lesbians.
Around the back of the house there was a new pool and an outdoor shower that to me made the house perfect. (And still does.) That summer was fun, luxurious, and full of new things to wonder about. Here's where the childhood fairy tale falls apart. There were these girls that hung out on Main Street. They were beautiful, stylish, thin, and had the ability to talk to boys. They were everything I had ever dreamed of becoming. They were fifteen. And they shopped at the Scoop right there off of Main Street. I dared not go in the store for fear that the girls would laugh at my Gap shorts and Benetton tee. I only had the courage to steal glances of the girls as I walked by with my six year old god-sister, on our way to Waldbaum's to buy chocolate frosting. And as crazy as it may sound now, that intimidation stayed with me for about twelve years.
Then one day (practically a lifetime later), without seeing the store’s name out front before going in I went into the SoHo Scoop and was immediately dazzled. Here's a sampling of what you will find at a Scoop: Alice & Olivia tunics, Zac Posen gowns, Theory blazers, Helmut Lang tees, Marc Jacobs dresses, Ya-Ya sweaters, Seven jeans, and Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses. This is the wardrobe I’ve always wanted, I thought. And it’s all perfectly organized by trend, color, and type. I love order. I crave it. So that’s why I shop at Scoop today. And the memory of those beautiful East Hampton girls, perhaps.

A Table for Two at Aquavit

2010-07-20T21:33:00.015-04:00

"Would you like to be seated in the Main Dining Room or in the Bistro?"
"Whichever is nicer, I guess."
"Both dining rooms are very nice."
"Right. Of course. Then whichever is available."
"Let me check. The Bistro is available for two at 8:15."
This excerpt from my conversation with the reservationist at Aquavit told me two things about the restaurant that I would be dining at with my boyfriend on Saturday night. The first was that I could relax. I would not need to orchestrate this dining experience to make it worth my while. I would not need to know the insider tips to get my money's worth. Both dining rooms would be lovely and all of the servers would be equally knowledgeable. The lighting and the view would be good wherever we were seated.
The second thing that I got from our little exchange is that the service at Aquavit would be such that (even while relaxing) I will believe that everything has turned out so well because of me: that I have come at the right time, asked the informed question, and ordered the right dish. The fact behind my conversation with the reservationist is that there were not any tables available in the Main Dining room on Saturday night just two days prior. And of course not! But, being a trained service personnel, the reservationist guided the conversation so that I would chose the right option, the Bistro, and be satisfied with my choice.
Suffice it to say, once we arrived on Saturday night, the service at Aquavit was lovely. We were seated by a window and given the kind of casual but flawless service that makes me consider becoming a server again. The meal began with a stone slab of bread, crackers, whipped butter, and the most divine salmon mousse I have ever tasted. I am not exaggerating. My boyfriend even commented that he had never seen me eat so much bread, as I piled the mousse onto yet another piece.
Half way through the appetizer I was just about full. I ordered the mussels and they brought me out two dozen with yet more bread. They were good and traditionally made but nothing to right home about.
For my entree I had the cold poached salmon. Now this I would consider jotting down in a letter to mom. It was accompanied by red quinoa, wax beans, and chervil hollandaise. I just looked up the menu online to tell you that because while I was eating it I had no clue what the little black dots were except that they tasted great with the cold fish and the hot hollandaise.
For dessert I made room for a raspberry Napoleon that was exactly what you would expect. I enjoyed every bite of it and one bite of my boyfriends brownie sundae as well.
Overall, the food was very good. Given the quality of the service and the two stand-out dished that we had - my cold poached salmon and my boyfriend's chilled green tomato soup appetizer - I would call this restaurant great.
I did have high expectations based on Marcus Samuelsson's amazing television personality but in retrospect I see that that may have been silly of me. Not yet have I eaten (or worked!) in a star chef's restaurant that really emulated that chef's television personality. And I guess that's a good thing, or else there would be no element of the unexpected at Mesa Grill or Del Posto.
Speaking of star chefs, I'll be having lunch at Anthos on Thursday. Based on the pictures of the place alone I'd say it resembles Michael Psilakis' television personality but little. Though we shall see, er- taste.

Allsaints (the Perfect Store) Spitalfields

2010-07-17T17:20:00.004-04:00

I believe that I found the perfect store today: Allsints Spitalfields. Not since I was a goth teen visiting Trash and Vaudeville for the first time have I experienced what I experienced today. Every single item of clothing looked like it was not only made for me, but like it was made from the images in my mind of what I have always wanted to look like.
I pulled down shirt after shirt after dress after dress and each seemed more suited to my exact taste than the last. It got to be a little bit embarrassing carrying the growing mound of clothes through the store like a bag lady.
And then the dilemma of narrowing it down! Usually I try on clothes and immediately discard them based on poor cut or construction. Not the case here. I looked great in every piece that I tried on because they were thankfully cut with real humans (not runway models) in mind.
I should mention at this point that the clothes I tried on ranged in price from $40 to $240, and that's with the 50% markdown for the summer sale, kinda pricey (the one downfall of this store). I ended up buying these two sale items.
Allsaints Spitalfields is located at 512 Broadway, between Broome and Spring Streets in SoHo.

Seafood at Le Bernardin

2010-07-16T21:19:00.009-04:00

After a day at the beach, I am dreaming of dining at Le Bernardin. Though I have never been there myself (this one is a little out of the price range of a girl like me) I think I know what would be in store for me if I were to have dinner there tonight. Le Bernardin has been named the #1 restaurant in New York by New York Magazine, the New York Times and Zagat’s Guide - not #1 in its category, #1 overall. It has won more James Beard Awards than any other restaurant, ever. And it and has been awarded the highest number of Michelin stars that a restaurant can get: 3.
Now let's put all that aside, because it's possible that all that means little when your talking about actually experiencing food. So here is the real reason I wish I was eating at Le Bernardin right now.
A little while back I had a few telephone conversations with the PR person for Le Bernardin and I learned a lot about the mission of the restaurant. The philosophy of Le Bernardin is that the fish - and only the un-endangered ones - be the star of the plate. As a caveat to that, each ingredient that makes up a dish is treated with equal respect and care even in its supporting role.
I also learned that this focus on seafood began for Chef Eric Ripert long before Le Bernardin's doors were opened, when he was just a boy. His culinary beginnings took place in his grandmother's kitchen by the Mediterranean Sea. And from there, with countless award winning restaurants in between, he has created an ambitious yet uncomplicated dinner menu for Le Bernardin that is broken into three courses: almost raw, barely touched and lightly cooked. I was informed that Chef Eric Ripert’s favorite dishes are the Tuna made of layers of thinly pounded yellowfin with foie gras and toasted baguette, the Crab with stuffed zucchini flower with peektoe, king crab and “fine herbs – lemon” Mousseline sauce, and the Surf and Turf of escolar and seared Kobe beef with sea bean salad and eggplant fries.
Sounds good to me. Especially after a long day in the ocean.

Lunch at Perry St

2010-07-14T19:27:00.007-04:00

I prefer haute couture to haute cuisine. No, let me be clear. I adore haute couture. I have a growing distaste for haute cuisine. How could this be? Maybe the discrepancy is based in the fact that I have never been, in the flesh, at a fashion show. I have only viewed them in their photographic and cinematic formats. But restaurants I have been to. Lots of them. And with no shortage of the high class ones. And I am starting to realize that all that immaculately shiny crystal, the attractive but disdainful waitstaff, the new set of flatware every time I even think of taking a bite, that all of that takes away from the joy of eating. And is not the point of a great restaurant to enjoy a meal?
I started on this train of thought after dining for the first time at Perry St this weekend. It was my first ever Jean Georges restaurant experience and it was lovely but all together missing something essential: joy. I wondered later, how can this be? The food was mostly delicious save for an over vinegar-ed sauce on the salmon and - this one is sort of a deal breaker for me - frozen strawberries out of a bag on the sorbet. And this in the heart of strawberry season no less! But I digress. My point is, that the slow cooked salmon itself was wonderful.
And that the chocolate cake was delicious enough to make up for the pre-packaged fruit topped sorbet.
The meal began with a shot of strawberry and basil gazpacho that was inventive and yummy - and free!
And for an appetizer I had an heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad that was beautiful and gone in moments, a true sign that food is well prepared.
But yet, the experience as a whole lacked joy. Why? I think it had to do with the new set of flatware that I received three times during the meal. Does that sound silly? Well I know I wasn't the only patron that felt this lack of that last essential ingredient; a few glances around the room at all the forlorn faces confirmed this. Maybe it was the abundance of white leather. Maybe it was the three course minimum on the menu. Does all of this glitz make a restaurant chic, or does it just make its' patrons feel cramped?
An inconclusive post but certainly a topic I will be exploring more in the future. Until then, I'll keep dining out reporting back here.

A Quick Fashion Tip

2010-07-12T21:48:00.004-04:00

I bought the cutest Matt Bernson gold gladiator sandals at the end of summer sale at Scoop last year. It's rare that I pass up a sale and just as rare that I pass up a shiny accessory so it was truly a meant to be buy. However, I got home and realized that gladiator sandals don't exactly flatter my figure. Oh well. I wore the sandals a few times and then it was fall and boot season again and so I forgot about them. Then this summer rolled along and there were the gold sandals again - and the gladiator dilemma. Only now the situation had gotten just a tiny bit worse. Not only do I not like the way the gladiator strap looks around my ankle, but the gladiator shape is not even in style anymore. I didn't know what to do because I still loved the shoes but they were not getting worn.
Then an idea hit me. Cut off the ankle strap to leave just the lower, across the foot strap. Out came the scissors and my trepidation. Is it right to cut a designer's product? Is it like altering a painting by an artist? I would never do that. But the sandals were not getting worn which was their whole purpose for being. So I took the plunge and cut off the straps. And what did I learn? That making something your own is never a bad idea. In fact, I love the sandals now more than the day I found them on sale. So my fashion tip is this: don't be afraid to customize your look. Scissors can be a great fashion editing tool.

An Amazing Meal at Mary's Fish Camp

2010-07-11T17:32:00.002-04:00

On Saturday night I went to Mary's Fish Camp in the West Village with a couple of friends. None of us had ever had a lobster roll before and we were going to remedy that matter.
But first we went for the oysters. One half dozen Malpeque oysters... and then there were none.
Next up, the oven roasted Guatemalan shrimp with chili de arbol. At this point, after the appetizers, I thought and even said out loud that this has already been a great meal. I could have stopped right there. But then we would have missed the whole purpose for our visit.
Which was of course the lobster roll. Ah, the lobster roll! How did I go twenty-six years without ever having the pleasure of eating a lobster roll? It was fresh - the chunks of lobster were enormous - yet rich - the mayo and the buttered bun were just fatty enough. It was so delicious, that by comparison the fries seemed completely pointless. How could anything compete with this?
Once we were done, the waitress informed us that both the Florida Key lime bar and the strawberry blueberry shortcake were homemade. Well, who can pass up a homemade dessert? We were sold and we finished off the meal with the Florida Key lime bar. It was sweet, tart, and creamy - just right.
If you are looking for some killer seafood, I highly recommend Mary's Fish Camp - just make sure to bring a thick wallet. We were a little shocked by the hefty bill, but in my foodie opinion, it was well worth it.

Foley + Corinna in the Lower East Side

2010-07-11T16:06:00.003-04:00

Every city girl needs a Foley + Corinna City Tote. It's the it-bag year after year thanks to fresh colors, sizes, and materials that make it new every season. It's convertible yet uncomplicated - and that's just one of more than a dozen hip bags from Foley + Corinna. The slouchy shape of the Moto Hobo is cool and casual and it has just enough hardware to make it nighttime chic too. The pint-sized Deco packs a lot of glamour into a sophisticated little pouch - it's made of silver metal mesh and soft black leather. And then there's the Cargo that doubles as a shoulder bag and messenger bag for perhaps the stylish cyclist. The bottom line is, Foley + Corinna handbags are beautifully constructed, stylishly designed, and well thought out with city living in mind. Oh, and they do clothing too. Visit Foley + Corinna in the Lower East Side on 114 Stanton Street.

The Grand Hyatt in San Antonio Towers over the Riverwalk (And the Other Accommodations There)

2010-07-07T19:25:00.017-04:00

The San Antonio Grand Hyatt is everything that you would expect from a Hyatt in the Grand category. Modern, sophisticated, and with interesting details that look singular in a world of same-looking hotels. Even though Grand Hyatt is a chain, there are finishing touches at each hotel that are unique to the setting and appropriate for the locale.
I was mesmerized by this painting in the lobby so much so that I even stopped texting. And isn't that what a great hotel is supposed to do - stop us in our tracks? For about five seconds I was transported to a small town square where this Mexican woman was dancing by moon light to a few tables full of cigar smoke enveloped men and women, just content to watch her swish around the thick night air with her skirts. For just about five seconds I was farther away than I had travelled.

And that's what vacation is all about - no?

Traveling From Seattle to San Antonio

2010-07-05T12:56:00.009-04:00

Traveling is great and I'm usually the first to say yes to any proposition to leave town but I'm starting to feel like everything is the same everywhere you go. This week I went to Seattle and then to San Antonio, two places that couldn't be more different, and yet, as soon as I stepped into my room at the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio I had the feeling that I was in my room at the Hotel Vintage Park in Seattle that I had just checked out of that morning. At first it was little things, like the rings that hold up the shower curtain, and the lamp shades, all the same. And then as I explored some more I found even more obviously similar things.

I photographed this phone in the lobby of the Hotel Vintage Park in Seattle:
And I photographed this phone by the elevator bank at the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio:
Same phone, different color. The brand is even the same. And this got me wondering, is there one store where hotel decorators buy this stuff? I mean, one chain of stores that service hotels all over the country? Whatever the answer is, I'm still gonna keep searching out new places. And I'll keep writing about them.

Tulio at the Hotel Vintage Park

2010-07-01T16:18:00.006-04:00

I just sat down at the restaurant in the Hotel Vintage Park, Tulio. My first impression of it: civilized, cozy, feminine, not modern (just like the hotel it is in). I was drawn here because I took a quick look at the room service menu and saw a single word that immediately caught my attention and with that, I decided that I would have to try the restaurant here before I checked out today. That word was burrata.

I have written about this sacred word before. Burrata is a traditional type of Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. Burrata is maybe the reason why I love Keste Pizza & Vino so much.

Here at Tulio, the menu offered a Beet Salad served with burrata, plums, frisse, and beet vinaigrette. I sat down, read the entire menu just to be thurough, and ordered the promising burrata salad.
What happened once the salad came, and I finished photographing it, can only be described with happy, mumbling, chewing sounds. So I'll leave it at that. And a strong recommendation to visit Tulio if you ever find yourself hungry in downtown Seattle.

The Night I Ordered Five Desserts

2010-06-30T01:17:00.007-04:00

Okay, okay, so it was tapas style and I was sharing with a friend so I didn't actually get five regular size desserts. The menu actually instructed that you order at least two desserts per person so I figured five for two people would be a generous portion for each of us. But I did feel like I may have gone a little overboard as soon as the waitress walked away and then when she came back ten minutes later, five not so tiny desserts in hand, I knew I had gone way overboard.

Here's what I ordered for the two of us:

1. Carrot cake with sour cream mouse and apricot carrot compote. This was good but tasted too healthy, and by that I mean it was not sweet or rich the way good carrot cake is.
2. Mango cheesecake with kiwi coulis, mango gelee, and toasted coconut. The kiwi coulis on the bottom was the highlight of this one.
3. Red velvet cake with lavender cream cheese icing. This one was my favorite. The icing was, in my opinion, to die for. And the rich dark cake was the perfect compliment to it. Just right.
4. Sea salt caramels. You can't go wrong.
5. And banana cream bonbons. On the other hand, we could have done without these.
All in all, knocking off the first and the fifth dessert and just having the best three would have been ideal. But, instead, I have a bag of treats for tomorrow.

PS, this was at Purple in downtown Seattle, a beautiful restaurant with a large menu - tapas and otherwise - and food that almost lives up to the compelling setting.

PSS, my apoligies again for the crappy iPhone photos as I am still without my regular camera.

Seattle So Far

2010-06-29T00:55:00.016-04:00

So far Seattle has been great.

(But before I get into that, I have to preface this post with some bad news. I left my fancy new touch screen snap on smile camera at home. Boo-hoo! So instead of forgoing all photographic documentation of this lovely place I am making due with what I have: my iPhone camera. And as Jimmy has recently reminded me, the best camera is the one you have on you.)

Now, on to the Seattle part of the post. Tonight I went for a walk to find a treat to eat. I do this every time I come to Seattle and every time the result is the same: failure. But still I try. The problem is that everything closes here - at least in downtown Seattle where I'm staying - at eight or nine pm. I know, crazy. Makes no sense. I do most of my spending after dark, doesn't everyone? Well apparently not here. Anyway, while I was out I took in some of the sights and a bit of window shopping too.

Betsey Johnson on 5th Avenue stands out a bit between the Louis Vuitton monogram tennis shoes and the empty Hermes jewelry display, but in a good way.
Here's where the nice camera would have really made a difference. Look at this photo, but pretend that you can see every color between fuchsia and cerulean in the sky, that's what it really looked like.

Yes, I consider the flowers outside the Four Seasons Hotel a "sight."

And of course hand-made chocolate also falls under that category.

And this last one is of a decoration - I assume - in the lobby of my hotel, the Hotel Vintage Park. Good looking phone, right? Makes me wonder why we ever stopped using them. But then again, it can't double as a camera.

Oh, and I solved the sweet-tooth problem. Room service. Two very plain words that transform into one of the most fantastic terms in the English language. Room service. I will never tire of saying it or of partaking in it.

Seattle Bound

2010-06-26T18:12:00.006-04:00

Tomorrow I am going back to Seattle - for the fifth time! There is just something about this cloudy, rainy place that I can't get enough of. I am having trouble putting my finger on it.
Maybe it's more then one thing.

These are the things about Seattle that I love: the climate, the grungy past, the coffee, the mountain when it comes out, the Puget Sound and Lake Washington, the people, the sushi, the lobby of the W Hotel, the "eternal night" graffiti, Safeco Field, the Pink Door restaurant on Post Alley, and the time zone because waking up at 7am feels like sleeping in.

Will be expanding this list starting tomorrow!

GRIME Bikes and Apparel

2010-06-24T20:04:00.006-04:00

THE GRIME is bikes, tees, and hoodies from two guys in Bedstuy that know the streets of New York City. But these aren't just any bikes, I talked to Joe of GRIME to get the scoop. (All quotes are from him and the first and third photos are from THE GRIME where you can order your own GRIME bike, just be prepared to wait about 60 days as these are in very high demand right now.)

"These are designed for heavy tricks with a fixed gear drivetrain. Handrails and grinds and stuff. Besides just being a fixed-26 there are some key differences between this bike and any other bike in the market."

"We have some of the best riders not only riding for us, but part-owning the company. Ed Wonka and Mike Schmitt really sat down and built their dream bike. It doesn't look like anything else because it isn't like anything else out there right now. Some dirtjumpers are similar, but not quit like this. There isn't a 26" fixed gear bike on the market that I know of. But there will be many copy cats I'm sure."

"All our frames are designed, built, welded, sandblasted and powder coated here in our workshop in Bedstuy, New York. Handmade tigged and fillet brazed on the same floor as our print shop for apparel."

GRIME has distributors in five countries and the frames are arriving in stores right now. One can be yours with an ANIMAL headset and bottom bracket for $750.

BFF at the Bike Film Festival

2010-06-19T20:08:00.026-04:00

The Bike Film Festival was today on East 2nd Street in the East Village. There were lots of vendors, a few bike builders, people doing tricks, and more bikes than I think I have ever seen on one city block. It was awesome. For me the highlights were seeing Horse Cycles Thomas Callahan and watching the pros make their bikes fly. Oh, and I think there were some films playing somewhere too... I missed that part. Here are some photos of what I did see:

Alphabet City French at Flea Market

2010-06-19T19:06:00.012-04:00

What could be better than a four course French meal in an open air restaurant over looking Tompkins Square Park? Well, yes, it might be nicer in Paris but I'll take what I can get here near home. So this is my favorite local French restaurant. It's called Flea Market and it is run by a wonderful couple from France. I love this restaurant because it is really authentic, and the food is really delicious.
I just got back to New York yesterday and after eating not so wonderful food in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan all week, I really wanted to eat a great meal and decided to have it at Flea Market. Here's what I had. My first course: Artichoke and Sweet Corn Soup. Fresh and summery and just right with French bread and French butter.
My second course: Avocado Salad with Endive, Orange Segments, and Cilantro. Really good flavor combination, beautiful presentation.
My third course: Soft Shell Crab a la Provencale with Mesclun Salad. I have to say that this was some of the best Provencale sauce I have had in a long time. I literally cleaned my plate with a piece of bread once the crab and salad were gone - this is a dish I could eat every day.
And the last and most important course, dessert: Creme Brulee. It was my intention to photograph each dish in their uneaten forms but when this one was set down on the table time stopped, I completely forgot what I was doing, and I dug in. A few minutes and a bunch of bites later I realized that I hadn't photographed it and picked up my camera to take this shot. It looks pretty good half-eaten anyway, no?
Hungry yet?

Three Photos Of Michigan

2010-06-14T21:45:00.005-04:00

So far, the view on the flight into Michigan has been the highlight of Michigan.
Since landing twenty-four hours ago, we have visited Wal-Mart twice and I have done two new things. The first: I ate something I've never eaten - or even considered - before. This is a deep fried pickle. It was really good.
The second: I crossed the top of an open vertical lift bridge, quite sure death was near, two times, and I have now reached my lifetime quota for that.

Keste Pizzeria & Vino

2010-06-12T23:34:00.004-04:00

Awesome, awesome, awesome pizza.
This is what I ate for dinner tonight - an authentic Neapolitan pizza from Keste. This is the special pie. They call the Burrata which is a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The cheese on this pizza was flown in from Italy. Our server also told me that burro means butter in Italian. And let me tell you, it is no coincidence that the name of this classic delight shares the same roots as butter. The Burrata is where it's at.

Sexy, Slick Red Nagasawa For Sale

2010-06-09T20:07:00.013-04:00

After a stint with us and on the familiar streets of the East Village and Brooklyn, the Nag is off to greener pastures, faraway lands, or maybe just New Jersey, depending on where you live. What I am trying to say is that this bike is for sale. Yes, a Nagasawa for sale stateside, oh boy!

This one is nakano red, 53.5 seat tube and 55.5 top tube, with new old stock suntour superbe this that and the other, hatta swan headset, pre-NJS nitto stem, selle concor brown suede blah blah blah... You get it. This is a really awesome build!

The frame and fork are from Punch Cycles in Tokyo, the best bike shop in the world.

Email Robin (robin.hiner@gmail.com) if you are interested in more details and/or possibly owning this rare ride.

Dinner For Two In Hong Kong

2010-06-09T18:34:00.008-04:00

Back in February we went to Hong Kong to see some city lights and eat some food. I made us reservations at Hutong because I read that it is basically a restaurant in the sky. Upon arrival we confirmed this: Hutong is a restaurant on the 28th floor of One Peking Road (yes, that is really the name of the street) in Kowloon overlooking the bay and the neon Hong Kong skyline. Our table faced the view, as did just about every table in the restaurant. We took lots of pictures and I even took a few pictures of pictures being taken - the Hong Kong skyline is just that impressive. It's like Times Square times ten, and that's before you take in the glowing watery reflection.

We started the meal with scallops tossed with pomelo segments and green asparagus coated with white sesame. The scallops were raw and I didn't know what to expect from the pomelo but found it to be just like grapefruit which cut the saltiness very nicely.

For my entree I took our server's suggestion and ordered the Dragon Red which was lobster fried with red pepper and sweet chili sauce. It was delicious but it was really hot (almost too hot for me) and really, really hard to eat (I mean, WAY to hard). They gave me a big wooden spoon and a tiny silver fork to master the dish and my embarrassing performance was not unlike Julia Robert's escargot scene in Pretty Woman, I hate to say. But what I did get up to my mouth I enjoyed very much.

I had a first with the dessert menu; every item on it was deep fried. Not a problem. We ordered two deep fried desserts. This one is the apple spring rolls with apple chips. It was good, but when hasn't deep fried sugar been good?

Before we left for the night I ordered tea and asked for milk and sugar like a good westerner. They brought out a cup of tea, a bowl of honey larger then my cup of tea, the smallest pot of milk I have ever seen, and a slumped over, melted-looking jar holding a couple of sugar packets. I probably should have ordered green tea but then I guess I wouldn't have been able to snap this funny shot.

Go See Get Him To The Greek!, My Short Review

2010-06-07T18:12:00.005-04:00

I laughed (a lot), I cried (just a little); Get Him To The Greek was what I consider the perfect cinematic experience. Would you have guessed? I didn’t and I wouldn’t have. I actually had kinda low expectations and was happily shocked this weekend in the blessedly icy cold movie theatre.

Aldous Snow (played by Russell Brand) was hysterical – as usual – but also had a real drug addict-alcoholic story to tell that was poignant and quite frankly moving, to me at least. Think: the Hangover meets Rachel Getting Married. There was an early morning scene in Aldous’ New York rocker’s penthouse when after another sleepless night of debauchery followed by watching his ex’s raunchy but glamorous sexbot music videos all alone he this time decides to call her up. She picks up her cell while in bed in Los Angeles with a sleeping Lars Ulrich and they quietly flirt and joke but beneath the narrative you can see Aldous’ loneliness, emptiness, and need for the love of this woman. It’s all over his face and it was an intimate moment for the audience and Aldous, not the uncaring ex. In the end it doesn’t work out for him and her, as you can imagine, but I won’t give away anymore of the story. Jonah Hill and P. Diddy were great too. I give this one the worth-$13-stamp-of-approval and then some; in fact, I may even see Get Him To The Greek twice.

Limelight Marketplace?

2010-06-05T16:50:00.019-04:00

I am all for shopping, for overpriced designer goods, for fancy artisan chocolate, and for the allure of glamorous new shoes, but this is just not right. The Episcopal Church that was home to the famed Limelight Nightclub and then Avalon Nightclub is now a high-end, boutiquey mall. It's called Limelight Marketplace and you can get caviar, Hunter rain boots (that are now made in China despite their status), and $650 pajamas - that you sleep in! - there. As I went through each corridor and came upon each balcony I remembered bits and pieces of nights I'd spent there before. Crazy adrenaline pumping, laughing and screaming, dancing till dawn nights. And now it is just another place to shop. Oh well, I thought, time to move on. Anyway, despite being super depressing for me the place still has the same beauty and enchanting sadness that it had before, albeit in a different light, so I took a million photos. Here they are:

Online Shoe Shopping and the Reason that I am Perpetually Broke

2010-06-03T20:48:00.009-04:00

I just opened up the internet with the intention of visiting the Metropolitan Museums of Art’s website to find out what exhibitions are going on right now. However, once the Google page was open I typed the word “superga” into the Google search field and pressed Enter. The results came up for the official Superga website, some online retailers that sell Superga sneakers and then, three results down, the words, “Shopping results for superga” with five pictures of adorable sneakers in white, grey, navy, yellow, and army green. Without thinking I clicked on the photo of the grey pair. Grey is my second favorite color next to black. But no, this isn’t the Metropolitan Museums of Art’s website, I think as I recall my initial internet intention. This is Amazon.com! I press Backspace and return to the Google results page. Then again without thinking I click on the official Superga website. No, still not the Metropolitan Museums of Art’s website! But this is a very good looking website indeed, I think. Why am I here, I wonder? Well, let me click through a few pages of this just to see the pictures. Oh, is that a picture of a beach on the Italian cost? How lovely! I do want to go there. I wonder if they have the same grey pair here that I clicked on before. I check because I’m curious. Yes, they do. And I wonder if they have my size. Yes, they do. As I select “Steel Grey Canvas” from the drop down menu a red arrow appears next to a red button marked “Add to Cart.” Well, if you insist, I think, but only to find out how much they charge for shipping because I am very curious at this point. I am vaguely aware that this is not what I meant to be doing. However, I’ve come this far, I think. And then out comes the credit card and now there’s a pair of Italian sneakers on their way to my office in three business days.

How did that happen? I want to blame the internet for making spending money so easy. I want to blame credit cards for making money look like plastic – because who cares about plastic? I’d give it away if I had an account full of it. If only it really was just plastic that I was trading for a shopping experience that I barely partook in over the internet. Honestly, I feel quite helpless about internet shoe shopping, but I know the blame is with me.

Oh Well, I think, it’s over. At least now I can peruse the Metropolitan Museums of Art’s website without distraction. There aren’t any cute shoes in their online gift shop.

How To Destroy Angels, the Self Title Debut Album, My Review

2010-06-01T21:49:00.011-04:00

I’ve given the How to Destroy Angels self title debut album a few good listens now. It came out last night at midnight. So far my opinion of it is varied and changing, both good but mostly bad. Allow me to explain.

The single A Drowning came out a few weeks ago and to me it sounded like Nine Inch Nails’ Ghosts album with a chick singing over it. I still feel this way except I cringingly like it now. I'll admit that A Drowning is really good in a haunting way. The other single, The Space in Between, also sounds like the Ghosts album but with a little bit of Year Zero mixed in at a slower beat. However, the vocals on this track call back more to early Placebo: yuck. These are the best two songs on the album. That doesn’t say much for the other songs but I am measuring this album against Nine Inch Nails, only because Trent Reznor is referring to HTDS as his new project, so expectations are high.

The vocals on the other tracks sound more feline-like which may be why these songs sound worse to me. I hate the whiny cat singing that so much indie music produces but I realize that this sort of sound is the type of thing that sounds different once it’s stuck in your head – like an awful viral internet video that you like after a while. (Funny aside, one of the most cat-like sounding songs is called Fur Lined.) The track BBB – which annoyingly stands for Big Black Boots – is a poor rip off of Nine Inch Nails’ Reptile. I can see that this particular rip off may have been inevitable as Reptile is one of the few feminine sounding Nine Inch Nails songs and probably the misses’ favorite. Also, I think there is actually a sample of a cat meowing in the mix of this track; you can almost hear it at the end as she repeats “Listen to the sound of my big black boots.” Bizarre and not musically or emotionally compelling.

The next track, The Believers, has the cadence and feel of a Dead Can Dance song. That could be a compliment. And finally, the second track, and my least favorite, Parasite, is more of what should have been left on the cutting room floor from the Year Zero edit all scotch-taped together with whiney – but whispery – girl vocals on top.

This sounds like a terrible review but I have to say that the album is growing on me, sort of. Where I stand right now is: I am willing to go along with this side project of a band that has no future (Who cares today about A Perfect Circle or Zwan?) for a couple albums, three tops, and then I expect Trent Reznor to ditch the bitch and go back to Nine Inch Nails. There, I said it. I don’t like her – on principle. But I will give the music a window of a chance.

Chocolate and Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2010-05-30T09:24:00.005-04:00

This is Del Posto's Chocolate Ricotta Tortino with Toasted Sicilian Pistachios and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Gelato. I had the great pleasure of eating this confectionary masterpiece last night and let me tell you, it was perfect. By themselves the chocolate ricotta tortino and the extra virgin olive oil gelato were delicious but together they were truly amazing. I have heard that chocolate and extra virgin olive oil are good together, and it makes sense because chocolate and butter are so good together, but this was more then just a complimentary pair. Together, in this dessert, the chocolate and the olive oil became a third ingredient all it's own: choclive oil? You have to try this combination.

Pages Torn From A Magazine

2010-05-25T22:39:00.007-04:00

In defense of fashion’s contribution to the modern art world, I give you three recent ad campaigns that have caught my attention, more than once. They are all strikingly beautiful while holding on to that eerie darkness that (great) fashion is forever exploring.

This still life is part of the Christian Louboutin Fall/Winter 2010 ad campaign that was shot by Peter Lipmann. It is one of ten.

This photograph is called Blue Mood. It is from the Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2010 Lady Dior ad campaign with Marion Cotillard, “Lady Blue,” in Shanghai. It was shot by Steven Klein and also filmed by David Lynch. In the film version of the ad, Cotillard recites a poem that Lynch penned about the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai.

And this final photograph is from the Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2010 ad campaign featuring gorgeous Raquel Zimmermann. It was shot by Nick Knight and features shoes and clothes from the highly acclaimed Plato’s Atlantis collection.

Lula’s Sweet Apothecary

2010-05-24T20:10:00.007-04:00

I never thought vegan ice cream could be this good, let alone vegan soft serve. What do they put in it to make it so rich and creamy? It is an amazing mystery to me. And vegan whipped cream – I always understood this to be a culinary impossibility but Lula’s Sweet Apothecary has is and it is deliciously whipped cream-like.

And the vegan treats don’t stop there; they also have vegan sugar cones and cake cones stacked up in glass jars and toppings galore that are all cutely organized in the old fashioned apothecary drawers behind the counter. Menu regulars include sundaes, flurries, floats, and shakes, all old school style. The ice cream is hand packed daily with nine changing flavor choices. And of course you can get a New York egg cream, but, as the menu informs, that will be without the eggs and without the cream.

This vegan dream of a dessert bar is located on 6th Street between Avenues A and B – you’ll know it by the motley crowd of hipsters, cyclists, and hippies standing outside silently eating and licking Lula’s sweets.

Bike Ride Home Along the East River

2010-05-23T20:52:00.008-04:00

I hear by declare this New York appreciation week. The views just keep getting better and better.

As far as holidays go, today is also World Goth Day. I found this out from La Carmina, a fellow goth and cool chick that I met my freshman year of college. We used to dress up and go to Downtime together. Anyway, in celebration of World Goth Day, here is Nine Inch Nails.

Crazy Beautiful Dark and Creepy New York City

2010-05-20T19:26:00.004-04:00

Today I was reminded of why I love living in this ominous city where anything can and will happen.

Top 5 List Of Cute Bike Handlebar Bags

2010-05-18T21:47:00.016-04:00

Today I decided to scour the internet for the perfect bike handlebar bag. Here is what I found out: There are a variety of cute bike handlebar bags out there. All of the cute ones are WAY overpriced. None of the cute ones come in all black.

So, I am totally undecided and leaning towards asking for a custom made Jimmy K. Designs bike handlebar bag – cause if you are gonna spend the big bucks, you might as well get what you really want.

However, I don’t want to put my research to waste, so here is my list of the top five cute bike handlebar bags out there, ordered by price:

1. Alexandra Cassaniti makes two options priced at $120 and $96 respectively. They are for sale at Ooga Booga which is a lot of fun to say. I like the prints of these bags but I’m looking for something simple, so they are out.

2. Tokyo Fixed Gear has this bag for sale for 80 Euros (about $102). It is made by Ccp and comes in three muted (boring but not easily matchable) color combos. For just over a bill, I think I’m looking for something more.

3. There’s an Etsy store I like called Death & Texas that has one cute handlebar bag for sale – and by sale I mean the steep designer price of $95. Isn’t Etsy stuff supposed to be cheaper then retail? I also get the feeling that this was just copied from the Alexandra Cassaniti one above.

4. And then there are these three bags that collectively have a 5% chance of actually matching your bike. They are made by Po Campo and are sold at the bargain rate of $92. I’d consider the silver one, but I know I’d regret it later. I’m just a sucker for anything shiny.

5. And finally the most affordable option comes from Acorn Bags. Their small front bag as they call it is only $50. However what you make up for in price you sacrifice in style – this is unfortunately a universal law of fashion. These bags look a little old, no?

So I guess there isn’t a perfect bag out there after all. The search continues…

Excuse Me Sir, I'm Looking For A Young Man In A Bow-Tie: This Week's Gossip Girl Recap

2010-05-17T21:33:00.010-04:00

It's the SEASON FINALE!

Before I watch and find out what happens, before I analyze and recap the clothes, before I write this post, I have to say: Blair and Chuck. Oh Blair and Chuck! I am always and forever rooting for you, Blair and Chuck, Chuck and Blair. But we shall see how this all goes for our pair.

Blair's floral wrap dress is another great one. The colors, the shape, the fit; it's all perfect.

I have mixed feelings about the sleeveless green trapeze pea coat though. Is that how you would describe it? Who knows. Anyway, it was a nice color but those shoulder pads are not for Blair. Didn't she famously say that they overwhelm her delicate frame? They do, B. A green item I do not have mixed feelings about: the lime green pumps. Hideous. I don't care if they are Louboutin's. They are ugly. But somehow because of that, they are appropriate for a field trip to Brooklyn.

Georgina's Russian get-up is as ridiculous as her fake accent and her weave is worse then Jenny's. Tonight, Rufus' hair is the best (i.e. least-worst) Humphrey hair.

OK I'm at the half way point and I have to pause the clothes recap to say that I hate Jenny Humphrey. How dare she kiss Chuck on the night of the great Blair and Chuck reunion! Skank!

Back to the fashion: Serena's accessories in the hospital are gorgeous but inappropriate as usual. (I want those purple rhinestone earrings!) And I have to say, for a girl that never goes clubbing she is always dressed for one. I guess if you are Serena, you can treat any place like a steamy night club, even a coat check room, even a hospital.

Back to the show: Oh my god, Jenny and Chuck had sex?! WTF! This can't be! How did this happen? No way they drank that much. No way.

Fashion: About Jenny's shoes in the crying hospital chapel scene: divine. Closed bootie on the inside, t-strap on the outside; what designer thought of this genius half-and-half creation? I must find out!

Show: And now Dan punched Chuck just as he's about to propose to Blair?! This is too much for me to take. I can't.

Fashion: And then there's Georgina. Oh, Georgina, to wear sparkly spandex is one thing (that Serena knows a lot about), but to wear sparkly spandex over your pregnant belly? This is never under any circumstances allowed and for that you are now banished back to Russia. Forever.

I can't even talk about fashion anymore. Chuck just got shot. This is too over the top. Oh and the thieves have the ring! This is the most depressing cliff-hanger EVER. Last year's season finale was so sweet. How I long for that time again. But now, now there is nothing. With all the couples broken up, Dan a daddy, and Chuck wounded, drunk, and alone in Prague or wherever; there is no light at the end of this bleak tunnel. Only an evil Georgina spawn, and an endless summer of loneliness for Blair in Paris.

Oh Chuck and Blair, why can't you ever get it together?

So there was no fashion winner for tonight's show. There are only losers. And now we wait.

Until next season, Au revoir.

Celebrity Sighting!

2010-05-14T17:31:00.004-04:00

Oh my god, you won't believe it but I just saw Jason Schwartzman on 13th Street and 1st Avenue!

What's that? Not surprised? Well, I guess it's not like I saw Tom Cruise or Lady Gaga or Jill Zarin but I think Jason Schwartzman is pretty big. Anyway, here's what happened:

He was there in the middle of the street wearing a suit jacket that came down to his knees - he's a little guy - and he was pacing back and fourth as I spotted him from the sidewalk. I kept walking but kept my eyes on him, studying him to reaffirm in my mind that he was who I thought he was. Forget the camera crew and the lights and everything, I wanted to be sure for myself. And then, as I was just about to pass him, he looks me right in the eye and says, "Hey you!" Panicked but trying to act cool I say, "Yes, Jason?" "Come over here," he says, "Bring her over," he says to the camera person standing near me. I carefully step over all the chords laying across the street as I approach him - to trip and fall in front of a celebrity is not what I had planned for the evening. "Do you like the Opera?" he asks. "What?" "The opera," he says again, "I'll be going tonight with Ted Danson and his lady-friend and I need a date. I can't stand being the third wheel and even though Ted says it's fine I know it's not, you know?" "Yes. Oh." I say, "Well, I have a boyfriend?" "Hm," he thinks, "Well, I guess never mind then." "Ok," I say, "Thanks." And that was it. He gave me one nod and then looked away. He started to pace again and so I walked away.

Taco! Taco! Taco!

2010-05-13T17:11:00.005-04:00

Thanks to HBO On Demand I recently saw this funny and bizarre short film, Taco! Taco! Taco! It is about two dueling taco shacks in Southern California and the insane lengths that the taco purveyors go to in trying to put each other out of business. I won’t spoil the ending but here is a funny picture from the filming of Taco! Taco! Taco!’s flickr page.

Tacos as clothes: a new trend? I’ll leave that to a separate blog post.

Fashion aside, and with tacos on the brain, I’d like to share with you about my own favorite taco shanty. It’s called Snack Dragon Taco Shack and it’s in the East Village.

Here is why Snack Dragon is so great: They are open until 4am and the décor of this tin hut is college-dorm-room-charm at its best. With year-round Christmas lights and multi-colored everything, the festive styling’s of Snack Dragon can only be beat by, say, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. Tee-Hee!

But the food has to be the selling point, and on this front, Snack Dragon delivers. There are six types of tacos on the menu, three of which are vegetarian I am very happy to report. However, the fish tacos are the one’s that you just have to try. The fish is grilled, not fried, and it is topped with chipotle coleslaw and radishes – yes, radishes! Not exactly typical but amazingly delicious; the crisp zing of the radishes is the perfect compliment to the heat and char of the fish taco.

You have the eat it to believe it!

High Fashion Fit For Flight: This Week's Gossip Girl Recap

2010-05-10T20:06:00.009-04:00

This week's Gossip Girl opened with a Henri Bendel hat box and, "New day, new designer." How perfect! It must be a sign I thought, a sign that my new Gossip Girl clothing recapping is the right fit for the season. From the Henri Bendel hat box the camera panned down to a Saks hat box, a Matthew Williamson shopping bag, a Chanel shopping bag, a Christian Louboutin shoe box, a Lanvin shoe box, and Prada shoe box! Someone at the CW must be reading my blog! However, they forgot to include the Alexander Wang boot box. I'll let it slide, CW, just this one time.

Now, to the clothes!

Blair looked good on her date while they were in her apartment but what was that awful car coat she wore when they went out to track down Holland? And while were on the topic of Blair's first date mistakes, what eighteen year old has a first date in her parents living room?

Not to worry though, Blair redeemed herself in a stunning brown floral gown at the Library Benefit which somehow everyone on the show managed to have a reason to attend, the day of. Typical. Of the attendees, Serena won the prize for slutiest, as usual. She chose to show up at the invite only, black tie event for old people in a gold scarf. Let me clarify, she wore just a gold scarf. She wrapped it around her butt and draped it over one shoulder. It was not a dress and certainly not a gown. It was a scarf.

Jenny looked hot and goth as she slithered through the party all snake-like.

But Liliy won the fashion contest again this week with her knock-out helicopter dress. Leave it to Lily Van der Woodsen to dress for a midnight flight to Palm Beach in a one shoulder, belted dress in a helicopter print! To. Die. For.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

2010-05-09T10:48:00.004-04:00

Are these peonies? They were in the coffee shop this morning.

Horse Cycles Open House

2010-05-08T18:44:00.023-04:00

Time to talk about some really awesome bikes!

There was a block party today in Williamsburg on North 3rd Street. After the rain let up and the sun came out we decided to brave the winds and ride our bikes over the Williamsburg Bridge to check it out. There was a band, balloons and streamers, a bunch of jars full of colored water, and enough PBRs to satisfy the crowd. But for me the main attraction was the Horse Cycles open house.

Horse Cycles are custom steel frames built by hand to the exact specifications of the customer. Thomas, the man behind the frames, says that he makes bikes for real people, as in, tall, short, long legged, short torsoed, you name it. And the work he does is impeccable. He started building about two and a half years ago and in that time has made 22 unique bikes.

Tomas had a bunch of bikes on display at the shop's open house. Check out this one with aero tubing, custom "Horse" inscribed track ends, integrated seatpost, and that sweet handlebar stem combo.

Also on display was this stainless steel touring bike. It has a horse on the head tube and a whale on the seat tube. Did I say that these are custom bikes?

And look at this track bike. It is meant for racing and has a 180 pound weight restriction due to the ultra-light weight tubing set. It is also, appropriately, painted red so you'll see it whizzing by. Just to confirm - this is not a city bike, this is a thoroughbred racer.

After everyone had a chance to check out the bikes, Thomas explained how he got started as a bicycle builder and gave a brazing demo.

Don't worry, he handed out sun glasses to the crown before he lit up the torch.

On my way out I noticed this Horse bike that someone rode over. The chainstay says it all, and in beautiful scrip, no less.

For more beautiful frames, look no further.

The Alexander Wang Bootie

2010-05-06T19:05:00.009-04:00

When I decide I like something I tend to become obsessed with it. Anyone that reads my blog probably already knows that based on the high number of Tokyo posts. Well, I have a new obsession: Alexander Wang.

Only three years ago in 2007 Alexander Wang created his first full line. Just a year later he was given Anna Wintour's stamp of approval as the CDFA Fashion Fund Award Winner for that year - and $200,000. Since then he has created widely acclaimed collections, mostly goth-inspired and utilitarian.

But what Alexander Wang is really known for are his shoes, more specifically, his booties. The Alexis Fringe Boot was the first to make waves in the fashion industry.

From there he has created the Edita Classic Thong Heel and the Hanne Three Buckle Bootie.

But these are the ones I want. They are from the Spring 2009 collection and they cost about $600, so, I'll just keep obsessing.

Faking An Illness Makes For Great Fashion Apparently: This Week's Gossip Girl Recap

2010-05-03T21:39:00.012-04:00

For this week’s Gossip Girl recap I’m going to try something new and if it goes well I might stick with it. Here’s the plan: make the recap itself secondary while giving the spotlight to the clothes worn by the characters. How does that sound? I figure with the best couple broken up there’s not much earth-shattering Gossip Girl action to report on anyway. (Is it comical or is it sad that I find the goings-on of the Chuck and Blair duo earth-shattering? I’m going to go with comical for the sake of my ego.)

So, without further ado, what the heck was Queen of the Squatters Vanessa wearing for her first two scenes last night? Purple sequins!?! First of all, purple is Chuck’s color and is therefore off limits to all outer borough dwelling heathens. Second of all and as another general rule, sequins are not to be worn under any circumstances (1) before sun down, (2) on any day other then a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, and (3) more then once every two weeks. Though it is unclear what day of the week this episode begins on it is very certainly morning and I’m pretty sure this is Vanessa’s second sequin offense in about a week. So there. Vanessa is the pits.

Next! Serena looks hot and skinny in that long sleeved blue dress. Perfect for breakfast with the boy-toy, not so appropriate for breakfast with the fam. But I will let it slide because she at least chose a boob covering garment for once.

Jenny looks gother and gother every week. I love it. Also, she changes after breakfast into a second goth but sorta punk look. It is not as cool as the first goth look but she gets points for variety - black with black and black can become repetitive.

Also dining in style is Lily. Her pink taffeta breakfast dress with the zipper on the shoulder is amazing. I'm thinking Oscar de la Renta. But what is that under garment she has peeking out below her arm? It looks like a tank but surely the dress is lined. Why would anyone layer such a look? This one is a mystery to me.

At the Columbia gala for Dr. V everyone gets dressed up and there is a lot to report on. Serena's bandage dress with the Michael Jackson bejeweled shoulder makes her look fat and old. Also, Serena Shops A Lot should know that this MJ look was out as soon as it was in. Blair's red textured dress, on the other hand, is perfectly modern and young. Spot on, B - and congratulation on getting into Columbia as well. Later, as the party is coming to a close, Jenny get's found out for being a fake-oxy drug dealing brat in front of her dad. It is at this moment that we see her tiny Rodarte dress. It is lovely from the waist down but way too tight up top.

But Lily wins the evening for her belted gold to blue fade Prada dress. True it is not this season or even this year, but the Prada Fall 2007 collection was stunning and is definitely worth bringing back. So that's that. For the breakfast dress and the Columbia gala gown, Lily is crowned this week's style maven - that is, until next week.

10 Hotels: A List of Chic, Modern, Gorgeous, And Decadent Hotels Worth Traveling For

2010-05-03T18:06:00.026-04:00

Planning a vacation? Think of me as your travel agent. I have scoured the internet and the travel section of my local book stores. I’ve stayed in villas, penthouse suites, sky scrapers, and have the credit card debt to prove it. I have only been to eight countries in the world but I know what to look for.

This is my hotel top ten list. I left out the big names like St. Regis and Park Hyatt because they already get enough press. These hotels are ordered by region with the idea that you could go from one to the next on a glamorous and luxurious, relaxing and eye opening, ten week vacation. As I write this I am in midtown New York so let’s start there.

1. Gramercy Park Hotel, New York

2. Hotel on Rivington, New York

3. Berns Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden

4. The Hempel, London

5. Hotel Costes, Paris

6. Palazzo Barbarigo, Venice

7. Les Camps Nomades, Morocco

8. Scarlet Hotel, Singapore

9. Royce Hotel, Melbourne, Australia

10. Hotel Home, Buenos Aires, Argentina

And if you did this trip you would have covered 30,695 miles - that's kind of amazing.

The Five Boro Bike Tour Today Was A Success!

2010-05-02T21:51:00.014-04:00

Today was a beautiful day for Bike New York's Five Boro Bike Tour. I did the ride with Robin and it was a lot of fun. Thankfully for everyone, the weather was a lot better this year - last year it was cold and rainy. This year, however, it was so beautiful and so sunny that I even got a sunburn. My tan lines on my hands are kinda funny. I was wearing my new Giro LX Gloves that have a hole cut out on the top of the hand and, well, take a look at the results.

The ride went through Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and then ended in Staten Island. We rode on the FDR, the BQE, and over the Verrazano Bridge. Here are some shots of all the riders.

More Miu Miu!

2010-04-30T19:19:00.005-04:00

Earlier this week I wrote about the fantastic architecture and elegant design of Prada and Miu Miu stores around the world. Just today I got an email announcing the opening of a new Miu Miu store in Las Vegas. How apropos!

The email came directly from Miu Miu and if you’d like to be on their mailing list as well you can sign up here.

The store looks spectacular wrapped in the Miu Miu print. This is, no doubt, another design of Mr. Roberto Baciocchi’s. I love the chrome detailing on the back-lit gold façade. It gives the retro look a cool futuristic feel that is so Miu Miu.

And look at those clothes! A sheer, beaded, cap sleeved, printed-bra-on-top, but conservatively-lengthened-to-the-knee dress. What can I even say? How about, I will never have anywhere appropriate to wear this dress but if I had the money I would buy it anyway and just wear it around the house after work and on lazy weekends spent inside on the couch. That’s basically what I do with my pink and red patent leather Miu Miu wingtip pumps anyway.

Gotta love those prints!

Prada Architecture

2010-04-28T18:58:00.014-04:00

Over the past few years I have visited more Prada and Miu Miu stores around the world then I can count. My intention, most frequently, is to browse the new collections and to pick out the most beautiful handbag, swing it over my shoulder, and study my improved reflection in the nearest full length mirror. However, I have found more then just fashion in these stores – I have found design and architecture!

Possibly the most famous Prada store is Prada Aoyama in Tokyo. It was designed in 2003 by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron best known for bringing us the Olympic Bird's Nest in Beijing. Prada Aoyama is six stories of diamond shaped glass panels; some flat, some concave, and some convex. The detail creates the illusion that the building is moving as you walk around it and also appears to magnify the clothes displayed behind the glass.

Prada Aoyama

When I visited the store it was April of last year and they were showing the Fall 2009 collection. Remember the fly-fishing boots with the shorts? That was a good collection. There was a lot to see and I visited every floor.

Prada Aoyama

Another big architecture name in the world of Prada and Miu Miu is Rem Koolhaas. Along with the settings of many Prada and Miu Miu runway shows, he is also responsible for the award winning Prada Soho in New York.

Prada Soho

And the newer Prada Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Both have the signature wide staircase that doubles as a museum-like stage for the clothes and shoes. Prada Soho has a huge ramp opposite the wide staircase and a narrower staircase adjacent to the ramp that leads to the men's collection. The women's collections are on the lower level on rows of moving walls that are affectionately referred to as coffins by the store's staff.

Prada Rodeo Drive

In Paris the temporary Prada store was designed by Roberto Baciocchi. He also designed the Prada Honolulu store.

Prada Paris

And many of the Miu Miu stores. In Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Kyoto, the same Roberto Baciocchi design can be found. The color varies but the Miu Miu pattern is the same. These are two photos I took of the Miu Miu stores in Tokyo and Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Miu Miu Kowloon

Miu Miu Tokyo

Sure Vanessa Would Party In Bushwick But I'm Not Buying Chuck At The Party, No Way, And Blair, You Gotta Be Kidding Me: This Week's Gossip Girl Recap

2010-04-26T21:27:00.013-04:00

Oh I never tire of seeing that Letters To Juliet commercial – I just love Amanda Seyfried!

Also on the tee-vee last night was this little show called Gossip Girl, maybe you've heard of it? Well, in case you haven't, it's a show about gorgeous teenagers that never go to class but instead tromp around the Upper East Side dressed only in Donna Karan and Bottega Veneta. They fight and drink and smooch and fight some more - hearts are broken and mild cases of alcoholism become severe. It's just like real life. Let me tell you about it.

On tonight's episode Serena's dad finally showed his face, we found out Lily's secret, Jenny teamed up with Chuck to steal away Nate, Dan got a rejection letter, and Blair almost kissed a Columbia boy. The most awesome part of the episode was when Serena agreed to have coffee with her dad but requested first that he give her a moment to change into a more appropriate outfit: a low cut, short, red dress. The saddest part of the episode was watching Chuck watch Blair reaffirm her broken heart to him. Oh those two!

But before I get into the full-on recap I have a few things to say. First of all, of course Serena is a Baldwin. Second of all, that was not a Bushwick party. If it had been there would have been more drugs, less art, and no one from the cast of Gossip Girl. And third of all, Nate is an insecure brunette who has an unnatural love for designer handbags - duh! OK, I feel better now.

So let's start with Billy Baldwin. Yes, he is Serena's papa, and also Lily's doctor. Lily's awful secret is that she has cancer and that the ex-hubby is treating her. It’s very sad and serious because it’s the only real crisis on this show about fake drama. Because of that, most of the episode was very somber and we got to see a lot of footage of Serena motionless, deep in thought, looking into the distance, blinking. Here’s what happened: Lily got some good test results, Lily got some bad test results, everyone worried and Serena kept blinking. So far it seems like William (that’s what they call Billy Baldwin on the show) is being a good guy and has nothing more then his ex-wife’s best interest in mind. That being said, he acts so creepy. Rufus doesn’t trust him, that’s for sure. Serena is at first a little bit upset about his fourteen year disappearance, but she eventually comes around. And Lily, in her fragile state, seems quite enamored by him. There are also a few awkward scenes where Lily passionately kisses Rufus while he, unable to trust her but equally unable to push away a sick women, takes on the motionless blinking Serena pose.

Last night’s William character was only bested in the creepy obsessive department by Jenny the Snake as she continued to try to steal Nate from Serena. Here’s how far Jenny got: She slept over in Nate’s bed (while he slept on the couch), she made Serena suspicious and caused her to fight with her man, she partied with Nate (at a party that supposedly took place in Bushwick but was probably really in Dumbo), and she got Nate drunk and alone. But even with Chuck’s master plan going just right, Jenny was still unable to bait her Nate. As she leaned in for the kiss Nate quickly pulled away saying, “Jenny, I’m ga- with Serena.” Poor Little J, always going for the unavailable type. After being rebuffed by her crush with Serena watching, no less, Jenny gathered up her silver pentagrams, clove incense, and JTHM books and crawled out the window onto the slippery fire escape. Once there, she opened up the antique locket hanging from her necklace and with a light blow aided by the chilly night breeze, out flew a golden lock of hair. She watched it fly around for a moment until it caught a rain drop and plummeted down and out of sight. He’s gone, she thought, gone forever. And with that she pulled the long strap of her Alexander Wang bag over her head and across her chest and climbed down the slippery fire escape into the black night below.

Meanwhile, at a party in Dumbo, Dan and Vanessa had a fight about something I was so completely disinterested in that to attempt to recap it here would be pointless and I know you don’t care anyway.

Also at the party were Chuck with a couple of Russian models and Blair with the Columbia Basketball team’s MVP (and by Columbia Basketball team’s MVP I mean tall guy that attends Columbia that has played basketball a few times in his life). But nothing came of either the Blair coupling or the Chuck sandwich because both are still hopelessly in love with each other and totally heartbroken and not anywhere near being able to move on. Like Dorota said, “Love is a head wound.” And they are both still hemorrhaging blood. So it was sad. Basically the whole episode was sad; between Lily being sick, Rufus being stuck, Jenny alone in the rain, mascara dripping down her cheeks, Dan being his regular pathetic self, and these two being broken up still, it was downright depressing.

So that’s that. Another week in the lives of the glamorous Upper East Side teen elite. The more we watch, the more we see, it’s really only pretty from the outside looking in.

Funky New Totes By Jimmy K. Designs

2010-04-26T20:17:00.016-04:00

Looking for a great new tote? I have the perfect recommendation!

This line of totes by Jimmy K. Designs, started back in 2003, is really taking off right now. These totes are funky and fun and come in a ton of fresh prints. Some are mod, some are retro, some are constructed from vintage fabric, but they are all young and unique. Here’s what the designer has to say about them, “All of my totes are handmade in my little New York City apartment. I search far and wide for the best fabric to bring you great totes that will last a very long time and that reflect your personality and quirks.”

Each is fully lined and has a cell phone pocket so you never have to miss a call again digging through your bag. And speaking of calls, look at these great telephone totes! Ring, ring! Ring, ring! Your new bag is calling. Starting at only $30 on Etsy.

And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the launch of the Kim James line of high-end leather handbags. These will be the more sophisticated, night time answer to the witty and quirky Jimmy K. Designs totes. Think what Prada is to the sometimes-crazy Miu Miu line. That’s what Kim James will be and you don’t want to miss it.

Me and Patti Smith

2010-04-23T19:20:00.004-04:00

Everyone has a picture of themselves in their mind. A fictions picture is really what it is. Maybe everyone has more then one picture, I don’t know. I have one. Honestly I have a few but there is one that sticks out to me the most today. This picture, and let’s say everyone’s collective pictures, come from all sorts of places at different times in our lives. This one picture of mine comes from childhood, I think, from a poster in a record store, most likely. It is the picture of Patti Smith on the cover of the Horses album. It’s a black and white shot of her from the hip up against a white wall. She’s wearing tight dark jeans, a white men’s shit, suspenders that don’t really ever show up in my mind, and has a jacket slung over her shoulder, real casual-like. A suiting picture to have in one’s mind about one’s self: it’s not too specific about the time, her age, her livelihood, or anything. She’s not smiling but not frowning, her hair is a mess, and her eyebrows look fantastic. I guess the pictures in our minds are of how we want to look. She has no baggage here, she’s ready to go. I like to think that I’m ready to go.

My Hot Pink Bike

2010-04-21T20:09:00.028-04:00

This is my self indulgent bike post. I am the proud owner of a twenty-five year old San Rensho Cyclone. I bought the frame last year at my most favorite bike store in the whole world, Punch Cycles in Tokyo, and built it up all NJS except for the handlebar and rims. It has the original paint job that still glows like new. In case your interested in all the particulars: the handlebar, stem and seat post are Nitto, the crank, pedals, chainring and hubs are Suntour Superbe, the headset is Hatta Swan, the bottom bracket is a Sugino 75, the rims are Sun, the toe straps are MKS doubles, the cog is Phil Wood, and the tires are Michelin Pro 3. And here are the pictures!

Ma Peche Take 2

2010-04-20T21:58:00.007-04:00

Earlier this month, David Chang opened up his fifth establishment in the Momofuku family of restaurants. Ma Peche is the first of the Momofuku restaurants to venture outside of New York City’s East Village. It is on 15 West 56th Street inside the Chambers Hotel – but don’t let the high ceilings in the hotel lobby fool you. Ma Peche stays true to the Momofuku brand of exclusivity that is brought about by dim lighting, low ceilings, community seating, and chefs working within an arms reach, all of which can be found here. Extending the feeling of separateness from the hustle and bustle outside that is New York City’s midtown is the restaurant’s layout; there is a mezzanine and a small first floor seating area but the prime seats are at the X shaped community table on the basement level. There, below the street, taking in the ambience of this restaurant with all five senses, it is hard to recall the taxis, buses, and crowds of tourists just outside.

Ma Peche is currently serving lunch and an express lunch that is appropriately called “midtown lunch” for business men that want fine dining to go. The menu changes daily depending on what local farmers have on the chopping block but you can always be sure to find a lot of meat. Mainstay entrees include spicy pork two ways, ribs with carrots and spaetzle, steak with rice fries, and roasted chicken with mushrooms, green papaya, and peanuts. And for those that prefer to dine on the fruit of the sea, there are delicious options for you as well. Seafood offerings include squid salad with cilantro and peanuts, and mussels with crab paste and beer, to name a few.

And if all you have time for is a quick treat to go you can get that here too. At the front end of the house is the twin sister to the always packed East 13th Street Milk Bar. This Milk Bar is smaller but still manages to pack in all the desserts that many a New Yorker has come to love and maybe even get addicted to. Both Milk Bars offer a Momofuku signature dessert called the Crack Pie, among others that are just as addictive. But if you can’t decide then go for the Franken Pie, its two slices each of Crack Pie, Candy Bar Pie, Grasshopper Pie, and Cinnamon Bun Pie. Also on the menu is the daily changing variety of soft serve flavors. For a true Milk Bar classic, try Cereal Milk soft serve with Crunchy Corn Flake topping – it is sure to please.

Park Hyatt Tokyo Take 2

2010-04-20T21:49:00.006-04:00

Park Hyatt is the Hyatt brand’s most luxurious line of hotels. There are Park Hyatt hotels all over the world but one of the finest and surely the most famous – thanks to Sofia Coppola’s feature film Lost In Translation – is the Park Hyatt Tokyo. The Park Hyatt Tokyo occupies the top fourteen floors of one of the city’s tallest skyscrapers, Shinjuku Park Tower in Shinjuku, Tokyo. This hotel features a spa and enclosed rooftop pool, three world famous restaurants, two bars, and the best bird’s eye views of the city that one could hope for.

The Park Hyatt Tokyo’s website describes Girandole, one of the hotel’s three restaurants, as “simple, delicious fare that is satisfyingly authentic.” Girandole is the classic French brasserie on the forty-first floor of the Park Hyatt Tokyo. The description of the food is very true but the wonderful thing about this hotel is that those words could be used to describe any number of amenities at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

The word “simple” could easily describe the modern design of the rooms and corridors of the hotel. In fact, the interior design of the Park Hyatt Tokyo seems to highlight and celebrate simple shapes. Upon stepping out of the quiet – and fast – elevators one finds him or herself on the forty-first floor and in the first of three enormous, cloud piercing, glass pyramids. Walking towards the reception area one passes through a wide hallway and by a circular stairwell so grand and deep that it gives the effect of looking down the center of a giant outstretched slinky; the light gradating in and out at each level. After reception there is the library and another geometric engagement. The rows and rows of yellow lit, long and tall rectangular shelves have a romance about them that seems so human despite the perfect symmetry of straight lines and right angles. After the triangles, spirals, and perfect squares there’s another set of elevators that are just as quiet and as fast.

But even more than simple and refined, the pull of this hotel is that it is “satisfyingly authentic.” Upon pulling into the hotel’s grand driveway and again at reception, guests are greeted by proper name and in the language of their origin – a custom that is common among elite hotels. But at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, they take this experience of being personally welcomed a step further and will be sure to know if there are any holidays of importance coming up for their guests. For example, if a guest is celebrating a birthday or anniversary he or she will be greeted with a traditional Japanese bow and a fragrant bouquet delivered by an impeccably dressed geisha upon arrival. And after a few days at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, one realizes that to stay at this hotel is to stay at a place that is truly “simple” while also “delicious” and yet “satisfyingly authentic.”

I'm A Dope

2010-04-20T21:21:00.004-04:00

I recently fell for an online writing scam that I wont specifically mention here. Wiser now and with the gift of retrospect, I decided to put the articles that I made for that scam here on my blog so as to make them my own again. They will be in the next two posts. They are articles that I have put here before, but not in their entirety or current context. Also, I have added shiny new pictures to them for your internet viewing pleasure. As for this post, here is a photo of my favorite pair of shoes. I am considering doing a post all about my shoe collection (there's over twenty pairs), what do you think?

People's Pops Opens Today In The Chelsea Market

2010-04-15T20:15:00.007-04:00

Today was the grand opening of the People's Pops in the Chelsea Market and the People showed up! In case you don't know, the People's Pops are fresh, local fruit popsicles and shaved ice - according to their blog. According to my blog the pops and shaved ice are delicious, refreshing, and memorable. The next cupcake? Maybe. And that really means something if you know how much I loved cupcakes in 2007.

At the peak of the day the line snaked through the market for free shave ice while supplies lasted and of course there were popsicles for sale as well. Today's shave ice flavors were organic lemon and sweet rhubarb. Today's fresh popsicle flavors were raspberry and organic cream, rhubarb and spice, blackberry and lemon verbena, sour cherry and blackberry, and rhubarb and ginger. I had the raspberry and organic cream and enjoyed it so much that I considered asking for another but opted to save my appetite for dinner.

Dave, one of the People's Pops founders, was working the counter when I showed up tonight. He was friendly and helpful and said that the rhubarb and ginger pop tasted exactly like rhubarb pie. Sounds good to me.

So if you are headed to the west side be sure to stop by this popsicle stand - oh, and don't forget to tip!

Do You Over-Pack And Under-Dress When You Go On Vacation?

2010-04-14T18:00:00.006-04:00

Whenever I go on vacation, no matter how remote the location, or how posh the accommodations, there are two things that I always end up doing: I find a boutique in which to buy some new clothes; and (despite the great variety of packed and recently purchased clothes) I end up wearing the same two outfits. If this sounds like you, then listen up!

Most people over-pack and under-dress while they are on vacation. So why not try this little challenge: If you are going away for one week, bring only your two favorite outfits; if you are going away for a long weekend, bring just your most favorite outfit. Believe me, with the clothes already on your back, it will be enough. And if this sounds really impossible to you, then take it from a fellow shopaholic, you’ll make it work!

It's All About Blair And Chuck (At Dorota's Wedding): This Week's Gossip Girl Recap

2010-04-13T21:17:00.008-04:00

It's all about Blair and Chuck. I have always said this but now it really is true. What an episode! What a show stopper! Not to mention that the homeless woman Dan's been hanging out with was out of town – What a relief! This episode was the real Gossip Girl drama I first fell for, so many seasons ago. But before we get to the tearjerker couple, let's recap the supporting cast, shall we?

First and foremost, Dorota and Vanya got married! But it wasn't just any wedding. It was a traditional Polish wedding given by none other then pastel suited Chuck Bass – more about that later. The wedding was perfect and beautiful, traditional and simple, except for frail tear soaked Blair – more about that later. But nevertheless Dorota and Vanya got married, kissed, and the party ensued!

At the party, Jenny continued to step on Serena's heels and Nate continued to think she was just being sweet, sisterly Jenny. Silly Nate, you should know by now that Upper East Side women always have a hidden agenda. And just as Jenny got the courage to make her move again, Serena left the party, how convenient. But she left with Carter, eww. He's looking extra slimy and extra extra eye twitchy right now. See Carter is back in town and he's busy wrapping Serena around his greasy finger all under the guise of finding her dearest daddy. And it took Serena forever to catch on but once she did she made like a big girl and kicked him out of the limo and onto the curb in the middle of Queens. Good news for Nate but he won't get this message seeing as Little J is screening his calls. Damn cell phone, can't ever keep track of that little ringing gadget! So on Serena went, to see her dad, I mean, her mom? Wait, mom? Mom, why the hell are you in my dad's Palm Beach hotel room!? I guess the slutty apple doesn't fall far from the slutty tree.

Meanwhile, Rufus finally tries to contact his wife after how many weeks now and realizes that she's not where she said she would be. Did this not already happen this season? Anyway, it won't be long until he finds out what Serena knows and then the slutty shit will hit the fan. Oh, and there was a funny Rufus moment when he was on the phone with the hotel reservationist reciting all of the possible names Lily may have booked her stay under: Lily Humpfrey, Lily Bass, Lily van der Woodsen, Lily Rhodes... Ha!

Also at the party was that skinny gay boy that Jenny met at sewing camp a few years back. You'd think that the way everyone ignores him he's take the hint but he just won't go away! So yeah, he was there and his crush came to the party to surprise him but he brought his girlfriend. Major bummer. But then he dumped his girlfriend and admitted to being bi, which by the way doesn't exist for men over the age of seventeen so that girlfriend was most likely his last. So good news for Tagalong!

And now to the main event: Blair and Chuck. Oh Blair and Chuck! Is it really over? It can’t be! See Chuck set up the whole Polish extravaganza to win back Blair. He bought her a Cartier necklace; he begged for her forgiveness. But Blair wasn’t having it – she's still too distraught over what he’d done to her and what she’d been willing to do for him. Oh the ugly places love takes you! The murky mood changed for the worse when Blair finally did give in to Chuck but only on the grounds that they are both horrid scum and that they deserve each other’s awful company while they burn in hell together. Yes, gossip Girl really did get this dark. Chuck rebuffed her of course, his ego wounded, and Blair cried black tears at the joyous wedding. The most gut wrenching part was watching Chuck’s face as he watched Blair come apart – that Ed Westwick has really got the tormented despair thing down! It all ended when Chuck pleaded, “Blair, don't bail on me. We have to see this through to the end,” and her reply, “This is the end, Chuck.” Ugh! I can’t!

And just like that, Blair was doing shots with Dan and Chuck was taking some Brighton Beach floozy back to his penthouse.

Suri Cruise Turns To The Bottle

2010-04-12T17:55:00.008-04:00

Over the weekend Us Magazine reported that Suri Cruise, The Elfin Queen Of Hollywood, is still using her bottle! This at merely a week before her fourth birthday is truly alarming; doctors agree that healthy, stress-free children stop bottle feeding at nine months old.

While out with her mom in New York today, a reporter for LFIE managed to get a quote from Suri about her bottle problem. Here’s what the Little Miss In Charge had to say for herself, “I wuv Mummy and Daddy and all da suvents but it’s jus too mush stwess tehwing ebyone what to do all da time. And all da photo takers and all the meanies wit de pens asking comment comment. Is jus too mush swess en makes me dwink.”

So there you have it. Even Her Highness Of The Hills needs a drink every once in a while.

Cool Bikes On The Street

2010-04-10T16:00:00.006-04:00

As promised, Cool Bikes On The Street will be a series of posts and here is the second!

I saw this bike on Avenue A just south of 9th Street on Monday. Being the owner of a bike with a neon paint job I think I must have a soft spot for other neon bikes. And this one certainly is bright - in fact it matches the New York U lock on it!

Other things that I love about this bike: the impossibly attached slim fender, the hunter green bags on the handlebar and Brook's saddle, and the gold bling bell. And is that a Suntour Suberbe Pro hub in the back? Love it.

Point out any other awesome details that I might have missed in the comments section.

Ma Peche, Momofuku Number Five, Opens Today In Midtown

2010-04-07T21:38:00.008-04:00

Today David Chang opened up his fifth establishment in the Momofuku family. Ma Peche is the first of the Momofuku restaurants to venture outside of the East Village. It is on 15 West 56th Street inside the Chambers Hotel – but don’t let the high ceilings in the hotel lobby fool you. Ma Peche stays true to the Momofuku brand of exclusivity that is brought about by dim lighting, low ceilings, community seating, and chefs working within an arms reach, all of which can be found here. Deepening the feeling of separateness from the hustle and bustle of midtown is the restaurant’s layout; there is a mezzanine and a small first floor seating area but the prime seats are at the X shaped community table on the basement level.

And if all you have time for is a quick treat to go you can get that here too. At the front end of the house is the twin sister to the always packed East 13th Street Milk Bar. This Milk Bar is smaller but still manages to pack in all the desserts we’ve come to love and maybe even get addicted to (see: Crack Pie). And if you can’t decide then go for the Franken Pie, it is two slices each of Crack Pie, Candy Bar Pie, Grasshopper Pie, and Cinnamon Bun Pie. I chose to order a true Milk Bar classic – Cereal Milk soft serve with Crunchy Corn Flake topping. As I stood outside eating it a driver parked near by in a black Suburban said, “Hey, that looks good,” I told him what it was and he asked, “Is it low-fat?” “No,” I replied with a sticky smile, “absolutely not.”

Hit The Road Jack, And Don't Ya Come Back No More: This Week's Gossip Girl Recap

2010-04-06T21:21:00.007-04:00

Last night on the premier of the new Chase Crawford movie, Twel – I mean on last night’s episode of Gossip Girl (Jeeze, how did I confuse the two?) the Upper East Side became a battlefield. Jenny battled Serena for Nate, Blair fought Jack for Chuck, Chuck betrayed Blair for the Empire, and Dan and Vanessa wrote crappy plays that they argued with each other about.

But before we get to that, more important matters need to be addressed. Last night, in the marble lobby, with the evening sun glinting through the revolving glass doors, Vanya got down on one knee and opened a little black box for Dorota to see. Inside was a diamond ring fit for a princess; Dorota squealed, Vanya put the ring on her finger, Eric awkwardly eye-sexed his new boyfriend, and all was a pastel blur of Eastern European smiles and sweet sweet dreams.

It was a day to celebrate. Dorota will finally have her king and Nate is one year older – in human years, at least. And for her boyfriend’s birthday Serena planned the most fabulous Upper East Side party she could muster, a game of Assassin. Wait, Assassin? That’s what the kids are doing these days? I must really be out of the loop. Anyway, she bought some handcuffs and holsters at Agent Provocateur and invited a bunch of NYU students that no one on the show actually knows (why couldn’t Blair just do this for the fashion show?) and they all waited for Nate to show up to yell “Surprise! Serena didn’t forget about your birthday after all, in fact she invited us all here to try to kill you today!” But nothing ever goes off without a hitch on Gossip Girl. Apparently the period of reforming herself ended this week when Jenny decided to try to get Nate dumped by Serena on his birthday. And though it didn’t work – yet – she did put in a pretty good effort: 1. She got him to blow off his plans with Grandfather to take her out to lunch instead; 2. She got him to stay with her past his Serena curfew of 3pm; 3. She got him to extend the lunch date with her to lunch and a movie; 4. She managed to assassin Serena right in front of him – Skank!; and 5. She kissed him, however unrequited, in the store room of some restaurant – Double skank! And on top of that she won the stupid fake assassination game. But in the end Jenny only evil-eyed her prize as he walked, handcuffed, up the stairs with Serena. Sad little J never gets what she wants.

Speaking of getting what he wants: Chuck. Boy, oh boy, does Chuck get what he wants. Well, what he thinks he wants, at least. See Jack had the Empire and Chuck needed to get it back to validate his success and to prove his dead father wrong. He needed the Empire back because without it he is a mopey-eyed sad bass. And the only thing that Jack would take in exchange for the Empire was Blair. But Chuck wouldn’t ever dream of asking her to defile herself that way, to be used for business. At least that’s what we all thought sitting captive on the couch. So Evil Jack went straight to Blair and propositioned her, and, like a classic Upper East Side Dame, she rebuffed him on his first try but caved for a Matthew Williamson gown. Actually, she was going to Jack for Chuck, because after spinning the moral dilemma she decided that to sleep with Jack for Chuck’s Empire was ok and worth a try. (By the way she couldn’t even run this one by Serena knowing she would shoot it down and Blair, if it involves sex and Serena thinks it’s morally wrong, then it is very very morally wrong.) But Blair put on the gown and went to Jack. Jack, however, stopped short with one kiss and told Blair the truth: that her beloved Chuck had set the whole thing up, had sent Jack to her, had bought the dress, had left the note, and had known that Blair would do it for him. Chuck knew that Blair would sleep with Jack and that Jack wouldn’t want to sleep with Blair if she had come to him sent from Chuck. He knew that Jack would tell Blair that she was set up by her man and that she would hate him forever for it. Chuck knew that Blair would see that the Empire was more important to him then her. And so it was.

With a slap in Chuck’s face, Blair went off into the cold night ruined and alone. And proud Chuck reclaimed his penthouse alone as well. But we know, that as sure as the sun will rise over Park Avenue, Chuck will see that Jack has won. And Chuck will see that he has nothing without love.

And that was all that happened that was worth recapping. Yes, a poor girl from Brooklyn and some hairy ape boy applied to Tisch, but no one cared. And yes, a little gay boy got asked out, but he had no friends and no parents so again, no one cared. Oh, well. It’s hard being a teen and it’s even harder being an Upper East Sider. And on this week’s battlefield, even the winners – Jenny the Assassin and Chuck the hotel proprietor once more – didn’t win.

Over the George Washington Bridge

2010-04-04T09:50:00.004-04:00

Yesterday morning we went out for a bike ride to test out my new build. That's my boyfriends Ridley Helium Silence-Lotto team frame with Zipps and Sram Red and my Surley Pacer with my new Sram Force group. Getting on a road bike after only riding a track bike for six months is a strange sensation - I kept peddling slower instead of using the brakes. I eventually got the hang of it and we were able to cover some ground. We started in the East Village and headed up the west side to do the Central Park loop. Upon entering the park at 108th Street we hit a wall of people running in a race. Plan B and back up River Side Drive and over the George Washington Bridge. This is the view from the New Jersey side.

A Bit Of Gossip And A Snobby Side of Vegan Paté

2010-04-02T16:51:00.010-04:00

Since it is Friday and I am exhausted from a very long week and looking forward to getting as far from my computer as I can, I am going to keep this post short and sweet.

And by short and sweet I mean, vegan and gossipy. For the vegan offering here is a paté recipe that I came across and can not wait to try.

Walnut Mushroom Paté

Ingredients
• 3 Tbs. oil
• ½ lb. mushrooms, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped
• salt & pepper
• 1 Tbs. water
• parsley, kale, or the garnish of your choice

Method
• Sauté mushrooms and onion in oil for 10 minutes over medium heat.
• Pour into blender or food processor, adding walnuts, seasonings, and water.
• Blend until smooth. Garnish and serve.

And here is the bit of gossip: On my ride home today I passed by Luke Wilson! He was crossing Broadway at 40th Street and was with a man that I did not recognize. Though I'd seen the unfortunate AT&T adds I was not prepared for the sight of him today - he's gotten really fat!

Maybe he should try going vegan?

Park Hyatt Tokyo

2010-03-31T22:14:00.008-04:00

Trying to decide what to eat for lunch is tough. I’m almost never satisfied. The options in Time’s Square are generally atrocious. Jamba Juice is giving away free chai tea lattes today, so, there’s that. Not really a meal though; and definitely not a satisfying one.

Daydreaming about what to eat, I often think of a few of the best meals that I’ve had. For lunch, I’d have to say that the happiest midday meal that I can remember was brunch in the Park Hyatt Tokyo’s French brasserie, Girandole. The hotel’s website describes the food there as “simple, delicious fare that is satisfyingly authentic.” I couldn’t have put it any better.

But those words could be used to describe any number of amenities at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. Simple: The modern design of the rooms and corridors of the hotel seem to highlight and celebrate simple shapes. Upon stepping out of the quiet (and really fast!) elevators you are on the forty-first floor and in the first of three enormous glass pyramids.

Walking towards the reception area you pass through a wide hallway and by a circular stairwell so grand and deep if gives the effect of looking down the center of an enormous outstretched slinky; the light gradating in and out at each level.

After reception there is the library and another geometric engagement. The rows and rows of yellow lit, long and tall rectangular shelves have a romance about them that seems so human. After the triangles, spirals, and perfect squares there’s another set of elevators that are just as quiet and fast.

But even more than simple and refined, the pull of this hotel is that it is “satisfyingly authentic.” During our time in Tokyo, my boyfriend and I bought two very special bicycle frames, one for each of us. Being old but very well kept – mine was made by hand twenty-five years ago and still has the original paint – we wanted to wrap them up really well before checking them onto the plane home. We explained this to the gracious receptionist and without question were given yards and yards of bubble wrap and a new roll of packaging tape. Back in our room, buried in bubble wrap, we realized that we needed a pair of scissors too. A quick phone call, “Hello, how may I help you, Ms. Cizewski?” and less then five minutes later there was a knock on our door. I opened it, “Oh thank you,” and took the pair of scissors from her outstretched hands. “It is my pleasure,” she said slowly as she lowered her hands and bowed her head in traditional Japanese form. “Thank you,” I said again, this time really appreciating the exchange. I closed the door and returned to wrapping my bike frame like a mummy.

The Week That Amounted To Absolutely Nothing On Gossip Girl

2010-03-30T23:11:00.006-04:00

Not much really happened on last night’s Gossip Girl. Vanessa and Dan continued to induce puking with their talk of “benefits” and their slimy face mashing. Please, please for the love of God, go back to being just friends or frenemies or anything other than this. I don’t know how many more Monday nights I can spend cleaning the couch after I have involuntarily vomited all over it. I just paid off the Crate and Barrel credit card and now I may have to open up my account again for a new sofa, can you believe that?

In other tales of twin lovers, Nate and Serena set aside their study of human reproduction in favor of the other popular GG pastime: scheming. But alas, as we saw last week, they lack the brain power to properly plot out a trap and up against Evil Plotter Number One – Jack – they failed miserably. See they were trying to catch J with a few P’s to show C’s mom that J is really a liar and a cheat. But the twins being no match for Jack, they merely caught him in the act of speaking to two pretty little (fully dressed) things, a crime for which there is no consequence and hence no blackmail coin. So, like I said, not much happened with that.

Jenny on the other hand was a busy bee working once again for the legendary Eleanor Waldorf line. And what a hard day’s work it was! She had to get up at the crack of dawn, spend an hour applying and smudging just the right amount of black eye make-up, leave the house without even eating one waffle, and then spend the entire day sewing the hem on one entire dress, only to be rewarded with a position as a designer and a party will all her friends! OMG. Poor little J. But honestly, as shiny as that silver platter that her future is being served on to her is, the events of the evening did get a little hairy for a minute there. Damien apparently didn’t get the message last week that Little J is not doing any growing up with him and sent her a booty call text disguised as the classic “I need to pick up my $3,000 worth of pills from you” line. Hint, hint. Little J didn’t take the bait, smart girl, but her jealous dress hanger friend with the big mouth did and called him up! See she had a plan. She devised it on the fly too. The twins should pay attention to this crafty alcoholic not thin enough to be a real model model. They could learn a thing or two. Anyway, her plan was to get drugs for free, get high, get all her friends high, and give Jenny two – no three! – times the recommended dosage so that she passes out and embarrasses herself. Oh wait, and to get Jenny laid. What a bitch! Really I think she just wanted to get high for free and made up the rest of the plan to disguise her own addiction. Regardless, the plan failed! Well the getting laid part at least. Nate slipped into his superhero spandex just in the nick of time and flew across town to Jenny’s rescue! Hurrah hurrah! The gay superhero saves the virgin again.

Also happening but not really amounting to anything at the Waldorf pop-up fashion show was Blair’s plan to get her mummy’s line at Dillard’s or some shit like that. Always thinking outside of the box and with a willingness to spend like no other, Blair sent out Dorota to hire thirty prostitutes to dress up as regular all-American wholesome girls to fill the seats at the show. Surely this would work – because just spreading the word and putting up fliers around the NYU campus advertising free boos and a free fashion show for a famous designer never would. And wouldn’t you know it; the cat brought a rat in. The call girls did manage to keep their mini’s on but Nate’s secret call girl boyfriend showed up in the front row as well and made sexy eyes with the “I have a family” retail business man. Afraid to let the cameras see his true feelings the mid-western business man stormed off in a huff but not before Blair could get the scoop on him from Brandice and yell at him on his way out that she knows his dirty little secret. Stopping dead in his tracks he considers his options. Sell this successful line at his shitty chain or risk his public image and his fake marriage? See even the classless folks on this show are image obsessed and so he chooses to grovel at the feet of an eighteen year old girl in a headband. But just like everything else in this episode, the whole plot line amounts to nothing when Eleanor cancels the deal after realizing that selling her line at Target would mean social suicide. But thanks anyway, Blair! What’s that honey, you have no friends? Oh, well who needs friends when you have prostitutes! Right?

And finally, Chuck’s mom’s pathetic character arc completely deflates when she signs the Empire Hotel over to Evil Jack and then skips town. Where will she go? What can she possibly do to redeem herself now? Doesn’t she realize she has nothing without this show and the Bass men? How pointless. She was just another pawn on Jack’s chess board.

And that was how it ended. Blair and Chuck exchanged a passionate kiss in the wake of losing a hotel and a mom. A passionate kiss not to forget about the day’s losses, but rather, a passionate kiss to hone the grief that they share. To coddle the pain and to shape it until comes out sharp and shiny: a silver dagger that Chuck will drive into the heart of his wicked uncle. That is what Chuck and Blair do behind closed doors. I hope this ending was an indication that something may actually happen next week and that it won’t involve the disgusting Vanessa and Dan trail of vomit storyline.

Lanvin / Acne Denim / Lost In Translation Collaboration

2010-03-25T19:46:00.018-04:00

During my senior year in college I had one of those old boxy televisions thats depth is greater then its width. It didn’t really work except to play DVDs and at that time I only had one DVD. It was Lost In Translation and I had no qualms about watching it over and over again. As a result I think I’ve seen the movie enough times to repeat the entire script backwards. And, well, the movie and its characters are on my mind a lot.

So when I saw the new Lanvin / Acne Denim collaboration I immediately though of Charlotte in Lost In Translation. Maybe I sensed the origin of the denim - Japan - in the way it held up against the knobby model bodies. Maybe that kind of structured ruffle just lends itself easily to a misplaced beautiful blonde woman. On second thought, what doesn’t lend itself easily to Scarlett Johansson?

But the more I thought about Lanvin, the more I thought about Charlotte wandering the crowded streets of Tokyo.

The picture on the bottom is of the inside cover of my 2009 planner. Yes, it is the archaic paper kind with a new page for every week of the year, how wasteful! How un-green of me! I also have a planner in my iPhone but I feel more secure with both electronic and physical copies of my simple daily happenings. Anyway, pasted to the inside cover is a picture of a Lanvin clutch that I cut out of a magazine. It is leopard printed in light blue with a black grosgrain ribbon bow, has the chrome and enamel lock, and the signature Lanvin charm.

To me this clutch is Paris at midnight, Little J on the Upper East Side, what I thought of my own black eye-linered adolescence, and most of all, Tokyo. Tokyo on a sunny day by the Bridge, Tokyo in a Maid Cafe, Tokyo in Lost In Translation. What does this clutch say to you?

Bass Out On His Ass, Jenny Humphrey Still Hump Free, This Week's Gossip Girl Recap

2010-03-23T21:47:00.009-04:00

A lot happened on last night’s Gossip Girl. Chuck went from having a mommy to not having a mommy to having a mommy again and then finally to having a not-mommy-like mommy. What I mean is that as long as the DNA test wasn’t a fake then Elizabeth is Chuck’s real mom but she’s a total witch of a mom and doesn’t deserve the title of Mother of the Great Wild Bass and will henceforth be christened Wicked Elizabeth: Witch of Doe Eyed Deceit and Having an Enormous Rear End. For all the back and fourth I should have known this would turn out badly for Chuck the moment that his Evil Uncle Jack showed up. And Blair, I know you’re just trying to be there for your man but it’s getting a little corny. He’s yours, you’ve got him now, so please go back to your scheming and conniving ways. The angelic house-wife bit is boring and look at where it got Elin Woods, is that what you want? You need to make your man fight for you.

Speaking of fighting for a relationship, I think that Lily and Rufus are going to make it. Here’s why: Lily has been through so much with her thirty or so former husbands that not much fazes her at this point. As long as the gala event goes well and everyone is all smiles for the cameras, it wouldn’t make a difference to her if a murder was taking place behind closed doors. So as soon as she found out that Rufus was probably canoodling with the downstairs neighbor (Ugh – to live on one of those lower non-penthouse floors!) she let it go. Lily’s well of forgiveness is bottomless. And though this is not the case for Rufus, he realizes that he needs her to pay the rent and the kid’s tuition and the driver and the…. Well he just needs her. And he happens to love her too. So let him take his time and assert his manhood. It was no surprise when he confessed that he wasn’t even able to do it with the downstairs neighbor. I bet that was awkward! I predict that within the next two episodes Lily and Rufus will be back to doing disgusting parent sex.

And speaking of disgusting! Vanessa. Vanessa’s hair. Vanessa’s voice. Vanessa saying the phrase “friends with benefits” and saying this in reference to Dan. Vanessa saying, “Oh, and by the way, I’m not wearing any underwear,” to the abovementioned Dan. I can’t. I think I just swallowed my gum while gagging. I can’t see the computer screen because my eyes are watering uncontrollably. There’s something wet on my neck, oh, it’s blood, gross – my ear drums are bleeding.

All I have to say is that the National song that was playing when Dan showed up at Vanessa’s squatter den was a really great song. Operative word: was. The song is now forever ruined by the puke-tastic kiss that ensued.

Barbie and Ken, I mean, Serena and Nate keep trying to perform intercourse but can’t. They also keep trying to plot their way into the shows storyline but again, simply can’t. Just like their doll doppelgangers they are without the necessary parts down there and between the ears to get either job done. But heart they do have. At this week’s fancy-shmancy party Serena had on a heart shaped bustier with a see-through lace dress. And Nate, Nate always has his heart shaped dimples on; one on either side of his mouth and the third on the tip of his gay chin.

And finally, what would this recap be without telling the sad tale of our Little J? Oh, sweet Jenny, you may not have become a woman, but you learned a lot this week. Damien, who is very obviously evil (even to the likes of cobweb-headed Serena and Nate) given his moniker, has managed to fool little J. Brainwashed by the ancient Dutch incantations he whispered in her ears while she napped in his hotel room, Jenny chose him to be her first. The date was set and no amount of doll or daddy interference was going to stand in their way. Damien even punched Nate who appeared to black out for a moment afterwards but was really just giving himself a moment to take in the sweet sensation of being touched by another man, and a European at that! All clear for Little J and Damien and off to yet another room at the Empire Hotel they went to consternate their love. (Side Note: So long as all the kiddies on the show keep ditching school, college, and their parents, Chuck won’t have to worry about his reservation numbers at the hotel because all the rooms will continue to be full of our beloved cast members.) But once they got to the hotel room Damien showed his true evil self and left Little J alone in tears in the honeymoon suite. No more boyfriend but at least she still has her virginity. This is the moral our tale: never trust a foreigner.

But honestly J, how did you manage to convince yourself that Damien was good boyfriend material? I mean, he’s a terrible drug-dealer, only in town on a temporary basis, shorter then you, and he very clearly had a sister fetish! Gross. I say good riddance!

Bike Polo At The Pit

2010-03-21T20:59:00.021-04:00

So today, riding from chinatown over to the lower east side, I stumbled upon a match of bike polo at the pit. It was black verses orange and I was rooting for the orange team. They played great but lost by one point. Next time, guys.

Before the match I wandered around and snapped a few shots of the other bikes there. Some of them were pretty sweet but my favorite bike of the day was a light blue Vivalo. I guess I really am a Japanese track bike snob.

Cool Bikes On The Street

2010-03-21T09:53:00.006-04:00

Welcome to the first post in a series of posts! This series will be dedicated to cool bikes that I see on the street. How exciting!

Yesterday, walking home through the Lower East Side I saw this masterpiece on Rivington out in front of a building that I have wondered about for many years.

I didn't photograph the building because there were twenty crusty punk kids standing in front of it and I didn't want them to think I was photographing them. God forbid they get the attention they're clearly craving! Anyway, the building is covered in art, sculpture, I guess you could say. It's always locked up with no less than three pad locks and you can't see inside because there are no windows. This makes me curious. Yesterday, however, the door to the mysterious building was open. Again, too many crusties to get a good look inside but I did get a good look at this bike. Maybe the bike is an extension of the exhibit that is the building?

I like the Mercier with all the stickers on it too. It's cute. I rarely see a track bike that I don't like.

What I Learned In Tokyo

2010-03-19T17:58:00.007-04:00

I have been thinking a lot lately about obedience and conformity.

When I was fifteen I had blue hair. Not for long though. In case you are unfamiliar with Tish and Snooky’s Manic Panic semi-permanent hair color and think that it may have something to do with MTV’s Jersey Shore, then I will fill you in and let you know that only the red based colors last beyond the first three washes. That being the case, after the fourth wash I had green hair. A week later I had green and brown hair. And what could be worse then green and brown hair? Another lesson learned and since then I have stuck with black, burgundy, blond, and purple hair; so much easier to maintain.

Everyone has their own path and for me the lampposts along the longest stretches of asphalt have been ripped jeans, jay-walking, black nail polish, and tardiness (despite the jay-walking!). So you can imagine that the terms of obedience and conformity go against the grain of all that I stand for.

However, that is not true for me today.

Last year upon arriving in Tokyo I was shocked to see everyone walking on the correct side of the sidewalk, even that first night in boisterous and drunken Roppongi! The next day I was even more disturbed by the complicated network of arrows and lines painted on the floors of the subway system and all the people following them within inches to their trains. Moments later my horror reached a crescendo as I came upon the short single-file lines of people waiting to enter the approaching trains. How orderly!

It made me uncomfortable.

Not knowing what to do I stood all alone, not in one of the lines of people, not along one of the painted paths to the other lines of still more people. When the train pulled into the station I stepped towards the edge of the platform, again alone in my action. When the doors opened and after a few passengers stepped off of the train I stepped onto the train as a woman in the front of the nearest line was stepping on. She paused to let me through the doors that would have surely accommodated both of us and then stepped onto the train after me. After her everyone else in her line stepped onto the train one person at a time. It was a bewilderingly calm and quiet procedure.

The ride itself was also silent. From my plastic and polyester cushioned seat I could see a sign with a picture of a man sitting with a newspaper opened up in front of him. In the picture it appeared that the open newspaper was encroaching upon the personal space of the passengers seated adjacent to the man. There was an X drawn over the picture and a message written in Japanese. I imagined that it said something like, “Read the newspaper? Oh no, not here!” I looked around me and sure enough, there were no newspapers being read.

As the days passed I grew accustomed to the order.

After a week I was completely enchanted by it.

Once I began to follow the rules I discovered a feeling of belonging that enriched my trip immeasurably. I took pride in lining up to get on the train. I paid greater attention to the people around me making sure not to get in anyone’s way. In doing so I really saw the people and connected to the scene I was in.

On my last day in Tokyo I waited in line for a shopping mall to open up in Shinjuku. There were four of us waiting outside the glass sliding doors and one man in a uniform standing just inside the glass sliding doors looking out at us. It was 9:59am. The man inside with the uniform on lifted his wrist to read his watch. He watched the second hand tick and watched it for the entire minute. At exactly 10:00am on the dot he calmly reached out in front of him and pressed the button next to the doors that opened them up. As the doors slid open he bowed to welcome us in. One by one we filed into the department store where all of the sales associates were lined up and bowing their welcome greetings as well. As we passed by them the sales associates returned to their individual registers and the shopping commenced. What great ceremony! How wonderful, I though.

Since getting back to New York I have tried to practice this kind of calm obedience and conformity. My new motto is: Being Busy Is An Illusion. If that is the case then I should have no problem letting everyone else get on the subway first, I'm in no rush. I try. And if I'm never busy then what's the difference if I let every person in the cross-walk go before I come through on my bike? I'm really trying.

On good days it works like Tokyo.

Tosh.0

2010-03-17T22:07:00.007-04:00

My new favorite show is Tosh.0 on Comedy Central. If you haven't heard of it it's a show where the host, Daniel Tosh, shows YouTube clips and talks about them. It's not so much my new favorite show for the clips but more for the fantastic reactions that Daniel has to them. His facial expressions are insane. Last week the last episode of this season aired and we said good bye to casual jackets. Every season Danial wears something different. As a tribute to Tosh.0 and the reign of casual jackets I made this drawing. Now the question is, what should he wear next season?

Package From FedEx

2010-03-15T17:45:00.002-04:00

This morning on the bus I found myself squeezed in between two ladies who had just gotten on at the previous stop and were, in their way, catching up on what had happened this weekend. Lets call them Sharon and Kimberley.

Sharon is the type of person that requires coffee in the morning but is always running late and has no time to make it at home. Therefore, her daily routine consists of running to catch the bus, rushing into the office to clock in within the three minute window that counts as on time, locating a dollar fifty in her purse and then going back downstairs to the lobby of her office building to purchase a large iced coffee from the Thai man with the cart by the elevators. At this point she rides the elevator back upstairs and saunters over to her desk, suckling the straw like a babe. After this morning ritual is complete, with straw still in mouth and caffeine reaching brain, Sharon is then able to perform simple tasks such as small talk and weekend recapping. However, before the cycle is complete, say for example, while she is still on the bus on the way to the office and the coffee, these human tasks are unfathomable.

Kimberley, on the other hand, does not drink coffee. She is full of energy at all hours, even on the Monday morning following the Spring Forward time change. This being the modus operandi of our two women, their weekend catch up involved Kimberley telling the most detailed story I have ever heard before lunch and Sharon quietly listening, eyes motionless, faintly smiling at the appropriate moments.

This was Kimberley’s story – “Remember the FedEx guy that I told you about before? No? The one that pulled me into the freight elevator and stuck his- No, you don’t? Well the FedEx guy, he pulled me into the elevator and stuck his tongue down my throat. Real good looking guy, nice guy, really handsome. Made out in the freight elevator. Well you know Carroll? Well Carroll liked him I guess. Thought he was a real looker and he is. Handsome guy. So she liked him and got wind that he liked me and that I liked him and, wouldn’t you know it, got jealous. So jealous she called his supervisor and said he wasn’t doing his job or some nonsense. Twice she called. Can you believe it? Well you know what I did? I called the supervisor right after and told him what was up. Told him that Carroll was just jealous that he liked me and not her. Jealous that he wasn’t responding to her. You know, picking up on her little flirts. Well, it was to no avail. They moved him, yep. He doesn’t deliver to our building anymore. In the neighborhood still, delivers next door. That’s why we never see him anymore, hadn’t you been wonderin’? No, well. He delivers elsewhere now and we have a new FedEx guy, you’ve seen him. Well anyway, I got to chatting with the new guy, he says his buddy wants my number, you know, the old FedEx guy. Says he wants to call me. Well I give him my number and he texted me. Flirty you know. Says he just broke up with his girlfriend and I’m like yeah I’m down. He’s single now so I can play. Well, were texting now all the time. Texted all weekend. Good looking guy. I was up until two in the morning last night texting him. What do ya think of that?”

And what does one think of that? Quite a story is what I thought. You can’t make that sort of entanglement up. Thank God I live in a city where I am crammed against complete strangers on a daily basis. On busses, subways, in the Starbucks across the street from my office in Time’s Square, I get the meatiest of stories. I wonder how it’s going to end up for Kimberley and the FedEx guy. He sounds great; handsome, at the very least. I hope it doesn’t end with him sticking his tongue down the throat of some office temp in the freight elevator next door.

Lady Gaga Telephone Video Review

2010-03-13T22:53:00.009-05:00

My review of the new Lady Gaga Demon Queen Of Pop video, Telephone, featuring beautiful Beyonce Bee.

Lady Gaga arrives at the slammer in a custom made prison striped latex dress. However, the complicated inmate hierarchy and the corresponding attire requires that the guards remove Miss Gah's clothing, as they are not regulation.

Paper Gangsta is playing on the boom box in the prison yard. This song always makes me feel tough, so I think it's right for the setting. Speaking of tough, what could be more bad-ass then seeing the world through smoldering cigarettes, literally. Nice shades, Gaga. In the prison yard she makes a friend and does a brief advertisement for Virgin Mobile.

Then she gets a call.

Hello, hello baby, the sweet sound of Miss Gah's purr/ She has got no service in the pen you see, see/ Bee has got a message for Miss Gah that can not wait/ Sorry Bee she can't right now shes kinda busy/ She's ka-ka-kinda busy

Time for an underwear dance!

Thank God she's moved on to low rise thongs. All those high cut panties she's sported in the past really didn't do much to confirm her womanhood. Not that I ever doubted it, and not that she shouldn't have played up the rumors for a buck and a good laugh; I just feel more comfortable when the standard woman parts on top match the standard woman parts on the bottom. It's less distracting this way, with the low rise thongs.

Another Virgin Mobile add and damn does she look hot checking those texts and twitter updates! She looks like a younger, hotter Madonna here with a little something extra. I can't put my finger on it though. Is she from outer space? Has she maybe been there on holiday? She has a unique glow.

Bee bails her out and brings snacks, yes! Prison food sucks! Gaga almost ate the leather finger gloves off of her pointers, middles, and indexes. The pinkies wouldn't have been worth it, too much stitching, not enough hide. They drive off in the Pussy Wagon and Honey Bee has her solo. Gaga photographs it but can't seem to capture the pain in Bee's eyes. Why do you keep calling me, Jigga? You know I'm out with my girl and we're getting ready to roll some heads at that diner down by the Interstate. I know, I know, I hate their food too, that's part of the motivation here, part of the plan. You remember the plan, right? So Jigga, why are you calling me right now? What? No, I don't know where you left your keys. I'll call you later. Click.

To the diner to make some burgers!

Always ingenious and with an insatiable desire to create something out of garbage, Gaga makes a chapeau out of a few old rotary phones. Meanwhile, in a dream or a memory long fogged by time, Bee hops alluringly across a motel room floor.

The dancing ensues! No calls will be taken! Voicemail will be your master and your maker! Besides, I have mustard on my fingers and don't want to ruin my brand new Virgin Mobile phone with texting and such, thinks Miss Gah.

Why do murderers in Gaga videos always wear those Mickey Mouse flip-up glasses? Bee, you're totally giving yourself away! G did that right after she killed Erik in the Paparazzi video and it totally got out! Take the glasses off before someone sees! Oh, wait, never mind. They're all dead.

All-American psycho dance of the dead bodies. Ewwww! More dancing minus the dead bodies and plus two mosquito net dresses. Then they drive off into the horizon in the Pussy Wagon. Will they get away with it? Will the cops catch them and throw Gaga back in the slammer? Will she be reunited with her prison yard hubby and will Bee be jealous?

To be continued...

Oh man, what a video! What a sultry masterpiece! They make a good team, Miss Gah and Honey Bee. Can't wait to see who they murder next!

No, really. I love this video and if I had to pick a favorite part it would be when Gaga snaps her teeth in the kitchen. She has really nice teeth.

See for yourself.

Interview Time 2!

2010-03-11T18:56:00.009-05:00

What’s your name? Are there any other names you go by?
Katy or Peaches or Katy Peaches

What’s your occupation?
Bike messenger, tutor and part-time wanderer.

Tell me about the bike or bikes that you own.
I have a custom made Square Built with sugino 75 cranks, campy chain ring, velocity wheels (deep V rear and areohead front), and profile hubs. I think the chainring is 47 with fixed fixed hub grandcompe (?) hub with a 16 and 17 cog. I also have a black Spice that is built with mostly no name components and running as a single speed with brakes and a cetma rack. Finally, there is the American made late 1980's Religh.

Tell me about your dream bike like money ain’t a thing.
My bike is perfect. Maybe I would like to have a nice touring bike so my bike could take me on vacation.

If you could be and have the life of any character on any tv show, who would it be?
Sam Beckett from Quantam Leap.

What is the farthest distance you have ever cycled? From where to where?
Man that is tough. I definitely ride 40 to 50 mile at work all the time... otherwise once I rode to Bruster, NY which is like 50 miles from the city. I did most of the NY century too.

If you were really famous, what would you be famous for and why?
I don't think I would like being famous. I don't like to much attention it makes me nervous.

If you are already famous, thank you very much for doing this interview.

What is your favorite thing to eat?
One? In no order raisins, bananas, golden delicious and fuji apples, peanutbutter, cashews, broccoli, POPCORN, and almonds.

Do you have a website or a blog and what is the address?
No and nope!

Of all the places that you have lived or stayed for a long time, at what place did you feel most at home?
Wow, that depends on the moment in history. Right now, defiantly Brooklyn is where my people are. But San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua was pretty amazing also.

If you could receive free endorsements in the form of goods from any company for one year what company would you choose?
Mac.

What Disney character do you most resemble?
Don't do Disney, how about Olive Oyl.

If there is something really cool or weird or scary about you that this interview has not yet touched upon please disclose it at this time.
I am a genius.

(Photo credits: Takuya Sakamoto, Joey Krillz)

Thailand

2010-03-10T00:06:00.021-05:00

So the vacation is over. I’m still tan. And I still have the W Hotel elevator music on loop in my head even though I didn’t stay at a W Hotel. This is because the hotel I did stay at played the same soundtrack in their restaurant on repeat. At first I was comforted by the familiar tunes but now I guess don't like it because I just feel like I’m stuck in an elevator. Music aside, the two restaurants at the hotel were fantastic thanks to Chef Tony and the happy staff. I’m going to write a post dedicated to just food in the next few days so don’t spoil your appetite. This post however, is going to be dedicated to the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand: the water, the sand, the fish, the rocks, the sky, and the friendly locals.

On a separate note, on my ride home tonight I saw a man on roller blades pulling a long haired dachshund behind him. It was a weird combination of things.

Leaving Town

2010-02-25T20:49:00.002-05:00

At this time tomorrow I’ll be getting on a Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 headed for Hong Kong. That is the plan. But as I noted in my last post, this weather were having in New York City really sucks. Will it snow? Will it rain? Will it accumulate? Will the flight be cancelled or delayed and will I be on time for my dinner reservations at Hutong once the flight has landed? This is the part of the narrative where there is a wrench thrown in the gear set.

There are only 7 possible plot lines in existence. For all the options, last minute decisions, delays, changes of heart, promises, actions, and barricades, there are never more then 7 ways that the story can go. This is the part of the story where were climbing Freytag’s pyramid and were almost to the top, awaiting, dreading, craving the climax. The orchestra is playing and it’s playing faster and faster; the bumble bee buzzes a shrinking spiral around your head coming closer and closer to swiping your earlobes on the way by each time. How will this end!?

I have to wait. No amount of internet searches and phone calls will bring the climax to my door step any faster.

If the plan is not derailed I will be seeing Hong Kong and Thailand for the first time. I’m going to take a lot of pictures and eat my meals slowly so that I can describe them in detail here on my blog. I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for the whale sharks as they pass by Thailand on their yearly journey around the globe. Maybe I will even see fireworks in Hong Kong. I’ve heard they have a fireworks show over the marina every single night.

In Thailand we will be staying at Zeavola on the island of Phi Phi Don, the northern island in the pair of Phi Phi islands. I’ll be there for a week, internet questionable, so this may be my last post for a little while. But hopefully when I return I will have up to 7 Asian and Southeast Asian plot lines to share.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2010-02-24T23:02:00.007-05:00

The weather is so terrible in New York in February.

Right not its 38 degrees outside but it “feels like” 29 degrees. What does that even mean? Isn’t the temperature a measurement of something that is felt? How is it that the measured temperature is nine degrees higher that what everyone is actually experiencing?

Anyway its currently cloudy and later on we have drizzle, rain, and a blizzard to look forward to. I want to ride my bike. No, I want to ride my bike without having numb toes and a wet rear end. I miss riding my bike.

Here are some bike photos that I hope will dry this soggy mood I’m in:

Makino in Seattle

Outside a party in Bushwick this past summer

The Japanese invasion of Loisada

Me and my man on St. Marks Place

Interview Time!

2010-02-22T23:15:00.009-05:00

What’s your name?
Max Benjamin

What’s your occupation?
High school physics teacher, for now. Mechanical engineering degree also. I do photography, too.

Tell me about the bike or bikes that you own.
I have a 2007 Specialized Tricross Sport and Gary Fisher Front Suspension mountain bike.

Tell me about your dream bike like money ain’t a thing.
I'm don't really care about gear, as long as the bike fits. I wouldn't mind something light and fast with nice components, a road racer. I'd like a new cyclocross bike to get into some racing. My drivetrain is shot on my Tricross.

If you could be and have the life of any character on any tv show, who would it be?
Guy Fieri? I'm not crazy about him, but I am crazy about that job. Or maybe the Three Sheets guy.

What is the farthest distance you have ever cycled? From where to where?
I rode about 3300 miles from Springfield, MA to Nelson, British Columbia. A couple months after, I rode on from Vancouver, BC to Los Angeles. I lost track of the miles.

If you were really famous, what would you be famous for and why?
I fear fame. It's unnatural and I don't think humans are meant for it. If I had to be famous, I'd hope it was for helping people or something like that.

If you are already famous, thank you very much for doing this interview.
No sweat.

What is your favorite thing to eat?
Shrimp cocktail.

Do you have a website or a blog and what is the address?
maxbenjaminphoto.com
maxbenjaminphoto.blogspot.com
flickr.com/photos/murreasy
crazyguyonabike.com/doc/firetosteam
crazyguyonabike.com/doc/incogwetrust
maxincambodia.blogspot.com

Of all the places that you have lived or stayed for a long time, at what place did you feel most at home?
I liked Bangkok. I love British Columbia. I keep coming back to Western Mass.

If you could receive free endorsements in the form of goods from any company for one year what company would you choose?
Nikon.

What Disney character do you most resemble?
Don't know, sorry.

If there is something really cool or weird or scary about you that this interview has not yet touched upon please disclose it at this time.
I've never had a job for more than 10 months.

Cupcake

2010-02-20T16:36:00.009-05:00

Yesterday I decided to try the new bakery that opened up on 14th Street, Baked by Melissa. I ordered half a dozen cupcakes (one red velvet, one peanut butter cup, one rainbow, two peanut butter and jelly, and one mint chocolate chip) and they all fit in a tiny little box the size of a glasses case! They were some small cupcakes. About three-quarters of a bite each. I ate three and a half cupcakes so it was all of about two and a half full bites. Their size was what initially charmed me about them but it turned out to be there down fall. I was so unsatisfied after my two and a half bites of cake, filling, and frosting that I'm not even sure if I liked them. I probably did, but I can not say for sure. I don't think I had enough of a chance to taste them. I guess I should have ordered a full dozen.

Today I had Babycakes for the first time. One vanilla and half a red velvet cupcake, both regular size, standard number of bites. These cupcakes were really good, let me tell you. First of all, they were vegan which I like. Second of all, they managed to make them taste like butter which I really like. How do you make something that's vegan taste like butter? That's not something they taught me in pastry school. And The ratio of cake to frosting was right on. Really good, highly recommended cupcakes. However, I did hear that the staff is not the friendliest and that they seem to have some sort of a thing for spelt. What's spelt anyway? Who cares! They were de-lish. Order on line to avoid the rudes, they deliver.

New New Miu Miu

2010-02-19T20:50:00.007-05:00

Every season I swoon over the new Miu Miu shoes. This season is no different. Look at these gems (literally)!

I’m reminded of my friend Brian who always says, “Glad to see you’re wearing your sensible flats, mama.” Brian, there is nothing sensible about these flats!

I’m having a Rachel Zoe moment.

Here's the whole collection.

Four Things That I Like

2010-02-18T21:20:00.010-05:00

If you like all these things too, then message me ‘cause we should be pen-pals.

Number One: Nine Inch Nails

That’s the gang during the self-destruct tour with the AT&T guy, remember him? And then there’s Trent throwing out a Les Paul because the song told him to...

Number Two: Street Art

This is one of the Banksy rats going up and complete, corner of Broadway and Howard in Chinatown.

Number Three: Chuck Bass and Chihuahuas

I think this can count as one thing.

Number Four: Liquid Sky

Anne Carlisle shown here as her own gay boyfriend with her lesbian girlfriend played by Paula E. Sheppard. I think you have to see the movie to get it.

Lamps And Chairs

2010-02-18T21:12:00.007-05:00

Whenever I look at design magazines these days I keep seeing the same four pieces. And it always starts off the same way. I am drawn in by the uniqueness of the concept home or the quirky modern furnishings and then… Bam! There’s one of those light bulb embedded in a huge ice cube lamps! Wham-Bam! It’s one of those silk screened wild animal pillows!

Don’t get me wrong, I love these items and would own them if I had a sprawling polished concrete floored loft in the Financial District but I do not. However, my quarrel is that the homes in these magazines are sometimes awesome, why dumb them down with these tired pieces? Are there not enough artists and designers in the word to produce a greater variety of lamps and chairs?

This is the paradox of originality and conformity. In my youth I was quite the gothic princess. Black nails, black eyeliner, black lace, black combat boots. I looked just like every other gothic princess on South Street in Philly, and yet I was scorned for being so different. And of course I liked the idea of being different but when I embraced it I was written off as a goth clone. What was a little demon child to do? I dressed the way I did because I liked it. I wasn’t trying to fit in or be different.

So back to the light bulb embedded in a huge ice cube lamp thingy. I am sick of seeing them but I do really like them. I bet someone just paid to have it shown in the spread of photos. But I do like the way the light is bright but muted coming through the ice cube-like part. Maybe I’ll… No! I won’t be fooled.

Seattle

2010-02-17T21:26:00.006-05:00

There is something about being lonely that is very beautiful. The same goes for being alone. Maybe this is why rainy Seattle is so enchanting. Surrounded by lakes and one sound, divided by rivers, Seattle is most certainly the lone wolf of the north-west. The effect that the near constant precipitation has on the foliage and man-made structures is the same: to turn them a deeper and deeper shade of pensive green. Having spent my whole life on the East Coast my eyes are dazzled by the range of greens found between Everett and Tacoma.

Last fall I rode a city bus from downtown Seattle up a few steep hills to a sleepy suburb. At the summit of the bus route, perched high on my seat, I could see Lake Washington on my right and the Puget Sound on my left. I was on the bus with the driver but I was alone. I contemplated the great bodies of water on either side of me. They were just there calmly lapping the shores as they had always done. They were no different now that I had caught a lucky glimpse of the sisters together then they had always been. They just proceeded on with their shore lapping, living forever.

Tokyo

2010-02-15T11:06:00.005-05:00

Last spring my boyfriend and I went to Tokyo to visit a good friend, to see some sites, and to pick up a couple of track bikes. While we were there I ate some kick-ass tempura, learned the great value of order and obedience, watched the sun rise over the city three days in a row, visited the Makino factory, and fell asleep at the dinner table, among other things.

This is Punch Cycles. It was the first bike shop we went to and the only bike shop that we went back to. It's where my 3Rensho and my boyfirend's Nagasawa are from. His Nagasawa is shown below in the misty rain.

The rain in Tokyo is like the rain in Seattle. You can feel it in your hair and under your skin but you don't see it coming down, it's just there and has always been there. I guess the rain is one of those things that lives forever. This man was in good company carrying an umbrella on his bicycle.

The rain as seen through the windows on the fifty-second floor had the effect of looking into an aquarium; I would not have been surprised if a manatee or a killer whale swam by. The waiters certainly had a bit of the killer whale look about them.

Another ocean like scene. This time at the goth club.

Later that week the rain subsided and the thigh highs came out. Also, many umbrellas were discarded in neat bundles, shown below.

We had the most fun visiting the guys and gals at W-Base. When the two guys in the shop found out we came from New York they yelled, in unison, BROOKLYN!

Harajuku, love her.

Look at those gold 3Renshos! Unfortunately they were not for sale. We found out that a lot of bike shops in Tokyo have gold frames that are not for sale. They have them for good luck.

These last three photos are of the chefs and owners of the best tempura restaurant in Roppongi, the Prada space ship flag ship, and the pool at the Park Hyatt. Three of my favorite places.

Best Thing I Ever Ate

2010-02-12T18:23:00.009-05:00

I just ate a little sliver of cake from the Cake Boss. I have always thought of the Cake Boss as the poor man’s Duff and now I have decided that that is true.

At the time that I was eating the bit of cake I didn’t know where it had come from. A co-worker offered me a piece and when I politely declined explaining that I am on a diet, he offered instead the tiniest sliver of a fraction of the former piece over the cubical wall and I couldn’t refuse him. It is an itty bitty piece and it is Friday I thought. By the way, this type of thinking is why dieting does not work. I can rationalize almost anything. So I ate the sliver and enjoyed it, being careful not to eat any of the vanilla frosting hugging the edges of the chocolate and vanilla cake. I don’t like vanilla frosting. It gives me a head ache. After disposing of the icky cake topping I inquired into the origin of the gateaux. The Cake Boss, you say? Well I would have expected more from him and his confectionary mafia. It was light, but not quite fluffy. The chocolate was rich, but had no depth. And the frosting, well, I know I’m not the best judge since I almost always hate frosting but this time was clearly no exception.

However, for some reason I think that I might like Duff’s Charm City frosting. That's Duff with his homies on the left.

All and all I was disappointed in the Boss but writing about this now is making me think of two of the best things I ever ate.

The first Best Think I Ever Ate occurred a couple of years ago when I was in pastry school. It was at the end of a lesson half way through Level I and a few students from Level III came down to our classroom with their night’s lesson. They placed the white ramekins on chef’s table and left just as casually as they had arrived. Someone produced a bunch of tasting spoons and chef invited us all to come over and taste the soufflés. There was no resistance as I stuck my spoon into the raspberry soufflé closest to me; it had the density of the air around it. In my mouth it was the same, barely there. Only the warmth of the oven upstairs and the flavor of raspberries and sugar in my mouth proved to me that I was in fact eating. To say it melted in my mouth presupposes that I ever even felt it in my mouth. The experience was completely new and absolutely addictive. I took another bite. And another. And another.

The second Best Thing I ever Ate occurred on my twenty-fifth birthday. I was in Tokyo at the New York Grill on the fifty-second floor of the Park Hyatt there. I ordered the pan seared scallops and they arrived all lined up as if preparing to jump off the plate. Perfectly seasoned and feathered with mache; they tasted like they had been plucked from the half shell of Venus herself. Here is a picture of them, pre-jump:

Vegan Mango Tapioca Dessert Recipe

2010-02-10T18:45:00.018-05:00

This is a recipe for my favorite dessert. I have to admit, I stole the idea from a restaurant called Gobo but I did invent the recipe as shown below. It is deliciously tart, both creamy and crunchy, a little bit exotic, and decadent yet vegan. Just like the woman of your dreams! Bon appetit!

The Vegan Tapioca:

Ingredients
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
   extract
• 3 cups almond milk
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup large pearl
   tapioca

Method
• Boil water and add
   tapioca
• Reduce heat and let
   simmer 15 minutes
• Bring almond milk and
   vanilla to a boil and add to tapioca
• Simmer about an hour or until a little thicker than egg whites
• Stir frequently
• Remove from heat
• Chill until more solid
• Pour into empty glass and chill again

The Vegan Mango Pudding:

Ingredients
• 6 grams agar-agar powder
• 250 milliliters water
• 30 grams sugar or to taste
• 250 milliliters fresh soy milk or coconut milk
• 300 grams fresh mango puree
• Yellow food coloring (optional)

Method
• Dissolve agar-agar powder in 250 milliliters of water in a pot
• Add the sugar and bring to a boil
• Remove pot from heat, stir in the soy milk, mango puree and mix
   well
• Pour mango pudding mixture into the glass on top of the tapioca
   and leave to cool
• refrigerate until chilled

The Caramelized Almonds:

Ingredients
• sliced almonds
• sugar and water

Method
• Make light caramel
• Add Almonds and stir until medium caramel
• Pour out onto silpat
• Let cool and break apart as desired
• Sprinkle generously on top of mango pudding topped tapioca

Naming A Blog

2010-02-10T16:06:00.012-05:00

I’m trying to figure out a good way to explain my thinking behind the naming of this blog. And there is something behind the name. The slim red letters barely amount to much as it is but still they are concealing a good bit of scheming and day dreaming. How to explain?

On Halloween my best friend Amanda recommended a book to me. It was Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. Before I go any further let me stress the importance of the date and person here. Halloween is my favorite day of the year. I should note that I always dress as a variation of the same thing: a vampire, a cold one, a sanguinarian, a nosferatu, the undead, a blood sucker, et cetera. All in all I think it’s a pretty versatile role so I stick with it.

And for the person, well she’s my best friend, so I guess you could say she’s my favorite person of the year.

Anyway, I read the book and in it I learned of another path to life eternal. Yet another! I was so excited I could barely contain myself. Walking the old streets of New York City I felt like a woman that had seen the streets when they were new and at the same time I felt like I was still new or perhaps just new again. To live forever may be like more akin to being young then

old, I have decided. To see everything when it is new and to know what that feels like again and again would be a wonderful feeling. But to outlive death, century after century, that would truly make me feel young. So when I discovered the existence of this new youth prescription the placebo effect took hold of me and I felt centuries younger before even getting the darn thing filled. There was yet another answer to that nagging question: How will I outlive fear?

There are two answers that I knew of prior to my thrilling exposure to the novels of Tom Robbins. Those other two means by which a mortal may live forever are blood sucking and writing. (Hence the blog!) Both of these practices have been hobbies of mine for some time now, weather it be on just one day out of the year and in this reality or not. So on that Halloween, searching out my next blood bag victim and disguised as Snow White, it was probably part of the plan that Amanda recommend Jitterbug Perfume and that it would lead to a blog eternal.

After all, living forever is easy.