Things I Fancy!

* Moved *

2008-08-16T18:40:00.002-04:00

I have shifted all future posts over to my other blog, Brunch Anytime.

This Strange Thing Called Prom

2008-06-25T15:48:00.002-04:00

There is a great article in the NYT from earlier in the week about how students at "the International High School at Prospect Heights, a public school that serves newcomers to the United States, had no clue what a prom was" and it follows them as they learn the rituals to prom and try to throw one. It's a great, charming story, you can read here. Also apparently, Brangelina just bought the rights to it. (Photo courtesy of NY Times)

Wordle

2008-06-24T22:47:00.002-04:00

A fun new site to play around with.. Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes.

Coldplay

2008-06-24T22:41:00.003-04:00

The new Coldplay album is pretty good and I went to see their live show at MSG last night and it was it fantastic. They did an amazing job of making a big room feel small. They had great light spheres, lasers, they played on a smaller stage almost mid room for a few songs and played 'Yellow' acoustic in the middle of the stadium amongst the third tier seats in the audience. Highly recommend their live show.
(photo courtesy of Bk Vegan)

Sigur Ros

2008-06-19T13:27:00.002-04:00

I had the amazing pleasure of going to see Sigur Ros perform at NY's MOMA this week. The new album is beautiful and the setting for this show was pretty perfect. The PopRally exhibit is really awesome--- crazy light displays and moss walls. The show was incredible (with free Icelandic brews) and was set with stunning spheres that lit and changed with the music. A full brass band at one part came down the stairs and played several songs with the band, need say more. You can stream the full album here. (photo courtesy of NY Magazine, more images at BK Vegan)

Brooklyn Waterfall

2008-06-19T13:15:00.003-04:00

Last summer brought the floating pool to Brooklyn and now that it has been shipped to the Bronx, we are getting a waterfall this summer. I just heard that it was turned on (test run) and will be one of four along the river. Hear hear to public art installations.

Richie Tenenbaum

2008-06-03T10:13:00.005-04:00

I think the subject line says it all... who doesn't love Richie Tenenbaum... "I always wanted to be a Tenenbaum."

These wooden figures at The Mountain Label are pretty awesome.

Monaco

2008-05-30T11:46:00.002-04:00

Now that the sun is out, I have been kicking back at one of my favorite french bistros for brunch and whenever I am there, my favorite thing to get is a Monaco. Really light and refreshing, super tasty! Made popular in France, here is the recipe, easy peasy:

splash of Grenadine
2/3 glass of beer (Stella)
1/3 glass of 7up/Sprite

ps. this is the only photo I could fine and it looks way more appealing then this one...

Moo Cards

2008-05-27T18:48:00.002-04:00

Someone gave me a small, matte business card a year or two ago and told me all about this company, Moo and I only remembered them again when another friend whipped them out this weekend. You can use your flickr photos to make mini business cards that come out really cool. You can make stickers and postcards too but I haven't seen those although I will clearly be ordering a boatload now.

Reprise

2008-05-27T18:43:00.002-04:00

I saw the Norwegian film, Reprise this weekend and LOVED it. Shot beautifully and told in way that at time somehow makes the characters, situations, feelings and moments feel familiar.

Great usage of a Le Tigre song as well!

Cassette from My Ex

2008-05-21T11:58:00.002-04:00

Okay, I am not trying to create an Ex theme here but I ran across this site today and I kind of love it. It's charming and well, I have definitely made a boy a cassette mixtape in the day. As they aptly describe their site: "They were into you, so they made you a tape. Today you don't have a cassette player, but you still can't toss that mix. We share the stories and the soundtrack to your earliest loves." Check it out here. I think I need to start digging for my old relics.

Gossip Girl

2008-05-15T11:09:00.003-04:00

Okay, its not surprising but I have jumped on the Gossip Girl bandwagon. Like the 90210 of the 90's and the OC of the early 00's, Gossip Girl is pure camp, teen angst and drama. The best part is it is set in the socialite world of New York. The season finale is this Monday but the show has been picked up for 24 episodes next season, part of which will take place in the Hamptons. The last few episodes have really picked up the pace. That NY Magazine cover seemed to have kicked something into gear...

Sample Dialogue from last episode:
Nate: She's right Serena, I mean none of us are saints.
Blair: [points at Chuck] Yeah, I had sex with him in the back of a limo.
Chuck: Several times.
Nate: I had sex with you, at a wedding while I was her date. [looks at Chuck] Once.
Blair: [looks at Chuck]
Chuck: I'm Chuck Bass!

For Sale: Ex Boyfriend Jewelry & Reservations

2008-05-15T10:57:00.003-04:00

So I guess everything is for sale. Two recent sites were brought to my attentions. Ex-Boyfriend Jewelry, I think the name speaks for itself. The tag line is Buy, Sell, Trade, Blog About the Boy. The other sites allows you to sell your dinner reservation online, TableXchange. I haven't tried either and I am not sure that I would but my curiousity is piqued. Sorry, they don't have Momofuku Ko up there (yet!).

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

2008-05-05T08:55:00.000-04:00

I had The King of Kong sitting in my apartment for weeks now and just hadn't got around to watching it until this weekend and I am so glad I did. It focuses on the rivalry between legendary gamer, Billy Mitchell and outsider family man, Steve Wiebe as they compete to top each other's scores at the old school arcade game, Donkey Kong. It was really endearing, funny and totally interesting. I am by no means a gamer but this movie was so well done and even if you don't know anything about gaming at all, totally riveting.

The Michael Showalter Show and Clark & Michael

2008-04-29T22:24:00.002-04:00

Both these online shows have been kicking around for a bit but both are HILARIOUS and worth repeat visits...

Michael Showalter- More can be found on Collegehumor.com

See more funny videos at CollegeHumor

Clark & Michael- More can be found here

Ciao Bella Blood Orange Sorbet

2008-04-29T22:13:00.003-04:00

This stuff is eat-the-whole-carton good. Really light and refreshing. Anything blood orange though is pretty much ace in my book.

TasteBook

2008-04-25T11:30:00.003-04:00

Since I also try to keep up with my Brooklyn Food blog, the idea of being able to create your own pretty cookbook really appeals to me. On TasteBook, you can upload your own recipes and photos or your favorites from Epicurious and for 34.95 you get a custom printed book with glossy photos. I'm sold!

I Will Possess Your Heart

2008-04-23T16:31:00.003-04:00

I like the video more then the song I think, very Lost in Translation. I do fancy The Gibbard.

Barack Gets that Dirt off His Shoulders

2008-04-21T16:12:00.000-04:00

Bon Iver, Paul Simon & Marvin Gaye

2008-04-15T13:16:00.003-04:00

I am kind of sick of all the music I have been listening to lately, I have ADD when it comes to new music in general but the three albums I cannot stop listening to is Marvin Gaye's expanded edition of Here, My Dear, Paul Simon's 1972 self titled album and Bon Iver (addictive). All three are worth revisits or first visits.

Pinkberry

2008-04-10T13:43:00.002-04:00

I know Pinkberry has been around for a bit but as spring is finally starting to hit here in NY, it restarts the cycle of cravings for Pinkberry that seem to (somewhat) wain in the winter. I stopped on my way home the other night and got the original (they now have a coffee flavor in addition to the green tea) and made it my dinner. Also, news to me but apparently you can ask for mochi too and they will pull little pellets of mochi out from under the counter and add them to your toppings.

Plastic Polar Bears

2008-04-07T10:52:00.003-04:00

An inventive NY artist has started to make polar bears out of plastic bags and then tie them to the subway crates so when the air comes through it inflates the bears. Pretty cute.

You can see it on Youtube here and read more here

Jason Segel

2008-04-05T15:00:00.004-04:00

How can one not like Jason Segel? First seen in one of the best show ever, Freaks and Geeks then later in UnDeclared (both on DVD) and several other Apatow projects since. He will next be seen in Forgetting Sarah Marshall of which he both stars in and wrote and will then be reviving the Muppets franchise. How can one not love someone who shares in the new EW, "I was making out with this woman, and my shirt was off, and she leaned over, and in a really cute, girly voice, went "Hey, Fatty!"

Vernors

2008-04-04T11:15:00.003-04:00

I have been sick for the last week and whenever I am sick, the only thing I want is Vernors. My mom would always give it to me when I was sick and after talking to several friends from Michigan about it, apparently she wasn't the only mom to do so. Sadly, Vernors is not readily available outside of the midwest and it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack on the east coast so I am usually forced to grab a ginger ale. It can be shipped but it's pretty pricey for soda. Oh how I miss the gingery goodness!

Friday Night Lights

2008-04-03T11:16:00.002-04:00

This is such a good show and like all good shows, no one is watching it. I highly recommend you catch up on Friday Night Lights on DVD. I too just shrugged it off as some football show in the beginning but the minute you start watching, you realize it so much more. It has been on the brink of cancellation twice now but word came in yesterday that through a special Direct TV/NBC deal it will be back for one more season.

Deal breakers

2008-04-02T11:16:00.002-04:00

The NY Times wrote a great article about relationship-killing incompatibility standards based on personal reading habits. For some it is one's personal DVD collection, for others it is bad punctuation on instant messenger. Read the full article here, It's Not You, It's Your Books.

Something I Don't Fancy

2008-04-01T18:09:00.002-04:00

I try to keep it positive but one thing I think is so ridiculous is when I see adults riding on those tiny Razor scooters. It's embarrassing. There is a reason they are made so tiny and that those people have to almost bend down to hold onto the handles. And really, do they go that fast when you are 5xs the weight of a child. I see this all the time in my neighborhood and can't help but roll my eyes. This post is probably better suited for StuffWhitePeopleLike.

Directors I Fancy on YouTube

2008-03-28T10:44:00.002-04:00

Some crafty person on YouTube who really knows how to edit, made some great compliation reels of the works of Paul Thomas Anderson, The Coen Bros, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. He also made ones for the films of the 1970s and 1990s. Really well done and if you are a fan of any of the above, definitely worth a click.

MuxTape

2008-03-28T09:58:00.000-04:00

Ok so still loving Muxtape and for all those who went on yesterday, it was down because the servers were overrun but all is well now so try again and post any mixes you make in the comments so I can check it out.

Who doesn't love to make a mixtape and now you can make a muxtape! Muxtape is a brand new site that launched on Monday that lets you upload 12 tracks onto their site to create your very own mix that can be sent to your friends. You can also listen to other people mixes on the site. The site has been getting a lot of traffic so its a bit slow but a lot of fun. I'm in the process of working on mine but here is what I have so far: My MuxTape

The Hills

2008-03-27T09:03:00.000-04:00

Yes, I watch the Hills. Yes, I loved to make fun of Justin Bobby. Yes, I DVR'd the premiere. No, I don't think Heidi Montag is a "feminist hero" as the NY Times contemplates. More on the intellectualizing of The Hills here.

ps. the premiere had the highest rating of any cable telecast this year with almost 5 million viewers

Spa Week

2008-03-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Spa Week is almost upon us. Come April 14-20th you can go to over 80 spas throughout all five boroughs (and for those not in NY, it also is happening in CA, DC and many more, see link below). and get treatments for only $50. For a list of all the spas participating and where, go here. I suggest you book early as options get limited as the week nears.

I Have a Crush on Obama

2008-03-26T12:57:00.002-04:00

a different video then the first image implies... courtesy of JA

She & Him

2008-03-26T12:51:00.002-04:00

Lately, I have really been enjoying the sweet twangy tunes of She & Him which is actress turned singer, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Check it!

Music: Myspace

Mr. Show - Part 2?

2008-03-24T11:07:00.006-04:00

Mr. Show was one of the funnier series to air in the late 90s and looks like the comedic duo of David Cross and Bob Odenkirk are reteaming for HBO pilot tentatively called ‘David’s Situation.' As Cross tells MTV "It’s a sitcom, it will follow a traditional sitcom feeling, but will also feel like a big sketch, even though the characters will remain the same each week... I’m playing me. I’ve left Hollywood, I’ve had it with Hollywood. I now write for in-flight magazines, and I’ve moved to a gated community in an unknown suburb; you don’t know where it is or what part of the country. I have two roommates - one is extreme right wing, a cranky conservative pro-America guy. The other is this left wing, hippie, liberal-activist guy. And I’m right in the middle.” Well, if the Arrested Development movie doesn't come together, this is the next best thing and if you haven't checked out Mr. Show, do yourself a favor and add it to your NetFlix queue.

Miranda July

2008-03-21T17:55:00.005-04:00

I know some people find her brand of ingenue annoying but I like director/ actress/ playwright/ author/ performance artist Miranda July and I liked her movie, Me And You And Everyone Else. I haven't read her books, Learning to Love You More and No One Belongs Here More Than You but I want to. Here is a video of her on VBS. TV learning to make buttons.

All Things Oprah

2008-03-21T09:30:00.000-04:00

I have always been an Oprah fan, literally from when I was in grade school, I wrote a report about her and stuck my head on her body. No joke. My Oprah love has not waned but it has been contained to DVRing the show everyday, downloading her podcasts and reading the magazine (if we can call that contained). Recently, I came across a women who is taking it to a whole other level, Living Oprah is an experiment by one women for one year to live just as Oprah advises. Whoa.

NCAA Brackets

2008-03-20T18:13:00.002-04:00

I never thought I would say this but I love the NCAA bracket game. I have absolutely no knowledge about college basketball but decided to join a pool anyways and base all my picks off wins vs loses (and team colors when in doubt). I am not sitting at my computer watching the games online or anything but now that I am in it, I am in it to win it (although *high* unlikely). I'll keep you posted how I do, I'm ranked 9th on the first day.

90210

2008-03-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Growing up, I LOVED 90210. I wanted to hang out with Brenda, Kelly, Dylan and Brandon at the Peach Pit (although in later years that might have been awkward for the four of them to hang out since Brenda was with Dylan who then hooked up with Kelly and Kelly was later with Brandon). Despite my nostalgia, I am appalled by the fact that they are doing a spinoff of 90210.

Variety reported today that "the new take on the Aaron Spelling-Darren Star sudser will focus on the Mills family of BevHills and offer a lot more racial diversity than the original show.

Matriarch of the family is Tabitha Mills, a 60-something actress/alchoholic who was a major star in the 1970s and had been linked to everyone from Warren Beatty to Jack Nicholson. After her latest bout at Betty Ford, Tabitha decides to try to live on her own in her BevHills estate.

Worried for his mom's safety, do-gooder son Harrison "Harry" Mills, a 1980s graduate of Beverly Hills High, decides to move back home to the 90210 after years in St. Louis. He brings with him his wife, Celia, an Olympic athlete who's looking forward to living in Cali, and ends up working as a personal trainer.

The couple have two 16-year-olds: Daughter Annie and adopted son Dixon. Annie is an emo/theater kid who's desperate to fit in with the cool crowd. Dylan, er, Dixon is a supersmart bad boy who has lingering social and behavioral issues -- and not an ounce of nerdiness in him."

Sites We Love to Check in the Morning

2008-03-19T11:00:00.001-04:00

I promise I don't know the people who run the site but I do love Design Sponge. It has been around for a bit so I am sure it isn't new to many of you but they have great taste. On the downside, everything they post about I want to buy which isn't good for the wallet.

Simply Breakfast is one of those nice to wake up with sites. It has beautiful photography of one girl's breakfast every morning, no words for the most part and no recipes, just pretty images. Try it with a cup of coffee

:: The Playlist ::
A place dedicated to that sweet spot where music and movies meet

For pseudo cinemaphiles like myself who also love music, The Playlist is the site to check out. They report on music used in films as well as general movie developments on actors and directors I actually really like.

The Vulture is run by NY Magazine and a great go to source for all things culture, very NY based but has a cross section of information. They update constantly and their GrubStreet site is good too

Similar to Design Sponge but less product driven, Apartment Therapy makes you long for the time and creativity to turn your small space into one that is could be in a west elm catalog.

I could go on and on but for now, these are some current favorites for morning perusing...

Making Jewelry In Your Own Image

2008-03-18T11:26:00.002-04:00

A few steps beyond the name necklace. Why not? Rick Ross is doing it.

Late Addition to SXSW

2008-03-17T11:04:00.002-04:00

So I have finally returned to Brooklyn, exhausted but happy to be home. Saturday night ended on a good note with late night drinking debauchery but beforehand, I got to see a great show at St.David's Church where Jim James played a special solo show with guests M.Ward and other MMJ members. Sitting for a show was also a big plus at that point in the weekend.

SXSW Conclusion: No Day Parties

2008-03-15T18:23:00.002-04:00

SXSW Day 4 Best Of: A couple activities got canceled so I was able to enjoy the sunny, warm day. Today's highlight was most definitely having a proper meal and sitting in the sun on the terrace of the Intercontinental. I am really looking forward to getting back to NY (rainy weather and all)

Fleet Foxes

2008-03-15T18:17:00.002-04:00

Day Three of SXSW Best of: One of the most talked about and best bands at SXSW, Fleet Foxes is a name to remember. Just signed to SubPop, their debut album is due in the fall.

Music: www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes

Clipse

2008-03-13T22:24:00.004-04:00

Day Two at SXSW: Most fun day party today- Clipse

Music: http://www.myspace.com/clipse

Grand Ole Party

2008-03-13T22:18:00.006-04:00

Day One of SXSW, favorite show today: Grand Ole Party. Super cool trio from San Diego with female singer/drummer

Music: www.myspace.com/grandoleparty

Someecards

2008-03-11T11:38:00.003-04:00

These free ecards have been around for a while but it seems like they have been updating their site a lot more and having more topical cards (maybe it's my imagination). Perfect for when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, go this site and read some of the greetings, they will definitely make you smile. Or you can just send to your friends to make them smile.

Siggi's Yogurt

2008-03-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

I have been enjoying a lot of icelandic yogurt recently. I discovered it at my local cheese shop a few months back and despite it's higher price, have been treating myself to some of the new flavors. It is thicker and less sweet then regular yogurt, more in line with greek yogurt flavoring. They have great flavor options: Plain, Blueberry, Pear and Mint, Orange and Ginger, Pomegranate and Passion Fruit.

The Wire Series Finale

2008-03-07T11:34:00.002-05:00

I have posted about the Wire before but since I won't be able to do so for much longer, I just have to say how much I am going to miss the series. This season has not been my favorite but the last couple episodes have really stepped it up and I am getting word that the finale does the same. I recently bought a new HD TV in anticipation for the finale and after working on some kinks, have been enjoying it immensely. There are some good deals on there on TVs right now as the newer models come out.

Pineapple Express

2008-03-04T09:53:00.003-05:00

This hit the web a bit ago but I decided to post now because I think they use M.I.A.'s song "Paper Planes" really well and it has made me go back and re listen to that album. Plus I love me a good Seth Rogen/James Franco movie.

Spring!

2008-03-04T09:43:00.002-05:00

Okay, yes this one is way broad but NYC is experiencing a couple early days of slightly spring weather and I am loving it. The anticipation of spring weather is exciting especially since it only sticks around for a couple of weeks these days before summer sets in.
Note: the picture looks nothing NY (yet).

TED

2008-03-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design and is one of the more amazing conferences in the States. It was started in 1984 and brings together people from all three areas for over four days with 50 speakers each take an 18-minute slot with the sole mission of spreading ideas. This year's conference had people like J.J. Abrams, Jeff Bezos, Al Gore, Richard Branson and the list goes on and on of incredibly inspired people. The conference just concluded this weekend and you can find out more about the presentations on their website.

Treehouses

2008-02-29T13:31:00.003-05:00

I love treehouses, not that I get to really frequent them these days but I had one growing up (a pretty awesome one if I say so myself). I came across this site that had the the 10 Most Amazing Treehouses. They are all pretty cool and some are kind of Neverending Story/Lord of the Rings like. It makes me want to build a fort.

MOMA/DFA PopRally

2008-02-29T13:10:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I guess this would be something I would have fancied if I hadn't slept on getting tickets so rather I fancy the idea of this creative event. MOMA has a new exhibit they are debuting that "explores artists’ use of ready-made color—from paint chips to colored tape—features works by forty-four modern and contemporary artists, including Gerhard Richter, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, and Angela Bulloch."

So they are throwing a dance party with DFA with DJs Juan Maclean, T&T (Tim Goldsworthy & Tim Sweeney), Holy Ghost!, Justin Miller & Jacques Renault. Best part, they encourage you to dress like the art in bright, bold colors! Maybe I will still dress like a crayon, put on my ipod and check out the exhibit during the week.

Passing Strange

2008-02-28T10:39:00.004-05:00

The new rock musical, Passing Strange is getting a ton of attention. I really dislike musicals but have decided to give this one a try after multiple friends adamantly endorsed it. I have tickets for later this month so no real opinion yet but I'm excited! It was originally staged at the Public and has now moved to Broadway and the raves are pouring in. Here is the description from NY Mag:

The plot itself—ambitious middle-class black man struggles with what it means to be “authentically black”—could be adapted from Obama's biography. But there's nothing heavy-handedly relevant about this rock musical in the spirit of Spring Awakening (with which it shares an amazing set designer). In fact, it's a blast. Stew, the Negro Problem band member who co-created and narrates the show, leaves plenty of room for rock riffs and loose-limbed forays into various musical styles. It's likely to be even more impressive on this big Broadway stage than it was last year at the Public, when Jeremy McCarter celebrated “the easy pleasure of a show that doesn’t feel the need to explain itself.”

Uniqlo Jeans

2008-02-27T12:34:00.002-05:00

Uniqlo makes *great* jeans. They fit really well, have the right amount of give and come in a ton of colors and styles. Best of all, they are so reasonably priced at $49.50. One downside is that they tend to rotate their styles so if you really like the way one pair fits, you should stock up. I love the slim fit straight leg version and on a recent trip found out that they were in the sale section for 29.99. Great for me in the short term but probably means they won't be coming back. The other downside is that they only have locations in Asia, UK and NYC and no online US store although they do have them for the other countries so hopefully it will just be a matter of time.

Imju Fiber Wig

2008-02-26T09:50:00.001-05:00

A friend recently tipped me off to Imju Fiberwig Mascara. I have a bit of a problem wearing mascara as it usually ends up underneath my eyes but I think I might have found a cure with this product. They claim to give you the look of false eyelashes and while I don't know that I would go that far, it doesn't smudge, giving you that panda eye look, doesn't clump and stays thin on your lashes. You have to apply a few times but I'm a fan. It's about $22 at Sephora.

Tilly and The Wall

2008-02-25T17:07:00.003-05:00

I heart the band, Tilly & the Wall, they are make these really endearing, not too twee (at least in my opinion although I know others disagree) indie pop songs. They have put out two albums and have another one on their way. For percussion they have a tap dancer. Need I say more?

Here is a link to their most recent video for a song called Beat Control that won't actually be on the new album but is being put out as part of a three song 7". It's a bit different then the usual Tilly fare but just as catchy. Here is another link to a video from their last album.

Oscars Update

2008-02-24T23:27:00.002-05:00

So thank god I didn't actually put money in a Oscar pool since I was way off in all the female categories.

Who Won...
Best Picture: No Country For Old Men
Best Directing: Coen Bros/ No Country For Old Men
Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis/ This Will Be Blood
Cinematography: Robert Elswit/ There Will Be Blood
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard/ La Vie En Rose
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem/ No Country For Old Men
Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton/ Michael Clayton
For full coverage, I suggest hitting EW

Frozen Grand Central

2008-02-24T22:03:00.003-05:00

I am bit behind on this clip but I thought it was worth posting even tho it has already made the rounds. Recently Improv Everywhere, a group that seeks to "causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places" created a scene in New York's Grand Central Station where they had 207 agents freeze on cue for 5 minutes. If you check out their site, they have a bunch of other projects they have accomplished all over the world that are pretty cool.

Mel Kadel

2008-02-23T10:29:00.005-05:00

I recently came across this artist, Mel Kadel and was really charmed by her work especially her drawings. There is this endearing Shel Silverstein quality to them.

Oscars

2008-02-23T09:50:00.003-05:00

I have LOVED the Oscars ever since I was little, everything from watching all the movies up until the show, the red carpet and the usually anti climatic show itself. Tomorrow is the day!

My Oscar Musings:
Actor in a Lead Role: Daniel Day Lewis. period.
Actress in a Lead Role: Ellen Page (I think she might be a surprise since everyone predicts Julie Christie's win who is my personal favorite.)
Actor in Supporting Role: Javier Bardem. done.
Actress in Supporting Role: Ruby Dee (Although I want Amy Ryan or Cate Blanchett but the Academy loves to honor people with a long career and she has momentum from the Globes.)
Animated Feature Film: Ratatouille
Cinematography: No Country For Old Men (I want Assassination of Jesse James but since it's the same cinematographer, I would be happy with either)
Directing: I think the Coens will win but I would love to see Paul Thomas Anderson or Julian Schnabel take it.
Best Picture: No Country For Old Men

Rihanna's Umbrella

2008-02-21T11:23:00.002-05:00

I thought this song was so stupid and annoying the first time I heard it, I quickly learned the error of my ways and nearly a year later, I still like it especially when I am at the gym. Here is her performance from the Brit Awards yesterday with The Klaxons. Love the Daft Punk-like laser temple.

Kashi Autumn Wheat

2008-02-21T10:10:00.002-05:00

I feel like maybe I am taking the things I fancy to a whole new level by speaking about cereal but man, is this cereal good. A friend recommended to me, mind you, we don't usually trade cereal tips but this is one to rave about. It's like a healthier shredded wheat with a hint of sweetness. I have been going thru boxes of it as lately because I haven't been in the mood for much else. I had to share...

WikiHow

2008-02-21T10:00:00.001-05:00

I am slightly obsessed with WikiHow. I think its a genius go-to reference ~~much like its sister site, Wikipedia~~. I know you always have to question the accuracy of both these sites but for the most part, I love them. I recently had a running toilet and instead of bugging my landlord, I turned to WikiHow. Okay, I will admit, I don't think I fixed it but I was happy I even tried. They have everything on there, from How to Start a Book Club to How to Make Pop Tab Bracelet to How to Survive a Volcanic Eruption!

The Other Boleyn Girl

2008-02-19T12:00:00.002-05:00

I read the novel, The Other Boleyn Girl over the holidays and couldn't put it down. It is definitely a sudsy chick lit book wrapped up in the history and drama of King Henry VIII's court but well written and backed by historical research. As I am sure most of you know, a movie based on the book, adapted by the incredible Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Queen, Last King of Scotland) is out at the end of this month and stars Natalie Portman and ScarJo in the lead roles. Although I was wary of the movie, reviews are coming back positive and I am looking forward to checking it out opening weekend.

Roger Deakins

2008-02-18T18:05:00.002-05:00

I love cinematographer, Roger Deakins (I think almost as much as cinematographer Christopher Doyle). He is incredibly talented and this year he has two films that showcase this abilities better then ever, No Country For Old Men (one of my favs of the year) and The Assassination of Jesse James (watched this weekend and liked so much more then I thought). He has been nominated for 7 Oscars and been involved with countless films but these two films showcase his work better then ever, every scene is impeccably shot and lit perfectly. He will next be involved with Doubt, Revolutionary Road and Hail Caesar. There was a great article a month or so back about him in the NYT but I am having a bit of difficulty locating it so in the meantime, here is just as fascinating an interview over at And The Winner Is.

Holga

2008-02-18T17:55:00.002-05:00

My friend is in love with her Holga camera and my brother recently got one as well. Apparently Jack and Meg White love them too because they have created their own versions, sort of annoying, sort of cool. They are great cameras that thru trial and error can yield some pretty creative and interesting shots. They have a bunch of accessories that help the process as well.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T10:51:00.001-05:00

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: Emily's List of Things She Fancys

2008-02-13T16:01:00.000-05:00

After a self indulgent "i love myself" kick to the new year, I got some cute goods that i recently used at a brunch I hosted in my sunny LA apt. Much like Sarah, I too am mad for aprons (see earlier post). So mad in fact, I recently purchased this one for myself...which makes me feel girlie and pretty. The pot holder actually fastens to the apron. Made by a crafty lady in Michigan, she stitched our shared home state onto it as well. Represent!

After a lucky find at a cute store, I got some dual purpose platters. These funky designs are unique and so cute that after purchasing I got out my hammer and nail to keep them hung up as Art. Made by Ibride, two parisians artists, I have been torn as to whether they are too pretty to platter. But, I decided to give it a whirl and they have proven to be rock stars as both art and platter.

At the brunch my friend brought me this adorable bottle of Francis Coppola Sofia Blanc De Blanc as a gift. This champagne could not be cuter. But in all honesty, anything wrapped in pink cellophane already has my vote.

(Ed.'s Note: Emily is one of my oldest, dearest friends and I wish I could drink Francis Coppola Sofia Blanc De Blanc while wearing an apron every weekend with her)

30 Rock

2008-02-13T15:25:00.000-05:00

After watching Tina Fey win several awards this season and hearing raves amongst friends, I gave into the 30 Rock DVDs while I was sick last week. I have always loved Tina Fey and her character in this is a great, flawed female lead and Alec Baldwin is genius. He is good in everything he does and the texture of his voice still brings me back to beauty of The Royal Tenenbaums. I have never been a Tracy Morgan fan but he is perfectly cast as the eccentric TV star. I enjoyed the show and will definitely keep watching but I think maybe my expectations were a bit too high.

Sprinkles Cupcakes Mix

2008-02-12T15:13:00.000-05:00

Sprinkles Cupcakes is an institution in LA, the cupcakes are nothing short of dreamy and their selection is better then anyplace in NY. I am a huge fan of the cake mix you can buy at Williams Sonoma. I have made the lemon, red velvet and pumpkin ones. They are it more involved then a regular cake mix and the frosting has to be done by scratch but it's all worth it. They even come with the cute little sugar dot that is the signature of all Sprinkles' cupcakes. I try to keep a mix on hand at all times in case I need to bring something to a gathering or just want a treat.

Brooklyn Bridge

2008-02-12T14:00:00.000-05:00

Walking the Brooklyn is one of the best and more awe inspiring New York experiences. An easy walk it really makes you fall in love with the city all over again.

Soko

2008-02-11T21:33:00.000-05:00

A charming, unsigned singer from Bordeaux, France, my friend currently living in Paris, turned me onto her after her song drew lots of attention after being featured in the Stella McCarthy runway show in Paris.

Video: Soko- I'll Kill Her

Shorts

2008-02-11T15:37:00.000-05:00

There was a time when I would have shunned shorts but the last few summers, they have been saviors and pretty cute with flats, wedges and heels. Just as I was about to throw the umpteenth J.Crew catalog I got this week in the recycling bin, I thumbed thru it and amongst the ridiculously overpriced clothes were some really cute shorts that were a reasonable $40. They come in a few lengths and multiple colors and I just put my order in. I am still wearing my winter coat but dreaming of the days when I can pull these out.

Julie Delpy

2008-02-10T22:22:00.000-05:00

I watched 2 Days in Paris this weekend, a film written and directed as well as starring Julie Delpy. I really like her and find her naturally dynamic. I thought the film itself was very Woody Allen meets Before Sunrise. Movies I like but I can't say I loved this one, I did enjoy certain endearing scens especially the last two but as a whole film, it didn't go the distance for me. Anyways, the movie reminded me of a charming list that Deply wrote that I ripped out of Esquire months back and stuck on my fridge.

Julie Delpy- 8 Things You Don't Know About Women

1. We need you to be reachable at all times, but we don't always pick up our phones when you call. We realize this seems like a double standard; if you'd like to discuss it further, just leave a message.

2. We only want to date men who can troubleshoot computers. The broken laptop is the leaky faucet of the twenty-first century.

3. We avoid players and womanizers, but sometimes when we're single, we'll have sex with one just to remind ourselves how unsatisfying it is.

4. Next time you have to buy your girlfriend a gift, make it a season of Curb Your Enthusiasm on DVD. The surest way to a woman's heart is Larry David.

5. As far as romance goes, we'd rather be whisked away to the bedroom in the afternoon than to Paris in the springtime.

6. A serious scientific study has proven that women think 50 percent more than men, and 90 percent of that extra 50 percent is spent thinking about sex.

7. The study was of French women.

8. On invente occasionnellement des statistiques pour montrer que l'on a raison.

Countdown to Oscars- New York Times Magazine- Breakthroughs

2008-02-09T21:51:00.000-05:00

I love the Oscars and the end of Writer's Strike means they are going to happen. Yay! The NYT Magazine this weekend features some our favorites actors and actresses and labels them as Breakthroughs for 2007 with a beautifully shot portfolio.
1. Casey Affleck- Great in Gone Baby Gone and The Assassination of Jesse James is next on our netflix queue.
2. Josh Brolin- Never much of a standout for me, he was perfectly cast in No Country For Old Men (tying There Will Be Blood for my favorite movie of the year).
3. Michael Cera- How can you not love this kid? Yes, so far he has played the same awkward character in Superbad, Arrested Development, Clark and Michael and Juno but he "actually tries really hard." Looking forward to seeing him in The Revolt of Youth.
4. Julie Christie- She is Julie Christie so it seems odd to call this year her breakthrough but she was amazing and tender as an Alzheimer patient in Away From Her. The actor who plays her husband is also phenomenal although in his less showy role, is getting less notice.
5. Marion Cotillard- I have yet to see Ma Vie En Rose and for some reason, have very little interest.
6. Paul Dano- If you can hold your own against Daniel Day Lewis, that pretty much says it all.
7. Hal Halbrook- Fantastic in Into the Wild, I still can't help but remember him as Dixie Carter's husband in Designing Women (and in real life).
8. Jennifer Jason Leigh- I know one other person besides myself that loved Margot At The Wedding. The dialogue is so real and played painfully honest by both it lead actresses.
9. James McEnvoy- A sucker for all epic romances esp with a British touch, I was still not a fan of Atonement. Nothing wrong with McEnvoy's performance just nothing special for me.
10. Sienna Miler- Love her fashion sense but I don't get why she made this list.
11. Ellen Page- The cover girl for this set, this truly is her year. She will next be seen in Sam Raimi's return to form, the horror film Drag Me to Hell and then in Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, Whip It.
12. Seth Rogan- Always close to my heart from his role in Freaks and Geeks, it's great to see Seth Rogen get his due as a writer and actor amongst the Judd Apatow empire.
13. Amy Ryan- Solid as the put upon wife of McNulty in The Wire, Ryan is finally getting recognized for her role as an unfit mother in Gone Baby Gone.
14. Jim Sturgess- I have an aversion to seeing Across the Universe so I have no real comment on this pick.
15. Tang Wei- I really wanted to like Lust, Caution but I didn't. Even though it was shot beautifully, it was a waste of 2.5 hours of my weekend.

Audrey Tatou As Coco Chanel

2008-02-09T11:49:00.000-05:00

It was reported some time ago that Audrey Tatou (Amelie) has been pegged to play Coco Chanel in the biopic of her life. Most recently ads were placed with this photo of Tatou for the movie's international distribution rights. The film will focus on the time between Chanel's childhood and right before she became famous, during the time when she worked as a cabaret singer and became involved with the wealthy horse breeder Étienne Balsan and then the English polo player Arthur "Boy" Capel. Partly based on the book, L'Irrégulière: Ou, Mon Itinéraire Chanel by Edmonde Charles-Roux, the film will be scripted by Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liasons) and Anne Fontaine (Nathalie ...), who will also direct (Cinematical).

P.S.1

2008-02-07T16:16:00.001-05:00

P.S. 1 is one of the more fun summer outings on the weekends here is NY and each year they commission designs from several artists to create an outdoor landscape conducive for drinking and dancing for their large courtyard. The past winners have features waiting pools, sand and large sculptures. This year's winners are Dan Wood and Amale Andraos, the husband-and-wife team behind Work Architecture. Their idea was to create an urban farm with a harvesting plan and lots of produce. The image submitted is pretty cool, looking forward to seeing what it looks like in reality. (NY Times)

Arrested Development Updates

2008-02-07T10:37:00.000-05:00

So another show I (along with many others) LOVE is Arrested Development. Genius show. Two recent developments for the cast beyond the fact that Michael Cera and Jason Bateman have worked their way up the box office charts and into the hearts of millions of soccer moms in this year's break out hit, Juno is that there is revived discussion of an Arrested Development movie! Be still my heart. The only thing to top this for me is the rumored pitch that Wendell Pierce (Bunk) made to David Simon on a Wire prequel that focused of the rise of The Barksdale clan. But I digress, often rumored, Jason Bateman recently put more fuel to the fire during a red carpet interview by saying "I can confirm that a round of sniffing has started," Bateman says. "Any talk is targeting a poststrike situation, of course. I think, as always, that it's a question of whether the people with the money are willing to give our leader, Mitch Hurwitz, what he deserves for his participation. And I can speak for the cast when I say our fingers are crossed." Jeffrey Tambor also revealed on XM Radio's the Ron and Fez Show that he has been approached by Ron Howard to see if he's willing to do an Arrested film. (E!online)

Also, on a weirder note, Will Arnett (Gob) had already finished recording his performance as the voice of super-car KITT in NBC’s new version of Knight Rider, but when chief sponsor Ford — the company providing the new KITT car as well as much of the promotion and branding for the backdoor pilot — figured out that Arnett has been the voice of General Motors GMC Trucks campaign for nearly ten years, they asked Arnett to pull out and hired Val Kilmer (boo!) to rerecord KITT’s dialogue. (Variety)

Tales Of Mere Existence

2008-02-06T11:38:00.000-05:00

A friend passed along these really charming animations, she got them from YouTube but there is more from the creator here.

Tales Of Mere Existence "I'm Not Going To Think About Her"

Tales Of Mere Existence "How To Break Up"

New Museum

2008-02-05T15:13:00.000-05:00

I recently visited the new New Museum on Bowery. It was great and beautifully built. We went to check out the current exhibit, Unmonumental which was being displayed on three floors. There was definitely some questionable choices but two artists really stuck out amongst the collection, Kim Jones and Christian Holstad. Kim uses himself as the model for his pieces, he is also known as the Mud Man. Christian's pieces were particularly amazing and well crafted. The top floor of the museum has stunning views of the city and a low key lounge that gets great sun. Definitely worth its $12 admission fee.

VOTING

2008-02-05T14:59:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to VOTE today.

3 Movies I Am Looking Out For...

2008-02-04T13:11:00.000-05:00

Any reason to post a picture of John Krasinski and write about Ryan Gosling, I'm in. But beyond that, there are a three movies coming out that have peaked my interest and I will definitely follow...

1) Sam Mendes has signed on to direct an upcoming comedy from Dave Eggers with John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph attached to star. Eggers co-wrote his first original script with his wife Vendela Vida and it follows a newlywed couple traveling the US looking for the perfect place to raise their baby.
2) The same writer, Eggers also adapted the upcoming Where The Wild Things that Spike Jonze directed and Karen O's music is featured in. The released stills from this movie are stunning and the IMdb comment section is already lit up like a Christmas tree in anticipation
3) Ryan Gosling has signed on to star in his first film after dropping out of The Lovely Bones for an 80s love story/murder mystery titled All Good Things. Joining Gosling in the film is Kirsten Dunst who will play his love interest. The film starts off with the usual rich guy/poor girl love story that takes a startling turn when the girl winds up missing. Making his feature directorial debut with the project is Andrew Jarecki who did Capturing the Friedmans and who also wrote the script with Marcus Hinchey and Marc Smerling.
- Info gathered from Variety.com

Rock Band

2008-02-04T13:04:00.000-05:00

I haven't been into video games since I saved Princess Toadstool on Mario Bros in the 80s but after a recent visit to a friend's house, I am hooked on Rock Band. I don't think I could ever let myself purchase the game because I would never leave the house and need acupuncture to combat the carpel tunnel but it is way fun.

Catpower, Au Revoir Simone, Bat For Lashes

2008-02-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

Since I work in music, I don't want to focus too much on this topic but I will definitely post my weekly (or in this case, eternal) top favs. I think the below videos say it all about how awesome these special ladies are...

Cat Power
* Heart Chan, Heart Chanel, need we say more
Could We

Au Revoir Simone
* I want to bake AND dance with them all day long
Sad Song

Bat For Lashes
* Come over, do my make up and let's ride bikes
What's A Girl To Do

Criterion Collection

2008-02-03T21:51:00.000-05:00

One of the most well done DVD series, I own several of their versions and always wish I owned more. They have a great sense of combining classic and contemporary titles within their catalog.

List of Upcoming Releases:
Pierrot le fou Jean-Luc Godard, 1965 (FEB)
The Last Emperor Bernardo Bertolucci, 1987 (FEB)
Walker Alex Cox, 1987 (FEB)
Mafioso Alberto Lattuada, 1962 (MARCH)
Antonio Gaudí Hiroshi Teshigahara, 1984 (MARCH)
The Ice Storm Ang Lee, 1997 (MARCH)
Death of a Cyclist Juan Antonio Bardem, 1955 (APR)
Blast of Silence Allen Baron, 1961 (APR)

Aprons

2008-02-03T21:45:00.001-05:00

I am mad for aprons. They are a bit old fashioned but that is what makes them so great, not to mention completely practical to those that cook. I have at least two that I wear often. You can wipe your hands on them without wasting paper towel (I am trying to go green) and they keep your clothes clear of mess. They have really adorable ones at Anthropologie. Oh yeah, they have to be cute craft/baking aprons not the full on bbq grill master kind to strike my fancy.

Scrabble

2008-02-03T21:39:00.000-05:00

I love Scrabble more then any other game, maybe only rivaled by Boggle or Connect Four. I am not exactly amazing at it but I love playing and recruiting my friends to play. My highest single word score was 57 points on a triple word, Juices. Yes, I remember and No, I am not a 65 yr old woman and I am only edging my way towards Bingo.

Brussel Sprouts

2008-02-03T21:37:00.001-05:00

Seriously, a completely underrated vegetable. One of my absolute favorites, how people don't like this miniature cabbage is beyond me. It get props for looking so cool while it grows!

Wet Hot American Summer

2008-02-03T21:30:00.000-05:00

I just rewatched this movie recently and let's just it has not lost its luster. Endlessly quotable and laugh out loud funny, this one that everyone should revisit on a boring weekend afternoon.

The Wire

2008-02-03T21:14:00.000-05:00

The. Best. Show. On. TV. Ever. I could write an entire blog on this show and still not be satisfied. The writing and acting on this show is just superior to anything that has been on TV before. I watched Seasons 1-4 in two weeks and was essentially unable to socialize with the outside world until I finished the run. Now the fifth and final season is underway and I am back in my obsessive mode; discussing it constantly with other Wireheads, looking for connections between the characters, rewatching each episode, reading everything David Simon writes and inhaling anything published about the series.

Fresca

2008-02-03T21:11:00.000-05:00

One of the best drinks ever. Fresca is so refreshing, yummy and with calories that I just couldn't let this not this be the first post.