'Hey winter! Is that all 'ya got?!'
Perhaps I'm a masochist, or perhaps it's because I'm originally from California, and I want the full East Coast winter experience, but when the winter season is as mild as it has been this year, I feel that the warmth, come spring, won't feel as sweet.
There's nothing like heading up to Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, on the first truly warm day- warm enough to go for a bike ride in shorts, no sweatshirt- and seeing the burst of activity; the contrast to the pent-up, closed-off energy of winter is dramatic. You literally feel the buzz of excitement as everyone shakes off the physical and emotional weight of winter like one collective, shaggy, wet dog. But will this buzz feel as intense when I can sum up winter in one, sort-of word: meh?
On one side, I am a person of order and when the weather breaks the rules (i.e. warm winter, cold summer) I tend to feel that the world is somehow out of whack. But I doubt I'm alone; do you ever hear anyone say, "What an epic ski trip! It was hot every day and the snow was so slushy!" No! No one ever says that because people expect proper winter weather...during winter. It's just the way it has to be, and if the weather doesn't cooperate during your alpine vacation, it soon becomes seared into your memory as the worst trip ever, and nobody wants that! I feel the same about everyday life: I want the seasons to adhere to my standards and follow the rules that all kindergarteners follow when depicting them with crayon: winter requires snowflakes; spring must have flowers; summer always takes place at the beach; and fall is flooded with leaves. It's so simple! Why can't nature jump on board?!
On the other side, though, who likes to be cold six months out of the year? In some ways, this winter has been a blessing, a consolation prize for the disaster that was last winter (abandoned city buses anyone?). Anytime the clouds collect to form a solid white shell over our great city, I think, "Maybe this is it. Maybe this will be the storm we've been waiting for." But alas, we've received only a pitter of flakes amounting to nothing more than damp sidewalks.
There are definite pluses to this bizarre lack of winter weather: less ice patches to dodge; less angry people at the subway station; less frozen fingers; and lighter coats. But, again, I wonder, are all of these wintertime inconveniences what make the sights and sounds of spring all the more vivid and intense? If nature keeps up the warm trend, I suppose I will find out soon. Either way, though, regardless of whether or not we will have earned our spring this year, you can bet your ass that come April, I will be cruising through the park on my Huffy having completely forgotten this entire discussion because overanalyzation is a winter sport, after all.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
CULTURE CREATURE
The three best bands NOT playing Coachella 2012
1. YACHT
The high-energy, Los Angeles/Portland/Texas-based, part-electro, part-genreless project of genius will sadly not be showing us their grooviest dance moves this April. Apparently these "Holy Roller[s]" (hint: track from new album!) are deep in the throes, already, of their North American Shangri-La tour. The tour ends late March, at least on this continent, so who knows where their globetrotting ways will take them come end of April. No doubt that, wherever they are, they will be boogeying to their hearts content onstage- if you've ever seen them live, you'll know what I mean.
As a side note, I have to say that when I first saw YACHT, when it was just Jona Bechtolt, I was mesmerized by his jerking, bouncing and somewhat Napoleon Dynamite-esque dance moves that he executed so unapologetically onstage. So, when Claire Evans joined him to officially make YACHT a duo (they have other band members, too, but these two run the show), I was slightly disappointed. Who was this girl? This imposter to the tripped-out, fantastical, electronic world of Jona? I was protective. But, this femme-fatale-to-the-core won me over, especially during their DeKalb Market show in Brooklyn this past summer. This girl is a badass with a sexy and fun onstage persona, which she is absolutely not afraid to break between songs with her brief, witty quips. YACHT blends performance art with humility, and is the one band whose members I honestly wish were my friends.
2. My Morning Jacket
Deep down- actually, not deep down, but right up on the surface- I want to cry knowing that I won't see MMJ play at Coachella this year. Seeing these Kentucky rockers do their thing four years ago at Coachella, when they were just about to hit their peak of popularity, was a transformative experience for me. At the time, I just couldn't make sense of their utterly genre-bending ways (I guess I have a thing for bands who blur the lines). Picture this: Jim James, the band's front man, can completely kill any classic country tune with accuracy and panache, and a killer- and might I add, shocking- falsetto, to boot. But, he did this while wearing giant, fuzzy moon boots...which made him seem even cooler. Too weak of an example? How about the band's newest album, Circuital: The track "Holdin On To Black Metal" layers a gospel-like chorus of children singing on top of a funky sixties groove that finishes with a wanky, distorted, yet totally enjoyable guitar solo, that somehow all blends together seamlessly. Mostly, though, I will miss seeing them do what they do best: taking country and blues roots music, disemboweling and skinning it, and chopping up the leftovers to make a sonic stew that's incredibly delicious, but has me asking: "What am I tasting, exactly?"- just the way I like it.
3. Wilco
Dammit Wilco, you elusive, melancholy tease! You come out with this new album, The Whole Love, and suddenly your recent art-rock tendencies have pushed you to try out your new sound on a slightly less Wilco-possessive crowd in Europe, eh? Well, I won't stand for it! I want to hear this album live in the Southern California desert like God intended. I want everyone to hear you reveal your penchant for electronic tracks and see how they don't take away from your beautifully depressing acoustic sounds. My only concern is that perhaps you were overlooked since Radiohead is already playing at the festival? I do have to say that some of these new tunes seem a little Brit-inspired. Hey, it's totally okay though! There's room in the ether for you to expand your sound, and so what if it overlaps a bit with what they're doing across the pond? It still sounds amazing, and I'm sure it would sound even better live...if only you were playing at the festival!
1. YACHT
The high-energy, Los Angeles/Portland/Texas-based, part-electro, part-genreless project of genius will sadly not be showing us their grooviest dance moves this April. Apparently these "Holy Roller[s]" (hint: track from new album!) are deep in the throes, already, of their North American Shangri-La tour. The tour ends late March, at least on this continent, so who knows where their globetrotting ways will take them come end of April. No doubt that, wherever they are, they will be boogeying to their hearts content onstage- if you've ever seen them live, you'll know what I mean.
As a side note, I have to say that when I first saw YACHT, when it was just Jona Bechtolt, I was mesmerized by his jerking, bouncing and somewhat Napoleon Dynamite-esque dance moves that he executed so unapologetically onstage. So, when Claire Evans joined him to officially make YACHT a duo (they have other band members, too, but these two run the show), I was slightly disappointed. Who was this girl? This imposter to the tripped-out, fantastical, electronic world of Jona? I was protective. But, this femme-fatale-to-the-core won me over, especially during their DeKalb Market show in Brooklyn this past summer. This girl is a badass with a sexy and fun onstage persona, which she is absolutely not afraid to break between songs with her brief, witty quips. YACHT blends performance art with humility, and is the one band whose members I honestly wish were my friends.
2. My Morning Jacket
Deep down- actually, not deep down, but right up on the surface- I want to cry knowing that I won't see MMJ play at Coachella this year. Seeing these Kentucky rockers do their thing four years ago at Coachella, when they were just about to hit their peak of popularity, was a transformative experience for me. At the time, I just couldn't make sense of their utterly genre-bending ways (I guess I have a thing for bands who blur the lines). Picture this: Jim James, the band's front man, can completely kill any classic country tune with accuracy and panache, and a killer- and might I add, shocking- falsetto, to boot. But, he did this while wearing giant, fuzzy moon boots...which made him seem even cooler. Too weak of an example? How about the band's newest album, Circuital: The track "Holdin On To Black Metal" layers a gospel-like chorus of children singing on top of a funky sixties groove that finishes with a wanky, distorted, yet totally enjoyable guitar solo, that somehow all blends together seamlessly. Mostly, though, I will miss seeing them do what they do best: taking country and blues roots music, disemboweling and skinning it, and chopping up the leftovers to make a sonic stew that's incredibly delicious, but has me asking: "What am I tasting, exactly?"- just the way I like it.
3. Wilco
Dammit Wilco, you elusive, melancholy tease! You come out with this new album, The Whole Love, and suddenly your recent art-rock tendencies have pushed you to try out your new sound on a slightly less Wilco-possessive crowd in Europe, eh? Well, I won't stand for it! I want to hear this album live in the Southern California desert like God intended. I want everyone to hear you reveal your penchant for electronic tracks and see how they don't take away from your beautifully depressing acoustic sounds. My only concern is that perhaps you were overlooked since Radiohead is already playing at the festival? I do have to say that some of these new tunes seem a little Brit-inspired. Hey, it's totally okay though! There's room in the ether for you to expand your sound, and so what if it overlaps a bit with what they're doing across the pond? It still sounds amazing, and I'm sure it would sound even better live...if only you were playing at the festival!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
PARK SLOPE PERSPECTIVE
Café Matrix- The best, worst and middle-of-the-road cafés between 9th st. and Prospect Ave.
Let's start with the good:
Red Horse Café
I wrote this place off for a while; I came here semi-regularly a few years ago when I was in graduate school and when it was outfitted with a giant couch. It was friendly and warm then, but there was something about it that didn't make it stick, for me, as a regular hangout. Now, though, there has been an apparent change in ownership, and the crusty couch in the back has been replaced with a long bench with tables accommodating many more people. Plus, I'm not forced, anymore, to cozy-up to a stranger on an unevenly stuffed couch where we both inevitably slide toward the middle (so awkward). This is my favorite place to work and is an excellent place for impromptu meetings and study sessions. The owner and baristas are incredibly friendly. Best parts: they never give you dirty looks when you work for three hours and only order a cup of tea (for this reason, I tip them heavily); and they serve booze, so it's great for evening work sessions when you've maxed-out on caffeine for the day and want a more debaucherous kind of buzz.
Red Horse Café
6th Ave and 12th St., Park Slope
Sweet Wolf's/Forty Weight Coffee Roasters
Is it a restaurant? Is it a coffee shop? Who knows but the owner and employees are super friendly; that's the first thing I noticed when I started going here. The owner of the coffee shop- which is open until 4pm, at which point the joint turns into the restaurant Sweet Wolf's- greeted me, made my drink, bussed my place at the communal table and even gave me a cute little timer for my tea (kind of a gimmick, but a sweet touch that shows they're trying to win over a clientele who has a ridiculous amount of café choices). Banking on the communal vibe that has been popularized by chain cafés like Le Pain Quotidien, the owners of Forty Weight installed a very large communal table of their own that forces you to make a choice: Do you wait for someone to move so that you can have an easily accessible spot on the end? Or do you greet your neighbor with a friendly "Hello" and "Excuse me" and ask them if they could scooch down a little? At Forty Weight I have noticed a friendliness among patrons unlike any other café in the neighborhood. Perhaps the management is responsible for the convivial vibe, but, either way, warmth is in the air here. All in all, Forty Weight is great, not just for a coffee fix, but for connecting with other locals, especially if you're new to the area.
Forty Weight Coffee Roasters
6th Ave and 12th St., Park Slope (did I mention, it's across the street from Red Horse?!)
Hanco's Bubble Tea & Vietnamese Sandwich
When Hanco's opened a year after I moved to the neighborhood, it felt as if my prayers were answered. I had become accustomed to regularly experiencing the mind-blowing deliciousness of bubble tea and banh mi while living in California, but New York seemed to be sorely lacking in this delicacy. My only salvation- until Hanco's opened- was a bubble tea café in Flushing- way too far to get a regular fix! Then, Hanco's opened and all I could say was "Hallelujah!" Their banh mi sandwiches have the perfect buns (crusty on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside), and kick of heat and tang with jalapenos, pickled carrot and daikon. And since this post is about the best cafés in the area, here is why Hanco's is more than the average sandwich shop: customers can drop in for tea- hot or cold, bubble or not, milk or plain- and work on their laptop, join a knitting circle, or even just stare at the passers-by on 7th ave, all while enjoying free wi-fi! Hanco's is my favorite café/restaurant hybrid in the neighborhood, and its constant stream of customers is a testament to the fact that I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Also: listen to the opening story about Hanco's on a This American Life episode. You will want to support Hanco's even more after listening to this!
Hanco's Bubble Tea & Vietnamese Sandwich
7th Ave and 10th St., Park Slope
Now the middle:
Colson Patisserie (or Patisserie Colson)
Come here for the best croissants in all of Park Slope, bar none, but don't come here for a particularly friendly vibe, or to spread out for a long study session. I say this for two reasons: First, the primary clientele is parents with babies, which also means large strollers- it can get very crowded in here and there isn't a ton of seating, unless it's warm and you can take advantage of sitting outside; secondly, the staff seems oddly stingy with the Wi-Fi (I inquired once about whether or not they had Wi-Fi and got an abrupt answer to the tune of We don't want people only buying one coffee and sitting here all day.) The concern is understandable but when most cafés in the area welcome the inevitability of marathon café sitters, it makes Colson seem a little unfriendly.
Colson Patisserie
374 9th Street (corner of 6th ave), Park Slope
Let's start with the good:
Red Horse Café
I wrote this place off for a while; I came here semi-regularly a few years ago when I was in graduate school and when it was outfitted with a giant couch. It was friendly and warm then, but there was something about it that didn't make it stick, for me, as a regular hangout. Now, though, there has been an apparent change in ownership, and the crusty couch in the back has been replaced with a long bench with tables accommodating many more people. Plus, I'm not forced, anymore, to cozy-up to a stranger on an unevenly stuffed couch where we both inevitably slide toward the middle (so awkward). This is my favorite place to work and is an excellent place for impromptu meetings and study sessions. The owner and baristas are incredibly friendly. Best parts: they never give you dirty looks when you work for three hours and only order a cup of tea (for this reason, I tip them heavily); and they serve booze, so it's great for evening work sessions when you've maxed-out on caffeine for the day and want a more debaucherous kind of buzz.
Red Horse Café
6th Ave and 12th St., Park Slope
Sweet Wolf's/Forty Weight Coffee Roasters
Is it a restaurant? Is it a coffee shop? Who knows but the owner and employees are super friendly; that's the first thing I noticed when I started going here. The owner of the coffee shop- which is open until 4pm, at which point the joint turns into the restaurant Sweet Wolf's- greeted me, made my drink, bussed my place at the communal table and even gave me a cute little timer for my tea (kind of a gimmick, but a sweet touch that shows they're trying to win over a clientele who has a ridiculous amount of café choices). Banking on the communal vibe that has been popularized by chain cafés like Le Pain Quotidien, the owners of Forty Weight installed a very large communal table of their own that forces you to make a choice: Do you wait for someone to move so that you can have an easily accessible spot on the end? Or do you greet your neighbor with a friendly "Hello" and "Excuse me" and ask them if they could scooch down a little? At Forty Weight I have noticed a friendliness among patrons unlike any other café in the neighborhood. Perhaps the management is responsible for the convivial vibe, but, either way, warmth is in the air here. All in all, Forty Weight is great, not just for a coffee fix, but for connecting with other locals, especially if you're new to the area.
Forty Weight Coffee Roasters
6th Ave and 12th St., Park Slope (did I mention, it's across the street from Red Horse?!)
Hanco's Bubble Tea & Vietnamese Sandwich
When Hanco's opened a year after I moved to the neighborhood, it felt as if my prayers were answered. I had become accustomed to regularly experiencing the mind-blowing deliciousness of bubble tea and banh mi while living in California, but New York seemed to be sorely lacking in this delicacy. My only salvation- until Hanco's opened- was a bubble tea café in Flushing- way too far to get a regular fix! Then, Hanco's opened and all I could say was "Hallelujah!" Their banh mi sandwiches have the perfect buns (crusty on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside), and kick of heat and tang with jalapenos, pickled carrot and daikon. And since this post is about the best cafés in the area, here is why Hanco's is more than the average sandwich shop: customers can drop in for tea- hot or cold, bubble or not, milk or plain- and work on their laptop, join a knitting circle, or even just stare at the passers-by on 7th ave, all while enjoying free wi-fi! Hanco's is my favorite café/restaurant hybrid in the neighborhood, and its constant stream of customers is a testament to the fact that I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Also: listen to the opening story about Hanco's on a This American Life episode. You will want to support Hanco's even more after listening to this!
Hanco's Bubble Tea & Vietnamese Sandwich
7th Ave and 10th St., Park Slope
Now the middle:
Colson Patisserie (or Patisserie Colson)
Come here for the best croissants in all of Park Slope, bar none, but don't come here for a particularly friendly vibe, or to spread out for a long study session. I say this for two reasons: First, the primary clientele is parents with babies, which also means large strollers- it can get very crowded in here and there isn't a ton of seating, unless it's warm and you can take advantage of sitting outside; secondly, the staff seems oddly stingy with the Wi-Fi (I inquired once about whether or not they had Wi-Fi and got an abrupt answer to the tune of We don't want people only buying one coffee and sitting here all day.) The concern is understandable but when most cafés in the area welcome the inevitability of marathon café sitters, it makes Colson seem a little unfriendly.
Colson Patisserie
374 9th Street (corner of 6th ave), Park Slope
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
DAILY
GLAD:)? (I sure hope so)
One of my favorite books, Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant, is set to be released as a feature film starring, drum roll: Robert Pattinson as the scheming, ever-opportunistic Georges Duroy. I have faith in this film, especially because Pattinson will be buoyed by a solid set of cast members, including Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott Thomas. My only hope is that Pattinson can do proper justice to Duroy's character. Up until now, we all knew he had acting chops as as a vampire with a soft spot for sweet stoner chicks, but now he's going to have to grow a thicker skin- emotionally speaking- to convey the level of scoundrel-osity, shall we say, that Duroy embodies. The deliciousness of the Bel Ami story is that Georges Duroy's calculating ways- and good looks- enable him to sleep with influential Parisian women, one after another, in an effort to boost his journalism career- and place in society. On second thought, I guess this story's not too far off from a vampire tale, it's just that in Bel Ami, Pattinson will have to convince us he's addicted to sex, power and fame, as opposed to human blood.
One of my favorite books, Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant, is set to be released as a feature film starring, drum roll: Robert Pattinson as the scheming, ever-opportunistic Georges Duroy. I have faith in this film, especially because Pattinson will be buoyed by a solid set of cast members, including Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott Thomas. My only hope is that Pattinson can do proper justice to Duroy's character. Up until now, we all knew he had acting chops as as a vampire with a soft spot for sweet stoner chicks, but now he's going to have to grow a thicker skin- emotionally speaking- to convey the level of scoundrel-osity, shall we say, that Duroy embodies. The deliciousness of the Bel Ami story is that Georges Duroy's calculating ways- and good looks- enable him to sleep with influential Parisian women, one after another, in an effort to boost his journalism career- and place in society. On second thought, I guess this story's not too far off from a vampire tale, it's just that in Bel Ami, Pattinson will have to convince us he's addicted to sex, power and fame, as opposed to human blood.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Traveling Solo
The Do's, Don'ts, Ups, Downs, Sads and Glads of Traveling Alone
Many people know of Santorini as a commonly-toured Greek island, well-known for its massive cliffs traversable by donkey. It has the quintessential whitewashed houses and azure-blue rooftops famously captured in millions of photos and popularized by generic Barnes and Noble calendars. It's a truly beautiful place and an idyllic vacation spot...for most.
Did you know that Greece has the highest percentage of smokers out of any country in the European Union? This statistic meant nothing to me until I jumped into my cab from the Santorini airport. The taxi smelled more than normal cigarette smoke; it was as if decades of ash and smoke particles had transformed into some sort of super-resin that coated every wall, seat and inch of carpet in the taxi. I held my breath until I arrived at the hotel. "Thank you Sir," I said, and tried not to throw up. My other intense encounter with the Greek penchant for cigarettes was on a boat- more like a converted pirate ship- out to the volcano craters off Santorini's coast. While the captain chain-smoked unfiltereds, I tried to stabilize myself as the floating gas chamber rocked and rolled through the cold, choppy sea. Quickly, my visions of a relaxing beach holiday, with warm, crystal blue water were replaced with a colder, more depressing reality. I guess that's what I get for going to Greece in October.
The trip wasn't all bad, though. I guess you could say I was a hit with the male folk. During one of my walks through the back roads of town, a teenage boy, also walking alone, gestured for me to come talk to him, and then asked me my name. But I knew better than to say anything; guys don't like it when you give-in too quickly. Another morning, I went to get some delicious Greek/Nescafé instant coffee when a male shopkeeper stared me down, whistled and insisted I come talk to him because I was "American girl, so beautiful." I thought to myself, "These people are so friendly. What vigor the Greeks have!" My hot streak continued with a bartender at a Santorini nightclub who, in the friendliest of ways, threw ice cubes at me, and several other girls, to try to get our attention. I approached him and we exchanged a few words until another ice cube target showed up; I humbly bowed away and left him to his business. (Being on the slightly prudish side, I was wasting his time, and didn't want to thwart the efforts of an obviously successful ladies' man.) My tips to any woman traveling alone to Santorini: keep your doors unlocked, wear high heels and tight-fitting clothes, speak American, and all will be well. The Greek men love all of this, and you will be totally safe!
Another reality that I had not accounted for is the fact that the majority of Santorini's visitors are A) cruise boat tourists on day trips to the island, and B) couples on their honeymoon. Falling outside these categories can prove dangerous because your purpose on the island is heretofore unknown. It is rare that someone who is not seventy-five years or newly wed visits the island. If this is you, be prepared to realize just how single- and young- you are.
The walk along one of the major roads lining Santorini's cliffs is a dense collection of hotels and terraced restaurants, each looking more charming than the last, and each even more suited for a memorable honeymoon. Some of the hotels have rooms that are actually carved into the cliffs, with limitless views of the sea. And some of these rooms have infinity pools spilling over cliff edges so that a visitor will literally never be able to find more impressive, well-appointed accommodations for all of the anniversaries they have yet to celebrate. I walked past these places sighing and wishing that this type of luxury was my reality. My hotel room did have access to Italian TV dating shows, so I guess that was some sort of consolation.
But nothing makes a single girl feel more alone than a romantic dinner in a foreign country...alone.
(To be continued)
Many people know of Santorini as a commonly-toured Greek island, well-known for its massive cliffs traversable by donkey. It has the quintessential whitewashed houses and azure-blue rooftops famously captured in millions of photos and popularized by generic Barnes and Noble calendars. It's a truly beautiful place and an idyllic vacation spot...for most.
Did you know that Greece has the highest percentage of smokers out of any country in the European Union? This statistic meant nothing to me until I jumped into my cab from the Santorini airport. The taxi smelled more than normal cigarette smoke; it was as if decades of ash and smoke particles had transformed into some sort of super-resin that coated every wall, seat and inch of carpet in the taxi. I held my breath until I arrived at the hotel. "Thank you Sir," I said, and tried not to throw up. My other intense encounter with the Greek penchant for cigarettes was on a boat- more like a converted pirate ship- out to the volcano craters off Santorini's coast. While the captain chain-smoked unfiltereds, I tried to stabilize myself as the floating gas chamber rocked and rolled through the cold, choppy sea. Quickly, my visions of a relaxing beach holiday, with warm, crystal blue water were replaced with a colder, more depressing reality. I guess that's what I get for going to Greece in October.
The trip wasn't all bad, though. I guess you could say I was a hit with the male folk. During one of my walks through the back roads of town, a teenage boy, also walking alone, gestured for me to come talk to him, and then asked me my name. But I knew better than to say anything; guys don't like it when you give-in too quickly. Another morning, I went to get some delicious Greek/Nescafé instant coffee when a male shopkeeper stared me down, whistled and insisted I come talk to him because I was "American girl, so beautiful." I thought to myself, "These people are so friendly. What vigor the Greeks have!" My hot streak continued with a bartender at a Santorini nightclub who, in the friendliest of ways, threw ice cubes at me, and several other girls, to try to get our attention. I approached him and we exchanged a few words until another ice cube target showed up; I humbly bowed away and left him to his business. (Being on the slightly prudish side, I was wasting his time, and didn't want to thwart the efforts of an obviously successful ladies' man.) My tips to any woman traveling alone to Santorini: keep your doors unlocked, wear high heels and tight-fitting clothes, speak American, and all will be well. The Greek men love all of this, and you will be totally safe!
Another reality that I had not accounted for is the fact that the majority of Santorini's visitors are A) cruise boat tourists on day trips to the island, and B) couples on their honeymoon. Falling outside these categories can prove dangerous because your purpose on the island is heretofore unknown. It is rare that someone who is not seventy-five years or newly wed visits the island. If this is you, be prepared to realize just how single- and young- you are.
The walk along one of the major roads lining Santorini's cliffs is a dense collection of hotels and terraced restaurants, each looking more charming than the last, and each even more suited for a memorable honeymoon. Some of the hotels have rooms that are actually carved into the cliffs, with limitless views of the sea. And some of these rooms have infinity pools spilling over cliff edges so that a visitor will literally never be able to find more impressive, well-appointed accommodations for all of the anniversaries they have yet to celebrate. I walked past these places sighing and wishing that this type of luxury was my reality. My hotel room did have access to Italian TV dating shows, so I guess that was some sort of consolation.
But nothing makes a single girl feel more alone than a romantic dinner in a foreign country...alone.
(To be continued)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
DAILY
A (very) concise list of Portlandia's best characters and moments.
In no particular order:
1) Battlestar Galactica ultra-marathon (season 2, episode 2)
Fred and Carrie couldn't have depicted any better the insanity that comes from delving into this sci-fi series. Lost your job? Haven't left the couch for two weeks? Avoided contact with the outside world, all so that not a second of Cylon drama is missed? All verge on plausible outcomes due to Battlestar addiction- I can definitely relate. How they convinced Edward James Olmos, though, to participate in the table read of a Fred-and-Carrie-concocted new episode is beyond me- a genius move.
2) Parents of a pre-schooler (season 2, episode 5)
They capture the unique pretensions of cool Portland parents who would shame you for a music collection with even one toe dipped into the mainstream pool. Theirs is far funnier than WASPy pretension, and just as mean.
3) The Knot Shop (season 2, episode 2)
Pure capitalization on Jeff Goldblum's weirdness: Until this episode, I had never heard him purr before, but I'd love to hear it again! And the knot sculptures encased in cloches remind us that even shitty art can be marketable if creatively displayed for a captive audience.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
DAILY
Two things that I am excited about today:
1) Bethenny Frankel's advice column in the February issue of Glamour magazine.
Oh Bethenny! How I wrote you off as just another nut on The Real Housewives of New York City, when, in reality, you are quite a smart woman with relevant and honest advice. Your suggestion that every woman have a Mission Statement for her life is all too true! I recently started working on a Mission Statement of my own (it's never too late!) and my perspective on my own life has completely changed because of it!
It seems that women who maybe didn't get the best guidance or have the strongest sense of self worth growing up aren't armed with the skill of setting up a mission and tailoring their life to it; maybe it doesn't occur to them that they are permitted to do such a self-empowering thing.
In my own experience, writing a Mission Statment is a bold yet simple action that anyone can do to change their life's course toward a direction that feels more natural- the power and self-posession that results from it is priceless.
Thanks Bethenny for reminding women about this simple idea, and for establishing yourself as not just another reality nut!
2) The French group Têtes Raides
I came across this band on Grooveshark (I was actually looking for the artist St. Vincent, but Grooveshark gave me a song named "St. Vincent" by Têtes Raides- the happenstance of web streaming!). Their bouncy melodies sound simple, but not simplistic, and it's obvious that while they fall into the folk category, their members are classically trained. This band has been around a long time: Their first album was released in 1989, and was apparently more punk-influenced. You can hear a subtle punk influence today- some of their tunes sound similar to the gypsy punk of Gogol Bordello, but less kitschy. Their instrumental sound and vocals are so well integrated that I suspect that even a non-francophone/francophile won't mind that all of their lyrics are in French. Have a listen to their 1998 album, Chamboultou!
1) Bethenny Frankel's advice column in the February issue of Glamour magazine.
Oh Bethenny! How I wrote you off as just another nut on The Real Housewives of New York City, when, in reality, you are quite a smart woman with relevant and honest advice. Your suggestion that every woman have a Mission Statement for her life is all too true! I recently started working on a Mission Statement of my own (it's never too late!) and my perspective on my own life has completely changed because of it!
It seems that women who maybe didn't get the best guidance or have the strongest sense of self worth growing up aren't armed with the skill of setting up a mission and tailoring their life to it; maybe it doesn't occur to them that they are permitted to do such a self-empowering thing.
In my own experience, writing a Mission Statment is a bold yet simple action that anyone can do to change their life's course toward a direction that feels more natural- the power and self-posession that results from it is priceless.
Thanks Bethenny for reminding women about this simple idea, and for establishing yourself as not just another reality nut!
2) The French group Têtes Raides
I came across this band on Grooveshark (I was actually looking for the artist St. Vincent, but Grooveshark gave me a song named "St. Vincent" by Têtes Raides- the happenstance of web streaming!). Their bouncy melodies sound simple, but not simplistic, and it's obvious that while they fall into the folk category, their members are classically trained. This band has been around a long time: Their first album was released in 1989, and was apparently more punk-influenced. You can hear a subtle punk influence today- some of their tunes sound similar to the gypsy punk of Gogol Bordello, but less kitschy. Their instrumental sound and vocals are so well integrated that I suspect that even a non-francophone/francophile won't mind that all of their lyrics are in French. Have a listen to their 1998 album, Chamboultou!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
En général
Diversify
As someone who would like to think in shades of gray, but can't help herself thinking in terms of black and white, I really want certain rules in life to apply across the board. For example, don't we all hear from financial pundits that we should diversify our investments? Diversifying is supposedly meant to keep our money safe so that stronger funds can support the weaker ones when they're down. So, I would think that the business world would play by this same rule, but apparently not, especially when it comes to online retailers such as Amazon.
Apparently, Amazon has publishers and booksellers "fear[ing] its power", claiming that its business model is " 'predatory' ," according to a recent NPR story. I don't blame them. Who can't attest to falling victim to the ease of Amazon's 1-click purchase? And now, with streaming video, Amazon's added a whole new dimension of temptation in online media shopping- I don't even bother going to iTunes anymore!
I'm afraid, though, that this ease may just be too easy. If smaller vendors are imploding due to the massive reach Amazon has, the online book and video-hawking -not to mention clothes, an myriad other goods you can find on their site- business may eventually strip itself down to one retailer. That's not very diverse now, is it?
Certainly, the online retail industry is incredibly complex, but like I said, I like to think that simple rules tend to be applicable no matter how twisted and gnarly the situation. If Amazon's business model is impeding diversity in the online-retail arena, how sustainable is that?
Today, we have fewer and larger cell phone companies- same with the airlines- and yet people are still out of jobs. So larger doesn't necessarily mean more capacity to employ.
I remember Amazon, originally, as a marketplace where independent book vendors could sell their goods with opportunity for greater consumer exposure. It seems, though, that the Amazon brand, today, has grown much stronger than the presence of its site's vendors, but that's just my impression. Etsy is a good example of the internet marketplace that Amazon used to be, with the emphasis on the independent vendors. And while Etsy is hugely popular, the Etsy brand, if there even is one, doesn't seem to get in the way of the success of the smaller retailers and craftspeople that sell on its site.
So, diversify is the word for today, according to this armchair economist!
As someone who would like to think in shades of gray, but can't help herself thinking in terms of black and white, I really want certain rules in life to apply across the board. For example, don't we all hear from financial pundits that we should diversify our investments? Diversifying is supposedly meant to keep our money safe so that stronger funds can support the weaker ones when they're down. So, I would think that the business world would play by this same rule, but apparently not, especially when it comes to online retailers such as Amazon.
Apparently, Amazon has publishers and booksellers "fear[ing] its power", claiming that its business model is " 'predatory' ," according to a recent NPR story. I don't blame them. Who can't attest to falling victim to the ease of Amazon's 1-click purchase? And now, with streaming video, Amazon's added a whole new dimension of temptation in online media shopping- I don't even bother going to iTunes anymore!
I'm afraid, though, that this ease may just be too easy. If smaller vendors are imploding due to the massive reach Amazon has, the online book and video-hawking -not to mention clothes, an myriad other goods you can find on their site- business may eventually strip itself down to one retailer. That's not very diverse now, is it?
Certainly, the online retail industry is incredibly complex, but like I said, I like to think that simple rules tend to be applicable no matter how twisted and gnarly the situation. If Amazon's business model is impeding diversity in the online-retail arena, how sustainable is that?
Today, we have fewer and larger cell phone companies- same with the airlines- and yet people are still out of jobs. So larger doesn't necessarily mean more capacity to employ.
I remember Amazon, originally, as a marketplace where independent book vendors could sell their goods with opportunity for greater consumer exposure. It seems, though, that the Amazon brand, today, has grown much stronger than the presence of its site's vendors, but that's just my impression. Etsy is a good example of the internet marketplace that Amazon used to be, with the emphasis on the independent vendors. And while Etsy is hugely popular, the Etsy brand, if there even is one, doesn't seem to get in the way of the success of the smaller retailers and craftspeople that sell on its site.
So, diversify is the word for today, according to this armchair economist!
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