Happy Listening

I'm not really someone who goes on and on about what cool, hip music I am listening to...unless it really has made an impact on my mood or productivity. In honor of our season of renewal, I thought I would share some of the music I am really jamming out to in the car and more importantly, in my office while I am creating!

*Click on the name of the artist and it will take you to their youtube video...

The Friendly Fires - (self-titled) - GREAT video and music that sounds like a hip version of good 80s i.e. New Order, Flock of Seagulls, Yaz...(photo above from their Skeleton Boy video).

Does It Offend You Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into - I LOVE this band right now.

Van She - Van She EP - great band with another 80s vibe going on. Only five songs in this one, but worth a listen...

Yo-Yo Ma - Bach: The Cello Suites - who doesn't need a little chill cello in their lives?

Erasure - Jacques Cousteau (the song) off of their Boy EP. It's so relaxing, you feel like a tiny little jellyfish bobbing around in the deep blue...aaahhhhhhh...

Please Do Not Stare, Unless You Cannot Help Yourself...

Aren't you tempting, sitting there taunting us on a cake plate no less?

Vintage snakeskin and possibly croc *sigh* clutch. Available at Louis Boston, maybe.

I almost feel like Barney's NY wishes they were as cool and edited as Louis Boston.

This little reptile-skinned confection (wearing a sparkly something) really nails that one-of-a-kind feel every other boutique department store is trying to capture in their corporate nets.

Bravo. And sign me up.

Ah, Texas.

Slightly less appealing than Jeff Koons' pansy covered puppy...the Peep Jeep photo is season approprirate. This is taken from the Houston, TX Art Car Parade scheduled to roll on May 9, 2009.

I have nothing else to say about this. Except maybe that I love the wagoneer so much I would still consider driving it covered in peeps. The Jeep, not me.

Peep. James Peep.

Yes, these are peeps wearing chocolate tuxedos.

I couldn't help it. I had to share this. Available at Jacques Torres, $5 for a pack of five.

They seem to be unavailable online, maybe you can check at one of their locations in NY and beyond (location information online at mrchocolate.com)

No Shucking Required

Ahhh, these necklaces are incredible.

Comme des Garcons, Fall 2009 (below)

pearls hidden in layers of tulle...(and pink hair! love!)

3.1 Phillip Lim (below)

Fantastic grosgrain folds and pleats with...pearls!

Where Did The SUN Go?

Fog formed over the sea is called "Advection Fog". This 100% humidity phenomenon occurs when warm air moves over a cooler current in the sea. It can also occur when warm air from the sea drifts and moves over cooler land masses.

It should be called "Abduction Fog" because it kidnapped the sun.

Party Like It's 1961

We should be taking it back to the 60's Cocktail Party. A moment in time when women were dressed - wearing attractive clothing, hats, jewelry, and gloves. GLOVES - indoors! My grandmother had two full drawers of all colors and lengths of gloves. I had no idea what they were for, why would she have so many gloves that weren't for making snowballs? Now I know.

2009 is the time to resurrect the stylish Cocktail Party. We still need to relax with a libation, take pride in our appearance, socialize...pure pleasure without that pesky bar tab. Let's take it back a few decades to a time when people had ragers in their homes to avoid being inappropriate and vulgar in public. I'll settle for collecting some entertaining friends, and friends of friends, and being vulgar at home (or someone else's home)...

April Fool's...ha ha ha

These people are far more cerative than I am. Please enjoy some of the past pop culture hoaxes that I think are hysterical. In 1996 Taco Bell advertised in The New York Times that they purchased the Liberty Bell as a way to reduce the national debt.

BMW once did a warning about counterfeit BMW's where the blue and white on the logos was reversed. BMW is famous for doing one prank every year regarding new technology in their cars, or even the announcement of using Mini's to investigate Mars.

Burger King ran an ad in 1998 for the Left Handed Whopper for those people who had trouble controlling the condiment drippings on the right side. Rightys even walked to the counter and ordered the old Whopper...

I Heart...

Jeff Koons!

Pansy-covered "Puppy" on permanent display Guggenheim BilbaoAnd of course Balloon Dog.

Brilliant. I love funny artists.

Marc of Seagulls, RTW Fall 2009

Marc Jacobs RTW Fall 2009 Fantastic use of pink & green for fall...also please note the wonderful wrapped scarves in place of jewelry in this look and the following Pepto pink suit.

Pink & black & texture & scarf & bag...The black piping on the cape + the navy metallic (velvet?) mini...

This Whip...

"This whip should be in one of our driveways."

- Ali Nichols, whose brother Geoffrey took this picture somewhere in or around L.A.

Adieu.

Tonight we will be saying goodbye to our friend, The Fifth Element.

I have made some life long memories in this bar, and met new friends from far away places. And we share the same birthday, just 30 years difference in our ages.

I believe this building harbors a little magic in it when combined with the kindreds that own and patronize this beloved bar. Cheers to those who have been here and shared in the fun.

Long live the Fifth Element.

Hello, Friend

Welcome back. We have missed you. You're shining yellow face reminds us that thebest is yet to come...

Dockwise returns to Newport Harbor

The Midway sheds its plastic at the Cooke House

The first day at the Pearl Patio

Followed by the first day at the Pearl Patio with the Mudslide Machine

Slowly the mooring balls are not bobbing out there alone

The Geek Knew

The Geek: This...this is a Rolls Royce Jake!
Jake: Yeah.
The Geek: I heard the grill costs $5,000 alone. Do you have $5,000? 'Cause I don't.
Jake: Well, just don't hit anything.
The Geek: Don't hit anything he says.

Fantastic timepiece that celebrates the disco era, made in the 1970s by Corum and available on 1stDibs.com for, yes, you guessed it, about $5,000.

There are so many comments I can make about this watch. The more I look at it the more I wish I had $5K in disposable income to invest, conserve, and also celebrate that era de chic. No, really, I am not losing my marbles here. Look at it. It has a black crocodile band, the grill actually lifts up to show you the face of the watch. Who had this made? This is an incredible slice in design history. Someone buy this please. And if you are in touch with Jay-Z, Lupe, or Diddy, pass it along. I want to see this on someone's wrist pronto.

Cheers to My Friend, the Denim Jacket

For today's entry I am going to show you some photos of street fashion that inspire me from my favorite blogger, The Sartorialist. I highly highly recommend reading this blog for regular inspiration. A friend (who shall remain nameless, you know who you are) recently said to me something to the effect that she was so happy that "jean jackets" were coming back. Um, no, sorry to tell you they never left. And for those of you who know me, you know that my denim jacket is like a security blanket, good or bad. It has been lovingly worn and broken in for at least ten years; it's perfection better with every wear and mistreatment. So here's to the denim jacket. Thanks to The Sartorialist for sharing these images.

Ahoy!

I love the renewal that Spring represents. This Spring in Newport we are lovingly bringing back our favorite fundraiser, Shipwrecked. Sail Newport benefits from this party by raising funds to maintain their public sailing center established in 1983 (the year the America's Cup fled Newport once and for all, sniff sniff). Some very thoughtful people got together to establish a place where the public could learn to sail and rent boats in order to maintain Newport's prominence in the U.S. as a sailing capital. Take that Annapolis.

It is a delicious coincidence that Shipwrecked this year falls on the first day of Spring; a date that to me reeks of optimism and hope. Not the kind of hope that our virgin President wants us to believe in. Hope that after the snow is gone and the grey skies have cleared, little daffodils and our friends the crocus are dying to show themselves once more. Before we know it we'll be back at the Pearl Patio sucking down frozen drinks.

So Ahoy to Spring and Shipwrecked! You can purchase tickets for the party this Saturday night, March 21st, on Sail Newport's website. Costumes are mandatory!

*Necklace available on Net-A-Porter, by Philip Crangi.

Happy Holi!

Holi is the "Fesitval of Colors" celebrated in India on the first full moon in March. It is a celebration of Spring and friendship...and color of course. Colored pigments are used in powder and water that people throw on one another in celebration.

Maybe in honor of Holi you should throw a little color in the general direction of somone you like, or dislike. It is afterall a festival of forgiveness and friendship. Make amends this Holi.

Aren't the colors delicious??? Spring cannot come quickly enough.

Ta Da!

Opening Ceremony, the international concept boutique, has gone e-commerce! Great news for those who cannot frequent the store monthly when they change out inventory (hmm, do you think Target was inspired by them in their Go! International collections?).

The real reason I am writing this blog is to celebrate the Saddle Shoe. Love it! I used to really really enjoy the men in college who rocked the brick soled buck saddle shoes. Give me a man in saddle bucks and a BD Baggies shirt. My friend Blaine Richardson from Mississippi rocked this look like I cannot even tell you. He is a men's style icon in my memory; I can still hear his gravely deep voice and southern drawl.

Opening Ceremony is sharing their slightly more cool-i-fied version of the saddle shoe; sleek and defined for the dapper man of the 21st century. I am glad it is being celebrated somewhere and somehow. And I have to say, I love the navy/latte suede combo. Now where are those vintage BD Baggies, boys?

Learning to Count

Here's a little treat. Click on the link to Sesame Street's Pinball Count fromYouTube. You'll sing it all day...

Now we need itunes to get this tune online. If anyone knows where I can download this stone groove to my ipod, please share.

Also, this blog tells the whole story of the Pinball Number Count, from the composer's notes to the animation. It's such a solid bit of our pop culture, and even now when I count to twelve I cannot help but hum a little.

1,2,3,4!5!,6, 7,8,9,10...11, 12---

Rewards for a Winter

These are just some of the trophies I should be allowed to aquire for surviving what is turning into a brutal uphill battle of bitter windchills, ice patches, and random snowshowers.

And with the dream of bulbs bursting forth from the frozen tundra...we march out some of the Spring bags. If nothing more they are a beacon on a frigid sunlit day of warmer

times to come. Tokens of Spring. First in a series of many, I am sure.

Both bags are Miu Miu and available at Net-A-Porter (who delivers in NYC within the same DAY if you time it right).