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July 25, 2005
A Christo Runs Through It
Drawings and collages from Over The River, Project For Arkansas River,
Colorado by Christo
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, those crazy septuagenarians, are at it again! Artinfo.com has a story on their plans to cover part of the Arkansas River with a huge clear canopy ...I'm probably the only person in North America who didn't see "The Gates" last February and it's unlikely that I will be traveling to Colorado anytime soon but I can still enjoy the idea of their installation. I can also enjoy the beautiful drawings. What a cool project!
Check out the website for more info on projects completed and those yet to come. It's pretty interesting. I also liked the page on "How to Read the Art Works"
kind of hard to believe that just a few months ago it was bitter cold in NYC....
Posted by lk at 10:57 AM | Comments (6)
July 24, 2005
Waitin' on the netflix
The ep that has launched 1,000 theories …
And the show that just might save me this summer …
HBO's The Wire is a gritty show about cops and dealers set in Baltimore. It's also my new fave show and the one that's going to keep me busy for the next few months as I try to keep myself unspoiled in the aliasverse.
My apologies to The Dickwolf but my old favorite, Law and Order, just ain't what it used to be. The L&O is totally off balance now that that the “law” part has two goodfellas sorting out the crimes. The cops are too similar. Plus I keep thinking Tony Soprano is going to bust in any minute and blow Christopher's scam. Surely he is just "playing" a cop - workin' some angle. Chris may be workin' it but it's not working for me. My advice, Dick: "Switch it up!"
But back to the Wire … the situations are grim, the writing is sharp, the plot is Dickensian in the extreme and it’s full of morally grey characters. Oh and the acting is fucking excellent! Who would have thought that I would end up loving Wendell Pierce (the actor that made me cringe in “Waiting to Exhale”) and Clarke Peters? These two put Fontana and Falco to shame. Plus, now I get plenty of Michael K. Williams. Who knew that before he was Roberts he was a total drug dealing badass, and gay?! The lingo on The Wire is another treat. “Natural police”, “suction”, "the parley"… this is good stuff and examples will soon appear in the “top 5 words” category.
I don’t know why I didn’t take to The Wire when it first aired. It probably had to do with the slow pace and the fact that it takes a few eppies before you can understand what the hell everyone is saying. Between the Baltimore accents and the lingo, man, you really have to pay attention. You can't even be folding your laundry while you watch this - you need to be focused! Don’t get me wrong, I like the way the story and the characters slowly come into view. I guess it was just hard for me to keep momentum back then. But now with Netflix (a.k.a. the best $18 I spend a month) I can watch when I want. I can even take them two or three at a time, which seems to work better for me and my erratic sleep patterns.
So if you're like me and missed this one when it first came out of the box, start on the DVDs! It's really an excellent show!
Note to spyfans:
I’ve got plenty to say about JJ and the re-vaughnification of the aliasverse. My head is full of THEORIES folks, but I'm going to TRY to keep it under control. So, if you want to read my ramblings about the show just look for:
Posted by lk at 09:44 AM | Comments (3)
July 20, 2005
Toast Stories
This is a story about toast. If you’re on Atkins, please go no further...
The simple pleasure of toast is hard to beat. Toast (with butter and lemon curd) and a cup of coffee are pretty much THE BEST THING EVER and my preferred breakfast! Inexpensive and easy to prepare - even if you're hung over - this is an unbeatable combo. Plus, in these uncertain times when money troubles, career wows and life issues loom large, I try to remember the few things that I can control and the things I truly enjoy. Perfect toast is something I can count on.
It's taken years for me to perfect my version and believe me when I say, there are as many varieties of toast-lovers as there are stars in the sky! After much trial and error, I have discovered that it's best to use real butter and real bread - no margarine or low carb, blah, blah, blah. Also, Sourdough bread, the sourer-er the better-er makes all the difference in the world.
I don’t know why I decided to mess with the combo this week – I mean isn’t there enough uncertainty in my life right now?! I should have just left it alone. But just yesterday I tried a little experiment with the bread. I switched from Sarah Lee to Francisco International. BIG MISTAKE. I was taken in by marketing. The label of Francisco International Sliced Sourdough sports a cute little drawing a baker pulling out a perfectly brown loaf of bread from a brick oven. It had me salivating in the store but crying in my kitchen. How could I be so easily duped! UGH! This bread is too airy, not really sour at all and the slices are thin, too thin. It toasts up like a freakn' cracker. Not satisfying and very crumbly. It put me off for the rest of the morning. Meh.
So today I’m back to the classic trinity – Sarah Lee Sourdough, Land o Lakes butter and Lemoney curd goodness! Simple pleasures. Now, I just have to convince my cousin and her boyfriend to eat this Francisco stuff on sandwiches before it goes bad….
Posted by lk at 10:00 AM | Comments (4)
July 18, 2005
Summer Movies
It feels like summer is racing by. Deadlines are looming and I need to scare up gainful employment for the fall yet what am I thinking about? Going to the movies, of course! I can't believe it's the middle (almost end) of July and I have only seen one official big budget popcorn movie so far. Charlie, Wonka and Veruka, et al were fun - cute musical numbers and quite a piece of work as far as art direction but let's face it, the orig movie didn't need to be remade. I love Jonny Depp AND Tim Burton but really... remakes are just not something these guys should be spending/wasting their talents on.
So if anyone out there has a suggestion, review or warning, please chime in! Where should a kitty spend her hard earned $10.50 this week?
I want popcorn!!!
Posted by lk at 08:41 AM | Comments (4)
July 15, 2005
No Con Do
I have been toying with the idea of going down to ComiCon this weekend but now it doesn't look like it's going to happen. I've got to work today and, sadly, I've been roped into a social engagement on Sunday - UGH. I'd much rather mix and mingle with the sci-fi nerds and the animae fans and indulge in quite possibly the best sandwich this side of Wolf's Deli, but I should be good. Work first, spending money on more KiKi merch, later.
I'm a big fan of the con. This is a source of continual discussion among my NY friends. They just don't get it but I love it. I’ve gone 4yrs in a row and every time was better then the last. This love however, should not to be confused with a love of “KHAAAAAAAAN!” or even with a true love of comics. I'm not against comics and I'm not making fun of them. I just don't really read them. But I do like people who like comics and I like people who create comics and those people and their fans go to the San Diego Con. I also enjoy the movie stuff that spills over into the con and of course, the pop culture funkiness of it all. You know, the families of four dressed as Klingons and that terrific guy who dresses up as Lando EVERY YEAR (including the relaxed hair wig!) Now that's the type of commitment I really admire. Sometimes I wish I could let myself go totally over the edge and dress up. Maybe Aeon Flux or Evil Francie, you know, just for fun.
I'm really sorry to miss the festivities this year -screenings, panels and the opportunity to see, like Jay and Silent Bob coffee makers, Spirited Away bubble bath and some really talented and funny kids sketching madly in their books and all excited to be doing thier first portfolio reviews. The whole scene has a youthful energy that is never quite squelched by the immense corporate greed on display.
Oh well, maybe next year...
Posted by lk at 09:15 AM | Comments (3)
July 13, 2005
Happy Humpday Beefcake (old school edition)
Happy Birthday Harrison!
Even though I can't quite get behind your recent choices (Hollywood Homicide!!!), I still love ya.
But please, do us all a favor and get rid of the stick!
Posted by lk at 11:34 AM | Comments (3)
July 12, 2005
Trying to get some work done today so no time for an extended post. But here's a nice photo:
A Southern California landscape by Mark Wyse - fab photog and all around good guy. He's also just come out with a new book (scroll to bottom of this link). Congrats, Mark!
I keep threatening to write something meaningful about his work. Maybe this weekend ...
Posted by lk at 05:22 PM | Comments (0)
July 10, 2005
Catching up
Just being a total LOX this morning ...catching up on the stack of summer magazines that came straight to my door while I was away...
Nice to see the "Art Attack" piece in VIBE's June issue:
"We need art to make us think about the unthinkable, be angry about what we should be angry about, and help us appreciate the subtler beauties in our midst." Amen to that! and thanks VIBE for shining a little spotlight on Franklin Sirmans and Isolde Brielmaier, two curatorial types who are helping to bring more art to the public.
Franklin about town... and Isolde with Vibe's Teddy Hatwood
Snaps around for Franklin, who is basically the hardest working man in the art biz! Well, maybe not quite that, but every time I turn around I see Franklin has written 3 more articles, been awarded a fellowship, curated or co-curated 6 new shows (including Basquiat at the Bklyn Museum) and, you know, in his spare time is traveling to Italy to check stuff out over there! Go, Franklin!
And major congrats to Prof. Isolde Brielmaier, currently teaching at Vassar but soon to be Co-Director of the Brooklyn Institute of Contemporary Art (slated to open in 07)! It's great for Isolde and great for Brooklyn!
I had the chance to get to know both of these cool peeps when I was living in New York last year. So smart, so funny, and totally down to earth - the art world could use a lot more folks like them. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of their work. But first, a little more loafing around. Oh, come on, it's SUNDAY.
Posted by lk at 09:59 AM | Comments (1)
Buddha vs Asian Pear...the ultimate zen smackdown
Who will win? Who will lose? Who has the rounder belly? ...
Posted by lk at 09:48 AM | Comments (2)
July 08, 2005
Top five words of the Wasabi Dumpling Gang
OK so some of the friends I visited last week are members of "The Wasabi Dumpling Gang" or "The Wasabi Sisterhood" (depending on when you joined). The name really doesn't stand for anything except maybe for the fact that we all like Japanese food, and are all, well, let's just say we are women of a certain age (i.e. we remember the movie "The Apple Dumpling Gang" and also stuff like when MTV was NEW and actually showed videos). Anyway, this week we came up with a short list of words a few of which were popular in the 70s and 80s but have now fallen out of fashion with the kids. Let's see if we can revive them.
1. Solid - big ups to Ashford and Simpson for their lyrics (and also their fab hair)
2. Dynamite (pronounced DY-N0-MITE) - Remember J.J. and the magazine?! Dude!
3. Film - although it is now becoming obsolete, Film is still real. You can hold it in your hands or up to the light, where as digital ... kind of hard to put your finger on. This word should be used whenever one would say "that's for real" or "that's so true"
4. Trust - ok, so this isn't really an old word. It's something Roberts said quite recently on the show (S4.16) but I thought it was a cool way of saying "trust me, you can take that to the bank, Film, etc".
5. Word - see also "Wordy McWord". For mad wicked emphasis you can also use "Wordy McWord to the third"!
Posted by lk at 05:13 PM | Comments (4)
Food and Shopping
NYC is good for a lot of things, food and souvenirs not least among them. Here are some things purchased and also consumed while on the east coast:
Thirst quenching tea and yummy sushi
lots of emack ice cream
pizza from Pizza Palace on Ditmars Blvd
a sweet wallet in official "Toastkitten Blue"
and under the category of "The Finns are the new Italians", I went to the MoMA shop and got this happy little iittala Origo mug. iittala designed products and glasswear are pretty irresistable but they are also pricy. I will have to wait till my next paycheck before I can get the cereal bowl and small plate. But when this little ensemble is complete it will make for "guaranteed happy" coffee, tea and toast throughout the day!
Posted by lk at 04:55 PM | Comments (0)
Kitty comes home
I've been back for a couple of days but am just now feeling back to normal (i.e. I am doing things at the appropriate time of day and I'm not exhausted anymore). It was a good trip - productive, fun and with some nice surprises - but I'm totally glad to be back! It's just too damn hot back there and I pretty much OD-ed on art and cuisines of the world, so it was time, finally, to come home.
Believe it or not, I really missed the blog. So I will try to post a bit more in the next few days and visit some of my cyber home slices:
carlagirl
farmist
buttergun
insurgent muse
musing the mystery
Hope everyone is doing well and full on enjoying the summer!
Posted by lk at 11:46 AM | Comments (2)
July 04, 2005
Happy 4th!
Today is really perfect. It's like 79 in Astoria and not humid at all. It's also nice and quiet in the city, as everyone (with the exception of the wasabi sisterhood), seems to have left town. If NYC could always be like this I would never have to leave!
Happy 4th of July
Posted by lk at 10:26 AM | Comments (2)