Murphy's (New) Law

I've Moved (at least for now)

2011-04-01T15:20:00.001-04:00

Keep reading at:

Murphysnewlaw.tumblr.com/

And follow me on Twitter at:

twitter.com/@MurphysNewLaw

Cxx.

Food for Thought: Character Assignments

2011-01-28T04:23:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I received a message from someone which was written in a seemingly supportive way, but felt incredibly condescending.

Since the flat tone of email allows ample room for projection, I worried I was reading too far into things.
But I realized that with this particular person, I have come to generally assume that her comments will be made in that tone...in a sense, I've assigned condescension to her as one of her principal characteristics.

Which led me to wonder: Are there some adjectives we cannot determine FOR ourselves ABOUT ourselves? Some characteristics that must, instead, be decided by others?

I doubt someone would ever feel that they are purposely condescending, but perhaps it's not something for them to decide; in all likelihood they wouldn't recognize the quality in themselves. Rather, someone who is the direct recipient of the condescension can be the only best judge.

It's disconcerting to think that our self-assessments aren't the only opinions that matter. I was recently told that there are three stories in life: Yours, The Other Guy's, and The Truth. They all matter, and all factor in, but there are so many shades of gray between them.

How much of your opinion versus the other guy's makes the truth of who you are?

What do you think?
Cxx.

Better Book Titles -- A Guaranteed Laugh

2011-01-28T03:52:00.006-05:00

I am consistently in awe of book titles as either 1) perfect summaries of their contents, or 2) pitch-perfect marketing ploys.
But sometimes a cover should be judged by its book, and a Tumblr account has been created that does just that.

So, with all due respect to some of the world's greatest authors, here are several of my favorites from the Better Book Titles collection:

As a lactose-intolerant, nearly-vegetarian Celiac, I concur:

Raise your hand if you've been there (if your hand's still down you're only lying to yourself):

Truth.:

A fun, well-crafted read, but, yeah, pretty much:

Let's call a spade a spade:

And, my top 3:

You can check out the full archives HERE.

Cxx.

(P.S. Thanks to my pall JK for posting this on Facebook and bringing it to my attention.)

Even Grinches Like to Trim the Christmas Tree

2010-11-12T19:20:00.002-05:00

I'll be the first to cry in outrage at the inhumanity of playing Christmas carols in stores before Halloween has come and gone.
But I defy you to find a more joyful and whimsical ushering in of the holiday season than this stop-motion short film, starring tree ornaments from Anthropologie:

Anthropologie – Trim Video

If dancing mini-mittens don't make you melt, nothing will.
To the next six weeks of insanity!
Cxx.

The Modern Princess

2010-10-02T00:55:00.003-04:00

Ricks Owens simultaneously imbues his woman with aloof regality and down-and-dirty edge.

How does he do it?

I'm sure I could dissect the reasons of how, technically, he achieves this...but why spoil the magic?

It's the kind of woman that I, in my best mind's eye vision of myself, imagine I could be.

(All images from Style.com)

Quote du Jour

2010-09-29T21:25:00.001-04:00

"A beautiful woman is a beautiful woman,
but a beautiful woman with a brain is an absolutely lethal combination."
-Prabal Gurung

That Girl.

2010-09-27T01:03:00.006-04:00

I am frequently attracted to a sparkling bracelet, brave new nail color, exciting hemline, and resplendent tresses.

In New York everyone lives out loud, and the opportunities abound to encounter exceptional sartorial choices.

But amidst this jungle of beautiful animals, sometimes you pass someone and feel the presence of a person fully imbued with that certain je ne sais quoi.
They are more than the sum of their parts.
I call these people--for they are almost always females who catch my attention--"That Girl."
(Note: "That Girl" is not to be confused with an "It Girl." They are almost always polar opposites in their approach.)

Here are a few recent photos taken by The Sartorialist and Tommy Ton of Those Girls traipsing around--showcasing their nonpareil charm--in my own city:

With all the people I see lingering around certain sections of New York just hoping for The Sartorialist or Garance Dore to spot them and shoot them (and honestly, it's so formulaic that Refinery29 created a guide for achieving just that: HERE), it's lovely to see exceptional people simply living their lives...and, by chance, once in awhile a camera fleetingly captures the beauty of their existence.

"When a girl feels that she's perfectly groomed and dressed she can forget that part of her.
That's charm.
The more parts of yourself you can afford to forget, the more charm you have."
(F. Scott Fitzgerald, "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" via Women's Wardrobe)

To the effortless charm of That Girl,
Cxx.

Great Ideas in Cloth and Writing

2010-09-26T00:18:00.006-04:00

I love everything about the opening and closing paragraphs of Tim Blanks' review for Style.com of the S/S 11 Jil Sander show:

"The way Raf Simons tells it, he was sitting around with his team discussing the new minimalism and that got him thinking about its inverse, maximalism, which led him instantly to haute couture. That presented an implicit challenge to the very essence of the Jil Sander woman, and it must have excited Simons, because it inspired a standout collection that looked to have revived his commitment to the label. For a designer who is as mesmerized by line and proportion as he is, there can ultimately be no more seductive métier than couture—but where traditional couturiers have been paying lip service to the modernizing possibilities of the T-shirt-and-ball-gown combo for a dog's age, he made it a walking, talking proposition with his opening passage of major skirts and minor tops...

If the show had a hell-bent-for-leather verve about it, Simons really had no choice. There is no way you could make this kind of statement in a half-hearted way. But among the grand gestures, the collection could be broken down into a slew of want-ables: the parkas, for one thing; the stripes; all the tailoring. Still, in an ideal world, it would be those huge, glorious skirts that would be sweeping all before them down your local high street."

(All images from Style.com)

There are so many things I've loved on the S/S 10 runways so far, but time's always the thing. Somehow I couldn't resist posting this review.
To Maximalism,
Cxx.

Food for (My) Thought

2010-09-13T23:37:00.002-04:00

After recently proclaiming to friends, family and, more importantly, to MYSELF, that I would no longer entertain thoughts of working in the fashion industry, New York Fashion Week has arrived and revved me up to go running to shows, reading Style.com runway reviews and analyzing collection photos, and reading show recaps on Twitter and various blogs. Fast forward to tonight. This scene unfolds in the living room of yours truly:

Bunny: "Hey, Christine?"

Me: "Yes, Steven?"

Bunny: "Why don't you just do something in fashion. You spend all your time looking at sites about shoes and clothes. It's what you love. Just do something in that field. Right? Just do something in fashion, for God's sake. I mean, you REALLY love it, and spend alllllll your time with it. If you spent all your time looking at sites about art, then I'd say you should go into art, but you don't."

Me (a little dumbfounded): "Uhh...."

Bunny: "I'm just trying to help. But I mean...REALLY. It's totally true, though."

THE SAGA CONTINUES....

Democracy in Fashion--Fashion's Night Out: The Show

2010-09-10T02:09:00.011-04:00

I think it's fair to say that fashion has never been more democratic than it is at this moment.

Much of that equalizing can and should be attributed to an unusual suspect: Anna Wintour.
Defamed as "Nuclear Wintour," this woman is blessed with incredible foresight and an imaginative vision for what New York's fashion industry should be, and what it must be to guarantee its survival, especially in a post-9/11 world.
If you need proof, skip "The September Issue," a great film that unfortunately perpetuates the legend of her enigmatic and aloof qualities, for another great documentary, "Seamless," that may well confirm for you--as it did for me--that Anna is the best woman to be calling the major shots in fashion.
(And did I ever tell you that she frequents my neighborhood Starbucks? She gets her coffee BY herself and FOR herself. Stars! Just like us...)

The success last year of her brain child, the inaugural Fashion's Night Out, paved the way for the event I attended this past Tuesday:
The Fashion's Night Out: The Show.

I snagged two tickets and MVG and I headed to Lincoln Center (Bryant Park tents no more!) for the christening of S/S 2011 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

The fountain in the center of Lincoln Center's plaza was the perfect set piece.

The show, which seated nearly 2,000 guests (making it the largest runway show in NYC history), was comprised of 171 looks from the Autumn/Winter 2010 collections, divided into categories (e.g. Jazz Age). Each look was assembled using pieces from various designers, as well as some high-low mixing, like the Monique Lhullier skirt with Payless shoes ensemble modeled by Gisele.

As one of my favorite models, Jacquelyn Jablonski, demonstrates (in Versus) above, red is BIG for Autumn 2010, and fittingly I wore my red Miu Mius to the show:

CBS filmed and fed a livecast of the show to their website (an edited version will broadcast on CBS proper next Tuesday, September 14th). MVG and I were fortuitously seated in a camera-heavy section of the plaza. Here are some snippets from the broadcast in which you can spot us (thanks to my red shoes!):

I admit that I have some minor complaints about the show, but none of them really matter.
Yes, it was overwhelming to see 171 looks in 20 minutes, and to see 171 models simultaneously rather than staggered.
But you know what?
It was unbelievable to be sharing in this extraordinary moment with Anna Wintour, the world's top models (Gisele, Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova, Chanel Iman, Coco Rocha, Karlie Kloss, etc.), the glitterati (surprise musical guest Pharrell, Roger Federer, Michael Kors, Harvey Weinstein the cast of Gossip Girl, New York socialites, etc.).

An event that was created to benefit a single industry in a single city has spread to several continents and hundreds of cities in a year's time.
From top designers and editors to kids like me and MVG, everyone's welcomed to have a good time.

Vive the democracy!
And vive Anna!
Cxx.

Celebrating 3 Years: Murf and the Bunny

2010-08-17T23:13:00.005-04:00

(From our first year together, under the Brooklyn Bridge.)

Today is my third anniversary with The Bunny.
And you know what I love best about it?
That it feels like any other day.
It's not summoning any major reflection.
It's not forcing make-or-break-decisions.
It's just another day of having Bunny be that special guy in my life, and feeling perfectly at ease and so content with it.
This is the kind of love I never expected I would want or need.
When you're younger, it's fun to have complicated relationships, full of drama and the eventual kiss-and-make-up.
But as I've grown older, I crave a relationship that is my happy constant in life, even when jobs and friends and finances and the weather make things bumpy.

Recently at a dinner, someone put me on the spot to defend my beliefs on a number of issues. Bunny was there to add occasional vocal input, but provided emotional support throughout.
He let me fight my own fight, and didn't feel the typical misogynistic urge to rescue me.
And it's BECAUSE of that characteristic that he was still my knight in shining armor.
He is someone who respects my opinions, even when they differ from his, and who respects, nay DEMANDS, my intelligence.

A man like this is such a gift.
I'm endlessly grateful for it.
1,095 days and counting....
Cxx.

Wireless Network Name WIN

2010-07-17T00:29:00.003-04:00

Here's a little surprise I discovered one day....

Nothing like a little snark to make your day worthwhile.
Happy Weekend.
Cxx.

Four Eyes Forever

2010-07-16T23:39:00.004-04:00

After hearing what you had to say, and polling my friends via Facebook and email, I finally ordered my Warby Parker specs!

In the end I settled on the Zagg.
What do you think?!
They're sturdy but light, and exactly what I wanted.

Warby Parker deserves big props for their excellent customer service.
The online purchasing process was seamless, and I ordered the glasses on Thursday, July 8 and they arrived on Wednesday, July 14.
Amazing!
I've been wearing them ever since I received them...with no signs of taking them off anytime soon.
(That's QUITE the turnaround for someone whose former relationship with glasses was nothing short of hostile.)

Highly recommended. I'm already trying to select my next pair...
Cxx.
P.S. Thanks to everyone who weighed in on the poll!

Swan Song: Retirement of Ballerina Darci Kistler

2010-06-30T23:50:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday I attended a historic event: the retirement of New York City Ballet principal dancer Darci Kistler.

Darci was the last in a long string of larger-than-life ballerinas who were hand-picked and trained by the equally larger-than-life George Balanchine.
With the exception of an ankle injury that sidelined her in the '80s, Darci has enjoyed a remarkable 30 year performance career as a dancer at City Ballet, and remains its fastest rising star (from Apprentice to Principal in just 2 years).

This poster of Darci adorned my dorm room walls throughout college:

She's posing as Odette, the lead character from "Swan Lake," atop the surface of The Pond at Central Park, with The Plaza visible in the background. This image, with its illusory magic, always defined for me the best of everything about City Ballet. I cannot imagine a recent City Ballet principal better suited to pose for this iconic photo, and I will treasure it always as a perfect tribute to the city and the art that I love so dearly.

I have been looking forward to her farewell performance for months, but I confess that Darci has never been one of my favorite performers, though I have always respected her deeply.

I frequently find myself longing for glory days which predate my lifetime, and my sense has always been that Darci was great long before I ever got to see her dance (in fact, before I was even born), and that she may have done well to retire several years ago.

Though I don't always agree with his assessments, statements made in NYTimes dance critic Alastair Macaulay's review of Darci's final performance seem to corroborate my personal feelings on her career:
"The film 'George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker,"' in which she appeared as the Sugar Plum Fairy, suggests that her glory lasted until at least 1993. But my memory is that by 1992, her dancing had become scaled down, polite and musically safe. Since then her career has been a long, slow fade... After Sunday’s performance I had coffee with a balletgoer who had become a devotee of New York City Ballet in 1996. I was hoping that he would tell me how the later Kistler had meant to him something of what Fonteyn once meant to me. But in all those years, Ms. Kistler’s dancing had never been one of his reasons to follow the company. Her pale autumn has lasted far longer than her bright spring and summer combined, and I cannot see that since 1992 she has been a good role model for the young."

He acknowledges, generously, her undeniable loveliness:
"Her long, tapering limbs; remarkable breadth of shoulder; loveliness of facial features (and in particular her lips, whose beautiful outline registered in the theater with great distinction); the beautiful pliancy of her feet,"
and noted how, during her farewell performance,
"the light still falls beautifully on the planes of her face."
And yet, the time has come for her to bid us adieu.

Many balletomanes have maintained that as long as Darci dances, Balanchine lives.
I used to think that was true; after all, there is nothing like a direct link to the origin of genius to legitimize the continuation of a tradition.
And yet, as I watched Darci dance on Sunday, I found myself longing for other dancers to join her on stage...Tess Reichlen, Maria Kowroski, Sara Mearns.
And I realized that the tradition will continue, perhaps stronger, after Darci.
Macaulay came to the same conclusion, ending his review by stating:
"With the retirement of this last Balanchine ballerina, we have all moved one generation on in history."

I'll leave you with some photos I took during the farewell:

Final performance bow after Swan Lake, Act IV:

Accepting her first flower, from conductor Clotilde Otranto:

A final cast bow:

A bear hug and flowers from former principal dancer Albert Evans, who retired one week prior:

Getting a lift from past and present male Principal dancers, with other Principals surrounding her on stage:

Baby bouquets from baby ballerinas of the School of American Ballet (where Darci has long been a teacher):

Darci is the youngest child with four older brothers.
Three of them, along with her mother, came on stage and lifted her up, in one of the most fun and touching moments of the evening:

Hugging daughter Talicia:

Showered with falling glitter:

It really was quite a sight to behold:

The sunlight begins to set on Lincoln Center after the farewell ends:

Hoping the best will always be yet to come,
Cxx.

Food For Thought: Life Advice

2010-06-23T07:00:00.002-04:00

As I get older, I find myself lamenting the lessons that weren't taught to me earlier in life.
I'm astonished at the things we're told again and again, such as "High School is the best years of your life."
Honestly, if that's true you should give up at age 18--either you've plateaued as the Prom Queen, or you want to slit your wrists because puberty is painful.

Here are two things I've learned that AREN'T taught but should be:
1) College is a tabula rasa, but not in the way you'd expect.
It's merely a new situation in which you must prove yourself to an entirely new set of people who could care less about your former high school life. Getting into the college of your dreams isn't a guaranteed golden ticket to the life of your dreams. There are no promises once you graduate, even if you have a degree from a prestigious alma mater.
When you embark on your career, you have to start all over again.
You will have to work hard for EVERY success you want until you die.

-AND-

2) You will always be you.
Even if you get a high-powered job, even if you marry Prince Charming, even if you can shop endlessly and vacation in the most beautiful places in the world...if you are a boring person, you will ALWAYS be a boring person. If you are mean, you will always be mean.
If you pity yourself, YOU WILL PITY YOURSELF REGARDLESS of your external environment (even if it's Madison Avenue or Paris or St. Tropez).
To quote one of my favorite books, Middlesex, "There was nowhere to go that wouldn't be me."
Hopefully you'll be a cool, interesting and generous person, no matter where you are in life.

In the vein of supporting legitimate advice over fluffy adages and throw-pillow embroidery maxims, I wanted to pass along an amazing list I recently discovered (via my friend AW). Check it out, and, if anything appeals to you, take the lessons to heart:

"20 Things I Wish I'd Known at 20"
by Mighty Girl

Nothing but love,
Cxx.

SPECtacular Warby Parker

2010-06-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago my eyes were acting up and I was relegated to wearing my glasses for several days.
I *HATE* my glasses.

The last time I wore them for an extended period of time was also involuntary:
During the writing of my senior thesis.
I repeat, I *HATE* my glasses.
Needless to say, there are numerous bad associations with my specs.

However, since my prescription has changed (it's IMPROVED, if you can believe it) since my college days, I need a new pair; digging them out of the archives whenever I have an ocular emergency simply won't suffice anymore.

While in theory few things are more dashing than Prada or Chanel, I know that glasses sold under those names are licensed, and have no more to do with the couture design ateliers than the cheapy glasses on the back shelves.
So I searched for inexpensive yet fashionable alternatives.
Et voila: Warby Parker.

Warby Parker is the brainchild of 4 Wharton grads.
Since the company is exclusively e-commerce, they cut out the costs of a brick & mortar joint.
No middle man. Just them and the customer.
Thus, every chic pair is an unbelievable $95.
You heard me.
Better still?
Like TOMS shoes, for every pair of Warby Parkers you buy, the company donates a pair of glasses to someone in need.
(The Bunny says this is a marketing gimmick. But 1) I appreciate persuasive marketing, and 2) if I have to spend money I might as well be socially conscious while doing it, non?)

The really fun part about purchasing from the site is the interactive website, which allows you to upload photos of yourself and virtually "try-on" the glasses.
I've narrowed my options down to three pairs, having virtually tried them on 3 different photos of myself: left angle, right angle, and hair pulled back:

The Elbridge

The Japhy
(More height in the lens.)

The Zagg
(Frame is more square and bigger all-around. A nod to hipster nerd specs.)

WHAT DO YOU THINK?!
Cast your vote in the comments and help me decide which ones to order!
My four-eyes only have eyes for Y-O-U, Readers.
Cxx.

A Trip to Rabbit Island

2010-06-19T07:00:00.004-04:00

Last weekend the Bunny and I made plans to visit the Central Park Zoo and then sample BBQ vendors from all over the country at the annual Big Apple Barbecue.

Unfortunately, to the former, the annual Puerto Rican Day parade seized Fifth Avenue (making access to the zoo virtually impossible), and, to the latter, the weather was rainy and not ideal for waiting in line...even for delicious, delicious pulled pork.

Being the ever resourceful New Yorker that he is, Bunny suggested on a whim that we travel to the New York Aquarium at Coney Island!

For only $2.25 in Metrocard fare and a pleasant 45 minute subway ride through Brooklyn, we were transported to a different world.
Different, that is, except for the streets bearing the same names:

(In Manhattan I live off of "Bowery")
and...well, another Puerto Rican Day celebration:

Nevertheless, it was clear that we weren't in Manhattan anymore.

I always feel exhilarated by colorful boardwalks and the architecture of amusement parks:

As I said, it was raining. We brought our umbrella but other visitors made do with items at hand: a pizza box (at left) and a towel (at right):

We wandered in the drizzle down the long boardwalk to the Aquarium:

(I AM the Pout-Pout Fish!)

Swimming in the same tank as these gentle turtles?
This guy:

Those teeth and crazy eyes don't put any stereotypes to rest...

These swirling iridescent fish created a visual worthy of a Little Mermaid "Part of Your World"/"Kiss The Girl" montage:

Seahorse!

I learned something amazing about seahorses:
They hook their tails to plants and to one another to gain leverage in order to search for food. In this instance, two seahorses (one, at left, almost entirely camouflaged with the sand) wrapped their tails to create enough weight to sink to the bottom of the tank and poke around.

Dwarf Caiman! (So still, we were initially concerned that he might be dead):

Anemone:

Honestly, who doesn't love starfish?

I spotted a baby starfish in the anemone tank:

Once we satisfied our thirst for marine education, I forced Bunny into the requisite visit to the Gift Shop, and made him model the fine merchandise:

(Sadly my powers of persuasion were null when it came to purchasing the shark backpack and gator visor.)

Perhaps the best discovery of the day was this kosher vending machine in the cafeteria:

Open "24/6." Bahahahahahaha. GENIUS!

After leaving the Aquarium we returned to Luna Park (where the rides are) and I challenged The Bunny to a rousing game of Whack-A-Mole.

First to 150 points wins!

Sadly, my score is the one at right.
Nevertheless, The Bunny selected for his prize a pink gorilla and GAVE IT TO ME!
My hero!

My Dutch friend, KS, recently taught me how to say "Bunny" in Dutch: Konijn.
It turns out that Coney Island got its name from the old Dutch Conyne Eylandt (modern Konijnen Island) : "Rabbit Island"!
So apropos for me and my Bunny.

If you find yourself in the area with nothing to do, today (June 19th) is Coney Island's annual Mermaid Parade, complete with costumes (and a lot of drag)! Should be fun.

Cxx.

Summer Trim

2010-06-19T00:53:00.006-04:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I have the best hairstylist ever

(see previous posts 1, 2, and 3).
Daily Candy agrees, and this week posted a video showcasing Julie teaching us busy and admittedly-untalented-when-it-comes-to-updos girls how to do a quick and glamorous chignon for summer.

Ch-ch-ch-check it out:

http://www.dailycandy.com/all-cities/video/84231/Easy-Updos-with-Fox-Boy-Salon

Every time I'm with Julie she makes me feel like Jackie Kennedy's Bohemian Princess daughter.
And when I leave her salon, I feel like I OWN this goddamn city.
I'm amazed there aren't tomes of poetry devoted to the transformative magic of a good haircut; someone needs to get on that stat.

Julie said there's nothing better in summer than a brunette with long hair wearing a sundress;
I'm more than happy to exemplify that vision.

I'm in love. Bravo (and thanks!), Julie!

Cxx.

A New York Minute

2010-06-18T17:10:00.003-04:00

Life moves FAST, and over the last few months it's become exceedingly apparent that it's so much easier for me to Tweet the details of my life as they unfold than it is to post on my dearly beloved blog. So I hope you'll follow me on Twitter if you aren't already:

@MurphysNewLaw

Then you will see that I have far from ceased to continue living my life and embracing social and digital media!

(All that being said, there are things you can do on Blogger that 140 characters can't match. More posts forthcoming!)

Cxx.

See you soon!

2010-06-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

Don't give up on me yet! New posts coming to Murphy's (New) Law soon!

Cxx.

Addendum to the previous post...

2010-04-30T00:18:00.002-04:00

I have had a number of readers contact me to inform me that the silver metallic Hunters are indeed available in adult sizes, and I SO SO SO appreciate the thoughtfulness that each message represents.
However, I am seeking the "SHORT" silver metallic Hunter (as opposed to the classic "TALL"), and unfortunately for now the "short" silver Hunters are only manufactured in childrens' sizes. As a size 9.5 big foot, I just have to be patient until Hunter manufactures that style in my size, or find a good alternative.
Thank you again for your kind attention to my silly dilemma!

Waiting, literally, for the other shoe to drop...
Cxx.

If April showers brought super powers...an ode to the Space Age silver Wellington

2010-04-28T02:10:00.001-04:00

I've had some wonderful wellies in my day.

A pair of Burberry novachecks dating from 2003 loyally saw me through my entire undergraduate education:

(Where's Waldo in Murf's dorm room?)

I made my first venture into the *GENIUS* of short Wellies with my Tretorns.
Honestly, if it rains in the summer (as it did throughout June 2009), the less un-breathable rubber encompassing your legs the better.
I'm never returning to knee-highs again.

Sadly, these boots recently died a tragic death (they were literally coming apart at the seams).

So as I began to consider replacements, I thought of combining the English tradition of Burberry with the ideal short-ness of the Tretorns, and adding an unusual twist...et voila!
The short, metallic silver HUNTER:

Astronaut?
Superhero?
I'll take either distinction, because it's my perfect rainboot;
classic and functional, but bucks convention a bit.
They would complement the quirkier outfits I wear, but also add spunk (in a terrifically chic way) to the veiled-behind-sunglasses-head-to-toe-black ensembles I don when I'm not draped in Lilly Pulitzer.

The catch?
Only available in kids' sizes!
(Murphy's Law strikes again.)

I'm tempted to venture into hipster territory and get some No6 clog boots, as seen on the fabulous feet of Michelle Williams, SJP, Julianne Moore, and many super glamorous girls who the 6 train with me.

No6's collection consists of a limited number of exceptional designs (quality over quantity, people!), many of which are SHORT and WEATHERPROOF or, rather, "GREAT FOR FOUL WEATHER" as the copywriting so adorably describes.

And a little side note for those of you pining for the days when J.Crew cornered the clog market (I'm looking at you, MissMindless!), No6's offerings turn those distant memories into a present reality:

I would happily romp around in these during all seasons:

Moral(s) of the story:
1) Short Wellies are the best bang for your buck if you're a city girl romping around in every weather condition throughout each season of the year (esp. Spring and Summer).
2) If you see adult-sized silver metallic Hunters, LET ME KNOW ASAP.
3) Clogs are back. Embrace it. And wear it well.

Cxx.

2 Saturdays ago: 25th Birthday Fete!

2010-04-24T22:38:00.016-04:00

Fact: Planning a birthday party is always harder than it should be.

NYC Truth: Organizing a party in Manhattan will drive you to madness.
Real Life-ism: Nobody cares about your party [as much as you do].
Conclusion: Calm the eff down, plan something fun for all, and wear a pretty dress and shiny shoes that make you happy.

It's such a blessing to gain WISDOM with age. *Whew.*

Thus:
The fun plan took the form of an improv comedy show at the UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE, starring actors and writers from "30 Rock," "The Office" and other hilarious shows, followed by dinner at La Bottega, located in the Maritime Hotel.

Pretty dress? Check!

Shiny shoes? Check!

(ELM, SB and The Bunny)

I think my friends are gorgeous.
I've noticed lately that my peers--meaning specifically those people born in 1984 and 1985--are looking ravishingly gorgeous and seriously radiant.
Quite simply, they look the best they've ever looked.
Even on Facebook, when I peruse current photos of people I haven't seen in the flesh since we were 9, it's obvious to me that they've reached a beauty "critical mass."
Mind you, that isn't to say that the best isn't yet to come, because I think it is, but this is a pleasant plateau to reach following the not-yet-distant-enough pains of pre-and-post-adolescence.

I think there will certainly be a time in my life when I'll gaze with jealousy upon the cellulite-free and curve-less figures of teenage girls, and long for that phase in my physical development (which, if I'm honest with myself, never actually existed).

But for now, I think my friends, and even I, look the way we're supposed to--and hopefully feel a little more comfortable in our own skin, too.
That sense of peace is a true birthday gift.

They're such a happy bunch; I'm tremendously and unduly lucky...

(A(K)K, EJS and LAT)

(LAT and BJE)

(DM and CCR)

(MVG, G(A)S, and CLB)

(ELM and SB)

(CJM)

(DM, CCR, ESG and CJM)

(CJM, MVG, G(A)S, and CLB)

(CLB and CJM)

(BJE, CJM and LAT: Even wearing heels it's sort of hopeless with these two...)

(Princeton Girls: LAT, A(K)K, MVG, EJS, and CJM)

I've got a GOOD FEELING about year #25...
In the words of the wrapping paper on one of my gifts, here's hoping that every day grants each of us a...

Cxx.

Last Thursday: Aging a Quarter-Century in the company of Dinosaurs

2010-04-23T18:02:00.001-04:00

So, it happened. I turned 25.

I had been dreading the occasion for no particular reason, but it's been a week now and 25 has been nothing short of DELIGHTFUL.

On the day itself I arrived at work to discover a lovely (and scrumptious) box of Jacques Torres chocolates sitting on my chair, courtesy of two co-workers:

Later in the day I grabbed some yummy Shake Shack and my co-workers and I held a little picnic in Central Park. The weather was PERFECT:

When I returned from lunch, a pretty package was sitting on my desk, containing
SUGAR SWEET SUNSHINE cupcakes!

Remember my friend, MBS?
Well, all those nice things I said about her in a previous post weren't merely lip service.
She took it upon herself to make my day EXTRA special by calling up--from her far away home in Kansas City--my favorite cupcakery in NYC and having a half-dozen bits of baked euphoria delivered to me. Talk about the PERFECT surprise. I am still in (sugar) shock.

After scarfing down burgers and cupcakes, I had to make my lardy-self presentable for the American Museum of Natural History's Spring Safari.
The vintage rental I was hoping for fell through in the end, but it allowed me to slip into one of my favorite Lilly pieces in my collection: The lobster bubble dress!

Turning 25 in a room with a 65-million-year-old dinosaur puts things into perspective...

As you can imagine, everything was swathed in Lilly fabric: tablecloths, pillows on seats, and the handsome attendees.

Somewhat against his will, I photographed this fine gentleman in his PANDAMONIUM trousers!

(I love a man who isn't afraid of pattern.
Full Disclosure: I own the shift in this print.)

Speaking of Pandamonium, the print made it easy to spot Janie, Lilly's Design Director, in her customized gown. For all of you who voted for this gown on the Lilly blog, you made the right choice! She looked fantastic:

Celeb DJs Harley Viera-Newton (in green) and Cassie Coane (in black) provided the beats in the Hall of Mammals and had everyone dancing:

Adding to the energetic and colorful ambience was the Lilly print team, who painted several pieces over the course of the evening:

Since I had some birthday money burning a hole in my clutch, I gave into the temptation I resisted on Tuesday at Christie's, and bid on a 3.1 Phillip Lim bag in the silent auction...and won!

I also took home another bag that night:

My gorgeous date, EJS, doesn't often pose for photos but made an exception for my birthday. Good karmic acts pay off! I ADORE this photo:

Thanks to EVERYONE who made April 15, 2010 a magical day for me from start to finish and then some.
Cxx.

Last Tuesday: Children for Children's Art of Giving Gala

2010-04-23T15:33:00.000-04:00

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young lady attending a charity event will be at her wits' end searching for the perfect dress to wear.
(To say nothing of the fact that said ladies often spend more money procuring their wardrobe than they ultimately donate to the charity itself. It's a bit sickening if you dwell on the idea for too long...)
In the end, I narrowed it down to these two:
1) The FuNkY:

2) And the (somewhat boring) Classic:

In the end, the classic won out.

This particular event, The Art of Giving to benefit Children for Children, was held at Christie's, so naturally auctions (both live and silent) were part of the evening. I was paddle #758, but managed to exercise some amount of self-control when it came to bidding.

The dinner was full of charming guests and honorees (Ellen Burstyn, Neil Bush, and Katie Couric), and the meal was themed with children in mind: cute veggie salad, Mac & Cheese entree, and a plate of cookies served with Serendipity 3's famous Frozen Hot Chocolate for dessert.

But the sweetest part of dessert?
THE EYE CANDY:

I am obsessed with Alec Baldwin.
On "30 Rock" one character recently described Jack Donaghy (the part perfectly embodied by A.Baldwin) as having "the piercing blue eyes of a Siberian husky."
No doubt the show's writers deserve an Emmy for ACCURACY.
(Katie Couric (pictured at right) was lovely, too.)

Following the rousing live auction--which offered a safari to South Africa, a week in Vail with skiing instruction from an Olympic champion, and a jaunt to Turks and Caicos among other exotic vacations--everyone adjourned to the first floor galleries to enjoy live music on the dance floor, the silent auction, additional desserts (including a La Maison du Chocolat tasting table), the Richard Avedon photographs on display, and a vintage (but still functional) photo booth.

Amidst all of the fun I failed to get a photograph of myself, and so snapped this one when I got home (I took this for you, Mom!)

To learn more about the great work Children for Children does, please visit their website HERE.
Cxx.

Last Monday: Ben Folds and Kate Miller-Heidke

2010-04-21T20:13:00.014-04:00

I was first introduced to Ben Folds when I was 16 years old and skeptical of all genres of music (despite a single soft spot for both Moby and Britney Spears). A musically savvy cousin introduced me to many artists, some of whom stuck and some of whom decidedly didn't (Led Zeppelin); Ben Folds Five fell into the former category.

Ben played (after the "Five" fell apart and he was merely Ben Folds...Live) at Princeton the week of my 20th birthday, and he played in New York the week of my 25th birthday. Do I luck out or what?

The best surprise of the night came not during Ben's portion but instead in the form of the opening act, Kate Miller-Heidke.
Her first tune, "Our Song," made my heart stop.

This Aussie is the real deal: a classically-trained singer, a great writer, blessed with the ability to alternate between soulfulness and rock. She's precisely the kind of funky bohemian girl you wish were your older sister, who would bestow upon you amazing hand-me-downs, and sneak you your first cigarette.

The best combination of her musical skills is exemplified in "Politics in Space," which, as she explained to the audience, expresses her "eternal regret at having been born too late for the 1960s." I hear that.

Kate said fans at a recent concert proclaimed that her husband-cum-guitarist Keir Nuttall (above left) looks like Chuckie from "The Rugrats."

(Keen observation.)

Kate had Keir take this picture of the audience (I am waving way up in the balcony).

Seriously adorable.

Then came Benny boy.
Most girls have at least one crush on someone who isn't their type, and Ben is that boy for me.
He slumps around in wrinkled t-shirts and jeans, sings about smoking pot enough to give you an idea of how he spends his free time, and has been married four times.
His voice is, well, atypical for a singer.
But he's enthusiastic, tells one hell of a good story, knows how to connect with people in an authentic way, and is a wonder on the piano.

He also has a great sense of humor. Here sets a Flat Stanley doll atop the piano, given to him by an audience member in tribute to his song "The Ascent of Stan."

During Ben's set, Kate returned to the stage to sub for Regina Spektor's in "You Don't Know Me":

Later, in a standard exhibition of his off-beat showmanship, Ben transitioned from piano to drums mid-song, while the drumset was still being assembled by a stagehand.

Over the course of many years, he hasn't lost the magic touch.
If you have the chance and you like their music, catch Ben and Kate on this tour before it ends!
Cxx.

I'm Crazy But I Get the Job Done

2010-04-11T23:52:00.011-04:00

Today begins a VERY busy week for me.

Tonight I kicked off my 25th birthday celebration with dinner out, courtesy of my boyfriend and his charming family.
My dessert plate, before:

...and after:

Here's what the rest of the week holds:

Monday 4.12: Ben Folds concert at Town Hall.
I've loved this man since I was 16. He performed at Princeton the week of my 20th birthday, and his concert tomorrow will get me in the mood for another birthday a half-decade later.

Tuesday 4.13: Children for Children benefit gala at Christie's.

This charity is the reason for my recent party at Lilly Pulitzer.
(To view all the fab professional photos from that event, click HERE.)
I'm on the Young Supporters (junior) committee and so pleased to be affiliated with CFC's great work. I'm in good company with the planning committee, and also look forward to seeing Katie Couric honored at the dinner.
Naturally, I'm still trying to decide what to wear...

Wednesday 4.14: ELM arrives from London-town!
My darling friend ELM (center) comes to NYC with her beau for a brief, but fabulous, few days.

We're having dinner on Wednesday and romping around the city on Friday.
I.CANNOT.WAIT. I only wish that the entire gang could be here to cause trouble together.

Thursday 4.15: I achieve a quarter-century and...
attend the American Museum of Natural History's Spring Safari.

(This special print is SO Lilly and SO New York.)

I'm friends with a museum VIP and am going as her special guest (love you, EJS!).
Since Lilly Pulitzer is sponsoring the evening (talk about the stars aligning...) I will be decked out in Lilly duds and, depending on how well I finagle things, VINTAGE Lilly!
Dress code? "Lilly or Louder"
Even the museum's whale is expected to wear a Lilly bowtie.
Bless the creative geniuses who dreamt up this sure-to-be-outstanding evening.

Friday 4.16: Playing NYC guide go ELM and SB!
Hold on to your hats, kids, because I live to give tours.

Saturday 4.17: Ringing in #25 in the company of friends.
An evening show at Upright Citizens Brigade followed by drinks at The Park?
DON'T MIND IF I DO.

Sunday 4.18: Collapse.
Merely from the sheer exhaustion and amazingness of being utterly spoiled and loved.

Cheers to going big or going home,
Cxx.

Page Three

2010-04-05T00:37:00.003-04:00

One of my simplest and most beloved pleasures is to scoop up the New York Times from my doorfront each morning--tea kettle boiling on the stove--and flip to the top-right corner of the third page.
Et voila.
The daily Tiffany ad.
I hate to admit that the newer ads are less beguiling and winning than those of the last 5 years, but take a peek at today's--it's perfect.

I hope everyone had a happy, sunny Easter.
Cxx.

Pesach snark

2010-03-29T09:11:00.002-04:00

It wouldn't be a proper Jewish holiday without a little snark, courtesy of SomeEcards.

Happy Pesach.
Cxx.

Singing Tom's praises: Colicchio & Sons

2010-03-29T08:37:00.006-04:00

My boyfriend, The Bunny, has a solid track record of surprising me with special treats (most recently this took the form of tickets to "A Little Night Music," starring Zeta-Jones and Lansbury on Broadway).

I figured it was my time to return the favor, and after reading a glowing New York Times review (snippet: "Mr. Colicchio’s is the must-try New York menu. His restaurant isn’t perfect. But it is exciting. And the food is terrifically good."), I booked a table at
Colicchio & Sons.

Tom Colicchio, chief judge on "Top Chef" and proprietor/chef behind Craft, 'wichcraft, and craftbar (which I enjoyed so much last summer), opened this restaurant last month in the former craftsteak location.

It's the first of his endeavors to bear his name, which says something for his commitment to what he's doing there. In fact, while we were dining, the man himself emerged from the kitchen to deliver dishes to a table. He may be a celebrity, but he is first and foremost a chef.

The space is gorgeous, the food is exceptional, the service is top of the line,
and the thoughtful small touches round out a signatures
It may seem insignificant, but when they brought Mr. Bunny his iced tea, they delivered with it a tiny carafe of simple syrup rather than hideous sugar packets.
Those are the kinds of details that will have me coming back time and again.

And besides, how can you beat this view of The Highline?

Well done, Tom.
Cxx.

Food For Thought: The Career Dilemma

2010-03-26T18:43:00.005-04:00

From time to time I find myself daydreaming about how nice it would be to see a big list of all possible jobs.

I could peruse the list and check off what I've done, what I would avoid at all costs, and denote what I wanted to try. By refining this process again and again, I would finally arrive at the "perfect" career for me.

But it doesn't work that way. I've taken some unconventional paths in pursuit of the right thing and, overall, have been very pleased with the results.

Yet part of me wonders if a list like the one described above would help me at all. I feel in my bones that I'm destined to continue on a unique path that will ultimately lead me to where I should be.

But god, maybe it would be easier to just be content working as an investment banker.

Where do you stand on this?
Cxx.

You're Invited!

2010-03-24T01:40:00.006-04:00

Next Tuesday I will be hosting an event for my favorite charity of late,

Children for Children.

This party, held at the Lilly Pulitzer townhouse on Madison Avenue, will allow shoppers to browse in the after-hours, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, receive great prizes and gifts, and, BEST OF ALL, donate 10% of their purchases directly back to Children for Children.

Please join in the fun. RSVP by March 28 to the number below!

I'll see you there.

Cxx.

Things That Make Me Smile: Here Comes the Sun (Doo Dum Doo Doo)

2010-03-19T09:00:00.002-04:00

It's been a LONG, COLD, BITTER winter in New York City.

The bleak weather has dragged down the moods and momentum of many people I know.

But recently I can't help but feel that the cloud (literal and figurative) has finally lifted.

Friends are getting new jobs (I'm looking at you, JCT!), acceptances to grad schools (three cheers for CCC going to Stanford Med!), embarking on new romances (*wink, wink* MVG), and carving out new career paths for themselves (proud of you, MBM)!

As for me, the many things in my pipeline are aligning and executing quite nicely.

Fingers are crossed that this period of détente and good luck continues!

In order to celebrate these happy feelings, let me share with you a most spectacular day that I had last weekend:

I woke up and hopped over to Hotel Griffou, a fabulous and new-ish subterranean spot in the center of the Village. So taken was I with the eclectic luxe-English-country-estate-gone-slightly-mad aesthetic that I'm seriously considering planning to have my upcoming 25th birthday fête there!

My dear friend MVG and I nibbled on:

Above: Skillet of Fresh Baked Sticky Buns (we shared)
Below: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup; Griffou Burger with Gruyere and Bacon

Afterward, we could barely move.
But it's a good thing we did.
We caught up with AWC--in town on a quick business trip--just long enough to give her a BIG HUG and for her to give me a sweet little bracelet!
(As if her Valentine's Day serenade weren't enough to treasure.)
I think it goes just perfectly with another bracelet she gave me:

And it was certainly nice to see her back in the context of the Big Apple. I hope she'll be a permanent fixture soon!

Following that short but sweet rendez-vous, MVG and I trained up to the UES to see the Quicktake: Rodarte exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
The exhibit didn't offer anything I hadn't seen before in the stores that carry Rodarte's young line, nor that I hadn't viewed in runway photos.
Nevertheless, it convinced me that the Mulleavy sisters are true craftsmen (though I still hesitate to elevate their status to "artists"). MVG and I both agreed that their initial concepts are delightfully singular, but only time will tell if their paradigm can translate into interesting variations on a theme, as well as profitability.
For everyone's sake, I hope it does...on both counts!

We walked through Central Park along the Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir to the Upper West Side, and the rain that persisted through the entire day had finally stopped.

A perfect end to a perfect day.
I hope you find yourself having many of these, too.
Cxx.

Luck o' the Irish

2010-03-17T13:17:00.003-04:00

I have an unlucky last name, but I still claim the luck o' the Irish!

Last night I was at the Madison Avenue Lilly Pulitzer store and snapped this shot of their new Murfee scarf corner:

This St. Patty's day I'll be Murphy's (New) Law in a (New) Murfee Scarf!

That's yours truly, buried under a pile of colorful scarves.

Hope you're wearing your green today!
Erin go bragh!
Cxx.

Urban Turbans: A Refreshing Look for Spring

2010-03-10T18:01:00.000-05:00

I've had a lifelong love affair with hair accessories:

Pretty pins during my ballet years, and headbands well before Blair Waldorf made them ubiquitous.
In an effort to be more adventurous, I think the time has arrived for me to embrace something different:
TURBANS!

Here are turbans done the right way on Prada's S/S and F/W '07 catwalks:

All Photos from Style.com

My favorite new model, Jacquelyn Jablonski, brings to mind a Girl [sans] the Pearl Earring in her bright turban twist:

Blogger Hanneli recently caught Parisian stylist Catherine Baba looking hopelessly chic in a turban (and on a bike, no less):

Don't want to twist and tie? Jennifer Ouellette's headbands make pulling off the look very easy:
Available at Barneys.com

Here's to a good hair day, everyday.
Cxx.

Perception v. Reality: "Neighbors" by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

2010-02-24T00:39:00.004-05:00

I like to think that ALL of my friends are amazingly talented, but some of my friends are granted special distinction by totally unbiased sources.
Such is the case with my brilliant buddy, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
In addition to winning a Fulbright Grant, a Princess Grace Foundation award and many other accolades, Branden can now add "professional/successful playwright" to his resume.

Last Friday I had the honor of seeing a production at The Public Theater (the powers behind Shakespeare in the Park, Hair, etc.) of a play Branden workshopped about a year-and-a-half ago, which I also attended.

Branden's show is called "Neighbors" or "N(E)IG(H)G(BO)ERS," and if you remove the parentheses you discover the play's central issues: race, racism, identity and environment. The New York Times wrote a feature article about the show which summarizes it better than I can: READ HERE.

I think what moved me so much about the show is the central idea that self-misperception and misperception BY others is hopelessly destructive. In a world that's often black and white, Branden's play blurs everything to gray.
And that struck a nerve with me.
Because...

I'm Chinese, but I'm also American.
I'm a Midwesterner by upbringing, but I never really fit in there.
By every right I earned a spot at Princeton, but often felt a sense of alienation at being only one of 6 people in my class from Kansas (and the only one from my city).
I feel in profound sense of belonging here in New York, but I've lived here fewer than 3 years.

So...
How do people see me? And how does that matter?

These are questions I will continue to ask with increased urgency after seeing Branden's ingenious, inspiring and insightful play.

Hugging the playwright after the performance.

The play runs through March 14 but is virtually sold out for its entire run.
I still encourage you to try to get any tickets that might crop up.
Information is available on The Public Theater's website HERE.

This is only the beginning of a prolific and important career.
Bravo, BJJ!
Cxx.

Vicky B. at B.G.

2010-02-17T00:07:00.009-05:00

Tonight my friend A.S. and I attended an event to celebrate Victoria Beckham's new line of jeans and sunglasses at Bergdorf Goodman.

Victoria Beckham jeans featured in Bergdorf's windows.

I had hoped to see samples of the excellent pieces Victoria debuted at her Fashion Week presentation on Valentine's Day. I cannot express how I covet this gorgeous red dress:

(And I really like these as well. It's a fresh English twist on the Americana sexiness that Michael Kors so successfully achieves season after season.)

But alas, I will have to be patient.

Instead we were greeted by racks of skinny patched and slightly deconstructed jeans, versatile metallic knit tops, and a variety of vintage-inspired sunnies.

Modeling the latest Victoria Beckham sunglasses.

The event was busy but not over-crowded, and Victoria mingled with everyone.
Bergdorf buyers Sunni and Samantha, from MTV's "The City," were spotted on the job and in the dressing rooms; I don't blame Samantha for succumbing to the temptation to slip on VB's sexy jeans.

Victoria and A.S.
---
Prior to the fete on the 5th floor, A.S. and I dined on the 7th floor at BG.

After a delicious dinner in the ambience of Kelly Wearstler's decorative magic, and with the snow falling down on Central Park directly outside, we indulged in Mariage Freres tea and cookies.

A promotional cookie arrived with the check to remind us of BG's new children's shop: Little BG!

We took a peek. Isn't it cute? A bit like J.Crew's crewcuts store, but nevermind that; I can't ever get enough of childhood fantasy.

It was such a fun night of adding a little *spice* to my life.
Cxx.

Love You More than Valentino

2010-02-16T02:35:00.005-05:00

He wouldn't be The Bunny if he didn't have a surprise up his sleeve.
(That reminds me, I need to share the story about "A Little Night Music"!)

Anyway, sneaky Steven told me he was taking me out for Valentine's dinner.
We walked to the street corner to "catch a cab" and he abruptly navigated me into the Cooper Square Hotel (located mere yards from the apartment), where a table at the hotel's brand new and well-received restaurant, Faustina, awaited us.

One of their specialities? BREAD.
Don't mind if I do....

Everything is tapas-style so we ordered several small plates to share:

Tuna and Avocado "Salad" with sea urchin viniagrette

Grilled Ciabatta with Poached Duck Egg and Fonduta//
Lardo Wrapped Prawns over Rosemary Lentils

Herbed Fries //
Black Truffle Risotto with Egg and Ricci di Mare (sea urchin)

Short Ribs of Beef and Spaetzle //
Stewed Eggplant and Pork Shoulder

Five-layer chocolate cake with mocha ice cream.

The Bunny and I both agreed that it wasn't the best meal we'd ever eaten (partially due to the service), but we feasted like kings and had a great time together.

Immediately following the end of our dinner I noticed a voicemail on my phone.
It was nothing short of a singing telegram from my friend AWC, who is a MASTER in the craft of wordplay.
Here are the outstanding lyrics to my singing Valentine:

Christine, oh, Christine, oh
I love you more than Valentino

On this Valentine's Day
I just wanted to say
That Christine, oh, Christine, oh
You know how much you mean, oh
To me

Now before I leave
Please also say hello to Steve
I hope you are filled with joy
for that boy
Today

Re: "That Boy"? I definitely am.
I hope everyone enjoyed the day whether with lovers or friends.
After all, love is love.
Cxx.

Foxier than Boy.

2010-02-16T02:27:00.004-05:00

I'm verging on redundant here, but honestly my third haircut with Julie Dickson of Fox & Boy was so fun (and so damn good) that I'm promoting her handiwork YET AGAIN.

Behold the shine and luscious layers:

If you live in Manhattan and you need a coiffeur (or coiffeuse, as it were), give Julie a call.

Cxx.

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

2010-02-16T01:50:00.001-05:00

Here's what's fun: Being a kid raised in America's heartland who also happens to be, randomly, half-Chinese.

Here's what's better: Living in NYC and having an Aunt and Uncle in Connecticut (conveniently one hour north) who invite you to Chinese New Year dinner.

Here's what's best of all: Having the Aunt and Uncle cook, so you're not left to your own devices regarding ringing in said cultural heritage via gourmet tradition.
(Honestly, I wouldn't even try to cook; I'd give my friends at Grand Sichuan a call.)

Voila:

May the year of the tiger be a great one for you.
Cxx.
(aka Dan Xiao Ying)

Crafty Cupid

2010-02-12T00:23:00.010-05:00

When it comes to holidays, I can be a bit of a fair weather fan.

If I have a great costume idea and diverting plans for the evening, Halloween takes the cake.
But when Valentine's Day rolls around several months later I want nothing more than to inundate my friends with cards and trinkets, and submerge myself in a world of pink roses.

As a kid, I had more fabulous holiday-specific hair bows, necklaces, sweaters and tights for Valentine's Day than any other holiday. At this time every year I long for those accoutrements and the feelings they imbued me with.

Because of those positive associations, I think Valentine's Day is an utterly LOVABLE event (even when you're single). Afterall:

It's one of the few occasions in which pink and red colored paper is festive enough to warm hearts and set the tone for a whole party.
It's a free pass to gush about how much you love the people in your life (and force them to accept it).
Whereas Christmas offers opportunities to fantasize about the idyllic Victorian lifestyle depicted in Currier & Ives prints, Valentine's Day allows us to actually LIVE OUT those romanticized moments: Swapping locks of hair, hand-stitched cards, and decorating with lace, lace and more lace.

I used to make by hand every single Valentine that I distributed.
Were it not for limits in time and, more truthfully, in crafting/storage space, I think I still would.
The February issue of Martha Stewart Living was an annual treat that provided me the best inspiration for V-Day projects.

In honor of one of my favorite pastimes I'm sharing here some of the loveliest Valentine's crafting ideas from Martha's website (click on any photo to be redirected to full instructions):

Handmade Heart Doilies

For Secret Messages...

Chocolate Wrapper // Valentine Flowers (I wrote poems on these in 7th grade)

For that Heartfelt Homespun feeling...

Heart-Shaped Soap // See-Through Valentines

For a little Tea and Sympathy...

Heart-Shaped Tea Bags

For Creating Paper Magic...

Cobweb Valentine // Lace-Print Stationery

Think (and wear!) Pink.
Make the Boys Wink.
happy <3 day. Cxx.

(All photos via MarthaStewart.com)

Central Park Comes to Life: Snowmageddon 2010

2010-02-10T18:27:00.013-05:00

As most of you may have heard -- and some of you have experienced -- NYC is currently in the middle of a blizzard. This being the city that never sleeps, not much changed today other than schools being canceled and my haircut getting rescheduled.

Since school children were out for the day, however, this meant a lot of sledding, snowball fighting and snowman building in Central Park. I took a little stroll to check out the scene.

The hill at the 77th Street entrance.

This little girl was half of a pair of adorable twins, both of whom wore ballet pink Moncler jackets and ski pants. So New York.

My Bean Boots put to good use.

Snowmen of all varieties were on display:

In the Spring and Summer months I spend a lot of time in this particular section of the Park, called Cedar Hill. I pack a lunch and read on the benches while I eat. Sometimes I even take a nap in the sunshine on this exact knoll (I hope this news won't worry my mother; I haven't been murdered yet.). In fact, I've experienced some of the most restful sleep of my life in this very spot.

In the snow, however, this location that I know so well and frequent so often is wholly transformed. My sudden consciousness of this fact today made me realize that the versatility of NYC's landmarks is one of the things I love best about this city.

Just beyond these Park walls are two of the places where I work. Whereas this part of the Park often serves as my lunch spot or after work stop, today it felt like a playground designed exclusively for winter sporting fun.

This statue of Alice in Wonderland is often crowded by tourists in warmer months but was reclaimed today by native New Yorkers.

And the Boat Basin -- which in the summertime is full of electronic toy sailboats, and a point of convergence for ice cream-eating visitors -- was transformed into a place for quiet reflection today.

Any geographic location that experiences seasons undergoes this kind of transformation from month to month, but because many of those places (I'm thinking of my homestate of Kansas) are car-based societies, one's experience doesn't change from Autumn to Winter to Spring to Summer. In New York, you live outside and every change is felt in wholly-consuming and wonderfully metamorphic ways.

As I left the park I passed a father pulling his children in a sled across a Fifth Avenue crosswalk.
Only in New York.

Cxx.

One in a Million

2010-02-10T16:43:00.004-05:00

Today is the birthday of one of the very best friends that life has gifted to me:
MBS!

An old favorite from 2007: EMW, me and MBS

M and I first met in 4th grade, so it's an understatement to say that she knows me well.
She has seen me through thick and thin, and supported me in the very worst moments of my life.
I am indebted to her for those reasons and millions more; I love her for loving me.
But I love her for JUST BEING HER because she makes smart choices and loves fully every single day of her life.
She is truly one in a million.

Happy Birthday, M. I hope this is your best year yet.

Cxx.

New York Wonder Women: Donna Karan and Julie Gilhart

2010-02-05T10:20:00.004-05:00

One of the things I love best about fashion is its history of propelling great women to prominence. This doesn't mean that the pioneering female designers, editors, directors had an easy ride. Rather, it seems to be an organic "fit" that people accept, even while they resist women in the boardroom and in the courtroom. Thus, with fewer impediments to the mere fact of their gender, these brilliant women are able to simply be PEOPLE WITH MASTERY OVER A CRAFT and an INDUSTRY.

Recently I was able to enjoy an audience with two such women. In honor of their new exhibition about design and sustainability, the Pratt Institute held a panel discussion featuring two designers of sustainable clothing lines, Caroline Priebe of Uluru and Mary Ping of Slow and Steady Wins the Race, along with Julie Gilhart, the Fashion Director of Barney's.

Julie has an amazing story, which my friend MVG would be happy to tell you. MVG positively idolizes Julie because they're both from Texas and both love fashion. Having seen Julie only briefly in "Seamless," a great documentary about the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Prize, I was anxious for her to prove her worthiness of being a high-powered woman at one of the most important department stores in the U.S. She absolutely delivered the goods.

In a Dries Van Noten jacket, embellished with fair trade beads from Africa, Julie Gilhart discusses sustainable fashion.

Julie went right to the heart of the matter of why sustainability matters: Basically it's an issue of prioritizing QUALITY over QUANTITY (something I've ranted about before). Fast fashion may serve a certain purpose, but it's incredibly wasteful because the clothes aren't designed for longevity; as my dear college friend, DAW, used to say "Yeah...those clothes WON'T last Forever...21." In addition to being wholly disposable, there's nothing LUXURIOUS about those pieces. Life is miserable and predictably awful much of the time. If we have the option and opportunity to inject a little luxury (and to effect conscientious change for our planet) then we should take full advantage. As Julie said,
"I want GOOD FOOD,
GOOD CLOTHES,
MORE SLEEP."
Amen.

After the discussion ended, MVG finally chatted with her hero! Feeling like a proud mother, I snapped this shot of the two of them walking down the stairs together. MVG even snagged Julie's last business card before JG jetted off to see the Paris shows.

---
Last night, MVG and I rendezvoused at Parsons to celebrate their new MFA program and to hear Donna Karan speak about her life experiences.

I had previously seen, but not heard, DK at Fashion's Night Out. I grew up loving DK's gorgeous draperies and her distinctly urban style: to me, she is the personification of New York City. She spoke of working for Anne Klein, and creating her first collection when she was pregnant and Anne was diagnosed with cancer and dying in the hospital. Donna literally worked on the collection until she was 9 days overdue, gave birth, and then Anne died the next day. It aroused in me the awareness (that I have yet to fully experience myself) of how bittersweet the struggles to be a successful woman can be: to lose a mother-figure, to become a mother yourself, and to have to fight to keep your business afloat. But Donna did it all, and in that particular instance she did it in the course of a few days.

As a natural caregiver she also touched on the ideas of socially responsible and sustainable clothing, and, even more importantly, about social consciousness itself. She said that it wasn't enough to join a charity in which you can be abstractly involved, but rather that social consciousness means being aware of the person sitting next to you and respecting their life and their story and the things that are happening to them. In a way, it's a QUALITY vs. quantity approach to human relations and one's day-to-day existence.

On a less serious note, she admitted to failing her "Draping" course at Parsons and being forced to take the summer school course; obviously she has more than compensated for that short-coming!
---
Sometimes I allow myself to be confused and incorrectly believe that New York is dominated and driven by the social set. Discussions like these with Julie and Donna remind me that women with sharp minds, a keen eye, and a clear voice are truly the ladies who rule New York.

Thank God.
Cxx.

D.C.: The Place to Be (sans below-freezing temps...)

2010-02-05T01:00:00.003-05:00

Last week I enjoyed the incredible opportunity of traveling to D.C. with curators from my museum in order to view object candidates for our upcoming exhibit.

Several years ago I interned at an auction house and worked hands-on with many pieces, but something about the idea of a trip that incorporated in-person art observation along with scholarly research was particularly enticing; it felt like my first real steps in a curator's shoes.

When I departed NYC it was snowing, as you can see from my view of Central Park. Since there was no snow in D.C.'s forecast I felt assured it would be warmer. Oh, the folly of assumption...

I arrived in The District to a lovely welcome from Union Station.

I set off straightaway into the cold to visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery. They boast an excellent art collection that structurally coalesces around Norman Foster's gorgeous Kogod Courtyard:

Following my afternoon spent at S.A.A.M., I met up with two D.C.-based childhood friends for dinner at Georgia Brown's!
WRG and PMH happily settled into heaping portions of sumptuous soul food...

The cornbread is molded to resemble actual corn on the cob!
It's a cute, somewhat kitschy detail in an otherwise elegant restaurant.

They also serve up some of the finest fried green tomatoes known to man:

Like any respectable D.C. institution, Georgia Brown's played host to a political fundraiser taking place mere feet from our table. It was just what I'd expect from a place that was (supposedly) Bill Clinton's favorite D.C. haunt!

---
I spent the following morning conducting research at the Archives of American Art.
It was an intellectually electrifying adventure. I read an RSVP that was written by Letitia Baldridge on behalf of Jackie Kennedy, and touched correspondence--from mundane receipts to major planning documents-- that shaped a crucial event pertaining to my exhibition. Had I known how to research this efficiently when I was 21 I would have savored writing my Princeton thesis.
Alas, I'm grateful for finally having acquired this skill set pre-grad school!

After wrapping up my queries I visited the Corcoran Gallery and was given a behind-the-scenes tour, and a peek into the conservation lab at a painting of particular interest to my project.

In taking the scenic route from the Corcoran to my next stop, the National Gallery of Art, I passed by the White House. Is it possible to feel anything but complete patriotic adoration at the site of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

I submit that it is not!

I also took a quick stop to admire the skaters at, and the sculptures around, the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink.

Anyone who's visited the Princeton Art Museum in the last few years will be struck by the familiarity of Magdalena Abakanowicz's contribution to the garden:

My final destination, the NGA, was a complete delight. Highlights from the Dale Collection merely underscored the astonishing breadth and depth of the museum's collection, and I think we should all be very proud to call these our NATIONAL holdings.

It was a short but worthwhile visit. I look forward to returning for more art, more research and more good time with friends (Miss Mindless, this means You!).
Cxx.

Balmy Breezes.

2010-01-26T01:13:00.000-05:00

Forgive my lack of updates lately!

I've been busy in general, but last week specifically my absence can be explained by two sweet little words:
PALM BEACH!
Murf was on vacation.
The sun was shining and the water was inviting.

Here are a few photos showcasing how I spent some of my time:

My view every morning:

Breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton:

A stop in at Lilly Pulitzer:

Dale Chihuly ceiling at the Norton Museum:

High tea at The Breakers:

The beauty of Worth Avenue's Vias:

Live models from local shops showing their wares during our meal at Ta-boo:

Via Mizner, where "it all started with a juice stand":

Lots of fun, many good memories, and a TAN for a souvenir!
Cxx.

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

2010-01-12T14:30:00.005-05:00

I have loved Jane Austen ever since 1995 (fifth grade) when A&E aired the BBC's epic interpretation of "Pride and Prejudice." This launched a lifetime of loving everything associated with that movie: Seeing Jennifer Ehle (that production's Lizzy Bennet) on Broadway for my 16th birthday; adoring all facets of Colin Firth, including his recent, stunning turn in Tom Ford's debut film "A Single Man"; Regency costumes; the soundtrack (which plays constantly on my iPod); and, of course, the other stories of Jane Austen.

As a Princeton student, sheer dumb luck allowed me to overlap with the tenure of Claudia Johnson, the Chair of the English department and a renowned Austen scholar. In my Sophomore year I took her course on Austen. Along with twice weekly lectures, I reveled in her presence for an extra hour each week during precept--small discussion groups led sometimes, though not always, by the professor. (If you ever needed a reason to go to Princeton this would be it: The frequent opportunity to sit in a precept, no larger than, say, 8 people, and discuss a single subject for hours with the world's foremost expert on that topic...I am still astounded at my good fortune in that regard.) Johnson's course one was of the most memorable and enjoyable of my life, allowing me to delve completely into Austen's marvelous, witty and somewhat bittersweet world, and securing forever my fascination with her unsurpassed skill as a writer. She has the reputation that she does through only 6 books and a small sampling of childhood writing (her Juvenilia), much of which was published posthumously; how many writers can make the same claim to fame?

On a recent Friday evening I went to the Morgan Library to see their exhibit entitled "A Woman's Wit: Jane Austen's Life and Legacy." As it turns out, of the over 3,000 letters Austen is believed to have written in her lifetime, the Morgan owns 51 of the 160 surviving epistles (more than any other institution). In the quiet period of the extended evening hours I took my time in reading Austen's original letters, penned in her own hand, to her sister Cassandra. I laughed at a silly note she wrote to her niece in which she spelled each word backwards (e.g. "I HSIW UOY A YPPAH WEN RAEY" for "I Wish You a Happy New Year"). Manuscripts, portraits and cartoons rounded out the exhibition. Her sharp wit and sheer brilliance is present and obvious in every article on display.

Photo via The Morgan Library

The Morgan commissioned a video in which leaders in each section of the humanities discuss their thoughts on Austen. Particularly enjoyable is Cornel West referring to Austen as "Sister Jane," and Fran Lebowitz stating:
"Writers who date date because the details date, and the details date because they're WRONG.
[Austen's] perceptions have no date because they're RIGHT."

(For those of you who cannot see it in person, you can view the film HERE.)

The exhibit runs through March 14. I urge you to go.

"Nobody minds having what is too good for them."
Cxx.

New Year's Resolution: A Splash of Hedonism

2009-12-31T11:54:00.001-05:00

I grew up visiting the Plaza Hotel on every one of my trips to NYC, bought more Eloise paraphernalia in the erstwhile Plaza gift shop than I'd like to admit, and celebrated two birthdays with high tea in the Palm Court.

A few days ago I visited the Plaza for the first time in nearly two years and was so distraught to see only the remnants of its former glory. The many floors of the historic hotel were recently gut-renovated and converted into apartments, while the first floor was turned into a gallery of retail shops. The only upside to this change is the month-old Eloise shop.

Now that the location of some of my best birthday memories consists of only a few spare tables and chairs, I've decided I need to find another place to enjoy my tea in NYC.
There are many New Year's Resolutions I'd like to make, especially because 2010 marks my 25th year (and because I'll be wearing a bikini on a beach in a few weeks' time), but since I'm unlikely to KEEP many of them, I'm making one resolution I believe I CAN keep:
Sample every high tea in Manhattan.

I have many places in mind, and will blog about them when I go. If you have any recommendations, I am ALWAYS happy to hear them!

So often our New Year's Resolutions are ascetic and rigid, and it's no wonder we dread them and often can't maintain them. Most of us would do well to have a little more fun in our lives. So in general, I resolve to be more of a hedonist this year:

-Attend the ballet more often
-Read more books
-Travel as much as I am able
-Sleep a little later
-Curl my hair if I feel like it
-Drink a little more champagne
-Keep taking long walks around my beloved NYC

And I hope you do too.
Best wishes for 2010!
Cxx.

Visions of Dew Drop Fairies Danced in My Head

2009-12-29T01:28:00.005-05:00

(Reichlen as Sugar Plum Fairy in a past season)

Last week the Bunny's mother treated me to a very special NYC experience: a performance of George Balanchine's "Nutcracker" at the City Ballet.
She couldn't have given me a more perfect gift; ballet is one of the true loves of my life.
As soon as we selected our attendance date, I compulsively checked the dancer casting on NYCB's website until it was posted. I am the balletomane described in the first few paragraphs of THIS article. But what a delight! Teresa Reichlen, one of the best dancers I've ever seen, was to dance the role of Dew Drop Fairy!

I first saw Ms. Reichlen this summer when she danced an incredible piece entitled "Bleeding All Over You" with Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company. She made such an impression on me that, looking back on my blog post from that event, I'm shocked that I didn't comment upon her dancing at all.

It's not often that I can remember exactly HOW a dancer moves.
I frequently leave a performance with general feelings and impressions about a dancer's artistry.
But Teresa Reichlen's movements were so singular that every aspect of the specialness of her dancing was burned into my mind. Her great lyrical sense allows her to play with the music's measure, drawing out special characteristics in the score that might otherwise go unnoticed; pairing this with beautiful movement only underscores how imaginative and invaluable dancing is as an art form. As Gia Kourlas of the NYTimes noted in 2008, "To enhance her dancing with a touch of rubato — a kind of teasing or playing with the music — she uses her elegant limbs to slow down moments or stretch them out like taffy." You see her dance and cannot imagine that she should move in any other way. There is nothing false, phony, or forced about her movements or her performance (a problem, in my opinion, with many of City Ballet's dancers); it's a glorious thing to behold.

In 2004, following her debut as Dew Drop, the NYTimes said:

Teresa Reichlen was Sunday's exhilarating new Dewdrop, exciting in her boldly assured dancing and its blend of opposing qualities. Regal, with long, lean body lines and snapping finishes to her arm gestures, Ms. Reichlen was also musical, with serenely held balances, making for a look of skinny voluptuousness.

In a New York Times review from June 2009, Alistair Macauly said:

It is good to have had, at City Ballet, some debut performances that truly cleansed the palate. No more radiant example of this comes to mind than Teresa Reichlen’s performance last weekend in the lead role of George Balanchine’s “Concerto Barocco.” Ms. Reichlen is a tall, pure blonde with small head, long neck, clean line and easy stretch, the kind who looks bred to Balanchine’s specifications, though taller than most. Her dancing is so unmannered and so selfless that at first it’s hard to know what to say about it. Instead you find yourself watching the choreography with new attention...Afterward you realized that the very air onstage had seemed different from the moment of Ms. Reichlen’s entry: her dancing has a quality of springtime bloom.

And, the best of all reviews, came in February of this past year:

I have stated my general impression that the company is on the way up since the doldrums it hit between 1991 and 2002. One day I took a friend to a matinee; he had begun to follow the company before me and had followed it more closely during those dim years than I. Was I right that things had improved, I asked? He said simply, “Ten years ago there was no Teresa Reichlen.”

Happily, City Ballet rewarded her hardwork and EXCEPTIONAL talent with a promotion from Soloist to Principal dancer in October of this year.

I look forward to seeing many more of Ms. Reichlen's performances across what I hope will be a VERY long career. And I am so grateful to MCL (Bunny's Mom!) for the gorgeous, generous gift; it's a Nutcracker I'll always remember!

Cxx.

Gossip Girl Takes Over

2009-12-09T11:58:00.006-05:00

One of the best things about NYC is how frequently TV and movie companies take advantage of the city's backdrop (and the tax break they get for filming here!). Nearly every week I stumble upon trailers, lighting fixtures, craft services, and camera crews preparing to film anything from TV series like "Ugly Betty" and "Law and Order" to films like "New York, I Love You" and the less interesting "Step Up 3-D.

For the past two days, "Gossip Girl" has taken over my museum.
This isn't the first time I've encountered the GG gang. They used to film all the time around my old office in the Gramercy neighborhood (many scenes this past season have taken place on Irving Street).

But the fact that they were filming INSIDE of my museum somehow made today more exciting and brought out the starstruck side of me.

The plot, it seems, is that the last Bart Bass bequeathed a collection of Hudson River paintings to our museum, and they are having an event to name a wing in his honor. It's a totally legit idea.

Here's what I saw:

Our Events Office was converted into the Green Room:

Second floor taken over by wires, set building materials, lights, cameras, the whole shebang; there's a "Gossip Girl" directors chair folded and thrown on top of the stack at the far left.

Outside, craft service trucks and costume/makeup trailers lined the street:

This notice was posted on the makeup trailer door. I could hear barking as I walked by. Hilarious:

Normally I have great celeb karma. In fact, I like to say that I have a sixth sense about celebrities and can "feel" when they're near me (yes, I realize that this is an utterly ridiculous claim and also a pointless talent). At any rate, if you follow me on Twitter you'll know that I truly DO see my fair share of celebs. Unfortunately yesterday my stars didn't quite align. I caught a 2-nanosecond glimpse of the gorgeous Kelly Rutherford (aka Lilly Bass Van der Woodsen Humphrey). My co-workers fared better than I did. Some saw, and also chatted with, Dan, Chuck, and Blair. I've seen Blake Lively (Serena) and Connor Paolo (Eric) in other parts of town, but didn't catch them altogether yesterday.

Ah well. I'm mostly excited to see my museum in all of its glory when this episode airs--probably sometime in March. Keep an eye out and I'll keep you posted!

You know you love me,
XOXO

Do the Right Thing: A Wealth of Easy Options

2009-12-04T16:13:00.008-05:00

Lately I've been inundated by requests to vote for various charities in the

Chase Community Challenge

The idea is simple enough:
1) Access the Chase Community Giving application on Facebook.
2) You're given 20 votes to support needy charities.
3) You can search for charities that fit your interests, or search for specific charities you know the names of.
4) Place your votes by TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8
5) The winning charity receives $5,000,000!
---
I don't want to force anyone to use votes on causes they don't believe in, but here are four amazing contenders vying for the prize, and doing great work year-round on small budgets, that you may want to consider:

CHILDREN FOR CHILDREN:

Founded in 1994 as a reaction to the lavish birthday party scene in NYC, CFC teaches children the important life lessons behind community service and provides opportunities for kids as young as 3(!) to get involved and make a difference in their community.

COMMON CENTS:

Click HERE to read a previous blog post about this father/daughter-founded charity, inspired by my friend's desire as a little girl to make a difference in the life of a homeless man. Though a child is small, just like a penny, in large numbers an enormous difference can be made!

DARIUS GOES WEST:

Click HERE to read a previous blog post about this AMAZING film and project, which coalesce around an incredible teen named Darius Weems and his struggle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. (Incidentally, this DVD makes an excellent gift for the holidays and it will make you laugh, cry, and, hopefully, consider things from a different perspective.)

GLOBAL KIDS:

By providing learning opportunities through after-school programs, an Online Leadership Program, and a variety of venues and means, GK helps provide under-served students with the opportunity to become good students and great citizens.

Do the right thing! Your vote could make an ENORMOUS difference for any of these 4 charities above, and you will have 16 more opportunities to make a difference for other organizations, too!

Karma is a boomerang.
Cxx.

La Joie de Vivre through Alber's Lens

2009-12-02T11:04:00.007-05:00

I'm very behind on blogging! Planning to make a few posts tonight because there are so many fun things that have happened or that I've encountered in the last few weeks that I want to make a record of.

Right now, though, I want to share some recent, and of course whimsical, drawings by Alber Elbaz. The designer behind the magnificent pieces rolling out of Lanvin, Alber has prolifically put colored pen to paper and produced many wonderful drawings for public consumption:

The invitation for last weekend's Bal du Crillon:

(via Jane at Sea of Shoes. Her blog is, without a doubt, my favorite daily read.
She debuted at Le Bal in a bespoke Chanel gown. I'm so delighted she got to have this incredible experience, and handled it with such grace!)

A special tote in honor of Lanvin's 120th anniversary:

(Thanks, MVG, for showing me this adorable, if expensive, little nugget!)

La Poste Stamps

Only a few minutes ago Women's Wear Daily announced that Alber has also designed limited-edition stamps for France's postal system to honor Lanvin's 120th.
They'll be available for purchase early next year.

Alber is adorable. I can't think of many other designers who can create both sophisticated dresses and such light-hearted drawings; he really is a true talent.
Bisous,
Cxx.

Up, Up and Away!

2009-11-27T01:43:00.007-05:00

The museum where I now work is located on one of the blocks where the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons are lined up each year. The streets are blocked off, the balloons arrive from New Jersey, and then they're inflated. NYC citizens and tourists alike join a long snaking line to get an up-close view at some of our favorite characters, rendered 50 feet tall!

When I emerged from the subway during my morning commute, this is the scene that greeted me:

Here's the vantage point from the museum's entrance:
Spiderman weighed down by many sandbags, Pumpkins, KERMIT(!), and the Energizer Rabbit
(I think next year the Bunny and I should be Kermit and Miss Piggy for Halloween!)

The view from my boss' window:

Some of the friends we passed along the way:

The fine folks from Ritter even gave MVG and me some delicious chocolate in exchange for posing for photos with Ritter candy and making video holiday greetings.
Here's MVG, filming her segment:

We made sure to secure a delicious finale to our idyllic Autumn evening:
Pot Roast at Sarabeth's!

The crowds were a bit restless (especially with children in tow), and the volume of visitors was surprisingly large (even by New York standards). MVG and I joked that our float friends looked like giant caged animals, especially the ones with netting thrown over them; it's a sad thought, and in a way hampered my enjoyment of the experience. By the time we made it near the other street that showcased the remainder of the floats (like Hello Kitty, a character I adore, the Pillsbury Dough Boy, Shrek, etc.), we were exhausted and decided to call it a night. I won't be making an annual tradition out of this, but I think it's worth a visit at least once in your lifetime.

Because, honestly, who doesn't love a six-story-tall balloon?
Cxx.

The Tent is Up!

2009-11-26T23:42:00.008-05:00

A few weeks ago the Bunny said he had prepared a surprise for his sister and me.

Our instructions were to meet him at the fountain in Lincoln Center on a specific date at 6 o'clock in the evening.

I knew that the NYCB and ABT seasons had not yet begun, and that the showtime was a few hours too early for a Met opera performance or Philharmonic concert.

I had my suspicions about what it might be, but, unquestioningly, I showed up at Lincoln Center as instructed.

(Did you know that the New York State Theater, below, was recently rechristened the "David H. Koch Theater"? David is from Wichita, Kansas, just like me, and the second richest man in NYC, after Bloomberg. He and his brother Charles, who still lives in Wichita, are tied for #9 Richest American, and are the #19 and #20 Richest People in the World. Gives me faith in the kind of life I can build for myself in the future!)

When The Bunny and his sister arrived we were whisked off to the
BIG APPLE CIRCUS!

This was the first circus I'd ever been to (not counting Britney Spears' concert) and was a little skeptical.
But two things gave me faith that it would be a fun evening:
#1) A glowing review by the New York Times, and
#2) The fact that our little friend, SMG, is in the TV commercial and she only works on the best projects!

We sat in the third row. As the commercial jingle notes, all seats are no farther than 50 feet from the ring so every seat is a good one.

Unlike Ringling Brothers, this circus focuses on quality over spectacle. The single ring, versus Ringling's three rings, means that the entertainment must be very focused, and the small arena ensures that each act must be magnificent.

The only animals in the show were domesticated: horses and dogs rescued from shelters. I'm sure I would love the appearance of an elephant or a lion at first, but thoughts of animal cruelty would quickly plague me. To see rescued dogs enjoying jumping around and dancing in the ring was so much fun.

The show's star is Bello, a seventh generation clown (yes, his family has been doing this for over 200 years). He isn't a scary white-faced, red-ball-nosed clown. Instead he's silly, funny, great with sleight of hand, and very acrobatically talented. Children, rather than being afraid of him, were in LOVE with him.

The entertainment included contortionists, jugglers, trapeze artists, aerialists, comedy routines from Bello and Grandma the Clown, and some amazing feats in and on the Wheel of Wonder.

The circus also features a live orchestra, which earned MAJOR points in my book;
nothing beats live music.

The circus is in town through January 18, and I highly recommend that you go.
With tickets in the $25-$89 range it's a great bargain and will be some of the most fun two hours you'll spend all season.
You'll be amazed by the athleticism, delighted by the showmanship, and pleased by the great comedy.

Don't stand there watchin' me/
Follow me/
Show me what you can do

If you go, enjoy the show!
Cxx.

Bibliophilia meets Librophilia

2009-11-26T13:28:00.005-05:00

If you follow me on Twitter (@MurphysNewLaw), you may have seen my re-tweet of a friend's link to photos of beautiful libraries; I appended the link with the comment that these gorgeous locations were, without a doubt,

my idea of heaven.

My new museum job is a dream come true in many ways. The people there and the work itself are so fun and wholly fascinating, and I have the added perks of working in a gorgeous space right across the street from Central Park, and getting to conduct research at the New York Public Library.

Naturally, the NYPL system has many branches, but I'm talking about the motherlode: The Schwarzman Building. If you saw the Sex and the City film, you'll remember this as the place where Carrie and Big almost marry:

Or, if you love Breakfast at Tiffany's, this is the location where Holly and Jack request to see his book (watch from 0:40 to 2:45):

(The same system of waiting for your number to be called still applies today. Did you know that "57" happens to be my favorite number?)

(HERE'S a list of other movies filmed in the NYPL.)

It's such a delight to research in this library, and I find myself frequently distracted from the core research because there's so much I want to learn; I'm frequently reading every detail of every page when I should just be browsing for specific information. Is there any greater luxury than education?

Anyway, here are a few shots of the Main Reading Room and third floor of the Schwarzman building, or, what I like to call my "other office." Hah.

Across Fifth Avenue on a little side street called Library Way, there are plaques on the sidewalk which showcase great quotes about learning. Here are two of my favorites:

Here's to wishing that the places in which you learn are as beautiful as the knowledge itself.
Cxx.

Georgia O'Keeffe at the Whitney.

2009-11-16T00:49:00.007-05:00

I believe that any difficult day can be salvaged if you either seek and discover beauty, or learn something new and interesting.

After struggling through a pair of long and trying days this weekend, I hit the jackpot in both regards when I wrapped up my Sunday with a trip to the Whitney Museum of American Art to view "Georgia O'Keeffe: Abstraction." My dear friend ALF pointed out that it was O'Keeffe's birthday (as well as ALF's herself), so I picked a fitting day to visit.

As a child I was influenced by my parents' tastes in art, primarily: Chinese watercolors, the three generations of Wyeths, and Georgia O'Keeffe. Chinese art hung in our house, and catalogues of retrospectives by the other artists littered our bookshelves and coffee tables. I pored over these works and came to know them like distant relatives. It may be obnoxious to say, but Georgia O'Keeffe feels very familiar to me.

In a way, then, seeing the Whitney's exhibit felt like a reunion of sorts. But, so importantly, I was exposed to much of O'Keeffe's work that I had never seen before, and learned about entirely new sides of the artist who is almost limitingly known for her vivid floral pieces and Southwestern landscapes.

The show was excellent. I've been grappling with wondering if credit is due to the Whitney's curation (and, certainly, they did a fine job of image selection), or rather, if it's because O'Keeffe's nearly seven-decade career evolved through many different phases and produced a tremendous portfolio of work. I think it may be the latter.

Even in its earliest form, O'Keeffe's work was abstract. The show begins with charcoals from 1915, and quickly leads into watercolors. I was fascinated by the work, and grateful to see these pieces since I only previously knew O'Keeffe's work in oil.

The most moving aspect of the show is the continual reminder of O'Keeffe's search for emotional expression through art. Lest we forget she experimented with radical ideas in the first half of the last century; it would be easy to convince someone that she was a liberated woman of the 1970s. A series of watercolors on display were painted after O'Keeffe's first meeting with photographer Paul Strand, which she described as "being not of Strand but rather of a feeling that he had aroused in her inner consciousness." To paint the feeling rather than the thing itself--it's such a magnificent idea.

Another idea that struck me as so funny (and reinforced the notion that one's experience and interpretation of the world is often quite different from everyone else's) was this quote from O'Keeffe:

"I have painted portraits that to me are almost photographic.
I remember hesitating to show paintings,
they looked so real to me.
But they have passed into the world as abstractions--no one seeing what they are."

The show does right by its viewers in explaining O'Keeffe's extremely important exposure to, and experimentation with, photography via Paul Strand and Alfred Stieglitz. The cropping she learned with photography led to her development of the hyper-magnified floral paintings for which she is best known.

And, knowing how to please their visitors, the Whitney certainly spoils visitors with O'Keeffe's sumptuous oils and magnificent colors. I know I love a painting if I want to eat it or live inside of it (note: we are each entitled to our unique visceral reactions!); I had this feeling on several occasions throughout the exhibit.

I avoided reading the NYTimes' review until after I saw the show myself...now I'm going to take a peek at what they had to say. But regardless of what any critics may think, I loved this exhibit. I love knowing more about what an amazing woman and courageous artist O'Keeffe was. And I'm already planning a trip to her New Mexico museum in my mind...

See it if you can. The show runs through January 17, 2010.

Cxx.

The Trumpet of the Swan

2009-11-10T01:00:00.002-05:00

I'm a little late to the game for a Halloween post, but it's my favorite holiday of the year so I hope you'll indulge me.

After contemplating some (in my opinion) excellent costume ideas, in the end I went for: BJORK!

Ingredients:
-1 white bubble dress from Forever 21
-4 feather boas from a fabric store
-1 pair of white children's tights from The Children's Place
-The Bunny's white socks
-A little bit of ribbon and 2 buttons
-The insanity and drive to make this happen

It was a hit and I had a LOT of fun.
Seriously, I dare you to be an Icelandic musician for Halloween and NOT have a ball.

Impressions of Bjork. She's a true original....

I studied ballet for many years and it's one of the TRUE loves of my life.
No swan costume would be done justice without the opportunity of being photographed in the final pose of the "Dying Swan."

I was a pretty HAMmy swan:

The Bunny decided to be an egg, since Bjork laid an egg (or rather, an egg-shaped purse) at the Oscars during a Red Carpet interview; I think there's a Freudian message in there somewhere...
I went to Mood fabric and picked up some white felt and constructed a just-this-side-of-amorphic blob for him to wear. He was Grade A, all the way.

As for next year...
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera?
Geisha and American Businessman?
Oh, the possibilities!

Cxx.

Things That Make Me Smile (even with one less tooth)

2009-10-30T08:30:00.002-04:00

The pain from my wisdom tooth extraction is now under control and I'm smiling ear to ear
(with a bit of a gap on one side).
Here are some things that made me smile this week, and I hope they'll make you grin, too.

BEAUTIFUL BOOKS.

I am one of those naughty few who does NOT completely adore "Le Petit Prince."
I will even go so far as to say I hate it.
HOWEVER, I always loved the illustrations and recognized something magical about the way the book captivates the imaginations of so many.
So my heart took flight when I found the "Deluxe Pop Up Edition" at Barnes & Noble.

For a special glimpse into the pop-up, visit Amazon.com's video tour HERE.
---

SHIKSA GODDESSES.

I stumbled upon this book in which a single Jewish girl suddenly becomes a hot commodity to Jewish men when she's confused for a shiksa. I don't plan to read it, but I was amused by the title.

In related news, last Sunday the greatest-converted-shiksa-since-Elizabeth-Taylor wed the mensch of her dreams.
Congrats, Ivanka! You were simply STUNNING in your Grace Kelly-inspired wedding gown!

---

A NATURAL LOOK.

No make-up. Earth tones. Windblown hair. Wicker baskets. A simple bicycle.
What's not to love?

---

HALLOWEEN.

My F.A.V.O.R.I.T.E. holiday of the year is here!
"Hocus Pocus" will be viewed at least once this weekend. (I see you, SJP...)
I also anticipate wearing orange and black in honor of the holiday AND my alma mater;
as Tracy Jordan said on this week's "30 Rock":
"Is it Halloween or Princeton Parents' Weekend?"
I'm happy either way!

Halloween 2003: "Princeton Dorothy" for this Kansas girl in her Freshman year:
Popped collar, Westie stuffed puppy from Harrod's, Louis Vuitton in lieu of a basket.
Accompanied by Little Red Riding Hood, played by MLPR.
---

No tricks, only treats,
Cxx.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait (and work hard for it!)

2009-10-30T01:25:00.003-04:00

As you may be able to tell, the Bunny is older than me. It's not something I sought out, but that's how it worked out, and while I love him for HIM (at any age), there are some perks to dating an older gentleman.

One of those perks is the fact that his friends are closer to achieving their life goals and have often already become the person they are capable of being; in other words, they've reached their peak. Don't get me wrong: I embrace that my friends and I, at age 24, are still very much in our "formative" years and have nearly limitless possibilities before us...but won't it be interesting to see what paths we ultimately choose?

As a child I always had older friends; one of my best friends in middle school was my 50-year-old English teacher. It was so interesting to me that she had already carved her own path, made mistakes along the way, and was all the better and more beautiful for it. Fortunately for me, she was only the first in a long series of wonderful older mentors that I've been blessed to encounter. My life has been so much richer because I've been able to build upon these womens' experiences. And it's really no surprise that I gravitated toward the older (and sometimes wiser--though I don't want to give him TOO much credit) Bunny.

This past weekend, The Bunny and I celebrated one of his friends' achievements at Jazz Standard, Blue Smoke restaurant's downstairs jazz club. A classmate from Bunny's Harvard days, Josh Redman is now one of the most respected jazz musicians in the world and tours with his band, The Joshua Redman Trio. Josh was kind enough to treat us to tickets to the sold-out event. We met a visiting German couple who came out of their way to hear Josh play; they said he is famous even in Germany.

Josh, at left on sax; at right, the Trio

The music was so, so excellent. Smooth, upbeat, sensuous, mysterious, familiar, fun; jazz expresses a range of emotion not found in many musical genres. And I must say that eating Blue Smoke's award-winning BBQ during the concert only made the experience that much more savory.

It was so nice to see Josh enjoying his well-earned success. And I can't wait until I am able to celebrate my friends being at the top of their game...

Cxx.

Fashion Forward

2009-10-28T02:30:00.001-04:00

The 92nd Street Y is a NYC venue that offers some of the best events, lectures and classes around. When I noticed that their Fall programming included a panel entitled "The Future of Women's Fashion," featuring such illustrious participants as Isaac Mizrahi, Ashley Olsen, Robin Givhan (fashion writer for the Washington Post), and Cindi Levie (Glamour's editor-in-chief), I knew I HAD to go.

I rallied my friends DG and SS (check out her fashion blog, HERE) and we had a wonderful time. To kick-start everything, we were seated across the aisle from Justin Bartha (Ashley's boyfriend and the star of "The Hangover") and Mary-Kate Olsen, who wore a terribly beautiful embroidered velvet jacket.

You can just make out MK's face in this photo.
(NOTE: I once read that the Olsens were taught to say "prune" when they smile, and years of practicing that posture certainly seems to have stuck...)

But back to the panel!

We were treated to a great mix of expertise and personalities.
Cindi and Robin (above far left and above left, respectively), are more in tune with consumers' needs and viewing fashion through the lens of hard numbers. This gave their opinions a lot of practical merit; perhaps even TOO MUCH for the dreamers in the audience like me, who wish only for fashion to be about art and beauty...which is where Ashley and, especially, Isaac come in.

Here are some gems from Isaac:

About being fearless with fashion: "If only we could be as brave about our own work as we are about, you know, playing Monopoly. That's what I always say."

About the role of the designer in dressing women: "Embracing that women look beautiful already, not that 'I'm gonna make you look beautiful' but 'You are beautiful already.'"

On determining the difference between fashion and design: "Fashion happens, but design is eternal. I don't know what fashion is supposed to be anymore: The red carpet? The cover of a magazine? But there's NO excuse for bad design."

On opportunities for entrepreneurs in the current economy: "Perhaps it's not a good time for greedy people to make a lot of money off of something that's not even good."

I adore Isaac, for obvious reasons. If you've never seen his documentary "Unzipped" you should run to Blockbuster or your Netflix queue and make it a priority! Among other simultaneously hilarious and wise tidbits he shared, he announced that he will be selling many new products on QVC, including CHEESECAKE ("it's a family recipe!").

Ashley Olsen was more sly, avoiding answering the question of which fashion trend she wishes would die ("I pass on this question!"), and omitting to tell the audience some major news that would be announced only a day later: that she and MK are launching a clothing line at J.C. Penney called "Olsenboye."

Robin Givhan made some interesting sociological commentary on the state of women's fashion, and even offered her theory of its biggest hurdle:
"People condescend to fashion because it's a woman's industry."
Hmm. Perhaps.

Like many panel discussions (and I recall numerous of these from my Princeton days), there wasn't much of an arrival at consensus or conclusion by the end. Nevertheless, all will agree that it was an entertaining and special occasion.

And don't forget to order your Mizrahi cheesecake...
Cxx.

Links to more info, insight, and better pictures from this event:
Glamour.com
The Huffington Post
Just Jared

The September Issue: LIVE!

2009-10-26T02:48:00.003-04:00

On Tuesday night I fought off a terrible headache in order to attend a Young Lions event held in the gorgeous New York Public Library at the invitation of my dear friend, MVG. My effort were not without SERIOUS reward! The occasion was entitled "Close Up on Grace Coddington," and offered attendees an intimate conversation between Ms. Coddington, Vogue's Creative Director, and Jay Fielden, an editor at Vogue.com and the New Yorker.

Moments after MVG and I were seated, I noticed a slim figure with a very specific haircut enter the room and sit two rows behind us. It was none other than La Wintour herself, there to support her friend and closest co-worker. I snapped this photo as she left the room at the conclusion of the conversation; I'm particularly proud of this shot and the accidental lighting that almost makes her look like a deity, no?

Back to Grace. The conversation covered her long and interesting life, starting with her childhood in Wales, through her modeling days in Swinging '60s London, and eventually to her time at American Vogue. To be honest, when I was younger I was afraid of Grace and her terrific (in the "terrifying" sense) mop of red hair. But in person she is utterly charming; like the wise great-aunt from whom you have much to learn.

Here are some lovely snippets from Grace:

On reading British Vogue as a child: "I loved to look at the pages and dream."

On having a zest for life in the fashion industry: "The world we live in is so fun, I hope it goes on forever...or at least my life span."

On wearing so many black ensembles: "I just want to put it on like a uniform so I can put all my energy into the clothes I'm gonna photograph."

Jay walked us through some of Grace's best editorials. One in which model Karen Elson is dressed to resemble Grace, is particularly memorable to those of us who have read Vogue in the last two years, as is the editorial featuring Amber Valletta in a world (our world) where technology rules every moment of our lives:

It was a truly special evening. I am so grateful to MVG for treating me to such a memorable occasion and cannot think of anyone with whom I'd rather have shared the experience.

And kudos to Grace for being precisely who she is, and for making beautiful, exceptional art year after year.

BTW, this devil wears Balenciaga.
Cxx.

A Night in the E.R...

2009-10-26T01:49:00.004-04:00

As some of you may recall, last week I had a wisdom tooth extracted (the same morning as my excellent haircut at Fox & Boy!). I am fortunate to have been born with only 2 wisdom teeth ("more highly evolved," as my dentist says), but that did not save me the pain of a tooth that needed to come out. Initially I was almost smug about how smoothly the procedure had gone, but in the subsequent days, my tooth and, worse, my HEAD, began to hurt to the point where I could barely focus, or sleep, or eat. This was particularly troublesome given that I was in my first few days on my new job, and that I had a packed week to look forward to. Many exciting things happened-- I will blog about them shortly--but I was so distracted by the pain that I could barely bring myself to do the things I would ordinarily do with pleasure and ease.

On Friday night, a week to the day of my tooth extraction, I was lying in bed with searing pain and weeping silently. My good father urged me (over the phone) to go to the E.R. The goodly Bunny saved the day. Between 12am and 8.30am on Saturday morning we waited uncomfortably in a chaotic E.R. filled with some of the craziest people you'll ever encounter (racists demanding white doctors, people with bullet wounds, injured drunk people discussing the lawsuits they were going to file for the damage they clearly brought upon themselves...).

The doctors worried that the wisdom tooth extraction had caused a brain infection, or that, perhaps, a random hemorrhage had caused bleeding in my brain. In order to check, they ran contrast fluid through my body, which required kidney testing, blood samples, an I.V., and, finally, a CT scan. They gave me a muscle relaxer to ease the pain. Hours passed while we waited for the CT results. Everything came back clear, which led the doctors to the ultimate conclusion that I suffered nerve damage during the tooth extraction. The searing/burning pain I experienced is, apparently, symptomatic of nerve injury.

Two days of rest, liquids, soft foods, and muscle relaxers has me feeling much better, though far from perfect. But what an ordeal to go through! I received some truly excellent support from friends new and old, and I cannot thank you all enough for it. Being in the E.R., even with my excellent boyfriend by my side, was still a very scary, frustrating, overwhelming and, at times, boring experience. I'm glad it's over, and that I am feeling a bit better each day.

Now, a bit of back-blogging to capture some of the GOOD aspects about last week!
Cxx.

And it feels so good!

2009-10-22T01:19:00.007-04:00

Is there anything better than being reunited with friends? Especially friends with whom a prolonged period of separation feels like no time at all?

This weekend I was wrapped up in that kind of love, surrounded by friends who know me best and who make my life fuller by sharing their interesting perspectives and fantastic stories.

Standing in line for the Prada/Miu Miu sample sale was a joy, despite the cold dreary weather, because I had MBM to keep me company. Our patience was rewarded with a pair of shoes each. Here are some snaps of my selection: Jeweled heel Miu Mius!

Then my dear friends PMH and TPH came to visit from Baltimore and Indianapolis, respectively. We grabbed Magnolia cupcakes, shopped at boutiques on the LES, ate Italian for dinner in the East Village and grabbed coffee at Mud--all while talking and laughing non-stop. In the middle of our busy day we stopped by Times Square to enter the ticket lottery for West Side Story so we could see our friend SAM perform; it's her first Broadway show and she's already the third female lead! We ultimately didn't win tickets, but still had a great time catching up with our former ballet buddy, who was sweet enough to meet us during her quick break between the two Saturday performances.

L to R: SAM, CJM, PMH, TPH

I ended the weekend with a full and happy heart. And a sweet hostess gift from PMH and TPH:

I can't wait to find some spare time to dig into this treat; PMH has the BEST taste in books and a real talent for selecting the perfect gift.

Thanks to all the ladies who keep me true to my roots and fill my life with laughter!
Until we meet again...
Cxx.

Another Kickass Haircut.

2009-10-16T23:32:00.007-04:00

Today I had my second haircut with the adorable Julie Dickson of Fox & Boy salon in NoLIta.

I can't describe how awesome she is and how much I enjoy my haircuts with her! I absolutely need to schedule these more frequently just so we can hang out.

I showed up in a very typically CJM outfit: Black silk dress from Anthropologie, black herringbone patterned DKNY tights, shearling-lined leather Born boots, Lilly Pulitzer navy band jacket, Burberry scarf, London Fog black trench and a gold J.Crew birdcage necklace. Julie pronounced that I represent the perfect mix of uptown and downtown style (thanks, Julie!).

In keeping with these ideas about my style, Julie was prepared to present her latest muse. Last time our inspiration was Catherine Deneuve. This time, Julie picked another stunning European blonde starlet of the '60s, Bond girl Britt Ekland. Julie thinks my polished look will be the perfect pairing with Britt's sexy, full hair.

Isn't her shiny, thick hair so stunning?
Too many stylists have tried to "under-cut" and thin out my thick Chinese hair, which I really resent.
Julie, the genius, embraces it (one of many reasons to love her).
As she said, she's "so sick of shattered ends." Hear, hear!

'60s glamour, with then-husband Peter Sellers.

Here are our results:
Face-framing layers, shorter length, thick ends, and a shiny finish.
I.LOVE.IT.

(Photo taken in a badly lit clothing store dressing room shortly after my hair cut.)
It's a terrible photo of me, but you can see how much body, movement and shine my hair has thanks to Julie's amazing handiwork!

I can't recommend Fox & Boy enough.
Here's a video Daily Candy shot of Julie teaching people how to cut their own bangs and create a simple summer updo. Once you see how cute she is, you'll want to run to her salon.

Thanks, Julie, for a haircut I truly love, and for introducing me to an amazing new muse...I'm off to research Britt!
Cxx.

P.S. I had a wisdom tooth extracted this morning and my happy haircut took my mind off of the pain!

Happy Half-Birthday to Me!

2009-10-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Today I am...*gulp*...24-AND-A-HALF years old. Yikes!

The best present I can give to myself in honor of this occasion is the opportunity to return to the field of art history, and make it my professional home.

Thus, today marks my final day in the job I've had for over a year. While this industry is dynamic and interesting, I ultimately believe that I belong around ART! I hope my new museum job will be challenging, educational, rewarding and FUN!

It's silly (and a serious fallacy) to ever expect that a new job (dress, house, friend, etc.) will make one's life different enough to be perfect, but I have a feeling that I am, at the very least, going to LOVE this next step I'm taking.

Cheers to taking the plunge!
Cxx.

Keep Calm and Then Some.

2009-10-14T13:33:00.000-04:00

I never tire of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" mantra and have posted about it a few times before, oddly enough, also on a Wednesday (truly, it's a great hump day directive).
Lately I've encountered a few twists on this classic phrase that I thought I'd share to give everyone a mid-week chuckle.

Two takes on the reinvention of this maxim:

For those of you worried about the swine flu:

One of my favorites:

If you're feeling crafty:

A fun activity on a rainy day:

From the fine folks at Urban Outfitters:

And, the montage to end all montages, from blogger Remarks from Sparks:

"Raise Hell then Sleep Well."
Word up.
Cxx.

Murphy's Law of Wellies

2009-10-13T14:52:00.005-04:00

Any attempt to prepare oneself against the onset of rain....

...will result in a day without the slightest drop of moisture.

(I should say this only happens with my Tretorns. My Burberrys came equipped with rain charms.)

Happy Tuesday from my VERY TOASTY toes!
Cxx.

Trick or Treat: Funny or Sweet?

2009-10-12T17:41:00.005-04:00

I have a few ideas floating around in my head for what I'd like to be for Halloween:

1) Samantha Parkington
With her perfect Victorian curls and pretty taffeta dresses, I would be remiss to let another Halloween pass without dressing as everyone's favorite American Girl...especially if I can recruit my friends to dress as Molly, Kirsten, Felicity, Josefina...........

2) BJORK!

I do the perfect impression of Kristen Wiig-as-Bjork, and if that weren't reason enough, I have total faith in my ability to create this swan costume. I'm guessing I wouldn't run into many doppelgangers.

3) Cher to the Bunny's Sonny.
In the right pair of heels, I tower over The Bunny. With my long black hair and touch of Cherokee blood, I'm qualified to play the "Half-Breed." The Bunny is willing to grow a mustache and don a wig. I told him I want to wait until I have a "bangin' bod" liker Cher, but he told me I already do. Awwwwwww.

4) Gilly!
One of the SNL characters that delights me most just got that much better this past weekend when Drew Barrymore played her Italian counterpart. Watch HERE.

What do you think?
What will YOU be?
Cxx.

Dinner at Diner

2009-10-12T11:42:00.002-04:00

After The Bunny and I returned to NYC from our trip to the country, we were craving dinner at an interesting restaurant. We decided to venture to Brooklyn to sample Diner, which comes highly recommended.

Located within an old boxcar in Williamsburg, Diner offers the precise mix of factors that define most of my favorite New York restaurants: small size, energetic vibe, dark interior, no gimmicks, high-quality and exceptionally delicious food.

This picture is a bit dark (the restaurant is primarily lit by candles), but you can see its approximate width; it's very small and very packed! Patrons happily wait 30-45 minutes for a table or even a stool at the bar.

The daily specials are written on register tape. Very casual approach, and, in a way, very special. Just LOOK at some of those dishes: Grilled Swordfish with squash puree and grilled plums! I don't like seafood but I confess I was very intrigued by that dish.

The Bunny ordered a gorgeous filet mignon with spinach salad covered in goat cheese dressing, and ate every last bite.

I selected the grass-fed burger and fries.
The quality of the meat was exceptional (supplied by Marlow & Daughters), and the serving size was so generous that I could only eat half. I took the other portion home and am cursing myself today for forgetting it in my fridge this morning!

While we may have skipped out on the fried dough with maple cream earlier in the day in Massachusetts, we couldn't resist the maple custard on the menu.

It was absolute heaven.

Perfect end to an excellent weekend.
Cxx.

Weekend Escape: Off to the Berkshires!

2009-10-12T11:28:00.000-04:00

At the end of August, The Bunny and I visited our friends at their lovely mountaintop vacation home in Western Massachusetts.

At that time, the view from their back porch looked like this:

We visited again this past weekend to see the changing leaves, and the same foliage looked like this:

Spectacular!

The colors everywhere were so beautiful:

We had dinner at a local restaurant called Mike & Tony's Pizzeria, which is located in an old church. We made reservations to sit in the balcony. One of the proprietors is an artist specializing in neon, and his work decorates the restaurant:

The Chrysler Building in the background made me feel right at home!

The waitress gave us a coloring book for the kids, and I discovered this little gem from a previous patron:

---

On Sunday morning we went to the Ashfield Fair. Musical groups performed, children played games, and we were tempted by some really fantastic food.

A local theatre group, including some musicians on stilts, delighted us all.

Raw apple cider.

Dipping apples into hot caramel sauce.

Hot maple cream is drizzled over fried dough; looked incredible! I didn't indulge...but wish I had!

I ate a pulled pork sandwich from Elmer's; it was delicious!

The skies were blue, the air was crisp, and the surroundings were gorgeous. We couldn't have asked for a better respite from the rush of the City!

Cxx.

Women of Great Style: Carolina Herrera

2009-10-09T13:30:00.005-04:00

This is the second post in a series decided to highlighting women who inspire me. It might be their grace, generosity, ability to wear a potato sack with elan, sheer intelligence or, in rare cases, a combination these elements.

Today's honoree is Carolina Herrera.

I have long admired CH's keen eye and aristocratic tastes. Initially drawn to her dresses, which I saw in my mother's Vogues while I was growing up, I did some research in high school and came across these gorgeous photos of the woman as a girl:

(Reminiscent of this photo of another inspiration:)

(Look at that waist!)

In these photos you can already feel her strength of spirit, mixed with a haughty air that one might expect (however stereotypically) from an aristocratic, stylish and strong-willed young Venezuelan girl. As you can see, the signature starched white oxford shirt, now part of her daily costume, was incorporated into her wardrobe very early on.

Carolina traveled to Paris with her grandmother to attend her first fashion shows at the tender age of 13, and that no doubt helped shape the woman she would become.

Growing up I used to say that I wanted Oscar de la Renta or Valentino to dress me for my wedding, and Carolina Herrera to dress me for the Red Carpet; I still stand by those statements.

Of her Fall 2009 collection, Style.com wrote:
"Carolina Herrera believes in pretty. The world as we know it is crumbling around us, but you wouldn't think so looking at her lovely collection—and there's a certain strength in maintaining that sense of poise under pressure."

Poise under pressure. And a sense of humor:

Brava, Carolina!
Cxx.

Celebs Abound!

2009-10-09T11:53:00.011-04:00

In the last few weeks, celebs seemed to be spilling into the streets. It doesn't hurt that I live and work in areas that are celeb-heavy, either because celebs tend to live or work there, or because many movies are filmed in these neighborhoods.

Recently I've seen the following people:

Chris Noth, aka "Mr. Big"
Jennifer Creel, former soap opera actress and NY socialite
Stacy London, host of "What Not to Wear"
Alexandra Richards, model and one of Keith Richards' (Rolling Stones) daughters
Caroline Kennedy, whom my cab almost ran over
Becky Newton, filming "Ugly Betty"
Michelle Obama and her motorcade leaving Gramercy Tavern:

Bill and Hillary Clinton, leaving the Peninsula Hotel (I snapped a photo of Bill's head; see that white pouf entering the car?)

Lily Cole, model
Mickey Boardman, writer for Paper Magazine

...and a slew of celebrities at the Broadway opening of Carrie Fisher's new one-woman show, "Wishful Drinking." The Bunny's friend is a big Broadway producer and offered us two comp tickets to the show and invited us to the after-party. As I entered the theatre, Martha Plimpton was getting her pic taken by photogs. On our way to our seats we passed Salman Rushdie, Debra Monk, Tovah Feldshuh, Jorma Taccone, Patti LuPone, Craig Bierko, and Justin Bond (the tranny I spotted singing for Rodarte at Fashion's Night Out). There were many other celebrities present whom we missed. I did, however, stand next to, received a smile from, and later snapped a blurry photo of Jane Fonda!

It's always fun to see a celebrity, and it reminds me that I'm really in the heart of one of the most exciting cities in the world.
What can I say? I <3 NY and I <3>

Gratitudes.

2009-10-01T16:40:00.001-04:00

Based on my blog analytics, I know that (until it was private) my blog received about 200 reads each day. This humble but healthy number really surprised me and encouraged me to keep writing. Once I "went private" and began receiving reader requests from people I either didn't know, or didn't know were reading my blog (including many people I haven't spoken to in years) I was really touched.

Out of this period of requests and reconnections with people I didn't know were reading my blog, a great lifelong friend of mine, JPT, sent me the nicest email. I'm posting it here as a reminder to be myself, and enjoy being who I am, every day of my life. It's also proof of the EXCELLENT quality of people I'm blessed to have in my life. (Let me note that JPT is no shrinking violet: She recently returned to the U.S. after a long stint in the Middle East where, among other things, she studied deaf culture in Yemen on a Fulbright. Check out this video feature the Washinton Post created around her story.)

Dearest C,
Blogs aren't really my thing. Fashion and famous names that I should know don't really interest me. But I so enjoy reading your blog and looking at your pictures because I love the fact that you notice and appreciate things. Looking through your pictures from Paris over the summer made me so proud of you, I thought, "This girl doesn't take things for granted." I love it when I get to watch people who have been so fortunate in their lives, and they see those things and cherish them. I just hope you know how much I appreciate your blog- because it reminds me to look for a lobster on a print or really appreciate a funky sandal design or window display. Thank you for the effort you put into showing me part of your world.
Love,
J

I owe you an email, J, to thank you for your sweet message but I won't be able to express how much your words mean to me. Sending you best wishes on your midterms!

And love to everyone who keeps reading and engaging with me. This is one of those things that makes my life oh-so-sweet.
Cxx.

Women of Great Style: La Bella Giovanna!

2009-09-25T15:43:00.008-04:00

I decided to start doing posts on my fashion inspirations.

Last year my friend (and roommate) AWC and I started a game where we'd figure out a look that we wanted to imitate and then make it happen by "shopping our closet" and coming up with the best replication of said outfit within a specified period of time (it was like a race). Yes, we're weird, but it was fun. A mental diversion I want to set about imitating the style of my favorite fashion inspirations. Autumn, with the opportunity for so many layers, is the perfect time to begin this game.

So, my first inspiration is Giovanna Battaglia, fashion editor at L'Uomo Vogue.

She's a favorite subject of The Sartorialist and for good reason. She's a former model and wears everything well, but she's not merely a human hanger. She has a keen eye for key pieces, a creative spin on assembling outfits, and a strong sense for special touches that *pop*. Here are some great shots of Giovanna:

Giovanna (at left) and friend:

What's RIGHT about this look:

HER SHOES. The slight heel elongates her legs without being aggressively sexy. The incorporation of the ankle strap adds the innocence of a mary-jane to her look, but the ankle strap's context within this particular shoe makes it very sexy.
HER RUFFLED SKIRT. One row of ruffles might make for a boring schoolgirl-cliche skirt, but this silhouette is sophisticated while still being flirty and fun.
THE EARTH-TONE COLOR PALETTE. Seeing the gray in a black and white world!
TEXTURE! Mixing fabrics is Giovanna's true art.

The Sartorialist's girlfriend, Garance Dore, an excellent fashion blogger in her own right, took THIS adorable photo of Giovanna in the same outfit:

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I have mentioned several times before that I simply don't wear pants. That's not to say that I've NEVER worn them in my life. But honestly, they're just not the right thing for me until I lose a bit of extra weight and feel comfortable flaunting my figure in trousers.
Giovanna has a definite trouser-perfect body, and she wears them with elan:

What's RIGHT about this look:

THE CONTRAST. Simple gray turtleneck, no color save for a touch of forest green and lilac in her scarf, and then BAM! YELLOW!
HER SHOES. She keeps the yellow theme going down to her shoes. The pants are cropped, which adds to the whimsicality of the color choice. She could easily stunt her pretty, vertical look with a contrasting color of shoes (imagine: black or brown) but she wisely keeps it cool with yellow.
HER CONTROL. Knowing how much of a statement piece the yellow pants are, she keeps everything else simple and classic. You can easily imagine Grace Kelly donning the top part of Giovanna's outfit in 1960s Monaco.

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What's RIGHT about this look:

BLACK with NAVY BLUE. End of story. So many people are afraid to mix these colors, but they look great together.
POLKA DOTS. In my opinion, if they're tiny (like the French petit-pois: tiny peas), you can never have enough of polka dots. In fact, I plan to purchase some polka dot tights this Autumn.

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"When a girl feels that she's perfectly groomed and dressed she can forget that part of her.
THAT'S CHARM.
The more parts of yourself you can afford to forget, the more charm you have."
(F. Scott Fitzgerald, "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" via Women's Wardrobe)

She's so comfortable in her own skin. Beautiful but refined, free but sophisticated, living her life on the go but always looking like a perfect princess. Isn't that SO charming?
Cxx.

Food for Thought: Quality over Quantity.

2009-09-24T15:44:00.004-04:00

I have about 11 blog post Drafts waiting to be edited and published. Unfortunately, my life and my week have gotten away from me. I want to say that I certainly never presume that my readers NEED me, or that I have to post everyday or someone will become disappointed.

I merely like for this blog to serve as a record of the things I see, do, and appreciate, and I want to keep adding to this treasure trove of information, quotes, pictures, feelings, etc. as they come to me.

I'll catch up this weekend.

In the meantime, I wanted to write this quick post to exalt two recent, excellent examples that remind us all to to think about placing Quality before Quantity, and to remember that conspicuous consumption isn't an attractive quality:

1) Barney's Babble post.
Simon Doonan weighs in and says "We find the whole concept of the IT bag to be very corny and very very last century. When we launch a new bag we would rather talk to you about what makes it great and gorgeous and wantable."

2) Sartorialist post from Milan.

In reference to this lovely Betty Draper/Grace Kelly-esque Milanese woman, Scott writes:

The Best of Milan- quality, elegance, maturity, and refinement.
On a street blinged-out on Cavalli and Dolce this
super subtle look
carried more
strength and dignity
than any other.

And, from my old standby, Women's Wardrobe:

"What care I how chic it be if it not be the best for me?"

Hear! Hear!
Cxx.

Things that Make Me Smile.

2009-09-18T12:12:00.009-04:00

1) L'Shana Tovah!

My little Jewish Bunny and I will be ringing in the new year with his family today. As JGIWC has pointed out, I am a good little shiksa. And frankly, I'm always happy for the occasion of a fresh start and a clean slate. Let's party like it's 5770!

2) The Giraffe Manor.
Possibly the perfect vacation?

(Or possibly a little bit terrifying...)

3) The Look of Love.
The Sartorialist kisses his girlfriend, fellow blogger and general Parisian goddess, Garance Dore.

4) "The Duchess."
This is the nickname one of my coworkers gave me, because I always have high demands and high expectations. (And I always wear dresses.) I take it as a compliment!

5) The always creative window displays at Fish's Eddy.
I went to this wonderful glassware/dinnerware/flatware shop to purchase a birthday gift for the lovely CLB. And in the spirit of their consistently inventive window displays, this week they created a Manhattan skyline out of forks, knives and spoons.

6) Sex and the City '80's flashback = Charlotte in Lilly Pulitzer?
I'm really not an '80s fan, but I can appreciate a good tribute when I see one. SJP looks just like Madonna, and KD is dressed precisely as I would expect a 20-something Charlotte York to be.
Is that skirt Lilly? An impostor? I need a close up to be sure!

7) Snark in the backseat of a cab.
You never know what you'll find in NYC.
I was particularly impressed yesterday morning to see that a cabbie took charge of his TaxiTV and included a handwritten notice on the TV's frame:

8) San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy.
(This picture was taken at the festival's entrance at Mulberry and Houston, right by the Puck building. You can see a statue of Puck near the top right of this photo.)

Looking to do something out of the ordinary, the Bunny took me to dinner in Little Italy so we could wander through the streets of the San Gennaro Festival. I'd never been to this annual festival before and it was fun, if a bit noisy, and certainly very festive. The streets are blocked off to traffic, and cars are replaced with vendors selling zeppoles, gelato, and showcasing games like Dunk the Clown; it's like Coney Island in the middle of Manhattan (note: I've never been to Coney Island). The last day of the festival is this Sunday, so I encourage you to go!

Happy Weekend.
Better blogging next week, I promise!
Cxx.

DKNY Dreams come true, with a Chinese twist.

2009-09-16T12:12:00.007-04:00

I love following the DKNY feed on Twitter.

I often Tweet "at" them, and have often thought about how thrilling it would be if they ever Tweeted back.

Well, dreams come true. Just not always in the way we might hope for...

Last night I arrived home to a care package from my mother that included some DKNY pieces and another little Chinese-mother-specific gift. So I Tweeted:
"Received a great care package from my mom with @DKNY pieces, amazing tights and...Spanx. Subtlety never was her strong suit..."

And DKNY Tweeted back!
But instead of something cute or reassuring, they turned it into a PR opportunity and said:

"@MurphysNewLaw tell your mom 2 send u DK Body Perfect- laser cut & less $ & check out DKNY Smoothies we showed on runway- toners u can show"

Umm...thanks?
FML.
Happy Hump Day!
Cxx.