Mad Men Yourself

Mad Men Yourself. Do it. You know you want to.

Through the Past, Darkly

If you ever feel like your job or hobby takes a lot of time/patience, just check out this guy’s photographs. Amazing. I am not sure how he made it all work, but I am grateful that he did.

Athens Soundies

From a group called Athens Soundies comes a charming website filled with video of impromptu music performances around Athens, aka “The Greatest City on Earth.” The videos, which are beautifully shot and only a couple of minutes long, feature local and not-so-local bands playing acoustically on railroad tracks, gas stations, alleys, former cult temples (what?), rooftops, front porches, etc. It’s great to see the random parts of Athens, although I don’t think that you have to be familiar with Athens to appreciate the videos. Make sure to check out Dr. Dog, Wakey! Wakey! and The Empties.

No dignity, no doubt

Dignity is a hard thing to define (although Brooks does a pretty good job in his latest Times column), but I feel like it’s something that you instantly recognize in a person. Unfortunately, it seems to be declining in America, particularly in Washington.

Why? Brooks sums up four reasons: “First, there is capitalism. We are all encouraged to become managers of our own brand, to do self-promoting end zone dances to broadcast our own talents. Second, there is the cult of naturalism. We are all encouraged to discard artifice and repression and to instead liberate our own feelings. Third, there is charismatic evangelism with its penchant for public confession. Fourth, there is radical egalitarianism and its hostility to aristocratic manners.”

These all made sense to me, especially the self-promotion bit. But what do we do about it? Brooks suggests that all is not lost because our current head of state is a man who represents dignity across the board. I agree, but how do we restore dignity into our own lives too?

I am going to assume that the answer to that overhwelming question is to drink PBR, listen to interesting music, go on long bike rides and read good books. In which case, I am doing a great job.

Lovely Hideaways

I stumbled upon a great book, Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways: Big Ideas for Small Backyard Destinations, via Apartment Therapy. As my dreams of owning a home get grand and grander, and I realize that any home I get in the next ten years will have to be small or smaller, I love the idea of turning a tiny backyard into a cozy food-eating/art-making/tool-using space.

Check out some other pictures here. A girl can dream...

Oh, You Pretty Things!

I love this letterpress-esque Brooklyn poster from Three Potato Four. As the site says, it "combines several of our loves - Brooklyn, typography, color, 50's inspired illustrations, and urban signage." What more could you want?

It is also part of a city series (so far they just have Brooklyn and Manhattan); here's hoping they do one for Washington!

Three Potato Four also has a great design blog found here.

30 Ways to be a Good Guest

As we all enter barbeque season (two BBQs yesterday! My clothes still smell like a grill!), we are faced with the eternal question: what’s a good dish to bring? Fortunately, Smitten Kitchen comes to the rescue with this handy list of 30 recipes that are perfect for sharing with large groups. So, if you are looking for an alternative to bringing the ol’ twelve pack of PBR (although there’s nothing wrong with that…), check it out. The cole slaw(s) and caramel walnut upside-down banana cake both look particularly sinful.

Best. Night. Ever.

Last night’s Bruce Springsteen show could not have gone any more perfectly. To begin with, we were the 20th people in the pit. Which meant we were in the first, first, first row. Like, elbows resting on the stage. Bruce jumping down, kneeling on the stage and letting us play his guitar. Twice. My glasses dirty from Bruce’s sweat (okay, that part was kind of gross, but whatever). And as if that wasn't enough, Bruce proceeded to take our sign, which read “Obama called, he wants Rosie,” say “By executive request,” and play Rosalita for the final song. And now, apparently, PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS A SIGNED COPY OF OUR SIGN! Can 7 twentysomethings get lucky enough to see the Boss AND give a shout out to Obama? Yes we can.

From the Washington Post:
Team Obama was well represented last night when the Boss held up a sign from someone in the audience at the Verizon Center that said: "Obama called, he wants Rosie." That sign now belongs to President Obama. Backstage after the concert, Bruce Springsteen personally autographed the Rosie poster and gave it to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel to deliver to Obama at the White House, an eyewitness tells the Sleuth.

From Politico:
TOM HOARE, with the play-by-play: 'Bruce just held up a sign from the audience with the Obama sun rising that said 'Obama called, he wants Rosie.' And played 'Rosalita' as the last song. Absolutely brought the house down.'

From Backstreets:
This was, of course, the E Street Band’s first performance in Washington since the election. And while politics is not a key element of the new album or the current tour, compared to some of Bruce’s recent outings, there were plenty of nods to the location and occasion, from the a triumphant “No Surrender” that was audibled early in the set, to Roy’s brief “Hail to the Chief” intro to “Rosalita.” That showstopping number was prompted by a request sign reading: “Obama called, he wants Rosie.” While the Commander in Chief himself did not appear to be in house, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel was sitting (mostly standing, in fact) in the section right next to the stage, and seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.


Elan, me, Steph, Evvie, Sasha, Blake (Mike not pictured even though he took all of the pictures you see above!)

The heart-stopping, pants-dropping, house-rocking, earth-shaking, booty-quaking, Viagra-taking, love-making - Le-gen-dary E - Street - Band!

Riding on the Para-Success of a Heavy-Handed Metaphor

You may have been forwarded an email that attributes these analogies to high school essays. I think they are actually from a Washington Post humor contest, but, still, there are some great ones in here:

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t.

10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty Bag filled with vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you’re on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.

18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from noteating for a while.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe fromstepping on a land mine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Freeze That Thought

Posted on Mark Bittman’s NYT blog The Minimalist this week is a great guide to freezing food. There are some obvious points (freezing reduces waste, saves time and money, blah, blah, blah), but the part that breaks down how best to freeze particular foods is very helpful. I particularly like his suggestion of laying out fruits and vegetables on trays and freezing them BEFORE going back and putting them in bags so that they don’t freeze into one shape. And the idea of making batter or dough, freezing that and then baking what you need (as opposed to freezing leftover cookies or bread products) is great too. Why didn’t I ever think of that?!

Cycle2City

This is my dream. A full service, urban bike commuter station that has secure bike parking, air-conditioned locker rooms, showers, and laundry service for those of us who bike into the office but need a place to magically transform into our office selves. They even have flexible purchase plans (5 days a week, 3 days a week or daily)! Too bad you have to go to Australia to get it. Maybe one day...

I've never been prouder to be from Cincy

Calling it "the best local TV news story we've ever seen," DCist links to this clip from WLWT about a 21-year-old guy from Milford who claims to be a superhero in Cincinnati. And better yet, there is apparently some sort of Myspace site called Worldsuperheroregistry.com for folks who have a passion for fighting local crime in a masked sort of way.

If you watch nothing else, make sure to catch the interaction between the "superhero" and the police officer from 1:40-1:53.

Final Nabokov book...finally

According to the Times (via Amber), Vladimir Nabokov's son has decided to publish his father's final unfinished manuscript. Written on 138 index cards (which was apparently the way that Nabokov wrote all of his books), The Original of Laura will be published on November 3rd. When Nabokov died in 1977, he asked that the cards be burned, but his son locked them in a bank vault in Switzerland instead.

Defying a father's wishes, Swiss bank vaults, burning of manuscripts...let's hope that The Original of Laura is as interesting as the story behind it!

Album Review: Dark Was the Night

The folks at the Red Hot Organization somehow managed to get an amazing collection of artists together, including David Byrne, Jose Gonzalez, Feist, Ben Gibbard, Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, The National, Yeasayer, The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Spoon, Arcade Fire, Beirut, My Morning Jacket, The New Pornographers, Yo La Tengo, Stuart Murdoch (from Belle & Sebastian), Cat Power, Andrew Bird, Conor Oberst, Blonde Redhead and Kevin Drew, to form a “dream team” charity album of sorts called Dark Was the Night. I imagine that a lot of planning and back-and-forth file swapping went into their final product, but their hard work pays off. It’s as if you made a really great tape on a day when you were sitting on the floor surrounded by a bunch of your random indie records. Only not only are you dubbing the tape, you’ve also found a way to donate money to raise awareness for HIV and AIDS at the same time.

Favorite tracks so far are “Feeling Good” by My Brightest Diamond, “Tightrope” by Yeasayer, “So Far around the Bend” by The National, “Brackett, WI” by Bon Iver, “Happiness” by Riceboy Sleeps and “Lua” by Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch. But there really isn’t a bad one in the bunch. Well, except for the Sufjan song, which, clocking in at a long 10 minutes and 14 seconds, is a little self-important and droning. But overall, it's a really great album for an even better cause.

Speaking of yoga...

My almost-four-year-old nephew is already a star!

Yoga Adventure

That's me, next to the guy in blue!

Reason #26,231 why I love Lululemon: free yoga under the Cherry Blossoms last Saturday morning. Granted, the incredible winds made for more of a “yoga adventure” than the calm, de-stressing yoga that I am used to, but we had fun either way. Afterward, I biked to brunch at Luna in Dupont with the fine ladies that you see below. ::I ordered an enormous amount of food just to make sure that I wasn’t on TOO much of a health kick:: As it turns out, every Lululemon store has weekly free yoga classes; you can check out the schedules here: Logan Circle, Georgetown and Bethesda.

Where the Wild Things Are

The problem with amazing movie trailers--like this one for the new Spike Jonze adaptation of one of the all-time greatest children's books--is that they make me want to see the movie NOW. October 16th seems so far away...

BK Holla Back

After a long week of work, I took the train (yay!) to New York on Friday to visit two of my oldest and best friends, Leah and Julia. Like most trips to New York, it was completely exhausting but really fun.

I visited some old standbys:
1. Max Restaurant in the Lower East Side: I try to go here with Leah every time I am in the city. It’s a little Italian place that never disappoints. This time I had this Veal Scaloppini/prosciutto/white wine/spinach/mashed potatoes thing that was absolutely delicious.
2. Redd’s Tavern in Williamsburg. Any bar that has skee ball is okay with me.

And discovered some new favorites:
1. Young Designers Market in Soho: I could have bought something from almost every vendor at this indoor flea-market. The jewelry was simple and stunning, the clothes and accessories were one of a kind and the actual designers themselves were so friendly. Will definitely want to visit again during my next trip!

2. Harefield Road in Williamsburg: fantastic, cheap brunch…tea and mimosa included! Try the French Toast.
3. Mark Bar in Greenpoint: simple, dive bar that serves a mean Gimlet.
4. Le Petit Café in Soho: I don’t know if dining menu is any good, but they have the best soy hot chocolate ever.

5. Veslka in the East Village: Who knew that Ukrainian Soul Food a) existed b) is delicious?

Bruuuuuuuuce (kind of)

Shout out to Evvie for discovering Hangin' on E Street, a great combination of artists ranging from Tegan and Sara to Wyclef who are covering Bruce Springsteen songs. I love, love, love this quote from Josh Ritter: "If you haven’t found Bruce Springsteen yet, you will find a point in your life when his music will be enormously important to you."

Movie Review: Rachel Getting Married

Last night, when I should have been cleaning my apartment or packing for my NYC weekend, I watched Rachel Getting Married. And although it made for a late Thursday night (post 10:30!), I’m glad that I did. The story of a 20-something’s homecoming trip, it’s one of the more captivating and authentic movies that I have seen in a while. So authentic that it’s actually pretty hard to watch at some points. But the unexpected moments of happiness, coupled with an investment that you make in the characters pretty early on in the movie, make you keep going.

I read somewhere that director Jonathan Demme wanted to get all of his favorite people (who didn’t know each other at all) together for this movie. His careful, wise choice of actors comes across on screen. It seems like almost every scene has more than 2 people acting at the same time, but the movie manages to avoid the typical choreography that you see with other movies (e.g. The Family Stone) that feature large groups of people. Somehow, the actors successfully pull off the awkward, angry, emotional, tense, fun moments that we have all faced as we revisit home.

I believe the tagline was “This isn’t your family. But this is your family.” That just sums it up beautifully. Award: Golden Globe

::also, kudos for featuring the lead singer of TV on the Radio, America’s best underground band (according to Howard Wolfson)::

Don’t Judge a Book…

This site honoring/archiving book covers is simply fantastic. Complete with font identification nonetheless! If you need inspiration for your next memo or PowerPoint (or if you just want to kill some time), make sure to check it out. Some really beautiful stuff.

Look at Those Smiles

About a week and a half ago (I know, I know, it’s been a busy week), I hosted a small dinner party at my place with the fine ladies in the picture above. And Pete, who was a great sport. Good conversation, Neko Case albums and moderately-priced wine were in full supply. I made the recipes below, which a) turned out pretty well b) would be very easy to replicate for a large or small gathering.

If you are making anything here, may I also offer the following tips:
1. This menu would have been perfect for a weekday dinner party. You can make almost everything (sans roasted vegetables and black bean brownies) beforehand, then wrap it in aluminum foil and then throw it in the oven when you get home from work.

2. The key to the lasagna is using fresh spinach (as opposed to the frozen-block-kind) and sautéing fresh garlic and onions to mix with the ricotta.

3. Yes, the black bean recipe really is that easy. It’s not that great for leftovers though…

BRUSCHETTA
Here, I just used part of the Italian boaf of bread, some Trader Joe’s Bruschetta sauce and mozzerella cheese. Toast the bread, heat the bruschetta sauce in a small pan, then put the sauce on the toast and add the cheese. Bake for about 10 minutes and you are good to go!

SPINACH LASAGNA
Ingredients:
20 lasagna noodles
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 cups fresh spinach
3 cups ricotta cheese
2/3 cup grated Romano cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
3 cups tomato pasta sauce
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

3. In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook onions and garlic in olive oil until onions are tender. Drain excess liquid and cool. Boil spinach for 5 minutes. Drain, then squeeze out excess liquid. Chop spinach.

4. Combine ricotta cheese, Romano cheese, spinach, salt, oregano, basil, and pepper in a bowl. Add cooled onion mixture. Lay 5 lasagna noodles in bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.

5. Spread one third of the cheese/spinach mixture over noodles. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese on top. Spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce over cheese. 6. Repeat layering 2 times.

6. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven for 1 hour. Cool 15 minutes before serving

ROASTED VEGETABLES
Chop up a myriad of vegetables (I used eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash and red onion) and toss with olive oil, butter and Italian seasoning. Then bake in the 350 degree oven for as long as you bake the lasagna.

FAMOUS LAROSAS SALAD

GARLIC BREAD
2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 (15- by 3 1/2-inch) loaf Italian bread

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mash garlic to a paste. Stir together butter, oil, and garlic paste in a bowl until smooth, then stir in parsley.
3. Without cutting completely through bottom, cut bread diagonally into 1-inch-thick slices with a serrated knife, then spread garlic butter between slices.
4. Wrap loaf in foil and bake in middle of oven 15 minutes. Open foil and bake 5 minutes more.
-Bread can be spread with garlic butter 8 hours ahead and chilled, wrapped in foil. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking-

BLACK BEAN BROWNIES
Ingredients:
1 box of Brownie Mix (I like Trader Joe’s Truffle Brownie Mix)
1 can of black beans
½ bag of Heath toffee chips (you could also use walnuts, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, whatever)

Preparation:
1. Using a food chopper or a food processor, puree the black beans.

2. Add the brownie mix and stir with a wooden spoon. Don’t add anything else that the brownie recipe calls for (eggs, oil, butter, etc.). Pour into a greased 8x8 pan.

3. Bake according to the brownie package instructions (usually 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes). I served these with cut strawberries and whipped cream. So good! And vegan!

Riding the Rails

When I was in high school, my father and I boarded a train in Maysville, KY, and headed to Washington, DC, by rail. If I remember right, the trip was supposed to take 12 hours one-way. It ended up taking double that: 24. BUT, I honestly have nothing but good memories about the train ride itself. It was a beautiful ride that took some routes that are only accessible by train. We also saw small towns that I don’t think I would have seen otherwise. The food was better than any airplane food that I had eaten and I loved the “entertainment” options: reading while periodically looking out of the window; walking about and stretching my legs; and taking a nap in my oversized chair. It was just my style.

In our era of rushed, uncomfortable travel, I was excited when I saw this piece in the Times about a writer who traveled across country by trying out Amtrak. It’s a good, objective article that explores rail travel from a bunch of different angles. And it will undoubtedly make you want to take 4 days off of work to tour the country the old-fashioned way. Just keep in mind, it may turn out to be 8 days.

Album Review: Animal Collective

When I first heard Merriweather Post Pavilion, I didn’t quite know what to do with it. It was almost like when I listened to Radiohead for the first time: strange, involved, complex music that was unlike anything that I had heard in a while (or ever) and I wasn’t entirely sure that I liked it. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t say that Animal Collective’s sound is like Radiohead (they remind me more of Sgt. Pepper’s or Pet Sounds ::but maybe that’s just the similar-name-factor::). But, much like Radiohead, I have come to absolutely adore this album. It's upbeat and the perfect thing to listen to while you are dancing around your apartment in the morning. Plus, optical illusion album covers are almost always a plus in my book. Favorite songs: In the Flowers (this is probably my favorite song of 2009 thus far), My Girls and Summertime Clothes.

Be My Baby

As the world’s biggest Ronettes fan (well, at least under the age of 55), I was upset to learn that Estelle Bennett (second from the left in the above picture) passed away last week. What is even more upsetting is this Times article, where you can see the breakdown of one of the key contributors to the 1960s girl groups. It’s hard to believe that a woman who “helped redefine rock ’n’ roll femininity” had to secretly deal with anorexia, schizophrenia and homelessness. Maybe that’s what’s working with this guy and dating this guy will do to you…

Masters of the Universe

This piece in the Times has got me thinking. It breaks down how far a $500,000 salary really goes in the life of a high-power, high-salary, high-spending New York banker. Sure, a person who has worked hard (in an incredibly competitive industry nonetheless) deserves to be well compensated. And the aforementioned incredibly competitive industry does require a certain lifestyle. And should government be putting a limit on business’ salaries? But, I am sorry, living such an expensive lifestyle seems outrageous and unnecessary to me. Why would you want to be part of a culture that required such shallow extravagance? But how much control do we really have over our careers and lifestyle? And who am I to judge someone's lifestyle any way? Unless it is impeding on my lifestyle...which you could argue that bankers are because of the bailout.

Regardless, getting to the point where I am spending $790,750 per year on living expenses is terrifying to me. Almost to the point that I want to pack up my humble belongings and move to a simple farm in the Midwest. But then again, I have that desire approximately 5 times a week.

The quote below (and the whole article, actually) is great food for thought and reminds me so much of when the lead banker in Tom Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities explains how broke he feels even though he makes millions.

“As hard as it is to believe, bankers who are living on the Upper East Side making $2 or $3 million a year have set up a life for themselves in which they are also at zero at the end of the year with credit cards and mortgage bills that are inescapable.”

Whale in a Cubicle

Some time ago, I made a “Work Sucks” CD to celebrate an entry into the working world. Last night, while searching my iPod for the perfect song to capture my mood, I stumbled upon the playlist. And it’s actually not too bad. I added some recent songs to round it out. Fight the man!

1. Bastard: Ben Folds

2. Ghost of Corporate Future: Regina Spektor

3. Paint it Beige: Telenovela ::an Athens band!::

4. A Hard Day’s Night: The Beatles

5. The Underdog: Spoon ::I play this song no less than 3 times/week at my desk, typically right before I have to do a task that I hate::

6. That Lucky Old Sun: Louis Armstrong

7. Money: Pink Floyd

8. Proud Mary: Ike & Tina Turner

9. Hip to Be Sqaure: Huey Lewis & the News ::it's hard for me to listen to this song and not think of Christian Bale axing that guy in American Psycho::

10. Total Job: The Faint

11. I’ve Been Working: Van Morrison

12. Maggie’s Farm: Bob Dylan

13. Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud: Elliot Smith

14. 9 to 5: Dolly Parton

15. Step into My Office, Baby: Belle & Sebastian

16. Government Center: The Modern Lovers

17. This Lamb Sells Condos: Final Fantasy

18. Plasticities: Andrew Bird

19. Antichrist Television Blues: Arcade Fire

I think all of these songs are available on iTunes, although I really need to figure out how to make a streaming playlist…

Balloons over Paris

For years (about 15 of them, in fact), I was convinced that I had invented two movies that I could have sworn I’d seen as a child. I vaguely remembered certain scenes, but they were weird and didn't seem to fit in with the Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers shows that I endlessly watched. Were they actually dreams that I had? Did I make up the movies entirely? One, which I thought I’d seen in elementary school, involved a French boy chasing a red balloon around a city; the other was a movie in which Fred Savage travelled around the country to play in a Nintendo tournament. I am, of course, talking about The Red Balloon and The Wizard…two movies that actually do exist. And while I don’t think I will be revisiting The Wizard anytime soon, I did re-watch The Red Balloon this weekend. I can honestly say that I loved every second. It’s simple and almost entirely silent, but it is captivating, cute and inspiring. If you have thirty minutes, you can watch a version (albeit in low resolution) here. Award: Oscar.

And the Pursuit of Happiness

Ever since Amber gave me Maira Kalman’s beautiful book The Principles of Uncertainty, for my birthday two years ago, I have been in love with her organic drawings and simple, thoughtful text. There were a lot of special features around the inauguration, but her piece in the Times did the best job of capturing the spirit of change. If you need a renewal of faith in our nation (or of faith in modern drawing), take a look.

Girl Power! (but not in a Spice Girl sorta way)

From Nike comes a moving video on “The Girl Effect.” Take some time and check it out. From their website: "WHY GIRLS? Because when adolescent girls in the developing world have a chance, they can be the most powerful force of change for themselves, their families, communities and nations. But while those 600 million girls are the most likely agents of change, they are invisible to their societies and the world. So what can you do about that? Get yourself seen, whether you're a girl or just believe in girls."

Album/Concert Review: Andrew Bird, Noble Beast

After seeing Andrew Bird perform on Tuesday night at the 9:30 Club, I was slightly disappointed. Almost all of the songs that he played were from his new album and there were annoying request-shouting-fans that I would expect to see at Hannah Montana shows, not AB shows. For about 15 seconds I pulled the classic hipster move and bitched about how I think Andrew Bird is now more focused on pleasing fans and finding mainstream success than making the quirky music that I so love. But that’s just crazy. On second (and third…fourth…37th…) listen, the songs that he played were from an album that is as adventurous as any of his other ones. I do think that the whistling has gotten a bit out of control (likely due to the fact that fans really do eat it up), but this is a solid album that is perfect for any mood. Also, the deluxe version is 100% worth the extra money. The artwork is gorgeous, the extra instrumental album is hypnotic, and the lyric book is worthy of the finest of coffee tables. Andrew, I still love you and think that you can do no wrong. Favorite tracks are: “Not a Robot, but a Ghost,” “Anoanimal,” and “Effigy.”

Holey Donuts!

Raspberry Fudge, Blueberry Crumb Cake, Banana Cream Pie. How good do these donuts sound? And low-fat, nonetheless! Without any fake sweeteners or Olestra. It's a damn good thing that you have to order these online and they aren't readily available in stores (yet). According to their website, “You'd actually have to eat 4 of our full-sized, delicious donuts to get the amount of fat in just one traditional donut.” Sounds like a challenge. I accept.

Two Worlds Collide

Just when I think that Target couldn't get any cooler, they come out with a Hayden Harnett line! Two of my favorite things are joined at last. Has this been out for a while and I am the last to know?! Either way, I love the look of my Hayden Harnett wallet (purchased, probably for way too much money, at Anthro) and it has held up extremely well to the newspaper, pen and water abuse that it gets in my bag. I am anxious to see if their cheaper line has the same style and quality. Get thee to a Target!

Interview with Anthony Bourdain

Over the past couple of months, my Netflix queue has included the usual mix of old movies that no one cares about, new movies that no one cares about, and the occasional epic blockbuster that I so love. But it has also been overwhelmingly dominated by old episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. I like Tony for his genuine love of food and his willingness to try anything. I came across this piece from DCist that makes me like him even more, particularly when he talks about how living in Vietnam may influence his daughter. And this quote, an explanation of his dislike for Alice Waters, is just fantastic:

“I'm suspicious of orthodoxy, the kind of orthodoxy when it comes to what you put in your mouth. I'm a little reluctant to admit that maybe Americans are too stupid to figure out that the food we're eating is killing us. But I don't know if it's time to send out special squads to close all the McDonald's. My libertarian side is at odds with my revulsion at what we as a country have done to ourselves physically with what we've chosen to eat and our fast food culture.”

Album Review: Bon Iver

Do you ever have an album that is so stunning that you just can't turn it off? Suddenly you find that it is the soundtrack for your subway ride. Or your cold walk to the convenience store. Or your reading of a novel before bed. Although I am a little late discovering it, Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago is that album for me. Bon Iver (pronounced Boney Vair) is the brainchild of Justin Vernon, who spent three months in a remote cabin in Wisconsin playing around with old drumsets and guitars. And he did a hauntingly good job at it. Bon Iver means "good winter" in French and I have a feeling that this may well be the album that gets me through winter's darkest days. Favorite tracks so far: Flume and Skinny Love.

America's Finest News Source

I don’t know if the feeling of hope and change in the air has inspired the writers of The Onion or what, but this week’s edition is one of the best that I have read in a while.

Of note for the recession-riddled: Hey Man, You Got A Second So I Can Fire You?

And, for the parents out there: Take Time To Talk To Your Child About Whatever Crap They Like

Yes, we can!

Fifty People, One Question

From a production company called Crush and Lovely comes “Fifty People, One Question.” These short films are brilliant in their simplicity. The mission is to ask 50 “regular” people, who are randomly walking down the street, the same question. The key is that the films are done with great elements of style: touching music, an overwhelming sense of genuineness, and a good cross section of interviewees. Take five and a half minutes and check it out.

McSweeney's Monologues

McSweeney's has these great "Short Imagined Monologues" that I just discovered because of the funniest-guy-at-GPG Adam Goldstein. There are tons of them, but some of my favorites are: A Mail Carrier Realizes That a Family's Netflix Movie Has Yet to Be Returned; It Was I Who Flipped Over the Risk Board Last Night; A Pep Talk for the New Pair of Shorts I Will Wear Every Day This Summer.

It’s happening! It’s really happening!

The release of a new Andrew Bird album gets me all in a fluster. In fact, on the day that Armchair Apocrypha was released, I have a clear memory of feeling antsy on the metro, then mauling down tourists on my brisk walk into the office, then literally running to my computer and (finally!) downloading it immediately. True story. And while I don’t expect anyone to be as obsessed as I am, there are quite a few things floating out there right now that I thought everyone should know:

1. Here is a FANTASTIC article from The New York Times on AB.

2. NPR has kindly posted a streaming version of the new album (Noble Beast) before it is officially released on January 20th.

3. iTunes has a deal where if you pre-order the album, you get the single “Oh No” instantly.

4. AB is coming to our very own 9:30 Club on February 3rd. Even if you aren’t crazy about any songs that you’ve heard, his performances are intricate and fascinating.

5. And for the hardcore fans, there is apparently a deluxe edition of the album that has illustrations and another CD of extras. I will, of course, be getting this version!

For more up-to-date Andrew Bird news, check out his site.

Before Sunrise/Sunset

If you are looking to get your groove back, may I suggest that you curl up on your warm couch this weekend and watch Before Sunrise and Before Sunset . These movies (the first made in 1995 and the sequel made in 2004) are jam packed with romance, and not just the flowery, sunshine/puppies variety. This is the romance of falling in love with a stranger, but only having 12 hours to spend with him/her. The romance of European trains. The romance of good conversation. The romance of exploring an unknown city with an unknown person. They are simple movies, but they resonate with those of us who like our love stories a little more on the intellectual side. Ethan Hawke looks pretty good, too.
Awards: Oscar

A Few Words in Defense of Sex and the City

After receiving the Sex and the City box set for Christmas (thanks, Dad!), I have rediscovered the guiltiest of guilty pleasures.

For all of its pettiness/shallowness/“modern feminism”/eye candy, there is something incredibly true to life in just about every episode. The friends who you stick with even though they keep making the same mistakes. The back-and-forth relationship that you don’t ever really escape. The feeling of disconnect in a big city even though you are surrounded by interesting and fun people. And not to mention the fabulous fashion.

But I like to think that I moved to a city on my own and I don’t need the bullshit glitz that “typical” girls seek from the unrealistic plotlines of Sex and the City. I like to think that my friends and I are a little more advanced beyond the show’s stereotypes and we make our own experiences instead of living vicariously through Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda. In other words, I don’t need fakeness to make me feel better about myself.

But the day after my 7 episode marathon, I was confidently stepping out of my apartment with a little spring in my step. I was imagining myself saying something charming and witty to the cute stranger that I pass every day on my commute to the train ::and this is coming from a girl who almost never says anything charming and witty:: Yesterday, I found myself wearing tan cowboy boots, textured tights and a black pashmina draped around my shoulders with a huge black leather, fringed bag dangling on my arm. I imagine one day I will be looking back at pictures and think “Whoa, I guess that was during the time that I was watching a lot of Sex and the City.”

Either way, as hard as it may be to admit, maybe we do need some fantasy in our lives. Even if it revolves around men, crude conversation and faux glamour. BUT, when I start dropping references into daily conversation, begin staying home to Saturday nights to finish season four or start looking into getting tickets for the Sex and the City tour next time I am in Manhattan, someone, please, stop me.