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.

Genius!

Maybe they are not the most attractive gloves that I have ever seen, but look closely. With finger pads made of nickel and brass, Dots allow you to use touch screen devices AND keep your hands warm. I adore the idea of not having to take off my gloves every time I go to adjust the volume or song on my iPod. Now, if they could just work on the design a little bit...

Someone Left the Cake out in the Rain

The other day I was sitting at my desk when I heard giggling from Audrey. What was she cracking up about? Cake Wrecks. I love that a whole site is dedicated to “When professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong.” The comments are pretty priceless too. The perfect site for those of us who have ever had an epic failure in the kitchen—sometimes even the pros get it wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong.

Step into My Office, Baby

With my office moving from Georgetown to Metro Center in a few short days, my mind has turned to office decorating! I am approaching this move like everyone used to approach the first days of school: excited about new pens, pencils, organizers, thumbtacks, etc. Oh wait, not everyone was super excited about getting new school supplies when they were a kid? Maybe that was just me… Well, for those of us who are unabashedly nerdy, here is a site for grown-ups who still look for any excuse to upgrade their pencil collection.

Dr. Dog, in the flesh

Winning the prize for “The most decorated stage that I have seen at the 9:30 club” is…Dr. Dog!! Although a never-ending head cold, coupled with a busy December, has prevented me from writing about this 2-week-old show, it definitely deserves a moment in the spotlight. Don’t let the luau theme distract you, Dr. Dog put on a well-rehearsed and thoughtful show. The set list was great—a combination of their newer stuff from Fate with their older stuff from Easy Beat and other albums. And while they had a really tight set, they somehow maintained the vibe of a band that is new/fun and excited to be doing that they are doing. It looks like they have a lineup already planned for 2009—check them out if you can!

Super Obama World!

In my very limited experience with video games, my favorites are ranked as follows:

1. Oregon Trail

2. Guitar Hero

3. Anything on Nintendo Wii

BUT, here comes a great time-waster called Super Obama World. Filled with fond memories from the campaign (look for the Bridge to Nowhere and Wasilla as The Real America), it's just fantastic. And it's on the computer, so you can play it at the office! Not that I have been doing that for the past half hour or anything...

Late Bloomers

As I hit the quarter-life crisis benchmark, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and under-successful. Orson Welles made Citizen Kane when he was 25—what have I done with my life?! But, Malcolm Gladwell comes to the rescue with this excellent New Yorker piece about how genius develops in many different ways. Citing Cezanne, Picasso, Mark Twain, Jonathan Safran Foer and others, Gladwell points out that some people create their best art later in life. Or, some don’t even start creating art until later in life. Either way, if you are feeling anxious--at any age--that time is wasting away, take these three notes to heart:

--Some creativity is experimental (as opposed to natural or conceptual) and based on years and years of trial and error. “The Cézannes of the world bloom late not as a result of some defect in character, or distraction, or lack of ambition, but because the kind of creativity that proceeds through trial and error necessarily takes a long time to come to fruition.”

--It’s not about being discovered by others until later life or not realizing your own hidden talent until later in life. Sometimes “late bloomers bloom late because they simply aren’t much good until late in their careers.”

--Sometimes it takes a good patron to guide you along. “Success is highly contingent on the efforts of others.”

Bad egg, good egg

Synecdoche, New York: I adore Charlie Kaufman’s quirkiness and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s overall awesomeness, so it make sense I would like this movie. Wrong. I totally get the whole “play within a play” thing, but this “plot” was so dark and confusing that it was actually painful to watch. I hate to say this, but this movie had me thinking that Kaufman should stick to just writing and leave the directing up to someone else. Award: MTV Movie Award.

Barefoot in the Park: Sometimes, you just have to go back and watch one of your favorites. Such was the case on Saturday when I revisited Barefoot in the Park. The story is of two newlyweds (played perfectly by Robert Redford and Jane Fonda) in Manhattan and I really cannot say enough good things about this movie. It’s witty, romantic, charming, neurotic and stylish; just look at the poster to the right. What other reason do you need to see it? Award: Oscar

Wait, what is that, Jackie?

Oh, is that an Andrew Bird poster signed by Andrew himself? With a Happy Birthday Jackie note?! Extra special shout out to Audrey for getting in touch with his manager and making it happen. Definitely one of the most thoughftul (and arduous!) gifts that I have ever received.

Office Wifey

Email between Carrie (my cubicle-neighbor AND fellow Cincinnatian) and her room mate Carys:

Carrie: i ate 14 butter cookies today and now i am feeling sick. just wanted to tell someone besides jackie - who had 11 butter cookies and also feels sick.

Carys: i think you two may be this...
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/11/10/cb.seven.signs.work.spouse/index.html

Carys highlights a great article--do office spouses exist? As further evidence that Carrie and I are married in office space, here is a gem that I dug up. Any past boyfriends of mine may recognize the Jackie look of disapproval. Also note that I am wearing Carrie's sweater.

Elephant 6: Live?!

NPR’s All Songs Considered is a great way to find new music; their concert podcast is also a great resource to find live (and sometimes rare) versions of your favorite songs. But the concert podcast can also make you incredibly jealous that you weren’t at a particular show, as is the case with this amazing reunion of sorts with 15 members of the Elephant 6 family. Most of the ASC concerts are recorded at Washington’s 9:30 Club, but a special trip to Chicago was made for this show. Featuring songs from some of my all-time favorite Athens bands (Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control and Elf Power), the concert is the type where you can tell that the band members are having a blast. I haven’t even finished listening to it yet, but am in love already. I am also missing Athens like crazy.

Movie Review: The Visitor

I think that The Visitor is the best movie that I have seen so far in 2008. It’s quiet, thought-provoking and has moments that gives you real, intense feelings for the characters. AND it is directed by a guy who was on The Wire. This Times article does a better job at summing it up than I could. Check out the video in the Times article too. Award: Oscar

Not your typical e-card

We all love the Some E-Card site for their inappropriate (read: hilarious) cards, but did you know that you can create your own?! As Amber said when she made the above card to make fun of the language of communications consultants, "This changes everything."

Seasonal Playlist: Autumn 2008

Each season, I make a playlist of about 10-15 “singles” that I have been listening to a lot. It’s great in case I need a quick playlist and can’t decide what I am in the mood for, but also is nice to revisit/reflect on later. I don’t make the claim that these songs are new releases or cutting-edge, but I love each of them and I will always associate them with Autumn 2008.

1. MGMT: Time to Pretend-- The anthem of my life right now.

2. Blitzen Trapper: Furr-- I don't know much about this band, but I can listen to this on repeat over and over and over.

3. Kings of Leon: Fans-- Why am I just discovering this amazing band right now?

4. Dr. Dog: Easy Beat-- "Psych rock"=sounds like something I would hate. Apparently I love it. Looking forward to their show in December!

5. Old Crow Medicine Show: Wagon Wheel-- This song was the highlight of the Old Crow show at 9:30 club. And not because of the way the band played it, but the way that Carrie passionately sang along to it.

6. Citizen Cope: Pablo Picasso-- Worth listening to just to hear Cope say "Mist-ah Offi-cah"

7. She & Him: Sentimental Heart-- My favorite song from a great album.

8. Old Crow Medicine Show: James River Blues-- There is just something really cute about young guys playing bluegrass.

9. The Blow: Hey Boy-- Noah gave me this CD ages ago, but this song is particularly apropos right now...

10. M.I.A: Paper Planes-- You can't sit still and listen to this one.

11. Kings of Leon: Knocked Up-- This has the pained romantic vibe that I seek from Springsteen sometimes.

12. Dr. Dog: The Old Days-- "So cold in the morning, put on your dog skins."

13. Kings of Leon: The Runner-- Beautiful song that always makes me stop and give it my full attention for 4 minutes and 18 seconds.

::this would be a lot cooler if I could figure out how to make a playlist that everyone can listen to online, but hopefully that will come later::

Most. Relaxing. Trip. Ever.

Awful picture of me. Great picture of Bainbridge.

I am back in the swing of things after a terrific week in Seattle. In no particular order, some highlights include:

-Biking Bainbridge Island while rediscovering some of my favorite moody, grey-day music: Nick Drake, Emily Haines, Bright Eyes and Her Space Holiday

-Ohhing and Ahhing over beautiful flower arrangements and blackened salmon sandwiches at Pike’s Place Market with Amber

-Catching up with Gwynne in Ballard (fantastic neighborhood a little bit off the beaten path with a seemingly endless amount of locally owned shops, restaurants and bungalow houses)

-My daily, relaxing “routine” on Bainbridge: reading One Hundred Years of Solitude, eating, spending time with Kimber’s lovely family, reading some more, eating a lot more and falling asleep to the sound of the ocean.

-Walking around Ballard and down to the locks on a glorious Saturday morning with Katie and her dog—all while wearing Katie’s too-short sweat pants, my riding boots and a fleece that had me wondering if it was the first one that Patagonia ever made.

-Touring the Seattle Public Library with Amber. I know this sounds boring, but the library downtown is amazing! The architecture, gift shop and views of the city are not to be missed.

Since coming back yesterday, I have caught myself looking out of the window at my office and wishing I was still exploring the pacific northwest. Such a wonderful trip!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Marcy, Amber, Jackie B, Carrie, Audrey, Emily, Carley, Kate

Threesomes, Of Montreal, bra-fitting—these were some of the topics of conversation at my "Celebrate Autumn" dinner party last night. It's amazing what happens when the wine starts to flow...

With the exception of the popovers that I attempted to make, everything turned out pretty well. Special thanks to Kate for running to the store for bread when the popovers emerged from the oven burnt and gross. Successful recipes below:

SQUASH CASSEROLE:
3 Lbs. Yellow summer squash.
1/2 Cup Chopped onions.
2 Large eggs.
1 Stick, butter.
1 Tbs. Sugar.
1 Tsp. Salt or to taste.
1/2 Tsp. Black pepper, or to taste.
1/2 Cup Cracker meal or bread crumbs.

1. Place a 3 to 4 quart pot of salted water on the stove, over high heat, and bring to a boil.

2. Wash and cut squash into 1/2 inch chunks.

3. Place squash chunks into pot of boiling water and return to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until squash is fork tender. Approximately 10 minutes.

4. Drain *VERY* well. Mash and/or puree to whatever texture you may
desire.

5. Add onion, eggs, sugar, salt, pepper and half the butter to your *Squished* squash. Mix well to blend.

6. Pour mixture into a 2 quart buttered casserole.

7. Melt remaining butter and pour evenly over squash mixture. Sprinkle with cracker meal or bread crumbs.

8. Bake in *Pre-heated* 375°F. oven for approximately 1 hour or until
nicely browned and cooked through.

SALAD:
1 bag Romaine lettuce
2 avocados
3 Roma tomatoes
1 cucumber
LaRosa’s creamy garlic dressing. In case you aren’t planning a trip to Cincinnati anytime soon and don't want to pay to have this shipped, you can substitute another creamy garlic dressing.

PORK TENDERLOIN:
You can use any of the pre-packaged and seasoned pork tenderloin. I like the garlic and herb one.

SWEET POTATO FRIES:
Here I just used the Trader Joe’s brand of fries. They are awesome.

PUMPKIN BUTTER:
Trader Joe’s came through again! Their pumpkin butter is great, but I added cream cheese to it to make it a little more flavorful. 2 parts of cream cheese to 1 part of pumpkin butter seemed to do the trick.

CARAMEL APPLES:

1 bag of Kraft caramels

1 tablespoon of water

5 apples

5 popsicle sticks

Toppings: I used walnuts, but other suggestions are Oreo cookies, peanuts, graham crackers

1. Heat the caramels and water in the microwave for about 1 ½ minutes. Stir and then put back in the microwave for another 1 ½ minutes.

2. Dip the apples in the caramel, then the topping and then place on wax paper. Refrigerate for an hour.

At Home with Wayne Coyne

It shouldn't come as a surprise that the lead singer of the Flaming Lips has a crazy, trippy house. I love a lot of the things featured in this Times piece: the fact that Coyne still lives in a run-down part of Oklahoma City (a couple of blocks from where he grew up); the fact that Coyne met his wife while he was working at Long John Silver's between tours; and the fact that the local Home Depot had to amp up their supply of foam attic baffle because Coyne was buying them out of stock. If you've ever been to a Flaming Lips show, then you know that Coyne is creative, outrageous and colorful. Just like his house, apparently.

Egg on Your Face. Or lack thereof.

I tried out this detailed, step-by-step recipe on how to poach an egg from Smitten Kitchen this weekend. And then I proceeded to somehow fit poached eggs into almost every meal that I made for the rest of the weekend. Who knew that it could be so damn easy?! And delicious. Try for yourself!

Perfect Autumn Bike Ride

Cool, sunny, autumn days like last Sunday are made for long bike rides. So my biking partner-in-crime (and Ratatat concert partner-in-crime) Charlie and I decided to take on one of the area’s most talked about routes: the Mt Vernon trail. I was cursing myself for not bringing a camera because there are so many parts of this trail that are unbelievably pretty. We started out in Virginia, near Gravelly point, and biked along the GW Parkway through Old Town, Alexandria, Riverside Park, Dyke Marsh and out to Mt. Vernon. And then back to Washington. All in all, we biked a total of 36 miles in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. And while I wasn’t ready to run a marathon when we got back, it wasn’t too exhausting either. I can tell that this route is one that I will want to do again and again and again.

A couple of tips:
-The last three miles from Washington to Mt. Vernon are probably the hardest. It gets pretty hilly at parts, but the worst hill is the last one right before you get to the Mt Vernon parking lot. If you make it to the hill that you think you won’t be able to beat, you are almost there!

-There are two dining options at Mt. Vernon. A sit-down, fancy-pants restaurant and a food court that has a variety of sandwiches, salads, pizza, etc. Since you will likely bring a limited amount of cash and will be wearing spandex and a t-shirt, the food court is the best option. Grab a bite and then sit outside on the patio—nice views!

-If you need to stop for food or water before you make it to Mt. Vernon, there is a great little Safeway just past Old Town and before you go under the Wilson bridge.

-The guided tour of Mt. Vernon is a little pricey--$13 per person—so make sure you bring enough cash if you decide to do that.

More Movies!

JFK: In anticipation for Oliver Stone’s W (due out Oct 17th), I decided to Netflix JFK. If you are interested in seeing it but don’t think you can sit through three and half hours of Oliver Stone in all of his glory, the best way to approach the movie is as a mini-series. Divided between two or three sittings, the intensity, paranoia, and over-the-topness of JFK becomes tolerable. While based primarily on Jim Garrison’s book, I kept trying to wrap my head around how the filmmakers sifted through so many government reports, hours of film footage, books and interviews to incorporate archival material into the movie AND were able to recreate locations in Dallas, New Orleans and Washington down to the last detail. JFK is the type of movie that you can tell took a lot of effort to make; it’s best just to appreciate it for that. Award: Golden Globe.

Sense and Sensibility: There are about a million versions of Sense and Sensibility out there, but this one is probably the most accessible. Emma Thompson (who also wrote the screenplay for this version), Kate Winslet and, of course, Hugh Grant look and act their best in Victorian costumes with rolling English countryside backdrops. But for some reason, whenever I watch any Jane Austen movies, I inevitably want to sit down and just watch the ridiculously long BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. Regardless, I can’t believe the scope of director Ang Lee’s films—society of Jane Austen, gay cowboys in Brokeback Mountain and whatever the hell Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was about. And he seems to do a good job with them all. When the mood for a Jane Austen movie hits you, this will do a good job satisfying your craving. Award: Golden Globe.

A Very Long Engagement: As a general rule of thumb, I don't do war movies. So it is a good thing that I didn't know that A Very Long Engagement is a war movie because I probably wouldn't have given it the attention that it deserves. While WWI plays a central role in the film, the real story is about a girl trying to reconnect with the love of her life (a French soldier). Because the movie was directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and stars Audrey Tautou, there are the inevitable Amelie comparisons. And while it does have the stylized camera work and special effects that gives it the fanciful vibe of Amelie, I think it can stand on its own as a gut-wrenching love story to be enjoyed by those who like a little bit of epic in their movies. Award: Golden Globe.

Weekend of Rockumentaries

I am Trying to Break Your Heart: a black and white film that documents the drama of making of Wilco’s landmark album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Band members get fired, pretention abounds, record labels make stupid decisions, cigarettes are smoked and suddenly you have an even greater appreciation for an album that you already thought was pretty decent. The highlight is watching Jeff Tweedy and his son play imaginary drums on the Wilco tour bus. Award: Golden Globe

The Devil and Daniel Johnston: the story of one of the craziest and most interesting figures in modern music. Daniel Johnston rose to fame by playing eccentric songs in Austin; his tape “Hi, How are You” is a self-recording of quirky songs that still resonates with a cult following. The film is not just a fascinating story but it is really a tribute to Johnston’s parents, who have supported their son through various mental institutions, artistic ventures both successful and not, and bouts of mania and depression. Johnston is an artist in the truest sense of the word and you get sense that he really can’t function in any other capacity (even if it means living in his parents basement well into middle-age). And you gotta respect that. Award: Oscar.

Lolita, Light of My Life

On the cover of my copy of Lolita, Vanity Fair calls it “The only convincing love story of our century.” I’d like to think that I am not cynical enough to agree with that completely, but I would say that it is one of my favorite books of our century.

There is a lot going on in Lolita—the psychology of a true narcissist, the culture clash of a hyper-civilized European man living in America, the fear and paranoia of “when will he get caught?!”—which is good because sometimes the obsession that Humbert Humbert has for 12-year-old Dolores Haze is so intense and disgusting that you are forced to distance yourself from the overarching love story. How Nabokov is able to turn it into such a beautifully written classic is amazing.

If we were to group books, Unbearable Lightness of Being-style, into day books and night books, Lolita would certainly be a night book. Dark, engrossing, ecstatic. And highly recommended.