tomato scoop

Hiatus Indefinite ∫ To Whom It May Concern

2010-07-28T00:02:00.002-04:00

To anyone who's been checking in on TomaSco lately: apologies (and, thanks...?). I have been slacking, majorly. Mostly because my summer has been jam-packed. Just got back from Seattle, which was lovely--I took part in a very special occasion (my close friend from Sactown getting hitched). Wild stuff. And the rest of my time has been wrapped up in a full-on nine-to-5 (often longer) for an up and coming internet conglomerate/beast. On the style-blog front as well. Both are filed under "vested" in my interest column. You should click over now and subscribe to your city. You'll thank me later. Anyhow, what I'm saying is: if it wasn't already apparent, I don't plan on updating very regularly (or at all) in the near future. If you do happen to care about my whereabouts or whatnot, you're probably a facebook friend and/or you can follow along on twitter. While flipping through recent pictures I've taken, this one seemed quite apt for the current occasion. It's from the Ace Hotel in Seattle. Our bedside chair was awesome. Obvs. So, I took a picture.

2010-06-17T00:23:00.001-04:00

This was all over the NYC blogosphere a couple of days ago. I was at the 6th Ave L stop earlier today. The MTA has already fixed it (the L and F have been reversed). Perhaps the most organized they've been. Ever. If only they could apply that kind of go-getting to running the G...

Real MTA ∫ New Map Unveiled

2010-05-27T17:46:00.000-04:00

Great article in the New York Times about the new map to be unveiled next month, and the history of "the ubiquitous blue-and-taupe rectangle scrutinized by millions." The interactive companion page (screen-grabbed above) is even better. Check it out. Even if you're not from here, one day you'll end up here and find yourself gazing at this more than anything else (out of necessity of course). "In a city of world-class art museums and an instantly recognizable skyline, no image is more closely examined than the New York City subway map..."

An Overhaul of an Underground Icon

J-Dubs ∫ Some Things Don't Change

2010-05-25T20:08:00.006-04:00

Needless to say, I'm a die-hard Sac Kings fan. Ergo, I have a lingering fanaticism for most players who've donned the purple & black--and an even stronger passion for those we've drafted (and coddled through a few turbulent yet thrilling early years)... Enter, J-Will/J-Dubs/WhiteChocolate/#55. And it's still great to see that, even in his waning years, he's still the same short-tempered West Virginian-slack-jawed-punk that I grew to love nearly a decade ago. Oh, it doesn't stop there. Matt Barnes (interviewee) is a Sactown native--went to Del Campo--AND played for the Kings. Booya. The video is below, but i thought the GQ title and caption (above) were pretty much perfection already. (oh, and the Magic won last night. keep the hope alive!)

Montauk ∫ Ghost of Weekends Past

2010-05-11T10:09:00.002-04:00

Blame the subtitle on our recent subscription to HBO--it was solely for Treme, but now we've got all the McConaughey any one person can handle. Alllright.

Notes: my recently gifted cashmere pants from Club Monaco (pictured above) and my chambray driving cap purchased in East Hampton (pictured variously). And the Clam Bar = must stop. So yeah, we went to Montauk a few weekends ago... (not of note: how tired i look before a cup of coffee, also above).

2010-05-09T14:49:00.000-04:00

http://www.postcardsfromyomomma.com/

2010-05-08T15:30:00.000-04:00

Filed Under ∫ Another Weekend Proj

2010-04-14T14:00:00.003-04:00

This post has been long overdue. We painted our wall navy and sourced a frame cluster for our "dining room" all within a couple weeks. This was nearly a month ago. Here's the initial mock-up, before we knew we'd have another frame to work with. I like to think of this whole process as phase one. (a shelf is tenatively in the works).

As you can see, "dining room" is in air-quotes because it's really just the wall of our living room against which our table rests. Yes, that Native American lady is topless.

The Sac Trolley map needed a home. And I stumbled upon this gem of a frame in some Murray Hill hole in the wall. The bird was almost worth keeping for hilarity's sake. But the fit was too perfect to pass up. After a quick rejiggering of the hanging hardware (from portrait to ladscape) and a recutting of the matting, the whole shabang was ready to hang. (not sure what that rhyme was all about...)

BTW ∫ My First Kempt Post

2010-04-07T17:48:00.006-04:00

Of further interest....

Here’s how to pull it off»

Been Brunchin' ∫ Happy Easter

2010-04-04T14:15:00.003-04:00

Bouchon {Napa, Ca}

Pain Quotidien {Mannahhatta}

Julliette {tha Burg}

The Smile {NoHo}

Five Leaves {Gpoint}

Counting Down ∫ LL Bean Signature

2010-03-10T14:35:00.005-05:00

Folks excited about the LL Bean Signature launch have had the Ides of March marked on their calendar for quite some time now. And with the launch less than a week away, anticipation has reached a rolling boil. What with all the sneak peeks at magazine mock-ups (picture above via their twitter) and special pre-released items, how could ya blame 'em? Most recently released--for the dudes--was a hand-sewn ranger moc. A fine specimen indeed, but I was most intrigued by one of the thumbnails depicting a suede low-cut-ankle-boot. And then stumbled upon this full-sized image with the low and high-top version. These are screaming sockless summer fun. Anyhow, can't wait to see the full collection next week. And pick up a few items for the impending summer--arriving sooner than later, hopefully.

Inaugural Meeting ∫ Wine Club

2010-02-28T11:21:00.000-05:00

Blizzard be damned. Instead of going out, we hunkered down at our apartment for the first installment in a series of drunken attempts at enology--or enography, as I would rather have it be known. First varietal to be explored: the not-so-elusive, yet all-too-enigmatic grape hailing from the terroir of boxed.

The line up. And appy course of the many pizzettas Karen baked--an apt food pairing indeed. Also note the fresh coat of navy blue we just painted our wall. Yikes. More on that later. Next round: salumi and artichoke hearts. Killer.

Naturally, the blizz' beckon was too strong to be ignored. Mackenzie goes full snow angel in the yard. And is in need of assistance to stand--a resounding confirmation of wine club success.

Must Acquire ∫ hard graft 2UNFOLD

2010-02-24T15:41:00.003-05:00

The Austrian-based portmanteau-geniuses, hard graft, just dropped their new range. The 2unfold is not a new entry into the line-up but it is, in my opinion, their definitive piece. I have been obsessing over it for the past few iterations, and the duo recently released is only making matters worse. Behold:

I've been waiting for either of these colorways to appear, and both dropped simultaneously. Crazy. Constructed of vegetable tanned leather sourced from Italy. They are quality. And priced as such, costing a pretty penny. Nonetheless, its versatility--backpack, messenger, tote, breifcase--makes it the last bag you'll ever have to purchase. Time to start squirreling away.

[hard graft]

It's Still Really Cold ∫ Bundle Up

2010-02-22T12:24:00.013-05:00

It's nearly March. And warmer weather is still quite far on the distant New York horizon. Alas, I'm still weathering this frigid bitch (aka NYC) whilst my Cali brethren bask in the early spring 60s (to 70s even!!) that is my native late Feb/early Mar. And so I found myself spending another Friday morning enshrouding myself in layers to brave the not-s0-great outdoors. I was too lazy to get exact pictures of all of the articles below but most are actual photos, or close enough. Fingers crossed for an "early Spring."

Cashmere Beanie "borrowed" from Karen months ago [banana repub]

Spiewak & Sons Pea Coat [Based on WWI Naval Issue]
Wool Scarf (vintage) [now-defunct Houndstooth NYC]

Lambskin Gloves, Cashmere Lined [Lands End]

Shawl Collar Cardigan [opening ceremony]

White Vneck [Hanes or aa]

Gitman Vintage Heavy Chambray Oxford

Thermal Pants

Levis Jeans 511

Wool Ragg Socks [LL Bean]

Waxed Leather Desert Boots [Clarks]

Valentimes.. ∫ Dinner at Prune

2010-02-15T13:08:00.000-05:00

I went with "Ferry Boat, Bosphorous, Istanbul, 1985"

Karen had "Andrew's New Kitchen, Pineville, PA, 1991"

Of further Interest... (tasting table's article on the menu)

Tough Love

Prune's fresh approach to Valentine's Day dining

Happy effing Birthday ∫ Me

2010-02-13T12:16:00.003-05:00

Still Snowing in Brooklyn

2010-02-10T21:36:00.003-05:00

Snowpacolypse. Snowtorious B.I.G. Snow (the Canadian rapper). It's been snowing so long (at least 12 hours of continuos powder) that people have found it necessary to make up more names, and have been allowed more and more time to do so cleverly. Our super Tommy def earned his keep today by coming by twice to shovel. Atta boy.

black & gold WIN the superbowl ∫ WHO DAT!!!

2010-02-08T10:38:00.014-05:00

Last night was a big one. Karen called New Orleans home for 5 years (through Katrina) and the city will always be her home in some sense--even if only metaphorically or in state of mind. I dated her for a majority of those years, and have spent more time in that city than I can recall offhand (never enough, though). And so, through osmosis, I grew to love the city and all of its intricacies, nuances, charms, etcetera. I'm not talking just "po boys and hurricanes." I'm talking, "best indian lunch buffet, uptown." I could go on forever about how incredible a city NOLA is, and the people (their resilience, their attitude on life), how they would've had a huge parade and partied just as hard had the Saints lost, how I should've taken the opportunity to live there when I had it, but was too foolish (and lazy) to do so, blah blah. Anyhow. Watching that game was amazing. And awesome. And everything it could have been and more. And instead of listening to The Who during halftime, we listed to The WHO DAT!!! playlist provided (with songs mostly created) by the fans themselves, on NOLA.com... Here are just a few of our faves (starting off with the team's adopted/official theme song):

Of further interest...

Nola.com's fan-sourced Saints themed playlist, updated to near perfection:
http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2009/12/new_orleans_saints_tribute_son.html

2010-02-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

SF Random Pit-Stop ∫ One Trip Pass

2010-02-01T18:56:00.005-05:00

I remember reading about this around the blogosphere months ago, and not batting much an eye at it--knowing I'd never see the exhibit on the opposite coast of which I currently reside--but thinking it was a very cool concept. And then, while my brother and I wait for my mom to buy some candles or soap (or both), we decide to stop into the Levi's flagship. Lo and behold, there it was. Pretty cool. I realized it about 5 minutes into walking around the space. It was the bandanas that tipped me off, i think.

Of further interest...
http://www.onetrippass.com/blog/

SF ∫ Day across the Bay

2010-01-25T22:55:00.004-05:00

Napa Valley ∫ Jaunt in tha Yount

2010-01-18T19:26:00.006-05:00

We spent a few days chillin down at my fam's house in Berkeley, and made a day trip over to Napa (the last post is pics from the ride back), had a delicious lunch at Bouchon, and a couple glasses over at Auberge du Soleil. A lovely day indeed.

Napa Valley ∫ Hi-Speed Tour

2010-01-13T17:59:00.005-05:00

Cali-bound.. Finally

2009-12-23T19:58:00.000-05:00

Touching down in the Bay. Then Sactown for Xmas Eve and beyond.

Come Go With Me...

2009-12-22T11:17:00.003-05:00

The First Snow of the Season

2009-12-21T11:29:00.022-05:00

It snowed this weekend in NYC. Mayhem and incompetence ensued. I think the official tally was around 10 inches. DC and Baltimore got more than twice, and I think Boston tripled us. For some reason, the anticipation of snow seems to really bring the melodrama out of New Yorkers: 24 hour news coverage, days in advance; Premature shut-down of local airports; "Storm of the Season" predictions; Twitter trend debates re #snowpocalypse. And where does that leave us transplants trying to get home for the holidays? Stuck. I sat on hold with United for a combined 8 hours (if not more--check my last 12 tweets for proof, including a screenshot of my 5.5 hour wait) and apparently they were one of the more on-top-of-it airlines (with their tweeting/over-usage of "Plz").

What boggles my mind is the fact that this happens, without fail, every winter. It snows. Every winter. I just feel like--in the past century or so--things ought to have been figured out a little better for these situations. Oh well, whatever. I am stuck in NYC, posting about snow instead of enjoying the California sunshine. I snapped some shots yesterday, while out and about the hood, enjoying our last Viet-'wiches at the soon-to-be-revamped Silent h--a heavy blow to the more discerning bahn-mi palates of this city--and brews at Brooklyn Brewery. (the perfect Sunday afternoon 1-2-shuffle)..

I always end up leaving the brewery shouldering whatever case they are hawking "on special" that weekend. This week was their Post Road. Granted its pumpkin ale, but I seriously can't pass up the deal--my weekend just wouldn't be complete. And I'll have 24 little fellas to console me while I sit at home alone, waiting to fly out on the eve of Xmas Eve. I would've been home yesterday at around this time, had this blizzard not blown up the skirts of these pansy NYers. Instead, I fly out the day after Karen and Napoleon.. Oh, and they changed my destination. I fly into SFO, so I'll have to spend the night at my parents' place in the Berkeley hills, instead of partying with old friends back home. So wack. Might as well crack open a bottle right now.

Friendly Reminder ∫ Free WiFi (via Google)

2009-12-18T10:35:00.008-05:00

The obligatory holiday exodus is upon us. In case you never caught this, or gave it passing notice, only to forget it by the time it's actually coming in handy, don't forget to check the list of the 50-ish airports where Google is footing the WiFi bill. And hope that you're flying through one of them, so you can take advantage--lessening the sting of the inevitability of being stuck in Kalamazoo during a 24-hour white-out blizzard. Going down now through the 15th of Jan 2010. I'll be partaking in my hometown of Sactown, and when I fly back to NYC through Dulles. Fortunately I'll have the consolation of my iPhone while sitting in Denver (two days from now. eek!).

Of Further Interest... (the list)

Free Holiday Wifi

Kick Off ∫ 6 Months From Today

2009-12-11T10:27:00.003-05:00

Begin the preparations forthwith..

Back in the day, we'd anxiously await the unveiling of the official world cup ball--signaling the imminence of the world's most anticipated sporting event. Feeling the ball, juggling it a bit, you could just taste the festivities to come. This one is no different. Nowadays, I don't have a local soccer shop to stop into, so this image (via Uncrate) will have to suffice. Another beaut... And just in case you don't know who you're rooting for, or how their prospects look, figure it out:

Killing Time ∫ iPhone-ography

2009-12-08T10:36:00.000-05:00

Black [& Tan] Friday ∫ billykirk No. 155 bespoke

2009-11-27T14:54:00.025-05:00

Last weekend, my colleague Randy, A Continuous Lean & Co, et al. assembled the finest curation of manhood this side of... well any side, really. I stopped by momentarily on their first afternoon because I was in the neighborhood while out and about on the job, but I returned the next day to make a proper go of the pop-up flea. Primary target: new custom wallet from the brothers Bray. In fact, there were so many great vendors and offerings that I could have spent the entire weekend perusing. But first things first.

Target acquired. After choosing the colors for my leather and wax cord, Kirk pulled out the straps for the slide-loop. And as he pulled out the technicolor array of straps, it struck me: why can't I use any of those straps? Is matching necessary? So I piped up, and next I know, we're mixing and matching. Taken aback at first ("we've never done this before" Kirk exclaimed) but ultimately intrigued by the proposition of something new, he began pulling out all of the straps as we marched into uncharted territory. We agreed on black, and looked at a few before settling on this slightly charcoaled one. Mighty fine choice, if I do say so myself.

And then he passed it on to brother Chris, who pressed it up. I thought getting just my first name embossed (as opposed to my monogram, or a silly word) would give it a nice kitschy made-in-the-workshop feel. With a pinch of second-grade nostalgia. Also note the backdrop to the shoot--my portrait of Napoleon--still a work in progress.

And now for a bit of backstory: the first time I laid eyes on the billykirk card case, it instantly reminded me of the makeshift wallet I fashioned myself whilst spending a summer in Rio de Janeiro--but way better put together. The o.g. was just a leather sunglass sleeve that I stuffed with a debit card and some Reals, folded over, and clasped with a hair band. My new acquisition will last a lifetime, compared to the summer this makeshift one lasted. Can't wait to get some good wear out of this bad-boy.

Oddly enough, this photo was taken about 2 years ago atop Ayn Rand's epic novel the fountainhead because I was foolishly attempting to read that monstrosity between dips in the Atlantic--I fizzled after the first 100 pages or so. Karen then took up the cause (partially due to her architectural guilt--never having read it as a student) and finally finished it. And for some reason we decided to netflix the 1949 movie adaptation. Ironically enough, that's the disk you see in the foreground of the first photo--a coincidence worth noting.

Of further interest...

The Scout Mag visits BILLYKIRK Studio

Opraahhhh ∫ here's to 25 years well done

2009-11-25T20:30:00.003-05:00

Hat Tip Jezebel (via Karen)

Agreed ∫ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

2009-11-23T10:50:00.003-05:00

Via www.weareprivate.com

Always Coca Cola ∫ if 'always' = 'about a century'

2009-11-19T22:08:00.008-05:00

Via Retro Thing

Algeria Clinches World Cup Birth

2009-11-18T20:59:00.010-05:00

Nearly a quarter-century in the making. And, in an odd twist of fate, neither Ireland (due to a dubious "hand of napoleon" incident v. France) nor Croatia (due to an insurmountable qualifying bracket) managed to qualify for 2010. It seems as if only half of my ethnic make-up will ever be allowed to participate in a world cup during my lifetime--so far. Well, technically, its never happened.. ever. This one's pretty exciting though. Cheers to my folks in Algiers!

Of further interest... (via guardian.co.uk)

Algeria beats Egypt in play-off to qualify for 2010 World Cup

THE WIRE ∫ 100 Greatest Quotes

2009-11-16T15:07:00.011-05:00

Open Inbox. Email from Karen. Subject line: Oh yeeaahh. 'nuff said, enjoy:

Sheeiiit... Sheeeeiiittt..... Sheeeeeeeeiiiiiiiieeeeeiiiiitttt...

Eff-day the 13th...

2009-11-13T14:43:00.000-05:00

Alternate side parking. This is my nightmare. #iphonography

Must See DVD ∫ "The Carter" Doc

2009-11-12T19:31:00.006-05:00

Need I say more? I have been dreading my Dwayne-M-Carter-is-jail-bound post for some time now. But it must be addressed. What kind of uncomfortably-too-much-of-a-fan would I be? Instead, lets celebrate his illegal weapon toting, drug addled, pre-sentencing days. With next week's dvd release of a Sundance favorite--a documentary about the best rapper alive [since the best rapper retired, then un-retired].

Cue it up on the Netflix. Drops on the 17th. Holla. Sorry about the last 30 seconds of dead air in the form of a weird song, this trailer is straigh from the official website http://thecarterdoc.com/

Freixenet Cava ∫ Brut Nature

2009-11-09T16:49:00.019-05:00

Apologias. I have def been slacking 0n this blogging. So it should come as no surprise that this post is well over-due... Many, many moons ago, Karen and I spent some time at the Freixenet winery--whilst spending a lovely week in Barcelona. And we made sure to stow away a bottle of the best cava we tried, the Brut Nature. It's double-fermented, which means it gets the bottle treatment as well as vat-love. But is drier and less sweet than even the notoriously dry "extra brut" because the in-bottle fermentation doesn't see any addition of sugar, as do almost all champagnes--hence "nature" in the name. We also grabbed it because you won't likely find this make of Freixenet out of Spain (or even 0ff-campus) let alone anything other than their "black bottle" which is definitely delish and well-worth it's price point of around 10 bucks.

We popped cork a good while ago (to celebrate my landing an internship, and--if all goes well--future derailment of current legal-profession-bound path). Note the early stages of the same painting you'll see a few posts down (re saarinen chair photo). And the awesome Ritzenhoff champagne glasses ($$$ y'all). Aaand the awesome agraffe--little wire cork cage, fyi, you're welcome--in a simple black & white. We brought home a replica, in magnet form, for our frigidaire (to compliment the matching coffee mugs & magnet of the little freixenet boy holding a magnum of cava under his arm).

Here are a few pics from the Freixenet visit I've borrowed from our Barça fbook album:

The Kraken Rum ∫ To Beast or Not to Beast

2009-11-03T11:03:00.034-05:00

In fact, I don't know if i'll ever "beast" but I couldn't pass up posting this because I've spent more than a few minutes leafing through their well-packaged site. the dieline (great blog, btw) featured the handsome bottle-workings of the rum in question, thus leading me to their site. Which, in turn, led me to the 3 chapter moving picture show, documenting the mythical Caribbean beast for which the dark spiced spirit was named. If you're bored--and I know you are--take the 4-odd minutes out of your otherwise not so busy day. http://www.krakenrum.com/

of further interest... chapter titles:

Ch. 1: A Journey through the Ever-Terrifying Landscape that is {The Anatomy of the Kraken}

Ch. 2: An Inquiry into the Cloud of Darkness or {Why the Kraken Squirts Black Ink}

Ch. 3: An Investigation as to Whether the Myth of the Kraken is in Fact {the Reality of the Kraken}

UPDATE: Looks like the Kraken folk took a liking to the dieline write-up and sent along a media kit even more well-packaged than the site. the dieline has an extensive photo-diary of the unboxing. Here's the gist:

Sactown in the NYTimes ∫ 36 Hours

2009-10-31T11:16:00.011-04:00

We made it! The weekend NYT travel section always features an itinerary for a weekend getaway to a city worth visiting--a stamp of approval for a select group of NYC transplants and point of pride each weekend. I exclaimed--with prideful glee--to my co-worker next-desk that Sactown had made the weekender. And he was like: awesome, I remember when St. Louis was in there a while back! I was tipped off yesterday by Sacrag, but didn't let on to Karen so it would be a surprise this morning. It was awesome to flip through the pages and actually see it there in print. So awesome, in fact, that I had to picture & post within the hour.

The blurb on the front page of the section, 'Sacramento: Big-State Capital With Small-Town Charm.' Which is acceptable. But doesn't help to shake the sleepy cow town perception. The coverage was pretty solid--perhaps taking a hint from my prior post re the American River Bike trail, but managing to miss my post re Sutter's Fort--with the usual suspects, and a few newcomers sprinkled.

Oh, and I made breakfast... by walking across the street to the recently opened Bakeri. Not only is the place perfectly picturesque, the goods are delicious. I plan on returning shortly for the cranberry prosciutto chocolate chip cookies. Or the pumpkin pie cheesecake. Hmm.. decisions decisions, delicious decisions...

Of Further Interest...

36 Hours in Sacramento

(read the article and make sure to check out the slideshow, entirely photographed by Sactown Mag's sharpshooter--a team that's won more than a few maggies in the past few years--M. Whittaker)

Mise en Place ∫ The Vanderbilt BK

2009-10-26T22:23:00.024-04:00

Karen and I made it over to the recently opened Vanderbilt last Saturday evening (on its second night open). After drinks at the bar--consuming the better part of a wait that broke the hour mark--we were thanked for our patience and sheepishly asked if we'd sit at the kitchen. We didn't bat a lash. In fact, we were thrilled. In Sactown (specifically at a restaurant entitled the kitchen) the seats with a view of the action are most coveted of all. And because of my recent acquisition--and subsequent obsession--of an iPhone 3Gs, I was itching to try out the video recorder. And there we sat--in the thick of it.

I posted this via Fbook mobile with the same title and less-than-twitter-length description because maneuvering that touchscreen is still a bit taxing on my fingertips. Now I can type up a proper tag:

Brooklyn's own Michelin starred chef Saul Bolton pulls, plates, and garnishes the merguez for our second course. Moments later, the dish arrives at our table. [From the kitchen of the two-day-old Vanderbilt in Fort Greene.]

Happy 50th Guggenheim!

2009-10-21T13:09:00.011-04:00

50 years ago, today, the Guggs was unveiled for all of Gotham's eyes to feast upon--facade and interior alike (and whatev's hanging on the walls). You may remember my earlier post, Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward. Check it out--in celebration of 50 years culturing the 0ft-crass dwellers of this roughhewn city.

Update: I'm watching Seinfeld--a show I've grown to appreciate tenfold while living here--and George just exclaimed, "No, you go. I'm not a Guggenheim-er."

iCaved ∫ 3Gs iPhone in White

2009-10-20T17:25:00.001-04:00

I just couldn't hold out any longer. Plus, my blackberry was dying on me. And the internet was so wack compared to the iPhone's. And now i can use the UD app!

As featured on the back of many popular magazines, thanks to Apple & Att. [pic via]

(Speaking of apps, the t-pain one is amazing. First purchase. More than well worth it)

Sylvia ∫ Miike Snow Live @ KCRW

2009-10-19T16:42:00.006-04:00

I have been jamming to this song on the daily. But for some reason, I feel the need to have this video accompany my listen. It's just much more comforting to see them doing their thing, and then be able to peek in 5 minutes deep and still see the guys rocking out. And the matching silk jackets. Positively precious. Also, check the live version of Burial. That's usually what comes next for me--even though you have to sit the through the silky smooth baritone of the host. The actual video (for burial) is also pretty solid--set somewhere in India. And don't even get me started on "animal" son.

Yacht's better half makes NYTimes

2009-10-16T19:46:00.008-04:00

The Insider | Yacht’s Claire Evans

Been a fan of Yacht since before she was officially in "the band" though she's def been a welcome addition. I spent the late summer jammin to their latest hit (see my earlier post, psychic city (voodoo city)) and just happened upon some opportune news: they are playing a show at Brooklyn Bowl. A few blocks away from our apt, and a few days from now. Awesome. Yacht live, in addition to the options of bowling, pitchers, fried chicken, and bourbon milk shakes. Heaven awaits.

Eero Saarinen Armless Desk Chair

2009-10-14T16:17:00.011-04:00

After spotting a beautiful shot of an Eames shell chair--equally as beautiful--on the newly christened Inventory Updates (yes. the resurgence of back to back posting!) I followed the link to a cool brooklyn-based blog: Sit And Read Furniture. This got me thinking. About the chair I was staring at. An Eero Saarinen produced by knoll. And, so I thought, this chair is also picture worthy. (Read, I'm bored enough to snap a few shots.) Ultimately, this task--as most do--turned out to be much more of a challenge than I expected. The indoor shots were terrible, so I had to venture into the great (exceedingly cold) outdoors--a few short steps from our front steps.

We acquired the chair shortly after moving into our current apt in the 'burg, while taking napoleon for a stroll. We stumbled into a warehouse-like furniture store by the name of two jakes--full of dead-stock mid-century home and office furniture--with the intention of finding a side-table for our not-yet-arrived couch. Karen laid eyes on the Saarinen and fell in love. She gasped his name--of course I'm no architect and had no idea "arrow" was spelled Eero let alone how important this chair was. So I played along. Gasped too (at the price tag) and, hours later, it became another well-appointed fixture in the apt. It currently juggles the chores of desk chair and my backpack stand...

Here it is in action. Also note the portrait of Napoleon i'm working on. You can just barely make out the sketch of his face I have penciled in there. More on that to come...

Inventory has Arrived ∫ via h(y)r collective

2009-10-13T20:53:00.003-04:00

Inventory Magazine. The latest endeavor of the man behind h(y)r collective--an absolute must for the young well-heeled man--has come to fruition. The daily updates are still happening, just no longer under the h(y)r moniker. Its all been incorporated under Inventory. And the shop (Inventory Stockroom) looks killer. The concept is simple, effective, and on point--what we've come to expect from the h(y)r crew. And, almost needless to say, well executed. [note: that beanie looks incredible. must. have.]

Inventory ISSUE 01

Scrapbook ∫ New York City Wine & Food Festival

2009-10-10T20:00:00.010-04:00

10.8.09. Guy Fieri. Chelsea Market After Dark.

Recent Acquisitions Pt. 2 ∫ +J

2009-10-08T16:30:00.012-04:00

The title kinda turned into a calculus equation there at the end, huh? Nonetheless, part deux has arrived, thanks to a leaky pipe at my office that caused our floor to evacuate. And by "leaky" I mean "catastrophic pipe burst that resulted in a ceiling cave-in, a torrential waterfall from the 9th floor of our building out onto the street, and the fire department had to show up." Yeah. It was nuts.

So I had the day off last friday and decided to make the best of it by stopping by Uniqlo for the Jil Sander unveiling and festivities. I was greeted by a line of a fifty or so folk eager to don the budget Jil (the store had already been open for a couple of hours). After about 25 minutes in line, I was in. My mission: to get something, damnit, I just stood in line for crying out loud. Things were looking ok. But began to rise to a frenzy--as it were, the men's side was way more crowded than the ladies' end. I even managed to buy Karen a few items I thought she might like. Anyhow, that's about when I realized it was time to get Supermarket Sweep up in there and just grab whatever looked good. I didn't even try anything on because I didn't want to wait in line after hunting down both pieces of this light grey flannel suit (blazer to the rightmost). I managed to get both top and bottom of the charcoal suit (blazer to the leftmost). The pants to the mid-grey suit never surfaced. So now I'll have something to return (to recoup a solid percentage of the impossibly high bill I racked at uniqlo--I say that because everything there is so reasonably priced (even this jil sander line)its hard to spend too much there.)

I also managed to find one button-down lying around that fit me and that I actually liked. And these pants were totally a blind grab that I nearly left at the checkout counter, but have turned out to be my fave piece. A nice heavy salt n pepper wool in a great slim cut. The only thing I've worn (to the madhouse restart of First Fridays @ Guggenheim--t.g.i.free drinks for members!!) and loved them. Note my fave belt still on the pants. Slim braided leather from Barcelona. Apologies for the poor pics but I'm kinda rushing because I should already be gearing up for the evening's festivities. New York City Wine & Food After Dark @ Chelsea Market being hosted by NorCal wunder-chef-icon Guy Fieri. Yes I'm pumped.

Recent Acquisitions Pt. 1 ∫ Around Town

2009-10-05T13:02:00.022-04:00

Thats right. Part One. This past week has brought a decent amount of influx. There were the following random pick-ups. And the Jil Sander mayhem--which shall be reserved for a latter date (part deux)....

A random after-school stroll into Bird (in the burg) lead me on a journey to the finest denim shirt--dare I say?--ever made. The Brothers Gitman have done it again. Btw, I know tres bien shop and selectism both refer to the shirt as "heavy chambray" but I just can't bring myself to sell the shirt that short. This is no fad. This is forever. Seriously. And isn't "chambray" basically a "light denim", so wouldn't a heavy "light denim" just be denim? Ok. Semantics aside. This shirt kicks ass. Oh right. The journey. After trying on a Gitman Vintage Oxford, I loved the fit but couldn't quite get behind the candy-stripe look of that particular shirt. And they had no solids in the store. Fortunately, the dude there was like "we just got in a few new Gitmans at our Park Slope store and I just took pictures." So he tried to find the camera for a while and finally just gave me the rundown. He said chambray and I was sold. And so I had the shirt held across town, grabbed Karen, and headed for an evening in the Slope.

Moments after stepping off the subway (t.g.i.the G-train running two stops farther) I spot these drop-bar road bike handlebars just sitting atop a junk pile. Score! Another integral piece of my Bianchi rebuild. Already equipped with a rear brake lever no less. Awesome. After picking up the shirt, we set out for a lovely dinner at an Italian place the more than helpful Bird lady recommended. Solid Slope stop-over.

See Eyewear "Tokyo Tortoise" Wayfarers. I was running around town for my new internship (note who's risen to the top of my blogroll, of further interest). And a surprisingly sunny day caught me off guard. Without guard, rather. I needed guard, from the sun, asap. And as luck would have it, I was in the West Village, passing by See Eyewear. And these sunglasses in the window caught my eye. Had to be done. The ones pictured are the closest I could find to my wayfarers (via their fbook page). The farthest to the left depict the "tokyo tortoise" that I had to have when I saw it.

[Gitman Bros Vintage pic via Selectism (via tres bien shop)]

Weekend Getaway ∫ The Catskills

2009-09-28T11:35:00.018-04:00

Karen seems to find the inspiration to make plans whenever I'm out of town. (See, NYTimes weekender) "Inspiration", "boredom" same thing, right? The most recent result: a booked trip to the Catskills for the weekend. I was in DC--sitting in the stands at a Nationals game--when I got the text. A month or so later, and we were checking into our room, aptly named the Dogwood--at a dog-friendly retreat, natch--on a lake in the middle of the Catskills. There were trails to be hiked, waterfalls to be gazed, and boats to be rowed. We did it all. Karen took Friday off so we could get a head start. 3 days and 2 nights of the closest approximation of Tahoe on this side of the continent. Twas blissful.

The trail guide instructed us to follow the orange "blazes" in order to keep on the trail. So we weren't quite sure what to do when coming upon the triple purps...

Or 3 feathers...

Not Napoleon's first time on a boat--that would be Chi-town.

The culprit of a creaky ore.

A glamour shot of Napo. And a glamour shot of the waterfall, bka "Mullet Falls."

Open For Biz: Duane Reade Williamsburg

2009-09-20T17:58:00.003-04:00

Karen and I were probably the two most excited residents of the 'burg yesterday at the opening. Yes. That's right, we attended the DR opening. I even got a card. Ok, I know, making a big hubub about a chain convenience store opening is kind of jumping the shark, but here's the kicker: all Duaneys come equiped with a Chase ATM. That's a big deal, living in the land of cash-only. Last week, we would have had to make the trek out to Greenpoint, or just a far to the super-south side of our hood. Fine, I know. Still not that exciting, but whatevs its all I've got to report.

Scout II ∫ The Ghost btwn Berry & Wythe

2009-09-16T14:33:00.016-04:00

My posting has seriously dropped off lately. Mostly due to the fact that my leisure time has been severely curtailed by full days at the office, erry day. Whether its school or my new internship. Or Tuesday where I start my day with school and end it with my internship. Ha, actually its not nearly as bad as I'm making it out to be, but its def been an adjustment. Oh, and more importantly--or whatever--this post. It all began months ago. In the blistering cold of a winter that would not end. It was midnight-ish and I had to move my car--effing alternate side parking, man. As I scuttled to my car, keeping an eye on the other side of the street, this glorious vision of sport utilitarian past came into focus. The Scout II has been canonized in the SUV world for good reason. Aside from pioneering the genre, a mere glance at one of these machines makes you want to hop in (why open the door with the top popped?) and do something both sporty and utilitarian. Totally reminds me of the days when we would pile into my Pops' old Bronco II and he would take us on "shortcuts" around town wherein we'd kick up dust in the open fields not yet consumed by the inevitability of Californian suburbia.

It was winter all those months ago, so the top was up--a beautiful tan leather. In my cold-blared-eyed memory, I remembered this ivory colored Scout, or maybe creamy white--adding to its ghostliness. It also managed to disappear into the night by the time I'd found a spot for my car and looked back one last time before seeking shelter. Not until last week did the beast resurface on my street. There she was in her full glory. Top down. Chrome spinnin. This time I had to document. Turns out its color is of a less haunting pale yellow. Flawless nonetheless and a sight for sore eyes.

Of Further Interest: (See, A Continuous Lean's)

Obsession | International Harvester Scout

New York Times Weekender ∫ Early Edition

2009-09-12T14:23:00.015-04:00

We recently decided to subscribe to the New York Times weekender. By "we" I mean "Karen was bored during the couple of weeks I was back in Cali and she went for it." But it was a great call. Anyway, on to this morning's edition. As we parsed through today's paper, Karen pulls out 4 sections of Arts & Leisure. What? How on earth? Upon taking a closer look, the dates on most of the sections were Sunday Sept 13!! Crazy! What a mix-up. We got the whole weekend on Saturday. We were reading tomorrow's paper, today. Remember that show from the mid-90s? Early Edition. The guy (a bar owner/tender by day) would get the Chicago Sun-Times a day early, alerting him to minor catastrophes that he tries to rectify the next day. If only he could've saved the paper...

Unfortunately all of the sections from tomorrow were puff pieces (arts, real estate, and travel) so my dreams of Sunday heroics won't be satisfied. The one episode I really remember from that show was one were this highschool kid was a big-time basketball prospect and the story in the next day's paper was that he collapsed on the court and died later of "athletes heart" which actually happens every so often--your heart is too big and kind of explodes or something. But he like goes to the kid's house and warns him and his family, but the kid still plays the game and still collapses. OK, I'm obviously way too excited about this mix-up. Come to think of it, getting the Sunday New York Times a day early is still pretty darn cool. Here's a closer look at the front page (saturday), the travel page (sunday), sports saturday page, and one of the Sunday arts & leisure page--descending, if that wasn't obvious:

Early Edition via Wiki

Gael Monfils

2009-09-08T22:23:00.011-04:00

This kid is fired up. He just took the tie-breaker of the first set (v. Nadal, no less) and he's won me over. And i've got a hunch I'm not the only new fan the Frenchman has garnered in the past few minutes. Looks like the Donald, Russell Simmons, Nicole Kidman and Chelsea Clinton are all enjoying the action on the blue court. These past few days have made it more than evident that I need to be at next year's US Open. Its so good. And so close. There's no telling whether or not Monfils is gonna pull this out (Rafa is currently on a tear) but I have to applaud the youngin's gusto. And his hair. Such Panache!
Not only does he rock Prince rackets (my childhood racket of choice) but he also rocks the lavender grip. So money. So does Almagro (another one of my recent faves).

Hot Damn! Each rally is such an epic battle. And its only the second set!

Spotted: Chuck & Blair in Nylon Korea

2009-09-07T13:52:00.008-04:00

On the one-week-eve of the return of Gossip Girl et. al. I bring to you, a teaser. From the pages of Nylon Korea. Chuck and Blair. Together. Foreshadowing? I'll leave you to speculate. Regardless, it was a pretty awesome move by whatever ad exec in Korea--no better an on-brand couple for haute prep-wear. Via Nylon Blog

3sixteen F/W 09 Lookbook ∫ DUMBO

2009-09-03T13:07:00.016-04:00

I keep coming across images from NY label 3sixteen's new lookbook, chalk full of dramatic black & white photos set to the backdrop of Manhattan's night skyline. The blogosphere has been abuzz over the brand for some time now, and this well-done lookbook has only served to further their sartorial standing. Yes, the clothes are quality. The artistic direction, spot-on. But what struck me most about the opening picture on swipelife's post was that building he is standing in front of. More specifically, the two arched windows. My friend lives in that apartment! Its actually a recycling plant, housing "artists lofts" and I've been there on more than enough occasions to recognize it at first glance. Ok, I also really liked this shawl-collar toggle sweater.

And, as proof that I've been here plenty of times, I scoured fbook to get a shot of me in front of the arched windows. This is the best I could do. I look unflatteringly inebriated--apparently unawares of who is taking the pic--and the arched window the ladies and I are standing directly in front of has been blocked by a giant painting of a topless bookworm. Wow, this is a terrible pic--yet very indicative of the nights spent at this apt.

In my defense I offer another, slightly less drunk version of myself doing the robot with JuanP. Also note the arch of one window peeking over my sholder:

Of furterth interst:

Photoshoot video Via Street Etiquette

Also @ Slam x Hype & you have broken the internet

Yacht: Psychic City (Voodoo City)

2009-09-01T12:17:00.006-04:00

Currently in heavy rotation. Became an instant fan a few years back when he (this was pre-Team Yacht) opened for Architecture in Helsinki at the Glass House in Pomona.

Open For Biz: Opening Ceremony Tokyo

2009-08-31T10:23:00.003-04:00

Via OC New News:

From director Matt Wolf comes the second film in the Opening Ceremony Japan short film series. Starring the multi-talented actor, singer-songwriter, and long-time O.C. friend Jason Schwartzman, Matt's film follows a forlorn kite flier (sporting a curiously familiar crest-printed kite) grounded by a sad, rainy day. Having been fans of both Jason's acting as well as musical efforts and Matt's (incredibly beautiful and heartwrenching) film WILD COMBINATION: A PORTRAIT OF ARTHUR RUSSEL, we at O.C. felt these two would make a great team.

Matt shot Jason in Toronto between filming for his upcoming movie based on the popular graphic novel series, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, directed by Edgar Wright ofShaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fame ("Spaced," anyone?). In true O.C. fashion, these artists deliver a pitch-and-picture-perfect collaboration, with Matt handling the video and Jason delivering a stellar performance and soundtrack: the song "Microphone" from Jason's latest musical effort, Davy, released under the auspices of his COCONUT RECORDS solo-project. Check out the video, which we've reproduced below.

Great California Garage Sale

2009-08-28T10:49:00.006-04:00

That's right. Arnie is on Craigslist. California is hosting the most gigantic garage sale of all time. I say this with confidence because there can't be an entity larger or with more junk to schlep, than an entire state--especially Cali, for that matter.

Needless to say, I am super-bummed to be missing this. I was back in Sac exactly one month ago--exactly one month too early. Apparently, the Governator got the idea from some 140 character half-baked twitter he received--wow!--and has taken the "everything must go" approach to a whole new level. We're talking CHiPs motorbikes, ancient electronics (read, a butt-load of Dells), office furniture, a Halo-3 Xbox, and a surfboard inscribed with the word "chronic." All par for the course at any California garage sale. Anyway, the sale has its own .gov and flickr account. Here are some pics.

Trans-Atlantic Pop-Up (Swap-Up)

2009-08-27T14:10:00.014-04:00

I'm a bit late to the party on this one, seeing as how they've already had their launch party--this past Saturday--but whatevs, this is totally belated-news-worthy. 30 boutiques from either side of the pond have decided to mix business with pleasure and are popping up shop in their "like-minded" transatlantic shopping district counterpart. According to the pictures and website, this event is not to be missed--at least worth a swing-by the next time you find yourself braving the LES--and will be featuring mostly local, home-grown talent on both ends. The Brits will be in town sipping Hendrick's and playing croquet until Sept. 13th and the Yanks will be out in Jolly Ole come Obcoter 1st. Check out their website for way more info.

Wish You Were Here Swap

Sacramento Landmark: Sutter's Fort

2009-08-24T08:45:00.004-04:00

I haven't posted in what seems like forever due to a week of tubing with the homeys in West Virginia and getting back to school. First day of 2L down. Phew. Anyhow, I guess this post will act as the "continued" to the "to be" that was my last post. Not sure if that made sense. One of the major landmarks (if not the) signifying your arrival to midtown (and subsequently, downtown) is Sutter's Fort.

A trip to Sutter's Fort is an integral step in any young Sacramentan's coming of age. This trip invariably comes about during one's fourth grade--amongst the Spanish Missions and Native American settlements of California history. My highschool would volunteer to help underprivaledged schoolchildren share the experience (the private school kids would get to spend the night, us public school kids got the day trip, and the least funded schools might not get more than an audio tour). Being a product of public lower schooling and being fortunate enough to attend private highschool, I was more than happy to volunteer two years in a row. One year I was a Carpenter, another I was a Trapper. Words that still ring true to this day: Trap or Die.

Of Further Interest: Post Cards of Sutter's Fort

The Scenic Route: American River Bike Trail

2009-08-17T11:02:00.008-04:00

While back in Cali last week--and finally back in Sacramento, after spending the better part of my week in Berkeley--I decided to bike it down to Midtown to see how it was going at a few of the old haunts. I really wanted to take my brother's Canondale out for a spin, but its still got the racing set-up with clip-pedals and all that jazz, so I dusted off my pop's old Peugot instead--a venerable old hybrid. Biking to Midtown from Arden Park (where my parents live) can seem like an uncomfortable challenge when considering the conventional street route of some of Sactown's most congested thoroughfares. Instead, I opted to take the more leisurely route, by cruising through AP, crossing Fair Oaks, and hopping on the bike trail that snakes along the river. Walkers and joggers have the high vantage point of the path up on the levee while, the bike trail hugs the river much closer. I stopped for water and snapped a few pics while doing so.

I rigged a little rack-sack action with the bungie as old as the bike and a tie-strap I borrowed from some contraption in the garage. The bag was just a random old messenger bag lying around. Worked great, and I didn't have to shoulder my wallet, keys, phone, or camera for the duration of the cruise. When I saw the scene below, I had to hop off my bike and snap a picture. Many a highschool summer day was spent running this trail for soccer pre-season training.

The foot bridge. Takes you across the river and leads you onto Sac State campus. You can see H st. Bridge peeking out at the end of the river-view from the foot bridge. Its were I made my way off the trail and onto the city streets. Below:

2009-08-15T11:01:00.001-04:00

+J = Jil Sander x Uniqlo

2009-08-13T13:56:00.009-04:00

Normally, I like to leave the fashion-y reporting to the sources better equiped to do so (please refer to my links at right)--and moments ago, I was alerted to NyMag's 30 picture slideshow of sneak peeks at the new collection set to hit the states on Oct. 1st--but I can't help but share my excitement. Of course the slideshow is strictly ladies-only, so I'm still left to the devices of these two pictures leaked by men.style two days ago. I am hoping these khakis are the answer to my recent need for a replacement to the pair I ruined while sitting on a rooftop in Rome. And I am a sucker for button-down collars, so two for two in this pic, intrigue-wise. The suit also piqued my interest due to the fact that I have been in dyer need of a new one for a year (ok, lets be honest, a few years) but can never bring myself to commit such an adulthood-affirming act.

And mostly because I can only afford off-the-rack, I have yet to find one I like enough to take home. Perhaps the slim japanese sensibilities of Uniqlo, paired with Jil's haute-sensibilities could be the perfectly suited marriage. Wow. What? Ok. What I am trying to say is that I am excited by the possibility of putting a suit on and not instantly hating it (and myself). Though the peak lapel will have to stand the test of scrutiny come 6 weeks from now. Valet just broke a sneak peek at Club Monaco's new suiting offering, helmed by a Brooks Brothers Black Fleece alum, so that is looking like another solid option. And the recently updated J.Crew has been looking mighty fine lately to round out my nearly-$500-budget options. Perhaps this will become its own post at some point. Hopefully that day comes later rather than sooner, but I'm afraid it is on the all too near horizon. Yikes.

Berkeley: Housed Amongst the Hills

2009-08-12T13:12:00.007-04:00

A few posts ago, I mentioned the intriguing mix of architectural styles in my parents' neighborhood. In the ensuing days--on my many walks down the hill to the Cal campus and downtown Berks--I snapped a few shots of the wildly differing domicile style around the hood. From Modern to Mediterranean and everything in between. Speaking of, my rents' house is of the Mediterranean persuasion and was built in 1930--presumably around the same time most of the Medies were being erected. I also snapped some good shots of their house and the architectural details wherein, but that can wait for another post. Not to mention I took way more pics around Grizzly Peak, but will spare you with a veritable greatest hits. You're welcome.

On the Shelf c/o Pegasus Books

2009-08-10T13:56:00.018-04:00

While putzing about Berkeley last week, I stopped into local librarier Pegasus Books. I was killing time before meeting my pops at Beckets Pub, down the street, and perusing the front tables full of a random assortment of sale books. Two caught my fancy--and left the store with me. The first was a little hardcover offering from publisher Assouline, purveyor of all things high society. Vienna 1900. If you're at all versed in fin de siecle Wien, you'd immediately recognize this book's subject matter: The Vienna Secession.

Karen is a big-time Klimt/Secession buff (and I--through osmosis and an ensuing trip to Austria--an Egon Schiele fan) so of course I bought the book with her in mind. This next one was for my parents. A sort of house warming gift for their relatively new place in Berkeley. Its basically an almanac of local architecture. The idea: to leave it on the coffee table or somewhere handy if ever the urge for an architectural adventure where to strike. Its full of local maps, street addresses, and peppered with historical context. An Architectural Guidebook to SF and Bay Area.

A Toast to the Bay...

2009-08-07T15:48:00.010-04:00

Thought I'd throw up a few teasers from my week around the Bay: The view from my rents' deck (I have like 5 thousand and change); Around Cal Campus; A visit to the De Young; and more to come. I plan to throw some more up in the next few days, but I've got to get out and enjoy my time back in my fair Sactown.

Greetings From the Yay Area..

2009-08-04T13:49:00.007-04:00

Apologies for the lack of posts as of late. I made the flight back to Cali last Thurs night and have been super busy since. Catching up with old friends in Sactown. A family bbq. Another round of golf. Hitting up bars with the homeys. Stuff like that. And then my parents and I hopped in the car with the dog and drove to their new place in the Berkeley hills. Needless to say, I have been busy. And I have not had much access to the interwebs. Most unfortch is that I managed to forget my camera cord so I can't upload any of the pics I've been taking around Sac, Oakland, Berkeley, and of this amazing view my parents have here. Its a panoramic of the Bay. The City. Alcatraz (the rock!). All three bridges, including the Golden Gate smack dab! So stay tuned for those next week when I get back to Brooklyn. Crazy! I still have the better part of a week to go. Today I am gonna bomb around here (aka Grizzly Peak) because the neighborhood is filled with a wild amalgamation of houses from every era and style. I think the only style I have yet to see is plantation. We shall see today. Then I'll wind down Euclid to campus and see what is popping off over there. And, because I have no more recent pics than these Yankees ones from the Friday before last--not to mention they are relatively Bay-centric--enjoy. Btw, the A's never stood a chance this game:

Lil Wayne & Young Money: Every Girl

2009-07-29T11:51:00.011-04:00

I was hoping to post about my latest athletic endeavors--that I've either watched (Yankees v. A's) or participated in (took the Championship at the local shuffleboard tourney) (and) (hit the links for a round of 9)--but don't have pictures from the two events I actually participated in. So, Enjoy this outrageously explicit summer jam instead. Note: excuse the low-budget knock-off of Kanye and T-Pain's Good Life video.

I don't have to explain my love for all things Weezy (he has his own blog tag, for goodnessake). But I usually don't like to rep his mainstream stuff. Today will be an exception for two reasons. One: Only Wayne has the ability to turn the raunchiest lyrics into a saccharine-smooth summer jam. I don't listen to the radio, but to whomever does, I guarantee this will make it into the regular spins. No matter how explicit, the dude has managed to become a pop-star. Two: It has been a while since I've seen the Young Money roster and let me tell you, captain Wayne has nearly made a full line change since the days of Young Money's Lilweezyana Vol. 1--the first and last volume to my knowledge. So the only guy still on the roster from the back then is Mack Maine, who happens to spit one of the most dubious rap lines I've heard in a long while--maybe ever--about taking the virginity of retards. Either he meant exchanging valentines cards, or v-card has some new slang meaning that I have yet to be apprised of. Or maybe retard does? But within the context--following a midget reference--I think he really meant mentally handicapped. Yikes. Who knows. The other guy worth mention is Drake "drizzy", who I've actually heard a solid buzz about recently. He's no Curren$y "the hot-spitta" (the previous YM first mate) but seems decent and I guess he's dating Rhianna. Oh, and you might recognize him from Nickelodeon's Degrassi. Well, hope you enjoy.

[Ed: The following is a rant I cut out of the above for the benefit of you, the reader. If you're that bored, go ahead and read at your own risk.]

Those of you who've only caught the meteoric rise of what seems to be a niche-kitsch rapper more akin to the coke-rap genre of say, a Young Jeezy (which, to be fair, he has re-dubbed as"recession rap"), have had it all wrong from the not-so-begining. It's near-impossible to be a fan if all you've heard is his radio stuff, I'll give you that. But that means you haven't really heard WfB rap. You missed the boat of endless material he'd been churning out since Carter I. Yes, Carter I. Now if you caught up by Carter II. You did well. You caught "the Drought" series, You caught "I can't feel my face" with Juelz. You caught some good stuff. You were up on shit. Since C3-ish, everyone else caught whatever 10,000+ features he did on just about anyone's--literally--song. Some were good, but most were deplorable by his mixtape standards. Damn it. I need to edit this hard. I could write a dissertation this instant. Ok. Where was I? Oh yes, Young Money.

Lost Seaon 6 Promo from Comic-Con

2009-07-27T16:03:00.004-04:00

Because I (as you too ought to be) am on the edge of my effing seat for "early 2010."

The rest of the Comic-Con fyizzle via Vulture: Lost Creators Avert Plane Crash at Comic-Con

Getting Ahold: A Balanced Media Diet

2009-07-23T16:37:00.005-04:00

Stumbled upon this cool re-fix of the USDA dietary pyramid in terms of daily media consumption--based upon a NYTimes report of an average person's media intake being roughly 9 hours--which I found even more amusing, in light of JuanP's comment on my last post. Well I guess it still doesn't account for the constant snacking I've been doing.

Find Wired's full netiquette issue How to Behave: The New Rules for Highly Evolved Humans via this Gizmodo Post from which I pilfered the above image.

Bad Case of the Hump-Days.......

2009-07-22T13:34:00.003-04:00

Listening to NPR online, no less. Capital Public Radio, to boot.

3pm Update: Currently trying to wrestle myself out of the house and down the block and 1/2 in time to catch some precious rays at Ghetto Beach. Perhaps even expand my horizons with some recreational reading. Maybe even parlay it into a full day by catching the SummerScreen at McCarren Park this evening..... A gal can dream.

IFC Dot Com: 50 Greatest Trailers of All Time

2009-07-20T11:33:00.014-04:00

The cache associated with summer break--time at your disposal, exorbitant leisure, unbridled freedom, midday drinking, etcet--can be fleeting. Because, unlike the days of childhood yore, when you're in your 20s it means you're just about the only person you know sitting on your couch, surfing the internet. So, to fill the hours (and avoid the scourge of daytime television) I readily succumb to the enticing Gmail statuses of friends, usually consisting of a short convoluted intro line followed by a link promising at least a moment's worth of interest. Sometimes I'm like: yeah, I've seen that. Or: yawn. Other times, I spend the better part of my morning consumed with whatever slippery slope I have been nudged upon. This morning I was riding one of those slippery slopes. The convoluted teaser that got me this time: Where the Wild Things Are should be #1. So, I bit. And off to IFC.com I went. It is a solid list. My favorites coming from the 90s, mostly because they remind me of a time when summer idling was more well-spent. I'll spare you the reminiscing and just put up what I found to be the definitive trailer of said era. #16, Golden Eye.

I was 11 when it came out. So awesome. Pierce Brosnan was a G in the 90s. I think this also got a solid boost because I managed to watch The Thomas Crown Affair last night on high recommendation from my Int'l Art Law Prof. (Yes, I had to slip in something about my summer abroad, now didn't I). No Golden Eye, let me tell you. In fact, I'm not quite sure why she recommended it. My guess is she felt some kind of intrinsic bond with Rene Russo's character (which I totally see) and maybe even had a real-life parallel--or so I gathered from a convo we had over a beer mentioning a book she is writing about something she lived, involving "a real-life bad guy." Oddly enough, Karen received the dvd last Xmas and hadn't even unwrapped it until last night. What are the odds? Independence Day was also in the running, but their clip ends short of its full duration, so I couldn't embed it. That came out the following summer--as noted by IFC it set the precedent for all summer blockbusters to follow--and I remember seeing it up in the small town of Pullman, Wa, where I spent many a tween summer hanging out with my cousins. Nothing like the small-town-buzz amongst the local kids to up the anticipation of a big movie. It was great. Oh, and yes, the WWTA trailer is amazing. So, to concur with homey I will throw up the trailer. If you haven't peeped it yet (for shame!) do so. If you have, just watch it again. It's that good.

Anyway, check out the full 50 (or just click around).
Via IFC.com: 50 Greatest Trailers of All Time

Of Latest Interest: 1970s Vespa 50 Special

2009-07-16T13:43:00.012-04:00

So I'm not gonna stop harping on my summer abroad anytime soon. Deal with it. The Vespa culture in Italy is quite obviously as ubiquitous as dudes in tailored suits--often riding them in said suits. Rome especially, so I had plenty of time to decide what my dream Vespa would be. Not to mention they're parked everywhere, and my red-wine-loosened inhibitions of sizing them up (read, straddling a hog or two) in the wee hours of the night allowed me to make a well-educated decision. The 50 Special. It's perfect. Compact. Not too much motorcycle-like power but enough pep to zip around the city with confidence. And it's 70s body is a sight to behold--with that awesome rectangular headlight. I remember the moment. She was white--faded and marked with a history of nicks from close calls, perhaps a few tangles with a taxi, and the love of riding hard through the narrow back-streets of an ancient city--beckoning me to swing my leg over and saddle-up. Love at first sit, indeed. Here are some amazing scans I found of 70s Vespa brochures from Germany. Take a look-see. Note the awesome 70s garb in the couple at bottom--had to include them, tho larger Vespies are pictured.

Scanned Images Via Vespa Das Archiv

Of My Traveling Plimsolls: Some Friends Just Fit

2009-07-14T13:43:00.013-04:00

Behold, the aftermath of a month in Rome followed by a week in Barcelona. A solid patina of sangria, sweat, travel, and party--if I do say so myself. You may or may not have caught my reference there. Most likely not. I def wouldn't have known the tag line to Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 without IMDb-ing it. Anyway. The story began a few months ago when I realized that my summer footwear standby--flip flops--weren't going to cut it on the mean streets of Rome (nor grimy-ass NYC for that matter) and I needed a more sensible pair of daily wearers. Enter, the recent resurgence of the plimsoll. And Urban Outfitters' ability to jump on a trend a bit before it totally gets played out--usually. So they only sell them for ladies, but I managed to find the more unisexed version (by Chengs) and their largest size fit just about right. And the ankle was lined with comfy padded leather. Perfection. I went with white but kind of despise the initial crispness of something bound to get dirty. So my first order of business was to start the defiling process before hopping the plane. I grabbed the most staining thing I could think of--within arm's reach--coffee.

I had to go a bit heavier on the concentration, so I brewed some more coffee and put it in that pitcher. One shoe at a time. As shown.

They came out a beautiful color--though a bit more dyed looking than I wanted.

Fortunately, they dried much lighter. That way their wear was more visible.

Fresh out the plastic. Note the disproportionately high amount of shoes Karen bought--I only got my white boys.

Obamas Take Over Rome!

2009-07-10T12:08:00.006-04:00

Today Barack is meeting the Pope. Yesterday Michelle and girls got a private tour of the Colosseum followed by gelatto with Grandma. And to start it all off, the prez & first lady stopped in at the Italian President's Palazzo--more formally known as the Palazzo del Quirinale. Exciting stuff, especially because my class was able to take a private tour of the Palazzo a few weeks ago. The place is amazing, and full of history--including some redecoration by Napoleon. When I stumbled upon this Huffington Post (don't ask) article about M.Obama's outfit, and saw the interior of the Palazzo, I knew exactly where they were. Pretty cool. Btw, Malia's style is really what people should be watching right now. Her new hair, purple wayfarers, and bright color palate is killing me.

Seasoned Essential: Summer Hat

2009-07-09T12:53:00.007-04:00

Living in NYC really jades your perception of stylish (vs. trendy) articles of clothing. The summer hat has alway held this stigma in my eyes. The idea always seemed so cool. but maybe too cool? And so i just kept the policy of steering clear. But I slowly realized that it was actually a necessity. People weren't just wearing them for the sake of adding another cranial accessory--not to say that is case at all times, but definitely the case of the middle-aged to senior Roman whose main goal was to beat the heat. It all became quite clear whilst in Europe. And I thought, why not? I can give it a go while out here, and if I end up liking it, I'll stick with it. Needless to say I loved it. My first foray was just a cheapo hat from a street vendor out in front of the colloseum. It was far from anything quality, but my hair was a mess and I really needed to cover my dome-piece asap. And I didn't have to think twice about parting with it--which I did by the time I made it out Barcelona and purchased myself a proper summer hat. Here I am wearing my newly acquired hat while stuffing some recent purchases into a just as recently purchased oversized shoulder bag. I kinda went hard that first day--to make up for Rome.

Oh, and of course, Karen managed to beat me to the punch:

2009-07-08T12:30:00.004-04:00

Caught this on ACL the other day. Have since been listening to it pretty much constantly. Good stuff. Their website has the full album if you find yourself adequately piqued. I'm hoping to get ahold of a hard copy, but probably will settle for one from the interwebs. http://www.dscvry.net/

Wanderlust: Croatian Islands

2009-07-07T12:25:00.007-04:00

I know I've only been back in the states for like 72 hours, but what can I do when I return to this email from UD Jetset about these private islands that cost as much or less than a hotel room to book? Seriously? Yes. Sure they're only big enough to fit a small villa--or in the case of this Croat island, a lighthouse--but its island vacationing nonetheless. And being partially a Croatian islander, (my grandma hails from the Dalmation Islands) how could I not feel inclined to make the voyage?And stay in a lighthouse! Super cool. Lighthouses rule [a reference that I'll have to explain shortly. Perhaps in a forthcoming post]! Finagling your way out there would be the tricky part, but once thats worked out, its straight chillin. You'd also have to make sure to be fully stocked because its a bit of a boat ride out there (that can only be done while the sea is calm in the wee hours of the morning). Sounds totally worth it. It fits up to like 8 peeps. Who's in?

Italy: Ottica Obsession

2009-07-06T11:27:00.004-04:00

During the past month and change I've been in Rome, one thing has really struck me: the number of eyewear shops. Everywhere. Multiple ones on a block in some places. Needless to say, these people take their spectacles very seriously. One day, while perusing Via Cola de Rienzo (if i remember correctly) I catch, out of the corner of my eye, something very familiar from home. In fact, its the one establishment that kept popping into my head every time I'd pass one of the many shops with the "ottica" sign out front--NYC's optometric institution, Moscot. Lo and Behold, even the most spectacle savvy of people have recognized quality product when they see it (through their meticulous lenses). NYC repping in Roma.

In Loving Memory..

2009-07-05T10:56:00.004-04:00

I don't even have the words to describe it. I was out of the country when it happened. Being back home for less than a day has really brought it home (courtesy of CNN's constant coverage). First stateside post in over a month. Thank you Mike.

Also, this whole slideshow is pretty amazing.

Most notably, Al Sharpton grinding on that lady.

Michael Jackson Memorial At The Apollo

Abbey of Montecassino

2009-06-15T13:11:00.004-04:00

One of our little field trips last weekend (the one before last, really) was to Montecassino, where one of the world's most famous abbeys sits perched atop a small mountain (but not a hill). It was bombed in WWII by the allies, and it just so happened to be the 65th anniversary of D-day, so the place was crawling with proud old vets wearing sun-hats, dripping with medals and surprisingly spry for being well into their 80s.

First Post from Rome

2009-06-13T11:09:00.005-04:00

Wow. A combination of a lot of socializing and not a lot of internet access has really put a halt to my bloggercising. Thats not a word. Just a faux portmanteau. I should've been able to spell that on first try. Um. I don't know where I am going with this. I'm just gonna throw up some pics I snapped around my hood on the first day I arrived (2 weeks ago! damn) and leave it at that. More pics on the way, I hope. Actually this next one was taken from my balcony the next morning when it rained a little. The rest are from the day before. I was in town earlier than everyone else, so I just set off on foot to see what was around.

BARCA: UEFA CUP CHAMPS!

2009-05-27T16:46:00.003-04:00

I had a pretty full day tying up loose ends for my Summer Law Program in Rome whilst the city hosted the UEFA CUP FINAL. Yes, I leave tomorrow for Rome. I missed the mayhem by a day. Depending on your sensibilities, that could be a good or bad thing. I personally, was very bummed. My haphazard planning usually works out, and nearly did this time. Not to mention Karen and I will be rendez-vous-ing in Barcelona after my classes are up. We just so happened to pick the two best cities to be in during this game but just not right dates. Oh, well. Perhaps the Barca team will stay the weekend for some epic partying--and I somehow know of and get into the super-VIP places they will be. Here's to wishful thinking. And a summer abroad.

Picture Via FCBarcelona.com

Cont'd: Afternoon Jaunt to the Hudson Valley

2009-05-24T19:28:00.017-04:00

Perfect day on many accounts: The weather, obvs; I was finally free from the shackles of my first year of lawschool; And we were on the open road--well, once we got past Harlem. JP snapped this picture of the old and new Yankee stadiums while we sat on the FDR. The House That Ruth Built (at right) next to what I recently heard ESPN's Baseball Tonite call "a billion dollar wiffle-ball field."

Here is a couple of close-crops of pics from the previous post. We are standing out on a rock ledge with a super-steep drop-off to the river. Unfortunately there was a strong haze enveloping the city, so the skyline is a bit hard to see.

Take a closer look. This kinda reminds me of Highlights Magazine.

I almost forgot to mention the best part of this journey--its purpose. JP needed to grab his car (the bumblebee) for a road-trip with Mazi to Rhode Island. I needed a place to leave my car for the summer while in Rome and Barcelona. The switcheroo was made.

Oh yeah, that chance stop-off was due to a kindly New Jersey gas-station attendant who asked me to pop my gas-tank. Unknowingly--I stopped off for gas during the mile or so stretch of the ride in NJ--I also popped my hood in the process. An unsettling rattle began as I brought Mel "black beastie" Rapton up to cruising speed. Jp asked "are we about to have a Tommy-Boy moment?" We didn't, and I pulled over at the next turn-out. It was called Rockefeller point.

Bear Mountain Bridge. Note the reflection on the car.

George Washington Bridge. Note the reflection in the side-view.

Midtown. Note the Periodic Table shirt. You would buy art from this guy, right? Def.

Catch you on the flipside. He was off to drop a piece off with a donor, and I was off to catch the 6 and diner and a show. For looking like a lifesize hot-wheelz toy, that car is actually pretty huge and spacious. Its got 3 windshield wipers for petessake. The murdered-out rims really round out the bumblebee's color-scheme.

En Route: Afternoon Jaunt to the Hudson Valley

2009-05-22T15:15:00.006-04:00

Yesterday afternoon's impromptu road trip out to J's uncle's place on the Hudson was great. The weather was perfect for cruisin. And I brought my camera along for the trip. In fact, yesterday was a great day in general and this was only the beginning. A fuller post to follow, in the meantime a few teasers:

We then snaked through Manhattan, stopped off at the gallery to pick up J's art now that his month-long stay at the Williams Club has run its course, then I hopped on the 6 down to Soho for dinner with Karen and we caught a show at the Bowery Ballroom. I'm too lazy to post anything more. Stay tuned.

Blogworthy: h(y)r Collective (& collection)

2009-05-21T11:16:00.018-04:00

H(y)r Collective has definitely established itself as the preeminent blogazine in menswear. Issue twelve has further served to solidify its position. #12 not only brings together some collaborations between a few of my must-read bloggeurs (see list to right, "of further interest") it also comes bearing amazing gifts. These gifts come in the form of amazing new h(y)r exclusive product. Designed by the man at the mag's helm, and constructed by some of today's finest clothiers, these items are destined to be instant classics. First and foremost, the collabo with Gitman Bros Vintage for some killer oxfords. The proverbial Brothers Gitman know what they're doing. And working with h(y)r reiterates as much--and vis versa. No question, the soft red is sitting square in my sights. It's perfection.

Next up is the bag. Another banger. A new duffle is not really on my radar, but if it were, this would be a front-runner. [Avec Tannis Hegan]

Aside from the emergence of THE collection by h(y)r, the magazine itself is a great read. Definitely give it a once-over. Repeat if necessary. Btw, crank up the volume.

H(y)r Collective Issue 12

First couple of pics Via Secret Forts

Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward (Guggenheim Member's Party and Private Viewing)

2009-05-18T10:26:00.001-04:00

Karen and I had been looking forward to the FLW exhibit since we heard it was on its way. So when we received the invitation to the member's pre-viewing party in the mail, it was a go--no question. Becoming members of the Guggs was a bit of an accident (i'll admit, we did it for the first fridays), which turned out to have been a great decision. For starters, the museum is FLW's crowning glory, so getting to hang out in it on several occasions and settings is fun. The museum itself is not gigantic (read: overwhelming) so it's well-curated. It pioneered the notion of visiting a museum not just for what was hanging up on its walls, but to be in a unique space. And the list goes on. [note: you have to see Ken Burns & Lynn Novick's PBS doc--he died while building it!] Iconoclast. Enough said. Here are some pics I quickly snapped with my p&s:

Giant tapestry. This is a shot downward from the floor above.

Johnson Wax building. The story behind this one is great. Especially the lilly pads:

Here's a great sketch of the interior of the Guggs. Note the girl yo-yo-ing:

Guggenheim's Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward

Via PBS, Frank Lloyd Wright: Life & Work

Worth the Visit: Freemans Restaurant

2009-05-16T22:40:00.012-04:00

If you'd been following my Twitter (which I'm sure you have) you should have noticed last wed's twitter regarding karen's b-day dinner at Freemans restaurant. It was delicious. Here we are post-meal, in freemans alley. I found a brick jutting out of the wall, perfect for sitting my camera upon and taking a timer-shot.

It was my first visit. Karen was raving after a "gals nite" dinner there a while back, so I'd been looking for a good excuse to give it a go--I try to stray from Bk as least often as poss--and Kerrn's b-day dinner was the perfect opportunity. We sat in the room with the really cool bar (they have more than one) backed by box-framed critters. See:

Karen insisted we get the hot cheese-artichoke dip for our appy even tho they had many many tempting options. The dip was not a mistake. And I'd like to note that this was the first place in NYC that properly portioned the bread-to-dip ratio (as in: there was enough bread). The bottle of Sangiovese could've been better.

The food was great. I had the Colorado lamb and went rogue with a request to replace the side of asparagus with their mashed potatoes w/ truffle oil. Karen and I had just grilled asparagus the night before, and I have a soft spot for anything potatoed. Karen went with the special: black seabass with nettle (hand-foraged in NJ) pesto. I sprung karen's gift on her. And a couple pics while she read my note. The book also functioned as the card, so I kind of had to break it out.

Brooklyn Modern. To add to the collection. I'm looking at our bookshelves right now and spy: NorCal Modern, Modern Architecture, San Francisco Modern, and Bohemian Modern (Living in Silverlake)--amongst the number of architecture titles that made the x-country trip from Cali.

She approves. I picked it up at Spoonbill after getting the tip-off from Secret Forts a while back in a post that also Featured BoMo Silverlake. Karen turned the lens on me while we finished desert--Bourbon Custard w/ cookies. All in all: delicious.

[NYmag Profile of Freemans]

Flashback Friday: This American Life

2009-05-15T10:39:00.014-04:00

In this installment of my recently created series of "flashback friday, scoop style" posts, I am taking you back only a few months. Hey I've only got like a year and change to work with, so... Here we are. Actually, what really brought on the impetus for this post was a video I caught on Selectism. Not sure why on earth the video made it onto Selectism (as PubRadio and men's street-wear don't often themselves partying in the same circles) but I am glad it did. Because I was turned on to This American Life's Vimeo account. Granted they only have two videos up, but that one other video struck me to the core. It's about 311. You might not fully appreciate this unless you live (or have lived) in NYC. If so, take a peak. If you're not willing to risk it (i'll admit, its not that funny and should have ended maybe an minute early), just skip ahead to the next video of the affably cute Quimby the Mouse.

It ends kind of on a sour, dragged-out note, right? But some of the meat and potatoes in there was gold. The alternate-side parking jab was what really got me--especially because having to find a parking spot on weds night/morning totally ruined my sleep-pattern. Oh, and this should resonate even more if you've ever actually called 311 and committed to fully following through on your complaint. JP has a 311 hearing and subsequent "suspect line-up" to attend due to an altercation with an ornery cabbie that wouldn't take a cab-load of our Cali friends back to Fort Greene. Funny story. Ok. Enough digression. Here's Quimby the Mouse.
On first watch, I fully expected Ira Glass' voice to just chime in with "Here's Quimby. A mouse who lives within means that would be deemed modest by most accounts. At first glance, Quimby's existence might seem to be a lonely one. But Quimby has a friend. His friend lives in the cupboard and is just a talking head--a talking head is really all you need for good company anyway, right? Why clutter your cupboard with a torso and limbs if you don't have to? Today, Quimby's modest means have devolved into meager means..." And so on and so on. I'll stop there. Then steer you toward my flashback friday post to give you a fuller appreciation of Ira's quintessentially awesome PubRadio cadence.
This American Life/NPR: all you need to know about the financial mess we're in and how it went down.. (welcome back to the 70's)

Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes

2009-05-14T15:12:00.009-04:00

Posted this earlier today in an effort to inspire myself to do some studying (while listening to some calming tunes) because I still haven't managed to put more than a dozen songs on the itunes in the past few months of getting this new macbook. Turned out to be quite the failure on both accounts. As you may have noticed, the only song that plays in its entirety is the opener. And I wouldn't likely classify my day at the library as a smashing success. Oh well, still got a few more days to close out the year strong. Time to get my Dennis Eckersley on. [Note: not the first time i've repped Fleet Foxes.]

Fleet Foxes

Watching Grass Grow vol. 3: Impromptu Photo-shoot

2009-05-13T14:49:00.007-04:00

Oh, how time flies. Its the 3rd installment and the grass is already too long. But still patchy. Whilst enjoying the nice day, Napoleon took to his favorite outdoor perch--the highly sun-warmth-absorbing storm-mat covering the basement's hatch (can you believe its LOST season finale tonite!?!).

Its the only part of our yard (read: slab) that sits in direct sunlight for the most part of the day. Here he is lounging. Just maxin' and relaxin':

And I decided to snap a few (a dozen or so) more pics. Here are a couple:

Btw, not only does tonite mark the end of this season's LOST, it also happens to be Karen's bday. So the lost will have to sit on the DVR until we return from an evening in SoHo and dinner at Freeman's. Can't wait!

Benzo to Rebirth the Gullwing!

2009-05-12T17:17:00.013-04:00

Slated to come out in late 2009-early 2010 and promised to be yesterday's car with today's technology. Doesn't that just make it today's car? Nonetheless, I am super-pumped about an all-time fave car of mine getting a re-up. Unfortunately, I could not find one picture of the thing with its doors up in the quintessential "gullwing" pose. Oh well. Arturo Alonso raced the o.g 1954 300se and is now at the helm of this re-vamp. Sounds like its in good hands (he also engineered bentley's latest concept car).

There might be nothing better than a classic european racing car. Take your pic: benzo, bmw, porsche, ferrari, hell triomphe even. Ok, citroen should get a shout out too. And a few more but I'll spare you. Personally, its benzo for me (unless of course we are talking Ferarri Dino--did anyone see Gossip Girl last nite??) when it comes to classics. Perhaps its because the car i learned how to drive with was a 90s E class, and subsequently the sportier '03 320c. Or maybe it was Karen's 380sl that really solidified my love. Who knows. They're all timeless.

Iconic. I really wish this shot had the wings up. It would've been even more awesome. I have already begun saving up for one. Or maybe I can talk my pops into the upgrade. Oh wait, that's where the love comes from. The old man. He's driven nothing but the 3-pointed star since the moment he'd mustered enough cash to drive one off the lot. Btw, doesn't it look like it would take a bit of a leg-lift to get into the driver's seat?

Pics via http://www.thecoolhunter.net/

Fiesta, Fiesta!

2009-05-11T13:10:00.011-04:00

I was in charge of making the 'ritas. Karen insisted we follow her mother's recipe, which meant no ready-made mix, and that I had to squeeze a whole lot of limes. It was well worth it. Paula knows what she's talking about. Though I'm sure she would have frowned upon us forgoing the Patron and Cointreau.

Yes, that is a mug with my face on it (back when I had a beautifully coifed fro).

These ice cream sandwiches were ridic-delicious. See for yourself.

Fully stocked. Fridge and Freezer. Before people showed up with more booze.

8 avocados and two jars of salsa. Unfortch, I missed documenting Karen's deft skill at field-dressing an avocado. My hands were covered in lime juice, and she is just to damn quick at gutting those suckers.

The meat, after a few hours of some good ol' "slow and low" cookin'.

Taco ready. It was so good, it just melted.

Ironically enough, the Mexicans were the first to arrive. And they got straight to making some authentic micheladas. Yes, thats light beer. And yes, the drink turns brown with the crazy mixture of lime, hot sauce, and worcestershire-like "special ingredient". Its an acquired taste.

The early birds getting a head-start on the drinking and guac, while waiting for the rest to show. I'm already a few deep, and the camera sat on the coffee table for the rest of the night. I can assure you it was a raging good time. We also managed to make it to Hugs and Zabloski's afterward for some dancing & darts.

Happy Dia De Las Madres! (still watching grass grow)

2009-05-10T16:11:00.004-04:00

Because both of our mothers are 3000 miles away (and 20 degrees warmer), we decided to have mother's day brunch at Fabians, (@ Bedford and N.5th) in their honors. Delicious as always. And to our great surprise, the clouds have cleared showing the first signs of summer have sprung!

Not sure how long the sun is going to stay out, but our little seedlings have been making the best of it. Btw, Karen's B-day fiesta went off without a hitch. The margaritas were flowing, and by the time the party got into full swing, I had set aside (and forgot about) my camera so most of the pics I took were of the prep. Gripping nonetheless, so stay tuned. You may have also noticed I tweaked the layout (to display larger pics). We'll see if i like it come next week. Feel free to weigh in.

TGIF: Weekend's Here

2009-05-08T20:05:00.010-04:00

Wanted to post another picture from the last weekend because its my fave I've taken in a while.

And, speaking of that island, here it is. Yes, that is 8 avocados--soon to become a gigantic bowl of guacamole for karen's birthday fiesta tomorrow. I threw a lemon in the mix for some color, and the free mango Fresh Direct snuck into our last order. Last time we got a free pineapple. Thank you FD, for the complimentary precarious-to-cut fruit. You have made life more exciting.

TGIF: Watching Grass Grow

2009-05-08T14:53:00.019-04:00

You can't really see it, but many tiny blades of grass have begun to spring up from the planter-box we built last weekend.

Being the weekend project warriors that we be, here's what Karen and I were up to last weekend during the few precious hours the rain has let up in the past week (boo!):

Fresh back from Home Depot in Bed-Stuy with supplies in tow. Funny story (kind of), we were looking for Lowes a few weeks ago in an unrelated weekend project (to build a collapsable island for our kitchen), got terribly lost, and ended up at Ikea, where we bought a non-collapsable, but easily build-able island instead. Little did we know, this Home Depot was basically down the street from us. Also note another future project there to right: my bianchi frame I found sitting out with some discarded junk a while back.

The slab needs a good once-over, and some low foliage. Prep workin.

Deciding on the placement.. Hmm, a little to left. Errr, right..

Time lapse (backwards) Hammering the frame, then filling it with dirt.

Breaking up the dirt the old fashioned way.

Napoleon approves? Stay tuned, for more: Watching Grass Grow. (How PBS did that sound?)

Swine Flu v. H1 N1 Virus

2009-05-05T18:29:00.015-04:00

No contest. Swine Flu is just way more catchy. Who cares if the trend is to call it its "proper name" in response to the outrcy of Old Macdonalds everywhere. Wierdly enough, I'm pretty sure people haven't stopped eating pork--avoiding other people like the plague, instead. Of course that's impossible in NYC--even if J Biden suggests otherwise (and then tucks his tail while the administration appologizes). I have tried my best, save for a roof-party in Chelsea and a Saturday night at Royal Oak. Probably not the best calls to avoid people, but hey I'm not too worried. This isn't 1976 for goodness sake.

Caught this on CNN last nite. Too good not to post, right? Thank you A-Coop. [note: good lord, watching this makes me thankful for HD]

And for some recreational reading, might I steer you over to the most interesting (if not a bit overthunk) take on "the new pandemic" I've yet to see, via BldgBlog.

THIS DISEASED UTOPIA: 10 THOUGHTS ON SWINE FLU AND THE CITY

Flashback Friday, Scoop Style

2009-05-01T14:07:00.019-04:00

You know what I'm talking about. Anyone who grew up listening to their local radio station featuring "hip-hop and r&b flavor" instantly recognizes the idiom. It means: we are going to have to listen to a lot of 80's jams today on the bus ride to school.

While in college down in SoCal, I realized that other people's flashback fridays were in fact different. Which makes sense. The idea of "flashback friday" or "the drive at 5" isn't a novel one, but its bound to vary depending on the tastes of your local station's deejay. I didn't realize this until moving down south, where my friends all came from the LA area, and sang along to much different "flashback jams" that I'd heard maybe once or twice in my life (another caveat of "flashback friday" is that you basically hear the exact same songs every week). Anyway, this post was in fact supposed to be about my own blog-variation of "flashback friday" but then I got all engrossed in my childhood "flashback friday" and here we are. Davey D, Sacramento's own love-him-or-hate-him morning deejay would preside over my weekly flashback friday and instilled one song that instantly pops into my head whenever I think back. Hilariously enough, I had no idea who the artist was or even the proper title. I just googled "i wonder if i take you home" and voila: Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam. Wayyy better name than I'd ever dreamed. And the video is amazing. I'm almost certain it was filmed in my current neighborhood, or if not, at least somewhere in Brooklyn. Full Circle.

Ok, onto the "scoop style" I was originally planing on. Because I'm feeling lazy and don't have much new to talk about, I am delving into the annals of 'scoop. That's right. So here we go. Today we are reaching back to last March (2008). I was still living in Sactown. I had just attended the best Kings game of the season (and probably past 2 years) and was on the search for my first credit card. I also broke the news on David Patterson, KJ running for mayor, aaand the Wii Fit (japanese version, of course). Not to mention a few Sac-centric posts pleading for a Second-Second Saturday and for people to listen to Joe Carnahan. Please Enjoy. Pictured: Kings owner Gavin Maloof getting a rouse out of the crowd.

Tomato Scoop: March 2008