Places to Visit »Georgia Aquarium

P1000407
in Atlanta

Whale sharks, cuddle fish, glowing jellyfish, and other glimpses into a fantastical underwater world – plus champagne! There are far worse places one could celebrate the end of a work year. We had our company dinner at the pride of Atlanta, the humongous (it actually houses a whale – but, sadly, he was out on loan when we were there) and lovely Georgia Aquarium.

After the buffet and raw bar we were able to wander the exhibits which amazed us all. I managed (thanks to my new spiffy camera) to capture many of the interesting creatures we saw in the state-of-the-art facility; I’ve never sipped a martini in front of anything more fascinating.

According to locals, the place can become a madhouse during regular, children-filled hours, but I’d brave a dozen 5th grade class field trips to go back to see the exhibits we missed (sea otters, penguins, and something called the 4D Theater) as well as that famous beluga whale.

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Posted on December 26, 2009

Web Sites »Anonymous Works

anonymous worksBecause Reading is Fundamental…

Joey, curator of the inspiring Anonymous Works site writes of describes himself as:

“Interested in American primitive folk art, vernacular photography, outsider art, basically anything visually interesting and great.”

Interesting and great indeed! Below/after the jump are just a tiny sample of the amazing images you’ll find on the infinitely browsable site. I mean, really, a skeleton locket stick pin?! I love it too much to explain!!

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Posted on December 26, 2009

TV Shows »What I Should Have Said Was Nothing

what i should have said was nothing birbigliaMike Birbiglia

I’m afraid that if you didn’t heed my advice and chose to skip out on Sleepwalk with Me (Mike Birbiglia‘s hilarious and sometimes touching one-man-show), you are plain out of luck: the curtain closed on the off-off Broadway hit some time ago. But all is not lost! You can watch this great stand up show, which includes a couple of overlapping stories, on Netflix instant. It’s called What I Should Have Said Was Nothing, and I promise that once on, much laughter will ensue.

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Posted on December 26, 2009

Laughs »Mark Gormley

mark-gormley
An Intense Songster

My friend Luke just introduced me to Mark Gromley, the internet musical sensation that is more Tim and Eric than Tim and Eric over on Rotating Corpse. Gormley is described most accurately at his own site:

“Behold the awesome power and glory of Mark Gormley!
…Amen
His music and songs touch souls in a profound way, while his music videos expand minds to possibilities never before dreamed. Mark Gormley is a man that his captivated the hearts and minds of a generation, and will so for generations to come.”

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Posted on December 26, 2009

Recipes »Pad Krapow

pad krapowfrom Simple Foodie

Spicy ground meat Asian dishes are officially my new specialty and this superb Pad Krapow recipe, which I found at Simple Foodie (who also gave us some incredible fried cow) is going to be added to my roster. FYI: Pad Krapow is a Thai recipe that many restaurants refer to as Basil Chicken.

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Posted on December 26, 2009

Movies »Fantastic Mr. Fox

fantastic_foxdirected by Wes Anderson (2009)

Wes Anderson’s movies have a particular hipster artistry that sometimes yields poignant and aesthetically pleasing magic (Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore), other times it results in slightly annoying, self satisfied quirkiness (Steve Zissou, and, so I’ve heard, Darjeeling Limited). Fantastic Mr. Fox falls squarely on the magical side, not only in terms of the plot and the story (by Roald Dahl, which Anderson and screenwriter Noah Baumbach greatly expanded on for the film), but the stop motion animation is simply amazing.

The set, character, and costume design (I love Mr Fox’s cord suit and his son’s home made super hero get ups) is unerringly charming and whimsical and I hope it inspires more delicately thoughtful stop motion features in this era of crass computer animation (Pixar excluded, of course). Drastically unlike those churned out kid’s flicks, Fantastic Mr. Fox is far more stylized and perhaps  even more delightful for stylish parents than their children (wacky sing-a-longs with Jarvis Cocker, anyone?), and the tone is decidedly more subtle, sophisticated, and bittersweet than usual talking animal fare. I went with my office after an exhausting season of late nights and we all walked out like a bunch of kids with big smiles on our faces.

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Posted on December 20, 2009

Hunks »Ted Neeley

ted neeleyOh Lordie

Most of the born again Christians I know would probably love the idea of Jesus being played by a good old Texan… but does he have to be such a damn hippie? Well, Ted Neeley, who has gained fame from the film and stage versions of Jesus Christ Superstar, is also a drummer, composer, and record producer.

He’s certainly my favorite depiction of the lord’s child, no offense Caviezel and Dafoe.

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Posted on December 20, 2009

Style Icons: Male »Koos Van Den Akker

kooscosbyCosby Sweater Guy

The holidays bring good tidings, joy and awesomely bad sweaters. Hosting a bad holiday sweater party has even become something of a fad (I’ll be attending one soon in bejeweled teal). Of course ,the king of the awesomely bad sweater is Koos van den Akker, Dutchman and wild visionary with knit.

Not familiar with the name? Well, his vibrant, wacky sweaters were best known as the Bill Cosby sweaters on the hit sitcom. Maybe I’m feeling nostalgic for a blast from the past of family togetherness in brownstones, but don’t those garish sweaters just feel so right right now?

A look through his fashion archives proves he can also mix some crazy for us women.

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Posted on December 20, 2009

Style Icons: Female »Natalie Wood

natalie wood miracle 34th stBeliever in Santa

She warmed our hearts in Miracle on 34th St, but Natalie Wood was more than a cutesy little kid. In fact, she was known to be quite a temptress in the Hollywood scene, even in her teens (Warren Beatty, Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley and Michael Caine were all romantically linked to her). Her career shifted from childhood to more mature work with the classic Rebel Without a Cause, which also happens to be my favorite of her movies. Other key films are Splendor in the Grass, West Side Story, and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.

Wood died tragically after falling off a party boat while intoxicated in 1981.

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Posted on December 20, 2009

Desserts »Chocolate Santa

chocolate santa jacques torresfrom Jacques Torres

Thanks to Astrid and Marcus who gave this jolly dark chocolate fella to Jim for his birthday. It comes from Jacques Torres and, you might agree, is not a little bit creepy in the eyes. I’m almost concerned about the ramifications of eating him with those penetrating eyes baring down on me… it’s easy to envision myself in some sort of Twilight Zone moment. However, this is Jacques Torres chocolate and eating it will be worth the slim possibility of supernatural retaliation.

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Posted on December 20, 2009