While I am not usually the biggest Anna Sui fan overall, I have to say I am terribly excited about her Target line that goes on sale next Sunday. The line is based on characters on the show Gossip Girl, which I don't watch – but according to the clothes, I seem to be mostly a “Blair”.
Spend a Couple Minutes »Anna Sui
Be the first to leave a comment →
Desserts »Bloomies Frogurt
Years ago a good friend used to always insist on getting frogurt at Bloomies. She's since moved out of the city, but her love for Four Carrots frozen goodness came to my mind the other day and I was pleased to find that it's available in the SoHo location as well as the flagship.
It's not cheap – but really, what is anymore? But you do get a whole honking load of it, even when you order the small size. They also made me extra smiley by layering tons of the rainbow sprinkles between each swirl of peanut butter, which was the flavor of the day.
See more: Desserts Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt Soho
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 7, 2009
Style Icons: Female »Zandra Rhodes
Been thinking about designer Zandra Rhodes lately. Her clothes were always so feminine and off kilter and I LOVE them. Aside from her own collections, she created costumes for Queen and dressed Lady Di.
I found a great bunch of vintage photos come in one of my old Italian Vogues and posted some on Rotating Corpse. I would die for a great piece of hers, but with the demand, rarity and price, it may be a long time coming.
See more: Style Icons: Female Designers
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 7, 2009
Movies »Oldboy
Director Park Chan-wook's revenge thriller Oldboy is a noted entry in the cinematic canon of Asian Extreme… which is an apt moniker for the genre – and this movie in particular. The plot is extreme: a man is imprisoned in a room for fifteen years without any reason only to be unexpectedly released into a bazaar game of cat and mouse.
The violence and action sequences are extreme: some scenes will make you squirm and, unlike most cinematic combat scenes, the ones here are memorable and pop off the screen – one in particular took seventeen days to perfect and was shot in a single, continuous take. The movie leaves you feeling socked in the gut – and liking it.
It's based on a manga series by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya who, someone along the line, must have been inspired by my favorite sci fi writer, Jack Vance. We were thrilled to see so many of his classic ideas on screen, even if it is just a coincidence (nowhere online can I find any concrete evidence of his influence… perhaps I'm the only pseudo scholar with a dual Vance/Park Chan-wook interest?).
The movie itself falters at the end; as is often the case, the conclusion of a compelling mystery can never be as intriguing as the initial investigation. Still, it's a worthy investment if you crave an action thriller and find that Hollywood just hasn't been delivering.
Chan-wook has a new vampire thriller out in theaters now called Thirst.
See more: Movies Action Foreign Japanese
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 7, 2009
Books »The Demon Princes
If you don't know how much I adore the work of Jack Vance, you obviously just have not been listening to me! The Demon Princes, two volumes collecting five novellas written between 1964 and 1981, are my favorites second only to the middle books collected in Tales of the Dying Earth (the absolutely phenomenal Eyes of the Overworld and Cugel's Saga). I've only been holding off on recommending them here, on Brix Picks, until I had a chance to re-read them and write while their fresh in my mind, but over the years they've been passed around to all my friends and I just haven't had the chance.
The four novellas chronicling the vengeful exploits of Kirth Gersen as he seeks to destroy a cabal of high powered, shadowy, inter-planetary criminals known only as the Demon Princes in the wake of the massacre of his home planet match up so perfectly with this week's vengeance-based extreme movie, Oldboy, that I'm positive the authors of the Manga Park Chan-wook's film was based on were heavily influenced by Vance's stories.
Over the course of 850 action-packed pages, Gersen manages to find (and attempts to kill) each one of the gangsters on his hit list in exponentially brilliant ways that involve, among other things, a high school reunion, a planet that's turned kidnapping into a safe and reliable business, weirdo art parties on old Earth, rare and possibly deadly culinary delicacies, and a maniacal plan involving the restructuring of a moon… And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
To give away too much of the plot would be totally unfair as the real thrill of any Vance work is watching the intricate and often extremely surprising plots rapidly unfold and reveling in his witty and wildly imaginative brand of speculative social engineering. Just writing about this series is making me really want to read it again – this is one of my all-time favorites.
See more: Books 1960s 1970s 1980s Collections Sci-Fi
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 7, 2009
Style Icons: Female »Anna Wintour
I can't sit here and pretend that I am thrilled with the direction of Vogue. I turned off when I kept finding Kate Hudson, Renee Zellweger, Sandy Bullock and Jennifer Aniston staring back at me week after week in one tired old bias cut dress after another. Even this year's September issue features Charlize Theron on the cover, when it really should have had a stunning photo of Miss Wintour herself!
After all, with the movie September Issue coming out, for better or worse the somewhat enigmatic icon will be center stage. Few women working in the industry have made such an impact in popular culture. Her bob hair and large sunglasses are known and often feared by all – it will be interesting to see what lies beneath them.
See more: Style Icons: Female Fashion Editors Muses
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 31, 2009
Desserts »St Honore Pastisserie
We stumbled across the adorable French pastry shop, St. Honore Patisserie in Queens after seeing it across the street while enjoying another satisfying meal at Taverna Kyclades. I was craving something sweet and was impressed with the selection in the window.
We opted for a passion fruit mousse cake to share as well as a frilly meringue cookie with sprinkles. Both were yummy and the staff was as sweet as their goodies.
See more: Desserts Astoria Bakeries French
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 31, 2009
Spend a Couple Minutes »Gap 1969 Jeans
The Gap used to be the place for nerdy jeans. When denim became fashion, they fell behind. Now with the 1969 line and the help of adorable designer Patrick Robinson, they're seriously getting into the premium denim business with new, carefully fitted jeans. According to Robinson “We went out there and made the best-fitting jeans in the world. And that's a big statement.”
I have to say, he may be right. I went to the store with co workers to study their branding, and every single one of us walked away with a new pair of jeans – even me, and I rarely wear pants at all.
See more: Spend a Couple Minutes Shops
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 31, 2009
Web Sites »Italialicious
Italialicious is a great food blog with a plethora of amazing looking recipes from a Canadian PhD student with a passion for Italian cusisine.
Pasta, pizza, paninis, gelato – they're all here and photographed beautifully.
See more: Web Sites Italian Recipe Blogs
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 31, 2009
Recipes »Bucatini all?amatriciana
Some of the best dishes are the simplest and only require a few great ingredients. Our friend Shaun just returned from Rome with an appetite for their amazing cuisine and was kind enough to share this dish, Bucatini all'amatriciana with us.
Bucatini is the key, a thicker hollow spaghetti that is filling, delicious and cooks quicker than most. Also make sure to not substitute the guanciale, an unsmoked Italian bacon (Shaun found both at the Chelsea Market).
This recipe came from this week's website of the week, Italialicious, where I plan to make many more excellent meals from.