Just Bought a Plane Ticket to...

Can't wait to see (and say goodbye) to all those people I love on the West Coast.

Random Sunday

WEST GERMANY—1978.

My Thanksgiving

Now that my NYC vacay is over and Thanksgiving weekend is coming to an end, I finally have time to tell you all what I am thankful for this year. The thing that sticks out in my mind above everything else right now is my group of friends. It could be because this was my first Thanksgiving with friends not family, or because Sunny cooked the most fabulous meal and made a freakin' table for the occasion, or because Megan M, Sunny, Sarah and I had an impromptu post-dinner dance party to work off all that pumpkin pie, or because Sarah was in the city for the first time since she moved back to California five months ago, or because after my guy left to go back to Berlin yesterday I got to meet Sunny, Sarah, Chris, and Mary at the local bar for too many beers and some hilariously distracting conversation, or because I might be leaving them all very soon. Or it could just be because they are amazing and I love them all collectively and individually and don't know what I would do without them.

....and be sure to know I of course love and miss all my West Coast friends who I wasn't able to spend the holidays with as well.

NYC Vacation

I was just lucky enough to spend two weeks "on holiday" in my own city (hence the lack of posts lately), showing a New York virgin a bit of my life and a whole lot of NYC. Two weeks may seem like a long time to explore, but let me tell you that we were barely able to cover half of the stuff on his list even being out and about almost every day. I forgot how massive and alive this place is. There were times I felt like a tour guide and times I felt completely like a tourist myself — walking across the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time, eating a hot dog from a street vendor (ugh) and getting on the subway going to Queens instead of Brooklyn. Oops.

Considering I just got back from Berlin not too long ago (and spent my first week hiding from the Big Bad Apple in the comforts of my room), this was the perfect way to get reacquainted with this fair city. I will have to admit it is going to be harder than I first thought to leave — I may have just fallen a little bit back in love with New York. But we all know a vacation in NYC is a whole lot different than actually living here. Anyway, take a peak at our trip, all the way from Coney Island to Central Park.

The Day at the Museum

Prologue Part E: Margot’s history related, with highlights of being adopted at age 2, receiving a grant in the 9th grade, running away to Natural History Museum “one winter” and disappearing “four years later,” only to return with a finger missing.

Speaking of the Royal Tenenbaums - Margot ran away to the Natural History Museum once and coincidentally so did I with this guy.

I Heart the Royal Tenenbaums

I wonder if another film will ever capture my heart the way this one does every time. Not that I have even watched it lately. I did however just see Jason Schwartzman's new show Bored to Death for the first time last night. Not that he is even in The Royal Tenenbaums, but he is certainly a part of the Wes Anderson crew. And it is certainly my favorite Wes Anderson movie, if not my favorite movie, period. As for Bored to Death, it was pretty funny but pales in comparison.

Random Sunday

Christy and Kate. Vintage Christy and Kate. Vintage Christy and Kate discussing brazilian waxes. Priceless.

Sean and Yoko

“I remember the sound of the people outside,” Sean says. “The fires and the singing the songs and the police tape downstairs, Double Fantasy being recorded, my dad’s voice, the texture of his skin, the look of his ankle. It’s like, I awoke from a dream and I’ve never been a child since then.”

Gives me the shivers just thinking about it. I also love the idea of a mother and son musical collaboration (especially this one), it is such an interesting dynamic. Read more of the the NY Magazine article "60 Minutes With Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon" here.

It's Like Christmas Eve...

...sorry I just can't help myself. See you tomorrow.

Random Sunday

Are we at a crossroads?
Thanks Copenhagen Cycle Chic.

Dreamy Frenchie

Don't his eyes just make you melt? The story Garance Doré tells about this lovely Frenchman might too.

Black and White

When I used to write for a certain magazine a certain editor responded to a line of copy I wrote — doesn't everything just look better in black and white — with a big fat underlined No. So of course it didn't make it in the book, but I still disagree with her.

Indoor Ping Pong

Will somebody please come over and build a makeshift ping pong table in my living room and get these two to come over and have a tournament? Oh Berlin, I miss you.

Love, Love, Love

The blazer, the braid, the boots....

Photo by David Shama.

This Spoke to Me for Some Reason

Think I might be over it though....well, some of it.

Thanks coketalk.

Spider-Rickshaw-Man

When my friend Stian was in NYC last month he came across this crazy Spider-Rickshaw-Man and told him that if he gave him a free ride he would make him an awesome video. And well he did - the video now has almost 60,000 hits and even got picked up by the NY Times.

Last night I ran into the spandex clad man myself with my friend Megan 2 in the LES and after we told him that we were friends with his beloved Stian he insisted that we too get in for a free ride. Just as Stian's girlfriend Caty explained to us, it was a little scary and actually made me a bit nauseous (I had had a few beers) but despite that still ridiculously fun and plain ridiculous.

Nice Combo

I just found out that two of the bands that I have fallen for since I returned stateside (it doesn't take much time to get back into it) are on tour together and will be in NYC next week. Such glorious timing wouldn't you think? But no, I am too behind and the shows are all sold out. Can anyone get me tickets to see the Local Natives (I love any band that covers Simon and Garfunkel) open for Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (I love any band with that many people on stage)? Pretty please.


Thanks Sarah.

Faux Fall

One thing I do not miss about Berlin is the icy fall weather. The last few days in NYC have been absolutely perfect - allowing me to wear those early autumn outfits of little blazers and light scarves that I love so much - before the serious coat and glove cold kicks in. There has definitely been no need for fur hats, which were more than just a simple accessory at our goodbye gathering in Berlin last week, but a party staple. Look at my Berlin friends all so fab and freezing.

Random Sunday

Al and Robert looking dapper, especially De Niro in the blue velvet suit.

My Two Minutes of Fame

In Berlin I embarked upon a career in bad acting.

The Boys of Backyard Bill

I love the photographer Backyard Bill and the men that he shoots for his blog. They all may not be traditionally attractive, but the way he captures them makes each of them so intriguing.

My Daily O

A year ago today Barack Obama became the president elect. God, I do miss the intensity of that time and the passion I had for it all from watching the debates to canvassing in Philly. I mean, the election inspired me to start this blog!

So how has Barack actually done as Prez? The New York Times assesses it here. What do you think? How do you feel?

The German Addams Family

I love Halloween. I really do. So thinking about all my friends in the States planning their Halloween costumes and parties while I was in Berlin made me, I won't go as far as to say sad, but definitely a little envious. But somehow things just all fell into place: my roommate's friend was randomly having a themed Bday party that night in which she asked everyone to dress up as film characters. Drunkenly at my and my brother's goodbye party the night prior I thought of dressing up as the Addams family and even in all of our hungover states the next day we each managed to find enough stuff in our closets to pull off the appropriately Halloween-ish characters (and quite well if do say so myself). So I got the thrill of dressing up that I craved and my German friends got to experience their first H-A-LL-O-W-EE-N!

Back in the BK

Sitting at my desk in good old Fort Greene once again. I enjoyed sleeping in my own bed last night for the first time in three months and seeing Mary and Sunny and eating a good old American burger at my favorite local joint, but being back certainly feels...I am not really sure yet. But I do know, that I will be back to regular blogging soon. See you in a bit.

Remembering Catie

A dear friend of mine's life ended all too early three years ago today. Thinking of her still makes me miss the days we spent together oh so long ago. I really wish there could have been more. Our friend Sarah wrote a sweet story on her blog that made me smile and laugh in my head the way Catie used to.