OMG to the Tenth Power

Who doen't want to see Tom Selleck's belly button?

2007-05-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Tom!

Cheer Up, Charlie!

2007-05-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

Check out this music movies quiz I wrote for my friends at gurl! How could I pass up a chance to profess my love for The Wiz, educate teenage girls about the dystopian future of 1994, reference Cheer Up, Charlie, crack up thinking of midgets trampling Stonehenge, and quote Nietzsche! I should be paying them! (Aside to gurl: don't get any ideas, okay?)

You've been stumped!!!!!!!!

2007-05-17T19:53:00.000-07:00

So, I had a tough week. But a week where I find Operation Kitten Calender can't be that bad right?

Xanadu watch 2007!!!!!!

2007-05-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

Walking around midtown after work and what did I see?

Really? Could we see Starlight Express style skating again on Broadway? I didn't want to get my hopes up too high (my eyes have deceived me in the past), so I went in for a closer look.

You'll know I'll keep an eye on this developing story. It has to fair better than High Fidelity, right? Right?

A bottle of gin is not like love!!!!!

2007-05-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

"I was sitting in the Townhouse in midtown Manhattan, a tony gay piano bar with pictures of racehorses on the wall. I was listening to the pianist grapple with Stephen Sondheim songs, and I thought 'I really should get into theater music, because I'd be good at it.' Half the songs I like were written for the theater, and you know, I'm a show tune kind of guy. I decided I'd write one hundred love songs as a way of introducing myself to the world. Then I realized how long that would be. So I settled on sixty-nine. I'd have a theatrical revue with four drag queens. And whoever the audience liked best at the end of the night would get paid." [source] So says Stephin Merritt of my latest obsession, Magnetic Fields' thematic opus, 69 Love Songs.

I know I am a bit late with this (it did come out in '99, after all), which just goes to show how uncool I really am. My recent exuberant love for 69 Love Songs has its genesis on an early spring morning with sand between my toes and a too cold ocean nipping at my feet. The boy had his iPod on him and we shared his headphones to listen to "Love is Like a Bottle Gin." Total back of the bus in middle school moment, sans Bryan Adams. I came home and realized I already downloaded the album mere days ago. I have the attention span of a goldfish sometimes. (Also, way back in library school days, our cataloging professor had us create a MARC record for 69 Love Songs, but that story's not nearly as saccharine.)

ANYWAY the point of this post is that I found a neat wiki site for 69 Love Songs. Check it! Also, 33 1/3 (I love those books!) published a field guide this past December. Get the straight scoop on your favorite songs, like "You're my Only Home", for instance.

Demon barber of Fleet Street!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-05-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

I don't know how I missed this, but Tim Burton is directing Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd! Of course it stars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. But, seeing as Sweeney Todd is almost an opera, Johnny Depp and company will do their own singing! Which Depp has never done before, not even in Cry Baby. Also, Alan Rickman(!!!!!) and Christopher Lee(!!!!!!) are teaming up with Burton for this macabre tale.

If you're not too familiar with Sweeney Todd, I'll give you the speedy synopsis. Todd (Depp), who for all we know may be a hair styling genius, ops instead to kill people who come in for a hair cut. His fellow tenet, Mrs. Lovett (Bonham Carter) bakes the remains of his customers into delectable pies, which sell VERY well. (I did have a joke about just desserts in here, but I took it out for all of our benefits.)

Anyway, if you have time, you should totally catch up Christopher Lee's Wikipedia page. For instance, did you know that Lee narrated and sang for a musical group called the The Tolkein Ensemble? Also, when he showed up to do his voice over bit as King Haggard in The Last Unicorn, he brought his own copy of the book marked through with plot points he believed must not be omitted. Fascinating! (picture via IMDB)

Weekend Weekend Weekend!

2007-05-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be out of town this weekend, but IF I WEREN'T I would totally go to the opening of Williamsburg Fashion Week tonight. The great Alisha Trimble sent me this email:

Announcing the First Williamsburg Fashion Weekend May 4th, 5th and 6th. This event is three days of fashion as performance, including dance, and live music acts. It will be held at Secret Project Robot at Monster Island. 210 Kent Ave. at Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn. Come support designers who are cutting across the grain of corporate fashion.

What: Williamsburg Fashion Weekend
When: May 4,5,6, 2007
Where: Secret Project Robot at Monster Island.210 Kent Ave. at Metropolitan Ave. Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Who: Over a dozen of the freshest Williamsburg fashion designers
More info: http://www.secretprojectrobot.org/

Alisha says thing will get started at around 7:30 tonight, so you should totally go in my place!

Other things I will have to put off until next weekend: taking a trip to Pies N thighs, if my stomach can handle it. I tried the raspberry pie after eating a good share of the fried chicken box on Wednesday and I am still full. Also on deck: enjoying the frozen margarita machine at Daddy's, which is put back in commission on Cinco De Mayo. Seriously, frozen key lime margaritas from Daddy's are the key to the summer.

Kits and chicks!!!!!!

2007-05-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

A cat in Jordon should be held up as an example for this poor kitten's mum! She has allowed a group of newborn chicks to share her cardboard box with her and her four kittens. She's even atarted to act like their mother, and carries them carefully in her mouth when they wander a bit too far. Can you just imagine the cuteness? Kittens and baby chicks together? I guess it's possible that the mom is seeing an endless supply of eggs benedict or maybe even some chicken tenders in her future, but for now, let's all overdose on cute.

Curtains for the Gilmor Girls!!!!!!

2007-05-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

CW just announced that Gilmore Girls is over! April 15th will be the SERIES finale! From the CW/ Warner Bros joint statement (via tvsquad)

"Announcing the final season of 'Gilmore Girls' is truly a sad moment for everyone at The CW and Warner Bros. Television. This series helped define a network and created a fantastic, storybook world featuring some of television's most memorable, lovable characters. We thank Amy Sherman-Palladino, Dan Palladino, Dave Rosenthal, the amazing cast led by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, as well as the producers, writers and crew for giving us this delightful gem for the past seven years. We would also like to thank the critics and 'Gilmore' fans for their passionate support and promise to give this series the send-off it deserves."

I think this is the right time to put an end to the series, don't you? So, Lorelei will make out with Luke. Rory will say no to Logan's proposal and graduate from Yale. What more of the Gilmore story can you tell, really? The show would start to stink like the South Street Seaport if it stuck around much longer, definitely.

Mother's Day gift guide!!!!!!!

2007-05-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

Oh May, bringer of many things. The least of which is the opening of the frozen margarita machine at Daddy's. But while you're enjoying your slushi key lime tequila goodness, don't forget Mother's Day is upon us! While it was sweet when you were a pint-sized cutie pie, coloring on construction paper doesn't cut it any more. And don't even think of picking up the discount DVD of Mrs Doubtfire. What ever will I get her now, you may be saying. Don't worry, I've got you covered!

Not seeing your Mom for Mother's Day? For shame! At least send her this cute card from Rock Scissor Paper, and check out their other Mother's Day cards while you're at it.

For the creative types, check out this 3 in 1 book from Sodafine. To-do lists, sketch paper, and note paper, what more could you ask for? Unless you're asking for adorable illustrations in the margins and patterns for origami bunnies, cause this book has them, too.

Is your mom's caffeine addiction so deep, you're powerless to do anything but feed it? Check out this lovely mug from Circa Ceramics' Etsy shop.

If your mom is like my mom, she loves birds and wants to experiment with dangly earrings. Total melding of the interests in these earrings from Day-Lab. (you might also want to throw in these neat Popoutz bird feeders while you're at it, to fit in with the whole bird theme)

Moms' fridges can get totally cluttered. You'd think she started a baby picture museum in her kitchen! So of course she needs more magnets. These magnets from Run Alice Run's Etsy shop make for much better fridge art than that racy Atlantic City magnet your dad gave her decades ago. Take it off the fridge already, mom!

Two-faced kittens!!!!!!

2007-04-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

A kitten with four eyes, four ears, and two adorable little noses and mouths was born in Spain last week. Seems like his mummy didn't want anything to do with him, so his owners are feeding him their selves. But how do you know which mouth to feed? And what will they name him? Oh, please let them settle on Harvey Dent, please!

Steak Rules!!!!!!!

2007-04-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

Tonight, the boy and I are going to Peter Luger! I have been there several times before, but still can't get over the steak. I will never get over the steak. Peter Luger has been in business for over a hundred years, and I'm sure I don't need to tell you how they handpick their own meat, how they age in-house, how their waitstaff has been there forever, how they only do one cut (porterhouse) and they do it so well. But before I wax on and on about juicy, bloody steak, there are few rules you should follow if you find yourself lucky enough to eat at Peter Lugar

DO dress up for the steak. A hundred years of aging steak and you want to wear that t-shirt? Forget about it! Dress up for the steak, it was good enough to dress up for you.

DO stop at the bar for a cocktail. Peter Lugar's bartenders make the best Tom Collins I ever had.

DON'T even think about looking at the menu. What are you going to order, the chicken?

DO try the bacon, at least once. This isn't your grocery store crispy bacon, this is cured slabs of meat. Much like szalonnak, for all you Hungarians out there.

DON'T order your steak well done. Heck, don't even order your steak medium well! If you like your meats charred, maybe you should go to Outback Steakhouse.

DON'T whatever you do, DON'T ask for ketchup. Just don't do it, okay?

DO try to save room for desert. Strawberries with homemade whipped cream, yum

DO bring cash. Peter Luger does not take credit cards.

DO enjoy the steak. It's an experience, not in a Medieval Times type way, but in the this is the best steak you will have in the city type way.

Not your typical comic book movie!!!!!

2007-04-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

Warner Brothers is turning Rex Libris into a movie! Yes, it's true, the comic about the most intimidating librarian since Borges is hitting the big screen. Public librarian Rex Libris hops the galaxy putting wayward literary characters in line and retrieving overdue books from delinquent borrowers. Um, Rex, please don't come after me! I picked up the first issue of Rex Libris when it came out to fill the void of the incomparable Street Angel and long lulls between brilliant Scott Pilgrims. But, incredulous to the lengths a public librarian would go to track down overdue books (albeit, a public librarian with high tech gadgets and superhero abilities), I didn't keep up issue to issue. However, I will definately pick up the trade when it comes out in June! In other nerdy comic book news, anybody hear the word on whether Galactus is going to be in the new Fantastic Four? I mean, it's the Silver Surfer, so I would assume..... okay. I am done being a nerd for today.

What's the buzz???!!!!!????!

2007-04-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Bees are missing! Not just a few colonies, but tens of BILLIONS of bees all over the country! The buzz that beekeepers started a couple months ago is now at a roar and scientists are looking for an answer. Why didn't they return to their colonies? Where did they go? What will happen to our nation's agriculture without all the pollinating that bees do? My theory? The bees all found a way to get here.

Finally, I can take my copy if Runaways #25 out of the wrapper!!!!!!

2007-04-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

The trade of Runaways volume 7 is coming out this week! I got into Runaways a bit late in the game, and have been playing catch up reading the trades. But after volume 7, I can move on and read the comics as they come out!
If you aren't familiar, Runaways is a comic created by Brian K Vaughn (he did Y the Last Man and is now a writer for Lost). It's about a few teenagers who find out that their parents are supervillans! But the kids figure out they have powers of their own, and become superheroes to make up for all the evil their parents wrought. It's clever and campy and sometimes Wolverine shows up. Issue 25 came out a couple weeks ago (which I have hidden in my room somewhere so I wouldn't break down and spoil myself) and is the start of a whole new volume written by none other than Joss Whedon!
So, in summary, Runaways = Good. Read it.

Let's run away!!!!!!!!

2007-04-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

When the weather gets this nice, who doesn't dream of running away on some sort of European adventure. But if, like me, your wallet is stuffed with old receipts instead of one hundred-dollar bills, it can be hard to imagine sipping espresso on some outdoor Parisian cafe while you're sipping water at your desk.
Thanks to the New York Times, it doesn't have to be that way, maybe! Check out their articles about Europe on the cheap and affordable hotels in Paris, and start picking out that perfect sundress for your perfect getaway.

There's a spring in my step!!!!!!

2007-04-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

I am walking on butterflies and unicorns! Why? Because spring is finally here! For now, at least. It's time to roll out your blanket, lay in the park all day eating ice cream and reading and gossiping. Time to shop for new spring dresses here or here or here. Time to see Harry and the Potters tonight at the Sugar Factory Upstairs! Time to set your dvr to watch Spring Watch USA on Animal Planet. On Saturday. At 8 pm. Time to sneak up on the roof and make new friends! And it's about time for McCarren Pool to post their pool party schedule. What's the hold up, pool? [image via Animal Planet]

I wish I was a comic!!!!!!!!

2007-04-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

Check it. My friends at gurl.com transformed themselves into gorgeous comic characters! It's true, gurl graphic designer Martina is a genius!

Watch out for flying eyelashes!!!!!!!

2007-04-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

Dolly, now that Dollywood is open for the season, will you be riding the new roller coaster The Mystery Mine?

"No! ... I want to say yes and pretend that I do, but that's about as close as I'll get. I have too much to lose — my hair, my eyelashes, my fingernails — but they tell me it's a great ride. I get a little scared and motion sickness and a little claustrophobic, but I know everyone will enjoy it." [source]

In more Dolly news, she has a new album coming out in the fall called Backwoods Barbie which includes a cover of Fine Young Cannibals' "You Drive Me Crazy." I can hardly wait!

Mom, get a thermometer!!!!! I have the mix tape fever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-04-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

On last night's Lost, Sawyer gave Kate a mix tape. Or rather, Phil Collins' greatest hits, which is the best you can do on that island. (But, really, if someone gave me a tape of Phil Collins' greatest hits, I'd be in swoon land.) Regardless, Sawyer and the writers of Lost know there's no better way to tell someone you like them than giving them a mix tape. Mix tapes are infinitely superior than mix CDs, and I'm not just saying that because my laptop's CD drive is jammed. Where is the hard work in a mix CD? Where's the staying up all night for someone you're grooving on? Where's the pressing play, the stopping, the rewinding? Oh mix tape, I have a crush on you!

Sawyer and I aren't the only people with with mix tape fever. It's a widespread plague! Rob Sheffield has it. He wrote the totally touching Love is a Mix Tape, which manages to be heartfelt without being too precious. Thurston Moore's Mix Tape is another great ode to analog. Be sure to check out Tiny Mix Tapes automatic mix tape generator as well to find mixes for every situation from Songs to empower me to just stop shaving my armpits once and for all to Songs for that ugly period of time between winter and spring.

If you think you might have mix tape fever, stay close to your stereo with a large store of blank tapes and drink lots of fluids. This isn't a sickness you want to cure.

Say it ain't so, Miss Mars!!!!!!!!

2007-04-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

Wipe that sassy smile off your face, Veronica Mars, don't you know you've been (very possibly, but oh, I hope not) cancelled! In a USA Today chat on Monday, TV critic Robert Bianco said, "According to our reporter Gary Levin, the show has been cancelled. And he's almost always right about such things." Things definitely do not look good for our favorite teenage sleuth! via TV Squad

Crazed bunnies go international!!!!!!!

2007-04-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

The International Crazed Bunny Federation doesn't just stop at causing major traffic jams in Hungry. They've branched out to relentlessly attacking the Austrian elderly!

...the Linz hare assaulted a 74-year-old woman who was hanging laundry in her garden early Monday morning. The animal, described as a "crazed hare" in a statement by Linz police department, bit the woman's foot, causing her to fall. The unidentified woman, still under attack by the rampant hare, was eventually able to escape into her home, where her husband called the police before going outside to attempt to shoo the bunny away. When police arrived on the scene, they found the 78-year-old man fighting the hare off with a stick -- and losing.

I guess bunnies are tired of their fuzzy wuzzy cutesy wootzy reputation. Cute wittle bunny wunny thinks he's so big and tough taking on the old folks. Link -- via Neatorama and B Sea

SPUYTEN DUYVIL!!!!!!!!

2007-04-18T07:43:00.000-07:00

Last night, the boy and I went to one of our favorite bars with the hardest to spell and pronounce name. Spuyten Duyvil (which is Dutch for Spitting Devil, I hear) is more than a neighborhood bar with 2 dollar PBRs. Spuyten Duyvil makes up it's lack of a slushi margarita with it's many charms.

Charms like a hella knowledgeable staff. Their bottled beer list is very long. Like Proust long. And, if you're like me and don't know much about beer, the list doesn't make much sense. What to do? Ask the man behind the counter, "Hey, I'm feeling like an anchor steam." He'll say, "We don't have an anchor steam but we do have something equally delicious." And you're totally set. They also have a nice selection of wines. And cheeses. And meats. And pâté that reminds me of one of my favorite childhood treats, Braunschweiger. Spuyten Duyvil for the masses! Like the guy working there told me last night, they don't serve crap!

Deer! For the Walls!

2007-04-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

For the longest time, I wanted to mount animal heads on the wall. Nothing says classy like a big old moose looking at you all the time. But an animal head is not something you can find on the street or pick up for 20 bucks at the junk shop. And I just don't have the Hemingway gene. Day-Lab found the second best thing. Vintage deer plaques! I may just have to buy one before the day is over!

Cutest traffic jam EVA!!!!!!

2007-04-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

5000 adorable bunnies blocked traffic for over 6 hours in Budapest yesterday. Unfortunately, it's not all fuzzy, chubby bunny happiness. The bunnies escaped from a truck taking them to a slaughterhouse! Most of the bunnies were capture and quite a few were killed by traffic, but 100 bunnies are still hipping and hopping it to freedom. Insert Watership Down reference here.

Talking cats!!!!!!

2007-04-17T01:09:00.000-07:00

This video boarders the freaky-outy side of cute, but OMG if I can't watch it all the time.

Buckingham Nicks!!!!!

2007-04-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

Way back, when Fleetwood Mac was still Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, before Stevie Nicks was on the Edge of Seventeen, before Lindsay Buckingham made the hilarious video for Go Insane, Nicks and Buckingham were two idealistic, totally in love kids writing and singing enchanting two part harmonies on the west coast. Buckingham Nicks was never released on CD, but I was lucky enough to score a copy of the LP over a year ago. It's been on steady rotation on my record player ever since. Sadly, I could never listen to it on my iPod. But, today, friends, that changes for everyone! You can download MP3's from Buckingham Nicks from this lovely fan site. Be sure to check out Crystal, Long Distance Runner, and Don't Let Me Down Again!