Did you know that there are over 2,000 Dunkin' Donuts in Boston? If you did, then you are a liar. Because, according to the interwebs, there are approximately 100 Dunkin' Donuts in the Boston area. Impressive. That's a whole lot of Dunkin' goin' on.
Had lots of fun shopping on Newbury Street and trying on these shorts that made my arse look like a fried egg and this hat that made me look like Dean Martin.
I did not buy this dress because of a prior fashion trauma. You will note the keyhole under my chestal-region. Well, 6 years ago I was on deck a cruise ship deep in the Mediterranean (yes, a cruise ship!) I was wearing a beautiful white eyelet dress whilst shuffle-boarding. Under the hot gaze of an Italian sun, I was using the shuffleboard stick to push the disc into the scoring zone when I inadvertently hooked my finger into the eye of an eyelet. I swung my mighty shuffle boarding arm and ripped off half my dress and that is how I exposed myself to the coast of Croatia. I could barely show my face on the lido deck for the remainder of the trip. Oh, the shame.
Behold, my beautiful shopping companions: Lo, Hayley, and KGB. These ladies know how to work their bows, cowboy hats, and yellow.
Lo is so chic. In this picture, she looks like a young Katherine Hepburn or a freakishly young Woody Allen cinematic love interest.
KGB is lovely in everyway. Not only is she a beautiful genius, she is also wearing a canary sweater. Bonus points!
We walked along the "Emerald Necklace" (the collection of green grassy parks along the Charles River). If you go to Boston (which you should) and the weather is favorable please please take a jaunt along this path. It is a wonderful way to see the city. Then we got tired and ended up finding a dock to lounge and take a reading break on. So, do take a walk. Do not wear yellow pants. Do eat donuts. Do not expose yourself to Croatia. Pearls of wisdom I have gathered along my travels. Life is such a learning experience.
Hey all! So, it's Smorgasbord Monday and time for me to share some of my favorite finds from this week.
Anyone who has ever worked with children knows that kids say the darndest things. Preschool gems proves that little ones make the best stand ups, poets, and philosophers. Essentially, preschool teachers use twitter to share some of their daily highlights. My personal favorites include:
"I just really need to be Darth Vader right now."
"My heart feels like black paint
"They said I was cheating, and I was. But cheating doesn't matter. Life and friends matter."
Continuing with the theme of wise youth, I give you the funniest short essay answer ever. Seriously, I read this online late at night and I shrieked with laughter and had to bite a pillow. Comedic gold.
I love covers (songs and blankets). I love them. I ran across this rendition of "Moon River" by the Honey Trees and I've been singing it all week.
They also do the most delightful version of "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music. It's my favorite song and did you know that it was also the last song that Oscar Hammerstein ever wrote? What a beautiful swan song to sing.
After a delightful train trip, we made it to Boston. My sister Hayley lives there right now in the cutest little apartment. How little is it? Well, I'll put it this way: she can swiffer the entire place from her bed. But seriously, her room is art. Every piece of it.
Hayley painted both of these paintings and they are awesome. I think she should open an etsy store. Don't you agree?
I love Hayley's bulletin board. It's such a glimpse into her mind and what a beautiful mind it is.
Now, when we all get together, we get a little punchy and we had a lot of fun taking pictures in Boston. These pics are from the front stoop of Hayley's building.
Some are lovely:
And some feature our new favorite pose, one that I have titled the "velociraptor." Now, I saw Jurassic Park when I was nine and seriously, not a day goes by that I don't think about, quote, or watch it. It's one of those movies for me. Here are the key lessons of Jurassic Park: nature will find a way, Jeff Goldblum is the man, velociraptors are the most brilliant and terrifying creatures the world has ever known. Velociraptors are the serial killers of the dinosaur world and they can open doors. They can come out of nowhere. They will find a way...to kill you. So, in closing, I give you our version of the "velociraptor."
"Gee, I hope there are no velociraptors around."
"I hate velociraptors."
"Life you are too wonderful."
"I'm complacent."
"VELOCIRAPTOR!!!!!!!"
Take a look at this highly informative cartoon by XKCD of how to find out if your home is prepared for a velociraptor attack. This could save lives people!
If I had my druthers all traveling would be done by train. I love trains. They are fast. They are charming. Without the high likelihood of a fender bender, they let you focus on the world as it passes by. They feel European. They feel American. They feel good. The Lady Vanishes. Murder on the Orient Express. Music Man. People murder each other, fall in love, sing on trains. Oh, Amtrak you smell of romance.
On our recent East Coast escapades, we ended up taking the train from New York up to Boston and boy-howdy am I glad we did. After all the running around and sight-seeing, lounging with a good book and a sandwich felt downright decadent- you didn't seriously think I was going to miss a meal did you?
My Look = Debbie Reynolds on a train
Had to stop by Au Bon Pain for a traveling sandwich, then on to Penn Station. You have to wait by the schedule board (is that what they call it?) till 5-10 minutes before your departure time when suddenly they release your gate number. Then the race is on and everyone high tails it to the nearest caboose. TRAINS! They think they can. Is there nothing they can't do? I mean aside from flying.
Can you tell how excited I am in this pic? I'm on a train. Will I be murdered, fall in love, or sing? Oh, the thrill of travel.
Welcome to Smorgasbord Monday! I'm going to post of few of the random tidbits that have kept me company during the past week. Enjoy.
True Fact: there are few delights more loverly than watching youtube videos about seashells. Yes, I hopped on the "Marcel the Shell" wagon late, but now I'm going to ride this thing till the wheels come off. If you've never watched it, watch it. If you've watched it already, watch it again.
Another recent internet discovery, a tumbler committed to art of doodling. You can find delightful pictures like "Bad Hair Day" on flikr and at http://ilovedoodle.tumblr.com/
Last but not least, http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/. This site is committed to the idea that style is ageless. Ari Cohen interviews the most incredible "old folks" and their words of wisdom are as impressive as their pearls. Check out one of his interviews with Lynn Dell, a 78-year-old dynamo. I could watch these videos all day. Watch and see.
Happy Monday, almost Tuesday. Here's wishing you a week filled with timeless seashells who doodle.
Yeesh. I argued with myself about posting today. I've actually been having a really hard time lately with the whole "what the heck am I doing with my life" query hanging over my head. My birthday's coming up and I've been doing so much introspection that I may have given myself a philosophical x-ray. I'll be walking along and then bam - mini panic attacks - like little stress inducing comets in my mind. "Who am I?" "What do I want?" "Is everyone on Facebook either going to grad school, engaged, married, pregnant, gainfully employed or all of the above?" Looking around, it just seems like the whole world has it much more together than I do. But, I am really lucky to have wonderful friends and family who stick around and listen to this crazy woman called me. They remind me to stop looking at walls while mumbling.
Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way- pictures of pancakes and purple pants. We (Mom, Aunt, Sister, Cousin, Friend, me) spent several days in New York. Now, I'm from California, born and bred, so I don't do "weather." Might I ask: what the bloody heaping heck is up with East coast humidity? It's like the entire city of New York turns into a sweat lodge come July. We decided to go on one of those double decker bus tours, which normally are great, but not when it's not 110 degrees in the shade. I have never sweat so much in my life. It felt like I was filming an underwater documentary about thermal vents. I wore these light lavendar shorts that were made in this flimsy-silk-like fabric. Yup. Good choice. At one point, I stood up and it looked like I had been sitting in a vat of grape jelly. I literally thought "Did I just pee on myself? And if so, will that cool me down?" Oh, the joys of sweat.
Battery Park: finally, we felt a breeze. Then, lower east side with some of the best grafitti I've ever seen. I love how Lo looks like an Ralph Lauren model, KGB is bringing it with her rockstar good looks, and I am wearing my purse like a codpiece so that I can cover my giant grape-esque sweat stains. Chic.
Then off to the Clinton Street Baking Co. Witness the strawberry rhubarb lemonade that saved our dehydrated lives. This place is adorable, teensy, and quite frankly perfect. Not only did I get the best pancakes of my life, but I also discovered the wonders of "maple butter." You take maple syrup and you mix it with butter and you get "butter maple syrup." I will never be the same again. Mom got this incredible carrot ginger soup and Aunt Susie got french toast that wouldn't quit. Un-be-lievable food. Just wow. Just...no words...joy.
While walking through Greenwich Village I spotted this sign. Great, now I want jam...and butter syrup...
We ate some delicious food and tried on some gorgeous vintage wear while in New York.
Best vintage store ever? Easily Amarcord Vintage Fashion in Soho. I picked up a YSL skirt that I am still not brave enough to wear (I'm working up to it). Hayley bought a necklace by Givenchy that is so beautiful she plans on leaving it in her will to her future imaginary children.
Funny story, my mom was recognized by a celebrity. While we were in Amarcord, Matthew Modine (of Married to the Mob fame) entered the store to ask if they carried prom dresses. They said yes and he exited to make a phone call. I was like, "That's Matthew Modine, ya'all" and they knew it to be so.
While we were leaving, Matthew Modine tapped my mom on the shoulder and asked, "I'm sorry. Have we met?" She blew him off. At first I totally thought he was trying to pick her up, which on second thought, I'm pretty sure he wasn't. Although, my mom does get hit on a lot. Me not at all. I'm ill tempered and squinty, but my mom is a lovely vivacious woman, so there you go. Anyhoo, my mom was recognized by a celebrity.
Lombardi's pizza was gooey and delightful. We got two types of pizza: margherita and white. Both were crispy and fresh out of the oven.
This trip weren't for no faint of heart sissy eaters. We stopped by Rice to Riches for some post-pizza rice pudding. They have the best spoons, one of which I kept and packed in my luggage. I really liked the spoon.
We rounded out the evening with some sky scraping sandwiches at Junior's in Times Square and then a walk to Rockerfeller Plaza. Loooooved Junior's, mostly for the ambiance, but the food was pretty solid as well. If you go try the egg cream (don't worry no egg in it) and the cheesecake and the red devil food cake and the black out cheesecake and well...just try everything.
Ever notice how certain trips have a lingering motif? A code word? A connective tissue? Memories and images that stick with you long after you've unpacked your luggage? I love when my trips have a "through line."
For example:
Williamsburg 1996: Fife Beret -> Hayley got a fife; I got a beret.
5th Grade Trip to Pigeon Point: Pescadero Charades -> I went to Pescadero; I played charades and won!
Hawaii 1998: The Black Eyed Grandma -> My Grandma got a black eye, but all I got was poi.
Paris 2000: Death March 2000 -> We walked so much my feet fell off.
Camping 2008: Fire Evacuation Milk Duds -> While we were evacuated, I ate milk duds.
When I got back from my East Coast excursion, I began to wonder what the through line was. Then it hit me NY/Boston 2011: Cheeseburger Dan Rad. You see, on this trip I ate quite a few cheeseburgers and I saw quite a bit of Daniel Radcliffe, and for this I am definitely the richer.
We went to see two Broadway shows in New York: Jersey Boys, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Of the former, I can say little (some nice numbers, some good singers). Of the latter, I will say, "Daniel Radcliffe you are a goshdarn adorable British button and I hope you will accept this proposal of matrimony."
How to Succeed in Business is your typical capitalistic morality tale with charm and high kicks. Set in the 1960s, it follows young J. Pierrepont Finch (Radcliffe) as he finagles his way from window washer to young exec. Along the way, there's a girl (cause there's always a girl). Along the way, there are complications (cause there are always complications). John Laroquette, of Night Court fame, is a delight as J.B. Biggley, the President of the World Wide Wicket Corporation. The best moments of the show were always when Laroquette and Radcliffe shared the stage. It was akin to watching youtube videos of "unlikely animal friends," delightful and unexpected; but with a feeling of truth and gravitas.
Clip from favorite number of the evening "Grand Old Ivy"
Why did I like Dan Rad so much in this production? Daniel Radcliffe: It's not that he's that great a singer (homeboy can hold a tune but he ain't no Pavoratti). But, he can dance and he can tell a joke and he can be present on stage. It also doesn't hurt that he is pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seen and I have seen a lot of puppies and rainbows in my day. Maybe it's the fact that I've known him in some respect (on the big screen) since he was 10. We've all watched him grow up. So, when I was watching him perform on stage, it was as if I was watching the boy next door playing the lead role in our community's production of How to Succeed. Not to say the production wasn't top notch and Mad Man chic. It was. But, at its core, what I witnessed was somebody (Dan Rad) doing something (a Broadway musical) that he shouldn't have been able to do and he did it and he did it well. He pulled it off; he done good; he's made the old folks proud.
Now, did I mention that the night that we went to see the show a large portion of the "Harry Potter" cast was also attending? Yup. Rupert Grint (Ron), Tom Felton (Malfoy), Matthew Lewis (Longbottom), Emma Watson (Hermione) were all in attendance. 15 minutes before curtain, we were sitting in our seats when all of the sudden celebrity wildfire broke loose. It began with a squeal. Somebody squealed in the back row of the theatre and then somebody else squealed and then there were whispers and yellings and much twitterpation was begat. Women gave birth, young tweens swallowed their retainers, grown men wept. I exaggerate, but only slightly. We were all agog. I actually saw two teenage girls crying and holding each other. No, those two girls weren't me.
The show was wonderful fun, like a 1960s sorbet. Every joke, line, and prop piece landed where it was supposed to. Now, maybe the show was extra good that night because Dan Rad was showing off for his movie star cohorts. Maybe the show was extra good that night because the show was just extra good. But, I like to think that Dan was just really excited to have his friends in the audience, like any local kid in a community show would be. When you watch somebody on stage, no matter how costumed or method they might be, you get a sense of who they really are. Dan Rad is a solid performer, but he's also the nice kid you grew up with.
Suit up. I made my shirt just prior to the third movie. Lo made hers specially for the occasion. Ah, memories.
Flash forward several days, I'm in Boston. I'm watching the final Harry Potter movie and sobbing my eyes out. I'm watching Harry Potter, Hermione, Ron, and all of Hogwarts (except for those darn Slitherins) do this thing (destroying Voldemort) that they should not have been able to do, and they're doing it, and they're doing it well. So, I'm sobbing, but not out of sadness, though I am sad; I'm crying because I'm proud of Dan and all the kids up there. They done good. They made the old folks proud.
