iPhone on First Ave: Mixed Signals

On some days I feel like mixed messages are waiting in ambush. Go. Stop. Call. Don't call. Tell the truth. Lie. (Kids, follow George Washington's example and not mine--he never told a lie.) Even the street lights are confusing. When in doubt about moving forward, you can always turn left or right.

Rob Brezsny, I Heart You

Every Tuesday, Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology Newsletter pops into my inbox with the usual poetry and flare. These are not your usual run-of-the-mill horoscopes of moons and planetary action, but little gems that get you ruminating over your week in these fanciful, inspiring ways. This is why I love getting his emails. . .my post for this week:

VIRGO: In one of his short poems, John Averill (twitter.com/wiremesa) describes a scene that I think captures the essence of your current astrological omens: "Today is the day of the photo of moonrise over Havana in a book on a shelf in the snowbound cabin." Here's a clue about what it means: The snowbound cabin is where you are right now in your life. The moonrise over Havana is where you could be early in 2010. How do you get there from here?

How gorgeous and magical and thought-provoking is that? Get your Brezsny delivered to your inbox asap or catch them in THE VILLAGE VOICE. Trust me, you'll start thinking about your weeks differently. SIGN UP FOR HIS NEWSLETTER HERE.

Today's Inspiration: Tweed

A gray, cold, rainy Monday after a long holiday weekend---nothing like some foul weather to challenge the spirit. My mantra while walking home was: winter can suck it! Determined to shake off the grump and find some positive and playful inspiration, I was lured to tweed. The cosy fabric holds a dignified front against damp chills and reminds me of North Yorkshire Moor-wear along with a pair of Barbour boots. If tweed can charm England, so it can charm New York. Tonight I'm thinking: tweed, corduroy Pageboy caps, a bike, a worn leather messenger bag, roasted chestnuts, and wool socks. Armed with all of that, I think I could take on Mr. Winter.

Photo by MATTHEW J. SHAW, at the London Tweed Ride

And speaking of tweed and bikes, when are the TWEED RIDES coming to New York?! There are many dandy lads and lasses here who would love to dress and ride. This one lass in particular. . .

Photo by DUSTINJ, SFWIGGLE.COM, at the SF Tweed Ride

[via DIVINE CAROLINE]

Happy Thanksgiving! Please Pass The Moo Shu Chicken

Thanksgiving has always been THE holiday of food. Sure Christmas dinner is grand but overshadowed by the celebration of gift giving and decorated trees and holiday music (oh, and Christ). Easter is preoccupied with colored eggs and peeps and bunnies (and, um, Christ). But today is the day with no plans but eating---the first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days for Pete's sake. I've been thinking about my mother's spread all week and I never thought I'd be this excited about brussel sprouts and her sweet potato puree. I'll be bringing my apron as I slip into the role of sous chef for the afternoon. But we didn't always have such traditional Thanksgiving dinners. My parents came to the U.S. from Romania in the '60s and the Thanksgiving holiday was a non-religious affair that was totally foreign and disconnected from them. When my brother and I came along they embraced the holiday and dove in with their usual zeal for large meals with multiple desserts. Although I think it still took some time for it to catch on . . . it wasn't an instant or seamless conversion.

When I was six or so, we had a class project where we had to share our Thanksgiving day with the class: what you do, what you eat, what you're thankful for. We drew turkeys by tracing around our hands with a crayon and coloring in the four fingers as plumage and the thumb as the turkey head. Underneath our drawing we wrote a few lines about how we spend the day. Being an honest child and not yet having the tact to lie, I wrote that on Thanksgiving my parents take us for Chinese food at our favorite restaurant. My little drawing was then printed in the class newsletter and distributed around the school. Yeah. . . Oh, how I can imagine all those turkey-eating American families shaking their heads in dismay as I went without a traditional Thanksgiving meal. That could have been the year that my parents decided to get on with it and embrace the holiday. And I'm so thankful they did--not only for the side dishes but for all the memories of gathering around the table that I have stored over the years. Yet of all the memories, I think I cherish the Chinese food dinners the most because they were uniquely ours and utterly memorable. I'm grateful for that.

Happy Thanksgiving, Readers.
Now go get eating!

iPhone on 33rd Street: Moving Street Art

I love this superhero inspired graffiti on a boring white van. It has me thinking that all vehicles should be illustrated: art in motion. My car would have gold, lots of gold, and shiny metallics to reflect the bling of the sun and the glow of the moon. Sounds pretty brilliant to me. . . a moving bolt of light.

Up On Friday: YOU UP?!

Getting from Monday to Friday without running into my neighbor. This week's Friday Five: faux-mold sandwich bags, Grace Coddington fan club t-shirts, ego boosting hangers, lovable Vikings, and femme pink bowls.

1. My colleague at work is always having her Lactaid and salad dressing go MIA--a new bottle is empty before she's even had a chance to use it. The refrigerator thieves have no remorse. What's next, your bologna sammy? If you want your food untouched, beat 'em at their own game. These ANTI-THEFT LUNCH BAGS have green splotches printed on either side for full mold effect. Trust that no one will be sneaking a bite.


2. The holidays are coming up around the bend and while we're supposed to be thinking of gifts for others, I can't help but add myself to that list as well. And I want one of these GRACE CODDINGTON silk-screened t-shirts from DEER DANA honoring the Lady of Vogue. Wear your Coddington love!


3. Hanger, hanger in my closet, what affirmations do you have for me today? THE ACE HOTEL in NYC has the right idea with these ego-pumping hangers that make picking out your clothes inspirational. [via APARTMENT THERAPY]


4. My prediction for 2010: Vikings are making a comeback. With plates, stamps, table mats, cards, tote bags, Sandra Monat from HERZENSART is single-handedly bringing our lovable barbarians into style. Don't think these are only for kids. . . [via DECOR8]


5. How gorgeous are these delicate, dusty pink bowls? Rustic and feminine. Everyday breakfast oatmeal would look so much better in them. They're also available from ETSY in orange, blue, light green, and mustard, but I'm all over the pink. From GLEENA by Asya Palatova.


You read my post, now get off the internet. . .go enjoy the weekend!


Le Tigre--Get Off The Internet

If I Wasn't On A Shopping Freeze I'd Be All Over These White Leather Converse

Coveting these new sleek Converse---all white! leather! thin sole!---designed by Terence Koh.

If you want a pair, they'll be available from OPENING CEREMONY beginning November 21st.

[via COOL HUNTING]

Photography Sans Photoshop

If you're in NYC, there's a great photography show down at SohoPhoto that's up until November 28th. They're exhibiting the winning images of 44 photographers from their National Alternative Processes Competition. The alternative methods include gold toned salt print, beeswax paper negative, platinum/palladium, and tintype. In other words, this is old school printing sans Photoshop. The competition celebrates those photographers who shun the new technologies and continue to craft their images the way photographers have done since the beginning of the medium.

SohoPhoto is HERE. (If you go, be sure to check out the exhibit in the restroom---makes you look at family photos in a whole new way.)

Sing It Like Lyrics, Read It Like Poetry: Falling

I've fallen out of favor
And I've fallen from grace
Fallen out of trees
And I've fallen on my face
Fallen out of taxis
Out of windows too
Fell in your opinion
When I fell in love with you

Sometimes I wish for falling
Wish for the release
Wish for falling through the air
To give me some relief
Because falling is not the problem
When I'm falling I'm in peace
It's only when I hit the ground
It causes all the grief

This is a song for a scribbled out name
And my love keeps writing again and again

--Florence and The Machine, FALLING