Picks for the week of January 30th, 2006

Movies of the week

Short Cuts

Short Cuts Directed by Robert Altman (1993) Robert Altman's masterful collage of intersecting lives in California. Loosely based on the stories of Raymond Carver, Altman weaves over twenty characters' stories to a profound and brilliant end. It's also quite funny. With stunning performances by Tom Waits, Lily Tomlin, Robert Downey Jr, Jack Lemmon, Tim Robbins, and the sadly recently departed Chris Penn, along with many others, this is a truly engrossing and powerful movie that I can't recommend enough.

CRITERION

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Songs of the week

Uptown Top Ranking

Uptown Top Ranking by Althea and Donna Think of Jim and I on a topless beach in Jamaica, because that is where we will be when you read this. Possibly getting cornrows a la Federline… but very possibly not.

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Hunks of the week

Terence Stamp

Terence Stamp There is no more decadent and handsome a man. I recommend you see him in the Fellini short “Toby Dammit” in Spirits of the Dead (1968). The movie did not make my Picks (the first two segments are too boring to be honest), but I still think it is worth a look. Not only for devilish hunk Stamp, but some visually stunning cinematography in all three short movies.

You can also see Jane Fonda dress how I would if I were insane.

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Style Icons: Female of the week

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall Quite possibly the most beautiful woman ever. That's all I need to say.

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Desserts of the week

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookie at Build a Green Bakery Okay, first my apologies regarding the BAGB website: the non skippable intro is looooong. The short version: The concept behind this bakery is to build more environmentally sound shops to match the organic foods and goods being served. Which is all well and good, and fortunately the cookies are also well and good – in fact they are awesome. Possibly one of the best gooey chewy chocolate chip cookies I've had in years. The store looks mysterious in an art project kind of way and got people talking at New York Magazine and several foodie blogs: here and here. The project is part of The City Bakery, whose website also has an insufferable intro.

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Spend a Couple Hours of the week

Knitting

Knitting at Knit New York My attempt at knitting last year resulted in a scarf too short and too fat to be of much use to anyone. That doesn't mean I didn't have a wonderful time knitting it, and Knit NY is part of the reason why. Part cafe, part store, you can sit with friends and knit while sipping Chai lattes.

www.knitnewyork.com

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Places to Visit of the week

Dana Point

Dana Point The real OC, bitches. Sorry, I'm Federline crazy today with my tough talk and my thoughts of cornrows. Anyway, I went to a wedding in Dana Point recently and it is a very peaceful and delightful place to visit. They have sandy beaches and friendly people (strangers say hello and good morning to you there). Also an In & Out Burger is within driving distance. We stayed at the Laguna Cliffs, but beware their front desk guy named “Scott”, he's an asshole.

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TV Shows of the week

Jeeves and Wooster

Jeeves and Wooster with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry Amusing with lively wit and humor, a very charming adaptation of the P.G. Wodehouse books. This is the kind of show that cheers you up on a gray day. It also boasts outstanding performances from Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.

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Recipes of the week

Carrot Soup

Carrot Soup with Ginger and Lemon Perfect for the cold weather.

from Epicurious

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Books of the week

The Love Machine

The Love Machine by Jacqueline Susann (1969) I really can't top the back of the book, so I am going to just have to repeat some of it here:

The Love Machine is the story of Robin Stone – a charismatic, brilliant, ruthless man – and of the three women who love him.

Amanda – beautiful and doomed, whose career as a top-flight model is no consolation for her inability to win and hold ROBIN STONE.

Maggie – an ambitious young actress who know what she wants and will settle for nothing less than ROBIN STONE's love.

Judith – aristocratic, rich, married, desperate for love before it's too late, a woman who has everything in the world except the one thing she must have ROBIN STONE.

How can you not go out and read this? It was also made into a movie which I have not seen yet.

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Albums of the week

Stop Making Sense

Stop Making Sense Talking Heads My parents have always been huge Talking Heads fans and I grew up listening to this album. It's still one of the best to lift my spirits on my commute to work. Of course, the Jonathan Demme concert film of the same name is also a must.

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Style Icons: Male of the week

Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent Not only is he considered one of the world's greatest designers and one of my personal top favorites, his own style is elegant and oh so cool. I love the glasses and I love the whole fashion genius thing too. After retiring in 1998, Saint Laurent is now mostly reclusive in Morocco. Which, I believe, is the most stylish way to be a recluse.

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Restaurants of the week

Schiller’s Liquor Bar

Schiller's 131 Rivington, Lower East Side A very pleasant atmosphere and even if it does get a bit crowded, it is a warm happy crowd in flattering lighting. Friendly service and great food at the right price. I recommend the moules frites and the hamburger.

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Drinks of the week

Twinings English Breakfast Tea

Twinings English Breakfast Tea Isn't it great when the cheap, tried and true also happens to be the best. With a little milk and sugar, nothing starts a weekend off better than English Breakfast Tea.

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Spend a Couple Minutes of the week

Learning to Tie a Tie

Learning to Tie a Tie This is a vital skill that everyone should pick up along the way eventually. Including my husband.

Here's how

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Web Sites of the week

Baby Name Wizard’s Name Voyager

Baby Name Wizard's Name Voyager A fun, but addictive, use of your time.

Try it now!

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Laughs of the week

Crazy Midi Man

Crazy Midi Man There's really a lot to explore here and you'll have more fun if it's all a surprise… but to entice you, here are a few quotes from this out spoken and fascinating self-proclaimed 'crazy midi man':

'I will want to live forever. When body parts die, we just replace them with cloned ones, and keep right on enjoying Futuristic life. You don't let the secret out until you have done it..'

“On August 28th, 2003 I died on the operating table! My heart was the first thing to stop. To find out why I died, click here.”

“ABORTION? YES!!!”

“NASA GO ON GET BACK INTO SPACE SOON!!! “

Oh, and there are videos too.
Enjoy!

It's here

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