Iggy Peck, Architect is a stunning children's book, one that leaps out at you from the shelf. David Roberts' fun, retro modern illustrations are wonderful and add to Andrea Beaty's charming story.

Iggy Peck is an aspiring architect who, even at age two, and lets his imagination take off until one oppressive school teacher puts a stop to his passion by forbidding him to build things in class. The implication that an education that stifles the creative spirit, that denies children the freedom to follow their bliss will not be lost on anyone who's encountered one of those odd teachers that seem to actually hate children.

It's a great story for little ones, but the inspired illustrations will pique the interest of lovers of design and illustration of any age.

So I had this song on my ipod, I must have downloaded it from somewhere. It was unnamed with no artist listed, but come on, I could recognize that finger picking and that warbling anywhere. It was -?as it only could be -?the great Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. Thing is, I couldn't find it on their nudie cover first album Buckingham Nicks, but I was not going to let something as magical as this song elude me.

I soon found out the name was Sorcerer and it along with other great rough gems are collected on the Coffee Plant Demos. It was never recorded for a studio album by the two of them (for shame – it was rerecorded with Sheryl Crow, but never speak of it to me, for I will not acknowledge it's right to exist) but it is one of their coolest efforts.

Just imagine Stevie lyrics of “black ink darkness” “snow dreams” and “finery” with primo Lindsay finger picking, but with out any production gloss. It is called the Coffee Plant demos because the two of them, young, unfamous, and in love used the basement of his dad's coffee plant to record them.

The hope and youth on this album, the burgeoning love that turned out the way we all know it did, lends a sadness to the listening experience. They had everything, and if their love could have produced something like this album (which, I might add, is superior to their studio recorded album) why oh why, did their love fail? Is there hope for anyone?

That said, I will return to the music. Sorcerer is not the only treasure here. Nomad, also known as Candlebright, is a creeping, melodious ballad of a woman who is “something of a dreamer” and can not be tied down to just one man.

Garbo is another great one, and one where Nicks lyrics evoke more than just their usual witchy vagueness, but, to me at least, are quite effective.

This album has been like a dream come true for me, discovering someone you admire made music superior to even your some of your favorites a long time ago is insanely exciting. If you're a fan too, enjoy!

Ossie Clark's woman, Celia Birtwell made my list eons ago, but it's Clark's time to shine this week. He, at age 23 began a career as one of the most influential and important British designers of the 60's and 70's.

He made show stopping pieces, not intended for wall flowers, but for big personalities like the famous people he often dressed. Mick Jagger was a client and wore Clark's daring bodysuits on his 1973 tour.

It's his fearless mixing of bold patterns (designed by Birtwell) and the terribly sexy and flattering cuts that get me an a tizzy though. I seriously am just waiting for the day I can own one of his pieces. Unlike many of my favorite vintage designers, his stuff is hard to get a hold of and pricey if you can.

He defied conventions with not only his collections, but the way they were displayed. He found the normal catwalk to be dull and his shows were always theatrical and exciting. One show in 1971, with a programme designed by David Hockney, was according to Suzy Menkes, “the most extraordinary moment in fashion history”. In another moment in fashion history, he, for the first time featured black models in his shows.

Ossie and Celia's long love affair produced some of the most amazing clothes ever, stuff I find particularly inspiring right now, but his hedonistic ways eventually lead to the end of their union. Later it also lead to his tragic murder by a crazed former lover named Diego Cogolato.

It would be a shame however, to let a gruesome and sensationalistic ending overshadow his enormous talent.

Oh man, if you are going to bust out and eat some truly heavy duty breakfast, health consciousness be damned, then you better do it right and head down to Shopsin's at The Essex Market. Just be sure to get there early, the makeshift corner space to which they relocated after loosing their lease in the West Village only has about seven tables, and they go fast. But don't come with more than four people or you won't be seated. May sound harsh, but look at the menu and it's easy to see why the place is still so popular.

We ordered black berry and mac and cheese pancakes. Let me repeat that: blackberry and mac and cheese pancakes! As in the mac and cheese is inside the pancakes. I once thought apple cheddar pancakes represented the zenith of pancake creations. I was wrong, Kenny Shopsin has managed to elevate the breakfast entree even further. For a meatier option was also shared the poached eggs with BBQ pork, green chiles, sourdough bread cubes, and grilled onions. It was spectacular!

Have I told you I love this place?

I mean both dishes are the kind of options other brunch spots rarely, but sometimes have as a special, and these were just the two that instantly caught our eye on a mammoth menu of many more innovative combinations. You want sliders and eggs? What about a fluffernutter waffle sandwich? Or slutty cakes? Shopsin's is the only place to get them all. The man behind it all recently starred in a documentary about the restaurant called I Like Killing Flies. I plan on checking it out soon.

One of the best dining experiences of the year, Shopsin's only drawback is their loony hours: They are opened Mon-Sat (closed Sunday) 9 -3. It's a tough one for us employed, but whatever it takes, I recommend you make time for a bite there.

Photo from flickr.

In our recent stout and cheese tasting at Murray's by far the best brew of the night was the fairly popular Mackeson's XXX. It made the glass of Guinness taste like lifeless water in comparison and I say that as a major Guinness fan.

Mackeson's XXX is a sweet or “milk” stout, meaning it contains lactose derived from milk. The result is a rich, full bodied and satisfyingly sweet flavor. I can only hope it gains even more popularity and is as readily available at bars as Guinness. There is hope as it is the standard go to for this kind of stout. I have read online that Rebar, Blind Tiger Ale House, and Trader Joe's have a carried or served it. I will just be on the look out from now one when it is offered.

Our awesome instructor, Chris Munsey paired it with Ardrahan, a creamy rich cheese from West Cork, but it would go well with anything nice and salty.

I have a friend whose mom collects teddy bears (really collects them, to the point that she turned his bedroom into a bear-room as soon as he left for college); while my friend himself collects Polaroids.
I grew up with my parents' vintage toy collection, surrounded by the movie posters and art they amassed on the walls; now I have my own burgeoning horror movie poster collection (whoo hoo Blood Beach!).

Both my sister and I have built substantial collections of vintage clothes, another friend turned her obsession with vintage collecting into a fabulous business on Broome Street–although most collections don't wind up becoming as lucrative, like my collection of mugs from all the places I've visited. The best for practical use is this lovely Philadelphia over-sizer; the coolest is obviously the skull mug from the Mutter Museum. Take note, Philadelphia is the home of good mugs at reasonable prices.

Of course, you have to be devoted to your passion and willing to make a number of purchases. Jim's dad loves those weird animal sculptures you can buy at back road shed/lawn art/farmers market places, but he has far too much self control to ever start a collection. His lawn would be Awesome if he was more compulsive, like our neighborhood Greenpointers who are less shy about collecting weird stuff for their yards.

Some people have managed to garner substantial celebrity from their collections and have even ended up on big time TV shows like Unwrapped and Johnny Carson, so here's to hoping that your collection earns you your fifteen minutes. But it's not the outside chance at fleeting fame that compels us to collect–it's our insatiable American appetite to have and have and have?and it's fun.

It should be noted that some collections, like Jim's cousin's collection of brass knuckles, sawed-off shot guns, cocaine, personal bombs, machetes, and cash (pictured) can get you into trouble. Uncle Mark used to collect knives and guns too, but since he wasn't a king pin drug dealer in southeastern Connecticut, he managed to stay out of trouble (he's since traded up to cigar labels and wine collections).

What do you collect? Post any photos of your collections as comments…

While researching Ossie Clark I stumbled upon Vintage A Peel, an impressive British based online vintage store with Jean Muir, Biba, Mary Quant and Clark on their shelves.

I got sucked into the site until I had seen every image on it. Not only are their clothes for sale a visual treat (I actually gasped at times looking at them), but the rest of the site is not to be missed either.

There are a few great collages of style icons, stunning collection photos, wonderful already sold items to peruse, and a truly excellent “inspiring images” section.

The collection presented is not huge (though more items are available on ebay). You can tell they sort through to find the very best pieces. The emphasis is brilliant color, pattern and quirky British designers.

Here's to hoping the dollar doesn't continue to plunge us into a depression, because I really want to get my hands on some of these maxi dresses.

Jim and I first saw the hilarious quest to find sailors from the video game Shenmue on X Play. Their video was a bit better than these youtube ones but since they don't have it available on their site, these less condensed versions will do.

The character Ryo Hazuki is in desperate need of some sailors and asks everyone he comes in contact with where he can find them. Ends up it's in bars, at night.