158 Bedford AvenueThis delicious, moist slice of banana walnut bread is not the first baked good from El Beit, the gourmet Bedford Ave coffee shop, that has made my day. Another day offered a candied ginger version that was divine. I am pretty sure the breads are house made and they do tend to sell out, a hard fact I learned one day trying to get some much later in the day. I wish I could take home entire loaves.
info@bklynbirth.comI couldn’t recommend the Bklyn Birth preparation classes more. Our instructor, Sabrina was understanding, open, communicative and extremely helpful. Run and taught by local midwives, it’s a no agenda, open forum that is laid back but full of pertinent information. We opted for a weekend intensive that was an easier schedule for us, but shorter, month long classes are also given.
Most of the other ladies were opting for a natural childbirth and videos (that admittedly resembled home made exorcisms) prepped us for the amazing experience. Breathing and comfort techniques were taught and practiced and perhaps most comforting was learning how to navigate the often sterile and confusing hospital landscape.
The classes take place in Park Slope and are comparable to others price wise.
Now, for a $5 SubscriptionI received a Potpourri Catalog in the mail yesterday. It was hilariously addressed to Jim, but I decided to steal it away for a mind numbing peek at it’s offerings. Many you can imagine: singing stuffed animals, non singing crystal animals, kitchen wall hangings about animals (and wine or chocolate)… but I decided to scan a few that really stood out to me and made me utter “oh my god.” Interestingly, nothing from the cat lady pages made the cut – these are, if you can believe it, far stranger than that.
Believe it or not, this “humorous” ball sack actually escaped my attention the first, even the second time through. Maybe because it’s just so subtle and tucked above a huge crystal four leaf clover.
This is pretty par for the course, but if you take the time to really look at it, nothing but confusion will greet you. Is this what has become of womanhood?
Click here for the rest of Fartmasters to Ballsacks: The Gems of Potpourri Catalog
from EmerilAnother ground pork asian dish with a kick and another winner. This time, Emeril’s Spicy Pork Stir-Fry with Coconut Scallion Rice adds toothsome eggplant. The inclusion of ground pork versus slices is my input. I just bought ready made coconut rice from Fresh Direct for ease. For some reason, I have never made rice well from scratch – it ends up either hard in the middle or mushy.
directed by Orson Welles (1974)Orson Welles‘ (mostly) documentary film, F for Fake, is a kinetic, meandering, stimulating experiment in story telling that would be a great watch for anyone interested in the art of editing and inventive movie making. While it doesn’t hit one hundred percent of the time and can take a little bit for the viewer to get into the pace and tone of it all, it’s very interesting.. or as Jim put it more succinctly and probably better “it’s fun to watch a master just fuck around”.
The story Welles’ is fucking around with here is one of fraud. Elmyr De Hory is the world’s greatest art forger. We see him create Matisses and Picassos on camera (which he burns) and his work has fooled the greatest “experts” and museums in the world. Clifford Irving is the man fascinated with the man and writing a biography of his exploits.. but it seems Irving has a few of his own fakeries going on. Welles touches on his own greatest fraud/work of art the radio program War of the Worlds, a story of Pablo Picasso and a beautiful lady (with an even more beautiful wardrobe that you can see in the stills below/after the jump) and ultimately the innate element of lying whenever anyone creates something.
As Welles’ last film, it was sadly a total failure upon its release in the US. Its avant garde style was largely frowned upon but is now considered highly influential. Criterion released the film a few years back and it’s currently available on netflix instant.
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210 11th AveIt was one of those 90 plus days, I had already been on my feet for a couple hours, but somehow I still managed to waddle all the way over to 11th Avenue to the Cavin Morris Gallery for thier Rags to Richesse show. It was worth the sweat and lightheadedness. These bright, vibrant, unusual rugs, called boucherouite are made from recycled clothing and materials, not necesarily in a move by the Morroccan women who make them to go green but out of necesstty as more traditional materials (wool in particular) has grown scarcer than the demand.
The show’s been extended through August 20 and is a must see. If my purse had allowed it, I would have walked away with a few of these for myself. Here is a great review in the Times.
Click here for the rest of Rags to Richesse: Rugs from Morocco
by Peaches and Herb (1979)Peaches and Herb is a quintessential seventies disco ballad duo who’s hit Reunited is the epitome of modern day “cheesy”. So much so that it’s featured in a commercial where a dad is so lame he dares to sing it.The dad also has power tools, so it’s never registered with me as to what the ad is for but it does put the song in my head and that puts a smile on my face.
By the way Herb’s real name is awesomely Herb Fame and the role of “Peaches” has been performed by different women over the years. Reunited features Linda Greene.
Indie StudJoseph Gordon Levitt, or “Jiggles” if you want to get cute with his initials (and who wouldn’t) has become a surprisingly dignified star from his beginnings in 90’s sitcom to his current status as indie darling. He is adorable but with a tailored manliness that the great suits he always seems to be costumed in can’t take all the credit for. I find him quite irresistibly charming and he seems to be the very rarest of actors: un-douchey. Though, it seems like every time I find myself applauding someone, they end up involved in some sleazy hi-jinx (it didn’t tale long for Shia LeBouf to get drunk at a Walgreens, and just the other day, I was saying that I liked Casey Affleck and …).
PS My brother in law shot the photo below.
Humble beginnings.
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Amazing Interior DesignerDavid Carter looks and dresses like a golden era dandy of the Quentin Crisp ilk and his exquisite dramatic (but NEVER tacky) interiors are as gloriously out of step with the typical styles of the today. Not to say his aesthetic is strictly antique, it’s built on history but put together with a thoroughly modern sensibility. His site (which these images are from) is a dreamland of interior design inspiration. Every room beckons daydreams of decadent lounging.
I discovered Carter from this article on Style Bubble (a site that’s always great for introducing an interesting person, place or thing of interest). His own home, decorated wit equal wit and glamour, is called 40 Winks and “is being launched to help give photographers, stylists, art directors, designers, buyers, models and anyone in the creative and fashion industries somewhere fun and different to stay when they are in London for work or pleasure.” Can you imagine a more fantastical place to stay?
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620 Lorimer StIf Italian manly testosterone could be harnessed into energy, Lorimer Meat Market could not only be the greenest restaurant in Williamsburg, but probably light the entire neighborhood. Both staff and patrons bellow with wise cracks and ayes! and it is very little surprise that they really, really know how to make a big beautiful meatball sandwich. It’s curious how some small spots make the radar of “must eats”, and if it were any way up to me I’d add this one to this list.
The photo almost does it justice. The meatballs are soft, clearly made with quality meat and huge surrounded by just enough sauce to partially soak the bread, but not overwhelm. The cheese is gooey and there’s enough that it’s presence is noticeable and key to the deliciousness.
The corner shop which has been in the neighborhood for many years (though this was my first visit) and has a huge menu of sandwiches if meatballs aren’t your thing as well as meats, salads, pastas, and more.