Style Icons: Female »Lynn Redgrave

Georgy Girl

While Lynn Redgrave may lament the typecasting as she said as “the happy lass with the broken heart” that her iconic role Georgy Girl led to, it’s a pretty wonderful role to be remembered by. And if you’ve not seen it, I recommend after Lynn’s recent passing you check it out.

From a famous family of thespians, Lynn was known as the comedian, perhaps even the less perfect “ugly duckling” (though she was certainly by no means ugly at all), but that only made her a most sympathetic and lovely actress. She sucummed to a long battle with breast cancer.

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Restaurants »Flatbush Farms

76 Saint Marks Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

You’d never know it from the dark, stark exterior, but Flatbush Farms hides a sprawling, lovely back yard garden, perfect for an early brunch surrounded by Park Slope babies. The food here is simple and yummy: omelettes with fresh ingredients and sharp cheese, fluffy eggs with potatoes (which feature apples thrown in, or as my friend called them “invisible raisins”), thick slabs of bacon and over-sized banana foster pancakes that sat someplace between a pancake and banana bread. I recommend getting a stack for the table to enjoy.

While the restaurants online manifesto is an obnoxious read “The philosophy is one of simplicity, masked in a complexity matched by none. The gastronomic rogue abounds with numerous philosophies and a mash of cultures, though one aesthetic… etc” the sustainability and use of local and seasonal ingredients shines in the food.

It’s a leisurely place, where brunch can take an hour, so call friends, and get there early to start to a relaxing weekend. And don’t forget to order pancakes for the table!

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Desserts »Uncle Louis G’s

Italian Ices

When Uncle Louis G‘s opened in Williamsburg down the street from my very favorite Italian ice shop, Ralph’s (who features a larger selection of the cream ice flavors) I thought it would work out fine for everyone involved. But in the summer sweet turf war, Ralph’s fell and Uncle Louis G’s was left standing.

So, to the victors go the spoils. I’ve already stopped by the shop a couple times this season, before summer’s even arrived (though the weather doesn’t seem to know it) for some vanilla chip. Once even opting (because I am pregnant and can) for a pint to bring back to the fridge to enjoy over several days.

The family run Williamsburg location also features an awesome head shot of the young man who scoops your ice cream for you, while the Park Slope location is convenient to the park, features an almost mockingly torturous black metal bench to sit on that gets scorching hot in any weather nice enough to enjoy an Italian ice in.

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Drinks »Orange Blossom Lemonade

at Hampton Chutney

Fair warning, I have to let you know that the adjective “flowery” is not a bad thing to me when it comes to food and drink. It tastes like a perfume, i am probably right as rain with it. So, yes, Hampton Chutney Co’s Orange Blossom Lemonade is flowery but in my opinion, also incredibly amazing and lovely to drink any day the sun is out.

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Spend a Couple Hours »Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

333 East 47th Street

Some art shows that I have been excited about (talking to you Younger Than I’ll Be at BAM) are disappointing in their scope, offering little more than the images released online, the incredible, awe inspiring, amazingly inspiring and exquisitely beautiful Utagawa Kuniyoshi exhibit: Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters at the Japan Society is the exact opposite. Room after room offered more stunning work in this comprehensive exploration of the artist career is almost overwhelming – but in a most excellent way. My dad exclaimed it to be the best art show he’s ever been to, and if these close up images strike your fancy at all (and they are really only poor quality photos from my camera off the exhibit book) you need to see this in person. I walked away so completely inspired and can guarantee you will too.

The museum itself is also worth noting as a pretty neat spot that also features Japanese language classes, sake tastings, and other events including film screenings. Some limited reproduction prints as well as a beautiful book are available for sale on this particular exhibition.

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »The Highline

from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues

With 50 mile per hour winds, it may not have been the most brilliant day to bring my family to the Highline Park, but even the threat of getting whisked away didn’t damper the experience (well, except for my nephew Bixby, who found the threatening winds to be not at all to his liking). It’s taken me this long to finally see the lovely park that itself took so long to be realized. Once a functioning freight rail the structure sat unused and rotting for decades until The Friends of the Highline saved it from destruction and helped to build the new, sprawling park that offers great views, lots of room to relax, and various wild flowers. It also “offers a hopeful model for industrial reuse for other cities around the world.” I certainly will be trying to make more visits as the weather continues to improve.

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Web Sites »The Look

Rock Pop Fashion

The Look (rockpopfashion.com) is an ultrahip stroll down the psychedelic, super cool sentimental Kings Road. With impressive images (that are not easily found anywhere else) of Britain’s heyday of cutting edge youth culture and fashion. McLaren, Siouxsie, Mary Quant, Iggy Pop, Vivienne Westwood and Marc Bolan are all here, plus the biggest hangouts of the day like Carnaby St., Granny Takes a Trip, and Westwood and McLaren’s shop SEX.

But even more exciting, especially for those of us that didn’t grow up in a time and place that looks incredibly fun, are the names and places that are new: Dinah Adams, Wonder Workshop, Antony Price, Marion Foale and Sally Tuffin, Harry Gordon, Jah Wobble, Pamela Motown, and the list goes on. I love new discoveries and The Look is spilling over with them.

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Posted on May 9, 2010

TV Shows »Baby Human

Geniuses in Diapers

I’m not sure how interesting Baby Human would be to those not expecting or with a young child, but I am finding this sing songy educational documentary about the stages of development in babies fascinating and cute. Chapters are broken into breakthrough stages: walking, thinking, talking and illustrate with scientific experiments and lots and lots of smiling adorable babies. Which, of course, aside from the research part, are the main reason to watch.

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Recipes »Hot and Sour Soup

from Simply Recipes

As some commenters mention on this Simply Recipes Hot and Sour Soup thread, it’s definitely not one of the most attractive soups out there, but when done right (not that gloppy bad take out stuff) I thrive on the dish. I could live off the Kikkoman mix that I’ve enjoyed since childhood (almost literally – I bought a case from Amazon as it became harder to find in local stores) but this more time consuming, fresh ingredient version, is definitely worth the extra preparation. It’s light, which might be surprising and we added some chicken to make it a heartier meal. We also substituted fresh mushrooms and were unable to add the more unique ingredients like lily buds. But it’s a recipe open to interpretation and your own flare.

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Movies »The Eyes of Laura Mars

Directed by Irvin Kershner (1978)

While I didn’t notice the first time I saw Eyes of Laura Mars years ago, but it’s an American version of a Giallo if there ever was one. And as such it’s got the genre’s shining points and flaws: technicolor red blood, dramatic music cues, silly plot twists that end in a preposterous conclusion, a high body count, and style, style, style! There’s plenty to recommend this 70’s hit despite moments of mediocrity (like a terrible Babs song).

First, the cast. Faye Dunaway is in her prime of easy glamorous wide eyed star power, Tommy Lee Jones brooding is more charming than usual, in an all too brief appearance Raul Julia is the ultimate deadbeat gold digging ex, supermodel Lisa Taylor plays herself, and perhaps most importantly the film opened by eyes to the awesomeness of perhaps my favorite actor, Brad Dourif, who is here the foxiest creep ever put to film. Bomber jacket, jeans, flannel and a chauffeurs hat have never come together so perfectly.

That brings us to the second point: every scene has something fantastic to look at. The styling had me asking myself minutely “hmm, do I need a _____ (hat, blouse, skirt, hairdo, apartment, etc) like that in my life?” The answer was invariably “yes”.

Third, the centerpiece of the movie visually is the provocative work of photographer Helmut Newton. One of my favorite artists who sets the aesthetic tone.

You can watch it now with Netflix on demand.

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Posted on May 2, 2010