Web Sites »Stephano Gabbana

on Tumblr

While I like the ease and casual nature of tumblr I usually find them to be little more than gatherings from other tumblrs and therefore often repetitive but Stephano Gabanna of Dolce and Gabanna has taken the medium and ran with it giving personal glimpses into his life as an extremely successful fashion designer.

Such a life, (believe it or not) is quite enviable. He is surrounded by beautiful male models, eats lunch overlooking incredible sea views, and wakes up to fresh cut flowers every morning.

And if none of that interests you, his photos will at least convince you that the Italian Riviera is a little bit if heaven on earth. I want to be there now.

I know, I know, it sounds like it could be navel gazing and obnoxious (like all those articles about what the rich people can’t live without this season in Vogue) but surprisingly, this chipper diary is not in the least bit obnoxious, but rather happy and heartfelt.

I’d love it if more designers, artists, and people with otherwise interesting lives had personal photo diaries as nice to look at and constantly updated like this one.

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Posted on September 9, 2011

Recipes »Mediterranean Fish Sandwich

from Giada De Laurentiis

I’m glad that Giada is more than a soothing voice that could drift you to sleep on a hammock. Any time I’ve tried out one of her recipes, they exceed my expectations.This Mediterranean Halibut Sandwich is no exception.

I’ve made similar flakes fish sandwiches with canned tuna (haven’t we all?) but a freshly roasted fillet – in my case I substituted lemon sole- makes for an entirely different and elevated dish. The filling with sun dried tomatoes capers zest and parsley is mellower than it’s parts but still flavorful. I added a slice of fresh mozzarella.

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Posted on September 9, 2011

Web Sites »Here’s Greenpoint

Scoops, Storefronts, History and Local Deals from Brooklyn’s Hidden Gem

In New York people tend to get fanatical about their neighborhoods. We want to know every move, change and history. For us Greenpointers now there’s one stop for all of that.

Here’s Greenpoint has breaking news about openings and closings, restaurant guides, historical photographs and tips on the latest happenings. Since Mike introduced me to the site I’ve been checking in daily. It’s visually clean, easy to navigate, and works great on an iPhone which is a rare found plus.

They also have Park Slope and Williamsburg editions and updates are easy to keep abreast of if you “like” then on Facebook (something I rarely see the point of but here makes sense).

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Posted on September 9, 2011

Spend a Couple Minutes »Flor Modular Rugs

Modular Rugs

Looking for an affordable, attractive rug option for Van’s floor play, Friends Mike and Shaun led us to Flor.

Modular, stylish, cheap and offering a myriad of textures and colors it was a perfect solution! I always wanted a pop of yellow in our pale blue grey room anyways.

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Posted on September 9, 2011

Places to Visit »Mall Of America

8100 24th Ave S Bloomington, MN

What can I say. I love malls. I find them soothing and comforting so comments of ugly American consumerism need not apply. Maybe it’s because they are largely lost to me.

Gone are the days when my parents would drop me off to meet Sara, Dana, Michelle and Laura. We’d hit the Chick-fil-A and Orange Julius before making ourselves ill on several pounds of candy.

Dana would get a new Spencer’s gifts poster (a black and white hunk holding a baby with the words “a hard man is good to find”, if I remember correctly) and we’d prowl the wide halls for cassingles, mood rings and the latest offerings from Express and Contempo Casuals.

Good times…

Such fond memories always beckon me to malls so how could I resist the Mall of America while in Minneapolis?

Three sprawling stories with an amusement park and an Orange Julius on every corner, the mall is a monster but not one that could not be tamed.

We conquered her in a few hours and left with some sweet clothes for Van and the new found knowledge that H&M is the best spot for cheap and adorable baby clothes (who knew?)
There was no Chick-fil-A and Contempo Casuals is long gone to our world but I found the experience as fab as ever.

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Posted on September 7, 2011

Drinks »Grady’s Cold Brew

Iced Coffee Concentrate

The Grady’s Cold Brew stand caught my eye at the recent Smorgasburg. While there are plenty of great local iced coffee options, there is something nice, and more affordable about making a cup at home.

I was pleasantly surprised that this concentrate is as yummy as any good cheap cup of coffee you can find and for $15 it lasts two weeks (well, maybe less than that if you drinks lots of coffee).

Locally, at Brooklyn Kitchen and Urban Rustic, you can return your growler for cash off your next one.

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Posted on September 6, 2011

Laughs »Google Homage to Freddie Mercury

Animated Google Doodle

As a fellow Freddie Mercury fan, I was tickled with Jennifer Hom’s Google homage in honor of what would have been his 65th birthday.

I don’t usually notice the celebrated google doodles that often, but this one’s extra special, with rainbows and tigers and that signature mustache.

Happy Birthday Freddie.

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Posted on September 6, 2011

Spend a Couple Hours »Pure Qi Regimen Spa

26 Driggs Ave, Greenpoint

I’ve long been a supporter of the local absolutely no-frills Chinese massage salons.

After all, a cheap massage is worth a little bit of inconvenience, like the pungent smell of the massuses’ lunch and an old man next to you grunting, right?

Well, what if I told you that you could have a totally reasonably priced massage ($35 for 30 minutes) in a clean, soothing private room (pictured, sort of)?

What if I included a very courteous and friendly staff that is excited about their place of business and a very tempting menu of spa packages, body wraps, reflexology, and facials?

The place I speak of is Pure Qi Regimen Spa, and I am so happy I found it!

I am already planning my next visit.

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Posted on September 5, 2011

Hunks »Joe Jack Talcum

Dead Milkman

Nerdy yet punk rock, scrawny but cool – these Dead Milkmen I had seen on Mtv were very unlike the boys I knew in Colorado Springs and I wanted to find them.. which I eventually did in abundance later at art school.

Lead singer Joe Jack Talcum, aka Butterfly Fairweather, aka Jasper Thread, aka Joseph Genaro and his brand of dork punk could explode on the scene today, fitting in easily with the hip young things. But these men were ahead of their times, making squares scratch their heads way back in 1988.

1988, I was ten, and the moment he giggled in the Punk Rock Girl video my life long love for arty nerds had begun.

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Posted on September 5, 2011

Web Sites »Philip Govedare

Painter

Facebook is not only for people to exclaim FML! or link to Quizzes that tell you which Family Guy character you are. Friend Craig used the social site to link to artist Philip Govedare, whose wild, beautiful yet eerie landscapes are phenomenal. They make me feel like I’ve been privy to secret images of new found worlds.

Thanks for the excellent find, Craig!

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Posted on September 3, 2011