Wednesday, September 30, 2009
On This Day
Sept. 30, 1958 "It's 1958 and a strange new toy is sweeping the nation. Forget Yo-Yos, Bolo Bats and Davy Crockett hats, the Hula Hoop has arrived in Canada. Called the “granddaddy of American fads”, the hooping craze hits North America like no other trend." CBC Archives
Anybody remember this megahit?
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Decoding Jackson Pollock
Did the Abstract Expressionist hide his name amid the swirls and torrents of a legendary 1943 mural? Smithsonian Magazine
Via
Veilhan Versailles
Lasy year I saw the Jeff Koons exhibition at Versailles. This year the art of Xavier Veilhan is featured. Unfortunately I won't be there to catch it (big sigh).
“My project for Versailles mainly addresses the outdoor realm, following an east/west axis across the estate, from the Place d’Armes to Le Nôtre’s formal gardens. I will be placing several works or groups of works conceived especially for this exhibition, which will articulate the continuity that joins the site’s history to its contemporary protraction. This is a project that is dynamic, classical, open and universal, aiming to establish a new bond between visitors to the place and the spaces they come into contact with.”
Lost Istanbul: 1950s and 60s
Ara Güler (born 1928) is a native 'Stamboulite', who has been documenting his home city's cultural and domestic life since the 1940s. Initially a reporter for TimeLife, Paris Match and Stern, as well as Turkish dailies and magazines, he has been a member of Magnum Photos since meeting Marc Riboud and Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1961.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Jimmy Tarangelo Lives in an RV
The homeless have always been rather fond of Thompson Street between Houston and Prince, perhaps because of Eileen Lane Antiques, whose sprawling steps seem to have a soporific effect. But neighbors were still surprised by the latest non-residential resident: Jimmy Tarangelo, who lives in an RV.
Man In Van from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.
Jimmy Tarangelo Lives in an RV
Designer Coke
In celebration of the ongoing Fashion Week in Milan and in an effort to aid the earthquake-stricken region of Abruzzo, Italian fashion designers Donatella Versace, Alberta Ferretti, Anna Molinari for Blumarine, Veronica Etro, Silvia Venturini for Fendi, Consuelo Castiglioni for Marni, Angela Missoni, and Rossella Jardini for Moschino teamed up with Coca Cola to design fabulously fashionable bottles.
Via eternallycool
Saturday, September 26, 2009
La Boca and San Telmo today
Went to see this exhibition at the Fundación Proa today. The curation was excellent and the juxtapositions were interesting. The museum is a beautiful serene structure set in the middle of the madness that is La Boca. It's Saturday and when we left the exhibition the place was really hopping, people tangoing, hawkers hawking, all bright colours and confusion. We then cabbed back to San Telmo to browse the antique stores and craft markets. A full day and lots of fun. Tonight we are headed to La Cabrera for dinner. Jake took us there the night we arrived and we loved it so it seems like a fitting end to our Buenos Aires vacation.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Yet more photos of BA
Is anyone else old enough to remember these plastic hair curlers? This is a work of art created by a guy who does not believe in garbage. He has a whole stall full of similar creations at the Palermo flea market.
The dachshund appears to be the go-between in a face off between two gangs of canines
This corner apartment is my dream home (it's not the one we're staying in though).
Looking down from my 7th floor apartment I can see all the rooftop decks in the neighbourhood. residents of Buenos Aires love their tiny bit of green space and even modern high rises have spacious balconies with loads of greenery.
Here are some lemons growing on our deck. We also have lavender, lilies, azaleas, oleanders and some plants I could not identify. It's heaven sitting out there with a glass of wine after a day of walking. It cools off quickly though and we have to come inside to watch the sunsets.
The dachshund appears to be the go-between in a face off between two gangs of canines
This corner apartment is my dream home (it's not the one we're staying in though).
Looking down from my 7th floor apartment I can see all the rooftop decks in the neighbourhood. residents of Buenos Aires love their tiny bit of green space and even modern high rises have spacious balconies with loads of greenery.
Here are some lemons growing on our deck. We also have lavender, lilies, azaleas, oleanders and some plants I could not identify. It's heaven sitting out there with a glass of wine after a day of walking. It cools off quickly though and we have to come inside to watch the sunsets.
Where's Waldo Video Game!
I remember looking for Waldo with my boys when they were little, long before the age of video games. This looks like fun.
Via GeekSugar
It's not everyday you find out that one of your favorite childhood books is going to be turned into a video game! Growing up, my sisters and I had the entire Where's Waldo series of books as we'd flip each page trying to find Waldo — wearing his signature black-rimmed geeky glasses, red and white striped shirt, blue pants and matching hat — hiding within colorful illustrations that kept us just as amused as Waldo himself.
Via GeekSugar
The 50 best foods in the world and where to eat them | Life and style | The Observer
My Parents Were Awesome
Before the fanny packs and Andrea Bocelli concerts, your parents (and grandparents) were once free-wheeling, fashion-forward, and super awesome.
My Parents Were Awesome
Via
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Buenos Aires pics
Cats rule at the Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires . There are hundreds of them and they're all affectionate. A paradise for those who like both plants and cats!
Some of Evita's beautiful dresses at the Evita Museum. It's a lovely little spot to spend a few hours and has a nice restaurant for lunch.
There are dogs everywhere in Buenos Aires. Most breeds are represented although I've yet to see a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Beagles, cocker spaniels and golden retrievers seem to be most popular. Dogwalkers wrangle groups of a dozen or more and most seem to be very good with the animals though some of the lazier employees tie the dogs up some place where they bark for an hour or so before they are returned home unexercised. The walker of the dogs below didn't do that; he just ducked into a store, perhaps to buy some dog treats.
Dog graffiti.
Cow saying, "Come in and eat me."
Recoleta cemetery
Graffiti in Palermo near our apartment.
Flea market in Palermo
Just what I've always wanted - a fur covered bathtub.
Devil dolls
Some of Evita's beautiful dresses at the Evita Museum. It's a lovely little spot to spend a few hours and has a nice restaurant for lunch.
There are dogs everywhere in Buenos Aires. Most breeds are represented although I've yet to see a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Beagles, cocker spaniels and golden retrievers seem to be most popular. Dogwalkers wrangle groups of a dozen or more and most seem to be very good with the animals though some of the lazier employees tie the dogs up some place where they bark for an hour or so before they are returned home unexercised. The walker of the dogs below didn't do that; he just ducked into a store, perhaps to buy some dog treats.
Dog graffiti.
Cow saying, "Come in and eat me."
Recoleta cemetery
Graffiti in Palermo near our apartment.
Flea market in Palermo
Just what I've always wanted - a fur covered bathtub.
Devil dolls
Canadian CSI eh?
This amused me.I am Canadian and I have traveled all over Canada. I have never once heard about pronounced aboot. How aboot you?
I have seen the whole of the internet
I have seen the whole of the internet
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
We chose a bad day to go to Uruguay - gale force winds and rain - but I found Colonia, a World Heritage Site, charming nonetheless. We ducked into a little restaurant by the water, drawn in by the music and the smell of a wood fire. We had a chivito plate for two. This is the national dish of Uruguay and is basically a giant sized sandwich made with everything in the fridge and topped with a fried egg. In this case it was served with fries and potato salad. A woman seated behind us on the hydrofoil coming back asked her seatmate if he'd seen these "disgusting sandwiches" and went on to state that anyone who eats them should just "take a gun and shoot themselves through the head". I thought this was a little extreme.
The trip back was a bit of an adventure with high waves and people demanding barf bags. Mr. Nag started singing the theme from Gilligan's Island. I was thinking Poseidon Adventure. One of the best things about the trip was the little dog that followed us into the Colonia Buquebus station and all the way through customs. No one stopped him and I was hoping he'd come back with us to Buenos Aires but alas he knew when it was time to turn around and we returned dogless.
Mural in the town square. Mr. Nag and I were the models.
Tiles in the cop shop.
Car with elephant stencil.
Ancient cobblestone street.
Booster chairs.
Restaurant where we ate a sandwich that apparently should have made us want to shoot ourselves through the head. Strangely it did no such thing.
The trip back was a bit of an adventure with high waves and people demanding barf bags. Mr. Nag started singing the theme from Gilligan's Island. I was thinking Poseidon Adventure. One of the best things about the trip was the little dog that followed us into the Colonia Buquebus station and all the way through customs. No one stopped him and I was hoping he'd come back with us to Buenos Aires but alas he knew when it was time to turn around and we returned dogless.
Mural in the town square. Mr. Nag and I were the models.
Tiles in the cop shop.
Car with elephant stencil.
Ancient cobblestone street.
Booster chairs.
Restaurant where we ate a sandwich that apparently should have made us want to shoot ourselves through the head. Strangely it did no such thing.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Mendoza
Just got back to Buenos Aires from a trip to Mendoza. Here are some pics:
Plaza Independencia
The domed ceiling of the provincial art gallery, Mendoza.
Architectural model of a bodega.
Architectural model of a bodega.
Large man made lake in gigantic park in Mendoza.
We all agreed that the highlight of our trip to Mendoza was eating at Azafran. The food, the wine and the service were incredible. The staff made sure that we had an enjoyable dining experience. Once we decided what we wanted from the creative menu (not an easy choice) the sommelier took us to the wine cellar to choose the ideal wine to accompany the food. The presentation was stylish and everything tasted so good that we ate a lot more than we should have. We enjoyed it so much that we ate there a second time during our 3 day stay. When we returned the staff were incredibly welcoming and the chef, Pablo, gave us a a complimentary appetizer and a sample of a dessert in addition to the ones we'd chosen. The empanada appetizer was outstanding as was the dulce de leche creme brulee with rice pudding with more dulce de leche. The setting is lovely, the food divine, the wine perfect and the service exemplary. If you visit Mendoza make sure you eat at Azafran; you won't be disappointed.
More to come about Buenos Aires and Colonia, Uruguay.
Plaza Independencia
The domed ceiling of the provincial art gallery, Mendoza.
Architectural model of a bodega.
Architectural model of a bodega.
Large man made lake in gigantic park in Mendoza.
Wisteria in Mendoza's beautiful park.
Beef on a bun
Beef and beer for lunch.
I missed the tour of the bodegas because I overslept. I'm up at 6am every day - unless I have to be somewhere. I'd been looking forward to it so I'm a little bummed out but I did get to see architectural models of the wineries at the exhibit above and got to taste some excellent vintages at restaurants in town.
I explored Mendoza while Mr. Nag and Nag Jr. took an excursion up to the Andes. It's a charming city built in Spanish style around squares. Leaves were sprouting on the trees that line every street (spring is just coming on in this hemisphere). Mendoza is a desert town so all the irrigation comes from the mountains and is channeled through canals that run through the city.
Beef on a bun
Beef and beer for lunch.I missed the tour of the bodegas because I overslept. I'm up at 6am every day - unless I have to be somewhere. I'd been looking forward to it so I'm a little bummed out but I did get to see architectural models of the wineries at the exhibit above and got to taste some excellent vintages at restaurants in town.
We all agreed that the highlight of our trip to Mendoza was eating at Azafran. The food, the wine and the service were incredible. The staff made sure that we had an enjoyable dining experience. Once we decided what we wanted from the creative menu (not an easy choice) the sommelier took us to the wine cellar to choose the ideal wine to accompany the food. The presentation was stylish and everything tasted so good that we ate a lot more than we should have. We enjoyed it so much that we ate there a second time during our 3 day stay. When we returned the staff were incredibly welcoming and the chef, Pablo, gave us a a complimentary appetizer and a sample of a dessert in addition to the ones we'd chosen. The empanada appetizer was outstanding as was the dulce de leche creme brulee with rice pudding with more dulce de leche. The setting is lovely, the food divine, the wine perfect and the service exemplary. If you visit Mendoza make sure you eat at Azafran; you won't be disappointed.
More to come about Buenos Aires and Colonia, Uruguay.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)