Drawings From The Film Beginners By Mike Mills

I was recently gifted with this book, a limited edition companion to the film Beginners by Mike Mills.

courtesy of Reprizent

Thank you, Michael Arkin!  (to the blogosphere:  I also wrote Michael a thoughtful, hand-written note of thanks.  Long before I was acquainted with Derek Blasberg's work, I was trained in proper etiquette by my mother).

My college boyfriend's father was gay.   I remember the great secrecy and emotion surrounding him telling me about his father in the early 90s.  Times are so different today for the gay community and this film gives a broader historical perspective about the lifestyles of closeted gays in the 20th century.

I have been told that I will like Mike Mills' style if I like Wes Anderson's.  This is too delicious!



Naturally, I have great affection for Christopher Plummer, who stars in this film, as he will always be the Captain singing "Edelweiss" in my memory.

She Was Not Asking For It, From One Dov to Another

Dov Charney, founder of American Apparel.  photo source:   www.dovcharney.com

“Last month, an innocent, modestly dressed 8-year old girl, Naama Margolese, living in Beit Shemesh, described being spat on and vilified by religious extremists - - all men who believed that she did not dress modestly enough while walking past them to the religious school she attends.” 

-Dov Linzer, “Lechery, Immodesty and the Talmud,”  New York Times, 1/19/12

Well-spoken.  Well-said.  Well-written.  Kol hakavod (kudos).

This op-ed piece is written by a very wise Rabbi named Dov Linzer in New York.

photo courtesy of Rabbi Dov Linzer's Facebook profile

I wonder if he knows that he shares the same first name as the wise, creative, successful shmatta tycoon Dov Charney in Los Angeles who is noted for his provocative American Apparel ad campaigns.

Does Mr. Charney knows that yeshiva girls and Jewish women are forever grateful for his interlock pencil skirt which enables them to dress both fashionably and modestly?  Hypersexualized ad campaigns?  No matter.  You make the goods and the smart shoppers have found your shmattas and wear them in a tznius (modest) way.  I hope he's kvelling.  What a way to repurpose an item in an all good way.

Jewish women time and again prove that they are wise beyond their words and actions.

Thank you to both Dovs for your good work on this earth.

Thank God It's Friday, Hollywood Disco-Style

This comes via my friend Big Josh aka The Coach. He is such a gregarious soul, dare I call him a social butterfly? xoxo to Big Josh, and I can't agree more with this song, part of the film that launched Donna Summer's career!

 As I played field hockey in high school (though about 10 years after this film, and therefore no red tube socks), I naturally love the opening sequence with the girls getting on the bus and their field hockey sticks in hand.

 Thank you, Barry Bernstein and Rob Cohen, writer and producer respectively, for this beacon of light!

(there is a YouTube video link below:  If you are not seeing the image, click through to the website itself and it will appear.  Sometimes in the email digest you won't see it)


 

My-Not-So-Random Connection to Tara Stiles, My Favorite Yoga Teacher

A few months ago, I decided to stop simply thinking about yoga and start doing it.

So, I went to the Kripalu website, hoping to find some good yoga YouTube videos.  Without rhyme or reason, I clicked on a couple of their graduates' profiles.  At the 3rd click, I got to Tara Stiles.  I never heard of her.  Something drew me to her name specifically.  I don't believe it was random.

Tara's outlook and style speaks to me.  Her whole lifestyle is yoga.  She recently YouTube blogged about eating salad for breakfast.  Not such a novel idea, but coming from her lips it sounded magical and attainable.  She has a great YouTube on doing yoga in bed right as you're waking up.  Of course, normally I stretch anyway in the morning, but she showed me how to take it to the next level.  Her videos are not just instructional, but also entertaining with her dry-wit sense of humor.  I love how she starts off her videos with the following standard phrase, "Hey guys, how are you, I'm Tara Stiles."  Totally chill.

She is Deepak Chopra's yoga teacher and also the proprietor of Strala Yoga in Manhattan.

Looks like she's doing a new series for LIVESTRONG Woman.



there is a YouTube video here, so if you are reading this as an email feed, you might not be able to see it.  click through to the website www.wholephamily.com and you can see the video link.



Since I have no current plans to visit Strala Yoga, I continue to rely on her most excellent YouTube channel.

Thanks, Tara!

An Advertisement I Loved in W Magazine

I love W Magazine not just for its articles but also for its smart, artful, zeitgeisty advertisements.  

Here is a Marc Jacobs ad from their Spring Fashion Issue, which appeared in the first few pages.

It could be Berlin or Amsterdam.

It could be Jason Schwartzman's character from The Darjeeling Limited*.

It could also be New York, since there is a Prius-looking car in the background.

It's got that International Style mid-century modern building in the background.

Or it could just be some dude in Manhattan wishing he were back in Holland since they are the masters of city cycling.

*One of my favorite films.  My life is most definitely a living Wes Anderson film, with a bit of ta'am (Jewish flavor) thrown in.

Hostess Gift #1: Glendale Organic Grape Juice & Taza Chocolate

We get invited to friends' homes frequently for Shabbat lunch on Saturday afternoon after synagogue.  There is always good food, many children, and yummy challah involved.  The traditional gift to bring is a bottle of wine or other readily edible food for that meal, but I put together something a little more original.

Glendale Farm Grape Juice from the Finger Lakes, NY with waiter-style table crumber.  Buy NOW as by Passover 2012 it will no longer be under the O-U

Organic Glendale Farm Grape juice, 2010 vintage.

Waiter-style table crumber

Tag made from PEZ candy cardboard package.

Bringing to our hosts for shabbat lunch.

Table crumber is essential for the challah crumbs!  Easily found in Judaica stores and Kosher food markets.  Or, just ask your waiter at Maialino if he has an extra to spare.

With children, grape juice is a necessity for the kiddush (blessing over the wine).  It is a 100% acceptable substitute.  It's even legit for adults to use it.

Enter the upscale organic Kosher grape juice.  Mix half with seltzer for a "juicy beverage," or, what many folks might know better as a spritzer.  Call it homemade soda, it's all the same goodness.  We have been buying this for years at Fairway in New York City.  It is available via special order through Whole Foods on the East Coast.  You need to order a case, and only this size bottle, 22 ounce, is available.  [If you are familiar, they used to be in a bottle that looked like the Santa Cruz juices bottle (not kosher),  but those days are currently over].

I spoke with the proprietor of Glendale Farm recently. He explained that the juice is now in a bottle that looks like his competitor Kedem (which, in my opinion taste-wise doesn't stand any comparison) because the Orthodox Union gave him no other option.  This is getting political and not my bag...

He was not bought out by Kedem.

He is hoping to get certification for his 2012 vintage with the OK Laboratories.

I plan to bring one bottle from my stash coupled with a nice bar of Parve Taza chocolate (also available at Whole Foods).

Taza chocolate is Parve, organic, made locally in Somerville, MA, under the OU

Go here to see more Taza Chocolate

Go here to see more Glendale Farms  (he is a small company, very under-the-radar, but highest quality).

More V Magazine, And Oh the Advertisements!

I got to V initially because I was subscribing to W.

And I got into W because, like guys who read Playboy "for the articles," I found such interesting information there.  I learned about Richard Gere's B&B in Bedford.  And Michael Steinhardt's private animal sanctuary. And so much more.

I strive for information and it also helps me with my wardrobe.  I think Derek Blasberg would like all of this. Derek, I will blog about you another time.  You are *the best.*  I heart Derek, even though we haven't met in person.

But check out this awesome LV ad:

The see-through bag reminds me of what all the women have to carry when they work in the department stores.  A total upgrade for Bloomie's employees.  And the ice cream shop chairs:  Oh, how Peppermint Park (which I hope to blog about another time).  It was an end of a Manhattan era when they shut them down.  Derek, ask some of your friends who grew up in and around Manhattan.  They will tell you how much they loved Peppermint Park.  And, nary a good reminiscence online.

And of course, about one year ago I blogged about Smashbox Studios.

Factors got some style and class.

 

This is their newest ad in V Magazine.

I am grateful to be literate.

My New "V" Magazine Arrived Today

If you look carefully, you can see the mini Tootsie Roll on resting to the right of and just below Justin's left shoulder (to orient yourself, put yourself in Justin's shoes...now that's a tough one, but c'mon, you can do it). 

And that is why I love V.

They placed one Tootsie Roll right in front of him.

Not a fan of his work, but if that ain't art, I don't know what is.

Alas, I couldn't imagine that my favorite band is in this issue, despite that they sell out New Years at MSG year after year after golden grand year.

And that is all good with me.

Favorite Birthday YouTube Video: Altered Images

It is my friend Seth's 40th birthday today, and I just posted my favorite thing to post on friends' Facebook profiles when it is their birthday.  It jazzes up the typical "Happy Birthday."  I mean, c'mon, that is so unoriginal.

FYI, Sixteen Candles was one.of.my.favorite.movies.growing.up.

My sister Reba and I can go on ad nauseum with the quotes.  Naturally, I longed for a Jake Ryan in my life.  Never did happen.  But Stango is way better.


 

Don't Be Shy If You Want World Unity

I'm getting back onto my Harold and Maude kick lately.  I don't care what is out there about Cat Stevens from the past.  I don't care about the current politics.  What is in a name, anyway.  Break down the barriers and just have lots of love, love, love.  Yusuf Islam still believes the same message:  peace.  We'll get there.


 


There is much to be learned from Ruth Gordon's character in Harold and Maude. And we have Cat to thanks for writing those words.


 


 So, go ahead, do some cartwheels and have lots of fun.

I'm going to the gym.