Have Degree, Will Travel

Things I'm Digging

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:30:00 +0000

This is sort of a different diggin' it post, as it's all stuff I've pinned in the last week or so. Are you on Pinterest? I am! It's a fun sort of place. Anyway...

Fantastic Graphic Door from Amanda Happe's house

Wave Band by Digby and Iona (full disclosure: I love the entire War of 1812 Collection)

Ikat Envelope Clutch from Need Supply

GRAN GREY Pillow by Fine Little Day
Basketweave Tee from Anthropologie

My birthday is at the end of the month, which might explain why this list is a little more wishlist than usual. I just really love trees and patterns and waves! Maybe you do, too?

A Simple Sandwich

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 17:50:00 +0000

Isn't it funny how something so small can make your day? This morning, my father, brother, and I went into town to the farmer's market, and almost immediately my dad grabbed a loaf of Swiss cheese bread (made, appropriately, by The Swiss Bakery). Cheese and bread are two of my favourite things, and it seems I come by it honestly. When lunchtime rolled around, I took stock of the fridge and decided that a simple BLT on Swiss cheese bread was just the thing. Oh, and it was.

(Here's a Cinemagram of my bacon frying, because I love that iron skillet and Cinemagram is a super fun app to play with.)

My brother added some mayo and avocado to his sandwich, and my dad piled on onions and horseradish sauce in addition to the avocado, too. But, seriously: simple artisan bread sandwiches are the best.

A single macaron from my carefully rationed stash made for a perfect final touch. That yellow macaron? That's Lemon Lavender, and it is AMAZING. I always save it for last, and spend my time dreaming about eating it. It's that good.

Mad for Zag

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:17:00 +0000

Update: still mad for all things zig-zaggy.

Clockwise from upper left:
1. Pink Charlie cosmetic bags by Julie Brown Designs
2. Happy Habitat Eco Throw in Paprika
3. Inherited Jewelry Box (designer unknown, but it was "Made in Italy for Lord and Taylor" and my grandfather gave it to my grandmother sometime in the 80s)
4. Yellow Zigzag Towel by Garnet Hill

Not pictured: new zigzaggy shower curtain. All of these are hanging out in different places, so there's not a great deal of competition, visually. Also that striped duvet is on its way out, which will simplify the bed. I take my chevrons seriously enough to cater to their visual needs, apparently.

Some Things I Thought About At The Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:06:00 +0000

(in somewhat chronological order)

1. This is the best.
2. I wish my dog was here.
3. Glad I remembered to shave my legs.
4. Mindy Kaling's book was a good choice for the beach.
5. I did a good job with my sunscreen; no burns for me!
6. I hurt everywhere.
7. I'm glad my cousin is here.
8. I'm going to have sand in my hair forever, aren't I.
9. If I skinny-dipped in the pool at midnight, would anyone notice?
10. There are four dogs in the house, of course they would notice.
11. No skinny dipping for me.
12. Did I get a sunburn on my scalp??
13. Guess I'm wearing a hat from now on.
14. Skylar is hilarious.
15. Yellow toenail polish was the best idea.
16. Fish and chips are delicious!
17. This hat is actually pretty great.
18. Is the weekend really almost over?
19. I'm going to miss my North Carolina family.
20. This is the best.

The Things I've Seen in Richmond

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

When I was packing to drive to Richmond for a week, I was operating under the assumption that I would probably be doing the same things on a day-to-day basis as I do at home, with the notable exception of going to work. There would be dogs to walk and entertain, but that wouldn't take up all my time. I packed my PlayStation 3, thinking I'd watch Stargate while job-hunting online. I even picked up a used copy of Assassin's Creed, a video game I'd been thinking of checking out. I'd need a break from the Stargate and job stuff, I decided. And then I got down there, and was seized with the urge to explore.

I've been to Richmond so many times that I forgot I'd never really seen Richmond. Usually we're down for a family gathering or on the way to the beach in North Carolina. But Richmond is a vibrant, interesting city and really there is so much to see! I spent most of my time in Carytown, mainly because it's very close to my aunt's house, but I also consulted the Design Sponge Richmond city guide for ideas. Here's a little not-so-little list of the things I saw and loved.

Culture

Maymont - Maymont, built in 1893, was the home of the Dooley family. The house and its furnishings were left to the city of Richmond at their deaths, meaning it's in remarkably whole and immaculate condition for an historic house. The furnishings are especially exciting, as some are pretty darn wacky (case in point). Aside from the house, the estate also includes two gardens (the Japanese garden in particular is large and intoxicatingly beautiful), an impressive collection of historic carriages, and a small zoo.

Hollywood Cemetery - This is Richmond's big historic cemetery, and I have no idea whose idea the "Hollywood" was. Home to the final resting spots of two US Presidents and Mr. Jefferson Davis of the CSA himself, there's a lot of historic significance in this graveyard. However, I found it appealing for another reason entirely. It's quiet. It's beautiful. It sits right over the river, and the trees keep it sheltered from the sun on hot days. In short, it may be Richmond's most perfect park, if you don't mind sharing space with ghosts. There are graveyard maps available for purchase for $1 just inside the gate, but I found if you follow the well-marked blue painted line through the cemetery, you can find all the really significant stuff from the road. Be sure to check out the stone dog.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - I've already written about the VMFA, so I'll keep it short: it's great. It's a fantastic museum with an AMAZEBALLS decorative arts collection (primarily Art Nouveau and Art Deco), and the 20th and 21st Century art collections aren't too shabby, either. Best of all, it's free! They do charge for special exhibitions (there wasn't one this week), but based on my experience those are usually worth the price of admission.

Shop

Need Supply - It's no secret I love this place, it's a great little boutique representing the best of both local and national designers. I walked away with just jewelry, more because of their dearth of larger sizes than anything else. Their denim selection is amazing, but sadly they carry nothing above a size 30 (about a 10). They do, however, have TOMs shoes in stock, if you've ever wanted to try them out.

Mongrel - This is about as close as Richmond gets to a place to buy souvenirs, though it's closer to a locally owned Paper Source than anything else. Mongrel carries gifts and cards of all shapes and sizes, things you need and things you don't, and is super classy about it. I think my mother put it best when she observed that she "could do a lot of damage to a Christmas stocking" in Mongrel.

World of Mirth - On the surface, World of Mirth is a toy store, but just walking through the door shatters that illusion. Whoever does the buying for this place is a kitsch-loving nerd, and it is fantastically obvious. From the cabinet of Day of the Dead skeleton goodies to the hipster fake tattoos, by the time you hit the wall of Doctor Who items near the back of the store, I can guarantee you'll have found something to make you smile. And lest you think it's only fun for adults, I assure you there's plenty for kids to delight in, too.

Antiques in Manchester - AIM, as it's called, is a Saturday antiques market in the Manchester area of the city. It takes place in a covered alley, so I imagine it operates rain or shine. I went expecting to ooh and aah over things I could not afford and maybe pick up some art if I liked anything, but was surprised to find things well within my price range (and this from someone who pays full price--bartering terrifies me). I walked away with furniture, but there were plenty of people selling jewelry, textiles, and assorted decorative elements, too.

Chop Suey Books - Another Carytown gem, this new/used bookstore has loads to offer, complete with the requisite uninterested bookstore cat. They don't have much in the way of genre fiction (romance, mystery, sci-fi, etc.), but they do have a delightful offering of older pulp fiction paperbacks, and a fantastic poetry selection. Non-fiction's not really my bag, but those sections looks formidable, as well.

Eat

New York Deli - Deli fare with a spin, this place serves food that's simply great. They've been doing it longer than any other place in Richmond, so they should know their stuff. I've never been in the evening, but the bar looks pretty solid, too. Bonus: PHOTOBOOTH.

The Belvidere at Broad - My mom and I chose this place for our Mother's Day dinner, and were so proud of ourselves for venturing out away from Cary St. I was impressed by their vegan and gluten-free selections, as well as their beer and bourbon lists. Our one complaint was that our food was a bit too salty for our taste, but other than that it was delicious. I had the vegetarian Nicoise Salad, which was a rare treat.

Amuse - This restaurant may be inside the VMFA, but don't let that fool you--this is no ordinary museum eatery. With an impressive, ever-changing menu (they focus on what's in season locally, and take inspiration from whatever's currently showing at the museum), Amuse is a different restaurant every time you visit. We sat outside overlooking the sculture garden and slurped cool spring onion vichyssoise--perfect for a warm spring afternoon.

Carytown Burgers and Fries - If you're someone who appreciates a finely crafted burger, then this place is a must for you. A teeny space that feels as "hole-in-the-wall" as it gets, the food is worth and wait and the inevitable crowd. I'm a non-vegetarian who happens to really love veggie burgers, so I was delighted to find not one, but three veggie options on the menu--Boca, veggie, and black bean. I went with the veggie, and was well pleased. I took my food to go, but there is also an outdoor area to sit and dine.

Can Can Brasserie - a perennial favourite, you can't hit Carytown without checking out Can Can. A French eatery that actually feels Parisien, this place is a treat. However traditional it may look, however, Can Can puts their own spin on classic French foods. I dined here for lunch, but the brunch menu looked delicious, too (and from the brunch crowd we saw another day, I'd say it is)!

Conch Republic - Right on the James River, Conch Republic is a great place to spend a warm evening. This place is all about the Florida Keys, with a menu chock-full of seafood and even some unexpected gator. I had the spinach and strawberry salad, which was about as delicious as a salad has any right to be.

I highly recommend Richmond as a place to spend a day or weekend or week or month, there's so much to see and do. I'd love to have done more, but basically I ran out of money (random observation: the Richmond HomeGoods was about the most impressive HomeGoods I've been in). Honestly, if you can take only one thing away from this list, see the cemetery. It may seem morbid, but it really is a lovely, lovely place to spend time.

And now back to my regularly scheduled life.

Things I'm Digging Right Now

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:47:00 +0000

Here, in no particular order, are some things I'm digging right now.

Hammered Chevron Earrings from Need Supply - I picked these up last weekend and have had to resist the urge to wear them every single day every since. They're light and sassy and not too big, perfect for my freakishly little ears. I nabbed mine at Need Supply's brick and mortar store, but they're also available online.

Artsy bowls - Rather than use ugly plastic or metal water dishes for her dogs, my aunt has several gorgeous pottery bowls scattered throughout the house. In addition to being beautiful--it's like finding a piece of art where you least expected it--they're also incredibly functional. They're heavy--if you've ever had a dog who liked to play "drag the water bowl around," then you know what that's worth--but not so heavy to make picking them up to refill a backbreaking chore. Here are two pieces I liked.

Tattly temporary tattoos - After years of maybes, I've come to the conclusion that I am not destined to ever have a tattoo. Which is maybe why I love Tattly tattoos so much--they're all artist-designed and of super-high, long-lasting quality. I get to have a tattoo for just long enough to satisfy myself. I discovered with delight that World of Mirth, a fantastic toy-and-kitsch store here in Richmond, carried Tattly and eagerly picked up a set of Marc Johns' boombox tattoos. I am so in love with this little guy, I never want to cover up my forearms again.

Collages by cur3es - I went through a college-making phase in high school, but never really studied them as an art form in college, which seems like a gross oversight now that I've fallen for the work of collage artist cur3es. You can check out his stuff on tumblr, flickr, and even buy prints and other products on society6.

That's all from me! Have a great weekend, y'all!

Richmond

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:03:00 +0000

I've been in Richmond since Thursday, occupying my aunt's lovely house while she's abroad. You can't tell from the front, but this house is overflowing with art. My aunt is my main art collecting idol, and being in her home is like being in candyland. I love it. I'm not alone, of course.

These dudes have been keeping me company. I wish I had a better photo of Spencer (lower right), but he's distrustful of cameras. I thought I'd be safe, as my little green box of an iphone in no way resembles a proper camera, but Spencer's no fool. He knows the score. Ergo, dark, under-a-tree photo. Ah, well. The rest of them are hams. Here are a few other things I've been up to this week.

If you're ever in town, the photobooth is located in the New York Deli on Cary Street. It's a proper black and white photochemical booth that the deli folks keep up themselves, and it's wonderful. The food is great, too, so it's no hardship to spend an afternoon there. The mask is a Yup'ik Smiling Face at the VMFA. Their Pre-Columbian and Native American collections are small, but I'm a fan (clearly).

I've got a few more places on my list of things to check out, so expect more dispatches! In the meantime, you can keep up with my Instagramming here, even if you don't have an iphone. Not all of these are from Instagram (I'm a fan of TiltShift as a photo editor, too), but I'm sure I'll be posting photos one place or another.

Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:50:00 +0000

I am staying in my aunt's house while she is conquering the globe (as she does), and this photo is sitting on one of the shelves. I used to hate that not only had someone taken this photo, but they'd also printed it, framed it, and then PUT IT IN PUBLIC, but now I sort of dig it. I mean, look at that thing on my head. That is one ridiculous thing. But not only did my mother purchase it for me, she let me out of the house in it, and then consented to be photographed with it. That's love, ladies and gentlemen. I mean, it's obvious that between my mom's purple and green striped jacket and my grandmother's rope-trimmed sweater that my Colonial Williamsburg hat (that's where it came from--my hand to God) was not the most fabulous thing at that particular family Easter.

And lest you think either of us have gotten over these particular traits--me of demanding ridiculous things, my mother of humoring me out of love--I present this photo (taken yesterday) as definitive proof to the contrary.

Sorry, guys. We all played the Mom Lotto in the womb, and I won.

Ancient Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:15:00 +0000

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond is one of my very favourite museums to visit. I'm in Richmond house-sitting, and my mother is visiting this weekend for some Mother's Day fun. Today we visited the museum, and I was captivated by these pieces (by the Pueblo Indians, I believe, though they're not on the website). I love the way the hard lines play against the soft, the dichotomy of zig-zags and curves.

Old Try

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:55:00 +0000

The area I've lived my whole life in, while technically in Virginia, doesn't consider itself very Southern. I, however, do. Being raised by a man from Tennessee and spending my summers at the beach with all my Carolina relatives made all the difference. I can still remember the first time a childhood friend's parent asked me to "Call me Judy." I did, my father overheard me, and that was the end of that. These prints, from Old Try, speak to the barefoot Southern child inside of me.

Thanks to Gloria for the tip! She will be paid in Cheerwine, as is tradition.

James Chororos

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:29:00 +0000

I am really, really loving James Chororos' photographs, particularly his images of Hawaii. I've never been to Hawaii, and admittedly have little conception of what being there is like (aside from sandy beaches), so I am loving seeing the islands through his eyes.

James Chororos can be found online here, or on Tumblr.

Peony Appreciation Post

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:34:00 +0000

I came into possession of an iphone yesterday, and have of course been making up for lost time by Instagramming everything I see. Actually that's not entirely true--I have a whole range of photography apps in addition to Instagram. Because we are at the very beginning of peony season, most of the photos so far are of the blooms in my yard. Here are a few. Forgive the hipsterization of the snapshots--I'll get more adept at editing via iphone, just give me time.

I brought some inside, of course. One of the things I love best about peonies is how easy they are to arrange. As in, no arrangement is necessary. Just plop 'em in a vase and let 'em do their thing. Their thing is always spectacular.

Bonus: Pups.

They hang out outside my bathroom every morning, taking advantage of the sunny spot.

The iPhone is basically my new camera, replacing the old Sony point-and-shoot which didn't survive the move back from West Virginia. Here's hoping it brings with it a new era of blogging! As always, you can also find me on Tumblr and Twitter.

Things I'm Digging

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Here are some things I am digging the heck out of right now, presented in a pictoral list:

After years of searching, I have found the perfect bedspread--the Isleta Duvet from Anthropologie, but of course it is excessively expensive, as it is from Anthropologie. I called my mother, heartbroken. "I found the perfect duvet, but it's a million dollars!" "Then it isn't perfect, is it?" Fair point, Mom. My only hope is that everyone else on the planet finds it horribly ugly and I'm able to snatch it up at cost.

I bought this dress intending to wear it to a wedding, realized it wasn't right for the occasion immediately after putting it on, but loved it too much to return. It's the Sunset Valley Dress from Need Supply, and if you intend to hang out with me much this summer, you should get used to seeing this dress because it is maybe the best thing I have ever owned.

I would like a pair of these in every color. I usually stay far away from heels if given the choice, but I am loving that wedges are back in fashion, and Marais USA's T-Bar Wedge most of all.

One of the advantages to having a fully black dog is that graphic collars looks great on her. You might think that's a silly statement, but remember I am the girl who gave her dog a red velvet chair because she looked fantastic sitting in it. Vista's collar is looking rough these days, and I'm dying to replace it with one of these from See Scout Sleep. Specifically the bottom one. I'd even spring for a matching leash.

Speaking of dogs, have you seen the tumblr Maddie on Things? It is the best. Maddie, a coonhound, is positively the best at being on things, and her owner, Theron Humphrey, is the best at capturing her on them.

I downloaded the first book in Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series this weekend, and since then I have read one of them a day. I cannot stop. They're paranormal romance, only instead of the typical overplayed vampire trope, the heroine can control the weather and the hero is a Djinn. Caine is aces at keeping up the momentum without making you feel like you yourself are running a race, and the snappy, sassy dialogue keeps the repeated brushes with the apocalypse from feeling too maudlin. I'm up to book five, and I will probably finish it today.

I am loving Felicia Day's Youtube channel (called "Geek and Sundry"), and the show Table Top in particular. It's hosted by Wil Wheaton, and if you think that watching a bunch of people play table top games sounds super boring, I will tell you that a week ago I was right there with you, and I was totally, absolutely wrong. Table Top's strength lays in its fun guests and clever editing, as well as Wil Wheaton's diabolical charm.

Recently, I've been rewatching Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. I haven't been devoting all of my attention to them--they're usually on while I write, or research, or generally have my finger on the beating pulse of social media. But the fact remains that--my love for Star Wars aside (and let it be said that I love Star Wars, an awful, awful lot)--Stargate is my sci-fi. That's it. It's a universe I adore, and one I'm getting a kick out of revisiting. Good guys, bad guys, wormholes, wonky physics, space ships, and lots and lots of snark. All of both shows are on Netflix.

And, just to bring things full circle, I'll end on a covetous note. I am in love with this ring. I stumbled across it on the Need Supply website some weeks ago, and have been actively coveting it ever since. It's made by In God We Trust, and it's everything I love in a ring: delicate, simple, but not uninteresting. I'll be spending a week in the same city as Need Supply next month, and it's going to be an exercise in temptation.

So there's your haphazard list of things I've been digging lately. When I dig, I dig deep, as the whole 5-books-in-5-days thing probably indicates. Maybe you will dig one of these things, too!

The Spring Melt

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 02:29:00 +0000

If you'd asked me before I went what I thought I'd love most about living in the mountains of West Virginia for a year, my answer probably would not have been "proximity to water." But, as it happens, my little house straddled a little creek, which, come the Spring melt, would be loud and rushing and full of minnows. I miss that creek, more than I miss most everything else. I don't know if there's a way to engineer a creek-under-a-house, but if there is, I hope someday to find it. Until then, I'll settle for gazing at these photos of lovely, watery yards.

For the record, Universe, when I say "watery lawns," I will also settle for "the ocean."

photos nabbed from Cup of Jo.

Door of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:37:00 +0000

Have a pretty pink Art Nouveau door for Valentine's Day! From the Goethe Institute in Prague.

42 Studien

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:57:00 +0000

I've been looking at a lot of interesting art lately. It helps that I follow a bunch of art-interested people on Pinterest, exposing me to works and styles I don't typically seek out. For instance, Juergen Bergbauer's 42 Studien has completely captured me. Images of stones printed on 11' x 8' paper on an ink jet printer, these are the definition of minimalism. Yet there's something about them I find mesmerizing.

via I'm Revolting

Door of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:30:00 +0000

This one comes from my friend Sam, who spotted it presumably somewhere in Old Town Alexandria, texted me about the knocker, and then sent me the photo in an email simply titled "Dooooooooor." My friends, they get me, you know?

Wyeth's Homer

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I have never met an NC Wyeth illustration I didn't like enough to open it in a new browser tab and keep it there for days until I accidentally close the window or blog about it. Homer's getting blogged, mainly because there's so much incredible ocean to share. This fishman is also of note:

For all the waves, however, I think this Penelope is the best part of all:

via Golden Age, of course. The fount of all great classic illustration.

Bookcases, Bookshelves

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:43:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I am writing this under the influence of one of those cold-y, flu-y, woozy-type sicknesses that one gets in the winter. I will strive for coherence.

In picking out furniture and decor, the eternal struggle of mine seems to be between my two great loves: Art vs. Books. I have a lot of art. I like to hang that art on the walls. I also have a lot of books. I go thin the ranks every so often, but I am the type of reader who revisits books as if they are old friends, and I cannot tell you how often I have gone to locate a book to reread and discovered that my foolish past self had thought me done with it and donated it. So I am a reluctant giver-away of books. Ergo: I have hundreds of books.

Many of the larger art books (of which there are quite a few--I am an art historian, after all) have found second lives stacked and used as bedside tables. But the rest--hardbacks and paperbacks large and small--are stashed all over the house. A couple hundred live in a trunk in the garage. I've done this because I was trying to avoid being the person with lots of bookshelves and room for nothing else. However, I have decided to heck with this, I am going to own my book habit. I was partially inspired by shots of the Eames house from Eames: the Architect and the Painter, which I finally watched this weekend. I love their shelves!

I'm on the hunt for shelves. I'm not looking for anything fancy, just your basic bookstore-type shelves. Nothing terribly ornamental. To be clear: I'm not looking to create pretty, curated examples of interior design, just a place to put books. I'm really loving open-backed shelves, too, if for no other reason than their much easier to dust, and much lighter to move. Here are some other examples that have caught my eye:

If you can tear your gaze from Matt Bomer's chest, go ahead and check out those shelves. I LOVE those shelves. (Here is a Bomer-less shot.)

Greg Wooten's living room, as photographed by Todd Selby. These are wall-mounted, obviously, which is an option that's a bit more permanent than I'd like at the moment, but I love the simplicity and the arrangement.

Ideally, I'd like something out of the Ikea box if possible, without breaking my very meager bank. Very likely an impossible project, but I'll be giving it a try!

The People I Saw, the Meals I Ate

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

I've mentioned here before that one of my very best besties, a lady named Laura, lives and works in New York City. So, I try to find a weekend once a year or so to drag my carcass up to her and let myself be entertained by the city (not to say that I only see her once a year--her parents still live a half a mile from mine, after all). This year, I bribed my boss with the promise of the tackiest souvenir I could find him and took the Friday before MLK Day (not to be confused with MILK Day) off to give myself lots and lots of New York time. Laura requested a blog devoted to our experiences, so I am providing. She gave up half her bed for the weekend, after all.

In the past, my New York weekends have been about seeing museums and finding photobooths (spending time with Laura goes without saying). I still love museums and photobooths, but this visit was more about seeing awesome people and eating great things.

Friday: Spent most of it on the bus, in the seat with the broken outlet. I watched an old animated Tintin movie I rented from iTunes, praying my laptop battery would hold. I finished with 10 minutes to spare. Once in the city, Laur and I sped off to Brooklyn to a book release party I was determined to attend (we're in the above photo, sort of behind that other dude).
People Seen: A Ton, including Yuko, Anath, Conrad, and John.
Meals Eaten: Carrot Ginger Soup at Alchemy (A)
Bodega Kitty: Yes

Saturday: the theme was walking and photobooths. Mostly walking. Searched for a mug, sadly in vain, then hogged the photobooth in the Ace Hotel for awhile. Were madly impressed by the place. Walked a million miles to linger over brunch with good friends, then walked a million more for pie and more photostrips. Happily took the train to Union Square to peek into Books of Wonder, then took in a flick.

People Seen: Peter, Jordan, A Bunch of Kid's Publishing Folks, Simon Pegg

Meals Eaten: Croque Monsieur and Mimosa at Le Parisien (A+), Michigan Sour Cherry Pie at Bubby's (A)

Photobooths: Two

Souvenir Mugs: :(

Sunday: the theme was books and scones. Scooted down to Harlem for an early brunch with an awesome Twitter friend, visited with her pups, then accidentally got off at the wrong stop for the Met, so we walked across Central Park (a first for me). Tried to see several special exhibitions at the Met, couldn't find all but two (lots of galleries were closed, cutting off our routes across the 2nd floor). Hopped over to Alice's Tea Cup for a Mad Hatter Tea. Ended the evening at the Strand.

People Seen: Pamela, Chip, Ringo (pups are people, too), somebody's suit-of-armor boyfriend

Meals Eaten: Blackberry Cherry Pancakes at Kitchenette (B+), Curried Chicken Salad & Cucumber Watercress sandwiches (C & A), Tomato-Basil, Mixed Berry, & Buttermilk scones (A+, B+, & A), Lemon Tart (A+), and Trafalgar Square Tea (A) at Alice's Tea Cup

Books: 18 Miles

Scones: So Many

Monday was spent on the bus, with a functioning outlet, watching Jane Eyre and eating leftover Alice's cookies. Since then, I have apparently been attempting to recreate the weekend, mostly through scones. My tomato-basil effort turned out weird, my buttermilk (using the Alice's recipe) are better.

All in all, a very successful weekend! Thanks for the food, art, books, folks, and pretty little flurries, New York!

Just the Ticket: Tintin

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:20:00 +0000

I'm a little behind here, and not just because I'm a month behind in writing this review--it's also been a month since I saw Tintin. Or nearly, anyway. My brother and I saw it on Christmas Day. Since then, because I am me, I have deprived all of the children in my county by requesting all of the Tintin books from the library. All of them. Reading them (I'm only halfway through, but I've read all three books which are included in the movie) has increased my love of the characters and franchise, but even more than that, it's increased my appreciation for how deftly the writers stitched those three stories together. This seems appropriate, as the writers were the real reason I wanted to see Tintin to begin with.

There was some concern that the choice to use motion-capture animation would drive the film straight into the Uncanny Valley, and I would be lying if I told you that there weren't moments when I felt I was teetering on the edge. They all seemed to have to do with Tintin himself. As the character with the most human (or at the very least non-cartoony) face, he was already at risk of feeling not quite human enough. I noticed it mainly at the end of scenes, when his face held an expression just a beat too long to feel really human. Did it give me a shiver? Yeah, it did. Was it also more than made up for by the other characters, in particular Andy Serkis' Captain Haddock? Heck yes.

There is a reason why Andy Serkis is the go-to guy for motion-capture animation and that is because the man is damn good at what he does. (And not just when he's covered in those little balls, either.) He is a skilled actor and mover, and Captain Haddock was in the best of hands. I will admit to being a bit biased, as Haddock is my favourite character in the books and I loved what the film did with him.

But the film is at its strongest when the emphasis is on action. Far from the uncanny valley, the viewer gets swept up in sequences which are fun, pure and simple. The impression is of Indiana Jones had Spielberg not been burdened by concerns such as gravity. I found myself laughing in delight at the sheer joy and impossibility of the scenes.

My biggest criticism was of the ending, which is always a sad way to leave a film. Without giving too much away, there's a scene in which the villain is vanquished, which feels very gratifyingly resolute. The film could have ended there, or just afterwards. Instead, we're left with an ending that feels weirdly somewhere between an epilogue and a prologue. Don't get me wrong, I'm a lover of both (you want to give me more story? Okay!), but this just felt disturbingly un-resolute. Almost as if the film's editors weren't entirely sure where to wrap things up, so they picked a random place and sent it off. I understand that it may have been to whet the audience's appetite for a sequel, but my appetite was already whetted by the movie on the whole--ending it that way felt unnecessary.

On the whole, I loved Tintin. I would love to see another film, especially if they adhere to the source material as well as they did this time around. Reading the books, it was interesting to see where the writers chose to break away from the original, and gratifying to agree with them in every single instance. Stephen Moffat is one of those writers and, as I've seen in his work on the wonderful Sherlock, he's very skilled at creating something new while paying homage to the source. With the same crew, I have great faith that subsequent films would be just as much fun.

Just the Ticket

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:15:00 +0000

I consume a lot of media. Movies, television shows, video games, books, blog posts, you can name most things and find that I absorb it on a regular basis. When I find something I really enjoy or that strikes me more than most, I tend to go out and absorb more of it; i.e., reading every book written by an author I discovered, doing intensive research on the making of a movie I liked, etc. And then, once I've pulled all of this information into my brain, I let it mull. It rolls around and around, sometimes getting spit out at nearby listeners, but mostly turning into something cohesive that I then fold neatly, place in a box, and file somewhere in the recesses of my brain to do absolutely nothing with.

I've received the comment more than once that I should actually sit down and review these things I consume, rather than just placing them in my personal bin, and for the most part I've brushed these off. But it's a new year, which always seems to beg new adventures. I'd like to challenge myself to think more critically, and a review project seems like just the ticket. And that's what I'm calling it: Just the Ticket. I have a tendency to save all of my ticket stubs from anyplace that gives me one, thinking I'm going to do something with them. This is my way of doing something with them.

There are a few rules I'm going to be following:

1. Keeping it fresh: I'll be looking at things I've only recently seen for the first time. I'm not going to go back and review all of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, just because I've seen it (though never doubt that I could, folks. Never doubt).

2. Just right: I'll aim to keep these from being either too long or too short.

3. Don't pull punches: I'm also not always going to be nice about things. This is about being critical, and there are plenty of things that I don't like. I'm not going to sugarcoat them.

4. Vary it up: I mentioned up top that I consume all sorts of media; I'm not going to limit myself in what I review. So prepare yourself for a variety. It will probably be weird.

5. Spoiler alert: I'll do my best to avoid spoilers, but I'm not going to skirt around them if I need to make a particular point. I'll try to note on each review whether they're spoiler-free.

I doubt I'll post on any sort of schedule (when do I ever?), but I'll aim for some degree of regularity. Just to keep me honest. And speaking of, full disclosure: though I've been thinking about doing this for a long time, Dustin Harbin's Review Project partially spurred me to action (which you should also check out, especially if you like awesome drawings). I can't promise these will be great to start with. In fact, I can almost guarantee they won't be. But I hope you'll enjoy taking this ride with me!

Door of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:47:00 +0000

Yes, I'm still swooning over glossy black doors. But this one is extra swoon-worthy--it's the front door of Holly Golightly's apartment in NYC, which is for sale! Though the building doesn't seem to include the fantastic stairwell, which was always my favourite bit of the film design-wise (well, that and the bathtub couch).

New Year's Eve

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:03:00 +0000

Just took a quick break from thank you note-writing and video game-playing to share this wonderful New Year's ditty with you, courtesy of Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. For the full effect, you should click on the little snowflake below the progress bar at the bottom of the window--trust me! Earlier this month, my best bud shared an elevator with Mr. Gordon-Levitt in the publishing house where she works. She said he was very kind as she told him, knees shaking, that she loved him in Inception. Which I think is simply lovely.

Here's hoping the new year brings us more charming musical collaborations between these two!

Snuggly Weekend Links

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Anne) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Hey-o, folks! Do you have mad plans for New Years? I do! They are to light some mango-scented candles and play Uncharted, because that's just how I roll. But if you are planning to spend Saturday with living, breathing human beings, that is totally OK, too! In the meantime, here are some rad links to snuggle up with until the ball drops:

- Daniel discovers the Hyrax

- Jonathan Mann looked at the terrible Christmas Day tweets from kids who didn't get an iphone, and thought: this is a song. And it's wonderful.

- Nerd Alert: the official Legend of Zelda timeline is just as confusing as you thought it'd be.

- I have officially fallen for this paint color. I want it everywhere.

- Artist Noelle Stevenson decided that the internet needed a place for all of its drawings of animals looking stupid. This is that place.

- The lesson here is clearly that frogs are awesome and you should probably not taunt them.

- If you've ever thought, "I have a question about fashion and would like the answer to be illustrated!" then Carly Monado's "OOOH, Girl" is for you. The above illustration is from this classic.

Have a great weekend, and a peachy keen New Year, y'all!