Babbling Brooklyn

New York loves you when you’re there, but doesn’t miss you when you’re gone.

—Dan Jones (Taaffe Manor housemate)

This American Life.

If you’ve never listened to This American Life, it’s hard to explain why it’s so great. Every week this radio programme based in Chicago chooses a theme and proceeds to tell stories of real people around that theme. The host, Ira Glass, has the most delicious voice, it’s listening to honey drip off a spoon. You know sometimes when the sound of somebody’s voice is so amazing, almost soporific, that you’re not even listening to what they’re saying?  But all you want them to do is keep talking, so you think of ways to continue the conversation even though you’re not listening to the answers… 

This is what listening to this radio programme is like. Except you are listening to the answers. In fact, you are completely hooked. Mesmerised by every word. 

All I can say is that you HAVE to listen to it. It will improve the quality of your life by 200%. If you like it as much as I do, please consider making a donation to secure the future of free downloads. You won’t regret it, in fact you’ll probably be entranced every week for the rest of your life. 

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/492/dr-gilmer-and-mr-hyde

Our old neighbour from Carroll Gardens posted this saying it reminded him of the moment on the F train (our old local train) as you go above ground. If you’ve never gone further south on the F line than Carroll Street, I can highly recommend it. The view over Brooklyn is the stuff of dreams.

Paris je t’aime.

As if I need another reason! I bring you Nailmatic, selling non-toxic nail varnishes that are not tested on animals and all made in France. You wanna know the best part? They sell them from vending machines! Hell yes. 

The D&G show brought back vivid memories of a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta on the island of Torcello near Venice. As a massive fan of mosaics, living in Italy was amazing as they were everywhere, from the church down the road to Ravenna and beyond. But the cathedral at Torcello was the holy grain for me. A work of staggering beauty dating from the 12th century, it covers the whole wall of the church and depicts the Last Judgement.  I was mesmerized, absorbing each and every detail like a giant sponge (and I later wrote it all down so I would never forget it!). I love how these tiny tiles of colors show such depth and detail and emotion. The meaning is never lost, regardless of whether you are really close up looking at one intimate detail or far away drinking in the whole picture. 

The D&G show brought back vivid memories of a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta on the island of Torcello near Venice. As a massive fan of mosaics, living in Italy was amazing as they were everywhere, from the church down the road to Ravenna and beyond. But the cathedral at Torcello was the holy grain for me. A work of staggering beauty dating from the 12th century, it covers the whole wall of the church and depicts the Last Judgement.  I was mesmerized, absorbing each and every detail like a giant sponge (and I later wrote it all down so I would never forget it!).

I love how these tiny tiles of colors show such depth and detail and emotion. The meaning is never lost, regardless of whether you are really close up looking at one intimate detail or far away drinking in the whole picture. 

Byzantine Princesses, Medieval Queens and Regal Red Warrior(esse)s marching into battle.

I tend to think of D&G as the upmarket version of Italians that love gold trainers. Slightly over the top and trashy but think they’re super stylish (we’ve all seen them!)

But here, showing at Milan fashion week for Fall/Winter 2013, I must eat my crown. Dolce & Gabbana at their Renaissance best, perfectly blurring the lines between art and fashion with these breathtakingly beautiful mosaic dresses. Viva Italia! 

Photos courtesy The Sartorialist.

Petit short for your viewing pleasure by the girl I wish was my best friend, Lena Durham.

Merci mille fois a Garance Doré, pour rendre mon pratique français plus amusant. I love seeing the world of fashion through her eyes: the whimsy and beauty of the shows, the astounding theatricals of the venues and the people that make it all come together. But best of all, she laughs. All the time. At her herself, at others and at the fashion industry. She invites you into her world and all of a sudden these powerful fashion players become real people - creative, intuitive, vulnerable. 

I have always believed in fashion as a force for good. But democratic fashion that allows you to dream, well that’s the best it can be. 

Happy St. Patrick’s day. 

Difficult to talk about dystopian visions of the 1980s New York City subway without mentioning The Warriors. Essential viewing.

(It got made into a pretty good video game as well. Unfortunately the name of the company that adapted it momentarily escapes me…..)