roald dahl

Roald Dahl's writing room - read about it here.

Growing up, I loved Roald Dahl - his books (along with Judy Blume's, Laura Ingalls Wilder's, Ann M. Martin's et al.) are pretty much the reason I became such a bookworm. Matilda was, of course, my favourite, but all of his others are terrific. It's no surprise then, that many of his books have been turned into films - The Witches (which used to terrify me to no end), James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Matilda (am I forgetting any?). The newest project? Fantastic Mr. Fox will hop onto the big screen this November. Why am I excited? It's directed by Wes Anderson (!!!), and Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman (!!!), Meryl Streep, George Clooney, and Owen Wilson are all lending their voices. I can't get over how, well, fantastic the combination of Roald Dahl + Wes Anderson + Jason Schwartzman is.

"I learned French for you!"

It seems that this week I've taken to watching movies that defined my early teenage years. On this particular rainy Saturday morning, I indulged in another favourite, 10 Things I Hate About You. I love this movie for its over-the-top romantic gestures (especially when Heath Ledger serenades Kat on the bleachers). And when Joseph Gordon Levitt (how cute is he?) desperately tries to woo Bianca by becoming her French tutor (even though he doesn't speak a lick of the language). It reminds me that it's things like this in a relationship that I appreciate most. Romance in the way of little notes and serenading, inside jokes and fun, quirky things (paintball, anyone?) are way better than a bunch of over-the-top gifts.

Also, the scene where Kat table dances to the Notorious BIG's 'Hypnotize' is probably the highlight of the whole movie.

happy.halloween #2

Just around the corner in every woman's mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her.

- Wilhela Cushman (Ladies Home Journal)

this is halloween

Trick or Treat!

McQueen's McCrazy heels

I always have to laugh when Katie informs me about a new high-heeled acquisition and then inevitably reveals that in fact she's purchased flats with a barely there one-inch stub on the sole. Obviously, she's a fan of the kitten heel. So I can only imagine how she might feel about the horrifyingly high footwear from the Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 collection. Towering over even the highest of high heels these monstrosities measure an insane 12-inches. Yikes. It's good to know even the clackers (Devil Wears Prada reference, anyone?) over at Vogue can't handle these stilettos on steroids. Although, somehow I'm sure that Lady Gaga will find a way to pull them off.

lula scrapbook

Tennesseed. My apartment. Just after she came back from filming with you. I made her swing her head so it would blur, I'm very happy it did.

New York City
By ALEXA CHUNG
Twenty-seventh of October 2009

Found an old panda car!

Nasu, Japan.
By FUMIKO IMANO
Fifteenth of October 2009

All the lost wedding dresses.

Regina, Saskatchewan
By CLÉMENCE POÉSY
Fifth of October 2009

Bridget Bardot and the Original Paparazzi.
An Exhibition of Rare Vintage Photographs.
Showing at James Hyman Gallery,
5 Saville Row London W1S 3PD, until 3 October.
Photo by SAM LEVIN

By LEITH CLARK
Twenty-third of September 2009

Lula magazine has a (relatively) new website, and I love it (almost as much as the mag itself). Epecially the 'Lula Scrapbook' section. Contributors include the Mulleavy sisters, Clemence Poesy, and Alexa Chung, and the photos are all so beautifully well-connected. All magazines should do stuff like this on their websites.

Bizarre Bazaar

Check out more of these hauntingly weird and wonderful photos here.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that Halloween is definitely one of my absolute favourite holidays. Not only does it involve copious amounts of chocolate consumption (those costco sized boxes of chocolates never seem to actually make it to any of the kids in my neighbourhood) but it's pretty much a world-wide theme party that almost everyone chooses to participate in. So in all my excitement surrounding big day/weekend I thought it absolutely necessary that I share with you this strange Tim Burton-esq fashion editorial from the October issue Harper's Bazaar. I can't tell whether I'm loving it or completely creeped out - maybe a bit of both - and of course (shock me, shock me) bunny ears make yet another predictable appearance.

The editorial is part Halloween fashion vignette part promo for Burton's upcoming retrospective exhibit at the MOMA. How cool does this sound...

"Following the current of his visual imagination from early childhood drawings through his mature work, the exhibition presents artwork generated during the conception and production of his films, and highlights a number of unrealized projects and never-before-seen pieces"

Come November I'll be wishing I could hop on a plane to NYC faster than you can say Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.

rest, relax, read

While visiting one of my favourite blogs, I came across these beautiful book covers, the subject of "an integrated branding campaign based around the illustrative reinterpretation of classic book covers directed toward junior-high-school students." I love this - especially the REST RELAX READ slogan. How perfect. You can see the whole thing here. I want them all (and wish I was doing a similar thesis - how cool is this?).

Dinner date?

With too little time to work 9-5 and blog I figure I might as well blog about my work. This week I’m working on the new dining listings, which involves writing up quippy little sentences about the fresh meat (if you will) on the TO dining circuit. Unfortunately no one is sending this unpaid intern/minion out to any of these trendy new restos to sample dishes and take notes on the ambiance – but nevertheless, it’s not a bad assignment. I’ve put together a little list of my personal faves that I’ll be looking to try in the very near future – if anyone’s interested in a dinner date.

Newly opened Buca is giving Terroni and Pizzeria Libretto a run for their money in the battle to become the west end’s premiere thin crust pizza joint. This renovated boiler room in King West boasts beautiful sandblasted brick walls and 30-ft ceilings – giving the interior an industrial chic vibe. If you can find it (the resto is tucked away in an alleyway alongside Cheval) then be sure to sample charcuterie from the onsite meat curing room.

Apparently, dive bars are the new supper clubs (thanks Drew Barrymore) so it wont be long before all the hip young things in the city flock west (oh wait they already do) to loiter outside the newest hot spot along the coveted Queen Street strip, Double Deuce Saloon. The décor lends itself to a dive-bar-chic vibe with neon signs, worn in floorboards and a stuffed boar’s head above the bar. Plenty of interesting beers on tap and a tasty, moderately priced menu of smoked meat sandwiches and chili served with sweet buttermilk cornbread and fresh guacamole. This cool yet casual spot offers a quieter alternative (for now at least) to the crowded hipster hangouts in the area. And if you’re wondering about the origins of the bar’s kitschy name, turns out it was chosen as a result of a Facebook naming contest – the winner received a $1,000 bar tab … I hope to befriend him soon.

And while I rarely find a reason to go out in the Entertainment District, Spice Safar has peaked my curiosity. This self-described boutique/bakery/café/lounge hybrid is an all purpose space done up with wood and velvet, giving the room a luxurious yet mellow vibe. During the day, there’s plenty of artisan coffee and baked goodies to be had while browsing the eclectic products for sale at the on-site boutique. At night, the after work crowds nibble on tapas style fare and sip premium ‘mixology’ martinis (I’m not sure what that means other than “we can charge $15 for these”) made with made-in-house absinthe.

street walker

I love:
fur + a hoody
miranda july in rodarte
stripes
that lovely cream shirt
slouchy grey coats
those chloe studded boots + nylons

swoooooon

(pictures from turnedout, jack & jil, the sartorialist)

McSweeney's Internet Tendency: Reviews of New Food

I've been frequenting the McSweeney's website for the past couple of years - the site is fairly text heavy (and a bit tiresome to navigate), but the text itself often provides some hilarious reading material ("It's decorative gourd season, motherf*@ckers") for days when procrastination is the business. One section I find quite entertaining (as I love reading/writing/thinking about food) is McSweeney's Reviews of New Food. This delightful little chunk of their website is filled with an abundance of bite-sized reader-submitted reviews, ranging from cilantro, to Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses, to low-carb doritos, and so forth. I particularly like the one about Laughing Cow spreadable cheese wedges, as they are Korea's answer to my real cheese cravings (and I know Jessica, too, likes to always have some on hand in her fridge).

On a side: Although this really deserves a post of its own, The McSweeney's Store is having a sale (a cornucopia of cheap books, as they put it) and issues of McSweeney's Quarterly Concern are about 5 bucks each - far better from the full price I willingly paid for the issues on my shelf. These literary journals are comprised of quirky, endearing, and just down-right beautifully written short stories (Miranda July and Joyce Carol Oates are contributors) that are bound up in quite imaginative ways. Each book's design and editorial content differs from its predecessors and are certainly worth this generous sale price. I particularly like Issue 20. Dave Eggers, you rule.

love me do

i think this is cool

My incredibly talented artist boyfriend has finally gotten his act together and started a blog of his own: i think this is cool. It's still a bit under construction and I may be a bit biased, but I think it's pretty cool, too. xo

on the mark

"I tried taking pictures, but they were so mediocre. I guess every girl goes through a photography phase. You know, horses... taking pictures of your feet."
- Charlotte, Lost in Translation

I feel as though I'm having a bit of a photography phase at the moment, living in a foreign country and all - and while I enjoy it, I do feel most of my pictures are a bit mediocre - namely because all I want to photograph is food. Someone whose photographs are a far cry from mediocre? Stacey Mark - she takes the dreamiest pictures (and used to be the Photo Director for Nylon). She first tried her hand at photography during a trip to the Toronto Film Festival, where she shot actress/director Asia Argento:

"Asia had no idea that I'd never shot a photo before. She looked at me as she would look at a photographer - she looked at me with trust, and through her eyes, I became a photographer"
-Stacey Mark

Her clients include Kate Bosworth, Lula Magazine, Juliette Lewis, Bazaar UK, and many more. So lovely.

narcolepsy

This shoot from Vogue Girl Korea is exactly how I feel today - oh so sleepy.