A Survey of Cheesy Proportions

Tonight, while sitting in the family room with my parents and roommates, enjoying all sorts of vices I shouldn't be, my dad brought up a debate over which type of macaroni and cheese was the more common among Americans--the epic debate of Kraft Mac n' Cheese versus homemade. My dad's prediction was that 97/100 Americans would first think of Kraft mac n' cheese over the homemade variety due to our mass advertising, the recognizable blue box, and growing up recognizing those shapes in school lunches.

My roommate, who is from the south, ALWAYS thinks of homemade. I don't think I've ever seen a box of Kraft in our apartment, and she's been known to make homemade mac on a regular basis. So, with these conflicting opinions putting too much pressure on my mellow buzz, we decided to take this to the test and do an official survey. Taking to our cell phone, we sent out mass text messages to roughly 30 people hoping that between the differences in our friend groups and the various geographic locations of those surveyed, we could get a decent survey.

The survey was conducted on December 27, 2009 between 9:00-9:30 PM.

Out of the 30 people surveyed, we only heard from 24 people.

4 of the people surveyed were in the room when this happens, a worthy note is that three of those people are in the same family, which means that their opinions may be a bit bias.

People polled were from the following areas: Montana, Florida, California, New York, North Carolina, Canada, Oregon, Washington DC, and Texas.

The results were as follows:

17/24 people identified with Kraft Mac 'n Cheese, thus giving my dad's side a 71%

5/24 responded with a more specific form of homemade, this includes 2 people that responded vaguely and needed to be prompted with the following question: homemade or kraft

Other interesting responses of note included:

"Is this a trick question?"
"It's delicious"
"Awesome"
"Yummy"

And one very special response even included a picture of the Kraft Dinner box with a special note saying, "I survive on that shit."

So there you have it--in the age old debate of whether or not our childhood advertising sticks with us into our adulthood, the answer is clear, a good 71% of people love them some blue box.

Hip To Be Square?

A few years ago, when I was in university, knitting was all the rage. It was featured in every fashion magazine out there, celebrities were spotted bringing their knitting with them, and I, too, desperately wanted to learn to make my own scarves, hats, mittens, and sweaters.

Luckily for me, my university actually had free knitting lessons around the lunch hour every Tuesday. Arming myself with thick, wooden needles, and a chunky skein of wool and embarked on creating my very first knit creation. Upon the completion of that first scarf, I was hooked. I spent all my free time knitting, and before I knew it, I had Christmas presents for all my friends and family members.

Flash forward six years. I have since given up the knitting, but am now home in Montana with those same giant wood needles and a new skein of yarn. But the question is, is knitting still cool? None of my friends now do it, chunky knit scarves have given way to pretty ethnic patterned scarves, and I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time.

Knitting is relaxing, meditative, and it gives me something positive to do with my hands. It allows me to put down my iPhone for a few minutes and knit a row or two.

Knitting is creative-- I get the opportunity to pick out textures, colors, patterns, and put them together in a unique, and one of a kind way.

Knitting is productive--there is something so positive about having a product that you have made with your own hands. Even if it is while I'm sitting in front of the TV watching The Breakfast Club for the millionth time, I like that after a week or two, I have something warm to wear in the New York winters.

So I may be a 23 year old granny, but I think my compelling arguments to the benefits of knitting win. So if you'll excuse me, it's time to put my computer away for the night and knit two, purl one.

Happy Holidays!

To my very few loyal readers-

On this day full of religion and consumerism I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for reading. As I sit here, watching the Boston Celtics, waiting for a seafood feast, I am truly thankful for what was an interesting and crazy year.

I hope everyone has a wonderful end of the year, and I hope that 2010 brings everything we could all possibly want!

See you next year!

Blog Change Roll Call

So I have been "Poser Girl" for about two years now, and I figured out that it really wasn't working for me. So I've decided to go a different route.

The Fake Hipster. Living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I have often been asked whether or not I'm a hipster. The short answer is yes and no. I am a hipster in the fact that I like an underground music scene, I wear vintage clothes, and I need to be in a creative environment. I don't however live in an amazing, modern apartment, I don't have much of a disposable income, and my parents don't pay my rent.

Alas, The Fake Hipster was born. Part hipster, part real. I'll be covering everything from fashion trends, to the music scene, to movies, and popular culture.

Same old poser girl, brand new face.

Style Inspiration: Near Dark

I know that vampires are all the rage these days, but after taking a Vampires in Literature and Film class in university (oh yeah, that was offered), I feel like I might be a bit more qualified to talk about vampire films then some people out there.

I am a sucker for 80s vampire films. The Hunger, Lost Boys, and last, but very not least, Near Dark. Kathryn Bigelow's western vampire film is ridiculously violent, has a killer soundtrack (scored by Tangerine Dream), and is full of sociopathic crazy southern vampires.

Near Dark also does one thing for me that some of these other films have not. It gives me this ridiculous style inspiration. Call it growing up in the country, or maybe it's my fond nostalgia for the American Southwest, but it makes me want to be a sexy cowboy vamp.

Jenny Wright's tight jeans and tied shirts, Jenette Goldstein's blond hair and dark roots, and most importantly, Bill Paxton's spurs. I feel like I could get away with most of these looks in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, but the spurs are something I'm not so sure of. But man, I would feel like such a badass...



I wish I was cool enough to pull of Jenette Goldstein's wicked dark roots and tough as nails exterior



Bill Paxton and Adrian Pasdar in the memorable bar scene. This scene singlehandedly made me want to own spurs, if you have yet to see it, it's on IFC all month, and easy enough to find on Netflix.

2010 New Year's Resolutions

As 2009 comes to a rapid close, I find myself stressed out about the lack of all I've accomplished in the past year, and the stress of trying to accomplish more in the impending year. Therefore, I think I'll have to set some goals for myself:

10. Start working on my jewelry again- I think my first project will be a Christmas gift for my mom when I get back to Montana. Shhhh, don't tell her.

9. Play the viola- I've been doing this on and off for a decade. Time to get back on?

8. Write more- Finish the screenplays I've been working on, start the ones that have been floating around in my head, and blog more, easy enough.

7. Start running- get my lazy, but wonderful ass back in shape. I used to use running as a form of therapy, somehow that got lost in the mix as I got crazier, coincidence?

6. Drink less- yeah, this may be just a joke.

5. Revel in my alone time- I already do this quite a bit, but I feel like I need to do it some more.

4. Save some money- (see drink less).

3. Maybe get a real job, or another internship, or take some classes- basically, just do something more then wait tables and bartend come the New Year.

2. Finish my grad school applications- my original goal was to have them all in by the first of the year. Yeah, procrastination got the better of me on that one.

1. Be a better friend/lover/daughter- This is always my #1 resolution. I don't think there is anything more important then being a good person to the people that matter most in your life.

So I hope you'll all join me in the New Year and see if any of these goals actually happen. Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Style Icon: Angela Chase

Due to my bed rest last week and current unemployment this week, I have had a lot of time to re-watch old TV shows, mainly My So-Called Life. Now this is not my first watching of MSCL. In fact, I've watched the entire series probably 4 or 5 times, if not more.

Re-watching this show has made me decide one thing...I want to be Angela Chase.



Claire Danes perfectly captured that teen angst that the 90s was known for. I understand feeling that way at 10, then again at 12, 15, 17, and at 23. Only, Angela did it better. That hair, those friends, those emotions, that family, that drama, and more importantly...




That boy. Ahhh, Jordan Catalano, you were the childhood crush I never recovered from. You have been and always will be the perfect bruting male. If I dye my hair can you pretend that you wrote "Red" about me, and not your car?

Let's not forget the clothes. The flower prints, the plaid, the boots, the perfect shapelessness of Angela's dresses.




It makes me think that the 90s coming back won't be such a bad thing. I'm dusting off my Doc Martens in anticipation.

Top 10 Favorite Books of 2009

I am not the New York Times Best-Seller list. I don’t rush out to buy the newest books, and I have never read a Twilight novel in my life. But I love literature and think my opinion is valid, so here is a top ten list of the books I have read in the past year:

10. Geek Love
Catharine Dunn’s novel about a family who’s members are nearly all in a carnival sideshow strikes a chord and common theme among books I like to read…it’s bizarre. It manages to be crazy, emotional, and sad all at the same time. I recommend it for anyone looking for something a little bit different from the New York Times Best Sellers.

9. Famous for 15 Minutes
Ultra Violet was an integral part of the Andy Warhol factory scene in the 60s. This memoir, albeit not well written, is fascinating to anyone interested in Warhol, Dali, and the sex, drugs, and rock and roll scene that was the New York 60s. Now out-of-print, it is relatively easy to find a used copy online.

8. Animal Farm
2009 was my year of catching up on classics. Unfortunately, most of those classics did not make my list, but George Orwell’s metaphorical novel has affected my core. Read in the course of two hours at a local coffee shop, I found myself deeply upset, and I don’t think I ate meat for weeks.

7. Drugs are Nice: A Post-Punk Memoir
Lisa Crystal Carver’s memoir of the 1980s and 1990s underground is missing the one thing you’d think it would have: drugs, at least from her. What it does have is lots of music references, the start of ‘zine culture, alleged Nazi’s and the story of one woman’s pain and strength to get through it.

6. Into the Wild
I found my copy of Into the Wild on the street and had I not, I probably never would have read it. Part of me envy’s Chris McCandless’ adventure, and the interviews with everyone he touched during his travels is inspiring. Later made into a movie starring the amazing Emile Hirsch, this story is wonderful and heartbreaking.

5. Middlesex
Jeffrey Eugenides ode to a hermaphrodite is his first, but not only appearance on my list. Spanning from Greek grandparents, to Grosse Pointe, Michigan, this novel is truly an amazing read.

4. Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs
Chuck Klosterman’s best selling essay collection makes it pretty high on my list. It is perfect for anyone in their 20s, it deals with topics relevant to growing up in the late 80s and early 90s, and it made me want to rewatch My So-Called Life.

3. The Fountainhead
Ayn Rand’s objectivism is not a popular topic among most people, and while I wouldn’t consider myself an objectivist, I will say this. I want to be Dominique Francon. Her powerful female role is admirable and inspiring, if only one day I can be that much of a ball buster.

2. American Psycho
Bret Easton Ellis tribute to New York and all it’s Patrick Bateman’s in the late 1980s. This was the last B.E.E. book for me to read, the most difficult, and my favorite. I had to speed through this one because I began thinking like Patrick Bateman and my inner monologues kept me up at night.

1. The Virgin Suicides
Jeffrey Eugenides first novel that was later adapted into a feature film by Sophia Coppola. Not only is it my favorite read of 2009, but it’s quite possibly my favorite read ever. Written with grace and eloquence, The Virgin Suicides hits a note that anyone who has ever faced adolescence can relate to.

Top 10 Websites of 2009

As the year comes to a close, I'm going to be creating a series of Top 10 Lists, this being a blog, I felt as though this would be the most appropriate one to start with.

Whether it was sitting in front of a computer at an internship, or having downtime at home, I am on the internet a lot. Here is a quick list of my favorite and most frequently visited websites of 2009:

10. Sea of Shoes- I am a newbie to Jane Aldrige’s ode to footwear. Although I can never afford most of the pieces she covets, I love the photography, the stories, and Jane’s unique style. I can only imagine what kind of life this socialite leads!

9. A Haute Mess- Another great fashion website, run by Vancouver’s Niki Blasina. Niki’s style, DIY projects, and PR stories are great. I expect to see big things from this fashionista in 2010.

8. The Superficial- I try not to completely surround myself with celebrity culture, but this is one site I just can’t get enough of. It’s probably because it doesn’t take it self or celebrities seriously, has more fun posting naked pictures, and the writers aren’t whoring themselves out like some other celebrity gossip gurus *ahem, you know who you are.

7. Wikipedia- While not always the most reliable, Wikipedia is great for learning random information. Wikipedia is also quite possibly the best website to pull up in a bar when you are trying to prove your friends wrong on a random piece of trivia.

6. IMDB- Yes, I love the fact that you can learn who played what character or who directed a specific film via IMDB. However, due to my knowledge bank of random facts, I rarely need IMDB for that. I do however, love to use IMDB to learn where a movie was filmed, or to read the fun little trivia facts about what happened behind the scenes.

5. ESPN- I have always loved sports, my high-school cheerleading pictures will attest to that. But this year, working at a sports bar, sports began to consume my life. I use this site as an obvious way to check scores for the games I missed, and to learn about the latest pro scandal (Tiger? Ochocinco? Etc.)

4. Craigslist- This is sort ofhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif a duh. Whether or not it’s using Craigslist to find a job, new apartment, talent gig, or just perusing the “Missed Connections” section, I’ve spent more time here then anywhere else.

3. Fashionista- By far my favorite of all the fashion blogs. Not only do you get the most up-to-date fashion news, but this blog also posts information on all the best sample sales in New York, as well as any internships they get information about. (Thanks Fashionista, I have an interview on Monday!)

2. eBay- I am always on the hunt for original pieces, and the better deal I can find, the happier I am. I use this site to scour the globe for amazing dresses, vintage accessories, and unique gifts. It’s a given.

1. Twitter- Okay, I am officially Twitter obsessed. Whether it’s the ability to obnoxiously post private conversations back and forth, following celebrities, or hey, advertising my blog, this site has me hooked.

The Most Un-PC Thing I Do

I am usually known for being very PC. I try not to generalize or stereotype groups of people, I try to live by John Stuart Mill's standards of Liberty, and I don't eat a lot of meat. It's usually this last clause that I get hung up on.

I love animals. I often thing that the farming industry mistreats their livestock and I try to buy as knowledgeable of that as possible. I was often referred to as the "Food Nazi" while living at home after I posted a list of over-farmed fish on the fridge. I am a valiant animal loving hippie who loves to spread the gospel around.

Sort of.

You see, underneath this hippie exterior lies a total hypocrite. Regardless of my animal and food politics there is one thing I do that cannot be made up for. I wear fur.

Hold onto your cans of red paint. I, of course, have rules by which I wear fur. It has to be used, it has to be vintage (the longer it's been dead, the better I sleep at night), and it doesn't have to be real. I know that these rules will never make up for my fur loving, animal killing self, and one day I may look back and be disgusted by my choices. But that day, is not today. No, today was the first day I decided to sport my newest fur addition:


BEHOLD: THE PATCHWORK RABBIT JACKET

A year ago, I would have thought this jacket tacky, and not for me. However, ever since I watched Wait Until Dark starring Audrey Hepburn, I have been obsessed with getting a patchwork fur. At the beginning of the movie, which takes place in New York in 1967, a minor character is spotted wearing a trench length patchwork fur. While I'm too short to wear a trench length anything, I think this shorter version will suffice.


A better view of the length




And a close up of all the different colors.

My roommate and I have established that it's probably rabbit (though I was secretly hoping it was fake actually). If only my PETA member mom could see me now...

Guess Who's More Famous Then You?

Ok, so I don't go out too often on Saturday nights. My Sunday's are consumed with a lovely 12 hour bar shift, and I HATE being tired for it, so instead, I come home and spend a night in front of the TV, well tonight, I was in for a treat.

After consuming a couple drinks, and some hot wings with my roommate, we came home, only to see that Prince's Purple Rain was on. Now, if you read my last post, you will realize that I am obsessed with Prince, especially Purple Rain. Now, my roommate hates the fact that I'm making her watch this, she keeps saying things like "Prince was awful in concert," to which my clever retort is "well, he's much more famous then you," and she just pulled out "Alex, this movie is over 20 years old," to which I quickly responded "well, I'm over 20 years old." Yes, I am clever, but more importantly so is Prince.

Can I just say a few things. The first, his mustache and eyelashes make me want to be pretty. The second, his poet shirts make me want to be pretty. And third, okay, he just makes me want to be pretty. Prince may be a bit crazy, and a bit washed up. But he will always be pretty, and probably more famous then me.

And with that, I shall retreat to my bed, listen to the best of Prince, and wear my vintage Purple Rain tee. Have a good night.

My New Vintage Obsession: Men's Vintage T-Shirts

As I mentioned in my last post, I often shop vintage in order to save money while living in the city. Well, that and I cannot stand to even walk into an H&M or any other sort of big boxy store, which leaves me with all the great Soho boutiques I can't afford. Right, so vintage it is.

Usually my vintage shopping leads me to great vintage dresses, maybe a jacket here and there, and some accessories. Growing up, I was never a t-shirt and jeans type girl, but with the stresses of the city, that has quickly changed into my everyday, non-work wardrobe. The one difficulty I have had with bridging the gap between my love of supersoft tee's and vintage shopping is that it is impossible to find really killer t-shirts, that still fit, and stick true to my personality.

Well, call me Lady Luck, because all of that has recently changed. First, came my vintage-esque* Ramones T-shirt that I only managed to snag after Annette had second thoughts and threw it back on a random rack. Then, while shopping for my Halloween costume (I made an amazing Garth), I came across a vintage Woodstock t-shirt. Now, it's not like these t-shirts come with tags of authenticity, so I know that this shirt may not be from 1969, but I do know that it is tissue paper thin, is oversized enough to look amazing, and the screenprint is so worn out that you have to squint to read it. Even the check-out girl was totally jealous, I thought I had myself quite the find.





Shortly thereafter, I decided to give the vintage store another go (I hit it about every two weeks, and usually leave with one, maybe two items depending on my luck that day) and on this particular day I decided to start in the men's t-shirts. I had actually been going back to see if an old Cars concert tee was still there, when lo and behold, I found it. The holy grail of vintage t-shirts for me, a Prince, Purple Rain t-shirt.



Now, I have this sick obsession with Prince. I don't know what it is, maybe the crazy androgyny? Maybe the fact that in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet the choir did a gospel version of "When Doves Cry," either way, I recently bought a raspberry beret just so I could justify singing the song to myself when I walk down the street. Over the past week this shirt has become hands down my favorite article of clothing. I will forever keep it with me, and when I can no longer wear it, it will go into a trunk alongside my mom's ancient Bowie and Police concert tee's (which may get stolen at Christmas).

Here's one more pic of all three tee's, just so you can get an idea of what I'm wearing on a day to day basis. Lately, I've been combining these shirts with my Kimchi and Blue harem pants, some random knee high black boots I got ages ago, an oversized cardigan and fur vest. Nothing beats being comfortable and warm in the fall in NYC.




*Vintage-esque- meaning, I don't think it was too vintage, I think it's more one of those shirts that is bought at Hot Topic to be cool, but later consigned when they realize they know nothing about the actual band. However, it still fits correctly and is perfectly worn in.

RIP: Daul Kim 1989-2009

I have had supermodels on the brain today. I awoke to Doutzen Kroes tweeting non-stop about the VS Fashion Show (http://twitter.com/MissDK) which was filmed tonight in New York, or Fashionista's posting of the George Michael "Freedom" video (http://www.fashionista.com), and now there is news that Daul Kim, a Korean supermodel, has been found dead in her Paris apartment.

I may not be extremely well versed on my supermodels that are either A) post-1994, or B) not heavily involved in the VS campaign, but as I perused Daul's book on models.com, I had more then one "I know that photo" moments. While they have not officially named the cause of death, many news outlets are ruling it as a suicide.

Now, I know it's impossible to fully understand what is going on in someone's life that may make them want to kill themselves, but it almost seems more tragic when it's someone like this. Here was this 20 year old model, ranked in the top 20 models in the world, getting paid to wear haute couture, look beautiful, and stay skinny. She got to travel all the time, and have experiences so many people dream about.

It really makes you wonder, if this is happening to models, is there hope for the average person? I get paid to wait tables, I have been out of the United States fewer then five times, and I shop vintage to acquire anything cool on my budget. I guess this just proves that you never really know about someones life until you walk in their shoes.



RIP Daul Kim, your frisky and fabulous editorials, and sassy blog will be missed.

Hipster Must-See: Whip It

So today I decided to go to a movie alone. I thrive on alone time. I eat alone, get coffee alone, and go to movies alone. I swear that if I didn't have a roommate and work around people, I would be alone all the time. So when I picked out a movie today, i decided to go with Whip It, something feel good, female infused, and shorter then the average release.

Whip It was great. I'll be honest, maybe it was my low expectations, but I found it much more entertaining then I expected. I expected to cry for far too much of the movie. I expected Drew Barrymore to have a much larger part then she did. I expected more violence, more roller derby, and less connection to characters. Ellen Page and Alia Shawkat were high school students. Everything they felt, did, thought, I remember doing similar things a few years ago. Every roller derby chick had this tough as nails attitude, and a connection to Babe Ruthless that couldn't be replaced by a family you were born into.

Basically, Whip It made me want to do four things. 1) It made me want to join the roller derby. Duh, the girls seemed tough, but lovable. They seemed to be heroes, but the type of heroes you want to follow, not just idolize. 2) They made me want to dye my hair crazy colours. Kristin Wiig as a redhead, Ellen Page with blue hair, and Drew Barrymore with rainbow stripes. Maybe I would be able to identify more with my own identity if I borrowed someone else's hair. 3) Get a sleeve. Ok, so it's something I've wanted to do for a while, but the badass women in Whip It only intensified that desire. and 4) Move to Austin. Also something I've been contemplating for a while, and it is ALWAYS intensified by any and all movies that take place there. There is something so desirable about a city that allows you to let your freak flag fly. And my freak flag seems to be flying the Austin colors. If only it had a winter.

Either way, Whip It was worth my $12.50, and the two hours. It brought up some emotions that may have been needed to be expressed. It inspired me. Made me want to be tougher. Made me want to work out. Made me want to create the family I've been missing in New York. Who knows, maybe I'm relating to movies because I'm in that place in my life, or maybe it's just that Drew Barrymore actually has skills as a director.

Nerdy Things That Are Kinda Awesome: Crossword Edition

Okay, so I am a nerd. I love word games, puzzles, reading, and going to bed early on a Saturday night. Lately, my new nerdy obsession has been crossword puzzles. I recently bought a book of New York Times crosswords and have been taking it everywhere with me. Yes, I know I can do these online, or on my iphone (both of which I do from time to time), but the truth of the matter is, nothing is quite the same as doing a hardcopy crossword with a pen.

Crossword puzzles make you smarter. They expand your vocabulary, and make your brain work when it hasn't in a while. You can crossword when you're eating, watching a movie, on the subway, or out for some coffee. They are a great way to pass time when you're alone (which I often am), but you can still do them together (unless you're like me, and doing that makes you feel stupid). While I've been on board with this trend for a while, I'm now noticing my friends jupming on board. In fact, it's become the way that my best friend and her boyfriend spend their days off together. And if they are taking part in it, then it may have officially entered the hipster world.

I'll admit, I am a total sucker for anyone finishing a crossword puzzle in the dark corner of a hipster bar. It makes me think, "wow, you can read," and nothing is sexier then that. Well, maybe the ability to finish a rubix cube in under five minutes while drunk, but that's a different story.....

The Barbarella Remake

Okay, so there have been plenty of rumors flying around for the past couple years about the remake of Barbarella set for release in 2010. First, it was Lindsay Lohan vying for the spot after making Georgia Rule with Jane Fonda, then we heard that Rose McGowan was set to star alluding to more nepotism from potential director Robert Rodriguez. Now, Perez Hilton, a highly credible source*, is saying that both Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox are vying for the title role.

Now, having seen Barbarella and appreciating the cult film more then your average 23 year old female, I have to say, I would prefer none of these women for the role. I know that Hollywood doesn't exactly work on the whole "creating a star from an unknown" the way they did in it's glory days, but that was part of what made Barbarella so great!

No offense ladies, but I would love to see a fresh face embracing the title role, creating the character the way Jane Fonda did. If any of these women take on the role, it'll be ____________(enter starlet name) playing Barbarella. All of these women have become tabloid fodder and although I cannot prevent them from remaking a classic cult film, I can at least have my two cents about being able to take it seriously.

Vote no on starlets in remakes. Thanks :)



*highly credible source denotes extreme sarcasm

New York Band to see: At Sea

Music blogger and writer, I am not, music lover and appreciater? That I can do, and that I try to do. As often as I can afford to, I like to attend concerts in this great, wonderful city. Having grown up and lived in two relatively smaller areas my entire life, it wasn't until I moved east that I have been given so many opportunities to involve myself in a rich music culture. Having always been friend, lover, and supporter of various musicians throughout my lifetime, it has only become a natural progression to involve myself with people of similar interests in a greater area.

This became surprisingly easier when I discovered the band, At Sea, formerly known as The Death of Jason Brody. Introduced to me by a friend and co-worker of mine, I attended my first At Sea show expecting to hear a few wannabe rockstars that goofed off in music in their spare time. Fortunately for me, I was beyond pleasantly surprised.

Okay, before I go any further, I must give a word of warning- I'm always terrible at describing genre's of music, Indie rock is my constant scapegoat, making it far easier for me to avoid having to dissect someone else's art. Influenced by Doves, and The Stars, I like to label At Sea as "pussy rock," meaning- rock that I can't quite pin down, kinda poppy, kinda alternative, highly enjoyable. Led by Jason Brody, whose voice can be a bit reminiscent of Kurt Cobain at times, At Sea is a band not to be missed live. Not only do these gentleman know how to put together a song, but they are technically proficient, meaning they actually sound like themselves when they step on stage- a concept often missed with indie bands in the New York scene.

Having seen three shows thus far, with a fourth coming up in Jersey City this weekend, At Sea has gotten better each and everytime I have seen them. With an upcoming EP, I look forward to seeing what else these guys will do. Check out their website, support them, and follow them on twitter @atseatheband

Having spent too much time watching bands in dive bars, open for bigger acts, and catching shows in my neighborhood, At Sea will not disappoint. I expect nothing but amazing things from these guys in the future.


For More Info:
www.thedeathofjasonbrody.com

This Might Make You Hungry: Julie & Julia

As I've mentioned before, I rarely, if ever attend any sort of movie in New York. Lately, due to my recent unemployment, I have had a lot more time on my hands, which means that I got off my lazy butt on Saturday, went into the city, and accompanied my roommate to the movies.

There was difficulty deciding what movie to see. My top three choices were: The Cove, Food Inc., and It Might Get Loud. Yeah, I'm no fun, when I go to the movies I want to see a real story, or zombies. My roommates top three choices were: Harry Potter, District 9, and G.I. Joe. Choosing movies can create a problem for the two of us, so we reached a compromise and choose a lighthearted film based on actual people, actual events, and actual food.

Not to anyone's surprise, but both Meryl Streep and Amy Adams delivered wonderful performances. Streep's accent alone was worth the $12.50, she was Julia Child. I learned so much about Child's life that I would have never known otherwise, as well as learning a very small amount about French cuisine, which I am also somewhat new to. Adams, as the blogger on a mission delivered a believable performance full of happiness, sadness, and determination.

And of course, it is impossible to not talk about the food. Oh, the food. Raspberry creme, duck, mushrooms, and butter, lots and lots of butter. I left the theater not only wanting to eat everything in sight, but also enroll in a cooking class. Food is more then just fuel, it is an experience, and Julie & Julia proved that food can be a lifesaver, as well as a soul saver.

I laughed, I cried, my stomach rumbled, and I left the theatre feeling as though my time spent taking various classes, trying various internships, and learning new things has not been in vain. After all, Julia Child didn't become Julia Child until late in her life, and her legacy is one we cannot escape today. I can honestly say that this is one of the few movies I've seen recently that I strongly recommend to anyone, old, young, male, female, omnivorous, plan-ti-vo-rous? It may not teach you about Japan's whaling policies, or the food industry, but it will leave you feeling happy and hungry. Bon Apetit!

The Ugly Truth- What Agencies Look For

In my last post, I gave out a few tips to online submissions and open call etiquette to break into the modeling industry. Follow these tips all you want, but unless you are what an agency is looking for, you may never acheive the modeling dream.

THE STATISTICS:

Height Requirements: Let's be real. Most models, especially high fashion models are 5'9"-5'11". Yes, you get a few models out there that are shorter. We have girls that are 5'7.5", but they are usually 14 and still growing. And yes, Kate Moss is 5'6", and Devon Aoki is by far the shortest of all runway models at 5'5". BUT, unless you have the ability to change the entire industry by becoming the muse for Calvin Klein and the heroine chic generation, or your dad is the founder of Benihana, chances are, if you aren't 5'9", you are too short.

Yes, there are agencies that represent petite models out there. They are rarely high fashion, and much more likely to be based in commercial modeling. Even petite models have to meet certain height requirements, usually 5'4"-5'7".

For men, it's much of the same. Height requirements are usually between 6'0"-6'2". Unless you are gorgeous, and Abercrombie worthy, even then, shoot for 5'11" or taller, and you'd better have a pretty great body.

I know that the height requirements in the fashion industry are brutual and unfair. Towering at a massive 5'2", I realized very young that my dreams of strutting down the runway swathed in Christian Dior couture were never going to be an actuality. Unfortunately, this is just how it is, and it doesn't look like it's going to change anytime soon.

Weighty Decisions:

Okay, say that you are hovering between the 5'9" and 5'11" range, step one is acheived, but the second most important thing? Your weight. Weight is a very touchy subject in the fashion industry. I really hate to see girls that are starving themselves to meet the requirements, sometimes it's just not worth it. Most of the girls that you see in high fashion are a size 2-4. Not a lot of room for error there, and an agency will tell you to do some more cardio and drop the excess pounds if you want to be successful.

If you are a size 6, and you fit what the agency is looking for, they may be willing to work with you to get those last few pounds off, but you have to be willing to work with them!

For guys there is more of a range. It really depends on what kind of modeling you are looking to get into. If you want to do high fashion and runway, then be a skinny little rail with no significant muscle. Most male models acheive this by a combo of yoga and cardio, lay off the weights!

However, if you plan on being an Abercrombie, GQ, Ralph Lauren type guy then by all means, build up that muscle. Get your stomach in shape, define those shoulders, and become a sex god.

Age:

Most female models start around the age of 14-16, and around age 24 it all starts to go downhill. Yes, some models can make it work beyond that age, but if you are already at that age, chances are, unless you want to be doing JCPenny ads as the mom, it just may not happen.

The Look:

So you're the right height and the right weight, but do you have the look of a model? The most important advice I can give on this one is to know your target market. Start researching. Look on agencies websites for what type of models they represent. Some agencies look for interesting looking girls, they may have very generic faces when you see them on the street, but photograph beautifully. Some agencies look for the "sexy-type" model, think Alessandra Ambrosio the rest of the VS girls.

Just know what you're getting yourself into. Be aware of your limitations, and restrictions. I know it can be a great disappointment to have your dreams crushed, but it will save you a lot of time, energy, and money in the long run.

So You Want To Be A Model? An Insider's Guide

As an intern for one of New York's top 10 agencies, any aspiring models that come in through open call, call the office, or submit online go through me first. The other day I went through 250 e-mails from aspiring models, and we weren't interested in ANY of them. If you are wanting to break into the modeling industry and plan on doing so through online submissions or open calls, here are a few tips to get you through the first step and possibly score you a meeting with the agents.

ONLINE SUBMISSIONS:

Step 1: Attach two very clear pictures, a natural headshot, and a full body. Please try to make this files very small, files over 1,000KB's will often crash our computers and if it won't open the first time, chances are I'll delete it and get to the other 17 submissions of the day.

Step 2: In the body of the e-mail, keep it short and sweet. We aren't going to read your life story. However, we are going to read your stats. AND ALWAYS INCLUDE YOUR HEIGHT! That's the first thing I look for, if it's not there, chances are you are going to get deleted.

Step 3: Always include contact information, and a thank you. That's just common sense and common courtesy.

OPEN CALLS:

Step 1: Show up, but only within the parameters of their open call. If you don't know what time these are, check out the agencies website or give them a call. However, I strongly suggest you check the website first, it can be entirely obnoxious to answer that question 23 times a day when it is on the website.

Step 2: Know your height, and don't lie about it. The first question I ask is how tall someone is, and if you don't know then I'll probably tell you that you should know. Also, don't tell me that you are 6'1 when you are 5'11, I can tell the difference.

Step 3: Bring in snapshots or professional photos IF you have them. Unless you are a working model, then don't go spend a lot of money on photos. There is absolutely no reason to do so. If we like your snapshots we will take it from there, and if you don't have snapshots then we will take digitals of you to see how you photograph.*

Step 4: If you get rejected, be kind, move on and deal with it. Don't ask why, don't try to talk to me privately, and don't make a big deal out of it. Sometimes we just know what we want and what we don't. Every agency is different, and you can't always take these things super personally.

So there are my tips on open call and online submissions. Next up, I'll give you the ugly truth about becoming a model, some hints at what high fashion agencies are looking for, to help you determine whether or not you fit the profile.



*One of my favorite models and a personal friend of mine, Nathan, took snapshots of himself in his hostel while on Spring Break in New York from North Dakota and had the pictures developed at a Walgreens. He came into an open call, and was signed before he left the building. He shot Italian Vogue with Steven Meisel last month.

Hipster Hotspot: Teddy's

I have grown quite affectionate of my neck of the woods. Having hated New York for the first few (okay, 9) months I lived here, after spending some time in Brooklyn I have grown to call it home. Part of what I love about Williamsburg is all the great places to eat. A self-proclaimed foodie, I have a weakness for interesting menus, casual eateries, variety, and cocktails.

In the past two months, I have been to Williamsburg hotspot, Teddy's at least 5 times. Located on North 8th and Berry, I have made the trip to Teddy's at 1 AM (kitchen is open until 2), in the pouring rain (twice), and when my parents came to visit from Montana.

Teddy's atmosphere is great, just hipster enough to be cool, and not so hipster that I feel out of place. The bartenders and servers are super friendly, and the building is beautiful.

Over the weekend I made two appearances at Teddy's. The first was for a mission all about wings. As a wing connoisseur, I am rather picky. They must have the right crunchiness, the perfect wing sauce, and come with a side of blue cheese dressing without me asking for it. Much to my surprise, Teddy's passed this test (which seems to be harder in this city then you could imagine), and with my 7&7, I was in late night, post-work bliss.

My second Teddy's venture included brunch with my roommate on Sunday. As much as I love going to brunch there, part of me always dreads it, I always take forever to make up my mind. My most difficult decision is usually whether or not I want savory versus sweet. Luckily Teddy's has come up with a solution to my conundrum, the French Toast sandwich. My roommate and I decided to split the sandwich and get an order of nachos. Not only were both huge portions of food, but I left feeling so sickly satisfied I didn't eat for the rest of the day.

Teddy's has quickly become one of my regular hangouts, and for anyone who either lives in Williamsburg or visits there often, I strongly suggest you check it out :)

Hipster Must-See: The Who's Tommy

Over the weekend, I quit my paying job (whoops), and therefore had scads of free time to catch up on all sorts of movies. One such movie, was The Who's epic Tommy, which I recorded off Ovation on Saturday night to prevent me from having to watch the hours worth of commercials.

Growing up, my dad was at home with me during the day (self-employeed), and according to him, I often complained whenever he would put Tommy on the TV. Well, I was an asshole of a child.

Being older, and much wiser, I have grown a fondness and appreciation for such a film. Actually, it goes deeper then that, I have fallen in love with it.

Not being extremely well-versed in The Who, I beyond appreciated the Rock Opera feel combined with songs I know well from popular culture. I adored Roger Daltry and Ann-Margaret as the leads, and cameos by Jack Nicholson, Elton John, and Tina Turner really got me going. I finished the film desperately wanting Daltry's soft curls, Ann-Margaret's wardrobe, and a new guitar.

Pinball wizard I am not, Tommy afficianado I am.

If Only I Were 15: My Love of Twilight

Okay, right now my Netflix Queue is full of classic thrillers, Elizabeth Taylor films, experimental film collections, and the occassional b-rate horror film. I stray away from Michael Bay action films, spoof movies, and tween phenomenons. Therefore, Twilight is no where near my Netflix radar.

Don't get my wrong, I love vampires. I own the entire Buffy collection, have written essays on Near Dark, and Nosferatu, and have a "Vampires in Literature and Film" course on my university transcripts. But something about a mass culture flick about teen vampires is just NOT appealing. However, when my roommate received Twilight in the mail, I was a bit curious.

Maybe it was the martini, or the raging hormones that have been taking over my body as of late, but I have to admit, I get it. I understand the phenomenon. It's not well written, not well acted, and the cinematography and CGI is repulsive. But not too unlike Harry Potter, there is something that appeals to the very depths of my soul. Perhaps it is the basic good versus evil plotline, or maybe the "I dream about being with you forever" lovestory, or hell, maybe even Robert Pattinson's dreamy good looks, but I enjoyed Twilight.

I'm not proud to admit it, and I'm not about to read the novels, but next time someone talks about their undying love for teenage vampires, I may not give them such a hard time. After all, with the Robert Pattinson montage of pictures cut out from Bop and TeenBeat, am I really one to talk?

New Favorite Bar: Black Rabbit

Between working as an intern for an event marketing/public relations company, and waiting tables to pay my bills, I rarely get a night off. When I do, it usually entails me getting wasted with co-workers, or attempting to juggle dates with whatever boy may be in my life at the time. However, summer time inspires me to be better, with the growth of flowers and greenery, I feel this opportunity to start anew, make up for all the mistakes I've made in the past few months and join the smiling legions of peers in my neighborhood. The easiest way to join these happy people is to feel at home in my area. I've made this decision to create a community; attending events, weekly brunchs, concerts, meeting new people and trying new bars.

Well, act one in my quest for a community was to find a trivia night that I could attend semi-regularly. I'm a trivia junkie, and after trying multiple trivia nights in the city, I have found one that I want to stick with. Tuesday nights, at Black Rabbit, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. After talking my roommate into joining me, we got our spot at the bar, and embarked on an epic adventure that would leave me excited, knowledgable, and a bit hungover.

Some of the questions were entirely ridiculous and esoteric (playing a song from a Blur album and asking us to name the album, really?), and others were questions that everyone should know (like the picture round of dictators). Bonus questions were fun, and equaled a shot of absinthe (next time I plan on not drinking so much beer and just getting bonus questions continually correct). The crowd was great, drinks reasonably priced, great atmosphere, and the bartender is social and comfortable (something I find to be strangely lacking in many Williamsburg/Greenpoint bars)

All in all, I will be attending this trivia night in the future, I may have to recruit a few more troops though, my knowledge may be vast in certain areas, but severly limited in others. It's definitely one of the better trivia nights I've experienced and hey, I can walk home after several shots of absinthe. Ya can't beat that.

http://blackrabbitbar.com/

Artistic Love of my Life: Spencer Krug

Okay, so I have been mulling over this posting for months, but have never really had the guts to write it. I am a very well-known love for singer/songwriter Spencer Krug. I'm not talking a crazy stalker love, or obsession, but more of an extreme musical appreciation, that can be overwhelming at times.

Krug is the lead singer for Canadian experiemental rock band, Sunset Rubdown. I discovered Sunset Rubdown while in university in Victoria, BC, and have had a long standing love affair ever since. My concert experiences are so:

1) I missed my mothers birthday party in Montana to attend their show in Victoria, BC, unfortunately I was unable to attend the show anyway.
2) The first show I saw was at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, two days after I had moved to New York. At the time I knew nobody, went by myself, and took the subway home to 207th street, alone, at 4 AM. This was also the night that Spencer Krug walked into the empty bar I was sitting in and I was too big of a pussy to say anything.
3) Going to a second show in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, by myself, while my parents were visiting from Montana. <--this was like two weeks ago.

And now I'm contemplating a third show in September, in Ireland. I have the travel bug and I figure what's the harm it coinciding a trip with a show of my favorite band?

For those of you that haven't had the opportunity to listen to Sunset Rubdown, then I suggest you go out and do so, right now. If possible, try to experience it on vinyl, because the Random Spirit Lover album doesn't compare electronically to the vinyl version. The lyrics are pure poetry, the format is unconventional, and the systematic layering and changing of sounds is arguably unprecedented in modern indie rock.

If Sunset Rubdown isn't your thing (not sure how I feel about you), then listen to Krug's other band, Wolf Parade. A little less experiemental, just as amazing. And rumor has it that Wolf Parade will be back in the studio in October 2009 recording a new album.

This post doesn't do Krug or either band justice. This is probably why I've hesistated to write it for so very long, I cannot find the words to describe the ebullience that comes over me when I listen to Sunset Rubdown. I swear, if they ever get mainstream, I'm not sure what I'll do :)

Hipster Must-See: Moon

Okay, so I rarely go to movies in New York City. This is for two reasons, the first is that movies always take some sort of planning, making sure I'm getting to the theater on time, what theater to go to, and my life doesn't always accommodate planning. The second reason is with $12 price tags, I can't always bring myself to spend the money.

Well, due to recent drunkface activities, I've decided to give the movie going lifestyle a second chance. This morning I went to see Moon, starring the amazing Sam Rockwell. Upon never having seen any real previews of this movie, I was under the impression that it had something to do with aliens, and I guess in a way it did, but maybe it's the fact that I was misinformed that has caused me to lack a decisive yay or nay about the film.

Essentially it felt like The Parent Trap, except instead of twins, we had clones, and instead of parents, we had the government/space agency, and instead of summer camp we had the moon. It was definitely different from anything I've seen in a while, and Sam Rockwell gives an amazing performance, and I don't mind staring at one of him, so two? Okay, I'm on board. Finally, Kevin Spacey as the voice of the robot, priceless, I'm reminded of falling rose petals all over again.

I suppose that Moon is one of those movies that if you're into Sci-Fi, you'll probably enjoy, or if you just have nothing better to do on a lazy afternoon. Maybe I'll change my opinion tomorrow however, I think this movie will need some time to digest.

Hipsterville: A New Reality

Anyone who has not read the New York Times article on the falling of Williamsburg, Brooklyn real estate, go here, and please read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/nyregion/08trustafarians.html

Done? Good, now we can discuss.

I moved to Williamsburg back in September. My roommate and I share a good-sized, moderately priced two bedroom railroad apartment on the outskirts of Williamsburg (technically we are a Greenpoint zip code). At the tender age of 22, I have recently become financially independent. Yup! I pay all my own bills. Walking around Williamsburg, I realized that I was pretty much alone in this, and this article only proves a point.

I understand helping your children out and all, but is it really necessary to shell out $1,500-$2,500 a month in doing so? Or how about paying the hundreds of thousands of dollars of a down-payment on an apartment for them?

I'm a midwest girl, parents make good money, have supported me through university, but I am disgusted by Northeasterns (not all, but it seems like a good amount). I meet all these kids who have no sense of what it is like to work, or make anything of themselves. And ya know what? I. Don't. Get. It. Sure, I have friends like this where I'm from, but even they'll attest to the fact that while that may be how it is, that's not how they always want it to be.

It's sad to say, but some of the people in Williamsburg make me sad to belong to this generation.

The New 90210, Changes Already?

Okay, so I have to admit that although I don't watch Gossip Girl, I do have a slight addiction to the new 90210. Okay, maybe addiction is pushing it. I have a nostalgia for the old 90210 followed up with a dvr set to record the new one. Fair? If I miss an episode it doesn't break my heart, I don't try to watch it online, and it's not exactly a topic of conversation among my group of friends.

But like it or not, I gotta say that I'm shocked to hear the new casting news. According to Entertainment Weekly, Dustin Milligan will not be returning full time next season. I have to admit that this news leaves me rather disappointed. I kind of liked the fact that the hunk on the show, wasn't exactly a hunk, and he looked like he could have been in high school, oh and he seemed like a nice guy....wait. WAIT WAIT WAIT. I get it. None of the aforementioned qualities produce high ratings. Right. I forgot about that.

Either way, Dustin Milligan is a Canadian actor, who I've seen in random Canadian shows during my college years and therefore, I have a soft spot for him. I can't guarantee I will continue to watch after this season, but then again, I can't guarantee that I would have continued to watch even if Dustin Milligan would've stayed on.

Where to Eat: Elephant and Castle

Located in the West Village, Elephant and Castle is a small, reasonably priced restaurant that a close friend and I happened to stumble upon one night. I am all about trying new places to eat, trying new cuisine's and pairings that I would have never originally thought could go together.

I guess I actually didn't really do that this time, but she did, so I'll live vicariously through her decisions. For a casual, late-night dinner, she decided on a shrimp and bacon sandwich, while I stuck with potato, leek, and bacon soup. Both sound like standard, American fare, but ended up being a pleasant surprise to the palate. A surprising element was added to her sandwich with the basil vinaigrette. And my soup? A complete surprise. While I had expected a creamy tomato with nice chunks of leek and bacon, I ended up with a brothy tomato based soup with lots of veggies, somewhat disappointing until the first bite.

For dessert? Roasted hazelnut, chocolate, and whip cream crepe (split between the two of us). Elephant and Castle isn't anything super special, but it IS delicious, so if you're in the area, looking for something reasonably priced with a great atmosphere, check it out.

http://www.elephantandcastle.com/

Lindsay Lohan Fornarina Commercial

Okay, I pretend to be this really cool indie chick. And sometimes I am, but sometimes I have absolute pathetic tastes that I'm ashamed of. One is my desperate hope that one day, maybe just some day, Lindsay Lohan can revitalize her career.

I know, she's tacky. She's annoying, she's a fame whore, but all in all, she is an ok actress and there is something about her that I want to see thrive. I read all the gossip articles about her, I enjoy reading interviews with her, and I hope that some day she can get it together.

Well, today is not that day. I just watched her Fornarina commercial, which I refuse to provide a link to because the last thing I want to do is actually show anyone this atrocity.

Let me just describe it for you. A stick-thin, platinum blond Lindsay Lohan, looking very Barbie-esque as 80s neon graphics swirl behind and around her to tacky pop music. Remember Jem from the 80s? It's like Barbie, meets Jem, meets Butter's (from South Park) "Stick it in my Butt" video. Lindsay's job in this whole fiasco? To say words like smack, wink, etc., while getting cheeky with the camera.

After this, I can only feel as though the true reason I am waiting for Lindsay to once again reign supreme is so I can watch it all come crashing down again. It was fun the first time, and I have a feeling that it hasn't lost it's appeal.

Why I Can't Read "Chick-Lit" Novels

Okay, I am constantly exposing my close friends to new authors and books. Anyone that knows me knows that I love to read. Magazines, periodicals, gossip sites, fashion blogs, classic literature, everything. However, there is one type of book I usually stray away from. That is the so-called Chick-Lit novel.

Perhaps it's the fact that I pride myself and reading rather masculine literature, or that I secretly have a dream of reading an Ellis novel and seeing a gorgeous brooding male across the coffee shop reading the same novel and we'd be forever linked by our love of literature, or maybe it's just that I always claim to not be that girly.

Well, to humor a good friend, I recently read Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger. The story is about Bette, a newcomer to the New York City PR scene. This good friend of mine thought it would be an appropriate title for me considering my internship in entertainment PR. Knowing I would never willingly go buy this book myself, within days of recommendation, she had thrust her copy into my hands. Now I remember the real reason I don't even buy these books.

They are too damn wonderful and addicting. I couldn't put it down. Literally, I had thoughts of skipping work in order to read this book. And the worst part, the entire time I really just wanted that to be my life. I loved to drama, the name dropping, the fashion references, and most importantly, the love story. Feminist I may be, but nothing gets to me like a happy ending.

So, I may not be filling my bookshelves with Chick-Lit novels from this day forward, but I'm definitely not ruling any of them out. Turns out, I may be much more feminine then I give myself credit for. But, let's keep this between you and me, because if any of my guy friends find out, I'll have to endure hours of "I told you so." ;)

Too Much To Handle: Inside

I am highly desensitized towards horror films. I have always loved being scared, ALWAYS. I used to read The Berenstein Bears and the Spooky Tree at least once a week. My childhood bookshelf was full of the Goosebumps series, all of the Scary Stories collections and the like. As I've grown older, this love of safe fear and terror has only grown, and become more visual.

In college, as a film minor, I took classes on Vampires in Literature and Film, as well as a seminar on Horror and Sci-Fi Film. I gave speeches on George Romero, wrote papers on female survivors in zombie films, and also analyzed the work of French horror director Alexandre Aja. Thus began my love of French horror film.

Anyone who has seen Haute Tension knows how gory, horrifying, and generally fucked up it is. Well, let me tell you, if you don't follow European and French horror film, this is nothing. A short while ago I watched Frontiers, one of the Afterdark Horrorfest Films, and hands down the most disturbing film I had seen to date. The entire time my jaw was on the floor, and although it made me a bit sick, I felt the need to see just how far the French would go.

I turned to Netflix, Amazon, whatever I could to find a few more recent French horror films that may rival the disturbance caused by these two previous films. Well, congratulations France, you win. I just watched Inside.

Strike that, I didn't actually watch the whole thing. I couldn't. It made me so viscerally ill that I actually had to turn it off. Between the multiple stabbings, heads being blown off, eyes being gouged out, and pregnant women taking a beating I thought I had been through it all. I handled all that, and then I was expected to handle a scissor given at-home c-section? No. No no no no. I don't think so. That was not part of the deal.

So, I stopped. I just couldn't do it anymore. I totally pussed out. And ya know what, I'm okay with that. I'm actually rather glad that even a horror phenom such as myself has limits. Although, it's probably a bad thing that I'm now suspicious of all the French people I'm surrounded by....

Hipster Must-See: Warriors

http://vassifer.blogs.com/

In my previous post, I discussed Walter Hill's Streets of Fire and the epic-ness that is the costuming of that film. Well, after my foray into Hill's box-office bomb, I picked up another Hill film, this time with a bit more press, The Warriors.

First off, let me just say that I can only fully appreciate this film because I live in New York. If I didn't, I just could not have even understood how epic this is. Second, if anyone knows where I can get a Warrior's vest please let me know, I think that is a necessity for my life.

So, the gangs of New York are sick of being at war, and Cyrus (leader of all that is good and righteous in the gans) calls for a cease fire between the gangs, so that they may focus their attention on much more important things, such as getting the fuzz. During the big meeting in the Bronx, Cyrus is killed, and everyone blames the Warriors. Now, the Warriors must make it from the Bronx to Coney Island via subway, with every other gang in New York after them. Joined by the Bronx Harlot, Mercy, the Warriors are up for the battle of a lifetime, only to make it to.....Coney Island. Really? That's where they want to get? Huh. Wow....I guess that's cool, that you'll battle that hard for....Coney...Island. Okay, wait, really?

So the plot is less then believable, but who cares? All the gangs where matching outfits and you're surprised when they don't break out into song and dance. Oh! And there is a gang of solely girls who use against the Warriors. Baseball bats, police battles, knife fights, undercover cops, this movie's got it all. That must be why Tony Scott is planning on remaking it in 2010.

Oh man, I gotta stop talking about this movie, it's making me want to beat people up again....and wear leather vests. Rent it, or own it, now.

Fashion and Film: Betsey Johnson versus Streets of Fire

While I was home in Montana last week I spent a day on the couch catching up on movies I had never seen or heard of that my dad loves. Now, what you have to understand about my family is that my parents are young, and therefore, their tastes are not your typical familial tastes. My parents live for the late seventies (hard rock, not disco), and the 80s (and all the gloriously large hair that goes with it, though they haven't went so far as to implement this into their lives, thank god).

Anyway, so my parents have always loved Walter Hill's film, Streets of Fire. When I was younger, I could not have cared less, but now, appreciating Diane Lane for the fine actress she is, I have started to go back and watch her films, so lucky for me, Streets of Fire was on the DVR. Lane's character, Ellen Aim is this hard-rockin' sexpot songstress who gets herself into a bit of trouble. Throughout most of the film she is running around in this black leather and red spandex get-up that is completely unexplainable. And nearly impossible to find a picture of.

Well, I think my beloved Betsey Johnson watched Streets of Fire while designing her fall collection, because this is rather reminiscent of Ms. Ellen Aim:



Or maybe BJ went through a Diane Lane phase, and stole this idea from Ladies and Gentleman, The Fabulous Stains, another Diane Lane film from the 80s. Ahhhh, the 80s, we should have never let you go.

Fashion Week: Betsey Johnson

Oh Betsey Johnson, how I love thee. Recently I was watching a re-run of the Clueless TV show from the early 90's in which Betsey Johnson guest appeared on. It made me love her even more. Last season, I didn't love Betsey Johnson as much as I could have, and that made me a sad panda. And then, BAM!



Betsey designs this. I can't even use words to describe it's joy. I know that in all reality I should be completely joking about this. I should find something to hate about the feathers, crinoline, and *gulp* leopard print tights. But I can't. I'm a fashion victim, make something whimsical, over-the-top, German expressionist, or Tim Burtonesque and I'm sold. I'm such a sucker. Well played, BJ.

Fashion Week: Elie Tahari

Anyone who knows me well, knows that not only is my style highly influenced by music, but is largely influenced by literature. In January, I tackled The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. As I tore through the pages of Rand's philosophy of objectivism, all I could think was "I want to be Dominique Francon." Luckily, I had a close friend who had also read the book, and could relate to my need to be a powerful, savvy, smart, manipulative, sexy, and fierce women in the early 20th century.

So what does this have to do with Elie Tahari? Tahari is one of my to-die-for brands, and I usually wish I could afford every piece. The strange thing, is that Tahari is so beautiful and mature and professional, very unlike my personal style. However, I still find myself coveting every piece in the collection, and Fall 09 is no different. Tahari's pieces somehow bridge eras, generations, and manage to blend architecture, floral, and clean lines. I must have them all. I swear, if Dominique Francon were a character today, she would live in all of Tahari's clothes. In fact, I think this is everything I envisioned her in as I was reading the book. I'm in lust. Sigh.

Fashion Week

I am currently living in New York City for my first fashion week. Although the fall shows are not as important as the Spring shows, everywhere I go, fashion week seems to be on everyone's mind. So, with my usual love of style.com's daily updates, I'll be posting a few opinions of the current shows over the next week. Enjoy!

Hipster Must-Read: Female Chauvinist Pigs

A male friend of mine had a copy of the book Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy in his room recently. Me being me, I picked it up and started to read and next thing I know, I was swiping this book from his place with promises to return it the next week. Less the two days later, I'm bypassing the returning of this book with hopes to share it with everyone I know, male and female.

Now, I am not a hard-core feminist. But every once and a while, a good, strong feminist piece of literature speaks to me. Levy's book focuses on the rise of raunch culture, meaning Playboy, Girls Gone Wild, and the like. She believes that due to the increase participation of women in these raunch culture arenas, we as women are no longer allowing just men to objectify us, but we are no objectifying each other and ourselves.

Well, I'm not going to go in detail about the entire book, it's far too short and a quick read for me to do that. But I am suggesting you read it. Now. Go.

It may not change your life, but it will definitely cause a greater sense of awareness at all the young, female stupidity around you. It's worth a shot, right?

Where to Eat: KIF

A couple weeks ago, I met a guy. Nothing particularly special, just a guy I met at work, and he asked me one of the best questions I've ever been asked: Good Sex or Good Food? Well, most people will initially react with the answer, good sex. However, I found myself pondering this question for a few minutes before answering, a good meal beats good sex any day of the week.

Shortly thereafter, I headed down to Fort Greene to have dinner with my best friend, Paige. She suggested we try a restaurant in her neighborhood that she had yet to try called Kif. Kif doesn't look too fancy, moderately priced, and dimly lit. It was also Moroccan food, which due to my sheltered small-town Western life, I had yet to try.

I decided on Tagine, a traditional Moroccan stew made with meat, veggies, and a side of couscous. I went with lamb, seeing as I never buy lamb myself, and had decided to spoil myself on this given night. The meat was tender, falling off the bone everytime I tried to take a bite. The veggies were hot and juicy and moist, and the couscous collected all the extra sauce at the end of my meal. Top it off with a Casa (the only Moroccan beer they had on the menu), and I was in heaven.

I don't know what it is. The fact that my taste buds have been completely satiated, the pleasant company of my best friend, or the cozy atmosphere, but I have not been able to stop thinking about that meal at Kif. It has only inspired me to try more exotic cuisines and be more brave with my restaurant choices, it's also made me make an entire batch of couscous to have in my fridge at my disposal.

Hipster Must-See: The Wackness

I have a tendency to joyfully watch horrible movies. If it has zombies, violence, young girls being bitchy, etc., I usually enjoy rather thoroughly. I find myself needing to be in a certain mood in order to sit through a serious movie. Last night, I happened to put myself in that mood and Netflix had sent me The Wackness, so I geared up to be depressed. Boy was I pleasantly surprised.

Set in New York City in 1994, The Wackness has a great plot, great acting, and a great soundtrack. Josh Peck, best known for his role in Nickolodeon's Drake and Josh pleasantly surprised me with his serious acting ability. Starring opposite Ben Kingsley, Famke Jansen, and Mary-Kate Olsen, Peck delivered a thoroughly impressive performance as a young, in-love, and genetically fucked up drug-dealer. It is safe to say that I now have a crush on him. His love interest, Olivia Thirlby, who is somewhat recognizable for her various other roles, did an amazing job as well. Rounding out the younger cast was Mary-Kate Olsen, who I seem to remember doing press across the country for this film. While she was great for the fifteen minutes she was in the film, I seemed to feel as though with all the hype of her being in the film, she really should have had a larger role, or just less publicity. Okay, I love Mary-Kate Olsen, so I really don't care either way, but it makes me hate society a little bit more.

Growing up in the late 1990s, I was too young to really take full advantage of everything a movie in 1994 could bring. I feel as though if I would've been in high-school at that time I could have appreciated the movie so much more then I did. Either way, I really enjoyed the film and would highly recommend it to any of my friends. I feel as though it is easily a film that can transcend various generations, being able to reach out to everyone.