Entre Nous.

Valentine's Day Swap

If anyone is interested in doing a card swap for Valentine's Day send me an Email with your address.  [bracelets by Luella, belt and sunglasses by Moschino]

"Good is dead"

I'm finishing up book four in my "read 75 books in 2006" challenge.  Will be starting A Million Little Pieces in a few days.  I'm a little behind schedule in the "challenge" but will get caught up soon enough.  It's not the current book I wish to discuss, it's book two, The Cheese Monkeys : A Novel in Two Semesters by Chip Kidd.  "Part irreverent academic comedy, part autobiographical statement of purpose, The Cheese Monkeys is a triumph of design as substance."  I absolutely fell in love with this book.  It's one of those books you can't put down, but at the same time are torn because you know if you read it too quickly you'll be upset it's over.  So I tried to pace myself. 

 

Chip Kidd is a graphic designer, best know as a designer of book covers.  "Described as "the closest thing to a rock star" in graphic design today (USA Today), Chip Kidd is universally recognized as an American master of contemporary book design." Some noteworthy Kidd designed covers are: Jurassic Park, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Glamorama, American Rhapsody, and Geek Love.  The Cheese Monkeys is Kidd's debut novel.  "This is a largely comedic story of the protagonist's first two semesters at art school in the 1950s".  Despite being set in the late fifties, the story is timeless.  "The fall semester serves basically to introduce most of the cast of characters. Our green but sympathetic narrator slowly adjusts to college life, bemusedly trying to make his way through the basic art course (taught, inevitably, by a teacher who is dotty ... pardon: by a teacher whose name is Dottie). He makes some friends, notably the overly sincere Maybelle Lee and free spirit Himillsy Dodd. He has some fun.  But it is all just preamble. The story really only gets going with the spring semester."  You'll have to discover what transpires during spring semester yourself. 

 

Beyond just the story there were other elements of the book I adored.  On the back cover Kidd has included the usual list of positive reviews under the heading "from people who liked it" followed by reviews "from people who didn't".  Check out the hidden messages on the side of the book, only visible if you roll it around a bit.  Then there's the note on the first page informing you that "The inside front cover was intentionally left blank. It's not a mistake. It's actually a separate "piece" entitled "Budgetary Constraint No. 13". 

 

Now this could just be one of those books only appreciated by those who have experienced college art classes, but I have a feeling it transcends all that.  If you don't care to read the book you can wait for the movie, which is scheduled to hit theaters later this year, also penned by Chip Kidd.

A spoonful of sugar

2005/2006 International Cupcake Tour

Stop 6:  Grand Central Baking Company

 

A few weeks ago I made a visit to Seattle's Grand Central Baking Company to sample their cupcakes.  Grand Central's Pioneer Square location is housed in the historic Grand Central Arcade.  Their pastries can be enjoyed by the fireplace or on the cobble-stoned patio. I just adore the buildings exterior, but it was far too chilly to eat outside.  Unfortunately on this visit there was only one flavor of cupcake remaining.  Luckily it turned out to be pretty spectacular.  The flavor was gingerbread with cream cheese frosting.  The cake was moist and the frosting was delicious.  I would like to go back when the have more of a variety of flavors available.   I've heard rumors that they've had such flavors as mojito and peanut butter and chocolate.

 

Out of a possible 5 cakes, 1 being the lowest score

Frosting: 

 

 

CupCAKE:

 

 

Appearance:

 

 

Total Score:

Valentine's Day Good Things Part III

1.  Kate Spade pop love key chain.  "Bold graphics give a wink with their "i love you" message on this smart, stylish key chain."  [$65.00]

2.  Pink Vinyl Lace Tablecloth.  Love this.  [$25.00]

     

3.  Marc Jacobs flower cuff.  "Worn over a fall sweater or on bare arms, Marc's flower cuff is an accessory to brighten any day."  Comes in pink or yellow.  [$68.00]

4.  "Coffee? Tea? Me?" mugs.  Comes in blue or orange.  If only they came in pink or red.  Regardless of the color they're still darling.  [$8.00]

5.  Hello! lucky love notes.  "The cutest Valentine notes around!  Letterpressed in brown, lime, mint, pink, and sky blue ink on a heavy natural coaster-quality heart shaped flat card.  "To my dearest" and "yours oh-so-truly" printed on back for a personalized greeting.  Four flat cards packaged with coordinating white envelopes in a clear acrylic box."  [$16.00]

 

6.  Woodhouse Chocolate, handmade in the Napa Valley.  I nannyed for the graphic designer who created the labels.  Trust me these chocolates are delicious.  [prices vary]

7.  Kate Spade cups and saucers.  Set of two 10 oz. bone china cups and saucers decorated with cupid arrows.  [$60.00]

8.  Heart bowls from Williams-Sonoma.  "Crafted of porcelain and decorated by hand with gold border filets, our heart-shaped bowls offer romantic presentation of desserts for Valentine's Day and other special occasions."  [$36.00 for two]

 

9.  A Pucci hibiscus silk scarf from Eluxury. "Dramatic swirls and angular shapes create a gorgeous landscape of hibiscus flowers."  [$120.00]

   

10.  Kate Spade pop love mirror.  "Bold graphics give a wink with their "i love you" message."  [$85.00]

Frey the fibber

"Frey's memoir, "A Million Little Pieces," is about his recovery from drug addiction. It is apparently a hell of a read, filled with gripping, cinematic details, some of which turn out not to be true. The Smoking Gun Web site found out, for instance, that Frey had not spent three months in jail, as he wrote, but maybe a couple of hours or so waiting for a friend to post bond. His account of his stay in a treatment facility is questionable, as is his involvement in a train-car collision that took the lives of two teenage girls. These are not, as Frey keeps claiming, the usual tussle we all have between memory and fact, but veering departures from fact into fiction. It is probably significant that he first tried to sell the book as a novel.  [from Richard Cohen's Washington Post article] 

 

I watched Oprah's interview with James Frey yesterday.  Tremendously difficult to watch, as I felt quite sympathetic for Frey.  I can't think of anything more terrifying to endure than being scolded on national television by Oprah.  I felt James Frey handled himself with much aplomb.  Let us remember he could have declined to appear on the show at ALL.  He answered all of Oprah's questions in a straightforward manner.  He appeared sincerely apologetic.  Of course not having read the book Oprah spoiled one major part of the story, thanks a LOT.  Also having not yet read the book I find I'm not that disappointed that the book is not 100% truthful.  I understand that elements have to be changed to protect the identity of the people Frey wrote about.  Although he did stretch the truth more than was actually necessary.  The embellishment really does not bother me as much as it maybe should.  Possibly I'll be changing my tune after I finish the book, we shall see.  There was no mention on Oprah of the fact that Frey originally tried to sell the book as a novel.  Plus no mention of his newest book, My Friend Leonard, a continuation of his first memoir.  Regardless of the "fibs" it's still an inspirational book.