Filed under: Go, Love | Tags: art, artists, Chagall, Christian Choisy, France, history, La Colombe d'Or, Matisse, Picasso, Provence, Renoir, St. Paul de Vence
St. Paul de Vence, oil on board by Jack Davis
If you have never visited the picturesque and historic mountain village of St. Paul de Vence, you’re truly missing out on a Provencal gem, and it is an absolute must-see for art lovers in particular. This tiny village perched on a narrow spur between two deep valleys dates back to medieval times, and it is perhaps best known for the famous creative folk who once stayed there: artists Matisse, Soutine, Chagall, Renoir, Modigliani… as well as writers, film directors, scriptwriters, and French and international stars like Roger Moore and Tony Curtis.
Legend has it that when the impoverished artists didn’t have money to pay for room and board, they would pay with their artwork. The hotels La Colombe d’Or (then Le Robinson) and Pergola (then La Résidence) run by Paul Roux and Ferdinand Issert, respectively, were popular lodgings for artists in the early 1900s. At La Colombe d’Or, you can still wander the halls and dine surrounded by the ghosts of Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, Miro, Calder and others who have left behind sketches, paintings, sculpture or poetry. Marc Chagall is buried in the cemetery at St. Paul de Vence, and you may visit his grave, marked simply with a white tombstone, to pay your respects.
It’s no surprise, then, that art remains an integral part of the community in St. Paul de Vence, which houses several artists’ studios and galleries. (more…)
Filed under: Love | Tags: Android app, iPhone app, mobile, PayPal, technology, Venmo
I was just invited to Venmo by a friend who owed me 35 bucks, and he didn’t want to forget so he asked me to sign up for Venmo so he could send me the money right away. Basically, Venmo is like a mobile version of PayPal, but cooler. Let’s say you’re with two friends sharing a cab, and it comes out to $12 for three people, or $4 per person. No one ever has $4 in cash, and the likelihood of all three having $4 in cash is even slimmer. So one person pays the cabbie, and the other two Venmo $4 to the person who paid.
This is especially exciting for me because I have a serious aversion to large group dinners, partly because when it comes time to split the check, no one ever has exact change. (Plus I don’t like the lack of intimacy at big group dinners, but that’s a rant for another day.)
Venmo lets you pay and charge people in your financial network, so if your friend forgets to pay you, you can charge them. It also takes the awkwardness of reminding someone that they owe you money out of the equation.
Here’s a summary of the Venmo commands you can use with your cellphone. All commands must be texted into VENMO.
1. Paying people
“Pay johnny123 10 for dinner and drinks last night” sends johnny123 $10
“Pay 6468639557 19.99 for two apples and one orange” sends $19.99 to the phone number 646.863.9557
2. Charging people
“Charge johnny123 15 for soccer league fees” will request $15.00 from johnny123
“Charge 6468639557 123.23 for November’s gas bill” will request $123.23 from the phone number 646.863.9557
3. Trusting people
When you trust people on Venmo, you allow them to take money from your account whenever they need it. It’s a “charge” you won’t have to confirm, making your life easier. You always have 24 hours to reverse any charges you don’t approve.
“Trust johnny123″ will trust the username johnny123 on Venmo
4. Other commands you can text in to VENMO (646.863.9557)
“Help” – to learn how to use Venmo
“Bal” – to check your Venmo account balance
“Recent” – to see people you’ve recently transacted with
“Favs” – to view a list of all your financial contacts
How cool is that?
Right now, Venmo is invite only. I am willing to send invites to the next three commenters who leave me their e-mail addresses.
They’re working on an iPhone app now and I hope Android won’t be too far behind!
Filed under: Love, Think, Watch | Tags: Alexander McQueen, Designer Marathon, fashion, Fashion Week, Isabella Blow, Videofashion
Watch tribute videos to Lee Alexander McQueen from Videofashion and highlights from Autumn/Winter 2010 Fashion Week designer collections at VideofashionDaily.com.
It’s officially the first day of New York Fashion Week but the untimely death of British design icon Alexander McQueen has cast a dark shadow over the usual festivities and brouhaha. McQueen, 40, was found dead in his home this morning after having hung himself. Three days after the death of his mother, and three years after the suicide of his friend and mentor Isabella Blow, McQueen succumbed to his own inner demons.
This is a man whose designs are known the world-over as showstoppers, a man who was universally respected for his talent, inventiveness, showmanship, and ingenuity in fashion. (I am especially sad for the Puma and Alexander McQueen collaborations that will be no more. At least I’ll always have his London Biker sneakers.)
The world is atwitter with RIPs, tributes, and remembrances. Click through to see his life and career in pictures.
What are your favorite McQueen looks? The man knows how to make an impression, that’s for sure. Thandie Newton’s dress at the 1998 BAFTAs (gorgeous!) and the ring of fire (not so much for the outfit as for the theatrics) are up there in terms of memorable McQueen moments for me.
If you can find it, you should watch the two-part Designer Marathon programs (48 minutes each) on McQueen by Videofashion. Click through for McQueen in his own words, as told to the producers of Videofashion.
If you’re like me and your idea of home decorating means painting one wall (partly because you’re too cheap and too lazy to paint all of the walls, and partly because you like the “accent wall” look) and putting up some shelves and pictures, Pip & Estrella might be able to help you create the perfect boho chic look rather inexpensively and with relative ease.
You’ll need to have the basic furniture yourself: a table, chairs, sofa, etc. But all of the little details? All in one place. The concept is that you can buy the items featured in each “Buy The House” offering together for a discount, or separately for a premium (I am a fan of the framed hand-printed Batik textile). At $145 to “Buy The House,” you can get a lot of decorating done in a hurry.
Then again, you won’t have the joy of wandering around dusty antique shops and flea markets and carefully selecting your own look. Of course, you could always get it from Pip & Estrella and just say you did.
Filed under: Do, Drink, Listen, Love | Tags: free, karaoke, LES, Mondays, music
Karaoke is in my blood. Maybe it’s the Korean in me. Maybe it’s because when my dad sings, the skies open up and sunlight floods out as angels bust out harps and trumpets and whatever other angelic instruments there are. Or maybe it’s just plain awesome, period.
I wandered over to Arlene’s Grocery (it is NOT a grocery, by the way) on Monday night for rock and roll karaoke at the request of a very good friend. It’s free, it’s in my neighborhood, and let’s be frank, I had nothing better to do on a Monday night. By the time I arrived around 11 or so, the basement was packed with people wiggling as best they could in the dark, dank, and shwetty space in front of the stage, where thankfully, there is a bar. ($6 will get you a Blue Moon.) There is a LIVE BAND backing you up when you sing, so you can pretend that you are really a rock star and maybe even stage dive after your song (though I suspect that is frowned upon, and you probably won’t be allowed back).
Some things I’ve learned about rock and roll karaoke:
Some things I’ve learned about rock and roll karaoke:- Get there early. The place is open until 3 or 4 am, but dibs on when you sing is first come first serve. You don’t want to end up singing to the four piss drunk people left at the bar at 3 am. Or maybe you do. I suppose that’s up to you.
- Have your song of choice ready. The set list is available here. They only allow each song to be performed once in an evening, so have your song all picked out (plus alternates in case it gets taken), and (1) get there early so you don’t end up scrambling at the last minute.
- Be prepared to bring it, or at least be aware that some of the other people who are going to sing will make you look bad. NYC is full of talented performers. There are a lot of them at Arlene’s, and some of the regulars will blow your mind. My personal favorite is the little man who sang Pretty Woman wearing a sombrero (which he threw off for dramatic effect) and a green shirt that read, “Single and ready to JINGLE.”
- It’s okay if you forget the words or when you’re supposed to start singing. There is a guy in the back who sings backup in case you get caught up in the moment and blank.
- If you are really good, everyone screams, “HOLY SHIT!” at the end of your song. You want that.
Arlene’s Grocery, Lower East Side, 95 Stanton Street, NYC. Map it! Live rock and roll karaoke every Monday night form 10 pm till the band gets sick of hearing you sing.
Filed under: Listen, Love | Tags: Jamie Lidell, music, Poisson Rouge, WVill
So I get a chance to take a pic with Jamie Lidell as he’s leaving Le Poisson Rouge and after so many years of practice, my self-photography failed me right at that moment. Of all the times for my aim to be off… sadness.
He was clearly trying to skedaddle, but was so gracious when I asked for a picture. Heart!
I had an absolutely smashing Fashion’s Night Out, despite the fact that Sara and I were technically working until 10:30 pm or so, handing out flyers for Videofashion Daily, asking store managers to leave said flyers in their boutiques, and targeting anyone with a shopping bag and telling them to watch Videofashion Daily on NYC TV. Anna Wintour’s brainchild was a rip roaring success for me… and I can say that I definitely spent money I had not planned to spend, so I guess it was a success for some retailers, as well.
Award for boutique with the cutest giveaway goes to Anya Hindmarch, where eager ladies were served Pimm’s Cups with cucumbers and strawberries, told to pick out their favorite fall Anya purse, and line up for a photo op. Designer Anya was in the house, amicably chatting up customers in line, suggesting props, and commenting on the photos… ( though we didn’t even know it was her at the time!) She will choose a winner, who will get to keep the purse with which she was photographed. I chose the 3 pocket clutch in a lovely dove gray, as shown here, and picked a large, furry Russian style hat with ear flaps as my prop. It was fun to be a pretend model, and let’s be honest, everyone looks better in black & white photos!
Best celebrity sighting: Rihanna outside the Intermix store. Wearing a draped black hood, sunglasses, and looking fierce.
Deal of the evening at Jill Stuart: Party All the Time live DJ, Arizona tea and vodka cocktails, 50% all vintage. I bought a knockout black silk cocktail dress with deep sweetheart neckline and front draping for $150 marked down from $650 (77% off)! Sara got perfume.
Designer photo op of the night at 3.1 Phillip Lim: Champagne and photo-ops with the designer himself. Apparently, they did $30k in sales in the 1st 2 hrs of FNO. It helps when the world-famous designer is on hand to help customers… how can you say no to Phillip frickin’ Lim?
First stop of the night and greatest store discovery: Kisan Concept Store. I’d never seen this shop on Greene before, and I’m sorry for it! The shop is beautifully curated with a quirky French Japanese aesthetic with houseware, women’s and children’s clothing, stationary, jewelry, and random housewares and knickknacks. The staff is mostly French, and all of them supremely friendly. Served Mango Cointreau martinis and Sparkling Pear martinis, both delicious. If I were rich and could afford to spend $190 on a scarf, I would buy the Sonia Rykiel wool and feather scarf in a grayish taupe so I could feel beautiful and glamourous and rich every time I put it on.
Replay: deep fried veal meatballs, seasoned giant olives, firm Italian cheese, champagne
Penguin: live window models, beer
SPACE.NK apothecary: free makeovers and rose wine (I bought a Nars lipstick in Heat Wave here)
Y-3: Prosecco and margaritas, live DJ
Cotelac: wine, cheese, grapes, and crackers, fancy postcards, live music
Rag & Bone: Irish beers (Guinness & more), Irish band (fiddles + guitars), tables to sit at
MAC: pulled pork mini sliders, deep fried mac n’ cheese, chocolate truffles, Cokes in mini classic bottles, live DJ
Longchamp: white wine and champagne, live DJ
Chanel: free manis and bubblies, live DJ
Trend alert: girl DJs were rockin’ it everywhere!
One day a few weeks back, John pointed towards a pretty Indian girl in yoga pants and a tank top saying she looked a lot like Padma Lakshmi of Bravo’s Top Chef. I laughed, saying there was no way she would just be bumming out in our ‘hood. She has too much money to live in the LES, dear. It must be some other hot Indian chick.
Fast forward to Saturday when we’re walking back from lunch and decide to stop by the Avenue B and 6th Street community garden. Who do we see but the beautiful Padma and a handsome male companion? Tiger scar and all.
Either she lives nearby, or she just loves Avenue B.
Update, she has just sold her 2 BR 2 BA 2nd St. / Ave. B loft, although based on the Padma sightings, she may not yet have moved out.
See the loft, bare bones. Curbed.com.
See the loft listing, supposedly sold. Corcoran.com.
See the loft as decorated by Padma, a rich, gypsy bohemian style. Harper’s Bazaar.com.
