Have you noticed how often the word "Facebook" comes up in everyday conversation? Go out to dinner with friends, ride the subway, walk down the street, go to the office, and I think you will hear the word "Facebook" quite a bit. Read this article, basically talking about the fate of newspapers these days, and what they should do next (by way of using Facebook as a compelling content producer as an example). The comments are also very interesting.

Here is another good article about how Facebook (and the egalitarian nature of the internet) has the way people think and conditioned people's expectations in the workplace.

Still from Guest of Cindy Sherman by Paul H-O [left]

A film recommendation for art enthusiasts: Guest of Cindy Sherman playing at Cinema Village on 12th Street in the Village. We saw it on Sunday. Two thumbs up.

Fluevog Eyelet Boots, $529 on fleuvog.com
The style: Hildegard. The sole: Soprano

One shoe (one shoe) leads to another... Pretend shopping on Polyvore is one of my favorite pastimes. I must say, these boots from Fleuvog make a compelling argument for purchasing. The eyelets! I love they eyelets. They are a great accessory to this accessory.



Personal note: as I write this piece, I am wearing a pair of John Fleuvog lattice boots I bought in the 90s. I bought two pair because I loved them so much. I recently started wearing the second pair and am loving them all over again. A good pair of boots is a good pair of boots. I am very Gertrude Stein in this post for some reason.

Yves Saint Laurent. Who else?

These shoes are pretty amazing, although not ideal for scaling the 150 subway steps (I counted) from Greenpoint to Bryant Park. Ah Fashion Week.


Yves Saint Laurent Cage Boot in black patent, $1590, available on ysl.com

BEFORE

AFTER

A fun office birthday yesterday. Cupcakes! Devoured. I would try to get off the sugar, if I didn't have some yummy St. Joseph's zeppole like these waiting for me at home. Thanks MOM! The best zeppole are still from my mom.

Jan & Aya, currently 30-50% off

Owner, Carolyn Veith Krienke [left] and organic baker, Sarah Magid [middle]


A sample creation from Sarah Magid

This chair was the first thing I saw when I peered through
the papered windows all those months ago.

Sad news Greenpointers. After a year in business on Franklin Street, it is likely that Jan & Aya will close their store and move the whole operation online. I chatted with owner and master interiors curator, Carolyn, at her cupcake farewell party on Sunday (the cupcakes made by Sarah Magid* were amazing of course. Oh the frosting! But I digress...) Where was I in this sentence?

Anyway, Carolyn said that they will have discussions this month on what exactly to do with the space and the incredible backyard. There will most certainly be a push to grow their online business; but they might retain the space to do some fun designer events. Stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, you can drool over the desserts you missed.

See all previous posts on Jan & Aya here.

Attention shoppers: there are some great deals to be had at Jan & Aya. Especially on the jewelry! Stop by this weekend. The store will close at the end of March.


Jan & Aya
99 Franklin Street
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
718.609.1404


*Sarah has a book coming out in June 2009. Congratulations Sarah! The launch will be held at Word, right in the neighborhood. More details to follow on this.

The cupcakes! By Sarah Magid. Check out her Website here.

As always at Jan & Aya, you can find beautiful objects with delicate details
such as this porcelain mushroom (approx. $12. by Roost) I fell in love.


Cupcake like, no? This felt flower pin is so precious.
Made by Llubav Choy Duerr

Julie Floersch, Denim on Denim II (pillow), 2008, found denim, $350.


Framed sketch by master denim quilter, Julie Floersch

Now this is just way too much instruction.

Photographed somewhere on Grand Street in Williamsburg.

I like how the subway tracks are reflected in the time/date sign
[click image to enlarge]

I rode the 7 train today, just to see my birthday up in lights.

A funny commute this morning. I was walking up Milton to the subway, when I heard the street sweeper behind me. I broke into a run, because I didn't want to get covered in street dirt. I outran it! And then on Manhattan Avenue, I saw the 61 bus. I never take the bus. I was going to get a 99 cent cappucino at Dunkin' Donuts, but I thought, no, I'll run for the bus! (Caught it too.) It was a pretty funny birthday morning. I am having a happy day so far.


*It's my birthday today!

This Cornichon wants you to come have fun with him.
Such a cute jaunty beret.

How could you resist such a jolly pickle?



Photographed in front of Cafe Cornichon at 251 Grand Street in Williamsburg. Sunday, March 15, 2008.

[image from Sulu-Design]

I read a post on "multiple-personalitied weather" vs. peep toe shoes by Sulu-Design the other day, and could not resist re-posting her photo here for you to see. Check out her post here. I am one of those people too, in case you haven't gathered, who cannot wait to debut the summery shoes as soon as it gets a little warm-ish. Maybe tomorrow!

At Vinny Vincenz, the aromas are heavenly.

I live in New York for the pizza. And the bagels. And the art. Probably in the reverse order. But for the sake of this post, I live in New York for the pizza. And not just for the pizza. For the mobile pizza. I mean, pizza from a truck! It doesn't get better than this.

Check out Vinny Vincenz heavenly slices at 14th and Union Square West (near the Diesel store). Contact Vinny Vincenz for the exact schedule. A Sicilian slice is around $2.50.

Roberto Cavalli Ring, $390 on Net-a-Porter
Gold-plated brass textured leaf, turquoise vein & bloom-quartz pink stones

Look at this ring! Found on the Hudson Jeans blog this morning. Check out their blog. There's lots of design inspiration to be found there.

A still from Aronofsky's 2006 film, The Fountain

Darren Aronofsky, one of my favorite directors, will be at the Rubin Museum of Art. On my birthday! Too bad, I have plans to be there the next night. In case you are interested:

The Tree of Life in the Wheel of Becoming

WHEN Thursday, 3/19 7 p.m. PRICE $20 / $18 for members $7 student standby

Film director Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler) re-examines the quest for eternal life initially explored in his film The Fountain. Is man's yearning for eternal youth genetically predetermined? Is the longing for everlasting life part of our survival instinct? Or is the quest one our minds fabricate to insulate us against the fear of dying? He is in conversation with Patrick Grim, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Philosophy at Stony Brook, who works in logic, philosophy of mind, computer modelling, ethics and metaphysics. Grim is author of The Incomplete Universe, The Philosophical Computer, editor of Mind & Consciousness: 5 Questions and founding co-editor of over twenty volumes of The Philosopher's Annual.

Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10011
212.620.5000

Patent Ruffle Pump at Payless, just $27.99

Another great find from Payless. The Patent Ruffle Pump by American Eagle. This time, I scooped them up, without even thinking twice. No shopping doubt-loop.

I have a thing about tuxedo blouses. I think I collect them... These shoes are a perfect complement.

Why do I always gravitate towards the Japanese artists? via BOOOOOOOM!

Yuri Shimojo is based in Brooklyn among other places.


Great Artists Live in Brooklyn Every design magazine, fashion magazine and art magazine I read lately features some important directional artist making big contributions to their genre. And where do they live? Brooklyn!

Chain maze lock from who else? Art Lebedev

Admittedly, I have a hard time getting out the door in the morning. So perhaps I won't be purchasing this particular chain for the door. via iGNANT which is a very great blog from Germany, by the way. Check it out.

I like this trend of eco-friendly lookalikes. There are so many of them nowadays. The ceramic Greek Cup. The "not a paper cup" ceramic paper coffee cup with travel lid. The ceramic paper plates. And now, the leather paper bag. I love it. So funny. Found on Popgloss today.

Ceramic Paper Plates, via DesignBoom

Scarlet Fringe Sandal from Payless, on sale, $19.99

And part of me says, don't stockpile! What to do? Aren't these fringey gladiator-style sandals from Payless pretty cute? I think yes. Just $19.99. I feel like running right over there now, and stockpiling! (Just to clarify, I don't mean that I would buy mulitple pairs of this one style. Just one, and one of these, in black.

American Eagle Karter Wedge from Payless, on sale for $19.99

Let's face it, Payless has some good things sometimes. I am not sure about these canvas cork-heel wedge shoes by American Eagle. I mean, I am sure about them. I love them. But I am not sure if I could walk in them. Probably not... In my defense, see previous post.

I thought about buying the ones in black. Only $19.99! But then I thought, aren't I just duplicating these? I get into a shopping doubt-loop sometimes that ends in no purchase. Then again, the espadrilles I have are navy and these are black, so it wouldn't exactly be duplicating...

Sad really, this shopping doubt-loop.

Case Study Walnut Chaise, $1895 at Modernica

I know, I know. This DOES NOT look comfortable. But it is soooooo beautiful.

I have a habit of buying uncomfortable chairs. And uncomfortable shoes, come to think of it. I buy them for their looks, not for their feel. Ah well. The folly of design.

Wow, look at these legs!

As part of Modernica’s 20th anniversary celebration this month, Modernica studio and artist Peter Shire have designed the new Prince Charles Chair. The chair is a juxtaposition between past and present. ~DesignMilk

Scope New York from above [image from scope-art.com]

So many art fairs, so little time. I used to do fashion trade shows for my line, and become so disappointed when traffic was down. Now I can see why. There are too many competing shows on at the exact same time. It is too much. Take this weekend for example. How many art fairs were going on concurrently in NYC? We opted to see Scope at Damrosh Park, Lincoln Center Friday night. It was a small, very walkable show, with a lot of good things. I wanted to see Pulse the next day, but alas, time got away from us. Couldn't one show have extended their dates to, say the 10th? UGH.

My friend Bill has the best Facebook Status Bar Comments. I like to visit his profile to read them all in succession. It makes for a nice poem. Please enjoy. From Bill's Facebook page, in reverse chronological order, without his consent in advance.

Bill is suspicious about how quiet it is today...
Bill is putting my to-do list at the top of my to-do list.
Bill is just sort of wondering when Portland's infatuation with big, bushy beards on men is going to end in tears and recrimination...*
Bill is typing.**
Bill is hitting the road.
Bill is having a day.
Bill is taking all feedback with a grain of French sea salt.
Bill is waiting to see what it all means.
Bill is glad there's olive oil.

*Perhaps Bill is reading my blog?
**Perhaps Bill is reading my Facebook Status Bar? See EP, 2.18.09, "Elaine is typing her status into the status bar on Facebook."
***Perhaps Bill will not appreciate this tribute.

my new Blogger Profile. Please read. hee.

I don't know why I didn't update my Blogger Profile until 3.5 years into Blogging. Why ask why. Just click to view! Gee.

Libby Necklace by Gemma Redux, $418.

Wow, now this is a necklace. I just found this line on WhoWhatWear. The one they show is pretty fantastic too. Check out the many collections on gemmaredux.com. Designer: Rachel Dooley.

Jack Spade's Moustache Gloves.
Curious. via PopGloss.

Enough with the moustaches already. What is with this strange trend in NYC? Eighteenth century-style waxed handlebar moustaches. Worn by hipsters. Remember when it was spelled mustache?

My former professor, Samuel C. Morse, is speaking at the Asia Society on April 8. I am so excited to attend this lecture. Click here to get tickets for the event.



Lecture 3 of the 3 Lecture Series. The Sherman E. Lee lectures honoring Dr. Lee, who passed away this year, consider how his role in the East Asian art world changed the scholarly and curatorial landscape in the west. Samuel C. Morse, Amherst College explores the Japanese elements of the collection.