I heard about the YouTube Orchestra the other day on the news. Yes, a bit too late to audition. I would have totally auditioned. I love love love love love this idea. For you viewing pleasure, Act I of the concert at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. Below, Act II.

The image Rob Bryn selected for his final email. A Rockwell.

I like that Rob Bryn is featured on Racked today. I like that Racked has featured this master email writer/shoe salesperson quite a lot actually. Today is Rob's last day at Shoe Market and he has announced he will not continue writing the newsletter. Here is an excerpt from one of my favorites, dated 11/24/08, "A Million Things on Sale - Victor Frankl - Happy Holidays". Check out Racked for theirs.

Dear Friends and Family,
"For the highest readability, start your letter with a short sentence."

That's the advice of Constantcontact, the program I use to make these e-mails. I will have you know, New Yorkers, that I don't like the idea of people opening my e-mails and not reading them because they're too long. I have adopted precision and simplicity as my personal creedo.

Also, they're won't be any pictures in this e-mail. We have so many shoes on sale, including 30% off select women's boots that it would be impossible to show you even a fair fraction of them and not waste your time like reading big books at ancient libraries.

And, the Holidays are upon us. Have you ever read Viktor Frankl's, "Man's Search for Meaning." It's delightful. Full of ideas that Viktor came up with while he was busy surviving the Holocaust. He talks about the passage of time, our perception of it and hope. Are you full of hope? Time is flying by. 2008 is almost over. Let us enjoy what time is allowed us.

In that spirit, we're having a Holiday / Launch Party for our collaboration with Jeffrey Campbell. Have you gotten a pair of our shoes yet? Cooked up right here at Shoe Market in Brooklyn, New York. We're very pleased with how they came out, thank you Jeffrey, and they've been selling very well. Even our old, ex-employee Martin said he like them, picked up a pair and said, very earnestly, it was touching, said, "I like girls wearing cute shoes."

[...]

I wrote right back:

This is a wonderful and bizarre email. I love it. Funny, I am just writing copy for a holiday e-blast myself.

(But it was nothing like his.) Truly unique. Good luck Rob Bryn, whatever you will be doing next, where ever you will be doing it.

This "skirtini from Delia's is one half of a bikini, but I'm sure you
figured it out from context. Click to view.

There are an awful lot of ini's these days aren't there. Martini, an old standard. Tankini, a new standard. Now, Skirtini? The skirt on a skirtini is mighty teeny, isn't it? Ah fashion. You learn something new everyday.

Pretty spectacular image.
By Hedi Slimane, via UO.

Check out these amazing photographs by Hedi Slimane on, of all places, the Urban Outfitters blog. Yes, I would say that this is pretty fontastic.

Lady Ivory Necklace by Michvanetta, on Etsy, now sold out

How does one get from Point A to Point B to point-0f-purchase online? It is a mystery sometimes. I think I found this lovely rosary-style rose necklace on Etsy by way of Twitter --> then Wists --> then a blog --> then Etsy --> then the Etsy blog. I think that is how I came to it. These days, more often than not, Twitter is involved.

Purchasing, once again is thwarted though, due to Etsy shops being often sold out. Oh well.

Olsen Haus shoes, available on nimli.com

Yes, I like this mixture. Just a bit of cork on the toe and silver everywhere else. An interesting side note: these shoes are totally vegan-friendly. From Olsen Haus.

Hayden-Harnett for Target Brown Clutch, on sale, $4.98

By the way, have you checked out Hayden-Harnett's line for Target? I have not seen the merchandise in person yet, but for $4.98, I might make the gamble. Hayden-Harnett for Target here.

Wood Fence Bracelet, Banana Republic, $29.

I think I wood. Depending on how it looks in person. If only accessory designers would mix would with silver! Then I wouldn't have to think twice.

I photographed this pizza at the Atlantic Antic last October.
The pizza at Brooklyn Flea looked just like this and was priced the same: $8.
Is it the same vendor?

Mobile brick oven pizza at the Atlantic Antic last October. Again, same oven.
Could there be 2 mobile pizza operations? Hey, it's Brooklyn.
I 'm sure there is up to 10 mobile pizza operations.

The Brooklyn Flea was bigger and better than ever this past Saturday, with more food vendors than I could have shook a stick at. Why do we only have one stomach? It isn't fair. The greatest new addition, in my humble opinion, is the mobile brick oven pizza by Pizza Moto. Just $8 for a pizza built for two. I thought it was the same vendor as in the Atlantic Antic last year, but apparently that was Lunetta. I will have to do more research. In the meantime, get thee to the Brooklyn Flea. Same location as last year. (Fort Greene; G to Clinton/Washington) This year, Saturdays. (Last year, Sundays.)

The line this morning at Mayle's Super Sample Sale
[image via Racked]

Wow, today and tomorrow are the last days to snap up Mayle items before they close, according to Racked's Dealfeed. I must say, I've been a fan of this Nolita-based haute indie clothing label for quite some time. They have beautifully constructed jackets, among other great shapes. It is always sad to see an indie go. Check out the story here. Final sale dates and hours here. Even more of the story here.

Mayle's Website, here. An older, now defunct, part of the Website here.

For nearly a year, I have had a photo of this Translucent File Tote from Container Store in my clip file, which is an unruly overstuffed manila file folder just begging to be converted into an organized Translucent File Tote.

At last, Container Store has this item in stock at the 6th Avenue store. Today, it shall be mine. For just 4.99 plus tax.

Marc by Marc Jacobs
[image from luisaviaroma.com]

Guiseppe Zanotti
[image from Piperlime]

How do you like your cork sandals? For me, it can get sometimes too corky. I like just the right amount of cork.

[image from Piperlime]

Yes, a bit.

Herb scissors? I have these, but I bought them as "shredder scissors." Just a simple change of the handle color and voila. Call them what you will I guess.

Alas, this neon sign is no longer with us. But the memory lives on. I have an equal obsession with shoe-shaped neon and sewing machine-shaped neon. Go figure. Lady's Pump to come. If I can find it in my image files.


Gentleman's Shoe, glass tubing, inert gases and clear plastic, 40th Street near 6th Avenue, New York, NY

© 2009 by Smile!<3 featuring Dorothy Perkins jewelry

Interesting image. From Polyvore.

Golosi Artisan Pizza and Gelato, opened in the former Yolato space
on Park Avenue, just below Grand Central

The 'pizza by the inch' looks pretty darn appetizing.

I read on Midtown Lunch Thursday (just a bit too late for lunch, too bad) that there was a pizza with free gelato deal to be had in Midtown just below Grand Central. And then I read:

The Yolato looking signs are still up, so it probably is the same gelato as before (but I can’t say that for sure).

What? Yolato is gone? My favorite midtown yogurt or gelato or whatever it is place is gone? So I high-tailed it over to the new Golosi Artisan Pizza and Gelato place after work to see for myself. Well, thankfully, the gelato display is exactly the same as before. Phew. As for the pizza, I too cannot be the judge, because I haven't tried it yet. It certainly looked tasty. I would try it if they would extend the free gelato with 3" pizza purchase. But alas, that offer was only for their opening day, which sadly, I missed.


Golosi
Grand Central
125 Park Ave (41st & 42nd Street)
New York, NY 10017
212.922.1169 (same phone as before)


Related Post:
Yolato!


***
Update, 4.23.09
Read in April 16-23 TimeOut: Golosi's pizza crust is definitely not vegetarian. I am glad I didn't sample it. Should they label the pizza clearly that it is made with rendered pork fat??? I am officially grossed out. I also read that Golosi translates to "gluttons." Well that is a curious name for an eatery.

Luckily, the gelato display has remained exactly the same. Phew.
That was a close call.
Funny, I took almost the same picture last year.

The new Golosi, with the old Yolato gelato display.
A smart move on their part.

This post is featured on Midtown Lunch for April 14, 2009

Not our doubles. [image from Flikr]

They say the rain is supposed to stop at 4pm. That is only 23 minutes away by my calculations. So far, our Doubles Odyssey is a washout. Ugh.

The things you find on your camera... We served this tuna tapas appetizer at Thanksgiving. It was a big hit. And delicious with a Spanish white wine.



Tuna Tapas
1 jar whole roasted red peppers
1 can tuna in water
nonfat plain yogurt
ginger root
3-4 peperoncini peppers
fresh Italian flat leaf parsley
Balsamic vinegar

Drain tuna. Drain peppers and blot dry. Cut peppers in half lengthwise so they are "1-ply". Mix tuna with a few dashes of balsamic vinegar, a few tablespoons of nonfat plain yogurt (amount to your taste), fresh minced ginger, diced peperoncini peppers, chopped Italian flat leaf parsley. Roll up a spoonful of tuna in each half of a roasted red pepper. Serve on plate with a marinated zucchini salad. Eat!

Payless Shoe Source advertising poster, detail 1


Artist, Takashi Murakami 'posterizing' his signature eyeball in Superflat,
a show in 2001 that Murakami curated and exhibited


Payless, Evolution of a Logo, (my title, not theirs), detail 2


Takashi Murakami, Jellyfish Eyes - Black 4, Offset Lithograph, edition of 300
[image from Blind Angle]

I don't know about you, but I see a clear similarity between Takashi Murakami's Jellyfish Eyes - Black 4 and the current advertising poster for Payless Shoe Source, Evolution of the Payless Logo (my title, not theirs).

After all, why wouldn't Payless want to plant the Louis Vuitton/Takashi Murakami seed in their customer's minds? "Luxe for less" (copies) is their concept, isn't it? When you look at images of Murakami's and Payless' side by side, the reference seems overt.

The Payless Logo Poster in a traditional Japanese two-panel screen format,
on display in the window on 39th Street (corner of Fifth Avenue)


Murakami's signature eyeballs mixed with Louis Vuitton icons and logo
in a print the artist made for the luxury handbag maker.

doubles doubles! via Always Hungry NY
[click image to enlarge]

I can hardly speak, I am so happy. Years ago, when my husband and I took a trip to Toronto, we found a shop that sold "patties" and "doubles." Luckily we found it on the first day of our trip, because we went back everyday after that for maximum eating pleasure. We even took pictures. Ourselves with the doubles. Ourselves with the menu. Ourselves with the patties. We made it into a hinged triptych.

We took twelve doubles home on the plane, but of course ate them all right there on the plane, especially when we hit turbulence and thought we were goners. We weren't about to waste the doubles. So today, we are both rejoicing with the possibilities of a Doubles Odyssey this Saturday, thanks to Always Hungry NY and his list of more than 15 doubles shops.

What the heck are doubles you ask? Well, they are delicious. And made of chickpeas. And are Trinidadian. And are sandwiched together with some sort of chickpea paste in the middle. And are vegetarian. And are very little over one dollar. And have a hot sauce element. Because what is street food without a spicy element I ask you? I am dizzy with excitement.

The newest Bird, on Grand Street in Williamsburg.


Spacious and incredible Bird

Bird interior. March 2009, when I visited.

If you are already a devotee of the Brooklyn-based women's and men's clothing boutique, Bird, then you have already delighted in their well-edited selection of designer clothing and accessories for some years now. When you step into the brand new loft-style floor-though space, opened February 2009 in Williamsburg, you realize that the newest Bird (location #3!) is not just about the clothes. Did I gasp out loud? Yes. The space is gorgeous. Light-filled, minimal and warm. Textured. Very textured.

The architect for the project is Norwegian-born, Ole Sondreson. This Bird is LEED certified, (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) which means that it has met standards for environmentally friendly construction, more fully explained here. Look at Mr. Sondreson's Website and drool. That doesn't sound dignified. Admire him in a more dignified manner, because his work is beautifully understated. He not only designed the space, he also designed the store fixtures (which are all modular, by the way.)

The dressing room is wood-paneled like a sauna. Not necessarily in cedar, I am told after making a call to the store, but definitely in reclaimed wood. Of course. The cushion is upholstered in a rare fabric by Scandanavian textile designer, Josef Frank, which after you read this, you will again be reminded how much I love this designer. This was one of my favorite spots in the store... Visit Bird soon! It will please all your senses.


Bird
203 Grand Street (Bedford and Driggs Avenues)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn

T: 718.388.1655

The Dressing Room.
With the Josef Frank upholstered seat cushion.


Bird has a good sense of humor about its name.
I love all the soft sculpture birds they carry.
Birdhouses.


Plus this peacock.


Ah, beautiful reclaimed texture


Yes, I did say "floor-through"

Yes, definitely. Great music on Colette Paris. I have been listening for quite awhile, and it is all great music to blog to.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that Hayden-Harnett was my first sample sale. Ever. I know I know. But I was always over the crowds before I ever finished reading the listings. Since the Hayden-Harnett sale was so pleasantly civilised (British spelling on purpose), I thought I would venture out today at lunch to the Agnes B. sale on 39th near Seventh Avenue. Here's the listing I found on New York Magazine.

Through 4/17 Basics by agnès b are up to 70 percent off. 250 W. 39th St., nr. Seventh Ave. (212-719-0001 ext. 11); daily (10–7). ***UPDATE NOTE: this is at the retail store, Red Bag right next door to the office building check-in desk (who knows nothing about an agnès b sample sale. Drat. I go back later.)

Plus wait, there's more! Click here.

***
4.9.09 UPDATE: Agnes B. Sample Sale at Redbag

Redbag storefront at 250 W 39th

All square footage dedicated to Agnes B.


According to the pricelist, $45.

A Rendering of the McCarren Park Pool Reconstruction via Brownstoner

I just saw on Brownstoner a rendering of the refurbished McCarren Park Pool, slated to open in two years. I cannot wait! Oh to do laps in this pool. It would feel like you are swimming the Nile. So calming. Well anyway, that's my fantasy. I know the reality will be wall-to-wall people with no real space to swim. But let's not talk of realities. Check out Brownstoner's images instead.