Winter is Coming

At 75 ºF, it’s an unusually warm November day in New York City, but I’m no fool. Summer's over, the leaves have fallen, and Christmas-themed goods have already infiltrated the shelves. Winter is coming and it’s time to prepare.

I love my summer and I love my fall (Libra here), but there are still plenty of things I enjoy in the winter. Wine, mulled wine, white wine, red wine, to name a few. Okay, but honestly, I love seasonal cooking, holiday festivities, fluffy snow, cozy lazy days, and winter fashion. There’s just no getting through January and February (cringe) without a sensible, yet stylish, winter coat. Don’t get me wrong, if street style sleeping bags were socially acceptable, I’d be first in line, but there’s really no getting away with that in NYC. We need warm. We need fashionable. And we need it now.

December brings very exciting things, particularly a trip that requires “the coat”. So, I’ve been trolling the interwebs for days now, and contestants have been found. For the sake of variety, I've included other colors, but when it comes to coats, I'm always partial to black.

(Links in picture captions)

Aigle: Storydown Parka

Canada Goose: Victoria Parka

Penfield: Hoosac Parka

Mackage: Juliann Parka

Canada Goose: Trilliam Parka

Pajar Catherine Parka

Spiewak: Aviation N3-B Parka

   

Woolrich: Arctic Parka 

You may have noticed a pattern here. What can I say, I know what I like. The above contestants all drew me in for the same reasons:

1. Length (long enough to cover the booty for extra warmth)
2. Material (down insulation and REAL fur trim)
3. Aesthetic (supremely warm while maintaining a flattering feminine form)
4. Color (black, always)

Now for the hard part: decision making. It's never been my strongsuit (Libra here). I know, at the very least, no matter which coat I choose, this girl is going to stay warm in Deutschland.

Life Is Beautiful

This past weekend was truly one for the books. Central park hangs, my favorite German boy (and my favorite German beer), rooftop BBQs, bike rides, Bikram yoga, Bloody Marys, pop-up art, a walk on the Highline, a picnic in Tompkins Square Park and a movie date to see Inside Out. All worthy of praise and adoration, but I’d like to focus on the pop-up art because it was fascinating and beautiful and all of you New Yorkers should have a look while it’s still there.

Mr. Brainwash (aka Thierry Guetta) is a French ex-pat based in Los Angeles. He started as an amateur filmmaker shooting L.A. streets artists, and in 2006, took to the streets himself and emerged as a key player in the underground urban art scene. Guetta's moniker, Mr. Brainwash, really came to life after starring in Banksy's famed documentary, "Exit Through the Giftshop". Mr. Brainwash brings an urban style to traditional pop art, and the result is a sort of hybrid "streetpop". His work is a clever fusion of historic pop imagery and contemporary culture, with distinct influences from both pop and contemporary artists like Andy Warhol, Roy Leichtenstein, Basquiat, Shephard Fairey and, most notably, Banksy.

The pop-up is located under the High Line in an 8,500 square foot space at 450 W 14th street. Paintings, prints and mixed media works plaster the walls, and sculptures and installations stand scattered across the floor. All of the work is undeniably Mr. Brainwash and undeniably street pop with its vibrant colors, clashing media and juxtaposition of past and present iconography. I have a few pics to share, but for the really great ones, you'll have to go see for yourself.

There’s also an interactive installation on the High Line that I highly recommend checking out. The Collectivity Project is the work of Danish-Icelandic artist, Olafur Eliasson, who has created a cityscape of Legos that is built and continuously rebuilt by the public. Before coming to the High Line, The Collectivity Project was previously installed in Tirana, Oslo and Copenhagen.

Feet So Funky Fresh

There’s really no right post to transition back into blogging. I’ve been fixated on this idea that my first post in over a year has to hit all the high notes; a real show stopper, or starter, I suppose. But really I just want to talk about shoes. And art. For now, at least.

Japanese contemporary artist, Takashi Murakami teamed up with Vans to release a collection of eclectic slip-on sneakers that embody all that is good in this world:  vibrant colors, smiling faces, trippy hippiness and the creative mind. The Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami shoes come in a few different patterns and colors, all varieties truly representing Murakami's most iconic work.

His paintings, as well as his sneakers, take on two artistic identities: traditional Japanese art and pop culture. Murakami takes the two-dimensional "super-flat" stylistic approach of traditional eastern art, and incorporates popular motifs, similar to anime and manga.

A prolific artist worldwide, Murakami has also gained an undeniable celebrity status in the worlds of fashion and media. In addition to Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami, he's collaborated with fashion-forward thinkers like Louis Vuitton, Kanye West, Comme des Garçons and Pharell Williams.

With no intention of knocking your socks off, I do hope you'd rather put some on and slip your feet into these psychedelic treats. 

The sly fox himself

I've
I've got my eye on the multi-colored flower ones. Skulls just aren't my thing.

Murakami's design for Kanye West's Graduation album

Takashi Murakami's animation for Pharrell's "Last Night, Good Night" music video

These limited edition kicks just hit the shelves on Saturday, June 27th, and are available at select locations across the US. Check 'em out!

Zest for the Best

This post goes out to my main man in the art world, David Hockney. While credited as one of the masterminds behind the British Pop Art movement and as one of the best contemporary artists, in actuality, Hockney's talents exceed such titles. Judging by the versatility of his work, his zesty yet frank personality and, obviously, his intrinsic eye for color and composition, I'd reckon he's quite possibly the most glorious artist that will ever live. But, I'm no expert.

Hockney was born in 1937 in Bradford, England and spent the majority of his adult life between England and Los Angeles. Distinctive to his style is that his work totally reflects his environment; you can look at virtually any painting and determine if Hockney was living in California or England at the time.

His portfolio is dominated by brilliant color palettes and landscapes, with a number of portraits, interiors and still lifes thrown into the mix. I want to say that painting is his forte, but he's also an amazing printmaker, photographer and he definitely has that technological artistry going on. In fact, there have been a number of exhibits exclusively featuring his iPad drawings and paintings. I could give praise to this creative savant until the sun goes down, but I'd rather you fall in love for yourself.

"Life is such a mystery, why can't there be another? Why would there be only one mystery?"

Red Pots in the Garden, 2000
oil on canvas, 60x76 in.

The Gate, 2000
oil on canvas, 60x76 in.

Late Spring Tunnel, 2006
oil on canvas, two parts, 48x72 in.

Bigger Trees Near Warter, 2007
oil on 50 canvases, 180x480 in. overall

Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), 1972
acrylic on canvas, 84x120 in.

"I've always been a privileged person. I get intense pleasure through the eyes."

Autumn Leaves, 2008
color inkjet print on paper, 35x46.5 in.

Woldgate Woods, 2006
oil on six canvases, 75x150 in.

Woldgate Woods III, 2006
oil on six canvases, 75x150 in.

Woldgate Woods, 2006
oil on six canvases, 75x150 in.

Winter Timber, 2009
oil on 15 canvases, 180x240 in.

Hawthorne Blossom, Woldgate no. 5, 2009
oil on canvas, 60x72 in.

Early Blossom Near Brid, 2009
oil on canvas, 36x72 in.

Mulholland Drive: The Road to the Studio, 1980
acrylic on canvas, 86x243 in.

Shirley Goldfard & Gregory Masurovsky, 1974
acrylic on canvas, 45x84 in.

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven), 2011
oil on 32 canvases, 144x384 in.

Pearlblossom Highway, 1986
photographic collage, 77x112.5 in.

Criminal Cupcakes

I want to eat a cupcake and have that be the only cupcake I want to eat. I rarely eat them, so when I do it must be an indulgence. Many of you have heard of Magnolia Bakery, especially those of you in New York, for it's a pretty big name in the cupcake world. My introduction to Magnolia cupcakes, however, was not at the original bakery in the West Village, or any other locations for that matter, it was in my kitchen in Alaska. Five or six years ago my mom had bought the Magnolia Bakery cookbook, and being a longtime lover of cake, white on white that is, I whipped up a batch of their vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting.

It's a simple recipe and the result is divine. The cupcakes are substantial and satisfying and certainly fit the indulgence bill. I'm not recommending them for their nutritional value, I'm recommending them for their goodness.

I don't think any sort of cake can surpass that of the homemade Magnolia cupcake, except obviously, Shaw's white on white. If you're not from New England, Shaw's is a supermarket chain with the best vanilla cake in the whole wide world (Katie and Nini, back me up on this). Maybe it's the ratio of butter to crisco or sugar to sugar, whatever it is, their white on white is unbeatable. So, for the purpose of rationality, let's say that homemade Magnolia cupcakes get as close to perfection as humanly possible. I'm just being honest. 

I follow the recipe to a T, but sometimes I make a little extra frosting. I like my cupcakes top-heavy, what can I say? And last time I made them I added shredded coconut to the frosting which makes for a fantastic variety.

Homemade

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:

1 ½ cups self-rising flour

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting:

1 cup butter, softened

6-8 cups confectioner’s sugar

¼ cup milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 ½ cups unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)

Directions:

Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.

Combine the flours, set aside.

Using electric mixer, cream butter.

Add sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 min.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

Add dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla.

Fill cupcake liners about ¾ full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Frosting:

Mix softened butter, 4 cups of the sugar, milk and vanilla. 

Gradually add the remaining sugar. 

Add coconut last, if desired.

Magnolia's

Shaw's take the cake. What I wouldn't give for a corner with a rose...

And then there's Zealand, who prefers healthier options