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You can call me SL, this is about living.  |
The Queen's Guard, Buckingham Palace
London, UK from my 2006 archive April 29, 2011 Royal So excited for Prince William and Kate, soon to be called Catherine, or Princess Catherine. I am nervous for them, not sure why. I am sure they are used to all the attention. But still on a special day like this, they have no privacy at all with the world's eyes upon them. My entire family has always had a fascination with the British Royal Family. Growing up, I thought of them as the only Royal Family that existed in the world. We, like everyone else were completely captivated by Princess Diana. She was an exemplary role model with her commitment to and passion for her charitable work. And she had such grace, beauty, and elegance. My sister and I even went as far as to name our ginger colored cat after her. Then we took "Princess Diana" for a check up to the veterinarian and found out she was a he. So our cat was promptly renamed, "Prince Charles." Congratulations to the Royal couple! archives: Miscellaneous |
Banksy's works
Notting Hill London, UK from my 2006 archive April 27, 2011 Street Art continued... In anticipation of The Royal Wedding, I am sharing work from Banksy. He is after all British, and has made work using THE QUEEN as inspiration...wonder if he is invited to the wedding... Back in 2006, on my first trip to London, I had the opportunity to buy a Banksy for £200. I was in the Tate Modern gift shop, and nestled in amongst other posters were original silkscreened works by him. I was shocked to find them there because (1) he was a street artist and (2) he was still relatively unknown. I had only known of him through a friend who had studied abroad in London for a semester several years prior. I debated between one poster with a young girl hugging a bomb and another which was similar to the Chimpanzees shown above except they said, "Laugh now, but one day we'll be in charge." The works were not signed and I hesitated. I emailed two artist friends back home and asked for their advice. One said it did not matter, the other said it did. I ended up not buying either one. I cannot describe the regret I have felt over the years at my poor choice. The initial £200 investment would have been the best return on any investment I have ever made. It would likely be valued at tens of thousands of dollars or pounds today. So, next time I get the opportunity to buy work from an artist before their fame skyrockets, I promise myself not to hesitate. At the very least, I would have had an artwork which I loved. I have also wondered all the years if the posters were placed there as a stunt, by Banksy himself. archives: Street Art |
foreground: lavender, rainbow Swiss chard, thyme, oregano, Swiss chard background: softneck garlic, hardneck garlic, softneck garlic from my 2011 archive April 26, 2011 Hello garlic! continued... It has been roughly five weeks since I last gave an update on the softneck and hardneck garlic that I planted. The softneck garlic leaves have tripled in size and the hardneck leaves have at least quadrupled. I am so impressed. Not by my ability as a gardener, but by their ability to do their thing without my interference. I planted them in November and have not watered them even once. Mother Nature has given them sizable doses of rainfall and snowfall including a December blizzard. Some of the stalks are getting quite thick, and I envision robust bulbs beneath the soil line. I have resisted all temptations to pull them out to check on them, then immediately replant. (Which I did all too often with onions gardening season 2010.) Better to leave them alone, they appreciate it. The Swiss chards, oregano, and thyme are going strong, the latter two, very fragrant, compact, and bushy. The lavender and rosemary are still alive, but need time to recover. I am confident they will, with a little pruning and encouragement. I did not think for a second herbs like oregano and thyme would be able to survive such extreme winter temperatures, but they proved me wrong. I brought home some cuttings, minced them, and sprinkled them onto leftovers. So wonderful to have fresh herbs in April. I also took my first bike ride of the season. There will be many more reports from "Plot95" as I have nicknamed it. archives: Garden |
Bobby, "The Butcher" Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive April 25, 2011 You never know. A friend was visiting from Upstate New York over the weekend, and we set out in search of Greek food. The restaurant I had in mind would not seat us when we arrived. They were closing early in anticipation of Easter Sunday and stopped seating people an hour before closing. Disappointment is an understatement, we had to quickly leave before our pangs of hunger were further intensified. We were surrounded by oval platters of seafood and lemony potatoes that looked and smelled amazing. Instead of taking the subway a few stops to another restaurant, we decided to walk so she could get a better sense of the neighborhood. (And to buy time to get over the meal we would never have that night.) Along the way, we came upon a man carving whole lambs in the back of a truck with a bandsaw. There were two customers waiting for their order who were initially suspicious of our curiosity. Bobby, "The Butcher" stood there carving away and throwing the pieces into a garbage bag. I fully expected him to turn around at any moment and yell at us for taking photos. Instead, he turned around, mumbled something about us making him famous, putting him on the news. He then invited us to visit his farm in Pennsylvania. He asked the female customer to get us a business card from the truck's cabin, to my relief. I was not really ready to be handed a business card from him with lamb bits on it. His card reads: Goats, Lambs, Baby Cows, & Pigs We walked away in disbelief, laughing off the absurdity of the surprises our neighborhood has to offer, such as finding a man with whole lamb carcasses spread out onto cardboard sheets in the back of a parked truck, with no refrigeration and a bandsaw. I guess I should not be too surprised, we do have the Statue of Liberty statue here. But really, Bobby is at a whole other level. archives: Food |
pink Peeps and olive oil
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive April 24, 2011 Easter Like other brightly colored treats, the presence of Peeps in stores signals that spring and Easter are coming. The juxtaposition of the Peeps against the backdrop of the olive oil is a testament to the Mediterranean heritage in my neighborhood. I personally prefer the olive oil, the grassier the flavor, the better. I have never been a fan of Peeps, yellow or pink. But they are cute. The Swede and I do not have plans except for dyeing eggs and getting some work done in the garden (if it ever stops raining). I am going to use beet juice, coffee, turmeric, paprika, and anything else I can manage to rummage up as dyes. I will post the results at a later time. Happy Easter to you and yours. archives: Food |
Kara Walker and friend
Chelsea Gallery District, NY from my 2011 archive April 21, 2011 A sighting and two openings I had my third Kara Walker sighting about a week and a half ago. I went to check out a show at the gallery that represents her, and she was there checking out the show with a friend. Last time, I spotted her waiting in line at the Paula Cooper Gallery. Tonight she has two concurrent show openings. One in the Chelsea Gallery District at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. which will be drawings, and the other at Lehmann Maupin's Lower East Side location which will be videos. The exhibitions are titled, "Dust Jackets for the Niggerati-and Supporting Dissertations, Drawings submitted ruefully by Dr. Kara E. Walker" and "Fall Frum Grace, Miss Pipi's Blue Tale," respectively. Her titles are works in themselves, something to think over carefully. I plan to go see the drawings tonight, that way I can cruise around and pop into other openings as well. Looking forward to another mini gallery run. archives: Art |
interior, Patel Brothers
Flushing, NY from my 2011 archive |
round eggplants
Flushing, NY from my 2011 archive |
coriander seeds, turmeric powder
Flushing, NY from my 2011 archive |
turmeric root
Flushing, NY from my 2011 archive April 20, 2011 Alphonsos My quest this past weekend included Dim Sum and mangoes. Years ago, 2004 to be exact, my friend invited me to her parents' house in an area in Sweden known as Dalarna, home of the wooden horse statuette. Her father frequently traveled on business to India and brought back a case of mangoes whenever they were in season. They were served as dessert. Hands down, the best mango I had ever eaten, very few fibers and a sweet concentrated flavor. I immediately inquired about them, made a sketch of their case sitting on the balcony under the moonlight, and captioned it, "Alphonsos." Once back home, I set out to find where to buy them. In my research, I found stores did not carry them. In fact, they were banned! How was this possible? The King of the "King of Mangoes," I would never have them again unless I went to India (which would be fine by me). But a change of luck a few years later, the U.S. lifted the ban on Indian mangoes in 2007. Every year since then, I have tried to get my hands on a case and have failed. I have either missed the season (April and May only), or stores were sold out. After stuffing ourselves with Dim Sum, a group of friends joined The Swede and I on a short trek, with fingers crossed, to an Indian grocery store that carries the Alphonso variety. No luck, they did not have them. The cashier told me, "Check next week." I bravely got over it, not wanting to cry in front of my friends over mangoes. It was a great opportunity however to look around the store. I am one of those people who loves grocery shopping. I like to discover something unfamiliar, and then research its origin, uses, variations, and prices. I recently ran out of Madras curry powder and Patel Brothers stocks it. I also bought yellow and black mustard seeds, all for $4.27. In the produce section they sell turmeric, in fresh root form. Previously, I have only seen it as a powder. Turmeric is believed to be a preventative herb in fighting cancer. It has a slightly musty taste and a vibrant yellow, orange color. I think I will buy a piece of it when I go back for the mangoes and put in the garden to see what happens. It will probably look gorgeous grated over some white basmati rice. archives: Food |
donut artworks
Chelsea, NY from my 2011 archive 
pistachio, chocolate, and strawberry donuts plus coffees
Chelsea, NY from my 2011 archive April 17, 2011 Donuts Ohhh, nostalgia. When I was little, my Mom would occasionally take my sister and I to get donuts. She always encouraged us to get an "old fashioned" donut which she somehow thought was healthier. How she got rationalized that, I have no idea. We were permitted one each, so we had to choose carefully. I often went for a glazed donut which is not overly complex in taste, and lets the donut flavor come through. Another memory from childhood of donuts...in the sixth grade, a friend and I gave a presentation on how to make them by first poking a hole in refrigerated Pillsbury biscuits, frying them in oil, then dusting them with sugar and cinnamon. Easy. A classmate went home to try it for herself and burnt down her parent's kitchen. Not a joke, real story. Donuts can be as gratifying as any complicated sweet if they are made well. There are too many out there that are just not very good, they leave a film in your mouth. The Swede unfortunately had a few of those experiences when he first came to America. He participated in a challenge to consume a dozen donuts in one hour without being permitted to drink fluids. He was able to eat nine; he said after the fourth donut, the tongue becomes like sandpaper. The result, it has turned him off to them. But being the person that he is, he believes in trying everything twice. My friend introduced us to the Donut Plant. Heavenly. Not heavenly in the way one swoons over rich and delectable treats. But heavenly in that the Donut Plant has not gone too far. I chose a yeast pistachio donut which had a mellow, nutty flavor and was not overly sweet. The Swede had a cake chocolate donut, and my friend chose the yeast strawberry donut. I consider myself a conscious eater, so when I go for a treat, I try to go to places that make things with quality ingredients. In addition to embarrassing myself at galleries, I also like to wait outside restrooms for my turn when no one is inside. This happens to me way too often. Note: if you go to Donut Plant, ask them to buzz you in if you need to do your thing. Once inside, beware--a disco ball and walls covered in reflective tiles await you. archives: Food |
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce, UT from my 2005 archive 
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce, UT from my 2005 archive April 16, 2011 "127 Hours" The opening scenes where James Franco's character, Aron Ralston is biking through the Utah landscape is breathtaking. So lovely, exquisite cinematography. It reminds me of when I went to Bryce Canyon. The Swede and I road tripped from California to Michigan (where we were going to live for two years while I went to graduate school). The Swede had never been to the Grand Canyon and wanted to go. Since I have been there too many times to count, my Father recommended Bryce Canyon as an alternative. It is not as vast as the Grand Canyon, but arguably more beautiful in the colors of its strata of rocks. Amazing. When "127 Hours" first came out in the theatres, it piqued my interest, but I did not think I would be able to stomach it. So I waited for it to release on Netflix, thinking somehow viewing the whole cutting off your own arm thing on a smaller screen would be less severe. Wow. James Franco gave a convincing performance. He carried the movie well with mainly an internal dialogue and laser point facial expressions. Portraying natural facial expressions is no easy feat. Have you ever seen yourself caught on video or in a photo and thought, "Ugh, my face, why am I making that face?" The climax of his performance for me was when his character first gets his hand trapped by the boulder. The shock on Franco's face is so genuine, I could feel his panic. His performance can be compared to Tom Hank's in "Cast Away." I, of course wish there had been more of the landscapes shots of Utah, but I get that the movie is about Aron Ralston's mental and physical struggle to survive. What a story. archives: Books + Movies |
photo credit: I.Theorin, the "Chelseamobile"
Chelsea, NY from 2011 April 14, 2011 All that sparkles and shines. I am calling this the "Chelseamobile." While waiting to cross the street, I spotted this car coming from afar (how could you not, it announced itself). The Swede had the camera, so I shouted to him, "Hurry, hurry, the camera, that car, that one, get a picture." He quickly got it out and panned the camera while the car drove by, the technique worked. Good job. Just when you think New York can get a little mundane (I realize what I am saying, but it can), something surprises you. Safe driving, the reflection off that car must be blinding. archives: Street Art |
studio of Steve DeFrank
Brooklyn, NY from my 2011 archive 
gouaches, studio of Steve DeFrank
Brooklyn, NY from my 2011 archive |
detail, Steve DeFrank's "Diga, Diga, Doo"
Brooklyn, NY from my 2011 archive |
Steve DeFrank's "I Was Here"
Brooklyn, NY from my 2011 archive |
Steve DeFrank's wood and paper plank works
Brooklyn, NY from my 2011 archive April 12, 2011 A studio visit with Steve DeFrank The first time I met the painter, Steve DeFrank was several years ago when I was sitting and waiting for The Swede in a sculpture workshop. Steve came up to me and asked, "Do you have any chocolate?" I was without chocolate and Steve moved on. The question was innocent enough but it caught me off guard, he did not know me. On the way home, I told The Swede the story, and he chuckled, "That's Steve DeFrank." Fast forward a few years to late March of 2011. The Swede and I went to visit Steve's studio in Brooklyn. We arrived toting red velvet cupcakes topped with raspberries hoping to satisfy Steve's penchant for chocolate. When we arrived, he greeted us in Spanish. My instinct was to reply, "Como estas?" but I stalled, a bit embarrassed that my Spanish was not up to par. (It once was, in high school.) Steve is an avid student of Spanish and that is the thing about him, he does everything with enthusiasm and with openness. He is an artist and an educator. And very funny, an opinion many people share. His 500 square foot studio is spectacular. It is spacious and filled with natural light from a set of large windows on one end. Scattered throughout the space are works in progress and finished works hung on the walls. Steve is gifted with the ability to be a great conversationalist and an even better listener. He can speak endlessly about any subject. We were able to move from talking about his artistic process, to politics, to Powerpuff Girls, to families, to religion, and to travels. Steve draws inspiration from Pop Culture; referencing song titles, graffiti found on bathroom walls, cartoons, NPR, and other forms of media. He plays with the idea of faux, with layer upon layer of simulacra. He paints wood grain and carvings upon real wood and on pieces constructed from heavyweight paper made to look like wooden planks. Adding to the playfulness and attention to detail, Steve added to one work, faux planer marks, further challenging the viewer to guess what is real and what is fake. After being in the studio awhile, the enjoyment, passion, and satisfaction the artist feels became evident to me. I was able to see it in the work. This is not an easy place for an artist to reach. Steve agreed, he spoke about being in a place where he feels he should be and how it feels good to be there. This fall, Steve will have a solo exhibition at the Margaret Thatcher Projects. I am already looking forward to another studio visit and to his show, whichever comes first. We spent the last half hour of our visit saying, "We should go, let you work," but continued to chat. In the end, we did peel ourselves away from Steve and his work, after a four hour visit. archives: Art |
Newton of the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden
Bronx, NY from my 2010 archive April 11, 2011 An Appreciation I am a Member of The New York Botanical Garden, and The Swede and I visit a minimum of twice a year. We always leave happy, rejuvenated, and holding a bag from the gift shop... Recently I had the opportunity to write for their blog regarding city children and food education. Check out the post and please visit The New York Botanical Garden if you have the opportunity. I guarantee you will fall in love. It is truly one of my favorite places in New York. archives: Garden |
 Roa's work (Title Unknown)
Williamsburg, NY from my 2011 archive  Roa's work (Title Unknown)
Astoria, NY from my 2011 archive April 5, 2011 Street Art continued... I used to think a work near my community garden by the Street Artist Roa was of a rat. I was wrong. I went back recently to take a better photo of it, and I realized it is a badger, I mean ferret...according to The Swede. Now he thinks it could be a weasel, who really knows. I came to the conclusion it was not a rat after noticing its tail, which is cut off in the photo because of that van. I was lucky however, normally cars are completely obstructing its lower half. On an outing to get coffee from my home state, The Swede and I came across another of Roa's work in Brooklyn. I was able to get the shot of the squirrel just as the sun was going down. By the time I finished taking six or seven photos, it was nearly dark out. The shots nearly made us miss our chance to get coffee. When we arrived, they had closed. Persistence paid off, I knocked on the glass door and convinced them to let me at least buy a bag of beans. Thank you Blue Bottle. archives: Street Art |
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