Home again, home again...

...jiggety jig







Great visit with my folks.
Love them.
Love Las Vegas at Christmas. Beautiful snow-capped mountains and crisp desert air.

Nice, though, to sleep in my bed again.

Milk comes in bags?

I know... skip the naughty jokes.






















Seriously - though - milk bags? At first glance - I really thought they were chickens or something.

Certainly not my only takeaway from my busy, productive Toronto visit.





















What a great, open, cosmopolitan, international city. And check out this cool, new T.O.-based airline!

I will be back - during warmer weather. See ya' soon GTA!

My unvitation from Paul Smith...

Now - look- I know. I worked at Barneys New York for 5 yrs and Neiman's before that. BUT - I have to admit that my feelings were actually hurt the other evening as I drove home from the gym and saw what appeared to be a FABULOUS party at the big pink cube - the Paul Smith store on Melrose.




My expectations aren't really out of whack. I am certainly not a big customer - not a celebrity customer. I am, however, a relatively regular fan of the stripes and gingham and cameo cufflinks, etc. I don't expect a holiday card from my dapper associate. But - I was genuinely disappointed that I had been invited to the stylish looking soiree.

Sigh. Such is the small fish.

Plain old snobbery...

http://la.eater.com/archives/2010/10/14/michelin_guide_director_people_in_la_are_not_real_foodies.php

Seriously - this reminds me of when StarChefs came to Atlanta to give awards announcing that they thought the Atlanta food community was finally ready... Really? Really. From TopFlr to Star Provisions - from Serenbe to The Feed Store - Atlanta has had great opportunities to shop and sip and sup for years. No need to validate it StarChefs - people already know it. Head back to NYC and give out your awards to all the "cutting edge" boites there.

LA is delicious and we don't need a book to tell us so or show us where.

P.S. Michelin North America is based in South Carolina. South Carolina.

Todays Shoes and Socks... I AM DELINQUENT!

I O U
fun things to read. As I get into the swing of my new life in LA - I will be able to resume some of my habits [aka writing]... It's been nearly 8 months since I arrived and I still feel, in many ways, like I just got here. Thanks for your patience and DO stay tuned.


Here's what's in the pipeline - as previously previously previously mentioned:
-The pleasures of Plaisir [mmmm...cream puffs - and not the odd Asian pirate cream puff stuff]
-V.= Very good [a look at a local spot that showcases fresh, natural foods]
-Comme Ca - I am the mayor of this place on FourSquare for a reason!
-When life gives you lemons - you go to fresh food stand-out Lemonade
-Patron saint of rock-n-roll and tasty food and drink - new fave Saint Felix

"Jeggings" = NO

That is all.

Today's Shoes and Socks... and upcoming post preview

Monday Monday...





















What a weekend!

Here's what's in the pipeline - as previously mentioned:
-The pleasures of Plaisir [mmmm...cream puffs - and not the odd Asian pirate cream puff stuff]
-V.= Very good [a look at a local spot that showcases fresh, natural foods]
-Comme Ca - I am the mayor of this place on FourSquare for a reason!
-When life gives you lemons - you go to fresh food stand-out Lemonade
-Patron saint of rock-n-roll and tasty food and drink - new fave Saint Felix

Stay tuned...

Today's Shoes and Socks...

Ahhhh... Thursday the 15th.





















Stay tuned for an upcoming taste of V. - a fave new spot on Melrose... And the joys of Plaisir.

Today's Shoes and Socks...

TGIF!

Los Angeles - perfect in periwinkle

seen about town...

Today's Shoes and Socks...

The TGIF edition...

Today's Shoes and Socks

Ahhhh... Wednesday.

Today's Shoes and Socks...

A new feature.

Enjoy. In the words of Brent Duncan: "It is what it is."





















OH - and today is National Donut Day - Get thee to a donutry (Krispy and Dunkin' are giving 'em away)

What I would've said...

SO...I started this awhile ago and haven't utilized the forum. Things that I'd like to shout out my car window - or bellow at a passerby on the sidewalk... OR in this case to the seersuckered, fedora'd young douche at Pavilions...

HEY DOOFUS - unless you were chemically impaired - the fact that you stood DIRECTLY in front of me - without acknowledging me - at the nut kiosk - WHAT THE HELL!? It's a small selection of nuts and trail mix. It's a narrow aisle. I KNOW I'm hard to miss. Are you REALLY that rude and self absorbed?!

It's one thing if you snuck in and grabbed a bag of nuts and left... It's entirely ANOTHER thing if you park in front of me and just shop. Peruse. Take your time. Really. Sorry. I have to say - you are an asshole.

Ahhhh...that's better. I think I'll post this in another public forum as well... Because I'm still just that frosted.

Again - this will be my forum for the occasional outburst!

R.I.P. Julia Sugarbaker

"and THAT, just so you will know Marjorie and your children will some day know, was the night that the lights went out in Georgia!"

Punk pioneer and innovator also had wicked style...

Before Madonna and better.

RIP Malcolm McLaren

Service with a shrug© BOO SPIRIT AIRLINES

More like service with "the finger."

Charging for CARRY-ON bags?!  UP TO $45?!?!   http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/06/news/companies/spirit_airlines_carry-on_fee/  

 

Not only did their site not load on my Mac for years - but they also don't go anywhere I want/need to...AND - they're not all that cheap from the research I did on their site (which now loads).  In addition - $3 for a Diet Coke or water is absurd.

I don't know.  I guess we need one airline that's like a bus.   I just don't.  And - the comment I heard from an airline exec: "Bring less.  Pay less."  Just seemed, well, crass.

How does one celebrate a great month?

Well...

A dozen oysters (kumamoto and Fanny Flagg or Dolly May or happy Fran or something) and a glass of rosé at your favorite neighborhood boite.

I LOVE COMME CA!

Sort of my Cheers - but with foie gras and a gifted fromager and gracious staff! LOL!

One whole month at my amazing new firm... working with an amazing client and amazing colleagues.

Cheers!

Welcome to Lublin, Poland... You're free to use your electronic devices anywhere in the iPort

Seriously.

Did Apple design this amazing airport to be?



This Eastern Polish city, Poland's ninth largest - I believe, is getting one amazing iPort.



Seriously. Neat.

TGI-feelin good-F!

"Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds driftin' on by you know how I feel

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good"



I have to repeat myself here [this was from an earlier post] as my second week of my new life comes to a close...

Great conversation and work with a team from all over North America convened here in Hollywood... Great food at Street, Comme Ca, Mercantile... Swank drinks at the W Hollywood... A great couple of work weeks in LA... [more on my personal adventures to come.]

I'm embraced by a complete sense of well-being and joy. How cool.

And...I'm, indeed, feeling good.

Coffee Golightly...

YAY! Found my new fave local coffee spot near the office. Office? New? Yep. I have a new position and am thrilled to be a patron of Cafe Audrey!



What a cool spot! And on the way to work I walked over Dorothy Dandridge, Doris Day, Liberace, Anne Baxter and Betty White - to name a few.

Too cool.

I want to go to there

Ideal getaway in Joshua Tree...

looking ahead...

"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time."

-Abraham Lincoln [fellow Illinoisan]