Outdoor Dog

Polly spent another night outside. Even though it was just about freezing she absolutely refused to come in. So The Guy has issued a fiat: if the dog wants to be outside, she will have her own house. I'm now searching for a modern dog kennel. So far I like this one and this one, as they have sloping roofs and similar lines to the house. Anyone else got any better ideas?

American Idle

How young can you be to have lived a life worthy of a memoir? And new memoir? Does that mean he's written one already? Seriously, Sanjaya? Isn't he like twelve?

Changing the Axis

I got madly bored on Christmas morn and switched the bed around. AGAIN. This is a better configuration in every way except one: The Guy has a lot less room between the bed and the window, which is apparently challenging when negotiating the room in the dark! For me - I can honestly say I have slept better than I have in months. Perhaps it's because the bed is now on a north-south axis rather than east-west? Anyone else feel this connected to the earth or is it just me?

Renaissance Porn

A literal Testa de Cazi or dickhead from the profane section of the Met Museum exhibition Art and Love in Renaissance Italy. We stumbled upon this gem of an exhibition quite by accident. After viewing the Baroque Christmas Tree we wanted to see some European art to complete the old world feeling. Somewhere past Caravaggio's Denial of Saint Peter we wandered through the exit of the exhibition and were entranced by the images of the Bella Donna and Venus. It was entrancing. All aspects of love, marriage, family, platonic, as well as sensual both heterosexual and homosexual, are covered by works on paper, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, glass, jewelry and furniture. Other standouts are the maiolica childbirth plates and the wedding rings, including a beautifully ornate Jewish ceremonial ring. The curators have provided a thorough explanation of the imagery employed in these works of art. Let's just say I will be looking at keys, birds and vegetables in a totally different way from now on. And it gave us a new insight into the holiday windows at Bergdorf Goodman that we saw later that evening.
The exhibition runs until February 16th and, brilliant idea this, accompanying lectures are available on the youtubes.

Shout outs

We caught the Young Rebel Goombas - or a portion of them anyway - at Black and Blue on Boxing Day the day after Xmas. And we got a shout out for letting them use our house as a location for their video. Their yet-to-be-finished video. (No pressure, Jake!) I also got complemented by a random person in the ladies room on the bright red silk shirt I was wearing. That, despite the stain on the flounce (oops, must learn not to drop sauce down me) and the sleeve (thanks to our server Caitlin who dropped the apple garnish on me). And thank you Caitlin for mentioning in a voice loud enough that the entire restaurant could hear, that we were such a cute couple. Apparently we were holding hands while simultaneously attempting to set up our iPhones (mutual xmas presents) in a zone with cell service. I know. We failed at so many levels of etiquette. But it's the holiday season, and there were cocktails involved so we feel no guilt.

Knock Out

Nothing says holidays like a couple of polar bears sparring. From the best holiday windows in New York this year at Bergdorf Goodman. The full fantastical selection is here and here. Enjoy!

Satellite Fruit Bowl of Love

The Satellite Bowl designed by Carlo Contin for sale at MoMA. The simple, geometric and uniquely modern fruit bowl I've been lusting after for a long time. The one The Guy drove all the way into Manhattan two days before Christmas to get for me.

Xmas Buenos Aires Style

From the famous Galerías Pacífico, a shopping mall in a Beaux-Arts building in Buenos Aires. More photos of the murals and spectacular glass roof here.

Merry Madness

The thing about having your end-of-year celebration at Solstice is you forget other people still have a few days of crazy left before their Happy Holiday moment. I ran to the pharmacy and was amazed to find four cars in front of me fighting over one space that was partially blocked by a UPS truck. When I got into the pharmacy there was a line. Trust me in the backwoods of Long Island that pretty much never happens. I couldn't understand what was going on until the pharmacist handed me my purchases and wished me a Merry Christmas.
I never, even back in the old days in the old countries, understood this manic urge to get out and join hundreds of others stockpiling essential supplies. After all, the shops will be open again on the 26th, won't they?
Anyway, it's cold again and we've had the big blowout meal so I've made an enormous pot of Split Pea Soup with the leftover ham bone, with that and the dried fruits we'll be good until normality returns on Friday. Merry Midwinter!

Incredible Inedible Gingerbread House

I sent out all the Gingerbread House cards to friends with children and a couple of big kids I thought would appreciate them but secretly I really regretted not keeping one for us, I wanted to play with stickers, too. Well, thanks to a kind neighbor we received one of our very own and as I didn't have a five-year old handy I decorated it myself. I don't think you can tell, can you?

First Casualty of Winter

I looked out of the back door this morning and was surprised how light it was. Then it occurred to me that I wouldn't normally be able to see my neighbor's house from this angle, now I could see that, and a portion of the back yard as well. Hmm, yesterday we had an 8' holly bush outside the door but the combination of a heavy snowfall and ice temperatures have bent it into a 2' bush. I can't get out to see if it has snapped off or whether it will bounce back but I don't suppose it will be the last yard-related loss this season. Surprisingly the fence is still standing!

The Aftermath

There are no good before shots of the decorations and certainly no during photos - too busy greeting, eating and drinking - but sufficient to say we had a rollicking good time, and I hope the guests did too. I snapped these afterwards while The House Elf, aka The Guy, was collecting glasses and bottles from various corners.


The baked ham, sliced venison (a gift from a guy with a gun) and Swedish meatballs disappeared, the salt and pepper prawns were a hit. We did serious damage to the seasonal cheeses: Stilton with walnuts and dried fruit, chevre rolled in cranberries and honey drizzled blue cheese. The ice cream and half the Solstice cake vanished, too. Friends brought more food, choux pastry puffs, shortbread, cookies, dried fruit and a white chocolate and banana gateau.


Although I make a lot of the food myself, to make life easier I outsource the finickety things. Trader Joe did sterling work as always. A few of the favorites: Spicy Almonds, Cheese and Ham Puffs, Raspberry Brie Filo Rolls and on the sweet side, Belgian Chocolate and Almond Tart, Fruits of Fancy (Turkish Delight with Walnuts) and Snowflakes (yoghurt covered pretzels). One non-edible product got a big thumbs up - Trader Jacques' French Liquid Soap, a little whiff of French perfume for less than $4 a bottle. You can't beat that, can you?


I've spared you the worst of the clean-up, the glasses, empty and half-empty bottles and plates on the sink side of the kitchen. Those bottles on the island are gifts from the partyers and in the big Le Creuset, the remains of the gluhwein we drank to keep out the fast-falling frigid air.
This morning we breakfasted on wonderful leftovers - awesome curried prawn puffs (courtesy of the Awesome Designer) and Buckwheat Salad (from our Buenos Aires-loving South African friends) - while resisting the temptation to heat-up the leftover gluhwein. It's 13 F out there but it's still a work day.

Snow Scene

It snowed a lot yesterday, luckily the good kind of snow: plentiful, soft and white. It's looking picturesque enough for tomorrow's Solstice Party and The Guy has shoveled the paths so whichever way people come (unless it's down the chimney) they should be able to make it to the door unimpeded.

Solstice Tree

Sometimes I can be a tad sarcastic about life in the 'bay but I can't fault our local firefighters. Knowing we would miss the annual tree sale while in BA, we gave them a handful of dosh and asked if they'd pick out a 7'-8' tree and deliver it. When I got home there was a huge tree hidden around the side of the house (in case of tree thieves, I suppose) but I didn't realise how fantastic it was until The Guy came home from Sao Paulo and we were able to erect it. Thanks Halesite Fire Fighters.


We finally decorated it this morning. Yes. I know it's leaning left but don't you think that's appropriate in this house? Anyway it's very festive, just don't call it a Christmas tree!

Leash of Shame

We sprung the animals yesterday and Polly was so delighted to be home she spent most of the night outside rounding up the kitties and asking us to let them back in. As a result we got next to no sleep. Tonight she will be wearing the "leash of shame"!

Unique Flower

There have been (verbal) comments that this blog has become more political of late, and I guess the last post won't have helped but I think it still skews more "uniquely modern" than leftist. Anyway, back in Buenos Aires (and don't get me started on the politics there) there was another sculpture, a more modern (2002) but equally unique piece that took my breath away. Designed and paid for by architect Eduardo Catalano, Floralis Genérica sits on a reflecting pond in the Plaza Naciones Unidas. Using hydraulic mechanics, the petals of the huge (60') metal sculpture open in the morning and close with the last of the sun's rays.
Catalano also built the famous mid-century modern Raleigh House in North Carolina, a unique structure with a hyperbolic paraboloid roof that was named "House of the Decade" in 1955. Sadly, the house is no longer standing, it was bulldozed in 2001. Let's hope for a better fate for the metal flower.

Jesus Christ on a Jet Bomber

Buenos Aires is a city of art: sculptures in the parks, paintings in cafes and fantastic museums including MALBA. It was at the last that I saw a work that has haunted me ever since. La Civilización Occidental y Cristiana (Western-Christian Civilization) 1965 by León Ferrari hangs at the end of the exhibition space on the second floor and is as profound and valid today as it was when Ferrari made it to protest the Vietnam War forty years ago. Exploiting religious beliefs to make a case for war or imposing democracy on a country is arrogant, imperialistic and costs thousands of human lives; it doesn't work. I doubt if we'll ever learn this lesson from history, maybe art as arresting as this can make the case.

Cafe life

Sometimes you just need to sit down and catch your breath. Where better than a cafe with a well-stocked bar


in exquisite Beaux-Arts surroundings


and its own permanent art gallery - quality art everywhere you look. Cafe Tortoni in Buenos Aires is a landmark, it may be a little touristy but the architecture is spectacular. The only question is: do I need an espresso or a G&T?

Can I go back to BA, please?

You know I'm not one to whinge or moan but
1) Today the car wouldn't start so I got a guy to come jump it. It started for him but of course when he left it died again. They're coming to tow it first thing tomorrow but they have to call me two hours prior to that to verify my address and make sure I still need it towing. They will call at 6 AM!@! I will try to be pleasant but there are no guarantees as I explained to the third person I spoke to at towing assistance today.
2) As the animals are still on vacation I had the carpets cleaned yesterday so they'll be stain-free for the Solstice Party on Sunday. They missed a huge chunk and I didn't notice it until late last night. They are coming back to re-do the spots which means it won't be dry before the puppies come home and roll on it. Grrr
3) I made three batches of ice cream for aforementioned party, Cointreau and Candied Orange Peel, Dulce de Leche (with the real stuff from Argentina) and Bourbon. Two froze but the last looks like Bourbon sauce, not ice cream, so I'll have to wait for the bowl to chill to redo it. That means going to bed late tonight or making it when towing assistance wakes me up at 6 AM!@!
4) We ran out of both vodka and gin before we left and I was on my way to the liquor store to restock when the car stalled. I need a stiff drink right now.
5) It's going to snow again
I want to go back to sunny, stress-free Buenos Aires. Please.

And then there was food

Argentina is famous for its grass fed beef. I love it because it doesn't cause all those internal issues that corn fed meat can do (wind, gas or heartburn or whatever your particular affliction may be), and frankly, it just tastes better. Parrilla or grilled steaks, are available everywhere and in huge portions but our favorite turned out to be mollejas or sweetbreads. These were simply cooked, as all parrilla is, just seasoned with salt and pepper and served sliced with wedges of lemons on the side. Succulent and exquisite, without the addition of the usual cream-based sauce, they were very light. Just a simple watercress salad and a cubierto of bread, it made the perfect meal. We also tried the famous asado made in al asador or the embers of a charcoal fire, just like the gauchos cooked it, and ate the offal and chevito, baby goat, with a little chimichurri and a lot of Malbec.
But it's not all about the beef in Buenos Aires, the Spanish and Italian influences mean great desserts, too. As in Belgium, coffee is accompanied by a little sweet something, or even three somethings as in the photo above- a chocolate, a tiny biscuit and sliver of cake. And like in Europe, an entree is an appetizer not the main course. Hurray for logic and food heaven.

Buenos Aires: Cocktail time

Sadly inflation hit BA in the early 2000's so the $5 cocktail is now a $10 cocktail, but that didn't stop us hitting the bar every evening, especially as drinks come with great nibble - chips, almonds, cheese, savory biscuits and smoked salmon appetizers. That held us until dinner time, which as in Spain, tends to be served around 10 pm. Really, though, who needs dinner after all that? Well, we do, of course. Anyway, here's my favorite

The Plaza Bar Tango Martini

2 oz. Gin
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
1 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice
Pour into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake and serve.

The most refreshing Martini I've drunk. The barman also invented a new cocktail for me which was very tall and pretty and pink but rather more Verity's thing as it was reminiscent of a Mojito but gin based:

2 oz. Gin
Simple syrup
Mint
Pink grapefruit juice
Muddle the mint into the sugar. Add ice cubes, gin and top with pink grapefruit juice. Stir and serve.

Buenos Aires

And that's only a tiny part of it. There was giant carp and cute kittens, parrilla and asado, Malbec and martinis, art and architecture, polo and poverty and about six weeks worth of blog postings. I have a wee bit of jet lag right now so expect more later. For now, I can direct you over here to look at these guys. Swoon. They breed 'em beautiful in the southern hemisphere, no?

Flying South

We're heading south for a few days. Florida? Nope. Mexico? Keep going. Farther. Not there yet. It's a long, long way. So far that it will be summer when we get there.
We won't actually be flying American. This 1968 AA advertisement is purely so you can marvel at
a) the fab mod cape that was part of the uniform
b) the iconic Saarinen Tulip chair the model is curled up in (I'm sure that wasn't a comfortable pose)
c) the inappropriate sexism of the concept
I'll post as and when I can, but as the hotel we will be staying at has one of the best bars in the city who knows how lucid I will be?

Light Up the Turtle

Honestly, would you ever light this? It is so detailed and turtle-like I couldn't bring myself to do it. Turtle candle from designer Sophie Labayle Mitchell. Get it at moss online, also available - hot tropical frog.

Snowfall

Sunday morning. The first snow of the season fell last night, but it's already melting away. We only got an inch or so but the plows were out anyway at 3 am. Our guy correctly assessed we didn't need plowing out, so we saved those lights a least for one day.

Lighting Up

The landscape lighting has been a trifle temperamental since we moved in. It seems constantly being jumped on by squirrels and cats, kicked by landscapers, and knocked over by tree surgeons and snowplows was more abuse than the lamps could take. In places the cable had been completely severed. Although we've re-coupled, duct-taped and generally mended all the parts, it had got to the point that only on fully moonlit nights was it safe to venture down the paths. We finally assessed the risk of serious injury to ourselves or visitors versus the cost of a new system and invested in a set of low voltage lights for the driveway and added a couple of new lamps to the set on the front path.
The dogs were very serious about getting the job done right. Sadie oversaw every lamp connection, leaning on The Guy a couple of times to remind him to screw the bulb in before moving on to the next spot. This is a pretty simple system to install, and even taking time to bury the cable it only took a couple of hours. The downside is that once the lamps are clipped into the cable they cannot be moved and one lamp (on the corner of the path, of course) wouldn't work. We have no idea why that one lamp isn't cooperating but as it snowed last night it will be a while before we can investigate further. And really, will it matter? A few feet of snow, a couple of visits by the snowplow, a falling branch or two and by Spring we'll probably only have half the lamps working again.

Polly in the Pachysandra

Polly where she is happiest, outside in the yard keeping the world safe.

1968: Advertising

So you think the American car design missing the mark is a recent phenomenon? Look at these 1968 ads for the Chevelle and the Alfa Romeo Spider and ask yourself: which one makes your heart beat a little faster?

Etro is 40, too

This fabulous Rose tote is part of Italian Fashion House Etro's 40th Anniversary Collection. It was fleetingly available at ideeli, but sadly sold out fast. The paisley print leather bag with neon green or fuchsia pink accents was really quite restrained for the company which is better known for its quirky accessories and over the top style.

On the White House Holiday Menu

"In the weeks leading up to the holiday, the Bushes will host almost daily parties with some 22,000 holiday cookies, 250 coconut cakes, 600 pounds of asparagus* and 700 gallons of eggnog."

600 pounds of asparagus? Since when was asparagus festive fare? There is an asparagus season where I'm from, it's called May. Call me peculiar but if there's one thing I don't associate with the holidays, it's pee smelling like asparagus in the morning. Gingerbread, maybe, or eggnog, but not a vegetable that inspired this piece of piss-taking on wikipedia: Green asparagus is... the primary source of nutrition for inhabitants of the Atomium in Brussels.
As if that's not strange enough, can you imagine what dishes they are making with the following ingredients*?

Grapefruits 3,000
Pounds of Asparagus 600
Pounds of Cheesy Stone-Ground Grits 300

Secret family recipes, anyone?

*Fun Facts On the 2008 Holiday Season At The White House

Wildlife at the Bar

Stylish and adorable. Just the thing to go with all that alcohol, although these guys have such haughty expressions I think they might be judging me if I used them for their intended purpose.
Black shot animal glasses with carved pewter heads from Goody Grams via Generate.

Hangover: Cause and Cure

It may not amuse everyone but I think it's worth a post. This is the door of my freezer: half-empty bottles of alcohol and lots of ice packs. What else would you need for the holiday season?
Why, full bottles, of course.

Book Sale

Yesterday was the final day of the 50% off clearance sale at the Book Revue and I scored three fantastic finds. Faberge Eggs A Book of Ornaments contains beautiful card eggs to hang on a tree, Ou Est Le Garlic?, basic French Cooking by The Ipcress File author Len Deighton and Formica and Design: From the Counter Top to High Art all for the bargain price of $7.50. While the first book is the most ornamental and the second may prove the most useful, I absolutely love the Formica book.


In the 1950s, designer Raymond Loewy was hired to update the Skylar range and the Boomerang classic (above) is still available in all its retro glory. I know a lot of people have negative feelings about Formica but The Cool House still some of its original 1960's and 70's Formica left - the kitchen countertops, for example, and I'm proud to say that the same product that has served our house for forty years was also used in the decorative wall surfaces of the Queen Mary liner and Radio City Music Hall in the Rockefeller Center, New York.