i love new york.

New York, I Love You

2011-12-31T23:59:00.003-05:00

Oh, New York, you dirty old beauty queen.

I couldn't possibly leave this place, New York, home of my heart, without a physical, corporeal souvenir to go along with the tattoos I already have which represent the other places I've planted myself - Arizona, Italy, France.

But I wouldn't do it without having the absolute perfect illustration, so I waited months - almost, in fact, until the last minute - until the correct inspiration struck. I wanted it to represent not just New York, but what NYC means to me. One night on the PS roof someone mentioned getting something as simple as a line, and when I heard that all I saw in my mind was one line illustrating the New York skyline, and that felt right. It seemed beautiful, and as the idea percolated in my mind I thought about everything the skyline meant to me.

When I first moved to New York 7+ years ago, I was very nervous, even afraid. But when my plane into the city made a dramatic dip and turn and the window beside me gave luminescence to the morning skyline, I distinctly felt something powerful - the feeling of being home. In one moment I thought, This is right, it's going to be okay. And after that, every time I've ever come home to New York, every skyline I've seen out a plane window, every taxi view on the way into the city, every skyline from a Hoboken park or from the Brooklyn Brewery or from the Staten Island Ferry I've ever seen - each time I see the skyline, it looks like home to me, and everything feels okay for at least a moment. So when I found an illustration of a single, simple line of the NYC skyline, I knew it was right.

My last full day in New York, a Sunday, Mitch accompanied me after a fabulous Lower East Side brunch to a parlor recommended to me by Evann called Thicker Than Water to get my newest ink. The guys there were funny, nice, and serious about their jobs (like every other tattoo artist I've ever met).

Luckily, they make their tattoos with electricity.

(Oh, I gave Mitch the greatest Christmas gift ever - John Travolta's 1984 book "Staying Fit," which was an amazing find since we both adore the 1985 aerobics movie classic "Perfect.")

It hurt, it hurt BAD, and I made stiff-upper-lip Mitch hold my hand despite her eye rolls and protestations. Then I made her photographer.

It took us four tries to get the stenciling just right.

Luckily, my tattoo artist Rich was funny and nice and gave me some sass along the way.

We left Thicker Than Water ecstatic, thrilled, and freezing cold (it was 30 degrees that afternoon). Our only recourse was a martini (for Mitch) and, naturally, for me, a Manhattan.

Great stuff. The best way you could imagine your last day in New York. Ned came over that night to witness the unveiling, and luckily I was still quite enamored of my new tattoo - I find it elegant and significant to my heart, if a little wobbly on my wrist.

The next day, as the Monday world pulsed on, I packed the last of my bags, gave away the last of my giveaways, and hopped into a cab to JFK airport. On the way I couldn't help getting misty-eyed at the skyline beside me, and soon behind me, and forever upon me.

This isn't the end, New York. I'm not done with you yet. Just keep yourself pretty until I come home.

love,

forever,

forever,

*jenna*

Last Days

2011-12-28T23:22:00.001-05:00

For the annual PS260 holiday party, we were instructed only to be in the kitchen, dressed up in fancy clothes that we could move easily in, at 7:30pm one Wednesday evening. Naturally, we followed happily and gussied-ly.

After toasting some cocktails and making some to-go cups, we were on our way to our evening's surprise destination - Swing 46, an awesome swing dance supper club in Hell's Kitchen. The place was hoppin' and ready for us when we arrived.

We ordered dinner, then began the evening's mission - to dance our asses off.

It was an absolute BLAST, awesome to see everyone dancing together and the marrieds (and paired) romancing it up.

For those of us with fewer moves, there was a quick lesson. I paired up with Ned and basically ignored the instructor, making him twirl me over and over and over again.

Meanwhile, Joe and his buddy Robin found it awkward to dance together, so they coughed all manly-like and retreated to the corner together.

But no worries. They both got up again and I danced with both of them too! (not at the same time)

It was, without a doubt, one of our best holiday parties, and I got to dance with every boy! Better than prom.

The swing dance club was followed by the gayest of gay dance club dancing, at the Ritz (right next door) followed by philosophical conversation, work-bitchin', and more dancing at Deacon Brodie's Tavern (next next door).

The next day was a pretty quiet day at PS 260.

Friday was my final day, and Evann Borgman had worked hard all week to make sure that I was well-fed and exquisitely happy. She generally tends to be successful at that kind of thing. For my last lunch, I had a downright dream come true: a cheesesteak from 99 Miles To Philly and a glass of Yamazaki Japanese Whisky.

SIGH. A DREAM. Definitely of the five best meals I've ever had.

Evann was still sad (though cute).

That evening we celebrated our Secret Santa exchange with holiday music and a magnificent Evann snack platter.

With cannoli! She is such a dear.

Gifts were exchanged, joking insults were made, and inside jokes were referenced in good fun all evening.

And then it was time for the annual Posing of the Horseheads.

(This year, Brandname gave terrifying horse masks to all their clients.)

After that, we chilled out, drank some more whiskey, and shared some PS260 memories.

I stayed until the very end of the night and shared many laughs and hugs with my favorite colleagues.

(and I put on a horse head for a second)

And one last time I enjoyed the view: the sight of the cars flowing down Fifth Avenue like a river of dual lights, surrounded by lights, anchored by one big light - the Empire State Building.

Thanks for a proper sendoff, PS260.

love,
*jenna*

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T23:19:00.001-05:00

Celebrate in style.

love,
*jenna*

Lately

2011-12-10T23:09:00.004-05:00

This was the most concerned, even Dickensian, I've ever seen a family look in anticipation for Thanksgiving pie:

PS260's 1st Annual Chili Cookoff (the results were delicious):

Three things I will always love about New York:

Street musicians...

Winter light; old business logos painted onto buildings:

Each year at Christmas, New York is overrun with piles of Christmas trees, filling each block with the beautiful smell of the holidays. I will never get tired of that, the random few seconds of Christmas scents each day, regardless of whether or not I have a tree at home.

Last Wednesday, one last bowling night at The Gutter with the PSers...

And... how will all of this fit into two cardboard boxes?

I don't know, but I do know some things that will help.

love,
*jenna*

A Best

2011-11-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

As I look back on all of my Thanksgivings, families I've spent them with, parades I've been to, pies I've made, I know that without a doubt, the best Thanksgiving I ever had, hands-down, was 2009.

Which began with my Mom and me getting a police escort away from the pre-Macy's Parade.

And Then Much More!

Oh, pangs of nostalgia and woeful distance.

love,
*jenna*

You Would

2011-11-22T13:28:00.001-05:00

love,
*jenna*

black and yellow

2011-11-20T18:47:00.004-05:00

One day they all fell down, as though the trees just decided the year was done. And that night the leaves blew across the street, dry, loud, sounding like a crackling fireplace in a dark, empty house.

love,
*jenna*

Use In Case Of Brilliance.

2011-11-16T22:07:00.000-05:00

Um, not sure why anybody would need three..... THREE (3) notebooks and five (5) pens in her purse at all times, but whatever. I get ideas.

Also... color theme, anyone?

love,
*jenna*

Pouty Faces

2011-11-12T14:17:00.000-05:00

When I first met Gracie three years ago, I taught her an invaluable lesson: how to apologize so that anybody will forgive you. You put your chin down, doe eyes up, and say very slowly, "I'm sorryyyy." Think Kevin McAllister in "Home Alone" as he attempts a last-ditch effort so as not to be banished to the attic. But, I told her, it only works if you really mean it; you have to actually be sorry. Over the course of that night I also taught her how to say it in Italian ("Mi dispiace").

When we met again last week she didn't remember the Italian version, but she has definitely nailed the English. So I tried to teach her again. And also in Spanish. And also in French. "Apologies are the best thing to learn in every language," I told her. I am going to make a great mother. So today I got this video in my electronic mailbox and squeeeeealed:

I was so delighted! She did it perfectly! So I sent the next lesson:

Shannon threw some glasses on her and Gracie matched my French apology to a T:

I just about died. How awesome. I told Shannon, if I find myself a blond Frenchman to marry, this is what I can hope for in my future. I WOULD LOVE IT.

Thanks for making my Friday morning bright, ladies!

love,
*jenna*

Wonderful Warby Parker

2011-11-11T11:07:00.006-05:00

I am a big fan of a company called Warby Parker. Started by four friends who were fed up with the exorbitant cost of a decent pair of glasses, it's a website where you can browse dozens of super-chic pairs, see them on models, and try them on virtually (they, in my research of online glasses, have the best and most effective virtual try-on feature).

They send you up to 5 pairs to try on at home, show to your friends, wear around the office and get a good sense of in daily life. When you've found your perfect pair, they ship you your new glasses for a grand total of $95 - frames, lenses, shipping, everything.

As if that wasn't awesome enough, for every pair they sell, they give a pair to someone in need.

I admit that I was a little worried about buying glasses online, but I took the plunge and, when they were a little too curved when they arrived, their fantastic customer service advised me to take advantage of their New York showroom and get a free adjustment. So off I went to NoLIta, and ended up in the coolest office ever.

It's at the beautifully ornate Puck Building, which, among other things, functioned as the face of the building where Grace and Karen work on "Will and Grace."

The lobby is even better.

And the Warby Parker office (a little empty here as it was Saturday), was a grand loft filled with large, sunny windows, rows of Mac computers, and about 10 super-friendly, knowledgeable staff members helping people choose their perfect pair.

Also: books on the shelves of glasses.

Also: books on how to be a proper gentleman, and typewriters.

They did not pay me to say this, but the Warby Parker staff took CARE of me. Their optician sat with me and fitted my frames to my face, over and over until I was really happy with them, and looked forward to wearing them. I left with the excitement of someone who just bought a great new accessory and couldn't wait to wear them with my new Anthropologie dress to a classy function the next week.

Oh, that's just me and my new friend Mike Richter. No big deal. He was so nice that you can actually see the halo above his head.

Thanks, Warby Parker!
(PS - I want to marry each of the WP founders.)

love,
*jenna*

ROUGES!

2011-11-10T12:38:00.005-05:00

Last birthday-related post, I swear...

Shannon and her niece Gracie were in town on my birthday and took me out to dinner! Imagine how excited I was when they showed up in matching red coats, which went quite well with my red dress!

Check out our matching headbands (awesome gift, thank you ladies)! We were precious.

After some blood-sugar related wandering, we ended up at Jaques, on Prince Street, which was absolutely delicious and very French - they acted like they did not care one bit about us, yet somehow still won us over. Example:

Gracie (to waiter): "PSSST. EXCUSE ME. It's my friend's birthday today, and we were wondering if we could please get a candle on her dessert."

Waiter: (silence, staring at the little human)

Gracie:"Or, I mean, just... I just wanted to let you know that it's her birthday."

Waiter: (rolls his eyes, walking away) "I am not sure if I can promise you anything, as it would require a lot of work, but we will see."

In the end I did get a lovely candle atop our crème brulée, and on the count of three we all broke the caramel top together. It was delicious, and a sweet end to a sweet birthday. I'm so glad I got to spend it with these two fabulous ladies.

love,
*jenna*

Autumn Light.

2011-11-06T14:09:00.002-05:00

The sun in autumn has a way of attacking buildings in such a deft manner. Like here, at the 92nd St. Y, giving length, life and light to the brightly colored rays of its entrance ramp.

Or through my window on an idle Saturday, caressing the building across the street with its golden glow or beaming in through my color slide "curtains" and bouncing onto the wall beside my bed.

I know that sight is too familiar on this blog, but every single time it happens it looks so magical that it feels new again.

love,
*jenna*

Another Key To A Fab Birthday

2011-11-04T17:37:00.003-04:00

Ladurée just opened a New York branch. You know what that means.

HAPPINESS

Merci PS260!

love,
*jenna*

New York.

2011-11-04T16:16:00.007-04:00

This is the best visual way to describe what it feels like to live in New York City... always in motion, surrounded by a vast variety of people, a combination of structure and nature, and joy and fatigue and romance and beauty.

Shot and edited by Andrew Clancy.

love,
*jenna*

Someone Has A Sense Of Humor

2011-11-03T10:28:00.000-04:00

This is what I got when I recently ordered an "iced coffee."

love,
*jenna*

'Tis The Season

2011-10-31T11:45:00.001-04:00

It was a strangely comforting feeling the other day when I realized that I still eat candy corns the same way I did when I was five: each color separately. It just doesn't taste as good whole.

love,
*jenna*

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2011-10-29T15:21:00.000-04:00

This was last night. It is now snowing.

love,
*jenna*

The Birthdaying Begins!

2011-10-28T23:26:00.004-04:00

The only good thing about living far away from a lot of loved ones is that I get a lot of early and late birthday presents... making me feel special for weeks!

Look what I got today!

After a rainy day outside of the office, I came back just in time for our weekly Friday High-Fives and found a package from my mama in Arizona waiting for me!

Ohhh snap! I tore it open like a little kid and pulled out this gem:

Uh Huh! From Anthropologie! Also known as JPD (Jenna's Personal Designers)!

How convenient that I got it on a rainy day! Super soft, light but substantial, elegant and subtle but still with pops of flavor, it goes with everything from my head (red hair) to my toes (red boots).

And that corset back! STOP.
Très chic! New favorite for fall AND spring. Can't wait to wear it everywhere.

My mom knows me yes she does.

love,
*jenna*

Lately

2011-10-25T16:01:00.004-04:00

Mitch, jalepeño margaritas, and tin folk art pinned to the wall at a Mexican restaurant in Midtown.

File this under Things I Want That I'll Have When I Have My Own Home. Also under: Anthropologie, where a lot of things fall under that first category.

People old and young, reading along Riverside Park, because that's what you do when it's suddenly 72 degrees on an October Sunday.

Michael Marcianobot:

... who later obligingly played the classic playground game M.A.S.H. with me........

Turns out I'm going to live in a House and drive a Ferrari, be a Writer and have Four Kids, our pet will be a Miniature Pig and my vice will be Rosé wine (WILL be?!?!), I will die by subway and I will be married to... Bruce Vilanche.

Sounds about half dead-on, and half totally ridiculous. A little something to think about...

love,
*jenna*

Lookin' Good

2011-10-21T16:36:00.003-04:00

Who, MOI?

Oh, just new hair, new skirt, new shoes (all on the cheap), new opportunities, new excitement for life in general, no big deal.

love,
*jenna*

Au Revoir Amie

2011-10-12T14:43:00.003-04:00

Shannon and I decided we needed to have one last hurrah before her move to Arizona. So, the Friday before she left, I took the day off work, we made ourselves a badass picnic and headed to Central Park.

Fortunately, despite the week's chilly and rainy weather, that day the sun suddenly started shining and warming the city. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that was the day that the Black Eyed Peas were playing a free concert. 60,000 people attended - thus shutting down half the park and creating quite a maze that we had to spend 45 minutes circumventing. Eventually, though, we found a quiet clearing, set ourselves down and got to chillin'.

I had bought an amazing bottle of sparkling rosé for a special occasion, and we popped it right there on the grass!

"No, no, officer, it's just Cherry 7-Up."

Plus a reenactment of our last farewell picnic, complete with Monte Enebro, Cambozola, and of course prosciutto. You guys, we ate almost all of the cheese you see before you.

After we ate, we enjoyed the weather, listening to some picnic tunes and talking about the future.

After walking back to my house, watching trash TV and taking a nap necessary to digest all of that CHEESE, we headed out for a night on the town.

I'd like to say we painted the town red, but that's probably because this is the only photo I have of that night. I don't remember why I took it, but I do know it was at Darkroom, where we danced and danced and danced.

The next morning we went to Fred's, site of a thousand Sunday brunches and many adorable waiters, and relived the previous night's adventures.

And thoroughly enjoyed Fred's' strawberry butter.

Afterward I escorted Shannon to the Penn Station to say goodbye. I gave her a big hug, many well wishes, and tons of tears. I kept crying on the way back to the subway. When I got home I happened upon this essay by Melissa Febos about crying in public in New York, which I've done dozens of times, during some of the hardest times of my life, and I felt it rang very true. Sometimes, when you need to cry, it happens wherever you happen to be. In New York, we live our most private emotions among millions of other people.

So there it is - Shannon is off to the next chapter in her life, and someday soon I will be too. I wonder where will they lead us?

love,
*jenna*

L'Automne

2011-10-05T17:07:00.001-04:00

Dear Summer,
Although we had a great time together this year, I somehow managed to reach (and pass) my tolerance level of both white wine AND homemade gazpacho.

And I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I have to admit that I've found someone new. Someone who can offer me things like pumpkin spiced lattes and blanket cuddles. Its name is autumn, and it also brings me reasons to wear things like this.

Anyway, thanks for all the memories, and I'm sure in a few months I will miss you like crazy.

Until then,

love,
*jenna*

Advanced Style

2011-10-02T14:51:00.004-04:00

I've just discovered and been loving the blog Advanced Style. It's all about having great taste and style at older ages. I've always related better to old people than to those my own age, no matter what age I've been, and going to this site is like hanging out with your fancy great-aunt or grandmother.

In particular I became fascinated with Ari Seth Cohen's profile of this lovely lady Ruth, who was about to turn 100 and was interviewed just after her Pilates class.

Besides the obvious, which is that she emanates class, wisdom and grace, I find her hands absolutely beautiful - wrinkled and lined in bright blue veins.

My friend Sarra once said to me in frustration, "Why do we allow ourselves to be afraid of or freak out about getting wrinkles? I think we should celebrate when we find our first wrinkle." I wholeheartedly agreed, but two years later I find myself in danger of betraying that notion, especially when Shannon informs me that I'm beginning to get a wrinkly clavicle (what???). But looking at Ruth here, I find myself returning to that idea of honoring, appreciating the signs of age, the elegance with which the body shows the life it's been living.

love,
*jenna*

The Past Is Past

2011-09-28T16:40:00.005-04:00

Last weekend I finally applied for my passport renewal.

I can't believe how much my life has changed since my first application, and not just in hair!

It was sweet to look back on all of my stamps, fondly remembering the journeys they represent.

Rome, Mexico City, Frankfurt, Pisa, Vancouver, Paris...

And of course, the good ol' U.S. of A.

The next day, Shannon completed one of her many back-of-your-mind goals by doing something I could probably never bear to do: burning old journals.

We made ourselves a September campfire and sat down with a cigar and pilfered her most embarrassing entries (as well as a few lovely ones saved).

Out with the old

Forward, march.

love,
*jenna*

Pink Ladies

2011-09-26T15:48:00.000-04:00

What a perfectly beautiful Sunday brunch at Nice Matin.

The sun was shining,

We ate outside watching passers-by,

And complimented each other's brightly-colored tresses.

Delish!

love,
*jenna*

Moms

2011-09-22T22:02:00.002-04:00

Upon winning an Emmy, Kate Winslet said, "It doesn't matter how old you are, or what you do in your life... you never stop needing your mum. And I will never stop needing mine."

stunningly true.

i love you, Mom.

*jenna*

DANCE, GIRL, DANCE!

2011-09-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

Only Steph could do the entire "Rhythm Nation" dance in a strapless, skintight dress and heels.

Good luck in LONDON, Lady!!!!

love,
*jenna*

Eats About Town

2011-09-14T12:53:00.000-04:00

Milk And Roses is a gorgeous, intimate little bar/eatery in Greenpoint with bookcase walls, a piano in the center of the room and menus hand-written on old Italian postal envelopes. Wine list on the outside, food menu tucked inside.

The ladies' room is pretty sweet too. You know me.

Black Rabbit, a few blocks over, has some crazy good spicy beer and a 1950s-style television.

OOh I learned to make the most amazing Turkish salad!

Toss together some cucumbers, green bell peppers, tomatoes, feta cheese, lots of mint leaves, kalamata olives, oregano, olive oil and the juice of one lemon and you get THIS.

UH-MAY-ZING

Salad for breakfast? Yes! Dip some baguette in the juice, and then you will see what life is for.

The best tacos in New York are, without a doubt, at Pinche Taqueria at Bleecker and Lafayette. They catered the last big PS260 party and I watched a guy eat seven tacos in a row.

And finally, a bit more alfresco dining with hazelnut chocolate gelato and Frangelico at Caffe Dante on Macdougal and Bleecker.

Life is nice...

love,
*jenna*

Scenes From Santa Monica

2011-09-09T18:44:00.002-04:00

Last week I was in California for work.... missed the hurricane and had myself a good time. It was much more relaxed and successful than my last business trip to L.A., which may have had something to do with the fact that I started and stayed directly in Santa Monica.

The sun is just different in Santa Monica...

I discovered two of the most amazing eateries I've ever been to. First: Cha Cha Chicken, a little and lovely Caribbean joint on Ocean and Pico. Words can't describe my instant and enduring love for this awesome jerk chicken, plantains and dirty rice vendor.

Went to the beach...

It's amazing how eased one feels the moment their feet touch the sand.

I met up with my West Coast twin...

Took a dip in the ferocious Pacific...

Had a ridiculously good strawberry/bourbon drink while listening to California bluegrass...

Saw neon...

Enjoyed a rare hot bath...

The second amazing eatery was Cora's Coffee Shoppe, also on Ocean, just down the street from Cha Cha's.

LOOK AT THIS. Orange pancakes (made with orange juice to replace milk in the batter), with blueberries INSIDE, with organic sausage and a cappuccino. Yes please!

Drove a Camaro... then let my boss drive the Camaro...

Went to the Pier...

Enjoyed a sunset...

Got room service and ate it in bed!

Returned to Cora's for brunch with Amy and her mama...

And, oh yeah, did some work too...

Not a bad way to spend a week, on someone else's dime!

love,
*jenna*

Una Fiesta De Cumpleaño!

2011-08-05T11:22:00.007-04:00

My dear gal pal Shannon recently reached a landmark birthday. Her surprise b-day bonanza in Long Island, complete with surprise guest appearances by her parents from Las Vegas and a barbecue pool party fiesta, included:

delicious margaritas

pool antics

and lots, and lots, of mustaches!

Happy Happy Birthday, Love!!

love,
*jenna*

The Greatest Moment Ever

2011-07-21T12:35:00.001-04:00

This one time I met Stephen Colbert at a restaurant. And tears literally sprung to my eyes as I peeked at him from across the room. Evann had the guts to ask him for a photo (which we both agreed we would never normally do, but under these special circumstances...) and I put my arm around him, thinking, OMG OMG STEPHEN COLBERT IS IN MY ARMS, and afterwards I walked around with a goofy smile, saying, "Life... is just so fun."

That night I honestly dreamed about running on a treadmill. I'm pretty sure my sleep was so boring because now ALL MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE.

love,
*jenna*

A Sunday, Quickly Spent

2011-07-18T22:28:00.003-04:00

Jalepeño La Palomas, Cambozola, herbed goat cheese, Comté, kumato tomatoes, prosciutto, baguette.

hypnotized jenna

window-to-the-wall shannon

= one awesome day.

love,
*jenna*

SAY WHAT??

2011-07-14T23:03:00.002-04:00

I originally saw this on Cup Of Jo like a thousand years ago and I cannot stop thinking about it. This is a little perfect resort in Sicily called Citta del Mare where you can slide from pool down to pool down to pool down to pool and into the MEDITERRANEAN. And from there I assume you just float back on over to America.

Mark my words, internet community. I will go here someday.

love,
*jenna*

Some Summer Time Spent

2011-07-12T15:40:00.005-04:00

Shannon's always telling me how amazing Fire Island is. So, one day, off we went! Up into a ferry and across to an island with no cars allowed.

As soon as we got there we ate. It was decided that it was better to tend to blood sugar and THEN lay around doing nothing. While we waited for a table at Island Mermaid, I snickered at the hostess sign.

We got an oceanside table...

... and margaritas.

After, we walked to the beach and basically chilled all day long.

Shannon took photos with her adorable gold Lomography fisheye camera and hung around the beach looking like a bombshell (as per usual)...

... while I donned my usual summer hat (soon to be retired, as Shannon remarked that it's beginning to resemble the scarecrow from "Wizard Of Oz") and got thrashed around by the salty, cold waves.

Sunday was the annual Brooklyn Bastille Day Fest on Smith St. I was so excited to go. I did not find myself a husband, but I did find a big, ice-cold glass of Ricard pastis.

Loads of people had gathered to watch the pentaque tournament, which as far as I can tell is the same thing as Bocci Ball.

Everybody was wearing some kind of cute hat . These red/white and blue/white ones were handed out by Ricard. Nearly identical to the one I was already wearing (so I'm not sure if I should be glad I automatically fit in, or disappointed that I didn't get a free hat!).

People were looking adorable and French!

Afterward, I moseyed over a block to my friend Nicole's utterly convenient stoop sale to sit around with her and the gabbing girlfriends (and, eventually, their boyfriends), hula hoop, and barbecue.

What a sweet weekend!

love,
*jenna*

Basic & Beautiful

2011-07-11T00:32:00.000-04:00

love,
*jenna*

Weird Advertising

2011-06-29T12:30:00.001-04:00

Stolichnaya Vodka, enabler of the guilty masses...

love,
*jenna*

Summertime

2011-06-26T00:26:00.002-04:00

love,
*jenna*

Yes

2011-06-25T21:11:00.001-04:00

The Positivity Tour continues, moving this time to Riverside Park with watercolor, marker and gold thread.

love,
*jenna*

D. R. OMG!

2011-06-25T01:46:00.002-04:00

The other day, the greatest thing happened.

One muggy day, with the dismally gray, stormy clouds on one side of the sky and the sun beaming 5pm bright on the other, a DOUBLE RAINBOW appeared.

It's kind of hard to see there, but believe me. It existed. So, naturally, everyone ran up to the roof, squealing, to try to capture it. I guess I'm not the only one with a vested interest in double rainbows.

Some people were even more excited than me! If you can believe it!

Ah, those little moments in life! Downright enjoyable!

love,
*jenna*

Sunday Afternoon

2011-06-20T21:52:00.001-04:00

The view down:

The view up:

The view out:

Nice and lovely, warm, quiet.

love,
*jenna*

MUSIC BLOG!

2011-06-16T13:54:00.002-04:00

Hello friends! If you know me, you know my intimate love affair with music. If you don't know me, guess what? I have an intimate love affair with music. I'm the person whose greatest and most obvious sign of affection and acceptance to family, loves, and friends new and old is the mix CD.

As such, I've started a little side blog over at Tumblr detailing my favorite music and videos. It's very awesome.

http://suchagoodsong.tumblr.com/

New music suggestions and "Oh! You know what is SUCH a good song?" comments always welcome...

love,
*jenna*

More Or Less

2011-06-14T11:08:00.001-04:00

Thanks, online Esquire quiz! I think I know which quarter is missing!

love,
*jenna*

Lately

2011-06-08T10:11:00.000-04:00

love,
*jenna*

vs.

2011-06-06T10:29:00.000-04:00

Brad Pitt's past and present, beautifully shredded into unity on a subway ad.

love,
*jenna*

Pretty Much......

2011-06-04T22:27:00.001-04:00

love,
*jenna*

Thru The Subway

2011-06-03T15:53:00.000-04:00

love,
*jenna*

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-01T11:39:00.002-04:00

Here's how you make a super-dope Memorial Day Weekend.

1) Make an impromptu picnic at Riverside Park, gathering the last remnants of all your cheese laying around and a baguette. Be sure to find an incredibly inventive way to drink rosé wine in public, because shouldn't that just be allowed??? (I used an old honey jar.)

Bring a wrinkled, second-hand copy of The New Yorker to read, but pretty much just ignore it as you instead spend an hour watching people, children, dogs, bicycles go by as you get eaten alive by the insects that are just as excited as you are that it's finally warm outside.

2. Go see a classic romantic comedy, no really, a good one. See it for free.

3. Go home and make Mom & Grandma's Gazpacho. Turn on some music, wear the apron.

4. Go to Belmont Park and watch the horse races. Win enough to break even for the day. Play with babies.

5. Take your gazpacho to the end of the earth, i.e. Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Mingle. Get all excited over the song from a passing ice cream truck.

6. Accept compliments on gazpacho.

(and don't forget that SPF 50)

love,
*jenna*

Are You Sure?

2011-05-24T16:07:00.001-04:00

love,
*jenna*

One Year Ago Today, I Was...

2011-05-19T10:32:00.000-04:00

... cruising around Giverny on a rented bicycle.

Ahhhh.

Read more here and here.

love,
*jenna*

... Or Is It?

2011-05-15T19:37:00.002-04:00

love,
*jenna*

Mothers And Daughters

2011-05-08T14:49:00.005-04:00

We often end up matching.

Here's to all the Moms.

love,
*jenna*

Picnic Perfect

2011-05-01T22:30:00.011-04:00

Let me show you what was probably the greatest day ever.

For a few days, work was pretty slow and, seeing as my best best is about to move to another state and go hang out with our other best (leaving me bestless!) I decided to go ahead, live it up, look out the window and say, "Damn, this is nice weather we're having. I want a picnic."

So I took a day off to go with Shannon to have a picnic at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's cherry blossom promenade. Seventy-eight degrees, sunshine, blossoms, wine, cheese, and BFFs. What could be better?

I took special care in preparing the Ultimate Cheese Plate, designed after years of painstaking research into the field of choosing, eating, and enjoying the pleasure of life called cheese. It's a tough responsibility, but hey, someone's gotta do it.

And it was The Ultimate. Are you ready for your mouth to water? Let's go.

1. Peppered goat cheese, so tart and sweet and spicy
2. Dutch Roomano, mellow and nutty
3. Monte Enebro, which you may remember from this declaration of my love.
4. German Cambozola Black Label, which is now in fierce competition with the Monte Enebro for the honorable and coveted title of My Favorite Cheese. It's - get this - a blend of CAMEMBERT and GORGONZOLA. These two intense, strong flavors, when combined, mellow each other out and complement each other's flavors and textures like WHOA. They're the unlikely friendship of the cheese world.
5. Wildflower honey, to further complicate flavors.
6. French spicy olive mix from Zabar's.
7. Rosé wine. YES!!
8. Prosciutto di Parma, sliced very thinly.
9. Of course, baguette.

So we ate that, in the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday, looking at this:

And looking at this:

And looking at this:

Someone managed to get their sunglasses in a tree:

Two hipster chicks sitting near us did some yoga, because, I guess, why not?

Yes, my friends, it was a glorious day.

We tried on hats...

... watched adorable little girls in colorful dresses toddling past...

... and pretty much just enjoyed life, good food, good weather, good company, and oh yeah, flowers.

Now that's what I call a picnic.

love,
*jenna*

From The "In What Universe??" Department

2011-04-30T16:19:00.003-04:00

What?? What?????

I said "Huhhhh?"

love,
*jenna*

A Different Kind Of White On The Trees

2011-04-30T15:10:00.004-04:00

The best part of spring...

The two sweet, brief weeks between bare (or snowy) branches and fully leafed trees, when every tree in New York looks like this:

Yes, this is now a Tree Blog.

love,
*jenna*

Fly Baby Fly

2011-04-27T21:21:00.005-04:00

The High Llamas Fly Baby, Fly by seekmagic

Whenever Shannon and I get around to recording that album/writing that book/starring in and directing that indie flick, we'll already have the perfect photo for the album cover/book jacket/promotional poster.

love,
*jenna*

A Dark Night Out

2011-04-27T14:48:00.005-04:00

On a recent night out with Shannon....

We were going to go see the band STRFKR. Yes, I know. Not exactly a radio-friendly name.

But first, sustenance! To Pinche Taqueria we went. (Best tacos in NYC)

Then to Sweet & Vicious, to enjoy beers and split a cigar on the patio (yes! patio season is back!) and look at the beautiful, beautifully lit trees.

Casiokids were opening for STRFKR and they ROCKED THE HOUSE, which is hard to tell from this photo. But they were fantastic live.

The main act was so great I danced my booty off.

And then I got onstage and danced with them!

We had so much fun that night that next morning was all coffee, coffee coffee.

love,
*jenna*

Flourish

2011-04-23T09:30:00.002-04:00

Here's to the celebration of being alive,

of coming back alive, better and better and better, after a long winter.

love,
*jenna*

Beamin'

2011-04-18T14:27:00.001-04:00

love,
*jenna*

You're The One

2011-04-16T11:08:00.000-04:00

Bo bo bo-dee-yo

love,
*jenna*

How It Begins

2011-04-14T15:09:00.001-04:00

One day the trees are completely bare. Then one day you're walking to work and you look up and you see a bud or two on those familiar branches....

A couple of days later the buds are everywhere.

The next week, after the sun falls late at 8pm, you're walking home and you realize the buds have begun to pop, looking down on you like happy little stars within reach.

Then a brick wall graciously provides a contrast for the shadows of trees with baby blossoms stretching out to greet the sun.

And walking around on a Saturday you realize the sun, that gorgeous spring sun, is voraciously attacking select, similarly hungry bloomettes on your block, and you think you're voyeuristically watching a bit of symbiosis, and mitosis, as one bit of blossom divides into two, to four, to eight.

And THEN. Then comes the day you're on the bus through Central Park and what should whiz by but a burst of sunny yellow flowers, alive alive alive.

It's here. Spring.

Face up, eyes closed, into the sun.

love,
*jenna*

Yes Yes Y'all

2011-04-12T15:29:00.001-04:00

Continuing my Renegade Positivity Tour of NoHo/SoHo....

love,
*jenna*

La Belle Aventure.

2011-04-02T17:27:00.009-04:00

One year ago yesterday I changed my life.

And this is how that happened.

1. I learned that one of life's greatest pleasures is sitting at a café for two hours with a great meal, consumed slowly, outside, watching the world pass by.

2. Serendipitously catching an entire orchestra playing Pachebel's "Canon in D" between lines in the Metro, and watching the little old lady nearby appreciating them, and proposing marriage to the gorgeous violin player.

3. The discovery of moutard, spicy and incredible and better than anything I've ever eaten in America.

4. Viviane imparting upon me the wisdom that "eventually in life you will learn that sometimes the best moments you will have are sitting at a park and doing nothing."

5. The 4+ hours I spent trying on bathing suits, which reaffirmed to me how comfortable I actually am with my body.

6. The 10-hour barbeque I went to at Elsa's house outside of Paris, in which I understood about 4 words spoken between her and her friends.

7. European trains, and their windows.

8. Seeing Monet's Japanese footbridge in real life, the culmination of a decade of Monet appreciation, overtaking my heart with one sight.

9. Getting lost and finding my way on a bike in Giverny.

10. Choosing, eating the gelato in Nice.

11. Seeing the astoundingly colorful buildings in Vieux Nice.

12. Seeing this sculpture at the Louvre, and learning that some things are even more beautiful than you ever imagined them to be.

13. Spending some quality time with this obscenity-worthy hot chocolate at Angelina Café.

14. Living with this family. Learning that love is all.

And boy do I miss them, indescribably. Wish I was there right now.

For more memories, look at my Postcards From Paris.

love,
*jenna*

Yup Yup

2011-03-30T10:26:00.000-04:00

love,
*jenna*

Motto.

2011-03-26T19:12:00.003-04:00

Here's a little something I made.

Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3.

Step 4. (the hang)

"Be brave enough to fail." This is something I told myself a little over a year ago, and it's kind of become my motto. Or, perhaps more accurately, I realized it's always been my motto but I'd never articulated it before.

Hopefully somebody will see this and like it, see it and heed, or see it and steal it!

love,
*jenna*

Guilty Pleasure

2011-03-24T21:24:00.005-04:00

So, the other day I stumbled upon this amazingness:

And have not been able to stop watching it since. If there has ever been a more awkward television appearance, I don't want to see it. (no, I take that back, I totally do.)

So then I became obsessed with this "Giorgio" character and started looking around for some kind of album to download that would feature this "Looky Looky" business. I found he was actually called Giorgio Moroder and had a hit album called "From Here To Eternity" so I absentmindedly downloaded that.

And what I heard kind of blew me away.

First of all, the mustache. Second of all, as it turns out, according to this excellent Pitchfork review, Moroder was "the first person to produce an entirely digital LP." As in, electro music. I had accidentally downloaded a marvel, and listening to it beginning to end I got completely lost in this disco. Like, I actually kind of felt like I was lost in an actual disco for a second.

Wish I was a music video editor back in the '70s. The entire Side A of this album (if one were to listen in album form) is several songs connected seamlessly using just the one beat. It kind of lulls you into submission. You can see how I got lost.

In a promotional video I saw while I was perusing Giorgio music videos, there's a part where he says, "I really don't like to perform live. I went on tour in Europe for 7 or 8 years and every night it was a little nightmare." Ahahahahahaa, you don't say??

Anyway, for all you've done for the ravers, the Eurotrashers, the disco dancers, and the electro-pop lovers (such as me)... thank you, Giorgio.

love,
*jenna*

Loving Right Now

2011-03-20T21:50:00.005-04:00

This weekend, my sunshine-defying convalescence and the (strange) decision I made to give up television for Lent collided into two days of a lot of reading and packing my brain. Here's what I am loving right now.

1) This short story from Robert Coover for the New Yorker. Absolutely brilliant and original.

2) Internet artist (did I just invent that term?) Justin Kemp's website, on which I spent over an hour, clicking, watching, giggling in delight, and clicking around more.

3) This song "Excuses" by the Morning Benders, which just rips me apart. I will forever associate it with the view from a train window as the train pulled out of Paris on my way to Nice. This sound is what I imagine being in love is like.

love,
*jenna*

A Saturday And A Monday

2011-03-18T10:39:00.003-04:00

Good morning.

Fancy a trip to SoHo and its environs?

I love this webby net of tree branches. Somewhere in one of those windows, a woman is peering out at me suspiciously.

In west SoHo, there are a bunch of brightly colored buildings that always dazzle my eye on a sunny day. Inevitably, as my eyes become saturated with color, this building becomes the one that catches my eye and stands out from the rest, its simple clean white bursting in the sun.

On Monday, Shannon and I finally achieved a goal.

She taught me how to appreciate sushi. Nay, LIKE sushi!

Later that night, we fulfilled another one of her goals: to attend the weekly Upright Citizens' Brigade free Monday night show. The comedy group that launched a thousand comedy careers has improv classes as well as nightly shows, where comedy stars are known to drop by randomly. Mondays are free stand-up at 11pm, and we went with glee after our sushi adventure.

The packed crowd, with its young comedy lovers seated even on the ground/stage, reminded me of many afternoons spent in my high school drama club.

We had an awesome time and saw many hilarious acts. I definitely want to go back again.

One act we saw was Janeane Garofalo, who I have loved for so many years! I didn't realize how many things she's been so great in until I told people I'd seen her and several people listed different things they loved her in. I loved her awkward turn in "24," and remember her fabulousness back to "Reality Bites." Other people listed her on "Seinfeld," "200 Cigarettes" and "Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion."

Speaking of which, what is this, you might ask? Does Shannon have leopard print knees?

Uh, no. Garofalo spent her time onstage telling jokes while throwing some of her used clothing to the audience. I got a slick dark denim jacket.

And Shannon got all 8 of Garofalo's strapless bras.

Huhhh????

love,
*jenna*

Brick Wall In Three Steps Of Nearness

2011-03-17T12:44:00.001-04:00

ugly/lovely.

Step 1

Step 2.

Step 3.

love,
*jenna*

Hell Is Other People: Armory Show 2011

2011-03-09T12:25:00.000-05:00

As every year, I was really looking forward to this year's Armory Show. On Saturday I made it over to the West Side round about 3pm, which evidently was critical mass at Pier 94. It remained at that level of crazy crowdedness until I had made it through the entire show at 6:30.

Sometimes it's hard to look at and appreciate art when there are swarms of people and all their opinions bumping you in the shoulder as they walk past (as anybody who's been to a Van Gogh show at the MoMA can tell you).

"Hmmm, yes yes, quite."

And in the midst of it all, someone decided it was a great opportunity to sit a group of kids down on the carpet in the middle of the walkway and have a lesson about contemporary art.

But anyway. As always, the great part about the Armory Show is the immense volume of art you see, up close and textural.

Mirrors... always a common theme.

This year wasn't the best year I've seen at the Armory... it wasn't terrible art (as has happened in select years past), but it just seemed as though there wasn't a lot that was really original or particularly inspiring. But there were some things I liked. Namely:

This was really cool - a giant scream scene that actually was three-dimensional.

Which was hard to capture, but you get the point...

This was creative and beautiful... cut out faces of African-Americans from vintage magazines with wild watercolor hair.

My hair kind of looked like this guy's that day.

White-on-white, one of my favorite aesthetic choices (I've been going through a bit of a white-on-white phase myself in the last year).

I like when somebody has the bravery to do a giant, complicated, swirly hanging sculpture like this.

This artist was fantastic in ways that are hard to describe on a blog. Peter Liversidge had several clever pieces, such as this semi-dazzling piece. I say semi- because you were only allowed to see a sliver of it.

Yes, thank you:

This was part of a series of tiny, intricately cut photos of bridges and industrial scenes. I mean, incredibly intricate.

Don't know why, but these two pages, in a wall series by Bernardo Ortiz, really really moved me. Two pages, in which the lyrics to Lou Reed's "Why Do You Talk," are separated, into the word "you" and everything else.

I liked this mixed media piece comprised of paint and colored plastic.

A lovely box filled with vials of water from holy sites around the world.

This was from a piece comprised of dedication pages from books.

Ah, loved this full room by Pae White. A font-lover's dream, or a gold-lover's, or a paper-lover's.

Mr. Steven Bindernagel is doing some stunning things with watercolor. I looked at his work for the longest time.

Soo Kim is doing some stunning things with paper cutouts, slicing delicately and letting the paper hang over itself.

This was weird and cool... porcelain statues hung upside down, from some kind of machine that would quiver every few seconds and make the statues break a bit each time. And make the people standing near it jump with a start.

And, of course, my favorite, Mel Bochner. Seen his work at every Armory Show of the last three years. I think it's high time I contact this guy.

That painting pretty much sums up Armory 2011. Still worth it!

love,
*jenna*

This Week's 4 Random Great Things

2011-03-07T15:23:00.002-05:00

Old-style details from the tapas restaurant Boqueria. Note: amazing red wine had there by the name of: Tajinaste. If you have respect for red wine, and you're having a meal with red meat in it, by all means, have this beautiful red wine reminiscent of black pepper.

Friday Night Fruit Friends, courtesy of the resourceful imagination of one Michael Marciano.

This strangely lovely mural I always pass on upper Lexington Ave, outside of a hair salon.

And a positively angelic Shannon, at a long brunch at Long Island French restaurant Cassis.

love,
*jenna*

Camera Bonding

2011-02-27T17:35:00.005-05:00

So I decided I wasn't quite ready to invest in such a fancy-shmancy camera, so I told Maury I would respectfully decline his offer to sell me his used Rebel-XT.

To which he replied, "Well, I was just gonna say.... Happy 30th Birthday."

To which I squealed, "WHA----????"

Indeed, he very generously GAVE me his camera as a belated birthday present. I have spent my weekend bonding with this new treasure! Some selections:

Friday evening's voodoo dance, courtesy of Reilly (entrancing Momo):

While, as always, Ms. Evann Borgman is camera-ready with her PS260 mug and a smile.

A tired subway car:

My favorite subject, my soft-as-hell blanket with the colored light of my window, like candy on a snowy mountain:

Ending with a Sunday Catholic Mass, in French:

Hope your weekend was good too. I'm happy to be back in the land of recorded memories.

love,
*jenna*

La Bloggette Returns!

2011-02-15T11:16:00.006-05:00

One day Maury, who's in the market for a new digital camera, offered to give me a good deal on his used Rebel XT. I wasn't sure, though, as this was the same camera that (just one year ago) I'd deemed too cumbersome and too high-tech for my purposes. But I decided to take it for the weekend to try to get to know it better and see if it was right for me.

And, in fact, I ended up taking some pretty pretty pictures, once I learned what "ISO" and "aperture" mean. In the process, I had a fun day on 23rd Street!

Started out on 93rd and Broadway, where the bare trees of winter crawled skyward like spider legs against red brick.

Past the deli, which was selling Technicolor flowers.

Next, the subway ceiling ushered me in with its ugly loveliness.

Down to 23rd Street, where I popped into Eataly, Mario Batali's massive (and massively popular) Italian marketplace that opened last year.

It was... hoppin'.

But oh! did their fruit entice me and my camera eyes.

Next I stopped by Shoegasm, for some daydreaming...

And continuing westward...

Then I walked past, stopped in, left, and went back to La Maison du Macaron. And now I know that this place is right near my office, and my life will never be the same!

I had to have one. Just absolutely couldn't finish my day knowing I'd walked past this:

Okay, so I actually had to have two. On the left is Spicy Lychee/Rose and on the right is the Pink Champagne (my preferred choice):

PERFECT. PERFECT TEXTURE.

Sigh. After that adventure I stopped by Reminisce, a vintage and retro store that, for some unknown reason, I have only been to once, even though it's a mere five blocks from my office. That time was within the first month I lived in New York, and it was with Shannon, who brought me there on our lunch break. Wow. Working with Shannon, living in the same city as Shannon! and having a lunch break! Talk about reminiscing.

I survived their 25% off sale with my wallet intact. All I bought (for a measly $15) was this gorgeous vintage purse. Patterned white leather, a tapered, almost triangular shape, lovely gold clasp. Just so old-fashioned and beautiful. I couldn't tear myself away from it.

This may sound weird, but in some way I feel it resembles my grandma.

Lovely camera, lots of potential to snappity-snappin' my days away.

love,
*jenna*

Strange Beauty

2011-02-12T18:53:00.000-05:00

love,
*jenna*

YES.

2011-02-07T21:53:00.002-05:00

I love how he just stops dancing and stands there at the end. I'm glad that editors have really perfected the timing on fade-outs since then.

love,
*jenna*

Clair de Lune

2011-02-02T23:02:00.001-05:00

love,
*jenna*

Jane Fonda: A Journey

2011-01-25T21:40:00.006-05:00

My friends. I have been on a Jane Fonda Journey. It has taken me through the vastest reaches of the internet and the deepest depths of my personal nostalgia, and ended with a cross-country crying-with-laughter shared moment with my mom.

Allow me to explain. I was recently reading an eerily prescient article about Jack Lalane and the "home workout" progression through the years. When Emily Yoffe got to the '80s, she examined the Jane Fonda revolution, and suddenly before me was a video clip that seemed to bring memories rushing back toward me.

When I was a little girl, (according to my memory) my mom did the Jane Fonda workout religiously in our little living room in Mesa. I thought it seemed fun and very often ended up doing the workout with her. It seemed to me like dancing, in your living room, every day to the same song. Which, for some reason, seemed fun. As a result, I ended up unconsciously memorizing the entire workout, down to the intonation in Fonda's voice as she pressed her audience on to get into the home stretch, as they went on to "buttock tucks."

This video brought all that rushing back to me.

I recognized with startling familiarity the opening sequence, and every single outfit. "Are you ready to do the workout?" Fonda asks her followers. "Yes," I thought involuntarily. Then she and all of her exercise cohorts excitedly bound to the front of the room, so totally psyched to work out!

However, the initial familiarity wore off, and I noticed that the sequence of events that I thought I knew so well was not happening here. For example, whatever is happening at 3:55 in on that video is something I cannot imagine me doing as a 6-year-old alongside my mom in our living room. But I had had a taste of nostalgia, and it set me off running. I Googled "Jane Fonda," "Jane Fonda Workout," "Jane Fonda '80s video", even "Jane Fonda Buttock Tucks." Let me tell you, that is a road you don't want to go down.

But lo! After what seemed like a lot of searching and way too many '80s outfits to visually pilfer, I found this, which seemed like an 8 on the nostalgia scale:

Wow. Now, all I'm asking you to do right now is watch through the beginning neck and shoulder stretches. What. Are. They. Thinking. In full blown-out hair and caked on, glossed-up makeup, these ladies (and gentlemen!) are Serious About Fitness. There's one lady who wears a shirt that simply declares, "WORKOUTS." One of girls looks over to another one like she's about to put the moves on her. And need I even mention the leopard print girl?? Why, God, why? (She and her wide array of visors pop up in all of Fonda's videos, by the way.) But it still wasn't quite totally right.

Then, through the magic of Youtube and its Related Videos option, I found.......... this.

It would behoove you to watch the whole damn thing.

YES, this was the nostalgia I was groping for, groping in the dark, not knowing it would stab me right in the chest with its high belts, pop music and eye shadow! I remembered every single word. Even the words to the song that this chick sings WHILE SHE IS WORKING OUT!

Where do I start? I'm just gonna throw it all out there. Jane Fonda encourages us to sing along. What, sing along to this girl lip synching? 'Kay. Also, pink with pink stripes girl! Also, all of the outfits matching leotards to socks. I am pretty sure this is where 50% of my fashion sense comes from (now I know why I assume my socks have to match my outfits). I also am pretty sure that I'm the 2011 equivalent of the redhead wearing hot pink and black in the back. She looks pretty pleased with herself. Also, did you see Visor Girl? Exactly what is she always shading herself from? And she really uses her shoulders. Also, DUDE WITH THE NAVEL HAIR.

Also, why is everyone whooping and hollering the whole time? Also, these people get darn sweaty here. Perhaps they should think about, oh I don't know, tying their hair back like normal people? Also, I only wish I had ten people in my living room to run around in circles with and high-five as we work out. Not sure how my mom ran around in circles with approximately 4 feet to work with. ALSO. Is one of these chicks wearing a sleeveless mock turtleneck? And that's when I sent it to my mom. And 2.5 minutes later, she called me in hysterics, also in the throes of nostalgia, probably a very different brand than my own. But we laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed. And I realized that most of the moves I do in Pilates classes now are the exact same as I was doing with Mom in 1986 in Mesa. No wonder I'm so flexible.

Thanks Youtube.

love,
*jenna*

Echo Brava

2011-01-15T14:23:00.001-05:00

Having a real camera always made me forget about the fact that my 3-year-old phone had a camera on it too... a feature that used to seem SO COOL just a few years ago ("My phone... has a CAMERA ON IT"). But the last few weeks have brought a renewed interest in the gritty quality of the camera phone (as noted in my last post). It's no secret that I'm into old-fashioned things, especially obsolete technology... well, this camera phone thing isn't yet obsolete, but it does strike me as something among the first of the Old Digital.

The fun part of this rediscovery is finding photos in my "gallery" of which I have no memory of taking, such as this beaute:

I have a feeling it may have been from a ladies' room in Puerto Rico. But we may never know for sure....

love,
*jenna*

Lo_Fi

2011-01-11T14:28:00.002-05:00

Currently enjoying the lo-res, gritty look on my camera phone:

Yes yes subway ugly/lovely

love,
*jenna*

New Freakout

2011-01-07T14:19:00.007-05:00

Please let me introduce you to a woman I wish I knew - Vivian Maier.

An unknown street photographer of the 1950s and '60s, sassy Ms. Maier possessed an unfathomable amount of talent and worked hard to create her style through decades of studying other artists and experimenting with photography on the streets of Chicago while working as a nanny (her charges compared her to Mary Poppins).

Her work was discovered in the form of some 40,000 film negatives at a storage auction by a lucky bastard who decided to create an amazing website dedicated to her work and get a documentary made about her (forthcoming).

Her photographs just destroy me. There is seemingly no limit to the elegance, humanity, depth which she brings to each photo. It's immediate, and it's expressive, and it's reflective.

This stuff rocks me! Inspires me! Almost makes me cry!

Check her out here and here.

love,
*jenna*

A Great Moment.

2011-01-02T12:48:00.001-05:00

What great friends.

love,
*jenna*

A Very Foster Christmas

2010-12-29T22:48:00.005-05:00

This is what my Christmas (snowed out of NYC for an extra 3 days) looked like:

love,
*jenna*

Christmas Ladies

2010-12-27T00:19:00.003-05:00

Circa 1986...

... in dresses made by Grandma.

love,
*jenna*