Remember when... pavilion.

A blogger/high school friend (who was actually blogging while we were in high school, long before blogging became cool, in fact before I even knew what blogging was...) posted a questionnaire on her Live Journal. A questionnaire reminiscent of the kind we, too often, used to fill out back in the glory(?) days of high school. So for the lack of anything better to do at 3:30 a.m. I decided to fill it out and continue to battle my insomnia with a nostalgic trip down memory lane in my old Hotmail account inbox. Oh how I miss my teenage years... and it's past. 

01) Are you currently in a serious relationship? 

If dating for six years and living together translates as serious, then yes.

02) What was your dream growing up?  

To one day be a famous broadway sensation.

03) What talent do you wish you had? 

That I could sing and dance, well. So I could fulfill the afore mentioned lifelong dream. 

04) If I bought you a drink what would it be? 

Tea for me, please - or a good ol' Canadian brewski, on a patio in the sun.

05) Favorite vegetable? 

Carrots? Good for vision, I hear.

06) What was the last book you read? 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - quite worth my time. 

07) What zodiac sign are you? 

A true Gemini. The truest.

08) Any tattoos and/or piercings? Explain where. 

Tattoos - no image is so symbolic to me I would scar myself with it forever, as of yet. 

Piercings - only one in each ear, which my mum wouldn't allow me to get until age 13, and I still cried like a baby, out of fear and sheer pain.  

09) Worst habit? 

Not paying attention. My mind wanders easily, I'm not trying to be rude... I'm working on it.

10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride? 

No, but I would let you sit beside me on the streetcar? 

11) What is your favorite sport? 

To play - beach volleyball.

To watch - lacrosse, even though I likely wouldn't voluntarily watch it, I must admit it does entertain. 

12) Do you have a pessimistic or optimistic attitude? 

I'm optimistic in the spring.

13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me? 

Have a panic attack. 

14) Worst thing to ever happen to you? 

Boating accident last summer: smashed face, chipped and lost teeth, bruised ribs - not pretty. Could have been worse though, I'm grateful. 

15) Tell me one weird fact about you. 

Just one? When I read books, I narrate in a British accent (for reasons unknown).

16) Do you have any pets? 

I do not. I grew up with a family allergic to animals and petrified of dogs, so I've only ever had a pet fish with big bulgy eyes named ET. However, I would accept a pug, so the calendar and book I have of them wouldn't be so oddly creepy. (Weird fact #2)

17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?

I would probably be irritated, it's called: call first! Hellllooo!

18) What was your first impression of me?

Likely wrong. I'm a horrible judge of character, and it usually takes me awhile to warm up to strangers. 

19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?

Clowns terrify me, however I LOVE carnivals. 

20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?

That I could have my perfect, non-fake teeth back. 

21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?

Conscience. I'm so ethical it makes me sick. Karma's the real deal folks. 

22) What eye colour do you have?

Greenish-blue. And not the other way around. 

23) Ever been arrested?

Ha ha. Right.

24) Bottle or can soda?

Bottle. 

25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?

Explore the world. Specifically, Europe. More specifically, Barcelona, Vienna and Helsinki.

26) What's your favorite place to hang out?

In the sun.

27) Do you believe in ghosts?

Yes, and I don't want to talk about it because it's dark and I'm awake and alone...  

28) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

Create "art," write thoughts, dress up, take pictures, sing songs and dance (alone in my room). aha

29) Do you swear a lot?

Not exceptionally, when it's necessary.

30) Biggest pet peeve?

Lying. I HATE dishonesty. What's the point?!

31) In one word, how would you describe yourself?

Evolving.

32) Do you believe/appreciate romance?

I believe in/appreciate love. 

33) Favourite and least favorite food?

Favourite - Thai.

Least favourite - dairy. 

34) Do you believe in God?

Yes. I need someone/thing to thank for my great fortune. 

Kensington Market, Summer 2005.

Feels so long ago and yet, not so much has changed. 

#nowplaying 11th dimension

Can you tell I'm insanely excited to see Mr. Casablancas? And that I cannot stop listening to the 11th dimension... Hope you enjoy these lyrics as much as I do. Refreshing change from "‘Cuz I’m out in the club
And I’m sippin that bubb, And you’re not gonna reach my telephone." Sorry... but seriously.

I just nod, I've never been so good at shaking hands
I live on the frozen surface of a fireball
Where cities come together, to hate each other in the name of sport
America, nothing is ever just how you plan
I looked up to you but you thought I would look the other way

And you hear, what you want to hear
And they take what they want to take
Don't be sad, won't ever happen like this anymore
So whens it coming? This last new great movement that I can join
The warning here
Your faith has got to be greater than your fear

Forgive them even if they are not sorry
All the vultures, bootleggers at the door waiting
Your are looking for your own voice, but in others
While it leaves you trapped in another dimension

Drop your guard, you don't have to be smart all of the time
I got a mind full of blanks
I need to go somewhere new fast
And don't be shy, oh no, at least deliberately
No one really cares or wonders why anymore
Oh I got music, coming outta my hands and feet and kisses
That is how it once was done
All the dreamers on the run

Forgive them even if they are not sorry
All the vultures, bootleggers at the door waiting
Were so quick to point out our own flaws in others
Complicated, man was on the wings of robots
If you believe in this world then no one has died in vain
But don't think that yet, to the top, now know what to do

You remind me of home

72. William and Emily 

There is something about Death 

Like love itself!

If with some one with whom you have known passion, 

And the glow of youthful love, 

You also, after years of life

Together, feel the sinking of the fire, 

And thus fade away together, 

Gradually, faintly, delicately, 

As it were in each other's arms, 

Passing from the familiar room-

That is a power of unison between souls

Like love itself!

Edgar Lee Masters (1868–1950).  Spoon River Anthology.  1916. 

Happy Valentine's 2010. May we all find the love which we truly deserve. All you need is love, love is all you need. ♥

untitled (2010) helvetica on screen

After researching the Mudd Club era this morning, I came back later in the day lusting for more details. I'm infatuated with atypical-type legends of underground/emerging art scenes who knowingly or not, created waves of artistic revolution, reinventing originality and designing new forms of perception. As Diane von Furstenburg so mildly comments regarding her impact on forever changing pop culture alongside Warhol in FASHION's March 2010 issue:

"You can't tell history while you're living it. It's only when you look back, and even then you don't say, 'Oh, look at what I have done.' You just live it."

Just thought I'd throw that in there since I just finished reading over the glossy pages and it feels fitting, as well as, part inspirational, part redundant. If I could hang with an underground arty avant-gard crowd forever changing the face of pop culture history - don't you think I would just do that and live it myself? Isn't that why I go to small indie concerts at Reverb on Queen W. and attend parties like "The Rager" at Sneaky Dees, duh. Or I think I'll just settle with finding my place in this universe and balance the act with some soul and artistic expression.

Speaking of artistic expression... while fulfilling my lust for everything Mudd-related, I veered down the avenue of artist Keith Haring, you know the one who curated the rotating gallery for the club... since you're following my blog so diligently... @smtwtfs. 

  

untitled (1982) marker ink and acrylic on found canvas

untitled (1987) acrylic on canvas

untitled (1990) sumi ink on board

Turns out, I'm far from alone in enjoying the work of Haring. Keith Haring is everywhere - literally! From Swiss water bottle brand SIGG's special limited-edition collectors' series (released in July 09), to Jeremy Scott/Schott collaboration result: 'The Perfecto' motorcycle jacket with all-over b&w Keith Haring inspired design, to Kanye's head at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

 

SIGG "Celebrate America" special limited-edition collectors' series

'The Perfecto' by Jeremy Scott and Schott.

Kanye West @ 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

I guess no one cared too much about his hair after his appalling antics of the evening.  

At the beginning of this year, Keith Haring Journals was inducted into Penguin Classics as a Deluxe Edition with 90 b&w images of his art, Polaroids (never-before-published) and "a remarkable glimpse of a man who, in his quest to become an artist, instead became an icon." That was so unsubtle and lame, I couldn't resist. Still, I'd be interested in flipping through the pages, wouldn't you? 

Here Lies Love

I choose A Coney Island of the Mind over computer programming homework any day and everyday. A lovely book of poetry by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, which I took from my grandparents magical bookshelf, cost my scholarly uncle a mere .30 cents from the York University Bookstore back in the day. Enjoy.

28

Dove sta amore

Where lies love

Dove sta amore

Here lies love

The ring dove love

In lyrical delight

Hear love's hillsong

Love's true willsong

Love's low plainsong

Too sweet painsong

In passages of night

Dove sta amore

Here lies love

The ring dove love

Dove sta amore

Here lies love 

- Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Pages Epilogue

Pages Books & Magazines is officially closed today after 30 years - it is a sad day.

---

Planning a minitrip to Ottawa, leaving tomorrow - notes & pics to follow.

Reading List - Fall 2009

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Half way through, I love it so far! I just learned that Julia Roberts will star in the film adaptation - Perfect match!)
The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold (Started reading this last year... must finish before movie comes out this December!)
A Separate Peace by John Knowles (Stole from my grandparents basement bookshelf -aka. my heaven- and learned while reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower, it is among the books that Charlie reads. And so I must as well, obviously.) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky √ (DONE! Loved, loved, loved! We do accept the love we think we deserve.)

The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott (Brushing up on my marketing knowledge. Half way through- interesting and practical.) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Another steal from my grandparents.)

After reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower, like many I'm sure, I made a list of the books Charlie is assigned to read by Bill, his teacher. I would like to read/re-read these titles again, possibly when I have completed my fall list:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee √
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald √
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger √
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
 On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
Hamlet by William Shakespeare √
The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

###

New York, New York

Recently I've developed an unexplainable fixation with the Big Apple and cannot wait to tour the city for the first time ever.

As I was flipping through the March issue of Interview, I came across an article written by Lucy Madison titled, "Uptown, Downtown, All Around," featuring 15 hot, young, artist-type socialites who define and are defined by contemporary scenes of NY, at least for today.

Being a visual person by nature, I am normally drawn by art and images first and foremost, and then lured into the text. However, in this case it was the quirky introduction that stole my attention and really stood out in my mind, compelling me to thoroughly read through the 14-page spread. I really fell for the lead opening this article and thought I'd share it, it's seriously catchy! The photographs and styling are incredible as well.

“

It wouldn’t be New York without uptown, where chic ways and cool sophistication reside. With the urbanity and thoroughbred vanity, the couture and the demure and the delightfully colorful insanity that runs in the family trees. We’re too rich and too thin, and we like our gin. We’re old school, blue blood, clubby and crusty and hoity-toity too. It wouldn’t be New York without downtown, where all the freaks and geeks and madcaps swarm. Where bohemians buzz and beats flee the fuzz and punkies and drunkies still rub elbows with junkies, all for the sake of art. We’re the new school, and we play the fool, and we’ll go to the opening of a door. We’re avant and proud, maybe a little bit loud, but it wouldn’t be our party unless it was chichi and arty, a gathering of all the tribes in this town. Socialites and troglodytes, mohawks and dreadlocks, stone fox and botox. We go uptown just to get down . . . and today it’s hard to tell who’s from where, and, really, who cares? The truth is that New York is an all-around town.

By LUCY MADISON