OctoberFest - Autumn in T.O.

If you know me, you know that I live for spring and when September hits, I become slightly less chipper than my usual self. Last year, I temporarily cured my autumn blues with a trip overseas to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – but upon return with a sun-kissed glow, all I wanted was to be back under the hot sun, lying on the sand beside the turquoise ocean, rather than in the midst of an increasingly frigid Canadian winter, only making matters far worse.


This year however, my plan is foolproof. Instead of visiting a beach for a week, I’m moving into an apartment in the beaches for the year, with my bf. Our place is newly renovated, adorable and begging me to put my many years of watching TLC design shows to good use. Accordingly, my first calling to find pleasure in October will be settling in to my new digs, decorating, exploring the neighbourhood and housewarming celebrations!


While this is proceeding, I’m also keyed up for a few October events in the city: a possible Matt & Kim concert tomorrow night at Reverb, Nuit Blanche this Saturday and Halloween, which I missed out on last year.


Also, I’ve come across numerous movies recently that I can’t wait to see, including: The Invention of Lying, Whip It, Where the Wild Things Are, Coco Before Chanel, Capitalism: A Love Story and John Krasinski’s Directorial debut, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.





The film received mixed reviews at Sundance, but I'm a huge fan of John Krasinski and am eager to see it either way. Plus Ben Gibbard plays Subject #20 and I adore him - him and his new wife Zooey Deschanel, that is (I didn't even know they were dating)! From afar, they make the perfect couple. Last summer, I saw both She and Him and Death Cab for Cutie perform in Toronto and both Gibbard and Deschanel were equally charming, immensely talented individuals.

I'm actually slightly jealous of how perfect this match is.

'The Hills' have eyes, not brains

Guilty.

I gave in and watched the season premier of The Hills last night… and I want that half an hour of my life back, please. 

Yes there was a time when I considered myself a regular viewer and may have – don’t judge me – even included the faux reality television series among my Facebook favs, but let’s put that into perspective, shall we. 

A new series begins with a gorgeous, young and naive LC living out her big break as an intern at Teen Vogue (I was an avid reader of this zine and was thoroughly disappointed on my 20^th birthday at which time I cut myself off from purchasing it any longer). I became interested in the show roughly around the time when I, young and surely naïve, began interning at FASHION Magazine.

It was never the drama that primarily appealed to me, but gaining some insight on a similar situation I had in common with Lauren. Plus, while at FASHION, a regular Hills blog was being featured online and I fact checked it each week – meaning yes, I watched the episode the following morning to check facts – strictly business related.

When Whitney left the show, I quit the habit. She was my favourite of the cast: sweet, stunned and always wearing something noteworthy (not always a positive note, obviously). I didn’t stop watching out of spite, but because I was merely uninterested or too busy and didn’t care enough to make time. I did watch an episode or two of The City, Whitney’s spinoff and then, never, ever again.

Now Lauren’s gone. The girls pursuing careers in the magazine/fashion industries were the one draw, for me at least. So we’re left with the return of Kristin “The Bitch” Cavallari stirring up drama with Audrina and Steph Pratt (who is still not even receiving a starting title credit! I actually feel bad for her – as if being appallingly dumb wasn’t degrading enough). The entire episode is based around the girls bitching at each other for not even one apparent reason and I was left embarrassed for these people and for myself, for time horribly, horribly wasted. But why would any of them care taking home insane paychecks for, well basically nothing. Kristin makes $90,000 an episode and even Brody Jenner is bringing home $45,000 a show, which I will admit grants recognition for successful money-grabbing strategies, even if it stands for everything that is wrong with this world.

I started thinking about all the self-proclaimed, (at least I considered it a guilty pleasure) obsessed Hills fans living their lives according to the Gospel of Heidi Montag. A devout religion with the holiest of sacraments: boob job, lip augmentation and Botox, and commandments swearing to lead lives of absolute egotistical materialism, alongside self-depreciating, douche-bag boyfriends. Can I get an Amen?

When I stopped laughing in disgust of the ridiculousness of it all, it made me sad.

I think back to when I was an adolescent and TGIF wasn’t just an acronym expressing weekend excitement, but the fabulous Friday night lineup that included classics such as: Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Boy Meets World and Teen Angel. These shows had substance, comedy and a moral lesson to learn in each episode. OK fine, “the perfect child” is the very last thing my parents would describe me as, but at least I was given the opportunity to have a childhood and not grow up too fast.

It goes without saying that my parents, grandparents and great grandparents all felt this way about the upbringing of their children. With limits being challenged and borders broken down everyday, which in most terms is revolutionary, but in relation to young Hollywood is tremendously frightening. How far will that line be pushed back and considered the norm when/if I decide to start my own family? And so I reach the moral of this story: the direction we’re headed causes me to consider alternative lifestyles that don’t involve bringing human beings into this twisted, degenerate society – that is, if global warming, nuclear bombs and/or aliens don’t kill us all off first.

Or in simpler terms, since I feel slightly less intelligent after watching the premier episode:

Hills = bad.

Sit back and wave through the daylight

I came across an indie band tonight, from Brooklyn, NY, and instantly found myself attracted to their harmonic sound. Matt and Kim will be performing this Thursday at Reverb (651 QUEEN ST W) and I'd be delighted to attend. Tickets are $13.50 before hand, or $15 door price, 8 PM. Until then, I will enjoy this track. I hope you will also.

Horrorshow

Is it just me, or did Chanel channel a hint of Clockwork Orange for Fall 2009 ?

Kaiser Karl does it again, this collection is amazing. Yes, the Clockwork Orange makeup is a little over the top, but I believe it works here. I may be biased as it is one of my favourite books/film adaptations - but I assure you the rest is beautiful.

En Route: Capital of Canada

Summer 2009, Lisa, Emily, Ottawa.

The tale of two best friends venturing on an unplanned journey to the fabulous capital of Canada, just because.

It went something like this:

Bonjour Stephen Harper!

Greeted (Emily) Elizabeth II.

Had tea with The Famous Five.

Strolled through Byward Market, ate lunch at Cornerstone Bar & Grill.

Imitated art.

Imitated art, again.

Created art.

Overcame my fear of giant spiders and experienced some of the best art Canada has to offer at the National Art Gallery of Canada.

Including: Hope I (1903), Gustav Klimt!!!

Who just happens to be my absolute favourite artist, which was - needless to say - the highlight of my mini-trip.

Explored a beautiful city.

Rested in lovely parks. Envisioned my life as a musical (not the first time).

Went canoeing on the Rideau Canal.

A serene ending to a not so serene summer.

Pages Epilogue

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

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

Madcap Revamp

Bored with the old, in with the new. 

Dictionary madcap |ˈmadˌkap| adjective: amusingly eccentric : a surreal, madcap novel.

• done or thought up without considering the consequences; crazy or reckless : some madcap money-making scheme.

noun: an eccentric person.

Thesaurus

madcap adjective 1 a madcap scheme reckless, rash, foolhardy, foolish, harebrained, wild, hasty, imprudent, ill-advised; informal crazy, crackpot, crack-brained. 2 a madcap comedy zany, eccentric, unconventional.

noun: she was a boisterous madcap eccentric, crank, madman/madwoman, maniac, lunatic; oddity, character; informal crackpot, oddball, weirdo, loony, nut, screwball, loon.

Madcap: fitting for me - yet also fitting for a 90's punk band from California and a Marvel villain, apparently. 

Marvel Madcap has two super powers: 1. Fantastic rate of regeneration and recovery: he heals from any physical injury instantly, and even if he sustains enough damage to kill him (such as being flattened or having his neck snapped), or destroy him (such as being incinerated), he will immediately resurrect.  2. A specialized form of insanity-inducement that immediately affects those he makes eye contact with.

LEAVE LOVE!

kiitos!

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

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Kensington in the Summertime

One of my favourite places in the summer - Kensington Market: where shoes fall from the sky and people boo you in the streets.

Sarah and I stopped at Back Alley Woodfire BBQ and Grill for lunch for a significantly filling/delish meal - Mediterranean salad for me and a cheesy calzone for her. Taste-buds satisfied!

Bull’s-eye: Rodarte for Target

Traveling to the states is not exactly a monthly voyage I undergo – but I MUST plan a definite southern excursion come December 20, 2009. Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte are designing a 55-piece collection for Target (prices under $80, hell-o!) Images of a lace, vintage-inspired dress, complete with gray bows and another ‘60s inspired black cocktail dress were said to have briefly leaked online and described as “perfection.” Style.com posted a discussion fearing Rodarte’s quirkiness and near-couture level of craftsmanship might be watered down for the Target collaboration. I’m hoping they will mimic past pieces, especially at this lower price point, because what they have going on now – is insane. I love it.

Skeleton inspired: yes please!

I call it wearable art.

Dear Target: Please come to Canada. Thanks.

Vanity Fair Portraits at the ROM

Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008

Edward Steichen's 1928 glamour shoot on George Baher's yacht: From left, June Cox wearing unidentified fashion; E. Vogt wearing fashion by Chanel and a hat by Reboux; Lee Miller wearing a dress by Mae and Hattie Green and a scarf by Chanel; Hanna-Lee Sherman wearing unidentified fashion. (Gelatin silver print, Conde Nast Archive, New York) 


I’ve marked my calendar for Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008, presented by the Institute of Contemporary Culture (ICC) at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) from September 26, 2009 to January 3, 2010. Showcasing 150 portraits, the exhibition covers both vintage, classic images from Vanity Fair’s early period - Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo - and modern photographs since the magazine’s re-launch in 1983 - Demi Moore and Tom Cruise. This will be the exhibitions first showing in Eastern North America – It has brought together record-breaking attendance in Europe. More Information: HERE!

Rest peacefully John Hughes

My one regret attending high school - was that 1980s had long passed. In those interesting years of experimentation and self discovery, John Hughes films were my religion. Notably- somehow, despite Molly Ringwald’s incredibly whiney and annoying demeanour, I was inspired by her iconic characters created by Hughes. And so here is my top-five tribute to the great, late John Hughes (February 18, 1950 – August 6, 2009):

5. Some Kind of Wonderful

...

4. The Breakfast Club

...

3. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

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2. 16 Candles

...

1. Pretty In Pink

"I'm off like a dirty shirt."

Summer 2009 Playlist

1. Runaway - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2. Cheerleader - Grizzly Bear
3. Walking on a Dream - Empire of the Sun
4. First Love - Emmy the Great
5. Self-Taught Learner - Lissy Trullie
6. I've got your Number - Passion Pit
7. Mister Driver - Plasticines 
8. Schizophrenia - Sonic Youth 
9. Elephant Gun - Beirut
10. I'm in no Mood - The Fiery Furnaces 
11. For Our Elegant Caste - Of Montreal
12. Young Adult Friction - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
13. From the Stars - White Lies
14. Summertime Clothes - Animal Collective
15. My Drive Thru - Santogold, Julian Casablancas, N.E.R.D produced by Pharrell
(Yes it was NEW last summer, but I really can't get enough of it)

The Original Lookbook Beauty

Just wanted to pay homage to one of my favourite artists, Cindy Sherman.

I adore her work.

  

Untitled Film Still #21. 1978. Collection The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Untitled Film Still #14. 1978. Collection The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Untitled Film Still #11. 1978. Collection The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Inspired.

xo

eep.

Waiting for a War

I have been neglecting privy, and that's sad. But not too sad, because I have been pampering a gym membership and a promotion. Both good things! =) I added a musical treat, from mixpod.com, and along with it, a song I have been enjoying by The Morning Benders, a sweet, little indie band from California. xo eep.

The Stakes are High

“My favorite thing in all of rock ‘n’ roll is that pleading, eager voice full of sweetness and pain.”

-Ezra Furman, as quoted in the Chicago Tribune

Dead on. Ezra’s hauntingly mesmerizing, yet somehow endearing vocals stand out in such a distinctive way, I predict the Harpoons will be huge, just you wait. Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, take number one in my favourite new band category - Number one song goes to, The Stakes Are High. The band recently posted numerous upcoming tour dates, and my fingers are crossed that they’ll eventually make their way North of the boarder. Check out their video for Take off your Sunglasses. This song was played on Edge 102.1 one day and sparked the interest of my best friend, and now her and I are obsessed.

Danny Boyle = Cinematic Visionary

Last night I finally made it out to see Oscar Winning, Best Motion Picture, Slumdog Millionaire… WOW. Every nomination and award won by this film is fully deserved.

I can’t even remember the last time I saw a movie in theatres with such an incredibly thought-provoking plotline, in-depth characters, exceptional cinematography, and that is just completely all-around amazing (not to mention there are a couple M.I.A. songs on the soundtrack). It’s perfect. If you have not already, GO SEE IT!

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

It started with Full House...

Interview March '09

Guilty pleasure or not, I was among the millions of frivolous tweens who were Olsen obsessed since day one, following their horribly scripted, over-acted career like it was my job. Despite rants and raves bashing the Olsen's style, the "Trollsen Twins" nickname bestowed by PETA, and topping worst dressed lists on a yearly basis, Mary-Kate and Ashley will always be among my top style icons. Their styles are defined by individualism, and more than ever is that something I am intrigued by, especially in this day and age when it seems to be much more challenging. The March 2009 issue of Interview features an albino-esque Mary-Kate on the cover - I'm astounded and slightly doubtful that it is in fact even her. The shoot is quite unique and the interview to match, is a fulfilling read. MK also graces the cover of FASHION's March '09 issue, and it breaks my heart a little that I am not still interning there for an occasion such as this. Beyond the twins themselves, what I'm really jonesing for is their Spring '09 Collection for Elizabeth and James. If I wasn't so penniless, the entire collection, jewellery very much included, would be mine! Here are some of my favourite looks from the very wearable, 100% Olsen inspired collection.

Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth and James, Snake Wrap Ring, $100.00.

I cannot wait to see the new Elizabeth and James, in collaboration with Steve Madden, shoe collection - set to be unveiled in mid 2009.

A little bit in love with Lykke Li

Although it's been almost a month now since seeing the Swedish siren Lykke Li perform downtown at The Phoenix on February 6th, the evening simply cannot go unmentioned.

Lykke Li is basically sweeping the nation, captivating audiences with her charming Swedish style & tuneful brilliance.

The intensity of her vocals and stage presence is unreal. Li's high energy set included the best of Youth Novels (her 2008 album, produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John) and added to the mix was an unexpected Kings of Leon cover, "Knocked Up." Inspired.

Wild Birds & Peace Drums who opened the show, definitely deserve praise for their distinctive sound. I ♥ "My Heart." Check them out at: http://www.wildbirdsandpeacedrums.com/

Have you met... me?

Meet... me: an undecided aspiring journalist nearing the verge of migrating overseas on a permanent vacation to discover the meaning of life and my special place in the universe... just kidding, sort of.

While blogging seems like a trend that I should have naturally fallen for some time ago, I must say it has been something I have been putting off for a few of the following reasons:

1. I don't pride myself in falling for trends (I prefer doing my own thing)

2. I change my mind like - a simile of something that changes at an extremely high frequency - and the idea of attaching certain subjects to my name for a virtual eternity frightens me a little (I may have some unresolved commitment issues)

3. And, lastly, in reality I am quite shy and soft spoken and while I'd rather unveil my ideas, passions and inspirations in a non-virtual fashion (perhaps over a pitcher of beer with someone who is genuinely involved and who is not only a "Facebook friend" but a real, live friend) I have officially decided to put these reasons aside and enter the world of blogging to share my interests with those interested

...who knows it might even be fun and spark some ideas for future endeavors.

Enjoy :)

eep.