Well Read

I think most of you who've been following me for a bit know how much I love a good illustrator. Now that my days are filled with endless streams of children's books, some good, some not so good, I appreciate the art form even more. I stumbled across this book and just fell head over heels with the illustrations and not for nothing the premise for the story is pretty fabu as well:

Panni Kövecses’s debut book is a kids’ detective story, which takes place in a small seaside town during summer vacation. We join Erik and Nipper in their hunt for the stolen canary, photo camera and horn-rimmed glasses to discover who is the unexpected thief behind all these mysterious disappearances. Thanks to the author’s graphic design background, this charming story is enhanced by a stunning illustration using great colors, lovely characters and some fabulous mid-century atmosphere. This book makes a perfect first for children who are just discovering the joy of reading.

It looks like The Wee One is getting anew addition to her bookshelf!

Lajka Books

Vanity Fair- The Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images

"Vanity Fair magazine has a reputation as one of the preeminent showcases for portraits in the world, and this book gathers together a good chunk of them in all their glossy, artificial splendor. There's almost as much celebrity behind the lens as in front of it: Edward Steichen, Herb Ritts, Mario Testino, David LaChapelle and, of course, Annie Leibovitz are all included, and the portraits themselves amount to a who''s who of culture and politics, with the quality of the images justifying the inclusion of the occasional lesser-known figures. The photographs have been arranged to supply the reader with subtle (and not so subtle) visual and cultural frisson: what are we meant to think when Joseph Goebbels is juxtaposed with Richard Perle? In a face-off between Rob Lowe and Louise Brooks, who has the most glamorous jaw line? For posing questions such as this, and for the production values and sheer scale, not to mention introductory essays by Graydon Carter, Christopher Hitchens, Terence Pepper and David Friend, this is a book that will no doubt be adorning the coffee tables of the world''s culture brokers for many years to come." -Publisher's Weekly

Vanity Fair: The Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images is available at Amazon for $40.95 (37% off the $65- list price)

Mr. & Mrs Fairbanks

Bette Davis

Gary Cooper

Martha Graham

Rudolf Valentino

Jean Cocteau

Gypset Style

What Is Gypset Style?

"Yuppies, Yippies, Jet Setters, Bright Young Things, Generation X, Generation Y... and now the Gypset. Fusing the ease and carefree lifestyle of a gypsy with the sophistication of the jet set, the Gypsetters are artists, surfers, designers, and bon vivants who live and work around the globe, from Jose Ignacio, Uruguay and Ibiza, Spain, to Montauk, New York. Gypset Style explores the unconventional, wanderlust lives of these high-low cultural nomads and thte bohemian enclaves they inhabit, as well as their counterculture forbears, such as the Victorian explorers, the Lost Generation, the Beatniks, and the hippies. And along the way, author Julia Chaplin looks back at quintessential gypsy boho moments in social history."

Grab yours at Amazon for only $29.70 and save $15.30 off the list price of $45-

Cocktails Anyone?

I've been on a quest to expand my tastes beyond just wine, beer and champagne. Where to start when you're the daughter of teetotalers?

Well, the beautiful Jill of Stella's Roar (A true must read. I insist) did this wonderful post about what a well stocked bar should contain. So I'm working towards that. I've also been keeping my eyes open for products that pique my interest and taste buds. I came across Square One Botanical.

It's not a flavored vodka and not a gin. It's an organic rye spirit, that like a gin, gets a kick from organic botanicals. It is infused with eight- pear, rose, chamomile, lemon verbena, lavender, rosemary, coriander and citrus peel for an experience that is softer than gin. Sounds good doesn't it?

Square One's website provides about 20 different cocktail recipes. Each one sounds more delicious than the next.

Jill also recommended a great little book in her post The Bartender's Bible: 1001 Mixed Drinks and Everything You Need to Know to Set Up Your Bar. It's only $6.99 at Amazon and really is an indispensable resource so why not grab one? My dad always said to do a proper job you need the proper tools. Come to think of it he probably just said that in order to excuse all those Craftsman purchases at Sears but whatever. Go on and get the book anyways.

Cin, Cin!

Bricks and Brownstone

A bit of background...

Since I was young I always knew I wanted to own an old rowhouse. Long before I could even think of getting a house I went to The Strand bookstore in NYC and purchased the definitive rowhouse bible Bricks and Brownstone: The New York Rowhouse 1783-1929 by Charles Lockwood. Some of you may have seen Charles Lockwood's appearance on This Old House's Brooklyn Brownstone Project. This book put me over the edge. I poured over every page, every word, every photo. For me it's the ultimate in real estate porn. Droolworthy. So, if old homes and particularly brick, brownstone or limestone townhouses tickle your fancy do yourself a favor and go get this book.

Thanks Mr. Lockwood!