The 135th Kentucky Derby

One for the ages!

Mine That Bird, a gelding, purchased for just $9,500 raced a field comprised of several horses worth millions to win the 135th Kentucky Derby in a shocking upset.

With jockey Calvin Borel aboard, Mine That Bird went off at 50-1 odds and was the second-biggest underdog ever to win the Derby.

"This is such a little horse," Borel said. "I kept asking him to get closer and then I said, 'He's gonna get them!"

Mine That Bird, owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Bueno Suerte Equine and trained by Bennie Woolley Jr., was 15 lengths behind coming out of the first turn but steadily caught up to the pack and got through a hole along the rail to gain the lead in the stretch like he was shot out of a cannon.

Watch the magical moment below (Mine That Bird is #8 and he's riding the rail at the very back)

In Memorium

Maxime de La Falaise

(1922-2009)

Maxime de la Falaise, a celebrated fashion model and artists’ muse of the mid-20th century who was later a designer, food writer and the matriarch of a three-generation clan of international couture models, died of natural causes on Thursday at her home in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France.
She was 86.

Read her full obituary in The New York Times

"The only truly chic Englishwoman of her generation."
- Cecil Beaton

(Source: LorenzoTricoli/Flickr)

All Around Brooklyn with Mrs. Limestone

If you've been checking out my sight you've probably noticed under my blog roll on the right there is a link to Adventures in Renovating a Brooklyn Limestone. Mrs. Limestone has renovated what was a pretty run down limestone townhouse with "really good bones" into an amazingly restored home that in my opinion (and that of her visitors) is simply impeccable. With the renovation portion complete she's moved into the decorating phase. Even though she's budget conscious (something I appreciate), her taste level is exquisite. The style quotient never falters and her choices are always beautiful.


O.k...now that I've completely blown up her head (I'm teasing), my reason for mentioning her sight was that today she posted a great piece about my favorite borough called "All Around Brooklyn". I thought it'd be nice to take a look at side of Brooklyn that usually isn't shown in the movies.

Go on, go take a look...

(image source: MrsLimestone/Flickr)

Kittens!

Calling all tenderhearts...and you know who you are...

Meet Numue (the tortoise girl) and Nubbins (the tabby boy). They are a brother and sister who at 2-3 months old are in need of a loving home.Their fairy godmother is a softie, not unlike myself, and is trying her best to get the stray cat population under control in her neighborhood through TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release). Unfortunately, Numue and Nubbins mom happened to slip through the cracks and now these two little fuzzy balls of love need homes. They're currently living in Brooklyn (cause they're super cool little kitties) but I'm sure they wouldn't mind relocating to the burbs providing that it meant a house filled with love (and food). It'd also be nice for them if they could stay together. They're best friends and would miss each other terribly if they had to be apart.

Speaking of their fairy godmother, she's also got three more kittens coming up for adoption soon who are from a different mom 2 light grey tabbies and one regular darker grey/black tabby. They are about a month younger than these two.

Shoot, they are so ridiculously cute I'd take them myself if we didn't already have our five (you can read about how we got them by clicking here).

Please contact me if you interested and I'll put you in touch.

The ASPCA endorses Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the only proven humane and effective method to manage feral cat colonies. For more information including background on TNR, online and print resources, and what you can do to get involved in your community click here.

RHNY: Columbia Schumbia!

"Honestly, if being inauthentic means graduating from Columbia University, writing three books, starting two magazines, bearing two children, being the ambassador for wool, running a marathon for charity -- if that's inauthentic?"






-Kelly Bensimon

Really? You know, I don't mean to split hairs but...
"Kelly went to Columbia University School of General Studies and graduated in 1998." Bensimon's rep said.
According to its Web site, The School of General Studies of Columbia University is a liberal arts college "created specifically for returning and nontraditional students".
Inauthentic? Hmmm...That's such a strong word.
(Source: NYP Pagesix)

Listening To- Invincible

"Ropes" was shot at Coney Island's Astroland on a cold, dreary and rainy day. These days it's looking more and more as though historic Astroland will soon be razed to the ground and developed into unaffordable lofts or condos, so this footage is visual preservation as well. The City of NY continues it's negotiation efforts with the developer Thor Equities.

For me personally, Coney Island is a magical place. It literally chokes me up to think of it becoming some privatized behemoth. The stories passed down to me from my Dad about hanging out there as a little kid. Reading Henry Miller and other writers vivid depictions of it's entertainment delights. Getting my first hot dog or seafood platter of the season at Nathans. The smell of the salt air. Buying "Ice Cold Butt-wiser" and "Pessis" (Budweiser & Pepsi's) from the vendors walking on the beach. Taking the early season frosty plunge into the surf. Walking all the way down the 3 miles of boardwalk in either direction. Riding back home on the train smelling of dried salt water and suntan lotion.

I feel alive when I go there. I'm filled with grandiose history and sheer enormity of it's past. It's almost like visiting a graveyard and feeling the presence of the dead.

With that...

Invincible- Ropes

Loving...

Smoking Gun by Design Glut

RHNJ Presents: The Hundredthousand-Aires Matchmakers Club?

"hey there lonely girl, lonely girl
let me make your broken heart like new..."

Poor Danielle Staub. She's the only NJ housewife who's well, not a housewife.

What's a girl to do?

In the season opener of The Real Housewives of New Jersey Danielle arranges to go on a blind date with someone she's met online. Is she looking or a soulmate? A role model candidate for her daughters? Someone to grow old with?

Hardly! Our darling Danielle is looking to snag herself a bonafide sugar daddy!


It turns out her date, with whom she's already had phone-sex, goes by the super-duper-ultra-classy moniker "Guccimodel" (I know, you're already smitten right?). This charmer was found on Wealthymen.com. It turns out Wealthymen.com is an absolutely real Website, a "meet market" for single gals who, like Danielle, are looking to find men who make "over $100K a year,"

Nope, that's not a typo, a whole $100K per year.

You can see a snippet of her getting ready for the date here...


I don't want to spoil this for you but it turns out...."Guccimodel", the phone sex god stands Miss Danielle up. Leaves her sitting at the restaurant bar waiting.

Who saw that coming??

(Source: NY Post)

Listening To- Santogold

I was checking in on Jill's fantabulous blog Stella's Roar and this popped up on her playlist. So after grooving through half the song I looked up and saw the title L.E.S. Artistes. How ironic that my better half is a born and bred L.E.S. native. Enjoy!

Someone sent me an email asking so, L.E.S. refers to the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Santogold- L.E.S. Artistes


If you're diggin' this then check out Santogold's (a.k.a. Santigold) Myspace Page.

Thanks Jill!

Voyerism

casaCARA is a fantastic blog that features real estate, architecture, interior design and gardens.

They run a feature called BROWNSTONE VOYEUR (a joint project with Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn). This is right up my alley since, I love Brooklyn, brownstones, and looking to see what the Jones' are doing in and to their homes.

I wanted to share with you today's feature. It's a 600 square foot rental on the ground floor of a mid-19th century Carroll Gardens row house. Frankly, it's the best use of space I've seen in ages. Every inch is perfect (particularly that garden!).

Go on, go look!

RANT

I'm at the epicenter of renovation hell. Oh no, not me, I'm not currently renovating! My neighbors on either side are. That's right, BOTH SIDES!

Someone please quick remind me why I'm so fond of living in a rowhouse with only 18" of party walls separating me and the jackhammers, drills, saws and nailguns??

This is cruel and unusual punishment.

Artist- laurageorge

Cute without being overly saccharine.




















You can find these and other laurageorge works at Supermarket

RHNJ: A Sit-Down with Andy Cohen

I think you all know I can't wait for this to start (May 12th!!). For now, I'm just going to have to settle for this vid from Andy Cohen. Oh, it's a goodie, it's seems Ramoaner (of the RHNY camp) talked some smack about the NJ Ladies. Watch as the Consigliere Caroline invites Little Miss Tourettes to come over to the Garden State for a sit-down.
Ha- I love it!

Oh, and what's up with the "I'm wearing a wig" style headband Teresa? Not good.

Listening To- Gwen Stefani

This has been in my head all day. Such a beautiful video. She looks so gorgeous in this one.

Gwen Stefani- 4 In The Morning

Inexcusable

We interrupt this blog for a moment in extreme cruelty and douchebaggery...


(source: NY Times)

Loud planes... flying really low... too low... circling NYC... A 747? What? AIRFORCE ONE! F-16 CHASING IT??

NO. OH GOD. PLEASE, NOT AGAIN!!

NAUSEA

PANIC

QUICK GATHER THOUGHTS

EXACUATE BUILDING

CALL LOVED ONES

PRAY

"I approved a mission over New York, I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused."
-Louis Caldera Director of the White House military office

(source: NY Times)

“First thing is, I’m annoyed – furious is a better word – that I wasn’t told. Why the Defense Department wanted to do a photo-op right around the site of the World Trade Center catastrophe defies imagination. Poor judgment would be a nice ways to phrase it, but they did. I also think that once they had told us, we should have done a better job. Had I known about it, I would have called them right away and asked them not to. It is the federal government and they can do in the end what they please, but I would have tried to stop it. I don’t know there’s a lot else to say other than they shouldn’t have done it.”

- NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg who said he was not apprised of the flyover until his BlackBerry started buzzing this morning (4/27/09) with messages from people asking if he knew what was going on.

(source: istolethetv on flickr)

Jewelry Designer:Janis Savitt

Janis Savitt was born and raised in New York City, the daughter of an artist father and a fashion savvy mother. She spent her childhood immersed in fine arts, culture, and following the latest fashion trends.

Janis' future career began one day while shopping in Bloomingdale's with her sister Millie, a lover and wearer of fabulous jewelry. One jewelry display featured, besides gems, saws, files and other tools of the trade. Janis, aged 12, became mesmerized. ”Please find me a jewelry making school.” She immediately demanded of Millie. So, every Saturday and after school, between the ages of 12 and 17, Janis attended classes at a YWCA. Michelle eventually joined her. When her schoolmates began asking Janis where she got her amazing jewelry, Janis realized that she had found her calling.

While still in school, Janis fabricated pieces for Van Cleef and Arpels, Cartier, Henri Bendel, and Bloomingdale's. Along with her sister Michelle, Janis built the renowned and exclusive M&J Savitt, assuming her position as jewelry designer of the company.

Nearly four decades later, Savitt, a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America whose work has garnered her more than two dozen De Beer's Diamonds International Awards--including the prestigious COTY Award has made the decision to branch off on her own. She's formed an independent jewelry company Janis by Janis Savitt.

The collection is comprised of classic and luxurious jewelry with a sleek modern edge. While Janis' initial collection has intentionally been kept small, she wants to focus on diamond pieces as well as a precious collection. She's also looking to eventually delve into the world of men's jewelry.

Items avaliable at Bergdorf Goodman

Click on the cat
(come on, do it!)

Listening To- Stone Roses

Retro-vibing

Stone Roses- Fools Gold


If you're diggin' this then check out The Stone Roses's Official Website.

Going Nude...

Delman

Christian Louboutin

Manolo Blahnik

Christian Dior

Valentino

Christian Louboutin

Marc Jacobs

Prada