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Ahhh.. summer. The sun, the beach, the 6 hour drive that should have taken two. This will officially serve as the first in a series of road trip music. The theme for today? Leaving town….
Leaving town is sometimes the best part of the entire trip. Gassed up, everyone’s ready to go, on high alert for the fastest route out of dodge. The adrenalin is pumping since you were able to get out early, despite every possible roadblock. Congrats. Here’s the song you need. It does not get groovier.
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If you’re like one of us at F+G, a little piece of you died on the inside this week with Monday’s final CLANG! of Law and Order. One of us is serious. Ok, we’ll switch to first person.
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I had a moment when I toggled the DVR to cancel. Why? I’ve been a fan since I was 21. That’s 18 of the 20 years the show aired. And those 20 years weren’t always pretty (neither mine,l nor theirs), from the revolving door at the ADAs office to the Briscoe corn-ballers at the end of the first act. If you know who Profaci is, you know what I’m talking about. (I can’t really handle of the spin-offs, by the way.)
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I can explain my addiction, you see, as I used to live in New York City. I loved seeing the my City on tv every week, and later with syndication, every hour. Guessing the neighborhood or block or bar was as vital to me as the ripped (off) from the headlines plots. I could find a little piece familiarity and comfort in every 44 minutes. Seriously. They were at Save the Robots before I was!
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I live in LA, now. In theory, there should be a ton of that familiarity that I love in a TV show. Even 24 New York was filmed here. Maybe that says it all. But, really, after 10 years in SoCalDude, I still don’t know the city half as well as I did Manhattan after 1, though I think the Shield and Baywatch kind of nail it.
I read the numbers weren’t that good for the final episode. This seems to make sense, especially after I read that NBC bungled something again. (Read this, too, if you delight in peacock misery). I watch the reruns more, anyway, so the NBC goodbye wasn’t so brutal. Still, there’s a void. I can feel it.
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Adieu, Law and Order! 456 episodes tells me I’m not alone in my grief.
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As does this… of which, I’ll offer only the sneak peak below, entitled BRISCOTHEQUE
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With the “guesting” season upon us – “join us in the Hamptons for the weekend! Come out to the beach! The house in Maine sleeps 20!” – we at F+G thought we’d share some tips on host gifts.
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The host gift is a concept as old as the term “guesting” is new. How could you not turn up at someone’s weekend retreat, or even weekday dinner party, without a little token of your appreciation?
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But, grabbing a bottle of wine, one that someone else likely grabbed on their way to your last get-together, has become too easy. It takes a lot of effort to make this gift unique. Think about the last time you were gifted a bottle of wine and you a) remembered who gave it to you and b) actually enjoyed the bottle with that person?!
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So, herewith some gifting tips:
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1. Wine. Yep. How can we not make that recommendation? But, get creative. For example, send bottles ahead of time. A few bottles of red and white, or better yet, rose or champagne make quite an impression before you’ve even settled in. Or, better yet, bring rose champagne.
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2. Games. Who doesn’t enjoy a good game. It could be as simple as a few decks of cards (perhaps monogrammed for the occasion or featuring the date of the weekend), as kitshy as games from childhood (the original Trivial Pursuit or Life), or as on trend as the latest video game (GTA n+1).
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3. Dinner. Bring a basketful of foods to prepare with your hosts. Get adventurous and go off piste with an unusual cuisine. Better yet, take over the hosting duties for a night and give your hosts a bit of a break.
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4. Sent it later. A weekend of hangin’ with your hosts will inevitably point up a fun gift to send after your visit. Send something to do with a conversation you had, that compliments the house (monogrammed towels) or that you know your hosts wouldn’t ever indulge in. But, stick closely to the Emily Post of it all and don’t wait too long.
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5. Gift certificate. This can be somewhat like the cursory bottle of wine, unless you find a really groovy product (say a custom pair of shorts!?) or like the point above, something that is unique to your weekend with your hosts. What’s good about it, is that your hosts get something that they really want or will use and that won’t end up in the gift closet on its way to someone else’s weekend home.
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Say it ain’t so, Danny. Say it ain’t so. As of deadline for this post, it appears that I have lost my external 250GB hard drive that kept most of my music. I have some of it backed up, according to Time Machine, but not as much as I might have thought with a program called Time Machine. There’s still hope, but hope is not a strategy, and I must arrive at some sort of acceptance before the tears from banging my head into a brick wall appear. So here we are….i lost a lot of gems for sure, but on the bright side, there are lots more out there.
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Which brings me to the metaphysical/philosophical topic of what one does if they lose all of their music, and they use their music as I do- a guide or reflection of mood at any given moment in time. Where do you begin to replace the loss? There are ethics in play. I paid for it all. All of it. I never stole any music. I might be stupid and play by the rules, but I sleep at night. Is it ok to go to the file share corners of the internet to find what I’ve lost?
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As for where to starte, for me, there’s no right answer, though I’d likely give serious thought to last week’s post regarding the re re release of the re remastered Exile on Main Street. Seems like a great place to start, a strong foundation. It also seems too obvious.
I need some help. All suggestions welcome. Where would you start to rebuild a music library? would you start here? I think i would.
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If you’re around my age (38 1/2), your first introduction to the Rolling Stones might have been Hot Rocks- The Rolling Stones 1964-1971. And what an introduction! Not a bad song on the whole double album. The other way in might have been through Tattoo You. Keith waiting on MTV for his friend Mick. So if you’re anything like me, you completely missed Exile on Main Street entirely until maybe late high school or early college. As a supreme fan of the Rolling Stones, it takes a lot of guts to say that out loud.
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Next week, on the 38th anniversary of it’s release, and 16 years after it’s initial remastering, the Re-Remastered Rolling Stones opus, Exile on Main Street, dare I say, drops. Why is this significant? For starters, 38th anniversaries will now always be special. Also, a lot of the tracks were laid down just down the block from F+G HQ, at Sunset Sound Recorders… 6650 Sunset Blvd (we’re at 6671). But, more importantly, there will be additional, never before released songs and versions of songs, which is one of the reasons why re-releases and remasterings are special, especially those of Exile on Main Street.
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It’s probably not likely that I could do justice dissecting the importance of the original release. The fact that the album even got made through the band’s self-induced haze of 1972, with recording sessions split between the South of France and Sunset Blvd, is somewhat of a miracle. (plenty of reading material on those stories, should you care) It’s also likely that Universal wasn’t quite sure what to do with it once it was finished. There had always been a lot of soul in rock n’ roll of the Rolling Stones- Around and Around (Chuck Berry), King Bee (Slim Harpo), etc. But country? Where did that come from? The South of France?
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The album wasn’t well received by the critics, so I guess that answers the Universal question. So how and when did it grow on everyone else? Maybe that’s also part of the legend. For me, it was the album that taught me to listen to the album, the whole album, more than once. It also cemented the Rolling Stones as a big part of my everyday life. If you want to check out some of the new releases on the album, or real rock critic’s views, head on over to NPR.
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When talking of making an entrance in LA, it is all about the red carpet. Celebs and the mere mortals who get to stand next to them, turn it out for the paparazzi and fans when the red plush is underfoot.
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However, let’s take it back to another time when the most glamorous arrival of all was emerging from a flying machine onto the tarmac of a chic locale. Impossible to imagine the words glamour and chic associated with travel ever again, but after a couple of recent trips involving small planes, no jetways and a stride across the “black carpet,” it is time to celebrate that inevitably great feeling (however deep or fleeting) of arriving somewhere fun. Here’s how we can bring a little bit of the jet set back to touchdown and take-off.
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- We’ve lost the battle of traveling in sweats. However, don’t shun the costume change. We all roll with the “wheelie bag” so keep your Juicy’s and James Perse’s in there until you are on board.
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- A driving shoe is as comfortable as a Nike and easier to put on. J. Crew serves them up cheaply. Tod’s less so. Either is a great option.
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- Rock a good pant on and off the plane. Perhaps one that features a chic pipe?! Men, pair it with a sport coat and a pocket square. Ladies, get a wrap or throw going. Great alternative to the on-board blanket.
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- Nothing says “I am here” quite like a sunglass. However, opt for a lightly tinted lens so you can wear ‘em day or night without invoking a snarky singing of a Corey Hart’s tune.
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- And back to that bag… Color people! Print people! Just say no to the monotony of all black.
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Regardless the venue or the color of the carpet, a good entrance is a terrible thing to waste.
As a senior in college in a remote corner of the country, Burlington, VT, known more giving birth to the movement that still is PHISH, I happened upon an album entitled “The Brand New Heavies”- a compilation of early 90s who’s who of hip-hop artists- Gran Puba, the Pharcyde, Main Source and Guru. This was my crossover album, and from the sound of of it, many others. Gang Starr, led by Guru ‘It’s Getting Hectic” was monumental for me in terms of opening up a whole new world. Anyone familiar with the Jazzmatazz series? Yup, Guru. I know I’m late to this news, but Guru passed away on April 19.
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I also know that I can’t begin to due any justice in terms of a retrospective or compilation of Guru’s genius, at least not when Oliver Wang is writing. So, for a full recap of Guru, his work with Gang Starr and Solo, I redirect you here. And here.
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Ladies and gents, it’s that time again…time for a trip back to New Orleans and the music that makes that which we have to live for worth living all the more. This time the intrepid F+G travel coordinator (wouldn’t you like to know who ) has wrangled a visit to the set of HBO’s outstanding new drama from David Simon and his team of addiction makers- TREME ( treMAY)
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If you missed the TREME premiere, highlights were awesomeness, underscored by an almost overwhelming array of some New Orleans finest (music, local joints, culture, and inside jokes, oh…and accents) I could recap all the music, but mtv did a fine job, and after the mindless hours i spent in the early 90s watching Puck stick his finger in the peanut butter, we’re all owed one…
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I will be reporting in from the front lines of the best music show in the World that just happens to have David Simon running things with characters and drama to compliment the soundtrack. I can’t reiterate enough for the music lovers out there- the greatness. Witness Steve Zahn uncomfortably work his way into a David Brent/Michael Scott moment of cringe inducing fanboy dialogue with Elvis Costello. We’ve all been there. Big celeb in the room. You still have posters, it’s kind of creepy. But what are you supposed to do? in the moment you meet a hero? i think standard protocol should be to thank them for making our lives a little bit better. Offering a drink is also not out of line. In this case, I’m talking about music heros, but if i met a superhero, i’d thank them, too. Provided he was off duty and wearing his Franklin + Gower Blazer.
Los Angeles is choc-a-bloc with iconography: palm trees, surfers, the Hollywood sign, convertibles, fake breasts… But when thinking about LA’s fashion iconography – the equivalent of a New Yorker’s all black number or a Londoner’s “Macks and Wellies” look – it really comes down to the sunglass.
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Sure, the plagues that are the tracksuit and tattooed trucker cap, have besmirched LA on the world’s sartorial stage. But, whether it is couture or Juicy Couture, Christian Dior or Christian Audigier, you are going to top off any and all LA outfits with a pair of shades.
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My collection of shades includes a pair of Oliver Peoples I’ve had for over 15 years. More recently, I’ve sported a pair of glasses the size of which make Porsche Carreras look like Ben Franklin specs. And, I’ve got a pair of black plastic frame glasses that lean to the sporty side. But, when the sun is in the sky, it is more than likely that Ray Ban Aviators are on my face.
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Oh to be as classic as the Aviator and the icon of style that this sunglass has become. How many style items can you claim work just as well on men as they do on women; look great in gold, silver and black; and look as effortlessly cool on the red carpet as much as they do on the beach? I dare you to tell me…
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I love my all black on black pair for when I am feeling a bit “international spy.” The silver pair with reflective frames, help me “get my fighter pilot on.” And, the rose-gold-framed, rose tinted lens pair, just make going through life a little bit better. It is up to you to assemble your range of Aviators to make the most looks out of your look.
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And, there are simply no frills to these glasses. I love the utilitarian plastic carrying case, as opposed to those luxury cases that could serve as a studio apartment in NYC. There aren’t spring-loaded arms or collapsible lenses. And, best of all, they do not require you to exercise your stock options to buy. Ray Ban Aviators are simply what they are.
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And, if you know how to wear them, you are well on your way to being a style icon, no matter where you wear your Ray Bans.
Truth be told, I have never spring-cleaned. My closet houses all seasons so when the time comes, I turn my attention to “these” set of hangers as opposed to “those.” But, after years of noticing how few of these or those hangers I actually took clothes from, I recruited the help of a stylist.
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While I know what I am doing when it comes to putting a look together, and I am helped by a lot of good material to work with, outside perspective is always helpful when it comes to editing. And, frankly, I simply needed someone to force me to vote some garments off my Fashion Island. Here’s what I learned:
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- You’ve got 4 minutes (and 3 hours) to save the world: Time limit forces you to move quickly. First hour, edit; lose what doesn’t fit, what you’ve not worn in over a year, etc. Second hour, reassemble what you have left. Third hour, identify what you need.
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- Go one deeper: This is about being ruthless. If you are comfortable losing that sweater, then shouldn’t you really consider losing this other one, too? If you waver on a particular item, lose it. Remember, spring- cleaning can simply mean, “spring-moving-things-to-another-closet-or-suitcase.” You don’t have to part ways with your Mardi Gras ’04 t-shirt… though you really should.
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- Does this make my ass look pleated?: Try everything on. While you think something still works, the last time you wore a particular suit you might have been in different shape. The garment might not hang as well on you or simply, as I discovered, feature pleats in its pants.
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- We will rebuild!: Reassemble what’s left. Now that you have fewer things to distract you, new looks will come clear. This is when an outsider can help you think of new ways of mixing and matching that you would’ve on your own. Again, try it all on.
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- Mind the gaps: This is where it gets scientific, if there is such a thing in getting dressed! Lay out the new and old looks you’ve identified and figure out what item could make the most of them work/look better. Is a light pink shirt that item that will bring most of your looks up a notch? Editing your closet doesn’t have to mean a major shopping spree, as fun as that might seem. It is about peeling back the layers to find the fundamental bits you’re missing.
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Having started with a truth, I will end with one. While I used to take great pride in showcasing a closet replete with items and their infinite permutations, I am really digging how hard the few items I now have are working for me this spring.
