 |
| If you would like to advertise on Delicious Musings please email me at this address: kitchens.sharon@gmail dot com. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Archive for May, 2010
Monday, May 31st, 2010
Back from a lovely weekend getaway at a friend’s camp near Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. I read the first half of Anthony Bourdain’s bloody fun book Kitchen Confidential, sat by a fire made in a beautiful stone fireplace (it was really breezy outside), drank deliciously refreshing margaritas, cooked, walked, and ate whoopie pie cake (what better way to top off a relaxing Sunday). The Rhubarb Crisp I made from Mark Bittman’s New York Times column was a success at the dinner table. Listen, this sweet dish is ridiculously easy to make so while you can get fresh rhubarb and whip it up for friends - the sooner the better. Oh, and it is just as good for breakfast as it was the night before. Trust me.
Hope you all had as luxurious a holiday weekend. xo
Posted in Baked Goods, Friends | 2 Comments »
Monday, May 31st, 2010
With “Giant,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” “Easy Rider” and “Apocalypse Now” Dennis Hopper led a cross-country cinematic trip through some of the darkest (and most glorious) moments the silver screen has ever seen. His portrayal of the drunk father in “Hoosiers” was incredible as was the brilliant Sean Penn/Robert Duvall film “Colors” he directed. Could this guy have been any cooler!?
In the mid-90s Hopper played Bruno Bischofberger, a major European art dealer, in the largely forgettable Julian Schnabel film “Basquiat” about the tortured genius graffiti artist who upended the 1980s New York art scene with his expressive works about social injustice. Alongside David Bowie, Gary Oldman, Benicio Del Toro, the ever nasty (but always amazing) Michael Wincott, and a young Jeffrey Wright he stood his ground in what was ultimately an ego project for Schnabel.
Fortunately for me he did the film and while working for Miramax Films (the film’s distributor) in L.A. I had the opportunity to visit Hopper’s Venice, CA. home to supervise an interview with him for a promotional video. By this time he was becoming as well known for his modern art collection and own photography as his film roles, well at least in L.A. It was a short visit during which he was gracious and eager to talk about art, cinema, the design of his home and its security system. The house was a mini fortress with suspended hallways and a garage any federal reserve would envy, though you would not know that from the exterior. He was well informed and passionate about the pieces he owned (Andy Warhol, Keith Haring…), living with them in the rooms of his house as opposed to locking them away in storage. It was a unique and special experience for which I will always be grateful.
R.I.P. Dennis Hopper.
Photo of Dennis Hopper by Robert Altman.
Posted in Films | No Comments »
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Have a wonderful long weekend. Hope you have fun plans! I am back to Ogunquit for another surf lesson (it’s so much fun), then packing up the car and Paige for a couple days at a friend’s camp somewhere several hours north of Portland. Should be an adventure.
A few terrific images to get us on our way!
Top photo William Eggleston. Middle photo Forever is Today. Bottom photo Slim Aarons.
Posted in Photography, Thoughts | No Comments »
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Congratulations to my friend Peter Vanderwarker, whose stunning portfolio of images of Boston’s Big Dig was recently acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Peter took the pictures under a National Endowment for the Arts grant between 1987 and 2004. His next show will be at Gallery Naga in February, 2011. For the show, he recently spent a month shooting images in Africa and China.
.
Posted in Friends, Photography | No Comments »
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
I thought two things while reading Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP newsletter this morning. Thank god I am not her assistant and love her style.
Those of us who follow the entertainment news and read In Style or People (the latter only comes into my hands during pedicures and dental visits) have read about celebrities customizing their trailers, travel “necessities”, and the fancy digs they book while on location. During the filming of “Love Don’t Let Me Down” (or “The Icon” I am not sure which is the current working title) “GP” opted for something a bit more extravagant. Rather than rent a furnished abode she opted to makeover a raw loft in the mixed-use LEED certified Gulch neighborhood of Nashville. Always the epitome of style it does not surprise me this is where she chose to stay, but again instead of gutting a space why not just find a nice place to rent and ship in her own bedding, artwork, espresso maker…? Well anyway she didn’t and instead she hired the talented Annette Joseph to convert a bright cool industrial space into a comfortable retreat for her family during shooting. In ten days with a crew of 30 craftsmen, bit of dry walling, painting, and range of accessories and appliances she accomplished something that could only spring from the Hollywood mindset. I will not lie, the results are gorgeous. My favorites the bathroom and kitchen!
Images from GOOP.
Posted in Films, Thoughts | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
For the most part I stay in Maine between the beginning of July and end of October as that just seems common sense considering how gorgeous the coast is then. June is often pretty nice as well, but I don’t mind going away for short trips especially when New York City is the destination.
In the city days will be spent working, so my thinking is take advantage of prized evenings. With any luck, and some clever dashing moves, I will get to a couple incredible sounding exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and American Museum of Natural History. Larry Gagosian’s spaces seem to be a highlight the city’s art scene as well with big-name artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Claude Monet. Check out The New York Times review on the latter. The Pablo Picasso show he had last summer was a great experience so my hopes are raised.
There is so much to do in the city, so unless something has a timeline on it I tend to make my way around the city in a rather casual manor indulging in food and wine along the way. Fortunately for those who only have limited time and funds to travel there exist ample websites with great suggestions for getaways. My standby is Orbitz.com, which offers itinerary suggestions, though I have only ever used it to get the cheapest airfare. Some day it might be rather fun to try out Luxurylink.com, which auctions off high-end trips at discounted prices. Think $3,800 (regular price $5,800) for a 7-night package for two to Cuscu, Peru with luxury hotels (equipped with oxygen supplementation systems), spa treatments, train passes, and meals (though I would probably skip some to try the local places).
Budget Travel has a neat little article on their website recommending the “5 best June values” in New York City. SummerStage Dance seems reason enough to head to the big apple.
National Geographic Traveler’s website is a terrific resource for researching destinations by type (family, wellness…). Their road trip suggestions are my favorite with Creole Country, Louisiana and Ghost Towns, Colorado (all that “Deadwood” watching) at the top of my list.
For the more adventurous Outside Magazine and Men’s Journal rock.
Girly girl Daily Candy and Lucky Magazine’s City Shopping Guide (can be hit or miss, definitely call ahead to see if a shop in an older post is still around).
Top photo Claude Monet “Nympheas” oil on canvas. Bottom photo of Hotel Monasterio on Luxurylink.com.
Posted in Midcoast Maine, Travel | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Congratulations to my friend Heather for her delicious honey being featured in the June issue of Country Living!! Her estate DayBreak Manor is one of the most beautiful and comforting places I have come to know during my time in Maine. The historic house overlooking Penobscot Bay is a local landmark and social scene with an annual apple cider pressing party. In addition to honey, the estate sells flowers at a local market, and provides ample eggs and vegetables for the dining table.
Posted in Friends, Midcoast Maine | No Comments »
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
As films go German director Philipp Stolzl’s mountain climbing thriller “North Face” is a pretty rough one to sit through, but then the subject matter is no walk in the park. The film is a fictional account of the infamous 1936 attempt by four German and Austrian mountaineers to scale the North Face (nicknamed “Death Wall”) of the Eiger (”Ogre” in German), in the Swiss Alps. The young men’s race against time and weather is commanding and frightening with brilliant performances and stunning scenery. My advice, watch this film while wrapped in a cozy blanket holding a cup of warm tea.
If you want to learn more about the mountain I recommend John Harlin III’s book The Eiger Obsession: Facing the Mountain that Killed My Father.
Posted in Books, Films | No Comments »
Friday, May 21st, 2010
I find Texas based Bryan Schutmaat’s photographs from his Western Frieze and Heartland portfolios sometimes haunting always gorgeous.
Posted in Photography | No Comments »
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Because I never tire of Paris, and am unable to return until next year…I had been missing the city and my best friend who lives there just a bit when I found these beautiful photos on Bakerby.
Posted in Travel | No Comments »
|
|
|
|
|
