The memo I got talked of record high unemployment, a major increase in food stamps issued and other dire matters.
The one Architectural Diogest got must have read, "Spend! Spend! and feverishly!"
From their pages, a few of the things millionaires may find necessary to cosset themselves...
Books for a long winter's night, the reader curled in front of a blazing fire in the Hamptons house- Barbara Barry, Around Beauty, $65 A decorator details the things that inspire her such as a Mexican fig tree in a courtyard. The Summer Palaces of the Romanovs: Treasures from Tsarskoye Selo, $100. A look at every-day items such as a mother-of-pearl sewing kit, an amber shaving set. The Iconic Interior: Private Spaces of Leading Artists, Architects and Designers, $65 A look at 100 of the most celebrated dwellings of the 20th and 21st century.
The new Series II Rolls Royce Phantom has a 360-degree camera system among other goodies. The interior leathers and woods can be custom designed. Starting at $400,000.
Need a pied-a-terre in Manhattan? Here's a duplex on the roof of a converted Tribeca factory. It has 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, covers 7,500 sq. ft. with a 4,500 sq.ft. terrace for $48 million.
The last page of the magazine is always "Exchange Rate," a listing of what things sold for in recent auctions. Of note, every single objet d'arte sold for ABOVE the listed price in September. "A flock of four ever-hip Lalanne sheep sculptures, dated 1996-99, breezed past its $500,000 estimate to bring $620000."
See for yourself at archdigest.com Special this month! visit celebrity closets! archdigest.com/go/closets.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Madcap or Clinically Insane? You Be the Judge!
As I have aged, I have discovered a new facet of the diamond that is my personality (I don't need to tell you that I'm joking, right?) and it is this: a part of my brain that I never knew existed will pop into a conversation uninvited and add a comment that I never would have thought of all by myself.
Example: A woman I didn't know very well and I were having a business lunch in a restaurant. The waitress noticed that I didn't have a place setting and scurried to bring me a napkin, knife and fork.
I gravely handed the knife back to her, handle first, and said, sadly, "I'm not allowed these."
The look on her face was priceless and my luncheon companion edged her chair away from the table a little bit.
Admittedly I've done things like this in the past, but those were planned. I had a client named Danny Ashcraft, an off-road racer, who ran a successful business down in Carlsbad. We had to communicate frequently during racing season, but he had a secretary who always asked, "May I tell him who is calling?" (despite the frequent number of times she'd heard my voice.
So I took to making up occupations. "Certainly -- I'm his parole officer" was one; another was "Certainly - I'm his spiritual guru" to which she asked, "What's a guru?" beating me at my own game.
Most recently, I had another attack (?) in France. The wedding party was gathered on the ramparts of an old fort with a dynamite view of the Old Port. It was a balmy evening, the drinks table was laden, the appetizers were abundant. I was visiting with a trio that consisted of an old man, his middle-aged son and his wife.
The Old Man had worked for IBM in San Francisco and waxed nostalgic about it and San Diego where he'd done a stint. I explained that we lived in Los Angeles County, in a little town called "Redondo Beach." Noting their blank expressions, I added, "We're 20 minutes south of LAX."
"Ah, ah!" recognition. One asked, "What do you do there?"
I looked around rather furtively, hunched my shoulders and leaned toward them. "We're in France -- I guess it's okay to tell you -- my husband and I rob banks - so being close to the airport is a real advantage."
Nanosecond - and they roared.
Example: A woman I didn't know very well and I were having a business lunch in a restaurant. The waitress noticed that I didn't have a place setting and scurried to bring me a napkin, knife and fork.
I gravely handed the knife back to her, handle first, and said, sadly, "I'm not allowed these."
The look on her face was priceless and my luncheon companion edged her chair away from the table a little bit.
Admittedly I've done things like this in the past, but those were planned. I had a client named Danny Ashcraft, an off-road racer, who ran a successful business down in Carlsbad. We had to communicate frequently during racing season, but he had a secretary who always asked, "May I tell him who is calling?" (despite the frequent number of times she'd heard my voice.
So I took to making up occupations. "Certainly -- I'm his parole officer" was one; another was "Certainly - I'm his spiritual guru" to which she asked, "What's a guru?" beating me at my own game.
Most recently, I had another attack (?) in France. The wedding party was gathered on the ramparts of an old fort with a dynamite view of the Old Port. It was a balmy evening, the drinks table was laden, the appetizers were abundant. I was visiting with a trio that consisted of an old man, his middle-aged son and his wife.
The Old Man had worked for IBM in San Francisco and waxed nostalgic about it and San Diego where he'd done a stint. I explained that we lived in Los Angeles County, in a little town called "Redondo Beach." Noting their blank expressions, I added, "We're 20 minutes south of LAX."
"Ah, ah!" recognition. One asked, "What do you do there?"
I looked around rather furtively, hunched my shoulders and leaned toward them. "We're in France -- I guess it's okay to tell you -- my husband and I rob banks - so being close to the airport is a real advantage."
Nanosecond - and they roared.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Adding "Snap"
"Snap" in this instance meaning that little exta you put into "company food" - like a handful of popcorn tossed across a serving of tomato soup or a few sprigs of cilantro arranged like a bouquet across one side of the guacamole..It just means that little extra that makes it visually or tastefully "better."
Unfortunately, it's not a Good Example addressing you here. I have come across recipes for Parmesan Crisps at least three times, always remarking on how good they look, how easy they are to make. And have never actually stirred my stumps, waddled into the kitchen and made some.
But in the new Food & Wines 2012 cookbook (foodandwine.com) page 16 made me jump back. It was a photo of Parmesan Crisps looking reproachfully up from the page. As in "How come you don't like us? We're good, we're easy to make ..."
PARMESAN TUILES (Tiles)
6 T freshly-grated Pamegiano-Reggiano cheese
1 1/2 T sweet butter, softened
1 T plus 2 teas. all-purpose flour
Preheat the oven to 400, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Make the dough, roll it into a tube (any thickness you want) and then cut slices and put them on the parchment paper, kind of flattening them on it.
Put the pan on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 3 1/2 minutes, then turn the pan and bake another 3 1/2 minutes.
They'd be an excellent appetizer with drinks. If you're thinking ahead to edible, home-made (a phrase not used much around here) Christmas gifts, these will keep in an air-tight can for a week.
Unfortunately, it's not a Good Example addressing you here. I have come across recipes for Parmesan Crisps at least three times, always remarking on how good they look, how easy they are to make. And have never actually stirred my stumps, waddled into the kitchen and made some.
But in the new Food & Wines 2012 cookbook (foodandwine.com) page 16 made me jump back. It was a photo of Parmesan Crisps looking reproachfully up from the page. As in "How come you don't like us? We're good, we're easy to make ..."
PARMESAN TUILES (Tiles)
6 T freshly-grated Pamegiano-Reggiano cheese
1 1/2 T sweet butter, softened
1 T plus 2 teas. all-purpose flour
Preheat the oven to 400, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Make the dough, roll it into a tube (any thickness you want) and then cut slices and put them on the parchment paper, kind of flattening them on it.
Put the pan on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 3 1/2 minutes, then turn the pan and bake another 3 1/2 minutes.
They'd be an excellent appetizer with drinks. If you're thinking ahead to edible, home-made (a phrase not used much around here) Christmas gifts, these will keep in an air-tight can for a week.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
9-11 Never Forget, Never Forgive
This thought popped into my mind this morning. During WW2, the Germans viciously attacked England and France. Today, more than 60 years later, France and England seem to have forgotten all about the Boches/Huns who so brutally set upon them. Not me.
My thoughts today go to the survivors of 9-11. The dead are gone; there is nothing we can do about that.
It's the living that should be in our thoughts -- the mother of the child that didn't come home; the wives of fire fighters and police who vanished, literally. The father whose pretty little daughter was working her first job after graduating college.
Everyday people thrust irrevocably into a holocaust of tumbling pieces of massive buildings, blinding smoke, destruction and death. I cannot imagine what the rememberances done on this day are doing to them. They will never forget; neither we nor history should either.
It's easy for me -- I still think of "Germans" as"Nazis" and that was 60 years ago and counting!
My thoughts today go to the survivors of 9-11. The dead are gone; there is nothing we can do about that.
It's the living that should be in our thoughts -- the mother of the child that didn't come home; the wives of fire fighters and police who vanished, literally. The father whose pretty little daughter was working her first job after graduating college.
Everyday people thrust irrevocably into a holocaust of tumbling pieces of massive buildings, blinding smoke, destruction and death. I cannot imagine what the rememberances done on this day are doing to them. They will never forget; neither we nor history should either.
It's easy for me -- I still think of "Germans" as"Nazis" and that was 60 years ago and counting!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Fifty Years of Fine Music
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| Noodling around while waiting for the doors to open |
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| An eager crowd |
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| The parasol parade |
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| The Yankee fan brought his car |
Sunday, September 9, 2012
A Sin of Omission Fixed
Many older Americans have been conditioned to think of France (when or if they even do) as: Good food! Couture fashion! Perfumes! I covered food, fashion in that the women can't choose decent shoes or hide their bra straps... Perfume never came up in our travels.
But I forgot one of the biggies -- wine! Probably because California vintages have been very good and extremely affordable.
This one is for my nephew, a certified, professional sommelier, and our good friend "D" who greatly appreciates wines and is an amateur sommelier.
These are the wines served on Air France, BusinessZ class both ways. They're listed by region. I listed them word-for-word because the authorities know more than I ever will about wine -- and I am exceptionally lazy. In professional circles this is called "laundry list writing."
CHAMPAGNE - Nicolas Feuilatte Brut Chardonney 2005
This impessive cooperative, founded by Nicolas Feuillatte in 1976 benefits from the high quality and high volume of the appellation. Today it is the largest producers' union (over 5,000 strong) and is the third-largest producer of champagne.
This pure chardonney wine, cellar-aged for six years, offers a bouquet of white flowers and citrus. It makes a refreshing aperitif with a light, creamy bubble.
LANGUEDOC Blanc - Limoux Terroir Oceanique 2008 Caves Sieur d'Arques
To the south of Carcasson, this vineyard, praised by the historian Livy, is the site of the world's oldest sparkling wine (1531.) Limoux is an unlikely location, tucked between hills that edge the upper Aude Valley; however, it brings us gentle chardonnay wines raised in four distinct zones.
The "terroir oceanique," located to the west, is swept by Atlantic winds, resulting in a remarkable fatty (fatty) wine with a fine harmony of flavor.
BOURGOGNE Rouge - Cote-de-Beaume-Villages 2008 Joseph Drouhin
Producer Joseph Drouhin owns vineyards in Chablis (the original home of the company) as well as the Cote d'Or and the Cote Chalonnaise. Renowned for its Clos des Mouches, (translates as caged flies) this winemaker also does a fine job with village appellations such as this light and elegant pinot noir.
This wine, the product of grapes selected from among the finest village terroirs of the area, is cask-aged, with very little new wood. It offers elegant notes of fruit.
BORDEAUX Rouge - Haut-Medoc Chateau de Villambis 2008 Cru Bourgeois
West of the junction between the Pauillac and Saint-Estephe vineyards lies the Cissac-Medoc vineyards, which shares their limestone gravel soils. The Chateau de Villambis benefits from this favorable location, producing a mellow wine composed mainly of Merlot (55%.)
This producer is unusual in that it employs about 100 mentally-handicapped workers as part of their program of social integration.
My own wine tasting? In Provence, icy-cold rose is the tipple of the season. And I did my share toward keeping the vineyards in business.
But I forgot one of the biggies -- wine! Probably because California vintages have been very good and extremely affordable.
This one is for my nephew, a certified, professional sommelier, and our good friend "D" who greatly appreciates wines and is an amateur sommelier.
These are the wines served on Air France, BusinessZ class both ways. They're listed by region. I listed them word-for-word because the authorities know more than I ever will about wine -- and I am exceptionally lazy. In professional circles this is called "laundry list writing."
CHAMPAGNE - Nicolas Feuilatte Brut Chardonney 2005
This impessive cooperative, founded by Nicolas Feuillatte in 1976 benefits from the high quality and high volume of the appellation. Today it is the largest producers' union (over 5,000 strong) and is the third-largest producer of champagne.
This pure chardonney wine, cellar-aged for six years, offers a bouquet of white flowers and citrus. It makes a refreshing aperitif with a light, creamy bubble.
LANGUEDOC Blanc - Limoux Terroir Oceanique 2008 Caves Sieur d'Arques
To the south of Carcasson, this vineyard, praised by the historian Livy, is the site of the world's oldest sparkling wine (1531.) Limoux is an unlikely location, tucked between hills that edge the upper Aude Valley; however, it brings us gentle chardonnay wines raised in four distinct zones.
The "terroir oceanique," located to the west, is swept by Atlantic winds, resulting in a remarkable fatty (fatty) wine with a fine harmony of flavor.
BOURGOGNE Rouge - Cote-de-Beaume-Villages 2008 Joseph Drouhin
Producer Joseph Drouhin owns vineyards in Chablis (the original home of the company) as well as the Cote d'Or and the Cote Chalonnaise. Renowned for its Clos des Mouches, (translates as caged flies) this winemaker also does a fine job with village appellations such as this light and elegant pinot noir.
This wine, the product of grapes selected from among the finest village terroirs of the area, is cask-aged, with very little new wood. It offers elegant notes of fruit.
BORDEAUX Rouge - Haut-Medoc Chateau de Villambis 2008 Cru Bourgeois
West of the junction between the Pauillac and Saint-Estephe vineyards lies the Cissac-Medoc vineyards, which shares their limestone gravel soils. The Chateau de Villambis benefits from this favorable location, producing a mellow wine composed mainly of Merlot (55%.)
This producer is unusual in that it employs about 100 mentally-handicapped workers as part of their program of social integration.
My own wine tasting? In Provence, icy-cold rose is the tipple of the season. And I did my share toward keeping the vineyards in business.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
People....
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| Counting the profits |
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| A celebratory lunch |
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The locals' bar, Bouc-Bel-Air |
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