Lux Lotus

London Journal

I had never been to London before I went on this trip, and honestly, I was only there for the day so I can't say I have much more than a superficial impression of the city (fussy, elegant, and a little precious in the best way), but I liked it. My friend Rob met me at the train station where I arrived via Eurostar from Paris and we took a lovely walk around and he had lots of fascinating things to say and point out on the way, including a charming little park that is the setting for his essay in the collection, Circle Line. After I gave that talk I mentioned at Penguin, I picked up a few books, including the new Dorian Gray edition that allows readers to design their own covers. Of course I wanted to see the Designer Classics in person but they are absolutely all gone, every one, and as I pointed out, that is, as they say in Alabama, a high-class problem.  Then we went to lunch at Axis, which was an excellent choice. From there, Rob walked me to Trafalgar Square and then pointed me in the direction of the National Gallery, where I didn't linger too long but did  admire the Madonna of the Pinks. I walked around for a couple of hours, making the obligatory stop at Topshop, where I almost burst into tears due to the sheer sensory overload but kept my cool long enough to buy a brilliant black wool cropped wrap jacket with bracelet-length sleeves that fastens with an oversized safety pin from the bottom floor concession of local designers (in this case, Sharei La'Mar). I continued strolling around and picked up a Jamelia CD, per Idolator's recommendation and then stopped for tea and a bite to eat before returning to Paris 'round midnight. It was all very grand.

Previously: Paris Journal.

De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté

Jenny Davidson of Light Reading inspires me -- as always -- by sharing two of her favorite poems. I only have one best-loved poem but it's a stunner that never fails to make my heart skip a beat. From East Window by W.S. Merwin, a $16 paperback I clearly remember saving up to buy in college (what little money I had went to: dog food, gas, cigarettes, coffee, books, toast at the diner, in that order). It's a translation, with Aijaz Ahmad, of a poem by Mirza Ghalib (1797 - 1869, Urdu).

Ghazal XXV

If it ever occurs to her to be kind to me
    she remembers how cruel she's been
    and it frightens her off

Her temper's as short as my tale of love is long
    much too long
    bores even the messenger

    and I despair
    and lose the thread of my own thoughts

    and can't bear to think of someone else
    setting eyes on her

Do you have a favorite poem? Do tell.

The Smart Set: 11.28 - 12.3

In this week's edition of The Smart Set for MaudNewton.com: twelve reasons that orange was the color of her dress.

{image: pablo picasso, at the lapin agile}

Paris Journal

I was exhausted when I left for Europe, which I vaguely noticed, but was clearly unaware of precisely how tired I actually was until I sat down in my seat on the plane in New York and passed out -- I woke up as we were landing in Paris. Accordingly, I spent my time in France chillaxing; catching up on sleep, discussing philosophy, psychology, fashion, culture, books (Taming the Beast is intoxicating; thanks to Michael at Cruelest Month for turning me on to it) and everything in-between, and sitting in cafes as much as possible. Some highlights:

Eating & Drinking: Cafe Pure, Cafe Charbon, Bofinger, Cafe de L'Industrie, The Blue Elephant.

Flaneuring: Jardin du Luxembourg, Place des Vosges, Ile Saint Louis.

Windowlicking: Zadig & Voltaire, Sonia Rykiel, Antoine & Lili, Cartier, Yves Saint Laurent.

Reading: Technikart Mademoiselle, Muze, Paris Elle, Les Inrocks 2: Gainsbourg Story.

Still to come: notes on Yves Klein: Corps, Couleur, Immateriel at Centre Pompidou, plus full reports on London and Antwerp (regular readers know I couldn't resist).

Mmmm... turkey

I don't care much about Thanksgiving but for those of you that do I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. More on what I've been up to in Europe when I return -- a taste: just got a divine Viktor & Rolf for H&M dress (p.s. passed on Roland Mouret for Gap in Paris; it's not so hot), Air France plays Nouvelle Vague on the plane, I can't stop reading A Spy in the House of Love. In the meantime: some notes on a talk I gave at Penguin UK in London on Monday (plus video - eek!).

Per Usual

Darling, if I told you what I've been up to lately, you simply would not believe it. Too, too busy for everything (but not too busy to quote half of P&P with Lizzie after a couple glasses of wine at Good World this weekend: Are you laughing at me? Are you... rejecting me?) , and tired of packing and unpacking, and god forbid -- parties, and a million commitments and calls daily and working like mad 24-7, and well, I need a break. I'm going to be leaving later this week for a short trip (mixing work and pleasure, naturellement) and Lux Lotus will return post-Thanksgiving after a brief holiday hiatus so that I may catch up on some crushing deadlines before I go. Meanwhile, got a line on what's doing in Paris, London and perhaps Berlin this month? Well by all means, dear, whisper in my ear.

{image source}

What's On

Reading: The Fashionable Mind by Kennedy Fraser
Watching: Pride & Prejudice
Humming: Shack, Shelley Brown
Viewing: Raha Raissnia, "Stele" at Miguel Abreu Gallery
Lingering: Les Enfants Terribles

Upcoming in New York

I have two events at the Strand coming up in the next few days, so do join us if you're in the neighborhood! (Tarralucci e Vino afterwards, for sure...)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9 -- Katharine Weber (katharineweber.com) reads from and signs TRIANGLE (FSG, 2006) at the Strand -- Esther Gottesfeld is the last living survivor of the notorious 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist fire and has told her story countless times in the span of her lifetime. Even so, her death at the age of 106 leaves unanswered many questions about what happened that fateful day. A brilliant, haunting novel about one of the most terrible tragedies in early twentieth-century America, TRIANGLE forces us to consider how we tell our stories, how we hear them, and how history is forged from unverifiable truths. "A marvel of ingenuity, bridging history and imagination, astonishing musical inventiveness and genuine social tragedy. It is a wide-awake novel as powerful as it is persuasive, probing and capturing human verities." — Cynthia Ozick. Strand Books is located on Broadway at 12th Street. 7PM, FREE.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 -- Green Apple Talk #1: Eating Green explores the common ground between eating for pleasure and eating politics. How are consumers changing the way they eat, and what impact do those trends really have on the environment? Can people - individually, and as a society - really be healthier? Join us at the Strand for a sure to be lively panel discussion with Tim Fitzgerald of Environmental Defense, who will discuss the Oceans Program on conservation and human health issues related to the U.S. seafood market as well as projects to improve aquaculture and develop meaningful organic standards for fish; Organic, Inc: Natural Foods and How They Grew author Samuel Fromartz; and Makalé Faber of Slow Food USA, the American branch of a global movement with over 80,000 members who recognize that the enjoyment of wholesome food is essential to the pursuit of happiness. Moderated by award-winning journalist Bryan Keefer. Strand Books is located on Broadway at 12th Street. 7PM, FREE.

The Smart Set: November 6 - 12

In this week's edition of The Smart Set for MaudNewton.com: eight chances to take the stairs.

{image source}

My Life in Pictures: Icebox de Lux

I moved to a new apartment on Wednesday (not far, but still...) and so find myself a little deluged at the mo'. There's unpacking, a million things + people to update (but need 'net @ home first), project deadlines to meet, et al. But it's all good. My place is great. Pictured: the contents of the fridge -- 3 containers of yogurt, 2 kiwis, a bottle of champagne and a quartet of fragrances. Back after the weekend, doves. XX.