I was up until 2am writing press releases, so I kind of need a nap before my afternoon calls start in earnest but the events of my day thus far have been too delightful not to mention. I had a tough time getting started around 9 (what do people do then? Now I know: knock things over looking for sunglasses, try on six different dresses while caterwauling an Amy Winehouse/Smiths medley, mist an aura of "Mandragore" in the hopes that enlivening the senses has a stimulant-like effect, fuss over orchids -- you'd think I have a moon garden considering how late in the evening I usually tend to my darlings, and make a note to put a car service on speed dial). All that aside, I met Jen Bekman and Amy Ross at Balthazar for breakfast, where I do remember in between gulps of latte saying, "I think I'll go to Paris. I like it here," and, "When I have a house in Belgravia, I'll have this delivered." Then, a little later on, I went slightly uptown to meet Jeffrey Frank at Union Square Cafe for a most charming lunch to recap the publicity campaign we did for his new novel, Trudy Hopedale. We also discussed: Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Antwerp, Ithaca and revelled in the fact that we are both inveterate eavesdroppers. Lately people ask me more and more if I'll stay in New York, and I'm starting to see why. When we left we ran into FSG's Jeff Seroy having lunch, which of course made my day even more, as if such a thing were even possible. My lucky streak continued in the square proper, where I spotted publishing's best-looking new power couple, noted flaneur Andy Heidel of Houghton Mifflin and Sarah Reidy of Soho Press. We gossiped, of course; we're publicists. Now I'm home, to lie down for a moment or two or a whole half hour would be nice (even knowing that I won't as I type it, because I am a bad napper) before I turn my attention to this for the rest of the day/night. Oh also today, I think I found a perfect housesitter and facilitated an introduction between two admirers and their heroine. How I hope that happens! And I got a note in my mailbox from the post office about receiving a print (1st in the series, baby!) in the mail, but I missed the post today. Sigh. I was busy. Still am. But I wouldn't change a thing.
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Entries from September 2007
The Omaha Report: Part 3 of 5
I spent last weekend at the (Downtown) Omaha Lit Fest, and will be writing about my trip all week.
Author Dallas Hudgens, who is one of my publicity clients, and me [credit].
We discuss "Women Writers on the Edge" [credit]. The expression on my face suggests that I am saying something idiotic, but it was prolly funny .
Happy Hour
Saturday night, I was home, lazing around and blogging (bo-ring!) and getting ready for bed when a friend called and asked if I'd like to go for a nightcap and we settled on the bar across the street from my house which was delightful because I got to lean out the window like Rapunzel and call that I was coming right down when he pulled up in a cab. We remarked on the meticulously quotidian ambiance and talked about appealing destinations (I like the sound of: The Lodge, Summerhouse in Scotland and The Stephen's Green Hibernian Club in Dublin; he likes the sound of places I would never go, which is fine by me) then they played Cheap Trick and it was great (I used to loathe that bar and complain about the noise but then one night I went in there after a disappointing date, long ago, and it was just me and the bartender and the bouncer and they were like, Why are you so dressed up? Here? And I explained why and they said, Lucky for us! and we all split a box of Charleston Chews and discussed whether or not Bogotá is ready for tourism. So now I don't mind; well, I've become more zen). And then when we left, we ran into my favorite ex-boyfriend which was funny as it was totally coincidental because we live on the same street and so we went to the bodega that sells all the international fashion magazines and he bought me this beautiful one called Velvet and I got some Ito En Darjeeling and now I am home and getting ready for bed for real this time but the last two hours were so unexpected and fun that I wonder if I am already dreaming. Goodnight!
On the Last Day of Summer...
Late this afternoon, despite every single moment being committed, sometimes twice over, I let myself be persuaded by an old friend (with an unassailable desire to play hooky from the office) to knock off at the last possible minute and take a car to the Brooklyn Museum of Art to view the "Brushed with Light: American Landscape Watercolors from the Collection" exhibition. After that, we checked out the permanent collection, especially the Decorative Arts/Rooms holdings which are my passion. Oh, to spend an afternoon in the Worgelt Study! From there, we strolled through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and really did go slow and smell the roses. In the soft breeze, approaching twilight, it reminded me so much of Paris on a sweeter scale, with a grace note of my favorite parks like Place des Vosges, Jardin des Plantes, and Jardin du Luxembourg near the statue of Verlaine. Despite growing up in a leafy East Coast suburb, I have never seen roses allowed to flourish quite like that, all wild and viney and unfettered. Their dyed deli cousins certainly pale in comparison. We then walked through a "very Capote" neighborhood on the park, and talked about all the enchanting and imaginative things we have yet to do in our respective lives. Soon after, we stumbled on Rose Water, and lingered over the five-course tasting menu with complementary wines from New Mexico, Languedoc, Alsace, Campagna, Australia and Ruby and Tawny port with dessert, while someone's old jazz record echoed from an open door in the distance. I'm off to bed now, to sleep like a baby, and grateful to be reminded how lovely life can be. A bientot, doves. With so much work to do, I'll be back after the weekend. Enjoy yourselves. XX.
Windowlicker
The perfect clash of prim restraint and devil-may-care déshabillé, this romantic accessory is so sweetly charming that it's almost improper.
[Lanvin Fabric & Pearl Necklace, $885 at Barneys]
Windowlicker - from the French for window shopping: faire du lèche-vitrine - appears on Tuesday and Thursdays at 10am EST-ish.
Eye Candy: Life on Fabulon
Reading Fabulon daily lately, I've reached two conclusions: 1) It's rare and refreshing to encounter someone who shares the aesthetic values of your inner world, and 2) Maison de Lux is not nearly rococo enough.