Lux Lotus

Tonight: "Upstairs at the Square"

Tonight, Bill Clegg, author of the new memoir Ninety Days, a sequel to his Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man, which one reviewer described as "a stylish record of his swan dive to rock bottom," joins us Upstairs at the Square with Rachael Yamagata -- join us to find out why she's only the second guest to be invited back in six years -- and host Katherine Lanpher for an evening of performance and discussion at the Union Square Barnes & Noble. Showtime is 7pm sharp, and it's free.

What to Wear to Employees Only?

I'm looking forward to seeing friends later, like Tiombe Lockhart, who released her divine Augustus and Me on Valentine's Day.

My Life in Pictures: Monday Afternoon

What I wear to talk about the future: a very full skirt.

My Spring Publicity Projects (3 Stellar Reads)

This afternoon, I'll speak to Chinese publishing executives at Pace University about publicity. Over the weekend, NPR featured Narcopolis, by Jeet Thayil, a stunning debut novel (from an accomplished poet and musician) that I'm delighted to help the Penguin Press publicize, out this week. Another new book on my list is Dallas Hudgens' story collection, Wake Up, We're Here. I was very involved in the publication process, and even wrote the jacket copy. That one is special, and was just featured in the Telegraph's Short Story Club. Tayari Jones, whose Silver Sparrow is newly in paperback, gives her first public reading of her novel-in-progress, Dear History, today. While I wish I could be there, I feel very lucky to have received a preview on Skype last night. If you're in New York Thursday, join us for "Upstairs at the Square" with Bill Clegg, author of Ninety Days, and singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata, 7pm sharp at Union Square B&N, and free.

On Tributes

My mother is in town for the weekend, for just one night, and so she was allowed to choose the guests for dinner. She requested Sally Cohen, vintage clothing dealer and stylist, and George and Raf, of Estate Jewels fame. Of course, it was fully enchanting, and they brought gifts–– I type this in delighted possession of a red silk kimono and gold scimitar earrings. George, who shares a birthday with me, June 7, waltzed me down the long hallway as he sang "They Can't Take That Away From Me," and I filled in lines. Soon after, I was relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine, when my mother nudged me, after a night of joyful entertainment during which I told everyone it's all for her: "Darling, go and post on Lux Lotus so they have something nice when they get home."

What to Wear to Breakfast at Balthazar?

The eternal question.

On Elsewhere

I have learned about ninety-seven lessons about publicly disclosing details of my personal life on the internet this year, and so lately I have expressed my enthusiasms most vividly at Pinterest, where I can just put up assemblages of pretty pictures, noted without comment. My favorite is "Birthday," loosely inspired by the possibility that for the first time as an adult, I may go on a vacation during which I do not intend to do any work. 

On Home

Every place I've lived has had a radically different vibe, but this is the first one I've referred to as "home," casually in conversation or otherwise. Pictured: the view from my desk this morning. Divine.

On Merriment

Photo: The New York Times.

I love having friends over for dinner. Tonight's guest is Elizabeth Claire Taylor, who needs tips for London before she leaves on Friday. The first time we dined, at a chic hotel a couple doors down from my place last summer, both in full-length dresses, very done, she said, But when will we get dressed up and go out? 

How to Delight Me

Those rings I ordered? I'd've waited years, with no expectations. This morning's message: they're done; the designer was inspired.