Back in Action
29/08/2011 § 5 Comments
NYC Subway, 1952. Taken by Cornell Capa.
Well darlings, I am happy to report that all is well and that I was able to return to my apartment yesterday evening and even enjoyed a celebratory dinner at neighborhood standby The Odeon. All in all, for a first hurricane, I am glad to report that Irene was something of a letdown, but I’m very happy to take over-preparedness and preemptive measures over disasters and tragedy. My building took on a bit of water in her basement, but that was all. This morning I was able to hop on a very uncrowded 4 train to get to work, and Starbucks even spelled my name right. All in all, business as usual. Well, maybe not the part about Starbucks spelling my name right…
Things that were awesome about the Hurricane Irene weekend included:
- Getting invited to a very special hurricane party
- Running into this guy at Duane Reade
- My Mom suggesting we play Words With Friends, so she knew I was alive
- Hilarious hurricane banter with Jodi, Ted and Bryan
- The Muffins Cafe amazingly staying open late on Saturday and opening up early Sunday, with lines out the door both days
- My building staff toughing it out through the evacuation, with some of them staying from Friday night to Sunday afternoon
- Convincing the hurricane party (no, not the one I mentioned above, thank you, a different one.) I attended on Saturday night to watch Auntie Mame in its fabulous entirety
Great moments, all, but the absolute best part of the weekend
was hearing from everyone concerned for my well-being.
I remain very touched. You guys are awesome.
All best,
M.
…and now we return to our regularly scheduled discussion of all the random things I tend to discuss.
Come On Irene…
26/08/2011 § 3 Comments
Hurricane Donna, New England, 1960.
You’ve probably heard that New York is expecting Hurricane Irene to touch down sometime this weekend and generally wreak havoc. My gorgeous landmarked building, standing since 1908 and a 9/11 survivor, sits in a low-lying area of lower Manhattan and I have been ordered to evacuate. In an unprecedented move, all public transit will be shut down Saturday at noon and is not expected to come back online until sometime Monday…AND THEY HAVE CLOSED SAKS FIFTH AVENUE!
As this is my first ever hurricane, I’m not quite sure what to expect, but I am decamping from my downtown perch for points further north to batten down the hatches and ride this bad bitch out. I do believe that’s the first time I’ve ever cussed on here. Irene, stop playing with my emotions! You’ve got me all worked up!
Please do your best to stay safe this weekend.
I’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, I assure you.
All bests,
M.
Some helpful links (I’ve been obsessively checking):
NYC Office of Emergency Management Evacuation Zone Finder
National Weather Service
Downtown Alliance – Lower Manhattan
Red Cross Go Bag Checklist
In any event, this is your theme song for the weekend:
I know, I KNOW, it’s Eileen…
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Down the Rabbit Hole: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information
23/08/2011 § Leave a comment
Granted, I tend to feature a lot of sepia and black and white photography, due only to my personal preference. (This is my own little dictatorship, after all…) But every now and again, I do come across color photographs that I like just as much. In my recent travels through the Library of Congress I found a cache of photos that had my attention for hours.
Photographers working for the U.S. government’s Farm Security Administration (FSA) and later the Office of War Information (OWI) between 1939 and 1944 made approximately 1,600 color photographs that depict life in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Roy Stryker led the FSA unit during its active years and played a key role in the OWI unit in 1942-43.
The 644 color photographs produced by the FSA are less well known and far less extensive than the unit’s black-and-white photographs. Most of the color images are 35mm Kodachrome slides; a few are color transparencies in sizes up to 4×5-inches. The FSA color photographs depict life in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with a focus on rural areas and farm labor.
The 965 color photographs from the OWI are color transparencies in sizes up to 4×5-inches. The photographs depicted life and culture in the U.S., with a focus on factories and women employees, railroads, aviation training, and other aspects of World War II mobilization. (Via the Library of Congress)
Now, these photos aren’t new to Blogville, but I was entranced and still wanted to share a few with you. The people are arresting and the landscapes are beautiful, especially when presented in lush, Kodachrome color. How can you not look at these pictures and wonder about these American lives, lived 70 years ago. Why are they wearing what they are wearing? Where did they come from? Where did they end up?
If you’d like to do your own wandering through all 1,600, you can find them here.
Style Icons: Gloria Vanderbilt and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney
22/08/2011 § 8 Comments
While the Vanderbilt men are infinitely fascinating and iconic, I can’t help but to also be strongly drawn to the Vanderbilt women. Here I present the two I am most obsessed with, Gloria Vanderbilt, and her aunt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney: two amazing women who always seek (in the case of Gloria) and sought (in the case of Gertrude) their own path. If you have not yet picked up The World of Gloria Vanderbilt by Wendy Goodman, I urge you to do so. Looking at the book’s pictures of the Vanderbilts and the fabulous homes they lived in is a frequent pleasure of mine.
Gloria Vanderbilt is many things: an heiress, a painter, an actor, a muse, a designer, a model, a writer, an entrepreneur, a survivor, an icon. She brought the Vanderbilt name out of the Gilded Age and into the Digital Age, reinventing herself over and over along the way.
From: The World of Gloria Vanderbilt by Wendy Goodman
With her mother, Gloria Morgan, and governess. Gloria’s mother lost custody of her in 1934, after a scandalous trial. Gloria’s paternal aunt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney was awarded custody.
With aunt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and cousin Henry Payne Whitney.
With aunt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.
Love the trunks...
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney “…was a formidable , complex woman who had emerged from her own trials within the gilded cage of her family and marriage to Harry Payne Whitney…Harry Payne Whitney was the perfect, dashing millionaire match for a Vanderbilt heiress…But Gertrude discovered early on that unless she made her own life, she would suffer the same fate as so many heiress wives whose husbands found their fun and passion outside of the marriage. Thus she cultivated a life in the arts, both as a patron and a sculptor. She founded the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1931, after the Metropolitan Museum of Art turned down her offer of seven hundred American paintings from her collection in 1929.”
From: The World of Gloria Vanderbilt by Wendy Goodman
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, painted by Robert Henri, 1916
Gloria remembers Gertrude as “tall and extremely thin and [having] exquisite taste in the way she presented herself. At Old Westbury she would wear variations of the same look — beautifully cut English slacks with tailored silk shirts, several ropes of pearls and hats (in the house) made of tweed and a jaunty feather tucked in. It was considered eccentric in 1932 for a woman to wear pants, and the first time I met her at Old Westbury I was quite startled, never having seen a woman in pants before.”
From: The World of Gloria Vanderbilt by Wendy Goodman
Fifteen year-old Gloria appearing in Harper’s Bazaar for the first time in 1940, at the request of then fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who met Gloria at Gertrude’s home at Old Westbury.
With third husband Sidney Lumet.
With Salvador Dali.
With Lumet.
With fourth husband Wyatt Cooper.
With sons Carter and Anderson Cooper.
The Aviation Cocktail
19/08/2011 § 4 Comments
One of my favorite drinks is the Aviation, a classic, pre-prohibition era, gin-based cocktail. I’d say it is a perfect summer cocktail, owing to its sky blue color and crisp tartness…but I enjoy the hell out of it the other three seasons of the year as well. To make the Aviation, you’ll need:
- 2 ounces gin
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 ounce of crème de violette
- 2 dashes of maraschino liqueur
Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake well and then strain into a cocktail glass. Some bartenders will garnish the drink with a twist or a cherry, but I prefer mine without.
The crème de violette, a violet flower based-liqueur, will be the ingredient hardest to find. It’s not exactly rare, but it did take me a few tries to find a shop in Manhattan that had it. Also, make sure you’re purchasing actual crème de violette. Rothman’s is the standard. There are other “violet” liqueurs, like Parfait d’Amour, but they have an entirely different taste. (Sidenote: There is some debate about the inclusion of Crème de Violette, as the recipe that appeared in the first edition of the Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) mistakenly omitted it, and decades of bartenders have poured the drink without it. I prefer mine pre-prohibition style.)
I use Brooklyn Gin for my Aviations, due to its smoothness and how its citrus notes compliment the liqueurs, but also because the gents behind the tiny distillery are personal friends. The handsome bottle also pretties up a bar quite nicely, no? Look for Brooklyn Gin at select bars and liquor stores around New York.
LIFE Archives: Rainy Days
15/08/2011 § Leave a comment
Jackie and Caroline
Princess Lee Radziwill and Tina
Summer on the Cape
Perdue homecoming game, 1961
Fotos: Portsmouth and Points Beyond
07/08/2011 § 2 Comments
Moments from my New England weekend.
Shirt via G1 Goods // Shorts // Moccasins // Ray-Bans // Tote
“Ah, summer – what power you have to make us suffer and like it.”
Russell Baker
Dree Hemingway for Margaret Howell Fall 2011
05/08/2011 § 2 Comments
Noted that there has been quite a bit of Dree Hemingway on the blog lately…decided I was okay with that…especially when she’s modelling for one of my favorite designers…and looks this dapper.
Her eyes are amazing, are they not?
I really want a hat like this. Like really, really, really want a hat like this. Do we think Margaret Howell also made the hat, or it was gotten elsewhere? Please interwebs, reveal the answer to me…
Images via FGR.
Shortlist #1
05/08/2011 § 1 Comment
I have to admit that I didn’t come up with the idea for this post on my own. I frequently notice that there are little things in my life that may not warrant an extended discussion on here, but I’m momentarily all about them, nonetheless. Inspired by Jessica and her “A Few Things I Love,” Diana and her “Things I Like Right Now,” and Lani and her “Currently Obsessing,” I give you my inaugural Shortlist:
Giles & Brother Hook Cuff: While I like the railroad tie bracelets by G&B, I really love the dainty feel of this cuff.
Sketching pencils and eraser: Spending a lot of time sketching and painting lately. (Fun fact: The only person that gets more excited than I do when I get new art supplies is my Mom. Isn’t she sweet?)
Big Apple Red by OPI: The most perfect red ever, hands down.
My vintage Torcan fan: Picked this up from a lovely seller on Etsy. While I still aspire to own a GE fan like the one my grandparents had, this one is a darling little member of the household. Don’t let the size fool you, though. It’s so powerful I have to make sure I secure it before turning it on!
“Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bull-fighters.” The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. Picked this up on the recommendation of Cooper. Loving it.
A photo I picked up recently: How precious is his outfit? I kind of wish he was actually wearing the hat… Added bonus, the back of the picture is almost as interesting as the front.
“If you have beauty, come, we’ll take it,
if you have none, come, we’ll make it”
Ask Me Anything: Curl Tamer
04/08/2011 § 2 Comments
If there’s anything I might be able to help you with, drop me a line: contact@quitecontinental.net
Yours Truly. My specialties are curly hair and mischievous looks.
Hi Mariah,
I noticed you’ve got curly hair, just like me. I was wondering what products you use?
Over the years, I’ve gone through a number of phases in my relationship with my hair. (I blogged about it a few months ago, if you’d like to read it. It’s a bit wordy, so consider yourself forewarned…) But yes, my hair is definitely curly and rather full. I had a Brazillian Blowout back in the winter, which rendered my hair completely — amazingly! — straight. I loved it and completely recommend it for curly girls who want wash and wear straight hair for a couple of months. It gradually has worn off and this summer I am rediscovering my love for my curls. You can see the current state of my locks above.
Everyone’s hair is a bit of a puzzle/middle school science fair project. You’ve got to experiment until you find what works for you, but here are some of my tips for taming curly hair:
- Never ever EVER brush your curls…unless you want to look like a poodle. Curly hair should be combed through when soaking wet, and left to its own devices after that. I only use my fingers to style my hair after it is dry.
- Curly hair is thirsty. After you think you’ve put in enough product, add more. And don’t be afraid to double or triple up on your products. At present, I’m working with three or four to get the curls you see above. In the shower, be sure to use a good conditioner, as dry hair invites frizz. Lastly, unless you have super oily hair/scalp, don’t wash it every day. Try going a few days. If you absolutely can’t go without washing your hair, try merely rinsing and lightly conditioning it.
- Air drying is always best.
- Lastly, find a stylist who understands curly hair. In New York, I go to Angela Soto at the Whittemore House Salon in Greenwich Village, and I **highly** recommend her. She’s amazing.
Secret summer weapons.
So what’s on my hair right now? The two products you see above have been a godsend to me this summer: Je Veux Argan Oil and SACHAJUAN Ocean Mist. Both were recommended to me by Angela, and can be purchased at the Whittemore House, if you’re so inclined. I especially like the Je Veux because it conditions my hair without weighing it down — a problem I had when I tried using pure argan oil. The Ocean Mist does an excellent job of defining my curls, especially in the morning after I’ve slept on them. I’ve also heard good things about Fekkai Beach Waves and Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray.
My summer regimen is as follows:
- Wash, comb through a deep conditioner (the only time I comb my hair), wrap hair in towel to wring out excess moisture
- Apply generous amount of Je Veux Argan Oil, evenly spritz SACHAJUAN Ocean Mist, scrunch
- Air dry. Once dry, finish off with a bit of hairspray. I love Elnett.
Hope that helps. Do let me know how it goes for you!
**Sidenote** It seems like argan oil is everywhere lately, and I didn’t have the faintest where it came from, so I asked Tara Cole, holistic health and nutrition coach (and good friend/partner in crime) to explain:
“I am always on the search to uncover healthy, holistic solutions to heal the body. I discovered argan oil and its multitude of uses last year, and have been hooked ever since. This amazing oil keeps my skin young and healthy and looking fresh.
It can also be used to re-hydrate the body, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and soothe skin ailments such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. It can reduce appearance of scars and stretch marks, moisturize cuticles, and it’s a great way to nourish and add shine to your hair. I also dab a little on insect bites in the summer to heal quicker.
This ancient healing oil is derived from the kernels of the slow growing argan tree, exclusive to the dry lowlands of Southwest Morocco. I recommend finding an organic, cold-pressed oil for best results. I like both Josie Maran Cosmetics argan oil, and Arganica Oil.“
For help with organic questions and holistic health tips, you can visit Tara at her website, Green Tara Wellness.
Quite Continental 