KIT | Quite Continental

Après Sandy

30/10/2012 § 2 Comments

Just a quick note to let you know that I am safe and sound after Sandy passed through New York last night. The city definitely feels like it is reeling from a massive shock. I had been forced to evacuate from my apartment on Sunday because I live in one of the low lying areas (my building’s lobby is still currently flooded), but as it turned out, I needed to relocate again today, due to the massive power outage in Manhattan below 34th Street and the fact that we lost water and cell phone service as well. I have since settled into my old neighborhood — and quasi-ancestral homeland — The Upper East Side.

After being plunged into the dark last night when power was lost, and with virtually no way of hearing the news, my friends and I settled in for an eerily zen-like few hours by candlelight, while Sandy howled outside. Being in the middle of a huge event, without any access to the outside world, was disconcerting and I am thankful that I was with friends.

By now you have probably seen the devastating pictures of the damage. If you would like to help, I urge you to make a donation to the American Red Cross.

I hope you are safe and well, wherever you are.

Oh Sandy

29/10/2012 § Leave a comment

A very sandy kitty dealing with Hurricane Hazel.
Taken in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1954 by Hank Walker.

So this hurricane stuff is getting to be a yearly thing, it seems — me, having to scamper from my home in Lower Manhattan, for higher and drier ground elsewhere in the city. Such is the life of a Zone A resident. In any event, please rest assured that I am safe and sound and will be riding out Hurricane Sandy with good friends in a more favorable Zone. To earn my keep I’ve brought an armful of glossy magazines and Auntie Mame, and have been on round-the-clock hot toddy duty. One must have priorities, clearly.

Please do your best to be safe in the storm, East Coasters.

All best,
M.

Some helpful links:
NYC Office of Emergency Management Evacuation Zone Finder
National Weather Service
Downtown Alliance – Lower Manhattan
Red Cross Go Bag Checklist

Your theme song, courtesy of Danny Zuko:

Bird’s Eye

18/04/2012 § 2 Comments

Even though I did manage to snap these pictures on a business trip this week,
I have been chasing my tail a bit, so I hope you’ll excuse my recent silence…

A few tidbits I’ve enjoyed in the meantime:

Video treats: a very whimsical Hermès “Petit H”
and a snippet from A.Y. NOT DEAD F/W 2012 featuring Dree! Hemingway!;

Opinion: What Mad Men Shows About American Pop Culture
“The 40-Year Itch” by Adam Gopnik {via The New Yorker}

Endorsed: the ladylike naughtiness of the Mimi Holliday by Damaris
Sea Breeze lace thong {via Net-a-Porter};

Men’s style file: Dean at his best {via A Headlong Dive}
and Jackie Robinson off the field {via To Take the Train};

Aesthetics: a rumination on stripes {via Little Augury};

Travel: a Tuscan farmhouse I must. visit. immediately. {via Designtripper}; and

Just finished: Bright Lights, Big City — so NYC in the 80s, so excellent.

Back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, promise.
xoxo. M.

For Serious, Matilda.

22/02/2012 § 8 Comments

Taken by Nina Leen, 1947.

There is no real reason I selected this picture, other than for its awesomeness. I like to call it: “This hat and I are about to kick your ass in bridge. For serious, Matilda.”

Today, I am getting serious about Lent, though. I’m not especially religious, nor am I a Catholic (I’m actually a lapsed Episcopalian), but every Lenten season, I like to challenge myself to give up something. For those unaware, Lent runs from Ash Wednesday (today) through Easter Sunday; 40 days in total. For Christians it is a period of penitence, of giving up certain luxuries and of fasting.

Am I turning into a Sunday School blog? Hardly.

But I do think the concept of penitence is applicable universally, no matter what altar you choose to worship at. A 40 day period is a great amount of time to reflect upon yourself, your personal habits and things you might want to change. To abstain from some of your bad habits for 40 days will take some willpower. I once managed to convince a very unhappy Mister to give up booze with me, rough going indeed, but we survived. They say it takes only 30 days to cement a new habit, so why not seize upon the season to make some purposeful changes?

What I will attempt to give up for the next 40 days:

The snooze button. You will be profoundly missed!
Those delightful bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwiches I’m very fond of
…and dairy in general, for that matter.
Passive negativity

What about you?

Sidenote: Would you believe this is my **600th** post? In the spirit of gratitude, I wanted to send a big thank you to all of my followers, old and new. I hope you understand how much I really appreciate your reading and comments and emails and sharing of this silly little blog.

You guys are the absolute tops.
xoxo. M.

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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…