the fifth day of may

Good-bye

2010-10-06T11:05:00.005-04:00

The SAD side of the coin:

After several months of lackadaisical blogging on my party for thefifthdayofmay, I've decided to put a firm hold on my commitment here.

Despite it being a small outlet for my thoughts with a small, but generously loving audience, I am finding myself over-committed in all of my endeavors and struggling to post here. To top it off, I am harboring personal guilt for not writing here. Between the cafe project in L.A., personal assisting in NY, scene study class & my acting career, Meryl & Marina, I am already struggling to carve out room for other pleasures - theater, cooking, adventures, movies, reading. It's a catch 22--when I'm not out experiencing the world, I have little to write about, and when I am, I have no time to write about it. So, for now--a hold. I'm largely sad to give up maintaining this online history of my endeavors over the last three and a half years. I think I'm going to still keep it up, so I can refresh my memory as often as I want.

the BRIGHT side of the coin:

I'm going to be blogging regularly at www.MerylandMarina.com. It's going to be much easier for me to focus my energy into one project. The content will not change - I promise to post just as many old family photos, cooking demos, and nonsense. At least until Meryl learns to post and forcibly stops me. It's going to be a good thing. I'll be blogging way more than I am now. I hope we're all OK with this. I hope that I'm OK with this.

I'll occasionally guest blog at paperorplastikcafe.tumblr.com, so check it out.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll do some secret sneak attacks here. I just can't stay good-bye.

Vollmond

2010-10-04T22:49:00.004-04:00

I'm not interested in how people move but in what moves them." - Pina Bausch

Watch the Vollmond (Full Moon) trailer on BAM's website.

For my birthday, I was clever enough to ask for a gift membership to BAM. This would allow me the opportunity to immerse myself in New York's creative offerings and persuade me to go commit to attending them.

This idea was ripe with possibility and has proved itself endlessly valuable. I am reaping the benefits of New York in the autumn, with new seasons abound at nearly every creative institution in the city.

When I caught an invite to the opening night of the Next Wave Festival at BAM, which was a performance of the late Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal doing Vollmond (Full Moon), along with an invite to the after reception, I couldn't resist.

I invited my friend Meryl (of Meryl & Marina) and on the eve of our largest artistic endeavor yet, that being the premiere of our first short film "Secret Garden", we soaked up the multidisciplinary and celebratory revelry that was "Vollmond". Followed by some wine and Germanic-themed braised cabbage & spaetzle, we had the loveliest of times. Even better, we spotted Juliette Binoche, a.k.a. my favorite actress of all time, standing in line, looking around for an entrance as frantically as we were.

The fun continues tomorrow! I'm seeing The Deer House!

why i love new york

2010-09-27T23:15:00.001-04:00

via unworn blog

tangier photos

2010-09-22T20:29:00.003-04:00

this is my favorite photograph from my trip. we're in tangier here, possibly walking to cafe hafa, the most beautiful, sprawling coffee house looking over the mediterranean sea. it captures the spirit of the trip for me - feeling careless and adventurous, wanting to wander and roam, warm and content and thrilled all at once. i dream of traveling because of photos like this, ones that unearth memories of endless alleyways and new pleasures behind every corner, like little restaurants or souks that become the crowning jewels of how you remember a place, of the thrill of getting lost and the relief of being found, of there being light at the end of every road.

my nostalgia makes me feel at once pleased that i was there and disheartened that i am no longer.

funny how the NY Times travel section story about Tangier, the one i would scan the paper for every sunday, finally came out, exactly a month after i had left the country. funnier still is how similar their photos were to mine:

glad to know i did just fine in tangier without their guidance.

family

2010-09-18T01:10:00.002-04:00

i'm back in new york and i'm alone in my apartment and i never thought i'd say it, but here i go: i miss my family. i do. i was spoiled by not only getting to see my parents and brothers and darling nephew for 5 weeks straight every day, but i got to travel around the world to see the rest of my family - grandfathers, cousins, aunts, uncles, more nephews, whom i see so rarely for distance's sake.

it's yom kippur, the holiest day in the jewish calendar. my uncle sent over these scanned photos to my dad and i, wishing us a good fast. i wasn't quite sure why he had sent them, why this day of all days, one of repentance and suffering, garnered some dug up family photos.

it took a bit of silent, unconscious meditating to feel the link to this day and the photos of my relatives. and it hits home even harder when i'm so far away from all of the people that connect me to these roots.

the bearded man is my great-great grandfather, a michelson. my grandpa is recognizable in the second photo as the standing kid to the left. don't know who the rest of those folks are but their blood is coursing through my veins.

Where in the World is Marina?

2010-09-14T11:15:00.002-04:00

So you know, I haven't given up here. I've been away, figuratively and literally. At first way away on vacation for 2 weeks and for the following 5 weeks I was enmeshed in one of the most time-consuming/rewarding ventures of my life. I'm flying back home today, getting back into my New York state of mind. I have a lot of adventures to tell about and I will. Soon.

My family's cafe is throwing a party...

2010-08-31T20:20:00.000-04:00

2010-07-31T19:18:00.001-04:00

Our House

2010-07-20T14:20:00.001-04:00

We listened to this song on the drive up to Montreal and it brought me straight back to my childhood, listening to it from the backseat of the car, driving with my parents, them singing along wildly and me pretending to know the lyrics, wanting so badly to be cool.

Marc

2010-07-19T17:49:00.003-04:00

My friend Marc, whom I met somehow during my final year of high school and recently reconnected with on Cinco de Mayo at a Mexican restaurant around the corner from my apartment, will be shooting our portrait. His photos are tremendous.

This one sways me most.

M&M Portraits

2010-07-19T17:41:00.002-04:00

Meryl & Marina are doing our first photo shoot tomorrow with the aim of getting a few portraits of us together. Here are some ideas that are floating around my head.

Montreal

2010-07-19T17:02:00.004-04:00

the cafe in Mile End, one of the 5 pictures I took over the weekend

I've just returned from Montreal where I accompanied my boyfriend and friends to the prestigious Just For Laughs comedy festival where they had been invited to perform in a sketch show hosted by Michael Ian Black. The trip was very eventful and nonstop in energy. We stayed out until 5am each night, drinking for free, dancing, shmoozing, and laughing.

Some highlights:
+trying Poutine
+visiting sweet coffee shops and vintage store in Mile End, Montreal's answer to Bushwick
+playing with Maggie in the swimming pool
+dancing insatiably at a semi-house party in a car wash
+dancing and drinking for free and rapping at a tremendous loft party
+dancing in the car on the way over to Canada
+invoking the phrase "just for laughs" whenever and wherever possible
+learning about my new obsession, Beardyman, at the most awesome midnight music show

check out this absurd jam session between 3 incredible and unusual musicians:

+the Tom Green show - surprisingly funny and enjoyable
+the Alternative Comedy show - nearly everyone was memorable. Never thought I'd like stand-up that much
+biking through Old Montreal and by the canal
+some kind of Caramel ice cream that will be forever unbeatable
+watching my sweet boyfriend and our even sweeter friends kick ass two nights in a row

Some lowlights:
+Losing my voice, completely and painfully
+Fighting with my American bank about urgently releasing at $250 authorization hold for a $5 bike rental
+Missing out on Au Pied du Cochon
+Not going swimming more often

Boys Will Be Girls - Night Out

2010-07-15T01:56:00.001-04:00

So proud of these dudes, and of my red-clad sweetheart. I like this vid even better than the first.

Howl

2010-07-15T01:54:00.002-04:00

Ginsberg's Howl is my favorite poem and I can't wait to see this movie.

Anna

2010-07-08T09:49:00.002-04:00

Watch this 1962 interview with Anna Karina, who was at one time, my ultimate muse. I still can't help but adore her.

Zeitoun

2010-07-06T23:02:00.004-04:00

I've been eagerly devouring a Dave Eggers book I picked up on Friday called Zeitoun, which chronicles the nauseating trials undergone by a successful Syrian-American family in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The book is a gripping and suspense-filled personal account of an event that should not fade from our national memory. It's another glimpse into the madness that befell this country during the disaster. If it sparks your interest, definitely read the NY Times article about the fate of a hospital after Katrina, and check out Trouble the Water about a couple who survive the storm.

Coconut Curry Mussels

2010-07-02T09:01:00.001-04:00

To die for and easy to make Coconut Curry Mussels.

la tangerina

2010-06-28T22:54:00.002-04:00

the hotel we booked in tangier looks killer. it's called la tangerina. it gets me all shook up!

Sugar Snap Pea Salad

2010-06-27T23:08:00.003-04:00

I'm back in the swing of things with this season's CSA. I received such a great selection of items the other day, I got bummed that I'll be leaving it for 6 weeks!

I received:
a half dozen farm fresh eggs, some of which I'll soft-boil for breakfast tomorrow.
a bunch of radishes, which I'll probably add to my breakfast with salted, buttered toast
a head of bibb lettuce
a head of red leaf lettuce
a bunch of kale
a bunch of rainbow chard
a bunch of cucumbers
a few zucchini
a bunch of parsley
a pint of sugar snap peas
four pints of cherries
and a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and snap dragons

My boss will be out of town this week and I get to pick up her CSA as well! Eager to see what I'll get!

I made the most delicious salad tonight using some of my sugar snap peas. I actually lifted the recipe from an unforgettable dish I had at Roberta's recently. It's incredibly simple: cooked sugar snap peas with picked onions, topped with mascarpone. I used a lovely, oil-marinated feta that I had at home instead and it worked just as well. I also used this picked onions recipe from David Lebowitz, which was simpler than imagined and left me with a jar of picked onions I'm eager to devour. Unfortunately I didn't take a photo, just scarfed it down. It's really easy to try, though, so just take my word for it.

Hideous Kinky

2010-06-24T00:06:00.002-04:00

Watched Hideous Kinky last night to get me pumped for Morocco. I like the way Kate sleeps with her hippie daughters. That's how I'm going to sleep with my little girls when and if I have them.

summertime is for sweethearts

2010-06-23T10:46:00.000-04:00

Magic Kids - Summer

via kickin the peanuts

Zucca

2010-06-23T10:44:00.000-04:00

Looking for long dresses to cover me up in Morocco. I adore this one.

Morocco

2010-06-23T09:52:00.002-04:00

Did I tell you that Billy and I are going to Morocco? Because we are! On July 26th. And we're never coming back...

Just kidding, we'll be back. And that's just Part 1 of our six-week long adventure! Stay tuned to hear more. Meanwhile, anyone been to Morocco? Tips? Riad recommendations? Guides?

Unthinkable

2010-06-20T12:28:00.002-04:00

Alica Keys feat. Drake - Unthinkable

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

2010-06-18T15:06:00.000-04:00

Pretty much amazing.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Sofia Strikes Back

2010-06-15T17:25:00.001-04:00

Eager for this.

Inspired by Iceland

2010-06-14T17:57:00.002-04:00

Are we loving this weird commercial?

Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.

via cup of jo

Stranded

2010-06-13T23:26:00.002-04:00

Just watched the harrowing documentary STRANDED: I've Come From a Plane That Crashed in the Andes.
Bone-chilling. Speechless.

Swimsuit

2010-06-07T22:31:00.001-04:00

Bought a brand new bathing suit today for the first time in years. Seriously, maybe 4 or 5 years. Isn't it adorable?

Recent Cooking

2010-06-06T16:14:00.003-04:00

1. Mussels for One by Jennifer of last night's dinner. This was my first time making mussels and they were sumptuous. So much so that I made them twice in one weekend.

2. Spaghetti with Ramp Pesto, Asparagus, and Peas based on the Amateur Gourmet's recipe. Very simple, easy to make, and tasty. The sweetness of the peas is an amazing complement to the garlicky ramp pesto, which may otherwise be overwhelming. I love ramps! Unfortunately, this recipe is strictly seasonal.

3. Grilled Skirt Steak with Artichoke-Potato Hash & Black Olive Aioli from my favorite cookbook of all-time (thus far), Sunday Suppers at Lucques by Suzanne Goin. I've been wanting to make this for nearly a year now. It was incredible and well-worth it.

4. Moroccan Chicken with Carrot-Puree by none other than Suzanne Goin. I found this recipe in Saveur and decided to whip it up for myself one night, so I skipped the carrot puree for the sake of effort. This is one of my favorite new dishes to make. It is incredibly flavorful and complex for how easy it is to prepare. Now that I have a jar of harissa in my fridge, I plan to make it regularly.

Surfwise

2010-06-06T15:51:00.003-04:00

I watched Surfwise last night, an awesome documentary about the Paskowitz family, led by Dorian (Doc) & Juliette, who raised their 9 children (8 boys and a girl) in a 24-foot camper that they drove around the country through the children's formative years. Doc espoused a holistic lifestyle, keeping the family on a strict sugar-and-fat-free diet, instructing them to surf daily, and refraining them from entering into the public school system. The film is inspiring and heartwarming. It makes you yearn for the hippie-ish atmosphere of the west coast and makes you itch to learn how to surf. It also invokes in you a sense of liberating autonomy regarding child-rearing, reminding you of a more animistc approach to raising children, far and away from what has become to be considered normal. It made me want to have a nine little puppies of my own. Just kidding. But, maybe...

The children are also gorgeous--Doc is Jewish and Juliette is half-Mexican, half-Native American, so you can imagine what a stunning tribe they made.

mermaid dreams

2010-06-04T01:37:00.001-04:00

i've always wanted to be a mermaid. like that darryl hannah shit. give me a tail, i'll go swim with humpbacks in a second.

thanks, sar!

Movies Love New York

2010-05-28T00:18:00.000-04:00

Love Me, Please Love Me

2010-05-27T14:20:00.004-04:00

When I was 17, I adored a boy who was my best friend at the time. He was four years my senior, finishing college as I was finishing high school. I had strong feelings for him for nearly a year, but he didn't like me back. We spoke on the phone incessantly, took long rides together, and I went to every one of his band's shows. We were attached at the hip. Once, I house-sat at his apartment while he went away for the weekend, so eager to do him the favor. I took care of his cat, laid on his couch, slept in his bed. That night, while messing around on his desk, I found a note indicating that he was actually visiting a girl named Pauline a few towns away, whom he was having a secret tryst with. I was heartbroken. I went into his kitchen and found some vodka and gulped it straight from the bottle. Around that time, the Dreamers had come out and needless to say, I became obsessed with all things French. The song above was on the soundtrack and I was so taken by it. My crush, an excellent piano player, would play it for me and he could actually hit the high notes. I was impressed.

Later that summer, I traveled through Europe with another friend for six weeks. I had gotten over my crush by then after another heartbreaking prom experience and instead fell head over heels for some Norwegian guy I met in London (and then a Swedish guy I met in Paris...) Anyway, during my last days in Paris, my traveling companion left early and I met up with my former crush in Paris. He was staying at a flat all the way on the south side of town by the university with three Brits--a brother and sister, and another girl who was somehow romantically linked. He invited me to stay with them for my remaining 2-3 nights.

I remember it rained during those last days and the flat had a skylightm so this large, airy apartment was cast with a cloudy light and the feeling of rain. We stayed inside as if all of Paris was in the apartment instead of the streets. We made spaghetti for supper, played games, and all splayed out on the floor, listening to this song over and over again. Needless to say, it was bittersweet.

me in Paris the following summer, after freshman year at college, photo appropriately taken by my then latest boyfriend, an Italian

Bicycle Rush Hour in the Netherlands

2010-05-23T12:26:00.002-04:00

Guess What?

2010-05-21T01:08:00.002-04:00

Guess what? Meryl & Marina are shooting our first short film that we wrote, and are producing and acting in. We spent this entire week getting the logistics of this sudden shoot together--locking locations, renting cars, luring crew members, picking up equipment. Now, I'm getting ready to go to sleep because I have to wake up in 5 hours to put on make up, pick up breakfast for the crew, load the equipment, and get to the location by 8am. We're working with a lot of great people on this shoot including our dear friends Jess and James, and some new collaborators, JR and Shal. Billy will be there too, eating our donuts and lifting heavy things. Stay tuned!

Perfection

2010-05-18T16:53:00.003-04:00

My friend Jen, who recently re-vamped the layout of her lovely blog, recently posted this Elizabeth Gilbert article on perfection. I'm not really an Eat, Pray, Love kind of girl, but I read Gilbert's portrait of Eustace Conway as the last American man back in September, and I dug it. I'm also procrastinating at work with a computer in front of me, so I decided to read it. And does it speak the truth or what? Since I have more or less conquered the threatening hurdle of my anxiety in my ongoing therapy sessions, we now have a new persistent topic that we keep returning to: my incessant yearning for perfection. Gilbert really hits it on the nose with this one. I'm the type of girl who reads the New Yorker while running on the treadmill right before my yoga class at least two times a week. I'm also trying to write a play, produce a short film, build an acting career, work on two scenes for my weekly scene study class, save extra money for two huge summer trips, exercise 4-5 times a week, eat healthily, cook as much as possible, go to movies, read three magazines a week plus 2 books and 2 plays, learn guitar, learn French and Italian, work on the web design for the cafe in Los Angeles, hold on, wait, I have to slow down. I need a cup of coffee. Too many things. Did I mention lose 10 pounds? Thanks, Jen.

Iphigenia in Forest Hills

2010-05-17T22:48:00.003-04:00

Last week I read the most fascinating trial drama reported by Janet Malcolm in the New Yorker. The nearly 30-page article, called Iphigenia in Forest Hills: Anatomy of a Murder Trial, had me glued to the page for the entirety of the day and left my stunned by the end of it. Unfortunately, the entire text is not available online, so if you're able to track down a copy of the May 3rd issue, you won't regret it.

The article tells the tale of the murder of an orthodontist in a small Jewish community in Queens, alongside a detailed depiction of the trial of the presumed killers--his wife and a hired hit man. While the case itself appears to be simple, the trial is overwrought with questions. Malcolm manages to teeter from one side to the other, favoring the prosecution and then the defense, in a manner that is most unsettling because it mirrors the position of the jury. She also depicts the courtroom as a place of battling narratives more than an arbiter of truth, as everyone's version of the truth is different and solemn oaths do little to prevent witness's lies.

In my opinion, the best material leaves you restless and agitated--full of questions and yearning for more. This piece has instilled in my so many new curiosities. I am taken with the story of Iphigenia, Malcolm's titular protagonist. The daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, she was to be sacrificed to the gods by Agamemnon in order to fulfill the prophecy of an oracle during the Trojan War. I am currently reading Iphigenia at Aulis, Iphigenia Among the Taurians, and Charles Mee's Iphigenia 2.0 in an effort to figure out the author's intended connection between Iphigenia and the convicted murderess.

Malcolm also tied in plenty deep material related to the community of Bukharan Jews that sourced this case. Supposedly one of the Lost Tribes of Israel, Bukharan Jews come from Central Asia and less than 200,000 of them remain in the world. According to Malclom, Bukharans are very different from Western Jews and are even looked down upon within the religion.

Man, I was so deeply affected by this article, I wish I could re-experience reading it for the first time! It really satisfies my curiosity with its investigative journalism, as well as my inkling towards drama and rumination with its powerful storytelling.

Green Dinners

2010-05-11T11:37:00.003-04:00

Last night, after a very fruitful and green grocery shopping trip, I successfully steamed an artichoke, drizzled it with lemon juice, and ate it with my first go at Alice Waters' lemon aioli.

Good thing I practiced! Tonight, to precede LOST, I'm finally trying Suzanne Goin's Skirt Steak with Artichoke-Potato Hash, served with a Black Olive Aioli.

Wish me luck!

Breaks my Heart

2010-05-06T15:05:00.003-04:00

Happy belated fifth day of May!

I've just returned from Korea and am still decompressing, trying to adjust my body clock etc.

I have many stories to tell and pictures to share from my trip. I am eager to get back in the swing of things and post here more regularly. I have to tend to more boring matters now, so I'll be back later. Meanwhile, I'll share a song with you all that is very dear to me right now. It's not a new song and many of you will recognize it. But, I've been singing this song incessantly, at least thrice daily now as it appears so sweetly in the film...

From Korea!

2010-04-30T11:53:00.000-04:00

24 hours to go

2010-04-26T13:22:00.003-04:00

I'm leaving to Korea tomorrow morning!

I'm putting in a final few hours at work, then running around frantically for a few hours with last minute errands, and then finalizing my packing--including downloading new jams and podcasts to get me through the 13 hour flight! (Any recs?)

Then in the AM, B and I are going to a much-awaited breakfast (after this past weekend's vegan juice fast), then we're taking a zipcar to the airport!

Here's a sneak peek at opening ceremony red carpet outfit:

Sun and Rocks

2010-04-24T21:27:00.003-04:00

via olivia malone

I love this photograph. I'm yearning to feel what she's feeling. It strikes a memory in me, one I haven't felt yet but expect to feel (as if memories and times were cyclical), of how I'll feel when I get to Morocco. I'll sit on a beach in Tangier just like that a feel freedom and happiness and achievement.

B and I finally bought our guidebook. We're inching our way closer to Africa day by day. Have been looking into all the affordable riads we can stay at. Mesmerizing.

Mom

2010-04-24T21:22:00.002-04:00

This is what I want to look like when I'm a mom.

Jane Birkin, via the thinking tank

blossom

2010-04-24T20:04:00.000-04:00

wow.

via ginny branch

Dress Peak

2010-04-20T08:30:00.003-04:00

A sneak peak into my shoes/dress...finally got them last night at Maryam Nassir Zadeh's blissful store.

NEWS!

2010-04-16T15:56:00.005-04:00

Where have I been? That's the question that's probably on your mind, reader. I know what it's like to inquisitevly check a blog, only to see the same stale post that's been sitting around the internet inactively for days, practically snoring.

Well, my answer is that I've been all over the place. I flew out to Los Angeles for a few reasons, mainly to work on a cafe I'm opening with my parents in a few months. We were doing pastry tastings with some fabulous local bakeries, including Cake Monkey (OMG their scones, apple galette, and all of their snacks!) and Hotcakes (try their canneles and danish!). I also celebrated the first night of Passover with my family for the first time in years, contributing with my annual Brisket with Merlot & Prunes. We also went to Osteria Mozza for my parents' 25th anniversary, which was a real treat. I'll tell you. Best dishes: Butter Lettuces with hazelnuts, bacon, gorgonzola dolce & egg, Burricotta with radicchio, spiced walnuts, honey & fried rosemary, Linguine with clams pancetta & spicy Fresno chiles, and Butternut Squash Mezzalune with amaretti.

Then when I got back, I had a whirlwind week of work coupled with a Long Island Easter trip and a final-night monumental Seder that I hosted. Needless to say, I was exhausted for a bit.

But the most exciting news that I will let you in on, that crept upon me in the middle of that hectic week is this... I'm going to Korea! In 10 days!

What??!?!

So, two years ago I worked on a feature film with a well-regarded Korean director living in New York after completing his MFA at NYU. This film was to be his feature film debut. I auditioned for nearly 4 weeks in November of 2007 and participated in preparing for the shoot for 2 months, and then we filmed it in February of 2008 on a shoe-string budget in 18 days. It was fantastic. I can't wait to do it again.

Anyway, that film has been selected to be the Opening Film of the Jeonju Int'l Film Festival in South Korea, premiering on April 29th at 6pm following an opening ceremony. I am being flown out to Korea to attend the festival, including the press conference, opening ceremony, premiere, additional screenings, and q&a's. This is all very exciting, overwhelming, unexpected, and over-my-head. It's taken my this long to announce it here as I have been undergoing a wealth of emotions over this.

I'll try to post more often than not, as I have a lot on my mind and plenty to share. But do forgive me in light of my hectic schedule. And also know that last night I overdosed on allergy medication, as if I knew that was possible.

Spring Travel

2010-04-09T00:17:00.003-04:00

I can stand to visit any and all of these places featured in New York Magazine's Spring Travel write-up.

Especially, this one:

Boys Will Be Girls VIDEO

2010-04-07T20:20:00.003-04:00

I am so proud of these guys... nearly 300,000 views in just a few days! And they're going to be on CBS Early Morning Show this Friday!! Good job Harvard Sailing Team and you too, Biu!

Cooking show

2010-04-07T20:18:00.001-04:00

So, this is my main source of inspiration for my forthcoming cooking show...

Devastated Little Boy

2010-04-02T00:56:00.001-04:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Anything is Possible

2010-03-25T11:47:00.003-04:00

It's time to watch this again. This weekend.

Anything is possible.

"All the lives we could live, all the people we will never know, never will be, they are everywhere. That is what the world is."

- Aleksandar Hemon, the Lazarus Project

happiness hit her

2010-03-24T23:55:00.000-04:00

Florence and the Machine "DOG DAYS ARE OVER" Music Video from LEGS MEDIA on Vimeo.

Puppies and kitten are cute and all...

2010-03-22T20:09:00.004-04:00

but look at my baby brother! Wasn't he the cutest?

If he knew how to read blogs, he would surely kill me now.

A Breakfast Feat

2010-03-22T15:56:00.002-04:00

Citrus Salad with Ginger Yogurt

Breakfast Pizza

Meyer Lemon and Blueberry Scones

Plus rosemary and mustard breakfast sausages, then peach bellinis!

Bewitching

2010-03-18T16:45:00.000-04:00

via my favorite color is shiny

Dreams

2010-03-18T16:32:00.001-04:00

Click here to see a larger version.

Thanks, @BillyScafuri.

The Wall

2010-03-17T14:18:00.001-04:00

Man, the south side wall in our apartment is looking better every day.

Trippy

2010-03-16T09:47:00.001-04:00

Check out Devendra's trippy adventure of a music video. Cameos by a bunch of dudes. Better than Alice in Wonderland.

I Want To Go There

2010-03-15T14:59:00.002-04:00

I, too was filled with wanderlust while perusing these worldly photographs on kris atomic. The one of Santorini audibly took my breath away. I cannot wait to see that with my own eyes. All of these places, in fact. I want to go to them all. I'll have to settle for the sand dunes of Morocco--they'll be mine come summertime.

Anthropologie

2010-03-13T15:21:00.000-05:00

You steal my heart.

The Artist is Present

2010-03-13T10:29:00.003-05:00

Some time ago, I became fascinated with Marina Abramovic. It probably had something to with our shared name. I was curious. I remember the first article I read about her left me disgusted, intrigued, and shocked. As if I had not expected this from another Marina.

If you are not familiar with her, Marina Abramovic is a Serbian-Yugoslavian performance artist who primarily uses her body as her canvas and invokes physical pain on herself in exploration of different subject matters. The first work of hers I had heard of was called Lips of Thomas and here is the description of what she would do:

Performance

I slowly eat 1 kilo of honey with a silver spoon.

I slowly drink 1 liter of red wine out of a crystal glass.

I break the glass with my right hand.

I cut a five pointed star on my stomach with a razor blade.

I violently whip myself until I no longer feel any pain.

I lay down on a cross made of ice blocks.

The heat of a suspended space heater pointed at my stomach
Causes the cut star to bleed.

The rest of my body begins to freeze

I remain on the ice cross for 30 minutes until the audience interrupts the piece by removing the ice blocks from underneath.

Having read about her in the past, I never expected to see her work, nor did I think I would want to. I actually thought I vehemently wouldn't want to.

However, Abramovic has a show that opens tomorrow at MoMA called The Artist is Present. In it are re-enactments of her previous works performed by artists she trained herself in a vigorous program, as well as performance by Abramovic herself wherein she sits still in a chair across a table from another empty chair, which is open for visitors to sit in and interact with her. If I hadn't been bombarded with articles about the show (New Yorker, New York Times, NY Magazine), I probably wouldn't have mustered the courage to go. But, I think I'm ready. Well, not ready, more like determined to face my fears and see it, see her. And, I think I even want to sit down in that chair in front of her.

Oh My God

2010-03-12T10:52:00.001-05:00

Give this man an Oscar.

via Vulture

The Best Thing

2010-03-12T00:15:00.001-05:00

One time my boyfriend sent me this song with a kiss and made me swoon.

The Secret Garden

2010-03-05T13:49:00.003-05:00

Do you remember The Secret Garden? Meryl & I sure do... Check out our blog for hints as to what we're working on.

I Ain't Finished

2010-03-05T10:51:00.002-05:00

I'm not done thinking about them whales, guys.

Did we save the whales or what?

I'm Talking to You

2010-03-05T00:15:00.001-05:00

via what anna loves

Appetite

2010-03-04T09:52:00.002-05:00

I thoroughly enjoyed this story I found in a recent New Yorker issue. It's called 'Appetite' by Said Sayrafiezadeh. I want to post snippets for you, but they'd be out of context. Just read the whole damn thing!

Old and New

2010-03-02T16:25:00.003-05:00

+ An old photo of my grandmother in Riga, Latvia:

+A new song I'm listening to: She & Him - Thieves

rihanna always does it right

2010-02-28T18:29:00.002-05:00

New York

2010-02-27T13:21:00.000-05:00

The ultimate New York playlist. Pretty cool.

February is Ending

2010-02-27T11:10:00.005-05:00

Tuesday night: Happened to have all of the ingredients to whip up this unexpected dinner. Thyme-roasted scallops over with sweet corn risotto topped with a bit of truffle oil. Adapted from this. And then I watched Lost!

Wednesday: My dear friend Maggie works at SoHo's premiere chocolate shop, Vosges and she was hosting a chocolate tasting party there for their new coquette collection of chocolates. H'or doeurves were served and truffles were paired with rose champagne, mezcal, sake, and rum. One of the truffles had oyster in it! I was very adventurous and I tried it--turned out I liked it... I had two or three. Although not my favorite of the truffles, I adored the presentation of the absinthe truffe paired with a fennel-mint-grapefruit "salad". Beautiful.

Weds continued: Jessica and I, decided to continue on to dinner despite having had our dessert first and being massively full. We went Sel de Mer in Williamsburg for some well-priced lobster, mussels, fries, and white wine. We cleared our plates!

Thursday: My evening class was cancelled because of the weather! Snuck home before the worsening of the winter storm. Made my favorite Sedona White Corn Tortilla soup, which I grew up on at CPK and then they took it off the menu! Adapted from here. Served with Monterey Jack cheese, homemade tortilla chips, and chives. Watched McCabe and Mrs. Miller--loved it!

Friday: Snow day. Watched Paper Heart. Meh. Recorded ADR at a fancy Manhattan studio for a project I was in. Went to a book release party at the beloved Gowanus Studio Space for How to Doodle, a book about doodling.

Saturday: Utilizing my new French Press this morning. Yearning for my NY Times. It never comes on time. Working at the restaurant later.

Chalkboard

2010-02-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

via

Our Sunday Supper

2010-02-22T13:37:00.004-05:00

This weekend, I tried my hand at Suzanne Goin's actually famous braised beef short ribs recipe from my favorite cookbook, Sunday Suppers at Lucques. As expected, the ribs turned out splendidly, and the rest of the meal was a success as well. I was having my boyfriend's family over for dinner at my apartment for the first time, including his parents, his sister, and her fiance. I was prepping for the occasion all week, pouring over cookbooks, scribbling menus and grocery lists, and rotating between the kitchen for work and the couch for napping. I was very excited about my menu and thrilled to be cooking from Goin's book again, which I had previously taken out from the library and had a tough time returning it, even three months late. Anyway, I am still reeling off my exhaustion and am not keen on typing out the recipes here. However, I will gladly give them to anyone by request and can suggest you look at the re-typed recipes I found via google, although be warned that they are mainly adapted versions of the original.

The menu:

Wild Mushroom, Young Onion, Gruyere, and Applewood Smoked Bacon Tart (adapted from Goin's tart)
Mozzarella topped with Olive Oil and Sea Salt, served with warm, crusty bread (This was intended to be burrata, but it turned out that the cheese I had purchased was already spoiled! Boo!)
----
Homemade Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage-Hazelnut Butter
----
Braised Beef Short Ribs with Swiss Chard
Served with Root Vegetable Mash & Horseradish Cream
----
Billy's mom brought an amazing Coconut Cake with Chocolate Chunks

Quick roasting cippolini onions with salt and thyme.

Seasoning the thyme-marinated short ribs with salt and pepper.

Browning the meat.

Caramelizing the mirepoix -- the base of the braising liquid.

Adding balsamic vinegar, red wine, and port to reduce, then adding beef stock.

Covering the meat in the braising liquids. Now it goes in the oven for 3 hours!

Wilting swiss chard with the cippolini onions.

Mashing the orange zest-flavored root vegetables.

The Italian diligently making pasta sheets after a failed attempt the day prior.

Breaking out the ravioli attachment for the first time! Pumpkin, parmesan, ricotta, and nutmeg filling.

Success!

The most delectable and surprising tart. Puff pastry topped with a ricotta-creme fraiche base, topped with sliced gruyere, then sauteed wild mushrooms, green onions, and thick-cut bacon.

Pumpkin ravioli topped with browned butter, crispy sage, hazelnuts, and parmesan.

Platter of ribs, sitting atop the chard and topped with the braising liquid.

Dinner!

The End.

Docu Fortnight

2010-02-18T14:18:00.001-05:00

I really want to find time to make it to MoMA's Documentary Fortnight. Some synopses I've seen have peaked my interest. Check out this trailer:

The Exploding Girl

2010-02-16T20:35:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day

2010-02-16T10:58:00.007-05:00

This Valentine's day:

+I received the most beautiful flowers to this date in my life next to an old-fashioned looking love letter.

+Ate a crowded brunch at Diner.
+Played with puppies. Lots of expensive puppies.

+Strolled through a wintry Central Park and drank hot chocolate.

+Braved ice skates under the city lights.

+Ate the most marvelous dinner at Roberta's in Bushwick, aided by our waitress and dearest friend, Meryl. Spicy mixed olives, Italian meat plate, Pork Chop with guanciale and farro with winter greens, pizza with guanciale again and cheese and egg, and apple cobbler.

Valentine's Red

2010-02-16T10:12:00.000-05:00

via Q's Daydream

Sent Home

2010-02-12T18:56:00.005-05:00

photo by Marlene Marino

I was just sent home from work for not wearing the right shoes. Why, you ask? Let me recap for you.

I'm standing behind the bar, greeting the bartenders, getting organized, lighting candles, etc... Suddenly, the frenetic maitre d runs up to me like a psychopath, grabs my wrists, and says, "I need you to wear different shoes!"
I look at her calmly and said, "OK, I don't have other shoes now. I just told the manager. I can bring new ones tomorrow."
She stutters, then says, "And your hair..."
OK. Bring it.
She stares at my hair and starts inspecting my pony tail with her hand, as if she could magically fix it.
"What's wrong with my hair?" Straight-faced. Not amused. Business.
"Nothing!" she said. "Nothing is wrong with your hair. Ha ha. It's just that...the chef is just so particular. Can you...just...just put it in a bun."
"Ok." I put it in a bun in front of her.
She laughs. "Great!" She walks away and before she leaves, she turns back and gives me a wink and a double thumbs up, at the same time. It was retarded.
I turn around and everyone is looking at me.

Five minutes later, I'm looking over the wine list, memorizing this and that.
A manager comes up to me, says "Can I speak to you privately?"
"Sure."
She pulls me aside, to the middle of the service floor. "The owner is going to flip if all the waitresses aren't wearing high heels tonight."
"OK..."
"Do you have any sort of...other shoes with you?"
"No." I don't carry a pair of heels around in my bag for shits and giggles.
"Can you maybe go buy some now?"
"Now? Really? Where?"
"Hmm...well, we're all the way on the west side, so how about Times Square?"
"How about Macy's?"
"Sure!"
"Are you serious? I have black heels at home."
"OK, well I'd really like you to be here tonight. But, I don't want to make you feel cornered."
"I feel cornered, you're asking me to leave and go buy new shoes and come back. To work."
"OK, well I can give you some money..."
"I have other shoes at home."
"OK, well how about you come back tomorrow with new shoes?"
"Done."
"Thank you so much."
I turn around to get my belongings. It wouldn't have been so humiliating if I didn't turn around to see 2 bartenders, 2 cocktail servers, 5 hosts, 6 waiters, 4 busboys, and 3 other directors looking at me. Yup.

Mind you, I sent the same manager an e-mail exactly a week ago saying the following:

Hi Blablabla,

Hope you're somewhat well-rested today despite your early morning. Last night went well, was getting to know the ropes.

Blablablalbalbalbalblablablablablala, and also, is there a certain shoe I need to buy? Blablabla was saying something about a mary jane with a heel... If you have a name/model, specific style, or photo, I'll go out and get them!

To no response.

Now I have a Friday night ahead of me and a bottle of tequila. I'm going to the gym to blow of steam.

Long Island Does Lost

2010-02-12T18:54:00.002-05:00

I think I love this.

Women

2010-02-12T10:14:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine did this, cool! Good job Mackenzie!

New Toys!

2010-02-11T11:01:00.000-05:00

I cannot wait!

Boeuf Bourguignon

2010-02-11T09:59:00.008-05:00

As promised, I finally made a version of Julia Child's boeuf bourguignon last night. In truth, I was afraid that I would not like it, having been averse to stews as a child and only recently coming to accept the texture of braised meats. This fear was particular striking since I was looking forward to this meal since seeing the film nearly five months ago. Plus, I had to set aside an entire evening to look after it. Fortunately, it was absolutely delicious and the most perfect, hearty blizzard meal a girl could think of. The best part about it? I decided to double the recipe to ensure left-overs!

The recipe I followed appeared in the NY Times Sunday Magazine a few months ago. It is from Judith Jones, who was Child's publisher. What follows is a pictoral retelling:

Cooking up the bacon.

Cutting up the boneless chuck pieces and rubbing with salt & pepper.

Browning the meat. (Made sure the oil was hot and the meat had been patted dry to get a good sear!)

Sauteing the onions and carrots until golden brown.

Making the herb packet. (My favorite part so triple pictures!)

A bay leaf, dried thyme, a few peppercorns, some fresh sprigs of parsley and thyme.

It looked so rugged and rustic!

Adding 2 cups of veal & beef stock (I used a glace de viande gold for this) and 2 cups of red wine. I chose a $14 red Burgundy from UVA to complement the dish made from pinot noir grapes, which are my favorite variety. The wine was called Mommessin, Bourgogne "Le Cle Saint-Pierre" 2006. We drank the rest of the bottle with out meal and it was lovely. You can't see it in the photo, but at the point I've also tucked the herb packet in.

Chopped up some fingerling potatoes, leeks, and whole baby carrots. I set these aside while the stew cooked.

And added them in after 2 hours.

And there you have it. Classic boeuf bourguignon, served with crusty French bread to mop up the sauce. Bon appetit!

P.S. My boyfriend was the sous chef. He did a good job.

Snow Day!

2010-02-10T11:21:00.004-05:00

It's the first official snow day! Everyone's work was cancelled for today, including mine!

Look at the beautiful globe light addition to my bedroom. Dreamy, right? I've been eagerly awaiting their arrival and jumped at the chance to set them up despite coming home after a long day.

Anyway, I expected to lounge around in front of the computer and TV and stove today, but, alas, no real snow day for us adults. I have to go to two meetings and do some secretive shopping for my Valentine while I'm in the city. But, then I'm going to make Boeuf Bourguignon! Finally! And I'll tell you all about it. And, I'll also tell you a bit about fried chicken night at Momofuku Noodle Bar...that's right! Stay tuned.

Living

2010-02-09T22:08:00.002-05:00

Sweet living room, Ali McGraw.

via bleachblack

Movies are the Best

2010-02-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

the films of the 2000s from Paul Proulx on Vimeo.

via slashfilm

The Underground Lobster Pound

2010-02-09T09:40:00.001-05:00

This is really cool. I want to have an underground something, too.

The Underground Lobster Pound: A Purist, An Apartment & The Perfect Lobster Roll - *food curated* from SkeeterNYC on Vimeo.

via mackenzie

SuperBowl

2010-02-08T15:16:00.002-05:00

via mackenzie

Yes, this is the greatest picture. Congratulations to the Saints. It took me awhile to get over the astonishing loss for the Colts and Peyton Manning. I was pretty heartbroken. For some reason, I decided that I would root for the Colts and I stuck to that decision. And I was fierce about it. Yelling at the plays because you're allowed to yell in football. But, I'm having for the Saints, and for the city of New Orleans, and for that adorable owner of the team whom the interviewer was warning to be careful with the trophy because he's an old man, and especially for the new father of a QB. What an astonishing memory to have, and what a cutie patootie baby boy. So, I'm not that heartbroken after all. It helped, of course, when I swept the betting pool with $150 in winnings. The Colts didn't need that last touchdown anyway. I'm pretty sure they didn't get it on purpose, just to cheer me up.

Al

2010-02-05T11:20:00.001-05:00

With this, I am going to surrender to the couch and play my gui-tar for awhile.

Dreamy

2010-02-05T10:52:00.001-05:00

via white trash beautiful

Sick of Winter Wear

2010-02-03T10:33:00.001-05:00

via what anna loves

Can't wait to wear this all summer long.

Dragonslayer

2010-02-03T10:07:00.002-05:00

Friends! Joanna Newsome is about ready to give us another album. Listen here. I can't wait hear her voice all summer long.

Simply the Best

2010-02-02T21:44:00.003-05:00

via what anna loves

Where Have I Been?

2010-02-02T10:40:00.005-05:00

photo via flickr

+I saw two plays: Circle Mirror Transformation, which I adored, and As You Like It, which was OK.
+I went through an intense spirits and cocktail training for my new restaurant with this guy. I now know the differences between all kinds of whiskeys!
+I've been rehearsing a scene from this play for my new scene study class.
+I stopped by a sale at my usually favorite dress shop, but it was just OK.
+I've been gearing up for tonight's premiere by catching up on fun Desmond-centered episodes of LOST.
+I devoured delicious yellowtail-jalapeno sashimi and shrimp tempura sushi with spicy mayo at a nearby restaurant.
+I became addicted to Tanqueray 10 and tonic.

Desert Utopia

2010-01-31T22:44:00.002-05:00

Dreaming about this place that exists somewhere in my future:

via Dwell

LOST

2010-01-26T00:55:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited...I'm so excited... I'm so... scared. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET BACK ON THE ISLAND.

"Gotta love Des."

Conan

2010-01-25T00:48:00.002-05:00

Accidentally weeping in my bed because of this:

"To all the people watching, I can never ever thank you enough for the kindness to me, I'll think about it for the rest of my life. All I ask is one thing, and this is.. I'm asking this particularily of young people that watch: Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism - for the record it's my least favorite quality, it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen."

Good night!

Serious Shit

2010-01-24T21:10:00.001-05:00

via aziz ansari

Coolest Houses

2010-01-23T16:58:00.003-05:00

1. From excavation by spoonfuls

2. via cup of jo

My Back

2010-01-23T13:23:00.001-05:00

via the selby

I'm back. My computer is back. We are back.

Look out, giraffes.