Makes You Want to Clean Your Room

Every so often, I get that inclination to purge my stuff. I'll throw out old papers I've been hanging onto, donate clothes I don't really wear, and vacuum away dust bunnies. It's a good feeling. I don't tend to miss the things I get rid of, so I don't feel very sentimental about tossing all of it. But some people are serious hoarders. They can't get rid of things because of the 'emotional value,' or they're afraid they might suddenly need something and not have it anymore.

Chinese artist Song Dong's mother was one of those people. Now, at the Museum of Modern art, Song Dong has created an exhibit that displays and organizes his mother's fifty-year-old collection--everything from toothpaste tubes to shoes to old tv sets.

From MoMa:

"A collaboration first conceived of with the artist's mother, the installation consists of the complete contents of her home, amassed over fifty years during which the Chinese concept of wu jin qi yong, or "waste not," was a prerequisite for survival."

You could say, "How is that art?" but I think the exhibit sounds fascinating--someone's personal junk made public.

The exhibit is around until September 7. Anyone want to go?

Nerds Can Be Hot, Too!

...Unless They're Just There to Sell Speed. Fingers Crossed!
Drunk guy with baggy pants #1, watching two hot girls outside library: Daaamn!
Drunk guy with baggy pants #2: Yeah, man!
Drunk guy with baggy pants #3: Yeah, they're geeks, though.

--Outside NYU Library
via Overheard in New York, Jun 12, 2009

I want to argue that they missed out on smart, hot girls...but then I realize that this means the girls narrowly avoided having to deal with drunk guys, so it probably all worked out for the best.

De-Gentrification

In a recent NY Times article, the recession is hitting hipsters where it hurts: right in Mom and Dad's bank account. Parents who are subsidizing their twentysomething children can't afford it anymore, so these kids are either forced to leave Williamsburg, Brooklyn, or actually have to get jobs. After all, those Urban Outfitters clothes cost a lot.

Even though it's easy to feel snarky about people who don't really work and have the money to make it look like they don't have money, this article leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. I know a lot of twentysomethings, and most people are genuinely trying to get jobs. A lot of us have been laid off. We don't tend to storm out of interviews after hearing about 8-hour workdays. Sure, I can imagine kids who don't want to work real jobs, but that's not the average twentysomething. Many of us would love to have jobs that enrich our lives, but mostly, right now we would just like to have jobs.

I hope that the twentysomethings can use the recession to shirk this image of a lazy, disaffected hipster. Not everyone under thirty is a pretentious, coddled overgrown child. Hopefully we can use this tough economic time to show previous generations that we can work hard while simultaneously enjoying life and having a larger social awareness.

I Miss Mood Already

As you probably know, Project Runway is moving from Bravo to Lifetime. I know. The channel with movies like Mother, May I Sleep With Danger? Not exactly something Tim Gunn watches. Well, okay, whatever Lifetime. But now it's also moving from New York to LA? A girl can't handle all that change at once!

About the move:

"LA can be the most laid-back and the most glamorous," Michael said, adding that challenges would include fashion for the red carpet and the beach. "It's the land of bikinis and gowns."

Whatever, Michael! I don't need bikini challenges! I need Parsons!

Also:

"The Southern California location also lent itself to the presence of Hollywood celebs, including Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria Parker, and Lindsay Lohan, who will serve as guest judges throughout the season."

Ugh! Lindsay Lohan! With Tim Gunn?! Don't let Tim stand too close or he might catch fugly!

I am not a fan of these changes. Really, Project Runway probably should have ended last season, especially with Tim as a final judge. Does that mean I won't watch the new season? No. But it'll be a skeptical viewership.

Meet Rebecca

Remember how pissed I was about American Girl retiring Samantha? They haven't entirely won be back yet, but I am interested in their new Jewish-American doll, Rebecca Rubin.

One thing I will say about American Girl--they take a lot of care in developing their historical dolls. With Native American Kaya, they did a lot of research with various tribes in order to find one that would have valued girls as members of the community in the 1600s. And it sounds like the same care has been taken with Rebecca.

"The preliminary research that led to Rebecca’s development started in 2000, said Shawn Dennis, the senior vice president for marketing. American Girl had wanted to do a doll focused on the immigrant experience. After work by two in-house historical researchers, and interviews with focus groups, it was decided to make the character Jewish.

'Russian-Jewish immigration, that group has an effect on the labor movement, that group has an effect on the burgeoning Hollywood entertainment business,' Ms. Dennis said. 'We thought it would have the makings of what would be a relatable story to tell.'"

I think this is a good move. When I worked at one of the American Girl stores, a girl came up to me and asked if we had any more menorahs. (Former 'Girl of the Year' doll Lindsey was Jewish.) It made me so sad to say no! As a ten year-old, I loved the holiday books; this little girl didn't get the same experience. Until now.

Of course, it is also weird that Rebecca lives in a New York tenement and the doll is priced around $95. But as long as it teaches girls about lives different than their own, that's the important thing.

Even so, I still want them to bring back Samantha.

Hoppy Halloween!

Oh my lord.

Check out more of photographer Amy Stein's Halloween in Harlem series.

Dennis the Menace

Melissa? Iiiiiinteresting.
EMT #1, to vomiting wino: What's your name?
Wino: Dennis.
EMT #1: Dennis? Okay, Dennis, we're gonna...
Wino: (unintelligible muttering)
EMT #1: What?
Wino: (unintelligible muttering)
EMT #2: Well, what's your name when you're not drunk?

--Broadway & Astor Place

Overheard by: Rachel Silver
via Overheard in New York, Mar 24, 2009

That kind of makes me want to invent a whole drunk persona.

Can I Sleep in the Bathtub?

From the glory that is craigslist, a sixty year-old woman is looking to rent a room in her apartment. Usually that means a second bedroom. She's talking about her bathroom:

"My bathroom is large. You can easily put a twin air mattress in there. I only ask that when I need to use the bathroom, you or your air mattress are not in it.

I do ask that when you are in the apartment, you confine yourself to the bathroom. I do not feel comfortable with a stranger walking around my living room. This might change as I get to know you better."

Basically, it sounds like she's asking for a squatter. Except for $400 a month.

She sounds like she'd be a joy to live with.

Really, Peabody?

A police union in Peabody, MA wants September 11 off or holiday pay. Because nobody felt 9/11 quite like the Peabody police.

Of course, I think police are so important and do a great job. But this would have much more credence if it were, say, the NYPD. Nice try, guys. Incidentally:

"A union representing 24,000 NYPD officers has tried during contract discussions to get extra pay for anti-terrorism work in the years since the September 11 attack but has been unsuccessful. Patrolmen's Benevolent Association spokesman Al O'Leary said the pay would be more appropriate than extra pay for one day."

I agree. Give the pay for their hard work, not just for the anniversary.

The Rainbow Connection

My life would be so much better with my very own Muppet.


It's coming soon to FAO Schwarz. So they'll each be $35,000, but can you really put a price on being able to walk around with a hysterical piece of foam on your hand?

Babies Can't Do Anything

Now C'mon, Let's Go Get Your Tubes Tied

Girl #1: I don't understand why parents are upset when babies die...it's not like they've accomplished anything.
Girl #2: I think there's more to it than that.

--Howard Ave, Staten Island

via Overheard in New York, Oct 20, 2008

Pitchfork TV + Girl Talk = too many thoughts

I genuinely don't know where to start with this video. Maybe it's how exhausted I am (another one of those rough work weeks) or maybe it's just the near dozens of levels on which this video confounds, amuses, and disgusts me. Some of the shooting is good but some not so much. Maybe it's the whole hijacking the Coney Island vibe while it's about to be squashed. Maybe it's swimming in his boxers. Maybe it's the frighteningly pale skin (blindness!). OR maybe I'm just pissed because I wish they could have done this with one strung together song instead of going from bit to bit.

Ultimately I'm left with the bitter taste in my mouth of "this could have been better." That's immediately followed by, "Is it pitchfork that has become too predictable and mediocre or have I finally become some weird sort of post-hipster elitist asshole?" You tell me.

I mean it. Tell me because I'm not capable of figuring that out for myself right now. (Comment time!)

Maybe as a birthday present?

This week New Yorkers have been mourning the death of the Coney Island that was. Although the coaster and ferris wheel are safe, everyone's beloved Astroland has run out its lease and is moving out of town. It's such a big deal that even Bloomberg is jumping into the mix and trying to save the place. But I'm suddenly hoping he's unsuccessful, because then someone can buy me Dante's Inferno...

Come on. Pretty please?!?