Monthly Archives: June 2014

Food and Drink, Lifestyle

Pasta Sauce Made By Jon Bon Jovi’s Dad

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BonGiovi Pasta Sauce
All Photos By Gail

Hey what’s up. I just got back from a long day spent grazing my way through the Summer Fancy Food Show, which is taking over Javits Convention Center here in Manhattan through Tuesday July 1st. What a fun show! You always arrive home with a full tummy and an even fuller bag of delicious food samples from vendors, literally, all over the globe. This year, I was very happy and surprised to meet John Bongiovi, whose son fronts a eponymous, rather well known rock band, but spells the family name a bit differently. Artistic license!

John Sr, was at Fancy Food to shill for the family Pasta Sauce business, and my pal Anne and I had the chance to not only taste their delicious sauce over a bit of perfectly cooked pasta, but we also got to chat a bit with Mr. Bongiovi, who is super nice and quite handsome. If I were ten years older and he was single, I would be all over it.

John BonGiovi Sr

The Bongiovi Pasta Sauce Booth was raffling off this awesome Les Paul guitar signed by John Jr. It looks like a nice guitar. Anne and I made him pose with it.

BonGiovi Pasta Sauce Ad

Visit Bongiovi Brand Dot Com to find out where you can buy this delicious sauce in your area!

Arts and Culture

Modern Art Monday Presents: Lucas Samaras, Book 4

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Lucas Samaras Book 4
Book 4, 1962: Book with Pins, Table Knife, Scissors, Razor Blade, Metal Foil, Piece of Glass and Plastic Rod (All Photos By Gail)

From MoMA:

In 1960 Samaras began a series of Surrealist-inspired boxes filled with personal materials that he encrusted in needles, mirrors, shards of glass, and brightly colored beads. The boxes were followed by room–sized installations and subversive Polaroid self–portraits. Like Samaras’s boxes, Book is a multifaceted object and a miniature world in itself. Although it includes eight fictional narratives written by the artist between 1959 and 1967, it is not a storybook.
Continue reading Modern Art Monday Presents: Lucas Samaras, Book 4 →

Music, Pop Culture

Video Clip of The Week: Ski Lodge, “Does It Bring You Down”

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Confession: To me, a band with the name Ski Lodge sounds more like it would be one of those shitty, incessantly whining emo-core bands than a legitimately interesting band whose music indicates a worshiping at the alter of revered ’80s Brit Pop groups like James and The Smiths. Just being serious. Even though the protagonist of this video clip for “Does It Bring You Down” seems to not necessarily be living the most fun life imaginable, watching the video makes me want to ride down PCH in a convertible and then eat a big sandwich. In fact, I am hungry right now.

Another observation: What a remarkably talented rhythm section this band has! Wowy McWow! Also, they are from New York – they are not even British! With Ski Lodge, the surprises just don’t stop coming!

“Does It Bring You Down” can be found on the band’s debut album, Big Heart, which is available now where all fine music is procured. Follow them on the FaceBook at This Link. Enjoy!

Ski Lodge Big Heart Cover Art

Food and Drink, Lifestyle

Recap: Summer Food Fête 2014!

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Food Fete Room Shot
All Photos By Gail

Food Fête’s exciting summer season return to the Metropolitan Pavilion event space on West 18th Street was all abuzz with sumptuous product offerings that ranged from Bacon, Butter and Bourbon to Cheese, Chocolates and Chips! If you didn’t make it to the party, here’s a glimpse of what you missed!

Continue reading Recap: Summer Food Fête 2014! →

Design and Innovation

Suspended Lighting From Upcycled Pearl Drums

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Hanging Drum Lamps
Image Source

I’ve posted about lighting made from recycled drums before but these ceiling lamps, made from two toms discarded from a Pearl Kit, have a kind of rustic charm I really like. From what I can gather, these lamps were originally created by an Etsy user and successfully sold. You could probably figure out how to make them yourself if you had a few spare drums laying around.