Long-haul New Yorker’s (and East Villagers like me, especially) constantly bemoan the fact that Manhattan is becoming increasingly gentrified. The innumerable local-business closures caused by the pandemic have only exacerbated the loss of historical identity in an area that was once arguably the coolest neighborhood in NYC. When the legendary Rock & Roll boutique Trash & Vaudeville was forced to relocate from St. Mark’s Place after four decades in the same location, it really felt like nothing is sacred. It is a small conciliation then that a new contemporary art gallery, Public Access, opened this past September in the downstairs storefront formerly occupied by Trash. I recently had the chance to check out the gallery’s current exhibit, a solo show of paintings by artist Marika Thunder entitled Dress Up My Lindsay. The series has an interesting autobiographical backstory for the painter.
The bedroom is the most important room in my home, because sleeping is my jam, and it is the room where I let the decor most specifically reflect my tastes and personality. Is my bed pink? Hell yes, it is; but sadly my bed is not quite as fantastically pink as this bed you see pictured here, which is called the Lisi Bed. I first learned of the Lisi Bed via an email, and when I requested further information on this righteous bed — because I knew I had to feature it — the manufacturer sent me the press release noted below. Read on.
Like Sleeping on a Cloud
“Virna Lisi started her film career in her early teens in Rome. Though Lisi turned down a role in From Russia with Love, the Hollywood producers were scouting a new Marilyn Monroe, so Lisi debuted in Hollywood comedy movies. Inspired by the Hollywood Golden Era vibes, Ottiu designers conceived the mid-century modern Lisi bed. Structured in walnut wood, its curved headboard is dressed up in a smooth pastel cotton velvet and presents polished brass nails that embellish even more its glamorous design. By featuring the Mid-century Modern Lisi bed, you will have the inviting bedroom you always dreamt about.” They are not kidding.
It is so beautiful. The Lisi Bed was designed by a group of designers in-house at Ottiu, a luxury furniture brand which is based in Portugal, has a list price of 4.350,00€ (approximately $5,259). Sigh.
It’s no secret that I couldn’t care less about most awards shows – the Grammy’s being a prime example of a formerly held-sacred-by-me tradition that long ago became all about rewarding commercial success over acknowledging artistic merit. But being a huge movie fan, film awards like The Independent Spirit Awards, The Golden Globes and, coming up on March 2nd, The Oscars (whose list of nominees can be found at This Link) are the nights of ceremonial award giving that I shamelessly indulge in. Because to me, those awards are still more about the art than the box office returns.
Over the Christmas holidays, I had the chance to get caught up on a handful of the films that would become contenders for the major category awards of 2014 including American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street, Dallas Buyers Club, Her (which I didn’t care for) and indie favorites like Inside Llewyn Davis, which got a little Golden Globe love but was virtually ignored by the Academy, despite being excellent on every level.
If you’re passionate about film, it’s fun to predict who might win the Oscars in various categories – and for those inclined to wager a little cash on the outcomes, or who simply want water cooler bragging rights the day after, Sports Betting Dime has their odds posted right now (by the way, if fractional odds confound you, whichever film has the lowest number – less than a value of 1 being ideal – is the favorite to win). Two of the Best Picture Nominees – Gravity and 12 Years a Slave – I’ve yet to see. But there is still time! Here are a few of my personal favorites and some of my own predictions.
My favorite film of those nominated is American Hustle. The script and direction are excellent, the cast perfect, with top notch acting by all five major characters, and I also really love its Soundtrack. American Hustle won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy, while 12 Years a Slave took the Globe for Best Drama. Since with Oscars there is no categorical subdivision, I predict American Hustle will lose the Best Picture category to 12 Years a Slave.
When I saw Dallas Buyer’s Club, I couldn’t imagine that any other actor would deserve the Best Actor Oscar more than Matthew McConaughey, who won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama. Chiwetel Ejiofor is McConaughey‘s stiffest Oscar competition for his starring role in 12 Years a Slave. It could really go either way on this, but Sports Betting Dimeslightly favors McConaughey in what is a pretty close race.
As with the Golden Globes, McConaughey’s Dallas Buyer’s Club co-star, Jared Leto, is a favorite (and my favorite) to win his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a transgendered AIDS victim. He was just amazing.
Cate Blanchett completely owned Blue Jasmine and no one else in the Best Actress Category even comes close. Not even Meryl Streep. Cate FTW!
Best Supporting Actress is either going to Lupita Nyongo for 12 Years a Slave or Jennifer Lawrence (who won the Golden Globe) for American Hustle.
The Best Director award could go to anybody, with the exception of Alexander Payne for Nebraska, a film that only the critics and the people involved with the film seem to like. My choice would be David O. Russell for American Hustle, but if it went to, say, Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) or Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street) I wouldn’t say they didn’t deserve it. Gravity is supposed to be an epic film but if Alfonso Cuaron wins for directing it my head will explode.
And last but not least, if I gave out the awards, Best Picture would go to American Hustle, but I am pretty sure 12 Years a Slave is going to get it, because slavery was way worse than ABSCAM.
Who do you like to win in each category? Feel free to leave your picks in the comments below, and I’ll see you in front of the TV on March 2nd, 2014!
Fashion Photographer Miles Aldridge is currently showing a selection of his Technicolor dream photography, I Only Want You to Love Me, at Steven Kasher Gallery. We declare that this is a Must See exhibit! Chromo Thriller #3
Aldridge’s work is highly controlled with a cinematic effect. His Wikipedia page cites his influences as film directors Derek Jarman, David Lynch and Fellini and the photographer Richard Avedon, as well as the psychedelic graphic design of his father, Alan Aldridge.
I Only Want You to Love Me #1
Aldrige’s photography is filled with glamorous, beautiful women, whose perfect appearance and blank expression could be interpreted as passivity and ambivalence.
I Only Want You to Love Me #4
Aldridge, however, prefers to define his women as in a state of contemplation, so that we are asked imagine their inner lives. The surreal, David Lynchian context of his photos telegraph the possibility that these dream-like scenarios could just as easily transform into nightmares.
Home Works
I Only Want You to Love Me by Miles Aldridge will be on exhibit through June 8th, 2013 at Steven Kasher Gallery, Located at 521 West 23rd Street, NYC in the Chelsea Gallery District. Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Did you know that legendary Hollywood movie actress /sex symbol Jayne Mansfield and her husband, Mickey Hargitay, once lived in a mansion that was known as The Pink Palace? While it was painted pink on the outside and had a pretty crazy Pink Bathroom (that was not only carpeted wall to wall but also floor to ceiling) few of the interior rooms had a pink color scheme. Still, The Pink Palace – which included a custom-designed, heart shaped swimming pool — had a unique design aesthetic and no shortage of over-the-top decor! See more photos of Jayne and The Pink Palace, which was demolished in 2002, at This Link.
Japanese American actress Tura Satana, best known for her role as Varla in Russ Meyer’s 1965 film Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (for which she did all of her own stunts and fight scenes) passed away on January 4th, 2011, in Reno Nevada. She was 72. RIP Tura.
