These superb Wrought Iron Gates (circa 1900) by Emile Robert (French 1860 -1924) are rendered by hand in the curvilinear Art Nouveau style, which originated in northern Europe in the late 1890s and flourished until World War I. The revival of interest in wrought iron work in this period was inspired by the beautiful, ornate, Rococo gates and fences around the main square and garden of the French city of Nancy, an early center of the Art Nouveau style. The butterfly motif in these gates is indicative of the main influences of Art Nouveau design: observation of the natural world and motifs popular in Japanese art.
I pulled this image off a website where all the text is in French. But you don’t have to understand French to know this is a photo of four Stormtrooper finger nails and their buddy Darth Vader Nail hanging out on the Ring Finger. Rad.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a couple of installations by Icelandic artist Katrin Sigurdardottir on exhbit through March 6, 2011, for which I enthusiastically recommend taking a brief excursion over to the Modern Art Wing (north and south mezzanine galleries) to check out if you happen to be at the museum. The exhibit consists of a pair of site-specific installations that re-create two of the Met’s eighteenth-century French period rooms known as boiseries from the Hôtel de Crillon and the Hôtel de Cabris. The one above can be viewed through one-way mirrors while the other (Image Below) can be physically entered. Both are very cool and kind of spooky, which I like.
“I Am A Dreamy French Sex God, and Also a Great Chef”
Since there are arguably no real Rock Stars anymore, I like to say that the new Rock Stars are Artists, Comedians and Celebrity Chefs. Last night I was out with my friends and fellow Foodies, Mark and Michelle, enjoying a (seriously) once in a lifetime dining experience at Le Bernardin restaurant. I say “once in a lifetime” not because I wouldn’t want to go back there – because the food is insanely, mind-blowingly delicious and the service is the most attentive service you will ever get in any restaurant anywhere – but because it costs a small fortune to eat a meal there. Just being serious. Continue reading Gail Meets Chef Eric Ripert!→
If I were a wealthy woman, I would certainly be much more of a devoted Foodie than I already am. Because the availability of massive amounts of dispensable cash is really the only thing separating me from eating truffles and Kobe beef, followed by gold-leaf-flecked hot fudge sundaes several times a week. I am totally not kidding. Continue reading Julie & Julia: A Very Good Movie About Cooking and Love→
