The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Is it a faux pas to rent the DVD that they're playing on the TV in the video store? I guess not when there's nobody else in the store. Also not when the movie in question is a stylish late-60s affair with awesome music that just got released on DVD. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968) is in some sense an "issues" film about, among other things, disability, class, and race in the American south. The handling of these issues, despite a fine performance by Alan Arkin, feels a bit rote. But wow is the film nice to look at. A young, slightly elfin Sondra Locke makes her debut here, and she looks straight out of the pages of the Spring/Summer A.P.C. look book. She cuts a kind of tom-boyish pixie figure, strong and plucky. Actually, Locke eerily resembles Stephen Malkmus. The film also has a very classy soundtrack by David Grusin. Check the clip for some moog stylings.

a-choo!

Ben's sister Akemi made me these Lotta Jansdotter-inspired tissue holders for Christmas. I'm in love with the fabrics, a combo of vintage and Ikea. What is it about mustard yellow and grey that looks so good?

dedicated foolios of fashion

Last week, Joyce and I were walking around Hayes Valley in SanFrancisco. We emerged from absentmindedness to find a woman thrusting a camera in our face and asking about our fashion influences. Uh...eh? We feared she was some sort of foot fetishist [she took photos of our shoes], but she explained that she was a blogger interested in SF street fashion. Quite pleased with ourselves, we posed for some ridiculous photographs and free-associated some complete nonsense in answer to her questions. Have a look for yourself -- it's really quite remarkable. If anyone has any idea just what the hell I'm blathering on about, please let me know. All jesusbugs readers have a right and responsibility to make fun of us for this. If you're bored at work, take a moment to peruse some of the other fashion victims. It's like Buffalo Exchange central casting. bg

chocolate & zucchini

Don't you love getting gifts in the mail? Yesterday this cookbook arrived from my awesome cousin Camille who lives in LA. We share an affinity for food and fashion, and Chocolate and Zucchini is a blog we both read. The woman who writes it leads what appears to be the perfect life. She lives in Paris, has cute "French girl" hair, and enjoys success as a published author. All at the age of 27. I hate her.



Just kidding, Clotilde! I love you and your recipes. Especially this yogurt cake that I tried out today. The recipe was dead simple -- I just cut the finished cake into two layers and added raspberry jam. Delicious. Even as I write, Ben is eating the piece pictured below. [Please note: no butter jesus was harmed in the making of this cake.]



Camille herself is starting up a new site. Wallflour is devoted to yummy food and chilled-out entertaining. Her writing is funny, sarcastic, and very smart. And her dog Guinness may be the most adorable canine on the planet. jm

Butter Jesus

You know you are back in Ohio when you see a huge statue of Jesus made out of what looks like dairy product. This is the Solid Rock megachurch between Cincinnati and the airport in Dayton, featuring a huge bust of Jebus emerging from the water. It kind of looks like he is made of butter. Joyce took two photos from the car. Here is the second one. Thank you Jebus!

leap year

Happy New Year! We are now restored to health, or what passes for health, after a rainy but relaxing stay in California. Thanks to the hospitality of our friends and family we enjoyed ourselves a great deal. In fact I enjoyed myself a full day longer than I was supposed to as the rain resulted in a canceled flight back to Cincinnati. Some highlights included baby holding (Hi Sofia!), cat petting (Hi Puma!), eating, record shopping, more eating...uh...er...what else did we do exactly? I can't really remember but it was great just spending time with our dearly missed friends. And eating good sushi and Mexican food. Now, some photos.

El Vino did flow. Our friends Jenny and Ian threw a lovely New Years party featuring a sidecar recipe that will live in infamy.









I believe this is Ian making said drink. I don't know what was stronger, the drink or the way Ian looks in that beard. Young Ian also gets credit for the photo of me and Joyce above.














Joyce has more photos on her flickr page, but here are some highlights.










Ben's doing his best "Rear Window" / stalker impression: