perfect sound forever

It's hard out there for a pimp.

Okay, that had to be the best Oscar moment as Jin pointed out. I can't help but think of my conservative mom, watching the show and going, "What is this world coming to? Pimp?" Oh well....

Work was very busy this week. It's total crunch time (and even beyond) for this project I am working on. It's been A LOT of writing. Everything has happened so quickly.

There has been some pressure and some hard feelings. I think the consultants who are "managing" the project hate me--we have a very rigorous routing process for everything here, so text and photos are late. Design approval is late. Everything is late. Their wireframes--basically they plug in all our writing and art into these templates and give them to the arm of this company that's building these Web pages--are late. To them I think I'm public enemy number one.

My managing editor has been really cool about everything. He basically told them--a few times--to fuck themselves and leave me alone.

I'm excited because I think it's going to turn out really great. I'm very proud of the writing I've done. It's so nice to be somewhere where I really love what I'm doing and get it. I feel all grown up.

Here in the Big Apple, it's starting to feel like spring. I want to have another party at my apartment. I am thinking tiki theme.

Oscar Night

I know it sounds cheesy but I love the Oscars. Yes, they are always too long, and more years than not I haven't seen half of the movies nominated.

However, I love the fashion and the ceremony of it all. In this day and age, so rarely do people get dressed to the nines. It's nice that there is some glamour left in Hollywood, aside from Juicy Couture sweats and all the crap the Simpson sisters wear. (A recent post on Go Fug Yourself amused me to no end by saying that Ashlee Simpson was the new face of Derelicte. Derelicte being the line from Zoolander inspired by the homeless. So un-PC—yet so funny.)

Some good flicks that I saw this year: Syriana, Pride & Prejudice, hmmm anything else?

Whatever. I'm having the girls over and sending good vibes to Clooney.

Last Nite

Sue is visiting from San Francisco. We decided to go to the First Friday party at the Guggenheim, where Carlos D. of Interpol and VHS or Beta were DJing. It was packed and fun. The crowd was a little sedate, but I guess that's what happens when you're packed in like sardines! I've heard Carlos spin a better set, but he did get the crowd going with some old school stuff (think all the Interpol influences.)

After that, we went to Lit where we danced some more and smoked ciggies in the scary dungeon....

Tonight, headed for a b'day party in the 'hood.

XO,
F

Oh, Madge

So the funniest thing I heard/read all week....

I forwarded an e-mail about how Madonna is now confirmed to the Coachella lineup to a few people, and Jinners writes back, "ew, that is so.... unnecessary. she needs to retire her over-exercised bod already. let it grow old!"

"Let it grow old." I LOVE IT.

Come on Madge, yes your new song is off the hook (largely due to the Abba sample), but this is NOT your venue. This makes the night you "DJed" Misshapes seem cool in comparison. Come on, keep your unitard away from the indie.

Hip and Happening

When I first "moved" to NYC (I put "moved" in quotes because essentially I was living with my parents in Westchester and couch-surfing with friends in Manhattan every weekend), I interned for a (then) glamorous downtown lifestyle magazine.

Several times a week, said formerly fabulous mag had a party of some kind. I spent a lot of time in 1996 and 1997 at one-name lounges in Soho with names like Life, Spy, etc. Back then, it was all about being out, being seen, and who you'd see. I had more Parker Posey sightings than anyone should, and too few of Ethan Hawke. (Mind you this was before he cheated on Uma.)

Then in the late '90s came the club days, during which my friends and I sometimes stayed out until sunrise. This was usually at places called Twilo, Centro-Fly, etc. Had more extended hangovers than I care to remember, and I still have some of the records. (Although I wonder, did I really need Modjo's "Lady" on vinyl? Or even Cassius's "My Feelings for You"?)

BTW, all of these clubs I mentioned (from both "eras") are now history.

Let's just say that I have mellowed significantly. Nowadays, you can rarely find me at anyplace that's hot, hip, or happening. Unless you count Brooklyn. (Which is all of the above, but in its own way.)

What's strange is that I am considering two scenester events in the next week or so--both involve members of Interpol. What is the world coming to? I am so unhip. Until just a few months ago, I didn't even know who Diplo was--OKAYYYYYY?

I'll let you know what happens, but I think the Kevin Bacon Game for this generation should be Six Degrees of Carlos D.

PS: Am looking forward to both the Whitney Biennial and the Armory Show. I need some art in my life!!!

PPS: I recently ran into one of the editors of the fabulous magazine on Avenue C. He was smoking a cigarette with a young, lovely boy, in front of Bao, the restaurant where I have my birthday dinner each year, and here's our exchange:

ME: "Hi do you remember me? I'm ___________ and I used to intern with you at ___________."
HIM: "Vaguely."
ME: "Well, I remember you vividly. How's it going?"
HIM: "Good what are you doing?"
ME: "I'm going to the supermarket to get ground turkey so I can make a turkey burger for dinner."
HIM: "Well, sister keep fighting the good fight."

Again, more proof. This old queen is STILL more fabulous than I'll ever be. Oh well.

FINAL PPPS: The photo is of Paul from Interpol. Yummy.

Required reading

New York magazine had a very interesting piece on blogging this past week. It was basically about the handful of "A-list" blogs like Gawker, Engadget, etc., and how they've become viable sources of income, making a select few bloggers overnight millionaires. Kind of crazy. The article is good though, and the theory about what kinds of links and publicity blogs need to get sizable traffic was very interesting. Very Tipping Point. I think for now Perfect Sound Forever is in no danger of flying above the radar :)

Although it is interesting to note that one blog that my friend The Duck reads (and links to) is now part of the iVillage network. I always considered the blog in question very My So-Called Life, in that it's just so SELF-AWARE. Jesus.

I have to say, although I don't begrudge these bloggers' commercial success, to me, all this (HELLO BMW ads on blogs) is kind of at odds with what the medium is all about, n'est-ce pas?

chill weekend

It's been a pretty chill weekend here in the Big Apple. It's been FREEZING (literally) so I haven't been motivated enough to really go out. Today I went for brunch at Bowery Bar with Allan, which is great because the greenhouse area is heated. So it feels like you're outside, but it's about 80 degrees.

What else is new? Hmmm. Not a lot. I've just been at home doing my thing around the house....

“Ageless Beauty”

One part Broadcast, another part My Bloody Valentine, this is my new favorite song by Stars. Check it out here: http://music.download.com/stars/3600-8591_32-100640193.html

In other news, I forgot to mention that my friend Eric also quit his job. Must be something in the water.

Snow Patrol

It's snowing in New York City!

I went to Syracuse, so truly I feel like I never need to see another snow flake again in my life, but today it is actually kind of beautiful....

Not much is happening this weekend. It's been pretty chill. On Friday, I went to my former coworkers' 30th birthday party, at this place in Chelsea, The Cutting Room. The bar's claim to fame is that Chris Noth (aka "Mr. Big" from Sex and the City) is one of the owners. The last time I was there, it was because Rack of Lamb, the Rolling Stone staff band, was performing.

Since then, the crowd has become even cheesier. It's the kind of place where crap bands play and the sluttily-dressed bartenders totally ignore you unless you're a frat boy. (If you're a chick, they'll fix their hair and stare at their cleavage in the mirror, making you wait nearly 10 minutes or so for a glass of third-rate Cabernet.)

It's also the kind of place where, when you leave early because you just can't stand the lame-ousity anymore, wasted girls are fighting in front of said bar. Puke. One of the drunk girls did have some words of wisdom though: As she was slurring to her friends she said, "Let's get out of here--this place suckssss." When she saw me smile, she goes, "See--thank you!"

That being said, it was nice to see Susie and some of the crew from the old magazine again.

Rented The Constant Gardener on demand last night, which was amazing. I watched it twice, and it's definitely one of those movies where you get more out of it the second time around. Question: do such brooding, romantic men really exist outside of movies starring Ralph Fiennes? (I know everyone thinks Joseph is the finer of the Fiennes, but I am all about Ralph....) Anyhow, it's really worth renting if you've not yet seen it--intriguing story, fantastic acting (especially by Rachel Weisz, who is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar), and beautifully shot.

Today, I went to the coffee shop, cleaned my apartment, got a manicure, and did a little light shopping. Virgin was having their $10 sale, so I got the Stars CD, Set Yourself on Fire and the Keane CD Hopes and Fears, which I have wanted forever. Tonight, I cannot wait to watch Grey's Anatomy and light some candles in my apartment!

That's all for now....

Reading

So ever since I quit my job at the last magazine I worked at, I've been reading a lot. And not just magazines, which sadly enough I no longer had time to read at my old job because I was so overworked and burnt out.

I would literally get them in the mail, and let them pile up on my kitchen counter, as I did with my mail and everything else. (My clothes piled up on the floor in the bedroom, dirty dishes piled up in the sink, etc., etc.)

But now I am not only reading magazines, but I am also reading BOOKS again. Will wonders ever cease? Finished A Million Little Pieces, The Tipping Point (obviously I am not an Innovator or an Early Adopter, and now I am reading Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, which is so far brilliant.

Reading is fundamental.