Sass and Circumstance

quote of the week. 

frank lloyd wright. architectural savant with some wise words. 

muggles rejoice.

j.k rowling has begun the press onslaught for her newest foray into literary genius: “the casual vacancy.”

according to an article from this week’s ad age, the 512-page novel is being kept under impervious-type-charm wraps until it’s official release date: september 27^th at 8am.

but elder-wand lovers be warned, “the casual vacancy” forgoes horcruxes and hogwarts, and is replaced by a more proverbial, albeit mystery-filled, life in the quaint english countryside. “draws a stark line between this work and anything ms. rowling has done before,” “blackly comedic” and “thought-provoking” are some comments to come out of the mere 15 people who have read the tome so far. that aside, there is no doubt that the magical (pun intended) literary froth that made harry and his adventures so popular for so many years, will also be present in this work, cajoling us to fall in love with a whole new set of misfit characters.

once released, rowling will embark upon the press tour to end all press tours: a litany of morning shows, late night jibber jabbers and the occasional radio spots. however, the fanboy (or girl) pièce de résistance comes in the form of “the casual vacancy” q&a to be hosted at new york’s lincoln jazz center on october 16^th. with people lining up days in advance, tickets sold out in a mere hour and rowling devotees are already clamoring on ebay for the leftovers.

needless to say, this fangirl is quite excited, even if there are no patronus’ or the like…i will readily be standing in line for a copy.

let’s just hope j.k. doesn’t disappoint.

in late july, cheery russian president, vladimir putin signed a new visa agreement doing away with the laborious and disheartening us visa process (a.k.a one needs a formal invitation) thereby opening the proverbial flood gates to u.s fanny packs and tampa bay visors.

for those of you that stray from overly-american accessories and are truly interested in lapping up the culture of this rigidly interesting nation, i suggest beginning with the ritz carlton – moscow. (yes, i recognize that the ritz is really not russian by nature, but i assure they have seemed to adapt the culture just fine.)

very much old world soviet meets new world democracy (if i may), the hotel boasts the highest level amenities with an unwavering 18th-century flair – wood carved doors, plush pillows, floating fireplaces, spa space chairs – you know, the usual. with an opulence factor that knows no bounds, and let’s face it in a comical twist of fate (or politics) the russians have come to define the term opulence (have you seen their fur coats, right?), the hotel is packed with a library containing over 800 vintage works, a spa that makes you believe in time travel, and rooms that perch themselves perfectly at the moscow skyline.

don’t forget about their exclusive wine-room which touts the oldest and most exclusive collection of petrus wine or their restaurant aptly named carviarterra (only in russia can you use caviar in the tile of your restaurant…how delightfully pretentious.) from there you can tap into the hotel concierge’s moscow prowess to assemble the perfect tour – the kremlin, the bolshoi ballet, the conservatory…all the while knowing you’ll be coming home to anna karenina and your made for a menage-a-trois-tub.

hey it is vacation…just be careful not to drop it in the tub…tolstoy will be less than thrilled.

(Source: sassandc.wordpress.com)

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a creative is always plagued by the ideal of making art and what that art should be, should not be; loved, hated, what will the world think, what do i think. 

but then there is andy…who says screw ‘em all and just keep moving. 

just keep creating. 

whilst my daily procrastination yesterday, i stumbled upon an interesting article that sang to my overly-ambitious core - 3 Ways to Become An Authoritative Leader, EVEN If You’re Under 30. 

a common misconception of the young and successful is that we feel entitled. to everything. always. 

don’t get me wrong, i am aware that there are members of my generation afflicted by the instant-gratification bug, but i also think there is a strong lot of us that know what it means to work and work hard, that know what it means to climb up the ladder rung by rung, and that know that while some people grow into leaders, others are just born with it (here’s hoping). 

the article paints a pretty picture: follow three steps of corporate-social-climbing etiquette (establish yourself at both your company/community, and use your previous experience) you will be given the respect you undoubtedly deserve. 

hmm. well that’s nice, but DUH.

it’s as if the article simply expanded on the adage “work hard and you will go far.”

well, thank you sherlock. 

the key point the article fails to mention is that amongst all the do-goodery and letting-hard-work-pave the-way, one must learn the delicate art of informed bullshit. 

as a young person, we, by default, simply don’t have as much in the way of direct experience as our superiors, so it is of the upmost importance to stand proud and commandeer the moment/meeting/phone call into something you can make work for you. 

from there it is up to you to actually learn the truth behind your blasphemy and then of course rely on judgement and intuition to pull you the rest of the way. 

so forgive me, if that comes across as entitled, it’s just that i learned a valuable lesson at a young age: hard work with a side of well-informed bullshit, that’s leadership magic. 

and well if you can’t pull those things together, enjoy middle-management and i’ll be waving from my fully-entitled bullshit-built tower. 

to dream a little dream

by now even those who live 8-miles deep into the brush have heard the patriotic echcoes of michelle obama’s speech.

by now the gossip mags have lauded her demurely bold dress and hot pink pumps, health blogs have given america 65 different ways how to tone your arms just like the first lady, and every political pundit has tweeted, blogged, and instagrammed their own memes of the evening.

so i ask you to forgive me, if i too feel the need to be apart of this public appraisal of the american dream.

michelle obama was my mother, my father, my 4th grade teacher, my unborn daughter, my first boss, and my future. she was the american dream last night, in all it’s tactile glory.

and more than inspiring hope, she gave a new understanding to that dream. it is not so much that we can acheive the impossible, or that we can rise from meager beginnings to shape our world, or even that hard work and determination pays off, because yes, we can all do those things, but what michelle obama instilled in us is that it is our god-given american RIGHT to have that dream.

to let our imagination soar so far beyond the realm of reality, so deep into ambition, that we, political assuasions aside, can make a dent in this world. that we WILL be heard, we WILL continue climbing, and that we can dream whatever it is we want.

that we as a country are in the naissance of our revival. and that the american dream is very much alive, in each and everyone one of our minds. that dream may differ, that dream may be so grand or so minute that to your neighbor it is nothing, but it’s ours to dream, and in that alone, it is the most undeniably american thing we have.

i am sure i am reacting exactly as the savant speech writers had intended, up in patriotic arms about our first lady’s “realness.” and i am sure that this is nothing more than an inflated political plee to keep her busband in office, but i don’t even care.

propoganda me silly. michelle, you brought me back, you reminded me what it is to dream the american dream.

let’s face it. my dreams have come true. 

two of my absolute favorite things have come together in beauteous harmony: disney and barneys new york. 

introducing electric holiday, an homage to the characters that filled our childhood minds with tales of adventure and life lessons, now comes to life in very grown up style (and by that i mean minnie is beyond fierce in those loubs) for barney’s holiday campaign. 

see i knew it all along, barneys really is the happiest place on earth. 

(Source: The Huffington Post)

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working in luxury has it’s perks. one - getting a sociology lesson whilst doing your job. 

promptly at ten am this morning, i found myself tapping at the pristine doors of neiman marcus rodeo. 

what i didn’t expect was the throng of middle to old-aged women standing in the valet cue behind me. by 10:02am the store was teeming with overly-supple socialites eyeing manolos, twaddling prada’s cashmere knits, and trying on baubles that could likely be seen from space. 

i immediately thought to myself, so this is where post-prime debutantes come to die.

a singular heard - migrating across the shoe department to make-up to accessories and all not-so-subtly awaiting the feeding trough 3rd floor restaurant to open their doors so they look as if they are doing something mildly productive with their time…or at least CHOSE to do this. 

in a way it was sad. in a way i was jealous. (who doesn’t love space baubles?) but, most of all it was fascinating.

a lightbulb went off. so this is the luxury market. rich (and mostly aging) women who have no clue what do to with their mornings (or money) so they do the wilshire cell block: neimans to saks to barneys (and down rodeo if they are feeling really lost ambitious) all before lunch calls. 

had i had all the time in the world (like these women) i would’ve stayed to watch the migrating patterns as afternoon set-in, but since i did have to go back to work (rude) i left the retail safari and handed my valet stub to the proverbial peacock of the pack a.k.a my wannabe-actor-slash-valet to be on my way. 

quite the educational start to my tuesday. 

once again monday has hit me with the snap of a wet towel. 

so naturally, i am going to avoid all work whatsoever and plan my next fantasy vacation. 

this week’s journey into the delusional? hotel du cap, cap d’antibes

it’s the rare gem that you’d actually want to hear the walls talk…and never shut up. opened in 1870, this french oasis has played host to some of the most delectable, delightful, and debaucherous personalities of the past hundred years.

f. scott fitzgerald claimed the hotels as his muse in tender is the night, liz taylor relocated her entire closet there one summer, and many a starlet caused an audacious splash in their pristine pool in the wee hours of the morn.

a nebuchadnezzar of champagne? sure. an impromptu pillow party for 50? why not. men in speedos? questionable, but favorable when worn correctly.

the neverland for those that never really wanted to grow up (and without the questionable pedophilia) and for those who actually haven’t. 

judging by the likes of things, this would be the perfect amuse bouche to my summer. 

for my next vacation i plan to really step things up…i hear the taj mahal is taking weekend guests.