Shampoo collection addition - The Milford Plaza

The Milford Plaza is well located and affordable, no frills, nothing fancy. And that is about the same thing I would say about their toiletries!

Fuerzabruta

Saw some amazing theatre while in New York. First was Come Back Little Sheba starring Kevin Anderson and S Epatha Merkerson. All that New York Broadway theatre should be. It was THE show to see. And we got tickets at TKTS, go down to the South Street Seaport TKTS booth. Not a single person there!

The other show we saw was Fuerzabrtua, off broadway. It is pretty much Brazillian Cirque Du Soleil. And if you know me at all, you know what a HUGE Cirque fan I am! This was a real stunner! A visual treat for ALL the senses. Just an hour off pulse charging sound, rythms, water, people flying through the air, breaking through walls. Just watch the trailer and see!

S'Mac

Best new find in New York this past weekend. . .S'Mac! A pilgrimage to all things comfort. That being Macaroni and Cheese!

This new spot in the East Village, and just blocks from two of my other faves, Yaffa Cafe and Dumpling Man, serves up comfort in cast iron pans. I had the four cheese, Alison had the cheeseburger. Check out there menu, but better yet, check out the restaurant next time you're in New York!

Mythical Creatures

Hermey, the dentist elf

Seems as though when the quiz is taken, I am an elf. An elf with nymph tendencies and a smidge of siren, a pinch of vampire and a whisper of werewolf.

Elves are skilled, intelligent craftsmen and warriors. An elf will devote his or her life to a certain trade, and thus become the best in the universe at what they do. Elves are commonly very quiet and reclusive, causing them to be shy. However shy, they are not naive and posess a great deal of knowlege and wisdom that seems to be inherited at birth. Elves are immortal, and very dedicated to nature. They walk in harmony with their surroundings, but are not wholely over emotional beings. Love is not thought of as deep or passionate for these creatures, but rather a pairing, or mating that is ultimately result in offspring.

Click on the title and find out what kind of mythical being you are!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are some facts about the heart on this ever so heart friendly day!

The average human heart is about the size as two fists.

Your heart beats about 100,000 times in one day and about 35 million times in a year. During an average lifetime, the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times.

Give a tennis ball a good, hard squeeze. You're using about the same amount of force your heart uses to pump blood out to the body. Even at rest, the muscles of the heart work hard--twice as hard as the leg muscles of a person sprinting.

As an adult, your pulse rate is an average of 72 beats per minute.

The aorta, the largest artery in the body, is almost the diameter of a garden hose.

Your body has about 5.6 liters (6 quarts) of blood that circulates through the body three times every minute. In one day, the blood travels a total of 19,000 km (12,000 miles)--that's four times the distance across the US from coast to coast.

The heart pumps about 1 million barrels of blood during an average lifetime--that's enough to fill more than 3 super tankers. 

If nothing else, you are now a little more heart smart today and have some conversation starters for your next party!

A really nice happy!

I was on sabbatical from school last semester. Damn what a great perk THAT is!

I am back in the classroom as an earlier post explained. I have been meeting with students who I did not see last semester, some graduated in the winter.

Today, I met with a student who has a big interview this Friday. She wanted some feedback on her book and to talk about this place (it is a rather big name shop in Chicago). I looked at her work, really nice! She was always a hard worker and was not surprised by her book at all.

Later in the afternoon I received this email:

"Thanks so much for taking the time to meet up. It's good to see you back at Columbia...things just weren't the same without you around. I really appreciate the feedback and insight. I'll keep you posted on how things go on Friday."

This is why I teach! And if anyone is looking for a entry level, eager, talented designer, I will be happy to forward her name along. This one needs to work and start her career and do the profession proud!

Guess who?

That's right!

Mary, the Virgin Mary, is on my neighbors door! I noticed her before, but today she looked especially visible. Fortunately we have a security gate otherwise I fear pilgrims heading over.

There are all sorts of jokes that could be made, but that just does not seem right.

Furry Babies

Furry Babies is a really nice turn on your typical pet store, conceptually. There are no cages as you can see. All the puppies are kept in rather sizable and open cribs that line the walls of the "nursery" styled store. Even the help are dressed in nursing uniforms. You won't find bags of pet food and chew toys here as much as high-end clothing, strollers and all sorts of accessories for your furry baby.

This is their only store right now, located in the Peru Mall, in Peru, IL. They are hoping to franchise. With the way many people treat their pets, this could be a big hit!

Spiral Jetty v. Oil Drilling

Oil Drilling Application #8853

"Spiral Jetty", the earthwork installation sculpture at the Great Salt Lake created by Robert Smithson, is an extraordinarily important milestone in the history of American art. Built forty years ago, it continues to be recognized as an especially significant and seminal work from which a distinctive American genre has evolved. There is hardly a college course given in contemporary art history that does not consider this phenomenal, unique work of art. Every artist, curator, art historian, art student- everyone with a serous grasp of American art is familiar with this iconic image. It is universally respected and admired.

It is not just the piece by itself that is important. It is the considered, precise relationship with the surrounding lake and desert that makes it special. It was designed and placed with that relationship in mind - for that particular circumstance. That is why it must not be disturbed by oil drilling or other development in its proximity.

Bamboo Bicycle

Talk about eco-friendly!

Calfee Design are the minds behind this.

This is not just a cool bike. It is appropriate for everyday use and for racing. The vibration damping is a performance advantage on longer rides. Each frame is built to order and every frame is a unique. Tubes are selected for the weight of the rider. The geometry of the frame can be any of our usual geometries: Pro, Tri or Cross. Custom frames can also be made.

The bike is made from Bamboo that has been smoked and heat treated to prevent splitting. Lugs are available in carbon fiber or hemp fiber, for the all-natural look. The chainstays are available in carbon fiber for extra stiffness in the drivetrain.

They coat the bamboo with Tung oil to seal it up.

Calfee Bamboo bikes have won awards for Best Road Bike, Best Off-Road Bike and Peoples' Choice Award at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. A Calfee Bamboo bike won 1st place in the open class at the Great Western Bicycle Rally's Concourse d'Elegance show.

If there were an award for "Bicycle with lowest carbon footprint" (least amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the production of the frame), this frame would win, hands down.

He is bringing his design to Ghana in Western Africa, to teach local craftsmen how to utilize their abundant bamboo resource. This is purely philanthropic and Calfee hopes the local framemakers will profit from his design.

Peru Baby!

That's right! I got me a travelin' jones and am off to Peru, just for the weekend!

Oh yeah, Peru, IL, just under 90 miles away. It aint a warm, fun in the sun getaway, but a fun wth a friend who lives in Peru getaway! Mardis Gras Party, Superbowl Party and catching up.

See you all Monday!