Friends of the band

Magnet #129 - Duran Duran

A girl never forgets her first superstar crush. And for me, it was John Taylor of Duran Duran. Hell, to this day, I would totally run off with my Jaunty John (/tm 16 magazine) if he asked me to.

Outside of school, I had a group of friends who were huge Duranies. They were a couple of years older than me, which skewed me younger than the average D2 fan.

Which also meant that during school hours, I was pretty much the only 6th and 7th grader in love with these guys. I was the British invasion personified, running around with magazines and tapes and bandannas and singing "Planet Earth" and ooohing over Seven and the Ragged Tiger. In fact, I even remember being at a sleepover, and while everyone else was off snacking in the kitchen, or playing outside, I was the only one camped out in front of the TV anxiously awaiting the MTV world premiere of "New Moon on Monday."

And, twenty-odd years after that first cassette tape, I'm still buying their music, they're the majority of albums on my mp3 player, and they're the wallpaper on my cell phone. Oh, and I'm still going to their concerts.

I picked up this pin-now-magnet, two concerts ago - when the little fangurl in me squeed at finally getting to see them play MSG. Freakin' awesome. Back in 84, they had sold out several MSG dates, and it was the most rad place to see them, and my little tweenie self was never able to make it up here.

But nothing - and I do mean nothing - tops my last Duran Duran concert - last year, for the launch of Red Carpet Massacre. We went as (and I say with this with quite the hairtoss) friends of the band, names on the list and everything. Oh, be still my little fangurl heart.

And, so what if we didn't get backstage in the end - I'm thinking that perhaps maybe, that's a good thing.

For John, anyway.

Elephant walk

Magnets #128a & 128b - Elephant Magnerine

How cool are these guys.

Last year, some friends and I visited the American Museum of Natural History here in town, and I saw these in the little shop. (There I go again, with the little shop.)

And, of course, the second I saw these, I fell promptly in love. It's like twice the magnetic goodness! It's two magnets, that become one 3-D figurine that stands all on its own.

It's called a Magnerine, which is just the most clever name to ever clever. Seriously, I raved about them for days and days after I saw them. In the interest of full disclosure, I've actually been in touch with these folks, hoping to work with them on a project for work. But I was thrilled to see all the different types of magnets they've produced - including, one I've already blogged about - the Monet tube of paint!

As it turns out, apparently, there's several of these Magnerines - just in the AMNH shop alone was a gorilla, a polar bear, and even the giant blue whale (a la the newly refurbished blue whale room at the museum). And, the Met has them as well, for their Egyptian collection and their Met store bags, which are also supercute as well.

But I have to say, I think this little guy's my absolute favorite. I mean, look how cute is he!!!

The War to end all wars

Magnet #127 - National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial

So this is kinda freaky.

This day in history, in:

1914 - Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife were assassinated, setting off World War I.

1919 - The Treaty of Versailles was signed in France, ending World War I.

I guess it's also kinda neat, though.

My sister brought this one back for me from Kansas City, MO. It's from the National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial. From the looks of it, a supercool interactive/experiential museum - especially if it was designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates, who have designed some of my favorite museums.

Have ya'll ever noticed how sometimes our general appreciation of history feels kinda trendy? Like a few years ago it was all things WWII. Years before that, it was all things Vietnam. And, now, it feels like it's all things American Revolution. Funny how it feels a little driven by Hollywood.

Still, I suppose one shouldn't complain, after all, any attention paid to history is probably a good thing, what with the doomed repeating and all.

Of sound mind

Magnet #126 - Smithsonian Institution

My sister and I are constantly debating the merits of her town (Washington, D.C.) and my town (New York City).

Usually, it's arguing back and forth about how the NYC subway system is pretty dirty and is always crowded and has no padded seats or carpeting, and most important, has no air conditioning in the stations. Versus the DC Metro with its shiny clean air conditioned stations, its fancy padded seats and carpeting, and the handy signs (and even-more-handy blinking lights) that tell you when the next train is approaching.

The biggest qualm I have about the DC Metro, is that it's form over function. What good's a train, when you have to walk a million miles to get to the nearest station.

Any. Way.

The one thing I will concede, is that Washington has a veritable treasure trove of free museums. I mean, how cool is it, that you can just walk into any of the Smithsonians for free! You guys haven't a clue how lucky ya'll are - versus paying $20 for the Met or the Moma or the Natural History Museum. Between the Smithsonian and the memorials, you could spend days in town without having to drop a cent.

Funnily enough, you have a Brit scientist to thank. On June 27, 1829, James Smithson passed away, and left an endowment "to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men."

Some thought he was a little weird, since he didn't know anyone in America.

My theory? I think he either met some silly American and wanted us to be better educated. Or, he thought that if the colonies were going to last, we'd better get some knowledge increased and diffused asap.

Pip-pip, cheerio and all that rot, Mr. Smithson!

Meet me tonight in Atlantic City

Magnet #125 - Borgata, Atlantic City, NJ

Today in 1870, they opened the first section of the Atlantic City Boardwalk. That stretch of beach developed pretty rapidly, with luxurious hotels, retail shops and fine restaurants and other attractions, making AC the coolest thing on the eastern seaboard - a turn-of-the-century playground for the rich and famous.

Now, that same boardwalk is still there - the hotels, shops and restaurants have all come and gone and come again, and people still make their way to AC with the sole purpose of having fun.

Well, that, and to win their fortune at the slots, I suppose. Of course, AC is trying to make itself a little more family friendly, but to me, it just feels a little seedier now, and when compared to Vegas, it seems to give off an air of desperation.

What's funny is that the last time we went, I made my sister traipse up and down the boardwalk, following the trail that Danny Ocean followed inside the Trump casino, buying saltwater taffy, visiting the mall with the requisite (and a little sad) water fountain show. After that, I took her off the boardwalk, and over to the Borgata.

It was like watching a heavenly chorus of angels, the way she lit up at the happy place that IS the Borgata. Why? Well, for starters, it's the sister hotel to my beloved Vegas Bellagio. And, the majority, if not all, of the glasswork is done by my beloved Chihuly. And, honestly? It just feels nicer than anything on the boardwalk.

Well, at least until their slots eats all your money.

A cut above...and beyond

Magnet #124 - Holbein the Younger's The Ambassadors

But, where are they? Talk about cropping out the important stuff!

I can't believe this magnet from the National Gallery in London. It's of Holbein the Younger's Ambassadors, and it makes me giggle, from the second that I saw it.

First, this is the full image. Jeepers!

Second, they not only cropped out the guys, but they took out the cool anamorphic part of it.

And, third, here we go again with the reading into art, again. Supposedly, the broken lute string is discord, and the Lutheran hymn book is a plea for harmony. And, you don't get to see the sundials or the globes, to represent man's ability to measure time or chart the heavens.

But c'mon, someone at the museum had to make this cropping decision. I mean, how you gonna crop out the anamorphic skull - the very thing that makes the gallery visitors walk up to this very painting and actually look at it!

Oh, don't have a cow!

Magnet #123 - Cow


Well, I do.