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Printing Press Auction Update
A little update on what happened at the printing press auction I mentioned two weeks ago.
The guys behind the in-the-works film Linotype were there filming how that part of the auction went down.
The linotype machine went to a museum for $10 (it cost $2600 just to move) and the rest of the room—all the beautiful old lead type, wooden storage boxes, etc—went for almost $10,000, to a guy who (I think) was going to resell it all separately or possibly for just the metal value. There was a collective sigh of resolution in the room after the winning bid was settled, and the new owner was immediately surrounded by type nerds hoping to buy specific pieces from him.
After three hours, I had to sneak out to find a sandwich. Fortunately we were in the North End, so I found this amazing balsamic, mozzerella, proscuitto creation just up the street at Salumeria Italiana:
One of the very last things auctioned off—when only the curious stragglers remained—was the file cabinet we had our eye on. We got it for $10! Cheaper than any of our other crappier, newer cabinets. It has five small drawers, just the right size to hold Joe’s clothes, and was made by Steelcase in my hometown. How perfect.
There’s something great about auctions: a bunch of strangers standing around examining the oddest assortment of things, with one fast-talking gentleman trying to entice you to bid for something you don’t want, or do want, but are pretending not to. We had a lot of fun and it was way more exciting than typical window shopping. It might be a new hobby!
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Dresscue Me
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/20092004]
My younger sister Joanie is the manager at an enormous vintage store tucked into a warehouse in Los Angeles called Shareen Vintage. I love to call her up and hear about how crazy her day was, but none of her stories will really make sense until the reality show they’ve been filming about the place premiers in April. I can’t wait, if only to see all the beautiful dresses.
It’s going to be called “Dresscue me” and will be on Planet Green (I guess Planet Green is being secretive because I can’t link to them about it. Here’s a NY Times article about Shareen & the show). Until then, I loved this video done by Keith Paugh, commissioned by Launderette.
As you’ll see, Shareen is a fashion philosopher who has a vision for her customers (girls only!), which is why I think the show will be genuinely unique to watch. (You see Joanie a few times in the video, she has long brown hair and is wearing a strapless blue floral dress. Can’t wait to see more of you on the screen, Joan!) You can also visit Shareen Vintage on Facebook, where previous customers literally gush their love for her clothes.
Are you looking to contact Joanie Cusack directly? You can do that right here!
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Good Interview: Abby Clawson Low
The March issue of Matchbook has an interview with Abby Clawson Low, whose blog I’ve had as a suggested read at the bottom of E & D for awhile now (for too long actually, keep an eye on those and I’ll change them up). She has a super unique eye, designs joyful stuff, and–as it turns out from the interview–is just as nice as one might guess from her work.
photo from Matchbook
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Soft geography
Seeing the quilt+floral+map combo in this photo made the little cat inside me curl up and purr to sleep. So cozy. The whole Seattle apartment, featured on Design*Sponge yesterday, is extra lovely and heirloomy.
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The Korean Deli Memoir
Maybe it’s my former marketeering identity talking, but I love the idea of a ridiculously literary academic opening a deli in NYC. With his in-laws. And all his savings.
Luckily, I’m in charge of the real-estate search, and so far I have successfully steered us from any delis serving hot food. As a result, Kay’s frustration is starting to become lethal.
“What’s the matter?” she asked me the other day. “You not like money? Why you make us poor?”
These are not unfair questions. I would say that one of my biggest faults as a human being is that I do not love money, which makes me lazy and spoiled.
You can read a far too short excerpt over at NY Magazine.
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Multitask, the Game
I was able to play this game long enough to earn the Taste of Ritalin badge. So a pretty sucky multitasker. It’s hard! But I like the nice colors and friendly shapes.
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TV Talk
Happy Monday! I spent last night switching from one illegal Oscar live stream to another. Classy. It felt very 90s—when is technology going to catch up with TV-less audiences? I mostly cringed at Anne Hathaway and James Franco so stilted but somehow it’s always worth it to see the beautiful dresses. Did you watch?
I loved this Aubrey Plaza photo in Sunday’s New York Times Style Magazine. Aubrey plays the indifferent intern on Parks & Recreation. She’s so deadpan it’s post modern. Congrats to Amy Poehler for being the first person to write a bored intern, an office staple, into a sitcom.
On that NBC note, just want to make sure everyone is watching Community. I withheld my laughter suspiciously for the first couple episodes, but now I always look forward to how they will re-invent the typical episode format. They give the characters plenty of room to be strange so it’s never predictable.
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Saturday Reading
You guys aren’t reading enough blogs, are you?
If not, Say 100 has thoughtfully highlighted 100 tastemaker blogs, chosen for you by pros of their fields, in widely flung areas of technology, fashion, business, etc. A good idea. Check it out if only to shrug your shoulders with satisfaction that you’ve been reading those guys for awhile. (Is it a pity that “spiritual” is not a field? Or totally unrealistic to hope for?)
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France, Here and There
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/18886355]
It’s been a blast torturing myself by reading about Design Mom’s life in the French countryside (woah, are we on a mom blog kick here or what?), but I am also enjoying Anne’s Unglamorous Paris posts which are full of realistic troubleshooting for abroad living, on topics like handling visitors (way too many of them), finding bathrooms downtown, and legal paperwork.
You’ve probably seen this video about a zillion times by now, but just in case…
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Minty Vogue
