Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Goodbye violet eyes.








No one will ever grace the screen with those breathtaking violet eyes again. Thank you for teaching me that if one marriage doesn't work out you try try again......a true romantic. Rest in peace.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Oh........ New York











When I step off the plane in New York I take a deep long breath. I breathe in that thick filthy air like most people do when they enter the forest or a beach. The hustle, noise, garbage and pollution wash over me like a Buddhist Zen kind of calm. New Yorkers have a certain pleasing way about them, they talk loudly and with their hands, they don't sugar coat everything to spare the feelings of the sensitive, they just say it, they walk quickly with purpose, unapologetic and productive.....that's my tribe. My recent journey into the world of photography and obsession with black & white in particular has reignited my deep and passionate love affair with New York City (not that it had ever really burnt out). I was raised on the juice of the big apple and although I can't thank my mom for the longevity of the relationship I can thank her for introducing us....me and Manhattan that is. When I was a little gal about 5 or so my mother was pursuing her career as a model in New York. My mother who has always been an eccentric wild woman brought back a picture of herself running down 5th ave. in an I heart New York T-shirt in a sea of yellow cabs. That photograph graced the walls of Pagliacci's for a good decade or so. My mother moved there when I was about 13 and attended the New York City School of Performing Arts That was so "Fame" to me. Around the age of 9, being the oddball that I was I began my fascination with old movies. I started with films like The Seven Year Itch and An Affair to Remember and moved on to Breakfast at Tiffany's, Taxi Driver, Woody Allen's Manhattan, Midnight Cowboy and of course my favorite The Way We Were....I have never been all that into the Au courant. From there my childhood love for this city mostly existed through the stories and photos from my mom and films. I made my first journey to the big city about 8 years ago and have been back several times. The last time I visited I made sure to eat a croissant and drink a latte outside Tiffany's....not that great after all. The films that depicted the heart and pulse of this great city never let me down. New york to me will always mean crisp long walks in Central park, great vegetarian grub in Greenwich Village, horse drawn carriage rides with my little girls, the Plaza, the Chelsea, Bumble, hot pretzels, great coffee, glamor, dirt and black and white. During a trip I took there a couple years ago for work I dreamed up my next great dream in a dirty ol' taxi ride to the grody ol' Laguardia airport. That trip was almost 4 years ago now and my resolve to realize my next great adventure has only grown stronger and after years of work, love, money and dreaming Barber and fritz is born. For the little bit of inspiration and energy I take with me each time I leave this great city I thank you New York..............My longest love affair yet.