City Issue

Two weekends ago we had to go to Atlanta for continuing ed classes. The rush is on to get all hours done by December which isn't a bad thing except 40 hours of CEU's is a tough order to fill when it's already August, but I digress. So we were in Atlanta for some stimulating (read: dizzying) talks on the brain, the nervous system, neurons firing, bzzzzz..bzzz....and then my brain started to sizzle so I took a break! My lovely didn't have that luxury and stayed, but I ventured to my most favorite spot in Georgia: City Issue (cue angels singing)

If I have already talked about what a great store this is, forgive me and sit back to listen to some more gushing! City Issue is a vintage furniture store that, in my opinion, rivals some we have seen on the west coast as far as quality is concerned and absolutely top notch when it comes to selection and service!

The owner, Jennifer Sams, and her team are extraordinary and make us feel right at home no matter the size of our purchase, or lack thereof. I admit that sometimes I just go in there to look around and satisfy that small, tiny part of me that likes to shop.

So this visit was no different except that the inventory was filled with many pieces fresh from Denmark and in exquisite condition. Other than the aforementioned California, we have had trouble finding good, clean affordable pieces at a dealer. We have seen plenty of so-so, dirty, and overpriced, however.

I started mentally tagging things to consider, and sent pics to my lovely in search of guidance. Long story short, a few hours later we were back down at the store before closing time measuring and negotiating. We have been in the market for new desks for some time and just couldn't decide on the look. The desks we were interested in at this store were snatched up for a movie set the very day before we arrived!

Once in the store, it was obvious that this was the beauty we were meant to take home anyway:

It's a teak partner's desk from Denmark and it is in gorgeous condition! It has a kneehole and drawers on both sides so we can both use it. One great thing about it is we got rid of two desks and have configured the den for just one desk. Yay! More room for dog beds...

wooing us with an in-store demonstration

It can be a regular sized desk when contracted or if you pull out one or both arms it expands to a huge desk with a expansive workspace or dining table that seats eight. Of course, all of this also comes with the neat little features we have come to know and love from Danish design of that era: cute drawers with storage units, and the hideaway arms that seamlessly meld into the smaller footprint. The lines are sleek, the surfaces are smooth with age, and best of all it fits like a glove in our house!

Okay, so enough about the desk. If you know where we live, come on by to drool in person...wear a bibb though, we're talking vintage here.

Our other great find was the beautiful tension rod lamp at the head of the desk in the photo. We have been searching for one of these for awhile now and never feel quite at ease with the quality on the internet. This one is almost mint condition and perfectly fits our decor! It is a wonderful addition to the collection.

We also picked up a few decorative pieces that look fabulous as well:

The beginning of our Dansk peppermill collection by Jens Quistgaard

Vintage glass vases

Teak ice bucket also by Jens Quistgaard

So if you are in Atlanta and love vintage furniture, look no further than City Issue. Jennifer will hook you up!

fun with the nutwings

Make sure you print yours today!
Oooh! Don't forget to carry it in a baggy! And dust off your tinfoil hat too!

Wowee Wednesday

Jane Fonda

You know how we sometimes just assume someone is really cool, smart, fashionable and just an all-around good person, but they kind of quietly stay in the background of the scene? That's kind of how Jane Fonda has always been for me---until recently. By the way, how gorgeous is this first picture?

I started paying closer attention to Jane this year because she was starring in the Broadway play "33 Variations" She also pioneered the role of Judy Bernly in the movie "9 to 5" which just so happens to be the role my bff, Stephanie J. Block, pioneered on Broadway this year. I know! Great coincidence!

Jane became and continues to be a polarizing figure to a large portion of our population due to her very public opposition to the Vietnam War. Here in the south, (cue banjos) we still see negative comments on bumper stickers and clothing, especially during an election cycle. Jane had a little surge in negative popularity during John Kerry's run for president as she got swept up in the Swift Boat attacks which paired the two and questioned their patriotism. Have you seen Barbarella? Maybe you should do a little Oggling..I mean Googleing and see what you are missing. hint: a lot...you are missing a lot. Look at this form! Did you know that she made 23 workout videos? Her first release Jane Fonda's Workout sold over 17 million copies. Just like she has always done, Jane Fonda keeps up with the times, even in the technilogical Tilt-A-Whirl of today. Never one to let time or trends pass her by, Jane has an incredible website and blog, Facebook page, and my favorite, her Twitter account.
Jane is an actress, activist, author, instructor, and one of the most benevolent personalities in Hollywood. It is a joy to watch her weave in and out of the mainstream fabric and continue to make a difference, a change, and best of all still stir emotions after all these years. Look at that conviction and pride in her cause!

Think this is a great pic? Me too! I like it so much that I will be donning it soon via an awesome t-shirt found on her website. No, I will not be purchasing the clutch, Bren! My goal is to be half this cool when I am 71!

HELL YEAH!

Like I need another reason to adore Heather Armstrong....

forbidden love from dooce on Vimeo.

The credits are my favorite...comedy gold people, comedy gold.

taking a break

To be perfectly honest, I'm mad at Broadway
today so there won't be a post.
Don't worry, I'm sure I'll get over it.

intelligent perspective

For an intelligent perspective, beer or sans beer, read this offering from Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

It's nice to hear some thoughtful calm, words during a week filled with conjecture

and finger-pointing.

Millions of Americans are waiting (and dying) for health care reform. So what would any responsible group of leaders charged and directed personally by the President do to make sure this reform takes place? Oh yeah...go on vacation.

Nice one, Reid. Can't rally the troops even in a majority.
Also, don't worry about Ted Kennedy's life long passion being realized. I'm sure his health will hold out another month while you guys take a vacay.
Go on grab your water wings and towels. We'll be waiting right here.

Wowee Wednesday

Samantha Brown If you're a geek like me, watching TV consists of a healthy dose of HGTV, G4TV, and anything including Travel Channel's Samantha Brown!

I mean what could be better than traveling to distant locales with a cute blonde? (No offense to my lovely!) When you travel with Sam you stay in great hotels, never wait in line, have private tours of cool events, and did I say all with a cute blonde? That's right! This girl is like a traveling Rachel Ray without all the "Yummo!" every five seconds! Perfect, no?

I must say that Travel Channel makes it very easy to keep up with/travel alongside Sam Brown too. There are a number of ways to keep up with her and visit all sorts of places, all in the span of a dinner in front of the telly. Heck, I don't even have to get frisked by the TSA at the airport!

This girl has a blog, a Facebook page, Twitter account...

You got questions? Sam's got answers!

You want Wowee wallpaper? Can do! You're welcome! I really do try to be a full service blog.

Broadway Monday

Superior Donuts Arthur Przybyszewski owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better. This provocative comedy, set in the heart of one of Chicago's most diverse communities, explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship.
This week's feature is a preview of sorts since this play will not open on Broadway until October. But because writer Tracy Lett's is still fresh off the astounding success of August: Osage County, I thought it might be nice to get ready for his next venture with a short peak at this new play. Donuts has been playing/previewing out of town at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago to rave reviews and much anticipation in New York. Take a look at this short piece which gives a great feel for the new piece.

Superior Donuts will open October 1, 2009 at the Music Box Theatre in New York with previews beginning September 16, 2009.

60 Americans per day die due to lack of healthcare. What if a terrorist group were killing 60 Americans per day?
We'd have marches and car flags and t shirts and ribbons...
Instead, we have the Republican party interested in "breaking the president" but not helping it's own citizens.

It's been a good day!

One More Day!

My lovely and I are headed out this afternoon for a weekend of haircuts, classes and burritos.

It's continuing ed time, so our first stop is going back to Marietta and getting a little food for the brain in between food for the belly-- burritos from Willy's! Yahoo! First stop, however is to 313 Salon so they can take care of these problems. Oh my lord the hair....11 weeks unacceptable!

Will be tweeting, and maybe even posting. Have a good weekend!

Wowee Wednesday

Walter Cronkite, 1916-2009I grew up watching my parents and grandparents watch the news. There were only a couple of channels to choose from at the time, so Walter Cronkite was a fixture in either black and white or color. When I was small and at my grandparents house, Walter reminded me of my grandfather. If I saw him on at my house in color, he reminded me of Captain Kangaroo. Isn't it funny what our kid brains do?

As an politically aware adult, Walter was a reminder of where journalism came from, and how most of us wish it had remained; pure, honest, sincere, and valid. Modern "news channels" have sensationalized and cheapened our news experience to the point that it's easy to confuse the 6 o'clock nightly news with Entertainment Tonight. We are fed a direct line of news all day long, if we choose to plug in, and that direct access makes what Walter Cronkite did even more special. Each night he brought a nation together to listen, laugh, celebrate, mourn, and think. It is my hope that he will continue to guide and watch over the industry.

After all, Fox News needs a strong guiding hand.

First of all, so excited for my blogging hero, Heather Armstrong, to have been named #26 in the Forbes Most Influential Women in Media! Pretty impressive and not too shabby for a mom from Salt Lake City.

I must must must shout my outrage, horror, disbelief and overall WTF-edness at how on earth did #13 Kathie Lee Gifford come in above #15 Rachel Maddow? I mean that is just wrong on every front.
Stupid vs. Brainy. Old Hat vs. Cutting Edge. Annoying vs. Adorkable.
I don't think I need to go on.

Broadway Monday

The Norman Conquests

Three interlocking, but independent comedies show the same story — Norman attempts a tryst with his wife's sister in the family's country home — from three different perspectives: the things that happen in the dining room, the things that happen in the living room and the things that happen in the garden.

This unique spin on what is most likely a somewhat common event is brought to life by the fact that it is viewed by the audience from three different perspectives. Norman's attempts are given life from three vantage points and new details unfold in each setting giving life to the storyline.

Adding to the intrigue for the audience is that you can: see one of the plays, all three of the plays at different showtimes/days, or put your sittin' muscle through it's paces and attend the marathon which runs on Saturdays and Sundays. That's over six hours of theatre goodness in one day starting at 11:30, 3:30 and 8:00. Just enough time in between shows to catch a bite and a cup of coffee. What a genius idea!

The Norman Conquests was written by Alan Ayckbourn and directed by Matthew Warchus. The trilogy was nominated for seven Tony Awards and garnered the statue for Best Revival of a Play.

The Norman Conquests opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre on April 11, 2009 and will close July 29, 2009.

At any given time you can tune in to this site and feel the love I have for Rachel Maddow. I mean let's be honest---she is awesome.
Last Thursday night on her MSNBC show she proved her awesomeness again by very nicely putting Pat Buchanan in his place as he had yet another case of Racist Tourette's.
Just look at how Rachel takes Uncle Pat's arm and guides him ever so gently into the venue that makes him all tingly inside: bigotry
The segment ran over 10 minutes, but honestly it is pure joy to watch and I won't even mention her adorableness, sigh.

Update on one of last week's posts:

You'll all be relieved/excited to know that the nut-job church featured in this story has no plans for taking the sign down, in fact, more will be erected featuring more button-pushing topics such as abortion and same-sex marriage. Something tells me I will be linking back to this story a lot.

Wowee Wednesday

Brooke Shields She has been a part of our celluloid life for a long time, but somewhere during the time we were having lives, gaining/losing weight, and having babies and breakdowns Brooke Shields was doing the same thing... except she got HOT-TER in the process! What the..?!

I have always carried a torch for Brooke, but kept it dialed back to a low flame. I fell in love with her during the Blue Lagoon/Endless Love portion of her career and chalked it up to hormones because let's face it, I was an adolescent who was struggling with the gay and she was bee-yoo-tee-ful!

No longer struggling with the gay, I still think Brooke is stunning, and last week during the memorial for Michael Jackson, I fell in love all over again as this beautiful woman shared her love and grief with all of us, again making that connection that endeared us so many years ago to both her and Michael. She was touching, and sincere, and honest, and simply wow.