Mens Fashion Week: Scary Cocktail for Adam Kimmel

Fashion designer, Adam Kimmel did it again. This time he displayed his recent Menswear Fall 2010 Collection casting scary monsters donning his threads while at the casino. At first, I was really disappointed not to be able to participate and gamble. I had put on my Sharon Stone dress with big hair and very 60's make up only to be held behind a red velvet barrier. But what a sight! I know tonight I am definitely going to have nightmares. I wonder why?

"Moments in a Moment" Expo@ Colette for Jim Krantz

A few nights ago, I was invited to have a drink at the ubercool multi mark boutique, Colette, to toast the photographs of Jim Krantz. His huge photos of the Marlboro man for the cigarette ads tend to blur the line between commercial and artistic photography. Krantz also collaborated with designer Adam Kimmel for Kimmel's Winter Men's Collection '09. When I spoke with Jim over a glass of champagne, I told him about my own personal history with the Marlboro Man sign on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. It was 1992, and I was working as an assistant editor on the remake of BODY SNATCHERS for Warner Bros. The director was guerrilla bad boy movie director, Abel Ferrara. At the time of editing BODY SNATCHERS, Abel was also re cutting his last film, BAD LIEUTENANT starring Harvey Keitel for the Cannes Festival. One of my many jobs was driving daily to the Chateau Marmont and knocking on Harvey Keital's door to give him his VHS cassette of freshly cut scenes. Harvey just arrived back from New Zealand where he had just finished a little film called, THE PIANO. I would show him his re cut scenes for BAD LIEUTENANT and he would say, ' but where is my close up? Ask Abel where my fucking close up is'. At night I would knock on Abel's door who was also residing at the Chateau Marmont to drop off the new re cut scenes. He would have his whole NYC posse hanging out in his room so I would end up having a glass of Pinot Grigio with Christopher 'Ron' Walken, Harvey, and other character actors like the late Victor Argo. At one point, Abel would ask me to run across Sunset Blvd. to fetch him two shots of vodka. So, me, stupid assistant,was trying to navigate the Sunset Blvd traffic ( in heels) so I could cross Sunset with shots of vodka in my hand without getting run over by a car( think Helmut Newton). While running across the street at night, there was always the Marlboro Man sign looking down on me. I was sad when the city of West Hollywood took the sign down. Something to do with smoking being bad for one's health!

Labels:

Nightly Walk in Montmartre

Every night I walk our dog through the streets of Montmartre. Even after living here for ten years, it is hard to take these windy, paved hills for granted. Every night I pass the apartment where Eric Satie's composed his music and where Vincent Van Gogh lived with his brother, Theo for four years on Rue Lepic. I also stroll by the atelier where Picasso painted his famous "Period Bleu' series. This evening it was raining so there was a void in the streets compared to the usual tourist swarms on a Saturday night.

A piece of heaven

Well, I am not one for sweets nor dessert after a meal...I would rather eat well and have a second glass of Cote du Rotie or for this occasion, a glass of Meursault 2002. That all changed last night at my dinner party when a friend brought a Pierre Herme creation called, Isphan, for dessert. For those of you who live outside of Paris, Pierre Herme gained his reputation while serving as pastry chef for LA DUREE. He finally opened up his own boutique in two locations in Paris. Walking into his closet size patisserie store is like standing in a Place Vendome jewelry store. Every creation is unique and desired. Once I put a fork full in my mouth, I was sent to an exotic land full of fairies and pure heaven for that spit second of sheer pleasure.

ISAPHAN

Rose macaroon with rose petal, raspberry, and lichee creme........

A White Paris

A bit of snow, and I mean a wee bit, paralyzed the City of Lights for a few hours this weekend. I was hoping for a big storm but instead we received a light brush of snowflakes.

En route to Provence via Burgundy

Alas, my feet have found the firm Gallic soil after three weeks of traveling the Pacific West coast of the North America Continent. No more flat and chewy wine. To celebrate my good luck, I decide to spend the night in Beaune, capital of Burgundy, to break up our 9 hour car ride to the south of France. I know of a wonderful caveau in Puligny Montrachet where one can buy the creme de la creme of Burgundy wine which specializes in the golden Meursault and Montrachets. I am also a big fan of the violet hued Volnays which always end up in my wine wish list. One has to have patience with these wines. They will sit for a good 5-10 years in my cave before they hit human lips. 2015, here we come!

Vancouver Island

We spent our last day on Vancouver island driving around and walking along several deserted beaches sprinkled with the die hard surfers. Off to Seattle for our departure to Paris, France.

Abientot!