Books I Loved: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

I've been itching to start a regular literary segment of this blog for ages, but that would mandate regularity in my blog writing, and we all know it's not my forte. Regardless, I'm giving it the old college try. 

I'm normally a subway reader. I have a 40+ minute commute from Astoria to my job in SoHo, so that means plenty of delicious (but sometimes kind of wibbly-wobbly, crowdy-wowdy) time spent with my book of the moment. That book of the last few moments (or not-so-few moments, as it weighs in at over 600 pages) has been The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. This was my first time reading any of Chabon's work, but this book won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001, so I figured it was as good as any to start. I hear it's kind of a big deal or whatever.

I just finished it and thought it was excellent. For me, it was one of those books that takes a little while to get into, because Chabon's style is a bit wordy (in a quirky, word-smithy, almost academic way, not a dense way), but maybe 100 pages in, I had fallen in love with the characters and their story. Joe Kavalier, a young, Jewish Houdini-esque escapist in training, flees his home city of Prague to join his aunt and cousin in New York as tensions are mounting and Hitler comes to power in Europe. Joe is also a gifted artist; Sammy, his cousin, convinces him to become his partner in comic book writing. Together, they found Empire Comics on the back of the success of their first superhero, The Escapist, inspired by Joe's training as a magician.

The book is as much about Joe and Sammy's personal journey as it is about the Golden Age of comics. Stan Lee himself makes an appearance, as do Superman, Batman, and the rest of the greats, alongside the cast of new superheroes invented by Kavalier & Clay. It's all set against the backdrop of WWII and the struggles that Joe's Jewish family faces in Prague. The result is a rich, dynamic, and totally satisfying novel that feels, at times, as fun as a comic book itself, but with the breadth and depth you'd expect from a Pulitzer-winner. 

Read it if: 

You love reading about mid-century New York

You love comic books

You love art and architecture

You like your books with a wry sense of humor

13 Favorite Photos of 2013

Hello! You may or may not remember me. It's been kind of a while. Like most bloggers, I've resolved to blog more in 2014, so here we are, twenty days into January, getting a late start on that, foretelling more blog failure in 2014. But that's ok. I'm going to call it "part of the artistic struggle of a part-time blogger" so as to justify it.

But really, in 2014, I'd like to contribute more to this blog, make it a little more curatorial than editorial, take more pictures, write more regularly about myself and my thoughts and feelings. I used to journal all the time when I was younger and now it's like a time capsule I can look at when I'm feeling nostalgic (which is often).

To kick things off in nostalgic style (and because you didn't read enough end-of-the-year wrap-up posts on Buzzfeed), I'd like to share some of my favorite photos I took in 2013, in no particular order! Enjoy!


13. Babe, Sanibel Island, FL, February 2013

Jerry's is a supermarket on Sanibel Island. They have parrots. If you know me, you know that I have an unhealthy bird obsession, and that I therefore LOVE Jerry's. I lived on Sanibel briefly when I was a kid, and Jerry's has remained one of my favorite places on the island ever since.

12. Fish, New York Aquarium, Coney Island, June 2013

I went to the New York Aquarium just a couple of weeks after it first opened post-Hurricane Sandy. While it's not quite back in full force, they've done an amazing job of reconstructing the aquarium. It's worth visiting for the walruses alone, and of course the obligatory trip to Nathan's Hot Dogs afterwards.

11. Brooklyn Bridge, New York, January 2013

The most photogenic bridge of all time. I think it's impossible to take a bad picture of it. It's like the bridge equivalent of the Eiffel Tower.

10. Triboro Bridge from Astoria Park, New York, July 2013

Speaking of photogenic bridges! I took this on a walk to Astoria Park on the evening of the Fourth of July. The colors of the lights and the sky were appropriately festive.

9. Friends at the Boat Basin Café, New York, July 2013

One of the best things I did in 2013 was to buy a film camera, a 1969 Yashica Electro 35G that I snagged off E-Bay for pretty cheap. This gem was in my first roll of film! Proof that all it takes is pair of shades, a tallboy of 'Gansett, and a roll of 35mm film to make you look like a timeless badass.

8. Sky in Warwick, New York, October 2013

Taken on a day trip out to Warwick for apple-picking. The clouds were just so neatly arranged! 

7. Japenese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, New York, May 2013

On a long-awaited trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, I caught some sunbeams lounging around the Japanese pond. The gardens were beautiful in late May, full of blooming roses and people picnicking. 

6. Great White Egret, Sanibel Island, FL, February 2013

This guy was hanging out by the docks at my grandparents' condo. The bird fascination continues.

5. The Rocketeer Souvenir Shopping, New York Comic Con, October 2013 

I went to Comic Con for the first time this year and I had SO much fun. I'm still pretty shy as far as photographers go, so instead of asking people to pose for pictures, I ended up taking a lot of "person dressed up as crazy character in every day poses" sort of pictures, which are my favorite anyway. I just loved this shot of the Rocketeer casually perusing the merch booths.

4. Lies & Cigars, Astoria, New York, May 2013

This is a sign on the side of a bodega near the 30th Avenue NQ stop. It never fails to make me smile.

3. Liftoff, Sanibel Island, FL, February 2013

One of my favorite shots from my trip to Sanibel with my dad last February. This little gal was having so much fun running around the beach near sunset.

2. Five Boro Bike Tour, Lower Manhatten, May 2013

Shot with an iPhone 5—the view from the start of the Five Boro Bike Tour. That's what approximately 30,000 bikes and riders look like crammed onto Rector Street in Lower Manhattan.

1. Mud, Governor's Ball, Randall's Island, NY, June 2013

Also shot with an iPhone 5, assuredly the muddiest day of my life so far. Governor's Ball 2013 was pretty much re-dubbed the Mud Ball as the result of massive rainstorms right before the weekend of the festival. I only ruined one pair of shoes that weekend, and I got to see Yeezy in the flesh, so it wasn't all bad. But damn, that was a lot of mud.

You can see more of my 2013 photos on my Flickr page! Here's to even more in 2014!

Closet Purge! Plus My Fall Fashion Wishlist

Now that it's September, I decided it was time to finally get to the bottom of my hamper (literally) and start fresh for fall. That means cleaning everything that's dirty, re-organizing my closet and dresser, and getting rid of everything I no longer wear.

This is more difficult than it should probably be, because I feel guilty throwing anything away, even if it's stained or ripped or I haven't worn it for years. (Am I a secret hoarder?) I made my roommate sit with me while I purged; anything I spent more than a few seconds deciding over, she'd yell, "Get rid of it!" This is the same girl who stayed up three extra hours to eat my raspberry cheesecake bars. I reiterate: she is a good friend.

Now that everything has been neatly (approximation) sorted into piles of keep, throw out, and give away, I can start SHOPPING again! Wait, no, that's wrong! That's what caused this problem in the first place! You can't just replace all the stuff you got rid of with new stuff. But, but, there are so many cute fall things!

Ugh, go home, inner monologue. You're drunk.

For better or for worse, here are some things I'm lusting over this fall!

This polka-dot sweater from Boden USA. So classic. And precious.

Or this "Bien Fait" sweatshirt from Madewell. The literal translation of "bien fait"? Well made. The more figurative translation that Frenchies actually use has more of a "good job, dumbass," connotation. French sarcasm is always in style.

Speaking of Madewell, I'm obsessed with this outfit from their fall lookbook. The Fair Isle sweater with the patterned scarf?! The cuffed jeans? I can even get behind the fedora in this particular circumstance. (Usually my only exception for fedora wear is Justin Timberlake.)

Anyone who knows me also knows that this shirt is not just up my alley, it pretty much IS my alley. I love prints, I love botanical drawings, I love toadstools, and I love mint green. Basically, I will die if I don't own this blouse from Anthropologie at some point. 

What are you most excited for fall? Boot bonanza? Socks on socks on socks? The perfect pair of loafers? Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest, where I will be sharing all my little hopes and dreams for fall food and fashion. Yikes, alliteration. Cool it.  

Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

To be honest, I don't have much of a sweet tooth. Baked goods are not usually the way to my heart (a wedge of triple cream brie, however...). But I saw a random Instagram photo of some raspberry cheesecake bars and for some reason, I absolutely had to have them immediately.

Come to find out, these are so delicious that they can be used as an incentive or bargaining chip with roommates and/or significant others. Oh, you don't want to clean the mold out of the shower? No problem.. I guess I'll take the raspberry cheesecake bars to work where they can be enjoyed by my coworkers exclusively. Don't want to walk the dog tonight, honey? That's ok. I'll just hide the cheesecake where you will NEVER find it. Such as the depths of my stomach.

You'll find things will get done very quickly as soon as cheesecake is involved.

As I've said about  previous baking endeavors, I'm pretty lazy and impatient. But these lil guys were low-impact on the state of my kitchen cleanliness and took only 40 minutes total including prep! The worst part was waiting for them to chill in the fridge for three hours. Slow torture via baked good.

Read on for the recipe and more photos!

How to Make Butter at Home

Sorry for the delay since my last post! I've been pretty busy living a double life. Yeah. As an international spy/butter smuggler. Ok, I'm kidding. I quit my butter smuggling job months ago. Now I make my own! And, if you haven't guessed, that's what this post is all about. (As for the spying, I'm not at liberty to disclose more.)

I discovered that it's really easy to make butter at home because I was incredibly bored one day and was curious as to how butter is made. Yes, this is what my brain does when left unattended. At risk of seeming like a simpleton, I'll disclose that I was surprised to learn that you don't need a churn (or any other equipment used by the Amish) to make butter. You don't even need the pistachio green Kitchenaid mixer with optional ice cream maker attachment that I want for Christmas in case my mom is reading.

All you need is heavy cream and the ubiquitous hipster all-in-one tool: the mason jar. And about 10 minutes of vigorous shaking. That's the hardest part.

I've made butter a few times and every time, fresh butter trumps store-bought. You won't regret it. You might regret not wearing a bonnet while you make it - I make no guarantees there.

Here we go in five easy steps!

1. Procure some heavy cream and make sure it's well chilled. I like to chill my mason jar, too, by sticking it in the freezer for 5 minutes before the butter bonanza begins.
2. Fill the jar with about a cup of heavy cream, or a little below the halfway mark. 

3. Tightly seal the lid of the jar and start shaking! Shake it for a long time. Put on some music that is conducive to shaking, like that Outkast song. You know the one I'm talking about.

Shake until it feels like the cream isn't liquid anymore. At this point, you've shaken enough air into the cream that you've made whipped cream (see photo). That would be awesome, if we were making whipped cream. BUT WE'RE NOT! We're making butter. So you have to keep shaking! Stop whining.
4. It will feel like you have been shaking for a long time and a whole lot of nothing is happening and you're mad about it. Then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, you will feel the butter separate from the buttermilk. Now you'll have some liquid and some solid in the jar. Keep shaking for about 30 seconds to ensure that the butter and buttermilk fully separate.

5. Last step! Line a colander with cheesecloth or papertowel...probably paper towel because who has cheesecloth? Pour the contents of the jar into the colander and let the buttermilk drain out. Now for the weird part. You need to wash the butter. You're washing all the particles of buttermilk from the butter so that all you have is pure butter. Yes, this is a real thing. Just run the butter under the faucet for about three minutes. You might have to work through it with your hands to make sure it's clean - once the water runs through the butter clear, you're good to go!

And that's it! You can add salt at the end if you want - without, the butter will be a little bit sweet. It's delicious either way! Now go quit your butter-smuggling job.