The Walkmen

(image courtesy dirt and divinity)

The Walkmen are fab. This NYC based band creates really beautiful, moving melodies and the lead singer Hamilton Leithauser's amazing voice rocks my face.

Their 2008 release, You & Me, is wonderful.

(image courtesy album of the year)

Check out two of my favorite tunes from the above album, "In the New Year" and "Canadian Girl" below.

The Walkmen's new album, Lisbon (which just dropped yesterday) is being released by Water Valley, Mississippi-based indie record label Fat Possum (of R.L. Burnside, The Black Keys and Band of Horses fame).

I really like this new tune.

The band is set to appear on PBS's Sun Studio Sessions in January 2011.

(image courtesy familytravelouge)

Getting super excited to check them out at Terminal 5 in NYC on December 2nd.

Philip Williams Posters

(image courtesy Flickr)

Philip Williams Posters on Chambers Street in Tribeca is one of my new favorite places. After a ringing endorsement from S (and, well, the New York Times), we recently spent over an hour exploring Mr. Williams's spiffy collection.

Don't let the inclusion of the word "poster" in this store's name frighten you away. This a not a place to pick up a flimsy image of John Belushi wearing a "College" sweatshirt nor is it a place to score Edward Cullen wall decor (stop crying, Miss Beastly).

Williams's 100,000 plus poster collection includes hand painted original posters by some of the world's most famous artists (some are even worth $250,000...ack).

While these pricey pieces are cool to browse from afar, what makes this store really special are its quirky, and sometimes downright bizarre, affordable odds and ends.

(image courtesy weblicist)

There are steer skulls painted in folksy vibrant colors, tiny bronzed knick-knacks, one-of-a-kind chests of drawers, frames, vintage buttons and more. Other discoveries varied from a window decal of Cary Grant's silhouette to old record sleeves to the cool framed poster below that I've become weirdly obsessed with.

How cool is this original Italian movie poster for Easy Rider?

(images courtesy Philip Williams Posters)

After a thorough search, we finally settled on two pieces of French sheet music from the 1920's that Mr. Williams kindly framed for a dime. Check one out below on our growing gallery wall.

iPad cases

My main squeeze wants an iPad. While I certainly wouldn't turn one down, my Luddite tendencies make certain that I will always be the one to purchase something boring and practical like a winter coat. At least I'll be warm while S rocks out with his fancy, new gadget.

Having said that said that, aren't these iPad cases from Beautiful Skin's Etsy shop the cutest? Maybe S's hypothetical iPad needs a winter coat too.

(images courtesy That's Happy)

These aren't too girly, right?

Follow-up: Did you guys spot the lace iPad case above recently featured in October's Lonny Mag? Watch out!

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday, everyone! It's back to the grind after a truly wonderful weekend. S and I spent our days off exploring NYC. There were movies, burgers, wine, a trip to Chinatown for dim sum,

(image courtesy bed and breakfast)

a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

football, friends and even some apartment shopping. Here's to a great week!

currently cooking: sweet corn pancakes

My dear friend Annie and I agree on the fact that Smitten Kitchen is simply the best.

This food blog created by a New Yorker called Deb features mouth watering dishes discovered and prepared in the author's tiny Manhattan kitchen (sympathize). Her recipe choices always look and sound amazing.

After drooling over the site's post for Sweet Corn Pancakes over the past few weeks, I took the plunge last weekend while S and I were visiting his parents and whipped up a batch.

These tasty cakes were both savory and sweet and well...delicious. Although I cooked a few too long (thanks again to the fam who sweetly ate them anyway), I highly recommend making if you still have access to fresh corn on the cob.

(images courtesy Smitten Kitchen)

Smitten Kitchen's Sweet Corn Pancakes

Makes about 9 to 10 4-inch pancakes

2 tablespoons butter (1 ounce or 28 grams), plus additional for brushing pan
3/4 cup kernels cut from one large ear sweet fresh corn
1/8 teaspoon (1 gram) salt plus additional for seasoning corn
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups (296 ml) buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon (13 grams) sugar
3/4 cup (3 3/8 ounces) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (3/4 ounce or 22 grams) cornmeal, any kind
1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Melt butter in a large cast iron skillet or griddle pan over medium heat. Add corn and saute for 4 to 5 minutes, until it begins to brown ever-so-slightly. Sprinkle with salt and set aside to cool. Wipe out skillet.

Lightly beat egg in the bottom of a large bowl, then whisk in buttermilk, corn, vanilla and sugar. In a smaller bowl, whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Stir dry ingredients into wet, mixing until just combined but still lumpy in appearance.

Reheat your skillet or saute pan to medium. Brush the pan with butter and ladle 1/4 cup batter at a time, 2 inches apart. When the pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around the edges, flip them over and cook them until golden brown underneath. If they seem to be cooking too quickly (dark on the outside, raw centers) turn your heat down to low for the next batch and inch it up as needed. Repeat with remaining batter, and serve immediately with a pat of salted butter and a healthy dose of maple syrup.

Somewhere.

Sofia Coppola's new flick Somewhere took home the Golden Lion for best film at last week's Venice Film Festival.

(image courtesy LA Times)

(image courtesy Wikipedia)

The movie is about a bad-boy Hollywood dad whose wild lifestyle changes when his 11-year old daughter comes into his life.

All the music from the film comes from the band Phoenix who is fronted by Coppola's boyfriend and babies' daddy, Thomas Mars (the tall one below).

(image courtesy i want to be a roitfield)

The movie comes out in December. Check out the dreamy trailer below.

Hellooo, weekend!

(image courtesy wit & delight)

Can't wait to dash out of the office in a few short hours to embrace the awesomeness that is the weekend. Looking forward to a fun date night and other adventures.

Hope everyone has a fabulous few days off!