Author Archives: killerfemme

A Short Walk Through Gowanus

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Gowanus, Brooklyn, is a really special neighborhood. It’s been described succinctly as a “working class bridge between Carroll Gardens and Park Slope,” and is infamous for it’s putrid canal (which is slowly getting cleaned up and has been designated a Superfund site). It’s even been memorialized in a painting by Randy Dudly, which is on view at the Brooklyn Museum (and is one of my favorites). The neighborhood is becoming less industrialized, though a few local industries still hang on, and more filled up with artists needing studio and musicians needing practice spaces. In the last few years the very popular club the Bell House has opened up on 7th street, as well as a sprinkling of restaurants along 3rd avenue. Band practice takes me to Gowanus on a weekly basis and I’ve decided to share some of my favorite sites along 9th street. To follow on this short walk just get off at the Smith and 9th subway stop (at 88 feet high the tallest in the system) and walk east on 9th street.

Gowanus Cement Truck

Polkadot Cement Mixer

The first thing I always notice when I get off the subway or ride my bike by are these polkadot covered cement trucks. I love the whimsy they bring to heavy industry! Aileen told me she remembered seeing them around NYC as a kid. Does anyone know the story?

Late Afternoon Icon

Gowanus Icon

After crossing the canal (unless you had to wait because the draw bridge was up) make sure you look up to see the famous Kentile Floors sign. Along this route you’ll encounter Find Home Furnishings for things unique and old and dear, and also Lowes, for daily home goods that are not so special.

Brooklyn Hot Dogs

Brooklyn Hot Dogs

Further along you’ll pass this other great, and less celebrated, example of Gowanus signage. I don’t know what this place is. It has never been open in all the years I’ve been walking by and why is there awkward, extra space at the end?

Bar Tano Atmosphere

Bar Tano, my favorite recent addition to the neighborhood

Don’t let the signs distract you too much though, because all good walks along 9th street include a pause at Bar Tano, a bar and eatery with an Italian slant. With cocktails like the basil infused “Gowanus” and tequila concoction “Flats Fixed” (inspired by a tire shop across the street) Bar Tano brings the feel of a European cafe to gritty 3rd avenue. Their pizza and bruschetta is also becoming a bit of an obsession for me.

Bar Tano Bar

The inviting bar at Bar Tano

I admit I was really surprised the first time I walked by and saw that such a sleek looking join had opened up on 9th street, but a few years on I feel it’s integrated into the landscape and I’m glad it’s there. Newer newcomers (and honorable mentions) include pie mavens Four and Twenty Blackbirds and Lowlands Bar. While these might speak to the upcoming (but not yet taken hold) complete yuppification of Gowanus, I’ll admit it’s nice to see good establishments operated by nice people opening up in South Brooklyn.

Venus Zine Winter 2010-11 Issue!

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I’m really pleased to have two pieces in the Winter 2010-11 issue of Venus Zine (which features Janelle Monae on the cover)! A few months ago I got to meet up with Jenny Lewis and Jonathan Rice to talk about their new project Jenny and Johnny. There’s a shorter version in Venus’ new “Heart to Heart” section in the magazine and an alternate version online, which you can read here. I also reviewed the new Clinic album, which is unremarkable. I’ll have the PDFs up soon!

Mom Style

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My mom has great style. She is also a great knitter. All my life she’s been knitting and has made me countless sweaters and even some toy horses! I always seem to find sweater patterns to flummox her though, and my latest request was no different. Keight had knit herself a Sunrise Circle Jacket from a pattern by Kate Gilbert and I wanted one too! I chose a soft grey yarn and chose round buttons instead of toggles for closure. Finished in May it relaxed in my closet until these grey November days inspired me to pull it out. It was so warm, and so chique, I am certain to take it with me to Paris in a few weeks.

Late Fall Style and New Sweater

I paired it with brown oxfords, also from my Mom. I know vintage style Oxfords are all the rage, and these ones are actually vintage and finely crafted by Etienne Aigner. They also go great with the grasses on the Highline!

Taking the Oxfords for a Late fall walk on the Highline

Corita Style!

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I love my band Corita. We have been a band for over two years now and been playing shows out for over a year. I was recently asked about how I mitigated the stress that comes with New York living and I brought up Corita as an example. There are few things better than having a time every week to get together with 3 of your closest friends and work on a collective, creative project. Since we all have our own careers there’s no pressure on the band to “make it,” in the traditional sense of getting signed, man. For us “making it” as a band means writing good songs, challenging ourselves as musicians, and making sure that when we play out, we play well and look good. To that end, we always coordinate our outfits.

Half the Band in a Super Punk Glam Portrait

You can see another photo like this here with our good friend Phil Pierce from the band Crawl Babies (who are one of our favorite bands to play with).

Black dreses, colored tights, black shoes

Sometimes we get even more girly with our get up.

Summery Pastels (in low light)

Professional, yet punk

And sometimes just punk! (thanks to wunderfemme)

Dots, stripes, and old glory

I want to apologize to Nick, our drummer, who is also very stylish, but stuck behind the drums, and so not often photographed. You might say that I’m being a superficial feminist rocker by talking about fashion, but listen, rock and fashion have always been closely related and dressing up for a performance is part of our way of saying “thanks for listening, we care that you are here.”

The Good Life in Paris in November (and pas cher!)

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Paris as seen from the Centre Pompidou

In case I haven’t talked your ear off about it lately, I am taking a trip to Paris (and Gent, Belgium) over Thanksgiving to visit my sister and friends and soak up some European ambiance. I haven’t been to France in over two years and it feels like an eternity (though I did go to lots of other awesome near and far places, so I’m not so sad).  In anticipation of my trip I made the ultimate google map of restaurants, boutiques and quirky museums that I want to check out while I am there. Some of them I’ll be sure not to miss and some are just so I know they are there in case I am in the neighborhood. Some of the boutiques might be pricey (though not by Paris or NYC standards) and many are just for looking. And for buying holiday gifts for friends and family.  Many of these suggestions are poached from the excellent sources of Cachemire et Soie, David Leibovitz, the New York Times Travel Section, and Pia Jane Bjkerk’s book Paris Made by Hand, as well as some of my own obsessions (like Monoprix, okay, guilty).

Enjoy and please let me know if there’s anywhere I should add! This is very heavy on north eastern Paris because that’s where I’ll be staying and those are the neighborhoods I love. But one of the best things about Paris is its walkability and the metro, so I can go anywhere!

View The Good Life in Paris in November in a larger map

Corin Tucker Band @ the Bowery Ballroom

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I went to see Corin Tucker’s band at the Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday night. I really had to prod myself to go there after Economics class, but like most things you make yourself do, I was glad I went. The atmosphere was surprisingly mellow- nothing like the super charged feeling of a Sleater-Kinney show. Aussie singer-song writer Darren Hanlon was a great opener and told stories of traveling through middle America and begin offered “vegetarian” scrambled eggs with only a “little bit of bacon” in them. While the opening bands were cool, everyone was clearly waiting for Corin. She arrived on stage looking ravishing in a shimmering silver vintage dress and, of course, cheers broke out.

Corin Tucker

Corin in her beautiful dress

The set itself featured songs from her new record “1,000 years,” which I wrote about for Venuszine. Her opener, “Thrift Store Coats,” a rumination on the recession, felt especially chilling live, and the air felt charged, expectant and unexpectedly low-key. The band slowly picked up the tempo and and delivered pure rock perfection. However, the band and the audience both seem wiser from age. A common commentary I heard (and felt) was “I am going to be late for work tomorrow,” accompanied by a yawn. This is not to say the show was not perfectly engaging. It was simply more intimate, mature, and understanding of life’s limitations and triumphs, both large and small.

Corin Tucker

It was a real treat to hear Corin's distinctive voice again

A nice surprise was the band’s cover of the Au Pair’s “It’s Obvious,” with the hard hitting chorus, “You’re equal, but different!” taking on new significance with the greater wisdom that (just a little bit of) age brings. Another treat of the set was drummer Sara Lund’s (of Unwound fame) work. She did double duty, playing with openers Hungry Ghost, and then changing into a cocktail dress for her appearance with Corin’s band. As anyone who listens to Unwound knows, she is the kind of precise, melodic, but absolutely rhythmic drummer that is very rare in rock music.

Sara Lund

Sara Lund, a little buried behind the drums and other percussion

Want more photos? Check out my flickr stream.

Fall in Manhattan’s Squares

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Usually I try to get out of town in the fall to see the leaves changing and the seasons passing. While I did take a brief detour to Maine earlier this fall I sadly have been prevented from taking any serious trip to upstate New York or Long Island due to academic obligations. I even had to miss the annual spooky caravan that Andi organizes!

However, some solace has come through my farm share, which keeps my regularly updated on what produce is in season that week, and the goings-on in the two squares I walk through between work and school. I was treated to some autumnal delights at the epically huge Union Square Greenmarket and at Madison Square Park (which I think is an unsung hero of a beautiful, well funded, well-used park!).

 

Orange pumpkins, yellow tree in Union Square

Selling fall leaves for $8 a bunch would surly give old time Mainers another reason to think the city life is ridiculous

Bold fall colors at the Greenmarket

I just about fell in love when I saw that huge pile of radishes! Meanwhile, in Madison Square Park…

Jim Campbell's "Scattered Light" creates a flutter of light at twilight

...and a very determined squirrel finds a goldmine in a pumpkin placed high in a dead tree

The squirrel caused quite a stir and was much photographed. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love New York.

Sculptural Shirt

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I like clothing that is sculptural. I like it when it has a shape that it holds on it’s own and when it’s not completely clinging to you and when there’s an obvious construction the designer was going for. I was totally excited when I found this very chiseled (yet soft!) linen/cotton blend shirt on sale at Built by Wendy.

Geometric!

I also love the detailing!

High Collar with Gathers, brilliant!

In Praise of Pockets

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I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy any new clothes for the next few months to make up for a shoe and dress binge earlier this summer. I popped into Housing Works in Chelsea (for better or worse located directly across the street from my office) and found the perfect black shirt. It is almost sculptural with it’s pleats and a nice shiny fabric and even my size! “No,” I told myself, putting it back on the rack, “You have at least 3 black skirts at home.” I tried it on anyway. It fit perfectly. I put my hand to my hip. What’s that? A pocket! End of dressing room deliberation. Sold. (And besides, it goes to charity)

I wore it to work the next day, paired with my new black oxfords (simply a fall, winter and spring necessity I decided, especially for my upcoming trip to Paris which combines walking a lot with the need to look stylish… which could also describe any day I go to work in Manhattan).

Blouse by Uniqlo, Skirt BCBG Maxazaria, Tights American Apparel, Shoes Nicole

Skirt Pocket Detail

I am always carrying things and I always appreciate pockets. As a girl who wears a lot of skirts and dresses I am constantly confounded by the lack of pockets in woman’s clothing. It’s an old lament, I know. But I love a tastefully done, subtle pocket that I can slip my phone, metrocard or business card into if needed.

My new (to me) skirt reminded me of two of my other favorite dresses that also have pockets. They are both by Brooklyn Industries, which I think does a really great job of adding pockets to their ladies clothing in general.

Not only is this dress perfect for strolling in Paris in the summer, it has great pockets!

It's not only great for work, but great for the subtle pockets!

Pinstripe pocket skirt by Built by Wendy, shirt on sale at Jcrew Outlet, bag from Monoprix

I broke my own rule again this past weekend when I saw that Built by Wendy was having a sale and I happened to be in the neighborhood. I nabbed this skirt as soon as it was not only my size, had pinstripes, and, best of all, pockets!

Maine in Fall (An Orchard Photo Shoot)

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I try to get back to New England at least once in the fall and soak in the golden light, crisp air, carpet of leaves, trees all done up in color, and of course, fresh apples. My mom captured me in pursuit of the perfect Cortland.

The bounty high in the tree

Handy tool for reaching high up apples

Apple Scouting

Coat by Brooklyn Industries, Shirt by Petite Bateau, Apples by Maine

The bounty from just 15 minutes in the orchard

Orchard Idyll

After spending time in a sun drenched apple orchard after living 9 years in New York City it’s not hard to start seeing Maine as some kind of enchanted landscape.