Rakadu at Natasha's

TT
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Here's some new photos from Rakadu Gypsy Dance's recent show at Natasha's.. I tried to be a little more introspective with these photos, resisting to some extent the urge to drink in the wonderful dancing, photographically. There's so much happening on a somewhat more close-up level that I challenged myself to step outside the norm a bit (and will continue to do so).

The whole set is here.

Thanks to Rakadu for always happily accepting my looming camera presence.

http://www.meccadance.com
http://www.beetnik.com

Everything's amazing, nobody's happy

This guy really really hits it on the head, and he's also funny. If you're having a bad day, watch this and hit "reset."

Album art in a shrinking world

Such a great thing to ponder for graphic designers.

clipped from www.wired.com Design Artwork for a Shrinking Album Cover Music is an aural art form. But the packaging for the recordings—the album cover—has a distinct aesthetic, one that has evolved along with distribution technologies and formats.

photo.jpg

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Mick Jeffries mick@mickjeffries.com

Giant Pink Squirrel

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Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

A new bottle of Creme de Noyeux led me to an unfortunate yet delicious discovery: The Pink Squirrel. Strawberry Quik, anybody? Nothing should taste this good.

Lexington to Hollywood

I recently re-established contact with Bradley Picklesimer, a Kentucky native living in Los Angeles to whom Lexington's nightlife and culture owe an enormous debt for his gender-bending 80's night clubs Club Au Go Go and Cafe LMNOP.

Reflecting on the wonderful time that I spent with him in LA, I stumbled across this MSNBC piece.

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com Oscar party planner Bradley Harrison Picklesimer holds a foam board containing 140 Swarovski crystals. The objects will be placed inside flower arrangements which will adorn the tables of the Elton John Oscar night party Feb. 27. So many Oscar parties, so little time

Mel Muir tiles

Don't you need some funky fresh tile art? I think you do.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9722605

clipped from www.etsy.com 8x8 grass green islands

Micksology

Micksology
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Amazing concoction from vincinzo at cola d'oro in Santa monica. Gin,
peycheux bitters, galleano, and cynar (which is some Italian bitter
that I don't really understand)

Mick Jeffries mick@mickjeffries.com

Case study #8

Case study #8
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Hi friends and family: I've slightly unexpectedly found myself on a pilgrimage to the home and studio of my unparalleled heroes Charles & Ray Eames. It is quiet and beautiful here in Pacific Palisades, CA.

And I would have to add: deeply moving.

There's nothing -- really, nothing -- that compares to their body of work or how they seem to me
to represent the very best spirit of America, the power of good design, and the allure of creative partnership. Right now I'm the only guest here (by appointment), so for a little while longer, I get to share the place with Charles and Ray.

Wilshire blvd near weinsteins etc

Wilshire blvd near weinsteins etc
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Mick Jeffries mick@mickjeffries.com

City of lights

City of lights
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Mick Jeffries mick@mickjeffries.com

LUPEC!

Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails - Boston

These ladies can dismantle the patriarchy all they want.

I'll be at the bar sipping their fantastic cocktails. I had a great experience recently in Boston in the care of LUPEC's Misty (here's an interview from the wonderful drinkboston blog), one of the amazing 'keeps behind the swizzle at DRINK.

Mick's Cocktail Blog Searchologist!

I finally got around to building a Cocktail Blog Search in Google Gadgets. It's ultra-helpful for me because it references only the expert mixologists that I want it to, and not the entireity of mixed-drink stupidity that exists on the Web.

You can search for ingredients or drinks by name or whatever; Feel free to use it yourself for amazing cocktail search results!

Black lite hula!

Black lite hula!
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Mick Jeffries mick@mickjeffries.com

Um hilarious

Um hilarious
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

I don't know the story ok this but funny funny on the inside!

Mick Jeffries mick@mickjeffries.com

Gutenberg Bible

Gutenberg Bible
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

Nerdin out at Harvard's Widener library. In the doorway behind me: a
priceless 13th century treasure of mechanical printing sits in state
and generally unnoticed.

Mighty Putty Dub!

Your internet time-waster of the day?-- dubbed info-mercials. Pretty. Funny.

2009 Ice Storm passes…

2009 Ice Storm passes…
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

The Ice Storm is slowly releasing Lexington. Here's a few more pix from today and "the melt" that is underway. Damage notwithstanding, it's quite beautiful to my camera.

The entire set of my 2009 Ice Storm pictures are here.

..

Coffee Break.

I want to express a simple and recurring peeve —

What is the deal with these stupid "java jackets?" You-know-who (I'm not going to add to their publicity by including their name) started this trend, and now every java juke joint in North America uses them — and millions of Americans (who have to pretend that they invented coffee and drink it better and more ecstatically than anybody else in the world) use and toss them every day.

To me they seem like a spectacular waste and basically insta-trash. Just for the record, I hate these things.

America! Wake up and smell the coffee! And bring your own fucking travel-mug if you love it that much.

Or— $4 cup-of-coffee industry: Come up with some other ingenious way not to overly warm (because "burn" would be a little bit of an overstatement, let's face it) people's poor little fingers.

Signed,

Angry Coffee Man

Curly willow bummin

Curly willow bummin
Originally uploaded by mrtoastey

iphone photo of our curly willow in the back yard.. only time will tell how it weathers this ice storm, but it ain't looing good..