Play me, I'm yours.

Talk about a GREAT idea.

My fiancé and I first noticed a random bright orange piano in the park near our apartment last night.  On top of the piano it said, "Play me, I'm yours." Hmmmm, that's intriguing.

Then, on my way to work this morning, I saw another piano in Times Square with the same phrase.

Well, I guess I'm going to have to look into this....

As it turns out, the non-profit Sing for Hope, an arts education and outreach organization, has put 60 of these puppies all over the city.  All the pianos were donated, then fixed up and decorated by Sing for Hope.  The goal of this two week project is to create a public space for music in the city.  Here's the PSA from Sing for Hope...

Enjoy giving those keys a good tickle.

New Arcade Fire...

A preview of two songs from Arcade Fire's forthcoming album The Suburbs...



Dropping August 3rd. Oh, yes.

Moving on up... to the Midwest side.

Midwest here we come!  Garrett and I will be making the big move out of Brooklyn later this summer.  We'll be heading to... (drum roll, please)... KANSAS CITY! Garrett was accepted into the History PhD program at University of Kansas and will be starting full-time this Fall. So - Rock, Chalk, Jay... Nope, sorry. Can't do it.  The Texas Longhorn inside me runs far too deep. But I am very excited for our new adventure!  As sad as we are to leave Brooklyn, it also feels like time to move on.

I've visited Kansas City a few times, and the place definitely did surprise me!  Here are some lovely photos of our soon-to-be new home:

a view of downtown's skyline

the plaza lights

one of the city's famous landmarks - Union Station

Also, I'll just go ahead and clear this up for all of y'all who haven't brushed up on your Midwest geography lately. Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS are the same city spread across state lines.  I know a lot of you were wondering. We'll most likely be living on the Missouri side.

We'll also be having some sort of going-away shindig in July to make sure we see all our NYC friends before we leave - so, stay tuned!

Beachy keen...

So ready for our beach trip this summer, and I just got this Red Carter swimsuit to prove it.  Tres chic!

Now, if only I could miraculously have this girl's abs when I put it on... bring on the wedding diet!

Now playing...

The Swedish-sensation ROBYN!!!  Love the new album...

 Not to mention, she's just cute as hell.  Can I be her?

Gooooooooooooaaaaaaaal!

In honor of the World Cup...

Carl Castle shouting "goooooaaaal"



Google showing their World Cup love. So clever.

USA! USA! USA!

Now playing...

Sucker's debut album Wild Smile, out now...

Copa Mundial!

The World Cup is upon us!

I'm so excited about experiencing my first World Cup where I actually understand more about the game, and I actually know who some of the players are (thanks, G).  New York is shaping up to be a great place to watch the games... Here are few cool "spaces" in the city to watch the 2010 Copa Mundial!

#1 - Puma City - you can go down to the South Street Seaport to catch some of the games, among many other activities, at this "city" built just for the World Cup.

#2 - Men with Balls - visit this art exhibit that will be combining the art of soccer along with a space for screening some of the high-demand games.

#3 - Madiba - this will probably be my go-to place.  Not only is it a wonderful South African restaurant, it's also in my n'hood.  Oxtail for breakfast? Yes, please.

So, I guess the only thing left to say is.... COME ON, YOU YANKS!!!

Quotes aplenty.

{photo from my engagement sesh}

I always love a good quote. Here's a few of my current and all-time faves for your inspirational needs.  There's so much going on in my life now that a good quote always helps to bring me back to center. Cheers to letting happiness and chaos coexist!

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." -Ralph Waldo Emerson


"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." -Mother Teresa


"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." -C.S. Lewis


"Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien


"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.  This makes it hard to plan the day." -E.B. White


"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." -Victor Hugo


Ahhhhh, much better.

Now playing...

Broken Social Scene's new one, Forgiveness Rock Road...

Louise Bourgeois, you will be missed.

Yesterday, the art world lost a true visionary.  Louise Bourgeois passed away in New York at the age of 98 this Memorial Day.  I was fortunate to see a wonderful retrospective of her work at the Guggenheim in 2008.  She created art that expressed the difficulties of her past in a beautiful manner.  I could feel the cathartic process as I worked my way through the exhibit. Here is a photo of one of her iconic spider sculptures. I love these spiders because they so succinctly exhibit her extreme feminist views.

I highly recommend the documentary The Spider, The Mistress, and The Tangerine.  This movie provides a wonderful explanation of Bourgeois' work, the stories behind her pieces, and a glimpse into the personality of the artist. She was quite the little firecracker! And she will be missed.