28 February 2008
ABSOLUT MACHINE
For the last 20 years Absolut Vodka had run the most recognizable ad campaign ever. We all had at least one friend who had those damn ads above their bed when we started drinking in high school and college. Well, Absolut abandoned that campaign and started to take their brand for a ride with their new "Absolut World" idea. I guess the goal is to depict things in a perfect world. One branch of this campaign is aimed at the art enthusiasts. Absolut commissioned artists in Stokholm and NYC to build interactive music making machines. The first video is of the Stokholm Choir piece and the second is the Quartet that opened in NYC last night at 186 Orchard. It will be on display until the end of March.
18 February 2008
Flashing Lights
Kanye West, Spike Jonze and Rita G on sex and violence. Love how this is not the usual Luda bling bling billion dollar video and has late 70's hot rod overtones. I am a sucker for anything filmed in the desert, you just can't beat the color. Not to mention great song that i'd wiggle to in the club. Way to be different Kanye. Hi-fives from Jelly.
Another Kanye highlight...for all of you Zach Galifinaksdjfakljgasfsrc fans. aka "The Snuggler"
Avedon, graffiti fashion, havalinas & an SL350
Post-Valentine's Day, I headed south to see my other loved ones, Kathy and dad, in the Grand Canyon State. Arizona has been a second home for a decade and is the ultimate escape for relaxation. We typically maintain an itinerary of pool swimming, skin baking and any over indulgance possible. However, this time we are shifting into a more cultural direction.
We spent the afternoon at the Pheonix Art Museum for a 90 min. video on the life and photography of Richard Avedon followed by a small exhibit. I've always been a huge fan, but never dug below the surface as to who Avedon was as a photographer. I adore his early fashion photography of photos that carried so much movement and focus on the abilities of fabric, and love how he shifted his later career to powerfully revealing portraits of peoples' lives. He said "every photo taken is the death of a moment, and no other medium will ever be more powerful." Avedon is one of the most notable photgraphers of his time, and has made a permanent impression on American Culture.
I also stumbled into a tiny exhibit on graffiti in fashion and it's origin from artists like Andy Warhol through is evolution in the industry. There were two Chanel pieces, and several from Stephen Sprouse, which I felt were more directly inspired by graffiti. Chanel, not so much.
Tomo, we head north to a sculptor's studio. Stay tuned for more fotos, and hopefully a havalina parade.
oxjelly*
15 February 2008
Quit Your Wine-ing
Slate.com is a great place to read about things. Is it journalism? Is it OP-ED? Or is it a bunch of hippies ranting and raving about what they got to do because of some press credentials? Regardless I always find something great to read on that site.
Today Slate featured an article about tasting the greatest wine in the world. Apparently the world can agree on the fact that a '47 Cheval is the finest wine known to humanity.
I (PeanutButter), am a wine enthusiast. I have a contest with my father, or more of a quest if you will, to find the greatest bottle of wine under $20 in the world. I am convinced that these crazy wines are a rich mans snub at the casual drinker. If I tasted them would I agree? What if it's port like similarities make me hate it as much as I dislike actual port? Without an extra $12,000 this month I am afraid I will be back at Trader Joe's tonight to pick up a bottle of 3 buck chuck, (2 bucks in California). I guess the '47 Cheval will have to stay in my dreams.
I was once told by my bed and breakfast host in Sonoma county CA, to purchase wine based on taste. The same thing is true with burgers. I can go to an In-and-Out Burger and get the best goddamn burger in the world for a pittance. In NYC I pay a small percentage of my wages on a burger that satisfies me just as much. It is not about the quality but the taste. The same is true to exploring your taste with wine.
Price:
Price of wine is determined by a few things. First and most important is the year. Each year (vintage) is different. If a summer is hot and dry, the grapes enjoy a longer growing season and sway the sugar content a little higher. Colder Temps tend to being the sweetness levels down. Most say that somewhere in between is best, but then again it is all up to the consumer.
The second is the location. Even a growing patch one hillside over can produce drastically different wines then it's neighboring vineyards. Little things like an extra half hour of fog on the grapes give them something only found on a plot of land the size of your parents back yard. If these areas are discovered, word gets out and up goes the price of your favorite wine.
Finally you have to account for size of the production. Smaller wineries that have a good piece of land and a good reputation will price higher because they only produce a limited quantity. The truth is you can probably get a strikingly similar wine from a larger winery across the street. Then again maybe that little guy has some strange technique that makes his better.
Back to my quest. Wine can be a real bitch. I was at a nice corporate dinner with my father years ago. We were kind of just tagging along with some rich insurance man who wanted attention. The first thing the insurance dude does is order the most expensive red on the menu, $175 bottle of Napa Zinfandel. What the hell? I thought. 1 bottle for 8 people. I looked at my father with frustration. He knew what I was thinking right away. Before I knew what was happening my father had the waiter by his side as he browsed the wines. The choice was a $37 bottle of Sonoma Cabrenet. As the waiter started to walk away he paused and turned back to look at me. I knew something was up. "Your father made a much wiser decision you know", he said to me. And BAM! the quest was born. Since then I have had this idea of not giving in to the false glamor the wine industry has created. Also we did not share with the insurance man.
So I suppose I am responding to Slate with this piece. I appreciate the bragging, but c'mon guys. Don't tease us with things like '47 Cheval tastings. Let's hear about the people throwing down in 2008. Even if it was a mistake which created a '47 Cheval, that alone may have played into the romance of the whole idea.
The problem with this post is that I have no answers for you. I don't want to tell you how to find wines or brief you on which wines I like best. My only advice is to listen you the guy behind the counter. He has tasted everything he sells and he will not tell lies. He knows that some $13 bottles are much better than some $75 bottles. I just want you to be true to yourself and form your own opinions. Also never use Zagat to pick a restaurant.
Today Slate featured an article about tasting the greatest wine in the world. Apparently the world can agree on the fact that a '47 Cheval is the finest wine known to humanity.
I (PeanutButter), am a wine enthusiast. I have a contest with my father, or more of a quest if you will, to find the greatest bottle of wine under $20 in the world. I am convinced that these crazy wines are a rich mans snub at the casual drinker. If I tasted them would I agree? What if it's port like similarities make me hate it as much as I dislike actual port? Without an extra $12,000 this month I am afraid I will be back at Trader Joe's tonight to pick up a bottle of 3 buck chuck, (2 bucks in California). I guess the '47 Cheval will have to stay in my dreams.
I was once told by my bed and breakfast host in Sonoma county CA, to purchase wine based on taste. The same thing is true with burgers. I can go to an In-and-Out Burger and get the best goddamn burger in the world for a pittance. In NYC I pay a small percentage of my wages on a burger that satisfies me just as much. It is not about the quality but the taste. The same is true to exploring your taste with wine.
Price:
Price of wine is determined by a few things. First and most important is the year. Each year (vintage) is different. If a summer is hot and dry, the grapes enjoy a longer growing season and sway the sugar content a little higher. Colder Temps tend to being the sweetness levels down. Most say that somewhere in between is best, but then again it is all up to the consumer.
The second is the location. Even a growing patch one hillside over can produce drastically different wines then it's neighboring vineyards. Little things like an extra half hour of fog on the grapes give them something only found on a plot of land the size of your parents back yard. If these areas are discovered, word gets out and up goes the price of your favorite wine.
Finally you have to account for size of the production. Smaller wineries that have a good piece of land and a good reputation will price higher because they only produce a limited quantity. The truth is you can probably get a strikingly similar wine from a larger winery across the street. Then again maybe that little guy has some strange technique that makes his better.
Back to my quest. Wine can be a real bitch. I was at a nice corporate dinner with my father years ago. We were kind of just tagging along with some rich insurance man who wanted attention. The first thing the insurance dude does is order the most expensive red on the menu, $175 bottle of Napa Zinfandel. What the hell? I thought. 1 bottle for 8 people. I looked at my father with frustration. He knew what I was thinking right away. Before I knew what was happening my father had the waiter by his side as he browsed the wines. The choice was a $37 bottle of Sonoma Cabrenet. As the waiter started to walk away he paused and turned back to look at me. I knew something was up. "Your father made a much wiser decision you know", he said to me. And BAM! the quest was born. Since then I have had this idea of not giving in to the false glamor the wine industry has created. Also we did not share with the insurance man.
So I suppose I am responding to Slate with this piece. I appreciate the bragging, but c'mon guys. Don't tease us with things like '47 Cheval tastings. Let's hear about the people throwing down in 2008. Even if it was a mistake which created a '47 Cheval, that alone may have played into the romance of the whole idea.
The problem with this post is that I have no answers for you. I don't want to tell you how to find wines or brief you on which wines I like best. My only advice is to listen you the guy behind the counter. He has tasted everything he sells and he will not tell lies. He knows that some $13 bottles are much better than some $75 bottles. I just want you to be true to yourself and form your own opinions. Also never use Zagat to pick a restaurant.
Great little art project.
Some times people come up with great things to present to mankind. In this video 200 people freeze time in grand central station. My favorite part is when some guy says, "they're probably protestin sumthin". Grand central was a great choice of venue for a project like this. So much hustle and bustle going on. Did you know that there is a secret basement in grand central station that acted as the operation center for american troops in world war 2? Well, there is and it is like 6 stories underground and the size of a football field. Only like 3 dudes know where the entrance is.
14 February 2008
Barack Obama For President
/PeanutButter&Jelly/ officially endorse Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. Just look at him. How could you not want this friendly guy to win. Also look at how the capitol resembles the building that blasts off when you beat Tetris.
We don't support her, but Hillary may have a shot at becoming the first woman president of the USA. If this is going to be her running mate, all bets are off I think.
08 February 2008
07 February 2008
06 February 2008
BUST Party
Hello everyone. The other night Peanut Butter and Jelly were at the BUST release party at Fontana's. There was free Absinth. People were walking around like cartoon characters and then all of the sudden the music started. Mixel Pixel led off followed by Heloise and the Savoir Faire. If you ever get the chance to check them out please do yourself a favor and make the time. Here are some photos.
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