Random Midweek Musings
.
.
Slim Paley Photo
.
Slim Paley Photo
My ‘Rare Golden Clivia’ are out (embarrassing their more common relatives, the orange ones that you can’t kill with a stick)
.
Slim Paley Photo.
The roses are about to burst forth any moment…
.
.
Slim Paley photo
And the Fraises des Boise are practically begging to be plucked and plonked into a glass of champagne!
..
.
But on a less upbeat note, I just read the other day that Takashimaya NY is going out of business! They are closing in June. This makes me sad, as I remember when they first opened in NY- I thought they had such a chic, unusual approach to an upscale department store and provided a tranquil, elegant shopping experience away from all the frenzy of 5th Ave. I loved the way they packaged and wrapped everything so beautifully, with such attention to detail. A box arriving on your doorstep from Takashimaya was always a great treat, even if it was just things you shipped to yourself (although I never really got that heavy black rope they used) It was also, for the longest time, the only place you could buy ”Ambra di Venezia” perfume, which is what my mother wears. I always said it was a big mistake when they moved their in-house florist Christian Tortu from the front window space to the top floor, but did they listen to me? No. Now look what’s happened. Who can go to the SALE for me??? It starts next week!
.
Flowers from Takashimaya
Sayonara Takashimaya
.
.
.
.
BOA
Wagyu Beef
Closer to home, ( I did say this was going to be random 
) I went into the big city last night to have dinner with some old friends visiting from London. We dined at BOA on Sunset and I have to say, I had the MOST delicious Wagyu steak ever! The only other one I’ve had that compared was in Tokyo and it cost 7 million dollars. I ordered a little sauce au poivre on the side and felt guilty as the flavour of the steak on it’s own was so fabulous (but I still finished the sauce) – I half expected The God of Wagyu to reach down and smite me.
.
Slim Paley photo……………Heirloom tomato stuffed with fresh crab at Boa
.
A long drive back to Santa Barbara in the dark is not exactly conducive to a good night’s sleep, so naturally I tossed and turned for awhile before finally dropping off (after removing ALL my eye make-up of course ) and I got to thinking…
- I think I’m going to get the iPad for sure (don’t you love the decisiveness of “I think I’m for sure“?!) I’ve heard there are some issues with live-streaming, Youtube videos etc.,but I’m guessing they’ll work these kinks out pretty darn quickly. They would have to, right? I had a peek at ‘Star Wars’ on my friend’s iPad yesterday and it was ridiculously sharp and vibrant. British actor Stephen Fry practically wrote a love letter to the iPad in a recent Time magazine article. And whatever Stephen does, I do. Our wedding anniversary is at the end of the month- His n Her’s iPads? So romantic!
-This might fall under “TMI” but is it just me, or does anybody else taste eye drops a couple of minutes after applying?? My husband and sons think I’m a weirdo, but I swear I do. Anybody?? or are you going to side with them?
-Since I’ve been blogging, I must admit my leisure reading has really diminished. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining at all. Writing this blog has been fulfilling in many wonderful (ie. need for attention and approval ) and unexpected ways, as well as just being a whole lot of fun, but seriously, my fiction intake has taken a grievous hit. I started two books, which shall remain nameless, got thru 80 pages on one, and almost 100 on the other before bailing. Now I’m reading “Unaccustomed Earth” by Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake). I’m enjoying it, though I hadn’t realized it was a collection of stories rather than a novel because I’m trying to not read the inside of dust covers anymore. Why you might ask? Because it drives me insane when they invariably say something like “…when her young husband dies unexpectedly…” Well, I guess it’s not so unexpected anymore, is it? Let me judge a book by it’s reputation or even it’s cover, but don’t give me a spoiler before I’ve hit the first page. What’s up with that?!
.
.
Next – The Surrendered by Chang-rae Lee. Has anyone read it yet? Would love to hear your thoughts…just no spoilers!
.
.
.
Lastly, I know it’s still early Spring but I couldn’t resist sharing these Nina Ricci shoes from next season.
I wouldn’t wear them, but they do make me smile…what say you?
.
.
.
24 hours to ‘Housewives‘ people- get your helmets and snacks ready!
.
.
Stumble It! 
OMG, am devastated to hear that Takashimaya is closing, it is always one of the first places I go when I hit NYC. My little Japanese Aesthetic Fix for the year, and so deliciously stimulating to one’s exquisite style tastebuds, it makes one feel that all is well with the world ….. So unamerican,
restrained, subtle, unhurried, tasteful and perfect to the smallest detail. A sad farewell! Boo Hoo.
Slim, I am in NYC and can go to the Takashimaya sale! Need any Ambrosia? I love and use the body creme. Also, today I received a floral arrangement from them…so so pretty. Cannot believe this era will end. They have such a unique style. There is always the Tokyo Takashimaya…
I loved Unaccustomed Earth! Stick with it. The stories weave together beautifully emotionally, if not, literally. I loved The Interpreter of Maladies, too, as well as the Namesake. Did you ever see the movie, The Namesake? It was so good and, for you, Slim, let’s you see all the pretty colors of India, not just imagine them.
I want to get the new Pulitzer Prize winner of fiction, Tinkers. I bet that is good, although sometimes I like the runners up almost more than the winners.
Always happy to see a glimpse of what is in store for fall! Surprising to see the House of Ricci do such an unconventional shoe. My thought is that they should stick with what they know; the feminine classics.
Unfortunate about Takashimaya closing. Fortunate for my girlfriend who will be in NYC shopping on the weekend. (Bad call moving the florist to the top of the house.)
Yes, it is true about eye drops doing that.
These are very random comments.
Random Responses… that fraise du bois is nearly 3D looking on my screen… yummy. Takashimaya was always a fun look-see, but I never bought a ton of stuff when I visited – I’m guessing others felt the same. I’m with you on the florist… that’s what drew me into the store… one needs that oasis in an urban jungle.
The iPad is bitchen. We pre-ordered ours. My husband, who has been a Luddite all these years, held this thing in his hands and immediately “got it”. It has the potential to pick up all those on the fringes who never enjoyed computing. The screen is so vibrant it makes all others hang their pixels in shame. Yes, there are some things it should do, but doesn’t yet. That will come.
And those Nina Riccis are tres amusant. They look like a lawn flamingo dated a python and swallowed Alice in Wonderland’s slippers
“Hanging pixels”- love it!! Are those the computers sold in Florida?!
and your description of the Ricci shoes makes me want to buy them, if even just to display in my closet!
I hate when my favorite stores close! Takashimaya is such a treasure chest of upscale style! Too bad!
Hi Slim – I am a Chang- rae Lee fan and have read all four of his books. I have to say that this one was more plot driven. He did not develop the characters’ inner lives as well as he did in the other books. As an aside, this book focuses more on displacement from family and relationships rather than from culture and country. Definitely still worth reading. My favorite last two books of fiction have been Let the Great World Spin and Little Bee. For nonfiction, I liked How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer. My Fraises des Bois are just starting to bloom. Trop de pluie a San Francisco.
But the rain has made everything SO green, which is lovely! The mountains along the highway are positively chartreuse right now.
Thank you for your book rec. Anne- I will be checking them them out.
You were so right about moving the flower department into exile. Store hasn’t been the same since. Another good reason to head across the Pacific for a Takashamaya fix. Last trip was browsing the huge flower section in their Ginza branch and was captured by the MOST fragrant sweet peas on very long stems for $2.50 a bunch. I put together what I thought was four or five bunches to fill my hotel room with that heavenly fragrance. Turned out it wasn’t $2.50 a bunch, but a stem. I had gathered an astoundingly costly bouquet. Settled instead on five large yellow ranuculas. No fragrance but lovely color. Then headed into basement for the Sacher Hotel pastry section and bought things to fill my hotel room with the fragrance of Viennese chocolate!! Not that it had the chance to linger very long!
the shoes look like luscious lips – yummy!
Sad about Takashimaya…it lost something once they moved things around…they should have listened to you!
SO JEALOUS of that garden!!! Come to Georgia and show me how!!!!!!
Yes, get the iPad! I have not read any of the books you mentioned. I’m currently reading a modern take on Anna Karenina titled “What happened to Anna K?” by Irina Reyn. It is well written and good. I’ve got my helmet on ready for tonight!
Yes on the eyedrops.
Have you read “Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery? It’s fantastic.
I have to thank you for “Greengage Summer”–loved it.
Hi Carole
I did read “Elegance of the Hedgehog”. I liked it, but I have to admit that I didn’t LOVE it, although I thought the end was great (and I know that sounds odd) but I was just NOT expecting that. I think my problem with it was that the girl felt a little dispassionate to me, especially for a teenager. Some parts made me really laugh though, now that I think about it again.
I’m so happy you loved Greengage Summer- it’s the type of book that stays with you, isn’t it?
Happy Friday to you!
Hi Slim,
LOVE that golden clivia. Outrageous!
Hate it when books give away an important detail. Why?
It’s just like movie trailers these days. I feel as if I’ve seen the entire movie in 2 minutes. Hate tha too.
Do you eat that steak raw?
~janet
Hi Janet!
I didn’t eat it raw, just very rare, which I think is the best way to enjoy steak (sorry! I read on your blog that you are a vegan!) I’m a naughty, naughty person.
I always taste the eyedrops. They slide down into the nasal cavaties somehow and from there, voila, into your throat.
I am going to NY this weekend and will make sure to stop at Takashimaya. When my son was about eight, we went to New York for Thanksgiving. I dragged him and my husband into the store and of course I had to go to the cosmetics floor. To my astonishment and mortification, while I was browsing, my son was amusing himself by spraying perfume onto strips, smelling them and then handing them out to other shoppers. I still have some of those strips though the scent has faded.
I think I bought some Hello Kitty magnets – on sale.
Everyone in my family thinks the idea of tasting your eyedrops — after only applying them in your eye (not tasting them for fun!) — is disgusting. But, alas, it is true for me too – Pataday – allergy eyedrops, I cannot live without them, but I definitely could live without the taste, maybe you could suggest they make them in Wagyu flavor.
Or Vodka for one eye, and Vermouth for the other!
I’m still laughing about LK’s shoe description…! About the eye drops..YES, I’ve had that happen, so I know exactly what you are talking about.
Always love reading your posts and seeing your beautiful photos. I have to tell you that your one on porches was inspiring. If I had either one I think it would be hard to get me to leave home (especially if I had a good book to read there) Anyway, your photos helped me decide where to plant a tree I have waiting, so thanks! I seem to have a problem bringing plants home with NO IDEA where they are going to end up.
Lovely strawberries!
On your TMI, I spent some time a while back with an awful eye infection, and I always tasted the myriad of drops I had to take, it was yucko! Yes, you are not alone, you do taste eye drops, it is all connected.
Those shoes look like an out of control flower. Pretty, though I cannot imagine wearing them.
Boo, on the closing of Takashimaya.
Happy weekend to you
Stephanie
Your funny. I enjoy your posts no matter what you write. The flora and fauna reports, beautiful photos that make me smile. You have a lovely eye for the beauty of life. I loved it when Takashimaya had their flowers just as you entered with grand branches and breathtaking arrangements. They also had exquisite loungewear It is the end of something unique and tasteful.
I will be a good and faithful reader and go to the sale on your behalf! Oh, the sacrifices we make …
But you are right about the blogging cutting into the reading – it really has slowed me down a bit.
There was a little Slim mention and link in my last post – attesting to your fabulous photos if you want to take a peek.
Best,
Stephanie
Whatever Slim Paley does, I do.
Well, except taste eye drops. I side with the fellas on that one. But I do dip my salty french fries from McDonalds in a chocolate shake occasionally….can I get a witness???
Thanks for Boa idea..there is one here in Santa Monica and so we are going there for lunch tomorrow.x
Your humor slays me every time. Thanks for a great belly laugh this morning to start my day!
xo
Takashimaya, one of the more deluxe and yummy enterprises in New York. May she rest in peace!