CATEGORIES

Got a Girl Crush On: My West-Coast Taste Twin

I (Meg) was in San Fran for a whopping 24 hours before roadtrippin’ down Highway 1 to LA for the week, but snagged some quick girl-time with Andrea at Sightglass coffee in SoMa for a mini girl-crush reunion! 

Of course we showed up basically wearing the same outfit—but that’s why this blog gels well from opposite ends of the country. Great sartorial minds think alike ;)

Got a Girl Crush On: New York City Council Member, Letitia James

I finally got to see the documentary Battle For Brooklyn (which follows the very public and passionate fight waged by residents and business owners of Brooklyn’s historic Prospect Heights neighborhood facing condemnation of their property to make way for the polarizing Atlantic Yards project—the densest real estate development in U.S. history SEE IT IF IT’S SCREENING SOON NEAR YOU OR ORGANIZE A SCREENING IN YOUR CITY) on Tuesday night at Brooklyn Skillshare’s day of free classes in solidarity with Occupy Wallstreet’s General Strike. It saddened me greatly to bare witness to corporate greed that values dollars over denizens and corrupt politicians who do not fairly represent their constituencies. But through the grimness of this story shone a woman whom I’m proud to say represents my neighborhood, Letitia James.

Going against Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Borough President Marty Markowitz and developer Bruce Ratner, James opposed the use of eminent domain to evict her constituents, selling the MTA’s Atlantic Yardsproperty below the market value, and keeping the planning of the project out of the New York City Council.

Tish is also lawyer, activist and politician in the Working Families Party. She puts her career on the line for her work for what she believes is fair and true. She is certainly one to be admired.

(photo by mokksha on flickr)

Got a Girl Crush On: Internet kismet

So excited to share this!

I (in Brooklyn) met Andrea (in San Francisco) on Tumblr. Andrea met Rebecca at IndieMart. Andrea introduced me to Rebecca, who is currently hosting pop-up art events across the country with her art & culture blog/shop/event series, BIG THINGS (say hello to her in Chicago on February 7th!). Rebecca and I toiled together via the interwebs to co-curate this amazing afternoon of art and skills (I organize The Brooklyn Skillshare which is a community-based, community-led, and community-building learning events organized and taught by Brooklyn residents)!

If you’re in Brooklyn on Saturday, February 11th—come out and say hi!

BIG BIG CITY: Brooklyn

A Pop-Up Art Market and Workshops with Brooklyn Skillshare!

Brooklyn Skillshare and San Francisco-Bay Area arts & culture blog, BIG THINGS are teaming up to bring you BIG BIG CITY: Brooklyn, an afternoon of mini-skills workshops and pop-up art market featuring local artists. Join us on Saturday, February 11th from 10:30 – 3:30pm at (LaunchPad 721 Franklin Avenue) in Crown Heights while we learn and share skills.

The workshop schedule:
11am–12:30pm Confetti egg tutorial with Tessa Watson of The Textile Utility
12:30pm–2pm Bookmaking with Elise Pelletier from Foreshadow Press
2pm–3:30pm Japanese tea ceremony and matcha-making with tea expert and photographer, Johnny Fogg. A donation of $5 is suggested to participate in classes.

A marketplace of artists will include handmade goods by West Coast artists in the BIG THINGS SHOP; leather moccasins and jewelry by Manimal; prints by Foreshadow Press; tiny terrarium jewelry by With Roots, work by illustrators Tuesday Bassen and Pete Gamlen; and photo prints by Meg Wachter.


Thanks to Dante Carlos for our amazing poster.

Got A Girl Crush On: Crystal Renn

She’s a “plus-sized” model (which—as far as this sector of fashion has seemingly come, why can’t we ditch this term?). She’s been on the cover of Harpers and Vogue and graced countless runways. Not to mention a +sized model makes 3 times as much a day now as they did in 1994.

Crystal levels about her modeling career and how it only took off after she stopped starving herself and embraced her true body type. How refreshing is it to see soft sexy lines instead of bone? GIRLS WITH CURVES FTW!

UPDATE: this editor was not aware of Miss Renn’s recent massive weight-loss, and, admittedly, I don’t know how to absorb this information when it it contrats the orignal reason we championed her for her fight for real bodies portrayed in fashion.

By no means championing, but, I know this—carrying that mantel of of all women’s weight can be a heavy one. And we are all susceptible to pressures upon us by society as women. And it’s troublesome to see someone seemingly slip back under those unrealistic standards. But here’s the thing—she’s still proportional to her body size and by no means malnourished. She claims she now does yoga (which, as a practicer, really does tone your body)—and that is still outside the norms of the waffish penchants on the runway. 

Crystal is hopefully (genuinely) bringing eating disorders, exercise, and health to the table. Being active IS sexy, no matter what your size. Can we crucify her? I’d like not to. Can we keep challenging the notion of beauty—that’s what this blog aims to do.

Got A Girl Crush On: The Anti-Flirt Club

hollabackct:

February 27, 1923. “Miss Alice Reighly, 1409 Harvard Street, president of Anti-Flirt Club, which has just been organized in Washington, D.C., and will launch an ‘Anti-Flirt Week’ beginning March 4. The club is composed of young women and girls who have been embarrassed by men in automobiles and on street corners.” 

Oh if I had a nickel for every cat-call I’ve gotten in this city…I’d like to spearhead the Brooklyn chapter, please!

(via )

Got A Girl Crush On: Annie Clark (St. Vincent)

winesburgohio:

annie clark (in her other life: the ethereal st. vincent) covering brian eno’s “some of them are old” — two versions, here. the first, live at sundance, i love. just her voice, then the slow build of blistering noise coming up into it.  love the way you work it, girl.