Art I Heart — Kelly Tunstall

If you're reading this and you happen to be in the NYC vicinity on Sept. 4, won't you please check out this opening party so I can live vicariously through you?

We discovered Kelly Tunstall when I bought my daughter a cool Mudpuppy puzzle she designed.

Ever since, I've loved her lush paintings of chic doe-eyed ladies.

Likewise, if you'll be in San Francisco Sept. 10, there's a reception for the opening of this group show, which also includes Jeremy Fish, another artist I'm always checking for.

Portland-bound!

We head out for our family trip to Portland this weekend. Weather-permitting, we're going to try to get around town as much as possible by bike. Check out the sweet situation we're planning on renting.

This bizarre-looking contraption comes from Dutch company, Bakfiets. I was happy to find it because, unlike the standard rear trailers, it ensures my daughter will get a view of something other than one of our butts as we ride around town.

Our trip itinerary is heavily focused on finding amazing coffee and food, two things we seem to have so little of where we live right now (unless, of course, you're craving one of these). So, we're hoping the bikes serve many purposes — cost-effective, environmentally-friendly (not that I'm all up on that) and calorie-burning.

Mildly-Obssessed With This Band

What is it about Denmark duo Quadron that has me so enthralled?

I first heard them early in the year via KCRW (because I am officially in that geezer-ific demographic now). Since then, I've been trying to tell folks about them to the point where I'm practically on street team status.

I've been drumming my fingers waiting to hear of any tour news, with nothing but a few random festivals ever popping up. Now, I hear their coming to L.A. in October. According to their site, they play the Shrine Auditorium on October 23. According to the Shrine's site, that's the date Air is playing (though I didn't see mention of an opener). So, shall I connect the dots and assume they're opening for Air?

I love me some "Sexy Boy" and all, but I am not sure I could stand to sit through a whole night of Air's dreamy stuff. I have, indeed, been known to fall asleep at shows as varied as Sonic Youth and Blues Traveler (don't ask).

Is my mild obsession enough to make me down a Red Bull and eat those words? With any luck, they'll beef up their tour schedule to include some dates at, say, the more accessible (and affordable) Detroit Bar, or Belly Up.

Watch This — This Is A Dare

Yes, Frown Lines is, apparently, becoming "all 'Watch This,' all the time." Please bear with me.

I read about this tear-jerking StoryCorps submission here and initially dismissed it. I later saw it linked from New York Magazine and, once again, was warned that tears were guaranteed upon watching. I just had to rise to the challenge. I hardly ever tear up at sentimental stuff and this would be no different, I told myself.

So, I watched it and...

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

...I was right. I didn't cry. But only because I was being really, really stubborn. How about you?

Stereotypically Speaking, I Want Some Chocolate!

I seldom have one of these moments:

But today, it seems I've made an exception. All day long, I have been thinking about the sublime Tofu Chocolate Pudding (I know, I know...but seriously, it's actually good!) at Veggie Grill. It comes as the dessert with the kid's meal and I routinely snag it from my daughter because I'm like that.

The only thing stopping me from getting some is this: My little corner of the world is seemingly the only place in the world that isn't 8 million degrees today and the nearest Veggie Grill is about 20+ degrees away. Thankfully, I bookmarked the recipe when Daily Candy posted it months ago.

Now, if I can just figure out what a double burner is (and stop myself from just filling up on the remaining chocolate chips in the two hours it takes to chill), it's on!

Watch This — Marcel

I wouldn't do back-to-back "Watch This" posts if I didn't feel it was necessary. Know this.

By now, everyone has (or, at least, should have) seen this. I questioned whether or not to even embed it here. But I figured I'd like to go on record as professing my love for it. And, though I couldn't be a part of creating it, I could at least do my part to chronicle it for posterity.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

I have so many snails in my courtyard fountain. I wish even one of them was as precious as Marcel.

Watch This — Japanese Fun Facts

Talking legumes that resemble puppies and disseminate arcane trivia. What have you been doing all your life, if not watching Mameshiba clips? Fava bean is the latest. So much weird Japanese goodness.

Wantables — The Back in the Saddle Edition

Wow, it's been over a month since my last post. I've been meaning to get back at it for a while now. Alas, I've always wound up shrugging it off and being just all-encompassingly lame.

Lame no more!

Leave it to Seed to inspire me to blog again. This Costa Mesa eco-super-store is an oasis for me; when I'm there (and just in The Camp, in general), I don't feel that spirit-crushing feeling I usually have when out and about in Orange County. Even though I'm not too terribly granola crunchy, or tree-huggish, I always want to buy everything in this store...even the camping stuff!

On last weekend's trip, I had to limit myself to a Livity sunhat (I got #38) and a Strawberry Shortcake picture disc from the used vinyl stacks. These other goodies caught my eye, too, though...

31 Bits necklaces and stackable recycled paper bracelets

These are gorgeous handmade fair trade accessories from a collective of women in Uganda. I could see pairing the necklaces with shirt-dresses and sweaters for Fall and giving the bracelets as gifts. Just a small criticism: Were there no Ugandan models available for the photo shoot? Their shopping page is a little Ann Taylor Loft.

Tiny Whales onesies and T-shirts

Okay, their site is kind of jacked up, what with the annoying music and the non-functioning shopping page and all. (EDIT: Just found out about their Etsy page, which is infinitely more functional.) The line itself is quite striking in person; really clever graphics, sophisticated color palettes and super soft cotton. Honestly, being the snob that I am, I was rather surprised to find out the designers are a husband and wife team from OC. It's a different aesthetic than I'm used to seeing in this Spongebob/Disney environment. Personal reminder: "When you assume..."

Kids Konserve reusable, waste-free lunch kits

Thankfully, my daughter's school serves an incredible hot lunch every day (as well they should, given the king's ransom we pay each month). If, however, we were stuck at one of those Jamie Oliver intervention schools, I might consider copping one of these kits. Each recycled cotton bag includes a cotton napkin, stainless steel water and food containers, and a little snack pouch. The idea is to eliminate plastic bags, paper towels, aluminum foil and the rest.

They are pretty much too good for kids. I mean, the total cost of all my daughter's preferred snacks all together (nori, apple slices, pretzels, yogurt and cheese) is nowhere near the $45 asking price. But can you really put a price on moral superiority? I think not.

Seed sells each of the kit's components separately, in case you need multiples of any one thing, or if you just want to try the Food Kozy out without spending a small fortune for the rest. I think I may buy a pair for field trips.

"Moon Walks A Tightrope" poster

We have been looking all over for a print to fill some empty living room wall space. I came across Slide Sideways' stationery at Seed and found out some of the same designs are available as prints on the Seattle couple's Etsy site. Great timing, too, because they're having a sale!