Only Robinson Crusoe had everything done by Friday.

IT'S FRIDAY!!!

And although my job rarely allows a proper weekend, something tells me this weekend shall be swell. Two days full of plans and a forecast that promises good weather, this always makes for a truly splendid end of the week.

I wish you well.

Even though my plans don't involve sailing or even boating, I surely will be dreaming about the first sail of the season. ASAP. I just though this very rare picture of JFK & Jacqueline (Jackie was rarely caught smoking) captured the breeze and wistful spirit of the early Summer.

"Appréciez la promenade en parc"

Here are some more shots from my home state of Massachusetts -- Although it longer feels like home, I must be honest and say I can't think of any better place to spend the Summer months ... other than Maine perhaps. But the water is far too cold to swim in Maine. Give me Edgartown, you can keep East Hampton!

Plum Island

Marblehead Harbor

A view from Chilmark, M.V.

Nantucket Sound

in the good ol' Summertime.

As summer rapidly approaches, I find my music choices, which since this winter have been drone and heavyhearted, gravitating in a new direction. Below is my official Summer playlist ... with many more to be added! A mixture of new and old -- a mixed bag full of angst, slow-movin' lazy songs and merriment. It's somewhat all over the place, but it's everything Summer listening should be. To me.

1. The Drums - The Drums
2. The Puppini Sisters - Betcha Botton Dollar
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
4. Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
5. MGMT - Congratulations
6. The Best of the Runaways
7. LCD Soundsytem - This is Happening
8. The National - High Violet
9. Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis
10. The Doors - The Doors
11. Madonna - You Can Dance
12. Hole - Nobody's Daughter
13. Little Boots - Hands
14. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - I Learned The Hard Way
15. La Roux - La Roux
16. Semi Precious Weapons - We Love You
17. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
18. Before Sunrise [Soundtrack]

The Empire Strikes!

Yesterday was a perfectly perfect day here in NY. After spending the day out apartment searching, the evening getting caught in the rain. I met up with a friend later in the afternoon for some beers and a round of eight ball.

When I got home it was just about time for ESB to turn off. (Living in such close proximity, I always look for it to turn on and off. If I'm lucid!) So, last night it seemed a little more present than usual. Cast in a halo from the cloudy late-night sky, it seemed ominous and distant. It provoked me to snap some shots. There are only slight differences, but I thought it looked lovely.

Friday's Style

As I got dressed this morning, I stumbled across a pair of trousers that I haven't worn for five years! Originally purchased to wear to a very good friend's engagement party, I was much thinner then and haven't been able to fit into them in some time. Well, I was delighted to find that today, although a little snug, they fit. Brown and cropped, with a tiny gray pinstripe, I sort of dig them. I slipped on the obligatory boat shoes, a red vintage polo and my beige, light-weight Gucci sweater, topped it all of with a mixture of Prada Infusion D'Homme with a splash of No. 6 After Shave by Caswell-Massey and ventured out to my office. As I walked down 28th Street, I realized that if I had managed to put on a pair of white socks (a move I will surely be sure to make when I recreate this outfit in the future.) I would be dressed like Gene Kelly.

Mister Kelly, is one of style icons ... so on this lazy Friday, I thought it might be fun to reveal my, not so secret, style icons. I suppose one might say that they aren't too, too orginal, but I would like to think that it's the way I put my ensembles together that make it a little different -- plus I always like to look a little dirty. As always, there's more than a couple here, so grin and bear it! Enjoy.

Steve McQueen

Gene Kelly

Paul Newman

Kate Moss

Paul Newman No. 2 and Joanne Woodward

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Serge Gainsbourg

Gene Kelly No. 2

Kate No. 2

Double Time: Emmanuelle Alt and Carine Roitfeld

The Olsen Sisters

Jacqueline No. 2

Daphne Guinness

Me & Annie

Please take a look at this, and then take a look at this! You saw it here first!

Take Me to the Flickers!

Find the new trailer for the new Chanel biopic,

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky,

here.

Although the actress in the lead role, Anna Mouglalis, looks nothing like Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel, so far this looks like the best Chanel film yet. I wasn't thrilled with Coco Avant Chanel nor was I in love with the Shirley MacLaine film on Lifetime. But this one looks lovely.

“Fashion is made to become unfashionable.”

Words to live by, eloquently put by the indelible Coco Chanel. So, as we think of Chanel, her timeless spirit, endlessly stylish designs, and her revolutionary career, I ask you to consider a new neighborhood. A classic in its own right. Chinatown. As my roommate/co-worker, Jesse AKA Vacancy Queen, and I surveyed the neighborhood last week, we slowly fell in love with the charm and convenience, the grit and through that, the glamour. (We all know I like my chic a little askew) Then and there, we two decided that when the lease expires, this place shall be our next home!

New York Magazine has ranked it at No. 42 in their current "The Best Place in New York to Live Is..." issue. But I say "consider it." Indulge me with my photography and take a peak at the snapshots below.

New Address?

Open Markets -- I'm skeptical. But it may grow on me.

Great Shade of Green.

Doyer Street. The "crookedest" street in NYC. Who knew?

Tea & Sympathy

As Fashionista reported yesterday afternoon, On Wednesday April 7, Gilt Group will be offering up pieces from the late, great Alexander McQueen. Selections will be on sale from McQueen's ready-to-wear and from Alexander McQueen shoes and accessories. Open up your pocketbooks ladies, this is an offer you can't refuse!

It is unclear which collection will be sold, but in my opinion, any is worth the effort and price tag!

In no particular order, you can find some images from my favorite McQueen collections below ...

Judge a Man by the Number of Drinks He Can Put Down!

So, after surveying TONY's latest issue, "Free Things To Do," amongst discovering many other neat little tidbits, I was delighted to come across RightRides. It is a service right here in our very own Gotham that offers women, LGBTQ and gender queer individuals a safe and FREE late night ride home on Friday and Saturday nights from 11:59 PM - 3 AM, in up to 45 NYC neighborhoods across four NYC boroughs.

Well, I think this is just brilliant!

If you'd like to participate ... give 'em a call. The dispatch number is (888)215-SAFE (7233). Save it in your phones! And when you're walking home, filled with those delightful Champagne bubbles and some creepy man walks up to you and says in the most lecherous
voice he can "Get home safe," (this happened to yours truly on Sunday) you can respond "Oh, I shall!"

According to Time Out, those two cheeky Aussie spots, Bondi Road and the Sunburnt Cow, also offer free transportation via their very own advertising gas guzzler, the "Moo Mobile." They'll pick you up at any Manhattan subway station below 14th Street and shuttle you right to their front doors. You choose which destination! Now the question remains -- will they shuttle you between their spots in Alphabet City and the L.E.S.? What smart and affective advertising. You can reach them at each location's phone number (212) 253-5311 (Bondi Road) or (212) 529-0005 (the Sunburnt Cow). Reservations required!