Forbidden Love

Now that I've read Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin, I will never be able to hear Lewis Carroll's Alice stories without remembering the scandal and heartbreak surrounding the book's muse.

In this fictionalized biography, Benjamin examines the life of Alice Liddell, a vivacious little girl being suffocated by the constraints of Victorian notions of girls and girlhood. From an affluent academic family, Alice escapes through innocent outings with a much older eccentric professor (a character based on Lewis Carroll). When their odd and sometimes cringe-inducing relationship is misinterpreted by meddling interlopers, poor little Alice is marred for life. The implications of her victimization are far reaching, costing her true love and happiness.

Poor Alice, another exploited muse.

This is what you're like

I'm not sure why I was so emo when we went to see Sarah Kirkland Snider's Penelope at The Bell House.

It could have been my over worked/over tired state of mind, or Kirkland Snider's evocative compositions (performed by members of Signal), or the image of a pregnant Shara Worden singing lyrics about a long lost husband returning from war, half the man he used to be.

Whatever it was, it moved me. I was a teary mess! Check the tunes out for yourself when New Amsterdam releases them on an album next fall.

image via brooklynvegan.com

Off with her head!

Despite the lackluster reviews, I went to see Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland in IMAX 3D and totally dug it. The actress who played Alice is enchanting and I loved her costumes. I also loved the Red & White Queens' outlandish make-up.

I could have done with out the Mad Hatter's silly jig and the Jabberwocky and Bandersnatch scared the crap out of me, but overall, I recommend checking the movie out in theaters, preferably in 3D!

Runaway

I went to opening night of Keigwin + Company's run at The Joyce Theater last night and was completely BLOWN AWAY by the last work in the program, Runaway. I had seen video footage of the piece before, but nothing compared to experiencing it live. Check out an excerpt below:

Floridays

Heading to The Sunshine State for a long weekend where I will:

a) eat good food

b) drink beer that is not Tecate

c) buy a cute retro bathing suit (see above)

d) lay in the sun on the beach

I'm pretty excited. Pray for warm weather!

If you never do anything, you never become anyone

Jen L. and I took advantage of our 1/2 snow day to go and see An Education. It's the story of Jenny, a bright young thing who is hungry for experiences beyond her sheltered life as a cello playing school girl pushed toward Oxford by her domineering parents. She is dazzled by David, an older man of questionable repute who woos her with a whirlwind of cigarettes and champagne. When he inevitably breaks her heart, it almost seems worth it for all the fun she (and we) have had with him.

I loved the clothing, cast and soundtrack and am now on the hunt for a copy of Lynn Barber's memoir, from which the film is adapted.

My favorite part was when the world weary and kinda trampy Helen gives Jenny a makeover for her first romantic weekend getaway:

images via imbd.com

Artisan Ice Cream

The yellow Van Leeuwen ice cream trucks tweet their locations, but now they have a home base on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint. We stopped by their grand opening Saturday and I enjoyed some tasty Earl Grey ice cream and a delicious latte with a sweet little heart swirled into it. I'm looking forward to hot summer nights when we can stroll through McCarren park after dinner to get a scoop from these super nice peeps.

I spotted the hunky underground lobster pound dude while we were there, but was too shy to say hi. Next time!