i love this woman. i knew nothing about her until my dearest film-hound-of-a-friend dragged me to see “beaches of agnes” this summer. but what a gem of a human, what a mind, and what a sweet and sophisticated riot… at 80!

…fall is on!

(Image respectfully stolen from Jordan / Martha Stewart.)

sadly i had to abandon what would have been a fantastic trip to boulder this labor day weekend, so in an effort to make up for the nature i’m missing i spent some time this morning appreciating the little patch of green i’ve cultivated here at home… not such a bad view to wake up to every day:

right now i’ve got two kinds of basil, flat and curly parsley, mint, a variegated vinca, a bunch of lantana, and a tallgrass out on the fire escape. the windowsill is home to my jade plant, some lemon thyme, two string-of-pearls, chives, and a baby succulent i picked up at the union square farmers market not too long ago.

there’s definitely been an influx of birds and butterflies this summer… could it be the highline?

i’m not feeling much summer love because of this book deadline (it’s midnight on sat and i’m sitting on the porch with my laptop), but one look at this lovely polaroid and i’m transported:

prepare yourself for happy distraction:

(love this! thanks joy.)

the weekend in nyc was gorgeous and officially felt like spring. i suspect i’m not the only one who caved in and bought some apple blossoms and tulips at the farmers market in union square…

artist christoph niemann’s “I LEGO N.Y.” post in the new york times today puts a huge smile on my face…   and addresses once and for all many tourists’ confusion about on- vs. off-duty cabs!