That's a wrap

Every year my family holds a wrapping contest that completely outshines the presents we give on Chrissie morning. We also go nut balls over the table decoration. One year we did live fish in vases down the centre of the table. I don't recommend it, half of them didn't make it to lunch, another few we're floating by pudding (and not due to egg nog). Over the years we've done all silver, all gold, green and white, red and white and even all blue. You have to go out of the Christmas colour sphere if you want to keep fresh. This year we did black and natural, and I think it's the best ever. I'm also pretty sure I won the wrapping comp, with my very cheap ripped novel and brown paper scheme. I knew there would be a use for that Shapelle Corby biography I was given last year!

Rock'n'rolla derby

I have always been highly susseptable to suggestion, especially when it comes packaged in a teen movie. As a kid, I wanted to dance in the streets ala Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo, or enjoy a saturday detention like the Breakfast Club. Of course, the reality is never as sunny as John Hughes paints it. Inspired by films like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I joined an adult cheerleading team and found holding a girl's foot for a couple of hours while she makes pretty shapes less interesting than the montage scene of Bring It On would have you believe. I've taken up tap dancing no less than three time, probably in reaction to veiwing A Chorus Line, and an early episode of 90210 had me down at the Oakleigh ice skating rink at 8.30 on a Saturday morning practising turns with a bunch of six year olds.

So it's no surprise that I am currently osbsessed with Roller Derby, having just watched Drew Barrymore's directual debut Whip It. Now the movie is not bad, some funny dialogue and good performances by Juno's Ellen Page and Kristen Wiig (as well an appearance by the third and equally drawling Wilson brother). But it's really the sport that is the hero, with rough, punk rock chicks answering to punny names and not much else, skating around in customised uniforms that are straight out of the final scenes of Don't Tell Mom the Baysitter's Dead. And the best bit is the roller derby scene really exists, and it's even here in Melbourne!

So far I've missed bouts like I Dream of Derby, Smashdance, Slay Belles and Queens of the Slammed, so I can't wait to check it all out at Chashendo on December 5. You can get tickets and more info here.

There is a very good chance I will spend the better part of this week thinking up my own derby name, any ideas?

Ghosts of New York Past

We first heard this song on the radio in the Greenwich Village apartment we were subletting, and three weeks into the trip, it really gave us some much needed spring in our step, to get back out there onto the streets where dreams are made of. My lovely friend Ali took me past the Marcy projects in Brooklyn, where Jay Z grew up, and it made me think, surely if he can get from there to where he is, I can get from here to NYC?

New York City Bots.

If you're walking down the street in New York City and you see one of these Tweenbots, you should check the destination on its flag and help it on its way. Then you'll be a part of this art project that explores ideas of human connections in a complex and hectic city.

If you're not, you can take a walk over here.

Origami Dressing

While watching some early morning foxtel on Sunday, I chanced upon something awesome on the How To Channel. I can see you snickering at my admission that I sometimes choose to watch overweight, middle aged American women make quilts out of old underpants, but if you look long enough and wish hard enough, between scrapbooking your child's first bowel movement and making a table centre from used aerosol cans, you can find something inspirational and beautiful.

Luckily for you, I've sorted the diamond from the rough (and believe me, they are rough), and came up with this beauty.

Francisco Costa is the design director of Calvin Klein. I wouldn't have classed myself as a massive Calvin Klein fan - usually it makes me think of simple dresses and Marky Mark - but this new origami inspired collection is making me tingle in places I don't really want to talk about in public. They are like moving sculptures and I bet they make you feel like a piece of art.

And in this video he actually demonstrates how they make the amazing pleat dress, and, excuse my ignorance, it actually doesn't look that hard. Detailed and meticulous yes, but really, really difficult, i don't think so. It's got to at least be easier than saving for the real thing.

Check it out here and choose the Francisco Costa video on the right.

Taking a walk in July.

If I could have someone stand beside me where ever I go and whisper thought provoking, relevant, and witty sentences into my ear so I could relay them, Cyrano style, into the world, the person I choose could quite possibly be Miranda July. Her words are simple, and in the beginning they can seem frivolous, floral, even slightly sappy, until they knee you in the groin and show you what they're made of. She wrote a collection of short stories called "No One Belongs Here More Than You", a title that immediately appeals to my ego and wants me make its author a friend on Facebook, but that also contains a stories that are friendly yet fearful, the perfect combination sweet and sour, that make me rethink my normally negative reaction to short stories.

She's also done short films and long films, art films and art shows, and this one here is here is a bit old, but then so am I, so it's no wonder I am a little behind....

The Hallway from The Hallway on Vimeo.

The wackness

I watched The Wackness yesterday, which had made it into the filing cabinet of my mind only because it separated the Olsen twins for five minutes (which is coincidental about four minutes longer than said twin appears in the film). Despite finding whichever twin it was to be as bland as expected, I found the rest of the film to be, well, rather lovely. I love the idea of a quiet, hot New York summer, where everyone is off somewhere else being cool, and the people left have nothing better to do but walk the streets in search of comfort, both figuratively and literally. This summer is the one between high school and college, and as it's set in 94, the time is a lot closer to my own experience of graduation, even if the place is another world away. This is a great New York movie, full of long skyline shots, gritty street views, and endless commentary about Guilanni and Notorious B.I.G. that subtly reminds you of the place and time. And the main character falls in love over a cold beer in central park, which could possibly be the best way to fall in love. I've shied away from posting walk on the wild side here before, as it can sometimes feel tacky or obvious, but as it accompanied the hero of this movie, skateboarding through the park with a walkman, it felt like catching up with a really good friend. And when I watched the video today, without sound on this 94esk computer, it looked really good again. Enjoy!