April 2007 Archives

Thanks to the fine folks over at Gothamist, I just read this sweet story about a "mystery cat" who takes the bus regularly in London. He (or she) gets on and off at the same two stops several times a week much to the delight of the busdriver who has nicknamed the furtive feline "Macavity". Although the busdriver claims that he thought of the name in regards to T.S. Eliot's book of poetry, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, I totally think he got it from Cats, the musical. I know this because naming cats after the cast of cats from Cats is an international phenomenon I've experienced first hand.

When I went to adopt a kitty from the Humane Society, I had no idea I'd actually run into the entire tribe of Jellicle Cats from the hit Broadway musical. There was a mangy long-hair named Grizabella, a growly tabby called Rumpleteazer, and a sleeping orange furball no doubt hiding from the sticker on the window pronouncing her Jennyanydots. I couldn't get past the silly names to find a suitable kitty-friend until I bestowed my eyes upon Mr. Mistoffelees. He was, indeed, both a Mister and a "quiet and small black feline capable of performing feats of magic and sleight of hand," and with his sliced off left ear (a result of animal testing), microchip implant (ditto), and vampire teeth poking out from beneath a permanent scowl, I knew this Magical Mr. Mistoffelees was Mine.

I then took him home and changed his name to Neo. It was the era of sentient machines you see. Anyway, the name Neo never quite stuck as I took to calling him Neeki, Nietzsche, and Nico instead of the name that revealed him to be the One. At times, after he'd sped across the length of our apartment in a "flash explosion" or appeared on a shelf near the ceiling seemingly by magic, I'd wonder if, perhaps, he was actually the real Mr. Mistoffelees and that I'd robbed him of his rightful title. Maybe now, a year after his sudden passing, he's somewhere floating above us, a tiny bowler hat cocked over his half-ear, answering to a name of his own choosing. I miss you, Magical Mister, and I say, "OH! Well I never! Was there ever! A Cat so clever!"

When I first met Hamish, I told him all about Neo's time as a Cats cast member on the Humane Society stage, and he, too, remarked that he knew many cats back in England also named after the cats from the musical. We couldn't get over people's laziness at choosing these unoriginal names, and I thought about starting a campaign to SAVE THE CATS FROM CATS. It wasn't until after Neo began to show his true colors that I started to think that maybe there was something going on here. Maybe cats all over the place were putting on an act for us human-folk during the day and, by night, they'd emerge as their true, magical selves and get together at a neighborhood "Jellicle Ball". I, for one, think this Macavity fellow over in London who takes the bus in BROAD DAYLIGHT is our evidence. EVIDENCE!

Hamish, however, is still grossly offended by Macvity's unoriginal moniker and has this to say:

WHY OH WHY MUST IT BE CALLED MACAVITY?

Patient: It's Macavity.

Well, Hamish, I think Mr. Macavity has THIS to say:

When you fall on your head, do you land on your feet?
Are you tense when you sense there's a storm in the air?
Can you find your way blind when you're lost in the street?
Do you know how to go to the Heaviside Layer?
Can you ride on a broomstick to places far distant?
Familiar with candle, with book and with bell?
Were you Whittington's friend? The Pied Piper's assistant?
Have you been an alumnus of heaven or hell?
We can dive through the air like a flying trapeze
We can turn double somersaults, bounce on a tire
We can run up the wall, we can swing through the trees
We can balance on bars, we can walk on a wire
Jellicles can and Jellicles do
Jellicles can and Jellicles do
Jellicles can and Jellicles do
JELLICLES CAN AND JELLICLES DO!

Hi, Jeff. I know, it's your birthday and you'll cry if you want to. Well, I say, "What about breakfast at Tiffany's?"

Happy Birthday, dear friend.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are proud to announce the arrival of a new member to our li'l web family, STUDIO TOURISTIQUE! Why don't you help us celebrate with some pretty and pink bows:

Both the t-shirt and poster were inspired by the Tennessee Williams short play This Property is Condemned.

I am currently loving the album below courtesy of new fave blog mexicovers which is written by Sr. Mexicant of Mexicantville, Mexico. Apparently, Sr. Mexicant blogs from "a small town surrounded by pinatas, tequila, and fiesta everyday with his own personal mariachi band that plays for him wherever he goes." I, for one, would like to visit this Mexicantville village the next time I'm in Mejico.

In other news, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAM! This one's for you:

This past Saturday, we joined the ladies and their lads for a screening of the French punk film La Brune et Moi at Williamsburg's Monkeytown (a super cool space with delicious drinks...try the lavender mojito). Shot in one week and a day on a "borrowed" camera, this charmingly flimsy story follows Parisian punkster Anoushka as she flings herself into both the punk rock scene and the men in its periphery. While Hamish found her "frightening", I loved her Robert Smith hair and ridiculously short dresses paired with grandpa cardigans. With 1980's Paris as a backdrop and several performances from obscure French punk bands, this is a lost film (literally...it was found last year by Rockenscope after vanishing following it's premiere in 1980) that demands more screen time. You can contact Brune if you're interested in screening it in your town, and I suggest you do. It makes for great late night, pre-party entertainment.

Sweet French macaroons,
Why can't you come to New York?
You are quite tasty.

The search for the perfect dress for my friend's upcoming Vegas wedding continues. Sadly, as my funds continue to dwindle, so do my options. But if I were to win the lottery, I might just buy this Burberry Prorsum dress below. I know it's a dark color for spring, but I'd kick it up Vegas style with lots of gold accoutrements. And fun hair. Oh, and these, of course.