a notepad and Demetri Martin

I have been a fan of Demetri Martin for years- ever since my hubby and I saw his first stand-up special and scoured youtube for more of his clips. (Yes, we like to think we discovered him.) We faithfully tivo’d Important Things last season, and were excited to learn that it’s coming back next year. But I must say, Demetri Martin is even better in person.

Keep reading to hear more about our night with Demetri Martin!

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(Image Above: hollygoddardjones.com)

By guest writer: Jennifer Luebbers

After graduating last May, I found myself beset by a predicament equal parts terrifying and thrilling. For the first time in a very long time, I was in charge of my own reading list. While I was at first hopelessly lost without the structure of a syllabus, it wasn’t long before  I realized I could read anything I wanted! And while I love most of the literature I’ve read for class deeply and reverently, I’ve always felt as though I had to rush to finish books – that I could never appreciate them as completely and intensely as they deserved. Now, the knowledge that I could let a book last as long and luxuriously as I wanted felt deliciously freeing.

“Girl Trouble,” a collection of short stories by Holly Goddard Jones, has most recently absorbed my complete attention.  Set in the small town of Roma, Kentucky, these eight stories in Jones’ debut collection (just released in September) are populated with complex, utterly human characters. In each story, Jones miraculously manages to treat the parents, children, and lovers forced to make difficult decisions with honesty, intelligence, and empathy. Two of the most powerful and haunting stories in the collection chronicle the rape and murder of a young woman – one is told from the point of view of the girl’s mother, while the other is told from the murderer’s point of view. Through these parallel, contradictory accounts, Jones manages to reveal the consciences of these intelligently-wrought characters through nuances and subtleties that blur the line between morality and immorality. Somehow, through loss and loneliness, Jones uses her resonant, rarely-paralleled prose to sustain a pervasive, redeeming hope.

Holly Goddard Jones was born and raised in western Kentucky and currently teaches in the MFA program in creative writing at UNC-Greensboro. Her work first appeared in the “New Stories from the South” in both 2007 and 2008, the “Best American Mystery Stories 2008,” and various literary journals. You can visit her website and blog here.

Even if you are currently up to your eyeballs in other required texts, make sure you put this book on your reading wish list. Happy Reading, ModLovers!

(Images Above: blog.newswok.com and flickr user ymbiont)

“And now, my drummer will start us off in the key of G.”

So said Dick Valentine, frontman for the Electric Six. And with those words, the band broke out into the driving chords of another song.

Last Wednesday night, October 13, the velvet burnout wallpaper of Pittsburgh’s Brillobox reverberated with rock. The Electric Six, an irreverent band from Detroit, took down the house with stellar songs and curious, quirky commentary. Opening with their set with the wildly fun “Gay Bar,” an upbeat, garage, disco, punk-steeped number, the band proceeded to play a fiery, fabulous show.  Following the opening number, the Electric Six, in the words of their lead singer, ‘took it directly to the hits.’ Between the cacophony of chords, Mr. Valentine entertained the audience with off-beat statements, often referencing local venues – “Back when I was a student at the Carnegie Mellon School of Robotics..,” or “That’s my drummer. He’s from Squirrel Hill, California. Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, California. Let’s take it directly to the hits.” Great for laughs and good for dancing, the band smashed through the show with vigor, verve, and vitality. One got the sense that Mr. Valentine – who carried the concert with his singing, exaggerated dancing, and amusingly sly sideways stares – and his band didn’t take themselves too seriously. This tongue and cheek approach made the concert excellently entertaining. Kudos to the Electric Six for a show more well done than ground meat that’s undergone a fire in a Taco Bell.

Read on to hear about the rest of the show. Read the rest of this entry »

(Image above: courtesy of DJ Gordy)

By ModCloth Writer Annie Morrison:

A few Saturdays ago I attended the final edition of Vipers Soul Club, a highly anticipated monthly party where DJs Gordy and Juddy spin the finest in rare and classic soul, motown, and R&B. The event, always hosted by Shadow Lounge in Pittsburgh’s East End, is infamous for handpicked vintage grooves and a “just dance” kind of vibe. It’s no surprise that the last Vipers Soul Club brought out the best I’ve seen in both music and crowd. Everyone seemed to be having one of those nights, a night where you don’t necessarily care how sweaty you are or how badly your feet hurt. All you care about is what’s really important – dancing to incredible 45s with your favorite friends, amongst a group of friendly, albeit intoxicated, strangers who are having just as much fun as you are!

Read on to learn more about this night of soul shaking, body moving, spirit exhilarating fun…

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(Image Above: Fanpop.com)

By Guest ModLife Writer: Natalie Brova

If you’ve had the pleasure of watching Glee, Fox’s new musi-comedy, then you’re already as smitten by guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury’s stand-out style as I am. Quite frankly, I have no idea how her love interest, Mr. Schuester, is resisting that super cute clean freak gone chic! But just in case you haven’t had the pleasure of sussing out Emma’s stellar style, I’m here with a recap of the darling details of her playful yet professional look.

In episode one, we’re introduced to Emma (and her cleaning obsession) wearing one of her signature pieces – a stunning statement necklace. Though we see a few color variations of the accessory throughout the first few episodes, the round bead, multi-strand, flower-adorned accessory is part and parcel of Emma’s pulled-together panache. She also showcases several strands and styles of pearls, along with owl and flower brooches. I’ve been jonesing for my own notice-me necklace, and discovered a slew of ModCloth’s accessible accessories with a similar look like the Player Piano Necklace, Up Owl Night Necklace, and Hollywood Haberdashery Necklace. Miss Pillsbury’s beautiful baubles weren’t the only element of her ensembles that were stealing the show, however…

Keep reading to learn more about Emma’s great style!

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(Images above: photos taken from http://worldfilm.about.com and http://claremontroad.blogspot.com)

Last weekend, I finally got a chance to see the film (500) Days of Summer! I’d been anticipating it ever since I’d found the trailer on IMDB some time ago while scouting for upcoming films featuring fashion-icon Zooey Deschanel . As I headed to the theater, I was anticipating loads of inspiring outfits, mushy love scenes, and pretty cinematography.  I was not disappointed! This film had all the gushy romance and eye candy I was looking for. Yay!

Continue reading to get the scoop on this latest Zooey movie.

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(Image above: taken from FlightoftheConchords.com)

If you were one of the lucky ones who got tickets this spring to see Bret and Jemaine of Flight of the Conchords live, rocking out in their particularly adorable fashion, I can bet you’re still chuckling to yourself about it.  I caught a glimpse of our favorite “guitar-based digi-bongo a capella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo from New Zealand” at Kent State University’s MAC Center, just a short road trip from Pittsburgh.

Keep reading for a tale of dancing robots, talking mattresses and more…! Read the rest of this entry »

(Image above: Hot Stones taken from MindBodySole.ca)

April was National Stress Awareness Month, so we would like to devote this ModReviews to the relaxing practice of massage.

Warning: Reading further may cause you to splurge. (It’s ok, though. You deserve it.)

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(Images above: Some FroYo, a Tulip Chair, a Good Meal for NYC Food Bank, and a Wig for Locks of Love taken from Wants/NeedsForSale.com)

We all want something. In fact, we probably want a lot of things. I can’t get through a day without saying, ‘I want that,’ or, ‘I have to have this.’ Clothes, food, music, books – everything and anything can be part of a day’s desire. Maybe it’s because we’re used to thinking about our world in terms of consumption, maybe it’s about the security associated with the accumulation of stuff, or maybe it’s because I really, truly have to have a super hot flat screen TV, but wanting is part of our lives. New York artists and lovebirds Justin Gignac and Christine Santora recognized this phenomenon of our culture, and wanted to express it through their work. Thus, the Wants for Sale project was born.

Armed with some basic colors, white canvases, and an iconic illustration style, the couple took to painting their everyday (mainly material) wants. Each painting depicts something they desire, and they charge exactly what that item costs for the painting. For example, if they want 100 more chicken wings from Pluck U, they paint a plate of Buffalo wings and charge $62.95 for it (the exact cost of 100 wings as Pluck U). How about a tulip chair for their apartment? They paint it, charge $227.58, and when they sell it, they buy themselves a tulip chair for $227.58. Some of my favorites are ‘A Little Shopping Trip in SoHo’ priced at $2,500, and a new bikini  for Christine at $74.95. Pretty cool. Oh, and if there’s something you want, Justin and Christine will paint it for you.

Seeking to do some good with this amazing concept, the artistic duo expanded their project to include the altruistic sister site Needs for Sale. Each painting in the Needs for Sale collection represents a ‘need’ of a deserving charity that Justin and Christine cannot afford to fulfill themselves. A painting of Mr. Potato Head for $250 supports Toys for Tots, an image of a toilet for $100 helps Habitat for Humanity, and a NY Cares Coat Drive is funded by a representation of a winter jacket for $150. All proceeds from Needs for Sale paintings go to the designated charities. When you buy this artwork, you’re not only getting an ultra-mod wall hanging – you’re also getting a ton of good karma.

-Molly

What’s Halloween, Alaska? Keep reading!

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(Images above: upper left Edith lounging, lower Edith & Edie arguing from Amazon.com, right Little Edie looking lovely from TimeCapsules.com)

Watch This: Grey Gardens, 1975

Many of you might already be familiar with the dynamic Beale women from Grey Gardens, but if you’re not, I’m urging you now to rent/buy/Netflix Grey Gardens immediately. This is one of the most haunting, disturbing, endearing, and bizarre documentaries I have ever seen, and I can’t stop wondering how it happened. How did the cousin of Jackie Onassis and her mother end up living in squalor – a squalor, we learn, which is totally self-imposed? After watching the film, I understand. It’s easy to let the world slip out of focus when you’ve got what you need right on the grounds of your crumbling mansion.

Keep reading for more of our reviews this week!

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