I am (Almost) a Librarian

The countdown is on! Three weeks from today, I will graduate with my Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS, to those of us in the business) and officially become a librarian. So what I am thinking about? All the cool stuff I can get to show off my new title. That way, even though I'm unemployed, everyone will know.

Clockwise from top left: Librarian Necklace from Brookadelphia ($35), Librarian Pin from Fred Flare ($10), for the dudes: Sarah Utter Guybrarian Shirt from Buyolympia.com ($14.95), Library & Media Center Guard Pin from Award Emblem ($3.75), Lucha Librarian Tote Bag from Ophelia's Art ($21.99).

Music + Fashion: Raspberry Beret

I can't wear berets. I don't know how to make them sit right on my head. Maybe my hair is too short? But I always love the way they look.

This isn't the kind you'd find at a second-hand store, but rather one handmade by an ex-librarian (!) named Rachael who sells her good-lookin' wares in an Etsy shop called Softspoken.

Raspberry Beret - Prince & The...

Music + Fashion: Orange Corduroy Dress

4 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

I had my iTunes on shuffle whilst writing Christmas cards this morning, and what should play but "Orange Corduroy Dress" from Le Jardin de Heavenly. It's such a sunshine-y song—it reminds me of summer in Seattle and of course makes me wish I had such a dress. Like this one photographed by academichic, so adorable.

Orange Corduroy Dress - Heaven...

Xmas List #1: Novelty Cameras

All I want for Christmas—and yes, I've already started shopping—is stuff, stuff, stuff! First on my list is any cute little camera from Fred Flare or Urban Outfitters. I already have one LOMO (the Action Sampler), but who wouldn't love a whole shelf full of 'em? The Mr. Pink Diana F+ is super cool-looking and the flash can be set to use colored lights instead of just plain old white. I saw the Fuji Instax on the back of the UO catalog while I was waiting to get my hair cut the other day, and it was "instant" love. Credit card-size pics might just make me forget all that mini-sticker-picture camera I never got back in the day.

City of Love

I moved to Philadelphia, City of (Brotherly) Love, in September 2008, and I've barely seen it outside the little neighborhood where I live, work, and go to school. So here's my ongoing list of Places to Check Out, to be moved to a list of Places I Have Checked Out as I do so. Suggestions? Let me know!

Philadelphia Places to Check Out:

AKA Music
Most commonly recommended record store.

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
Great name. Cool-looking store.

Art Star
Like, the coolest boutique or something.

Franklin Fountain
Old-fashioned ice cream parlor recommended by friends.

Jones Restaurant
Looks "kitschy."

Long in the Tooth
Record store. For some reason, I first typed this as "Long in the Tootle."

Mama's Vegetarian
Falafels!

Omoi
A mecca for cuteness?

Random Tea Room & Curiosity Shop
Reminds me of my favorite tea place in Seattle.

South Street
Occasionally hung out there as a college student; haven't been back since.


Philadelphia Places I Have Checked Out:

Copabanana
Went for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. Good burger, but nothing to write home about. Maybe come back for margaritas one night? (If only I actually drank margaritas.) 7/11/09

Fairmount Park and Schuylkill Banks
Walked along the river, checked out the Waterworks and read the inscriptions on all the statues of old dudes. A lovely Sunday activity! 9/13/09

Last Word Bookshop
Most important to me: a truly decent children's/YA selection. Secondly important: like all good used bookstores, it includes a cat.

Milk & Honey Market
I anticipated their opening for months and finally got there only to be kinda disappointed by the small selection and the fact that they sold us moldy sour cream. But thumbs up on the cheese and nut free sample! 1/7/10

PHAG (Philadelphia Home Art Garden)
Cute little shop on Walnut Street filled with some really slick larger pieces as well as a good selection of kitschy accessories. It's like visiting your kooky gay uncle. 8/15/09

Philadephia Museum of Art
Dude, now I know why it was such a great workout for Rocky to run up those steps—there's so many of them! Didn't explore the whole museum but got to see some Marcel Duchamps and other cool stuff. 9/13/09

Reading Terminal Market
I feel like kind of a traitor to Seattle, but as far as the food goes anyway, I have to say RTM beats Pike Place Market. Where else can you get Italian, Mexican, Indian, Middle Eastern, AND Amish cuisine all under one roof? Plus the bathroom here is way nicer. 7/25/09


Tampopo
We went there for Valentine's Day! 
What I wrote before: Sushi and noodle-type restaurant, newish to the neighborhood. Looks cute. Also, if you bring your own bowl, you can "save the mother earth and fifty cents all in one place."
What I say now: Small menu, which I like because it probably means that they're good at what they do. You order at the counter and get a little beeper that lets you know when your food is ready. Loved my tofu yakisoba, and there was enough for leftovers. 2/14/10

Sweet (Cotton-Pickin') Darlin'

Check it out: Zooey Deschanel's cotton commercial! She actually recorded a whole three-minute song that you can listen to and download. And you can learn all about her cotton-y look, too. Zooey says, "While I enjoy vintage styles, it's important that a fabric keep its shape. Form is essential to me, even in casual wear."

What do you think? Is this weird? I guess cotton is just about the least offensive product to endorse, and at least they let her wear cute clothes, right?

Tweetie Sweet Pea

Between my six-times-a-day Jezebel habit and my lifetime subscription to NYLON, I've been hearing a lot about this Peaches Geldof chick lately. She's kind of the British version of Nicole Richie. But more like Paris Hilton, she has a sister who you might get her confused with.

That sister is named Pixie. Which brings me to my point. Peaches and Pixie are the two famous sisters (cause they do fashion/modely/socialite stuff), but they aren't the only ones. There's Fifi, the big sis, and Tiger Lily, the little sis, too! And why is this of such extreme interest to me? (Which it is.) Because I can only conclude that my favorite author, Francesca Lia Block, has been stealing their names for her characters!

There are Peachy Pie and Pixie, both in the Girl Goddess #9 short story collection, published in 1996. (Peachy Pie has a sister named Tweetie, and Pixie has a BFF named Pony.) And Fifi is Dirk's grandma from Weetzie Bat, published in 1989. There's no Tiger Lily in the FLB canon that I can think of, but she does give us a Witch Baby and a Cherokee Bat. Tell me, am I on to something?

Tofutti Cuties

Etsy and tofu, I love both. And there's lots of chances to get them together. What's more lovable than anthropomorphic and/or plush soybean curd? Here are a few of my favorites. (Above: Toddler Tofu T from The T-Shirt Project, $18.)

L to R: Grilled Tofu from Go Buggy, $15. Tofu for Obama from ChrisCreatures, $10.



L to R: Happy Tofu Family Kawaii Pendant from auryndesign, $12. Little Tofu Studs from Komodokat, $7.

Fierce Fashion Thursday

First of all, Cycle 10. Is America's Next Top Model the poor girl's version of Project Runway? I don't have cable, so Wednesday night means Tyra for me. How did the weird Brooklyn girl—Lauren, I think she's called—make it all the way to Top 14? I love her so far. And I can't wait for Fatima's makeover. That hair has got to go. (By the way, if you want ANTM recaps, go to fourfour and Fred Flare. I could never compete with them, so I'm not even going to try.)

In other news, girls rule the web! So says the New York Times. Not really a surprise. Girls have always been more into keeping diaries, compiling photo albums and alienating friends with the venom of slambooks. The Internet is just another venue for all that, and these creative young girls are so lucky to have it. I would have loved Facebook and blogs and podcasts at that age. Alas, I didn't even have an e-mail address until I was 15 or 16. And when I first logged on to Prodigy at a friend's house in sixth grade, we were totally just looking for boys.