words worth reading: sabrina, 1954

"Paris isn't for changing planes, it's for changing your outlook. For throwing open the windows and letting in la vie en rose."

"I have learnt how to live... How to be In the world and Of the world, and not just to stand aside and watch. And I will never, never again run away from life. Or from love, either..."

"Oh never resist an impulse, Sabrina. Especially if it's terrible."

I was flipping through Netflix over the weekend determined to watch something new and not rely on one of my favorites. I stumbled upon Sabrina, the original 1954 Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart version and decided to give it a whirl. I've never been a huge fan of black and white, old films–to be honest Breakfast at Tiffany's, Casablanca, and Citizen Kane all were a bit over my head...–but i thoroughly enjoyed Sabrina. Probably because of the love triangle. Who doesn't love a good love triangle? And all the references to Paris! And the fact that Paris transformed Sabrina from an innocent, naive, ignorant girl into a stylish, headstrong woman, as it tends to do... I definitely recommend giving this one a try if you've never seen it. The opening scene where she tries to kill herself because a certain man doesn't notice her was dramatic to say the least, but I promise it gets better after that. Bogart has quite a few funny lines. I chuckled.

Have you seen Sabrina? Do you like old films? What are your favorites?

words worth reading

I finally saw Midnight in Paris. Which means for 94 minutes straight, I was smiling like a giddy child on Christmas morning. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, rent it tonight. It captures my favorite city in a way I've never seen before. The plot was brilliant, the music had me tapping my toes, and the writing! Well, see for yourself. Here are a few of my favorite lines from Woody Allen's beloved homage to the enchanted City of Lights.

"Adriana: That Paris exists and anyone could choose to live anywhere else in the world will always be a mystery to me."

"Ernest Hemingway: I believe that love that is true and real creates a respite from death. All cowardice comes from not loving or not loving well, which is the same thing. And when the man who is brave and true looks death squarely in the face, like some rhino hunters I know, or Belmonte who is truly brave, it is because they love with sufficient passion to push death out of their minds. Until it returns, as it does to all men, and then you must make really good love again. Think about it."

"Adriana: I can never decide whether Paris is more beautiful by day or by night.
Gil: No, you can't, you couldn't pick one. I mean I can give you a checkmate argument for each side. You know, I sometimes think, how is anyone ever gonna come up with a book, or a painting, or a symphony, or a sculpture that can compete with a great city. You can't. Because you look around and every street, every boulevard, is its own special art form and when you think that in the cold, violent, meaningless universe that Paris exists, these lights, I mean come on, there's nothing happening on Jupiter or Neptune, but from way out in space you can see these lights, the cafés, people drinking and singing. For all we know, Paris is the hottest spot in the universe."

"Gil: Can you picture how drop dead gorgeous this city is in the rain? Imagine this town in the '20s. Paris in the '20s, in the rain. The artists and writers!"

For those of you who won't be making it to Paris today, allow Mr. Allen and me to take you on a little tour:

And because no one can deliver that Hemingway line quite like the actor did:

Because I love pulling on your heartstrings...

"I thought I understood it.
But I didn't. Not really.
I knew the smudgeness of it.
The eagerness of it.
The idea of it.
Of you and me."

Melt.
My.
Heart.

Are you crying yet? Because I did it. All three times I watched it.

If the trailer is any indication, Like Crazy is going to be one of those achingly beautiful and heart-wrenching films I can't help but want to see. This coming from a girl who only watches Nora Ephron films with happy endings. But there just seems to be something so simple and real about this story. There's something everyone can relate to... and anyone who has ever had to deal with a long-distance relationship... it's fair to say the airport scene at the 1:45 mark says it all.

And for those readers always looking for some new, good tunes, the songs from the trailer are below.

"Dead Hearts" by Stars

"Can't Help Falling In Love" by Ingrid Michaelson

LCY in NYC: You've Got Mail self-guided tour

Seeing as I stayed on the Upper West Side when I was in New York two weeks ago, I thought it would be a great opportunity to treat myself to a self-guided tour of some of the locations used in my favorite movie, You've Got Mail. I had remembered viewing this special feature on the DVD and was able to pull up the exact locations online. I didn't make it to the boat docks, the store front used for The Shop Around the Corner, or Riverside Park garden from the film's last scene.

"Don't cry, ShopGirl. Don't cry."

"I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly."

Horribly cheesy ending aside, this movie warms my heart like the giggle of a chubby baby or a frozen cheese cake sampler. And despite missing a few clinch locations, it was exciting, particularly seeing the intersection of Amsterdam and Broadway, where Joe's and Kathleen's paths cross in the opening scene as The Cranberries' Dreams plays in the background (scroll to the bottom if you want a music guided tour). "Ohhhh my liiiiife is changing every daaaay in every possible waaaaay!"

Location: 83rd and Broadway

Quote: "The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, nonfat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on Earth they are can - for only $2.95 - get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self. Tall! Decaf! Cappuccino!" - Joe Fox

Location: Corner of Amsterdam and Broadway, at 72nd Street

Memorable Quote: "Ya know what? The truth is that he was the one who started me thinking about writing." - Kathleen Kelly

"Mister.... 152 felony indictments?" - Joe Fox

"Mister 152 insights into my soul!" - Kathleen

Location: 2245 Broadway, between 80th and 81st Streets

Memorable Quote: "Knock knock." - Joe Fox

"Who's there?" - Rose**

"Orange." - Joe

"Orange who?" - Rose

"Orange you going to give us a break by zipping this credit card through the credit card machine? Come on. You can do it. Zip zip." - Joe

**I hope you've all realized that Rose is played by the same actress who is Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.

Location: 201 W. 83rd Street, at Amsterdam

Memorable Quote (this entire scene is my favorite in the movie with a lot of great dialogue, but here are some of my favorites):

"Joe? Just call me Joe? As if you were one of those stupid 22-year-old girls with no last name, 'Hi, I'm Kimberly.' 'Hi, I'm Janice.' Don't they know you're supposed to have a last name? It's like there's an entire generation of cocktail waitresses." - Kathleen

"Look. I am not a 22-year-old cocktail waitress." - Joe

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"You poor, sad multi-millionaire, I feel so sorry for you." - Kathleen

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"So who is he, I wonder. Certainly not, I gather, the world's greatest living expert on Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, but somebody else entirely different." - Joe

Location: 2090 Broadway, at 72nd Street

Memorable Quote: "Today?" - Joe Fox

"Today." - Kathleen Kelly

"Wow." - Joe

"I know. In Riverside Park." - Kathleen

"Hmm... well that would mean he's a West Sider." - Joe

"Isn't that amazing? Maybe I've seen him and don't even know it." - Kathleen

"You could have seen him every day and not know it." - Joe

"It's very possible." - Kathleen

Location: 80th and Broadway

Memorable Quote: "Listen to this. Every night a truck pulls up to my neighborhood bagel place and pumps about a ton of flour into underground tanks. And then the air is filled with white dust which never seems to land. Why is that?"

For the rest of the tour locations, click here.

And because it's Valentine's Day, and I love Harry Nilsson's Somewhere Over the Rainbow:

LCY presents: "Elements of Style" based on the true story of Erin Gates

Wow - I have been waiting to share the movie of Erin Gates' life since April! The popular blogger behind Elements of Style was one of the first to submit her answers, and her humorous and stylish responses got me so excited for this guest series. Without further ado, LCY presents to you what the biopic of Erin Gates' life would be like!

1. Who would play you in the movie about your life and why?

Oh geez - well everyone keeps telling me Anne Hathaway is my doppelganger but I would choose Rachel McAdams because I think she could be equal parts funny, dramatic, deep, shallow, awkward, graceful, and annoying. Like me. :)

2. Who would play your love interest and/or best friend in the movie and why?

My husband would be played by Ryan Reynolds- they have very similar sarcastic, goofy personalities and I think he is pretty much the hottest thing around.

ON LOCATION

3. Where does the movie primarily take place and why?

Boston fo’ sho’. I love this place and wouldn’t want it shot anywhere else.

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4. Where do you go in the vacation scene that inevitably

takes place in every movie?

Barcelona is currently my city of choice to visit to, so I’d have to chose the Hotel Pulitzer - lots of fabulous architecture, music, food and wine to set the stage for plenty of film worthy hijinks.via

COSTUME DESIGN

5. The first scene is a shot of your feet walking down a street - what shoes are you wearing?

For sure these Alexander Wang leopard wedges- I love love love the comfort of wedges and animal print anything so these sum me up to a T!

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6. What are some key wardrobe pieces you'd insist your character wear?

A fabulous DVF wrap dress is my signature piece so one of those for sure,

a tweed Chanel jacket,
great jeans,

a Tory tunic,

perfect nude pumps by Louboutin,

and a killer maxi dress,

a big studded bag to hold all my work stuff and personal items,

and my fave Tom Ford Whitney sunglasses.

MEDIA

7. What song plays during the opening credits?

I spend a really strange amount of time curating playlists that could serve as soundtracks to my real life so this question is tough! Either Black Swan by Thom York, Breathe Me by Sia (somber, but an all time fave), 15 Step by Radiohead or Freedom by George Michael Quite a variety, huh? Although I’ve been told it should be Madonna’s Material Girl... LOL



8. What section of Netflix will the DVD be filed under: Action and Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance?

Comedy, for SURE. :) Although sometimes it could be filed under drama....so perhaps a “black comedy”. :) And it would be directed by Wes Anderson FOR SURE.
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9. How big a role does your blog, Elements of Style, play in the movie?

The blog would be a huge role since it’s gotten me everything I have professionally and has been quite the adventure!
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10. What is the name of the movie and its tagline?

No idea for a title at press time. :) “The Untitled Erin Gates Project” LOL.via

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Thank you so much Erin! Inspirational, as always. And I'm pretty sure a Rachel McAdams/Ryan Reynolds combo would sell out theaters nationwide!

LCY presents: "Peppermint Bliss" based on the true story of Bailey Quin.

This week I am so pleased to feature another (new) Chicagoan in the LCY presents series! Bailey of Peppermint Bliss is here to share with us a bit about what the movie of her life would be like. Fun, yes? I can pretty much guarantee this biopic would be one heck of a romantic comedy - one to last the decades given the personality her and her fiancé bring to the table. See, I've known Pete since 6th grade, and he met Bailey freshman year in college; they got engaged, moved back to Chicago last summer, and now Miss B and I have become good friends given all our common interests (hello blogging!). Anyway, I don't want to spoil everything, so I'll let Bailey take it from here...

1. Who would play you in the movie about your life and why?

Jamie Lyn Sigler, because that is who I am told I look like most often. I am mostly sure it is just flattery. But on occasion, after a few cocktails, I believe it. I cannot attest to her acting abilities, but I do think she is a babe.

2. Who would play your love interest and/or best friend in the movie and why?

I think my movie would be a love story, and Pete (my fiancé) would be played by Seth Meyers (From SNL) based on appearance/overall demeanor. Or Bradley Cooper cause I wanna lick his face.

ON LOCATION

3. Where does the movie primarily take place and why?

This is just impossible. Pete and I have been together for six years and have lived in DC (together), New Orleans and Austin (apart), Houston (together) and now, finally, Chicago (together) over the course of our relationship. I think Wes Anderson would have to direct it, and each city would be its own chapter. He would use those fabulous dioramas, and make us seem wickedly funny. Plus I’d finally get that hipster cred I so crave; which would be nice since Pete has refused my requests for him to grow an ironic mustache (surefire ticket into hipster hearts).

4. Where do you go in the vacation scene that inevitably

takes place in every movie?

I think our flitting about the country like a pair of drunken gypsies is enough travel for one film. Although…you COULD do a little Crossroads style roadtrip music video tracking our moves. In fact, can I go back and recast Britney in my role? Because I love her. And if she were to play me I would require her to get a decent weave and wear a bra- which would cross a major item off of my to-do list.

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COSTUME DESIGN

5. The first scene is a shot of your feet walking down a street - what shoes are you wearing?

My Old Gringos cowboy boots. I am probably wearing them in every scene. Think Steve Zisou and the red hat.!

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6. What are some key wardrobe pieces you'd insist your character wear?

My character would only wear dresses. I am proud to say I made it through a Chicago winter without AN singular pant (save jeans) gracing my big ol’ thighs. It wasn’t easy. Chicago tried to test my resolve with its bullsh*t wind and snow. But I survived, armed with only some spanx tights and a good attitude. I am vehemently anti-pants. Dresses are just way more fun.

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MEDIA

7. What song plays during the opening credits?

Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. My new favorite tune. It has this quirky old school Prairie Home Companion vibe to it, and I think the words would be perfect “Home, let me come home! Home is wherever I’m with you."

8. What section of Netflix will the DVD be filed under: Action and Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance?

Comedy. Peter S. Pie and I are truly, madly, deeply ridiculous human beings. I just cannot think of anyway to categorize our story without leading views astray.

9. How big a role does your blog, Peppermint Bliss, play in the movie?

Everytime I go to answer this question I imagine the scene from Royal Tenenbaums when Owen Wilson is being interviewed about his latest novella and he goes, “Well everyone knows that Custer died at Little Bighorn. What this book PRE-SUPPOSES is…Maybe he didn’t?” I think I sound about as ridiculous as that when I try to talk seriously to people about my blog.

10. What is the name of the movie and its tagline?

And for the name of our movie...I still don't know! The only thing that keeps popping into my head is Home. As in "Home is Wherever I'm With You." As in our theme song. Because Pete and I have moved nearly 10 times in our 6 years together. He is my constant, wherever I am, if I can snuggle up in his nook, then I am Home. I likey him. Ok, now I am done being sincere, unless any movie execs are reading this. In that case I sincerely think you should consider making this movie. I smell Oscar.

Alaina, thank you so much for letting me participate, this was seriously SO much fun. I have loved reading everyone's, and I am just dying to see yours!

xoxo
BQ

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As always, thank you so so much, Bailey, for taking the time to do this! So much fun to imagine your movie.

LCY Presents: "Plush Palate" based on the true story of Crystal G.

Now that I've personally gotten to know Crystal of Plush Palate, it was fun comparing how I thought she'd answer these to how she actually answered them. I was wrong on most accounts (definitely guessed Italy for the vacation scene), but after reading through her answers, it couldn't be more her. So that being said, I'm thrilled to bring to you the next LCY Presents, Crystal of Plush Palate:

1. Who would play you in the movie about your life and why?

If it were based on resemblance alone, I'd say Giada De Laurentiis as people stop me constantly to tell me how much I look like her, which I take it as a huge compliment because I think she's lovely. I've also been told I look like a young Sophia Loren, Minnie Driver, Audrina Patridge, and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (they couldn't be more different!). But for my movie, I'd like to cast someone whose demeanor and essence I'm drawn to and admire: Cate Blanchett for her marked sophistication and compelling poise.

2. Who would play your love interest and/or best friend in the movie and why?

Perhaps an obvious choice, but Brad Pitt would play the love interest in my movie (the irony that Cate and Brad were love interests in 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' does not escape me). Sure he's got unbelievable good looks, but he's also a man of depth, intelligence, and a charitable heart, all of which I find irresistible to resist.

ON LOCATION

3. Where does the movie primarily take place and why?

Since I'm one to love winter more than summer, cozy spots more than sprawling spaces, the cute little English cottage in 'The Holiday' would be the perfect backdrop to my movie. Oh the charm and romance of that little place!

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4. Where do you go in the vacation scene that inevitably

takes place in every movie?

As a foil to the cozy winter setting in my movie, a hot and sultry vacation scene will definitely be in order. I'm picturing steamy temperatures and hot white sand beaches in Sri Lanka somewhere.

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COSTUME DESIGN

5. The first scene is a shot of your feet walking down a street - what shoes are you wearing and what street are you on?

Black Ralph Lauren stilettos because they're classic, walking down a busy street in London with purpose and presence!

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6. What are some key wardrobe pieces you'd insist your character wear?

My dream wardrobe would be anything Jennifer Aniston wears in her real life. I love her easy elegance, natural glamor, and the way she can rock a sexy evening dress!

MEDIA

7. What song plays during the opening credits?

The song playing during the opening credits is undoubtedly John Mayer's 'Edge of Desire.' With beautiful lyrics, it's foreshadowing of a complicated, intense, beautiful love...

8. What section of Netflix will the DVD be filed under: Action and Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance?

Romantic Drama sounds good to me (does this category even exist?)!

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9. How big a role does your blog, Plush Palate, play in the movie?

My blog does play a role in the film, but more as a reflective writing tool alla Carrie Bradshaw's writing at the end of each episode in Sex and the City.

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10. What is the name of the movie and its tagline?

A name for my movie? Oh my, this is difficult! Help anyone???

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Thank you so much, Crystal!! Have a great weekend, everyone!