"..., new chap?"

The ol' switcheroo

2009-07-15T12:10:00.000+02:00

We've moved! And here's what it looked like.

Reverted back to the old "Alpentraum" from days of yore, just like the artist now known as Prince again. Also moved to Wordpress 'cause Blogspot just keeps changing formatting on its own and being a general pain in the ass. So! This is my 456th posting here on New Chap and my last. Join us at Alpentraum where we shall pick up the threads!

-d.

Hot dog days

2009-07-07T15:55:00.002+02:00

Howdy!

So, I still haven't gotten my new home computer and my image storage facility is giving me a lot of shit. But i am dedicated to getting this thing back up and running. A Hell of a lot done happened in the last few weeks (months). I'll backtrack as best I can.

Today a bit of news from Schwester S:

Grilling meat unfit to eat

By William Green

Barbecue meat on sale in shops has been slammed by consumer watchdogs.

Tests by the Upper Austrian Labour Chamber (AK) have revealed that most of meat on sale for grilling meat at supermarkets is "of worse quality than ever before."

The AK said today (Tues) that meat in six of its 21 tests was dangerous to human health and that meat in almost half the tests had been unfit for human consumption.

The AK advised consumers to buy fresh, unseasoned meat and to grill it on the day of its purchase.

The body chemically and microbiologically analysed grilling meat, including seasoned pork, beef and chicken at nine branches of eight different supermarket chains.

Only one of six samples of chicken meat posed no health problems, and four were contaminated with salmonella.

Four of the eight pork samples were of good quality, one was of inferior quality, and three were deemed unfit for consumption. One of the two beef samples was edible, but the other was inedible.

The worst result was their finding that one meat sample exceeded allowable levels of entero-bacteria, an indicator of faecal contamination, by 380 times.

That's disgusting.

I suppose an upside to Austria's flooding at the moment is the lack of opportunities to grill.

-d.

Only smoke and ashes

2009-06-16T17:04:00.002+02:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. My computer at home is on the fritz and so photos and all are getting scrambled (though not fried!). Also I'm moving homes. But I have ordered a new computer and will soon be back onlines at all times.

In the meantime, let me ruin every traditional Chinese ink scroll painting for you.

Thanks, J.

Badaling badaboom.

-d.

Most Precious Blood

2009-06-11T11:35:00.002+02:00

It's Fronleichnam! Y'all might know it as Corpus Christi? Or not at all? It warrants mentioning if for NO OTHER REASON than the fact that the rest of the city has the day off and there's brass ringing in my ears from the procession by the church by my tower (ergo I am at work).

So while we're here let's edumacate ourselves.

From what I understand, this is a celebration of the "Eucharist" or the bread and wine of the Last Supper. It could also be in reference of the act of drinking said wine and eating said bread. The verdict is out. What is certain is that it is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which is on the first Sunday after Pentecost, which occurs 49 days after Easter Sunday, which, in turn, is determined by a very difficult process involving discontinued calendars and moon charts.

Now you know and that is about all I have to say about this. I, unlike the other 1,799,999 Viennese, have work to do.

-d.

Keep pushing me

2009-05-28T15:40:00.002+02:00

Flaming Lips and Stardeath do a rendition of Madonna's "Borderline". Video by George Salisbury.

2009 Borderline from George Salisbury on Vimeo.

Cue warm, fuzzy feeling.

-d.

Last night at the Albertina

2009-05-27T16:57:00.002+02:00

Last night a gala dinner was on like Donkey Kong at the Albertina. I wore a tux and didn't get a picture of me in it. Here's what I got:

What I didn't get:

The food, which was awesome
Me sipping from a flask in front of a Mondrian and a Gauguin
Carl Djerassi, whom I was told to kowtow before (and rightfully so)
KHG and La Fiona, who were both nice and he was very tall and she maybe a little wrinkly and sort of diva-y
M duct taping her boobs into her real purrdy dress and stealing bread to make a sammy for her man at home
The wee medal on the chest of Graf S who, turns out, has the same job as me, amongst others, over which we roared mightily, bombed as we were
The major gusts of wind coming into the ballroom and making the chandeliers tinkle and everyone else haw haw
M and I sitting quietly at B'ère nursing port and requesting musical tunes from the pianist

Bit hung today.

-d.

Rat 'em out

2009-05-26T17:18:00.001+02:00

Friend F sent this little tidbit along.

"Tribune de Genève and 24Heures, Geneva and Lausanne's "middle quality" newspapers (not as trashy as Le Matin or the free papers, more regional and not as sophisticated as Le Temps) have a fantastically interesting "debate" on their website today, following up the declaration of Valais's UDC Youth branch on homosexuality and it's deviance. "

The comments alone are really scary/sad. For example (loosely translated by moi):

25. May 2009 - 8:57.

3/4 of voters think that homosexuality is deviant behavior! The man-woman couple remains the norm. And that is very well. The only category of people where a progression of HIV can be shown is amongst the homo group. What does that say? For me this means that this is unnatural behavior.

Here's another:

25. May 2009 - 8:11.

Three cheers for the young Valaisan UDC. It's terrible that this type of person can reproduce so quickly, even faster than rats. One gives them more and more room and a platform for them to express themselves instead of pursuing them and condemning them. Soon the world will be populated only by this race which sends its diseases to us, for example AIDS.

So... that's nice. As I told F, it's for this reason that I find it difficult to condemn anyone that doesn't or hasn't come out of the closet. Someone asked me once why I didn't just come out at, say, 16, and I actually got pretty mad. It's still a hostile world out, who could blame me or anyone for not wanting to expose themselves to it any more than necessary. People can STFU. Disgusting lack of empathy and understanding for closeted people.

Having said that, I sometimes still condemn closeted people. I'm only human/a rat.

Leave your own comments here.

-d.

Secret secrets are no fun

2009-05-26T15:34:00.004+02:00

Whilst meandering down Seegasse on... last Wednesday? Thursday? I don't remember. Anyway, I saw a big-ass plaque stating that behind the old folks' home that I was standing in front of there was a Jewish cemetery. This, in turn, had belonged to a Jewish "hospice" that had stood where the old folks' home now stands until 1989 (I think).

I walked in and took a peek.

Next door to this wonderland of broken slabs was a tennis court of some sort. Alas I couldn't get a better look but the accompanying sound of balls popping back and forth and people having fun gave the whole thing a surprising air of joie de vivre. Also their club house looked mighty fine from what I could tell.

That article in the Independent stated one for and one against for Vienna when we got World's Most Livable City. The "For" was for a "clean, green, safe city, packed with music, theatre, art, history, coffee-bars and trams." The "Against" was that Vienna is "full of grumpy old fur-coated ladies and sad historical ghosts from its formerly heavily Jewish past."

Here, then, are some less sad ghosts, watched over by the old folk and showered with the occassional tennis ball. Not a bad way to be dead.

-d.

Jüdischer Friedhof Roßau, behind the Pensionistenheim, Seegasse 9-11, 1090.

Spotted

2009-05-26T15:32:00.001+02:00

On Seegasse in the drizzle.

Have 'tude, Wiener dude.

-d.

"I can do no wrong for I do not know what it is."

2009-05-26T14:30:00.001+02:00

Hey, me neither!

Not sure if I posted this before but it popped into my mind again recently while I was doing some... research.

The story by Mark Twain is equally scary and depressing.

And takes place in Austria, what a surprise.

-d.

Oh, give me a home

2009-05-25T17:04:00.000+02:00

I's a huntin' for a new apartment.

If that fails, I want this house in the vaguely-concentration-camp-sounding town of Preßbaum outside of Vienna.

Actually, fuck the apartment. Let's haggle.

-d.

Noah meets Gabriel meets the world

2009-05-25T16:34:00.000+02:00

Life according to Gabriel has begun!

He weighed in at bla bla bla kilos (3.1) at bla bla o'clock (15h13) and is radiantly healthy as can be. Which is more than can be said for his mom who looked tuckered out and who could blame her.

A day passed and Noah got to meet his new baby brother. He wasn't quite smitten enough to put down his reading material at first but then aw, shucks...

Que preciosio.

-d.

Haneke wins Palme d'Or

2009-05-25T11:46:00.000+02:00

Michael "Slappy" Haneke, Austrian filmmaker sans pareil, has won the Palme d'Or fat Cannes or his new film, Das Weiße Band (The White Ribbon). Fellow Austrian actor that I've never heard of Christoph Waltz won Best Actor for his role in Tarantino's new film Inglorious Basterds.

Amongst all the kerfuffle this has caused in the press, a personal question remains: whatever happened to Benoît Magimel from Haneke's 2001 zinger La Pianiste (The Piano Teacher)?

No, seriously.

What happened.

-d.

'e's almost here!

2009-05-20T12:24:00.001+02:00

Today's the day, today's the day! Schwester S is havin' her No. 2!

What's it gonna be?

~~Ezra~~

~~Elijah~~

~~Ariel~~

Gabriel

Raphael

Place your bets!

As long as he is a champion acrobat like the above I don't care what he's called!

Really!

-d.

Mike the Headless Rooster

2009-05-19T17:26:00.000+02:00

"Get a sixpack o' beer and go up and see da rooster!"

The proof is in the pudding indeed.

-d.

My kind of something: Hannah Davis

2009-05-19T16:21:00.002+02:00

Hannah Davis.

I dunno, she just does it for me.

-d.

RRR

2009-05-19T16:10:00.002+02:00

I have been listening to a lot of Triple R, live from Melbourne. The distortion of their evensongs to my time zone in Vienna make it a really tranquil, slightly psychedelic listen. My early morning hours are more beat-packed.

It is so sweet.

-d.

Spotted

2009-05-19T15:56:00.002+02:00

...at the Kennedyhof.

"Look up, dude."

-d.

Baby's Gang is Bangin'

2009-05-19T14:33:00.001+02:00

So... there's this Italian band from the 80's. Band? Group. Collection of like-minded, fashion-forward individuals. And I never heard of 'em but boy-oh-boy me likey.

Get into the groove.

-d.

Aïe! Aïe! Aïe! Ouille! Aïe! Aïe!

2009-05-11T16:02:00.002+02:00

I've been in Geneva smoking out friends and long-losts for a few days. It wasn't in vain and I am all tuckered out.

Pictures tomorrow but in the meantime, an excellent discovery. I give you: Jacques Dutronc.

He's actually Françoise Hardy's main squeeze, who knew?

Oh, that's right. All of France. And maybe a little bit of Switzerland.

-d.

Scott Matthew last night

2009-05-07T15:11:00.000+02:00

Seriously. A dream.

Alas that I got too drunk swaying to his songs that when we ended up talking to him I managed only some gibberish. But scotty did share his flask with me and wore only a mild look of, "My, sir, but you are drunk" on his face. Coming from a man who was downing red wine all night and giggling to a Viennese audience that is pretty good I feel.

Fellow revelers.

SM 4 Eva

-d.

Riita Ikonen update

2009-05-06T16:11:00.004+02:00

'member Riita Ikonen? She made all those postcards and she's from Finland? Well, It's Nice That has just started a series of talks and the first one kicks off with Riita.

It's Nice That Talk #1 — Riitta Ikonen from It's Nice That on Vimeo.

Totally eclipsical.

Via Boom.

-d.

New cultural center for (just barely) the 1st district

2009-05-06T11:54:00.005+02:00

So the scaffolding has been removed from the former Österreichisches Verkehrsbüro (Austrian Tourism Office) on what I thought to be the Wienzeile but what is actually Friedrichstraße 7.

It was built from 1922-23 and designed by Hermann Aichinger and Heinrich Schmid, two students of Otto Wagners and notable of Red Vienna. The building was sold in 2007 to a gambling company who operate another building built by the duo just opposite the rear, the Bärenmühle building. The company plans to reopen it this fall as a new arts and cultural center of some kind, the details of which are as yet unavailable. As well as being adjacent to the Naschmarkt, its location opposite the Sezession (1897) makes it prime real estate for something great. Let's hope they don't fuck it up.

Prior to renovation. The untrained eye can tell no difference. Is your eye untrained?

Generally the renovations were very generously and meticulously conducted, probably due to it being a listed building. I particularly like the fact that old lettering wasn't removed but simply painted over.

-d.

Scott Matthew tonight

2009-05-06T09:52:00.002+02:00

Scott Matthew is on tonight at WUK.

Can't wait to see who shows up, 'cause in Vienna you really never know. In the meantime, here's a good review of his London debut.

I might buy a Tshirt.

-d.

Vieni con me!

2009-05-05T16:32:00.003+02:00

This bike was parked in front of my door today. It's just the ticket for the summer.

Just wanted to share that with you.

-d.

Spotted

2009-05-05T16:22:00.002+02:00

From Volkstheater to Schottenring these people rode the U2 line drinking red and white wine... from wine glasses!

They then proceeded to get on my elevator and hug their glasses and their Vienna guide book.

His hat is rather uncool (it was overcast) but I have to say, I think it was pretty chic of them all the same.

-d.

Poster Boys

2009-05-05T16:04:00.002+02:00

I have been meaning to follow this properly for a while now so here finally goes: these people at No. 22 Linke Wienzeile are a bunch of ne'er-do-well rapscallions.

I totally heart them for blocking part or most of what must be a bitching view of Naschmarkt.

I can't quite tell how often they change these things but it seems to me to be once a month. And I am totally assuming they are boys. Correct me if you know otherwise.

-d.

Vernissage: manchmal δelta

2009-05-05T11:21:00.000+02:00

Come one, come all to the ever-elusive Schützenhaus tonight!

I can't wait!

-d.

'manchmal δelta' im Haus an der Kaiserbadschleuse

Vernissage am 5.5. ab 19.00 h + Eröffnungsperformance (19.00 h)
Ausstellungsdauer 6.5. - 20.5. , 15.00 - 20.00 h

Finissage und Canale Grande Party 20.05. ab 20.00 h
(Djs: Verena Dengler, Armin Lorenz, sissiboy u.A.)

Haus an der Kaiserbadschleuse : Obere Donaustrasse 26, A-1020 Wien
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=obere+donaustrasse+26,+1020+wien&sll=48.209206,16.372778&sspn=0.344108,0.892639&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A

U2/U4 Station Schottenring (Ausgang Herminengasse)

Am 5.5. 2009 laden wir zur Vernissage der Ausstellung „manchmal δelta“, einer Zusammenarbeit von 11 Künstlerinnen und Künstlern, im Haus an der ehemaligen Kaiserbadschleuse am Donaukanal (gegenüber vom flex), organisiert und kuratiert von Anna Barfuss.

1908 wurde das Schützenhaus der Kaiserbadschleuse nach Plänen von Otto Wagner (1841-1918) erbaut. Wagner hatte in den 1890ern die Möglichkeit, seine Vision für das moderne Leben in der Großstadt in Wien umfassend umzusetzen: Mit der Endregulierung des Donaukanals und mit dem Bau der Wiener Stadtbahn verwirklichte er seine Gedanken zur effizienteren Nutzung des Stadtraums, machte Gewässer und Verkehrsfluss kalkulierbar und trug zur Rationalisierung von Zeit und Raum bei. Der Donaukanal war auch Ort verschiedenster Badefreuden. Wannenbäder für Frauen und für Männer, Kaltwasserbäder für Kneipp-Fans und andere Reform-Bewegungen – unter ihnen Vereine wie ‚Wir verkühlen uns täglich’. Und doch beginnt für das Schützenhaus eine lange Geschichte der Funktionslosigkeit und als Leerstelle: Mit der Unfinanzierbarkeit der beiden weiteren Staustufen im weiteren Verlauf des Donaukanals, konnte es nie in seinen ursprünglich geplanten Dienst treten. Die Schleuse wurde 1945 zerstört, ab den 1970ern wurde das Gebäude schließlich als Schulungszentrum für das Amt für Planungs- und Vermessungswesen genutzt. Bis zu seiner ökonomischen Nutzbarmachung als Teil der revitalisierten Ufer/Strandzone in naher Zukunft blieb das Schützenhaus nun leer. Es steht somit als Monument für eine teilweise utopisch gebliebene Stadtvision am Donaukanal, ist typisch Wienerisch, und ist trotzdem fragwürdig in seiner Funktion für das Alltagsleben.

Im Spannungsfeld von Aneignung und Annäherung haben sich die Künstlerinnen und Künstler mit den Räumlichkeiten unterhalb der markanten Oberfläche und ihrer historischen Bedeutung auseinander gesetzt und Positionen im Dialog zueinander und mit dem Raum entwickelt. Mit vorwiegend fotografischen Elementen und Strategien, sowie multimedial gedachter Bildhauerei und Installation lassen sie ein Netz an Bedeutungen entstehen zwischen vergangenen Utopien, Formensprachen, romantisch-anarchischen Vorstellungen zur subjektiver Prägung von öffentlichem Eigentum und der eigenen Arbeitspraxis.

ANNA BARFUSS, ULRIKE KÖPPINGER, SANDRA KOSEL, MANFRED HUBMANN, SULZBACHER | PETERMICHL, ARMIN LORENZ GEROLD, VERENA DENGLER, ZITA KOEVER, JAKOB NEULINGER, ANTOINE TURILLION

More than words

2009-05-04T16:55:00.000+02:00

Got a new quote today by sometime Austrian, mostly European writer Elias Canetti from his collected notes.

"Slumbering in every human being lies an infinity of possibilities, which one must not arouse in vain. For it is terrible when the whole man resonates with echoes, none becoming a real voice."

Story of my life right there. In those two sentences.

Ok, so I'm not actually reading his notes but I am totally going to. He was a pal of fellow sometime Austrian European painter Marie-Louise von Montesiczky, a good thing in my book.

Thanks, S!

-d.

Qu'est ce que c'est déguelasse?

2009-05-04T16:24:00.004+02:00

Qu'est ce que c'est déguelasse?

"The exciting exhibition project curated by Adam Budak gathers the works of - mainly - the artists represented by the young upcoming Viennese galleries: Galerie Dana Charkasi, Galerie Andreas Huber, Momentum and Winiarzyk.

The use of the spectacular interior of the closed down former Vienna Market Hall in Wien Mitte as stage for the exhibition reflects the ambition to work with the various potentials of a cultural metropolis, reuniting a demanding artistic concept within a fascinating architectural frame."

Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 1c, A - 1030 Wien

-d.

Spotted

2009-05-04T16:07:00.003+02:00

Today on Währingerstraße.

I kind of want to start a Sartorialist for Vienna. This shit was just that awesome (especially from the front).

-d.

A weekend at an undisclosed location unfar from Attersee

2009-05-04T10:14:00.001+02:00

-d.

Momentum: Charles Fréger

2009-04-29T17:06:00.001+02:00

The new show at Momentum is awesome.

Seriously. Charles Fréger? Check him out.

Afterwards, Mdm. Seguin and I made our way to the delicious new Neni on Naschmarkt.

-d.

Clean, safe and a little bit dull... the world's most liveable cities

2009-04-29T12:01:00.002+02:00

This article in the independent today is both disheartening and nice.

"The songbook of the world's most likeable cities needs an urgent rewrite. "We will always have Dusseldorf"; "I love Zurich in the springtime"; "Tulips from Vancouver"; "Maybe it's because I'm a Frankfurter that I love Frankfurt so". In a survey of the world's most liveable towns, published yesterday, European cities dominate but not the European cities that you might imagine. Paris comes only 33rd, between Adelaide and Brisbane. London comes 38th, jointly with Yokohama.

The city with the highest quality of urban living in the world, according to the survey, is Vienna, followed by Zurich and Geneva. Auckland and Vancouver come joint fourth. All of these cities have a reputation – perhaps undeserved – for crashing dullness. Cities with romantic, glitzy reputations, from New York (49th) to Rome (55th), fare badly."

That's cute, right? And awful.

I have to say, my own blue Heaven of a city probably ranks "Number of good live music acts available on any given day" and "Ratio of Facebook friends to friends living in a 30 mile radius" as my top 2.

Watch this space.

-d.

What's in a name?

2009-04-28T15:02:00.004+02:00

This just in: swine flu is not kosher. Good thing that's settled! Thank goodness someone is keeping their eye on the real issue.

What a turd.

-d.

Vernissage: Veranda and Momentum

2009-04-28T12:05:00.005+02:00

It's gallery time again!

Tonight is the vernissage of the new Veranda show, curated by Mss. S, S &M.

The owner of this hairline will be present.

And tomorrow is another vernissage at M &V's excellent Momentum, namely French photographer Charles Freger's Empire project (2004-2007) "comprising portraits of a wide variety of elite troops across Europe, mostly Republican or Royal Guards, who stand out due to their historical and very colourful uniforms, as to the draconic protocolary rules common in such units."

Fawesome.

-d.

My kind of something: Scott Matthew

2009-04-27T17:23:00.001+02:00

I totally admit that before seeing Shortbus I had no idea this man even existed. But now I've gone Mandarin Oriental and am a fan of Scott Matthew. Even my Facebook will attest to this, in case you need the proof.

He has been to Austria already, you see. Krems, specifically.

I just picked me up some tickets to go and kowtow before him on the 6th of May at WUK. Anyone wanna come? The woman on the phone said she couldn't disclose to me if there were many or not so many tickets left which makes me think there are still many.

-d.

A Camp

2009-04-20T15:46:00.000+02:00

I was hungover and madly tired when The P and I went to see Cardigans singer Nina Persson's solo project A Camp at Flex last night. We sat on the steps through the opening act and drank Weiße Wpritzer and Coke and told bad jokes. Then suddenly o holy holy A CAmp came on to much fanfare and we were enraptured by the sight and sound of Nina! And OK, they're Swedish, so their lyrics aren't poetry (or maybe just that, so incomprehensible are some). But they sounded really awesome and were fun.

They's on tour. Check 'em out if you can.

Sorry, I have had a lot of work lately so not many updates. I promise to improve.

-d.

Going to tell it on the mountain

2009-04-09T17:30:00.002+02:00

Image copyright Esther Aarts

Tomorrow is Good Friday and also my birthday. A good Friday indeed.

To celebrate, I am taking off for the mountains for a few days to write and read and reflect. Oh, and see my grandparents. What do you say to that.

Frohe Ostern, liebe Leut'!

-d.

Dr. Zizmor

2009-04-09T16:18:00.005+02:00

MAG writes:

So there's this guy, Dr. Zizmor, who does acid peels and facial stuff. He has ads all over the NY Subways and they are always him standing in front of a rainbow with this quixotic look on his face. I just stumbled upon a commercial he made. I haven't watched it with the sound on because I'm at work, but the imagery is so insane I can't not send it to you. Oh, important side note: all of his print ads have the rainbow motif.

So... they totally ripped his face off. Wow.

Thanks, Dr. Zizmor! For the NIGHTMARES.

And yeah, MAG knows words like "quixotic". That's just how he
rolls.

-d.

Godspeed!

2009-04-09T16:15:00.001+02:00

I don't think I ever posted this. Why? Because I wanted to keep it to myself. But if you love something set it free, right? So fly away, small wonder!

And by "small wonder" I am in no way indicating that the sitcom of the same name which ran from 1985 to 1989 and starred Tiffany Brisette as a humanoid robot. This is so much better than that.

See more of Kirsten Lepore's shizzle over hizzle. I think she's, like, 23 or something. Whatever.

-d.

G Chrome y'all

2009-04-09T15:43:00.004+02:00

Google Chrome made a funny.

-d.

Can't-mehr-Straße

2009-04-09T15:19:00.002+02:00

The digging in the First has started up again after at least the issue of the pavers was settled on. Nine months later.

Apparently the district council was putting up a stink and they still don't like the new lamp posts but, yeah, April is a great time to start work at Tourism Grand Central.

Now after my obligatory rip on the delays, I'll say that the new stone is a vast improvement to the current situation and I think it's gonna be awesome. To walk all over.

-d.

Spotted

2009-04-09T14:43:00.001+02:00

... at Oberlaa on Neuer Markt.

On a little old lady, too.

-d.

"To love... whatever that means... "

2009-04-07T17:00:00.007+02:00

Just a reminder that there is goodness out there. For example
Little Murders (1971).

Well worth your time.

Thanks, MAG, in sickness and in health.

-d.

Introspective photo-realist paintings by Diego Gravinese

2009-04-07T16:23:00.000+02:00

These paintings by Argentinian Diego Gravinese aren't really masterpieces in my opinion but they are freaking cool. Take a moment to just lose it, go crazy.

Nifty might be a better word.

Via Booooooom.

-d.

Cherry Blossom Time

2009-04-07T14:35:00.001+02:00

The cherry tree out back my loggia is starting to essplode.

And Crack Cat is cool wit dat.

What!

-d.

Weekend Walkabout

2009-04-06T15:00:00.001+02:00

The weather is getting so crazy good, Vienna blood is coursing through everyone's tired old veins again. The city awakes!

In that vein I made my way down to Naschmarkt on Saturday to look for a bow tie.

I didn't find one, neither did The P. He and Mdm. Seguin discussed this and other fashion faux-pas.

As I was looking on I noticed a sign for psychiatric care with a very memorable website.

Soo... that's nice.

I spotted my desk at Bananas for a whopping €100 less than what I seem to recall paying for mine (before the crisis).

And that shit? Is B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

-d.

EscapeFromBees!

2009-04-06T14:56:00.002+02:00

Again. These ads.

Why a buck-toothed, pointy nosed baldie black dude? Who comes up with this stuff? And where do they live? And what's their license plate and home phone number?

-d.

Song of the Morrow

2009-04-06T12:23:00.002+02:00

Fever Ray. I ♥.

When I grow up I want to be a swimming pool sorcerer.

I’m very good with plants
When my friends are away
they let me keep the soil moist
On the seventh day I rest
for a minute or two
then back on my feet and cry for you oooh oh.

She's playing Berlin on the 21st of May and I am definitely looking into it.

-d.

Spring is here!

2009-04-03T11:53:00.000+02:00

Finally! Life!

Thank Jebus.

-d.

Bananas and Bows

2009-03-31T15:33:00.000+02:00

Somebody left these amazingly delicious Tokyonese banana treats in the kitchen today.

A fitting send off for J-san (to be built upon tonight!), who will be leaving this twilight world of Eastern and Western for the white shores of... well, she's just going back to Hietzing actually. But she'll be missed.

Ichiroheian o inoru, J-san!

-d.

A newer, greener you

2009-03-24T12:19:00.000+01:00

Some practical revelations from TED today. Researcher Kamal Meattle shows us three types of plants we can use to give us better air indoors, including one that produces oxygen at night.

I'm totally going to pimp my home and office out with that sh**.

-d.

Keeping busy

2009-03-23T11:03:00.002+01:00

And we're back.

Forgot my camera at home so I am not able to upload any new tidbits for you today but this little video has cheered me thoroughly this morning and maybe it'll help your day get underway too.

Thanks, P, and happy Monday y'all!

-d.

Spotted on Otto-Bauer-Gasse

2009-03-18T15:34:00.004+01:00

I don't know why but I couldn't help thinking this overly processed trio was really cute.

Sorry, I didn't have the nerve to photograph them from the front but you get the idea.

-d.

historysteria WA(R)S YOU tie(d) world

2009-03-18T12:19:00.002+01:00

Who climbed half way up the Flak tower in Arenbergpark only to write something entirely unintelligible?

The mind boggles.

-d.

My kind of something: Franz Hubmann

2009-03-18T11:34:00.002+01:00

On a not-recent-enough joint excursion to the Georges Braque show at the Kunstforum, S and I were mightily impressed with some photographs taken of Braque by one Franz Hubmann († 2007), a Vienna-based photographer for Magnum.

Photo courtesy artnet.sk

Some of Hubmann's photos are really amazing in their composition and lighting but most of them simply work as witnesses of another time. Though dubbed "the Austrian Cartier-Bresson", C.-B. he was not, and yet his portraits are really teriffic, incredibly revealing and personal. The way portraits kinda should be.

-d.

Ding Dong it's Pling Plong

2009-03-17T11:25:00.000+01:00

Mark your calendars, get set.

-d.

Auf, auf! Bau!

2009-03-13T11:50:00.003+01:00

This Aufbau in Landstrasse... I'm not sure whether I like it or not. Granted, the original building would look better without it. But at least they tried. And clearly put some effort into it.

Okay, how 'bout this: I don't like it but I approve. That's diplomacy right there.

-d.

Hollaback girl

2009-03-13T11:30:00.005+01:00

While parading around Vienna the other day, Schwester S looked up and snapped this picture on Köstlergasse.

Jodeletii-hu!

Look up and look out, y'all.

Thanks, S!

-d.

Time's warped

2009-03-13T11:28:00.002+01:00

Are anyone else's gmails traveling through time?

I have this power.

-d.

In praise of decay

2009-03-11T15:50:00.005+01:00

Once more we cast our eyes to the heavens and sing a praise for decay. Both entries are in the First this time.

Ruprechtsplatz

The excellent Kaffee Alt Wien has thankfully not been renovated, neither within nor without.

Kaffee Alt Wien, Bäckerstrasse 9

If it goes its the way of its neighbor then it won't be all bad (the courtyard needed it kinda bad), but charm will be slow in its returning.

-d.

Mystery object

2009-03-11T15:43:00.002+01:00

After much rumbling and whispering in the kitchen by my office, I made my way over to get a glass of water and found the following in the sink:

A block of ice shaped like nothing we have in this place of work.

Many are the secrets my office holds, mark my words.

-d.

Representin'

2009-03-11T12:12:00.002+01:00

Last Sat all my dreams came true for the one we call Poodle Sister. She was spotted by Scott Schuman (aka the Sartorialist) and photographed for style.com!

Now if All-My-Dreams II comes true for you first we'll have to have some serious words.

To see her in full awesome contrast to boring Others go here.

Congratulations, PS!

-d.

Besser nie in Wien machen!

2009-03-09T15:50:00.004+01:00

I recently picked up a copy of Falter's Best of Vienna, their biannual review mostly of new shops, restaurants, galleries, fashion labels, and clubs in Vienna. The first few pages contain top lists of things in our fair city, like Best Truly Viennese Experiences, Top Berlin-in-Vienna establishments (i.e. kinda run down but cool none the less) or Best Things in Vienna You've Never Done (like a night tour of Schönbrunn zoo).

This little list of Things Best Not Done in Vienna gives a rich insight into the complicated workings of the city's machinery.

They are:

*Ride a cab when you are emotionally fragile.
*Eat Schnitzel in the First District.
*Go shopping on Mariahilferstraße on a Saturday.
*Make a field trip to the Gasometer towers.
*Just walk out of your house willy-nilly when a bike or scooter driver could just gun it onto the sidewalk or a dog pile could be lurking.
*Greet strangers on the street.
*Dawdle while exiting public transport.
*Order wine in a coffee house.
*Purchase basic foodstuffs at Meinl am Graben.
*Ask yourself what all the pigeons feed on.
*Ask for change at a tobacconist's ("I ain't no change bureau!").
*Run for a tram in the hope that the driver will wait for you.
*Stand on the left on an escalator.
*Go to a tavern selling homegrown wine in Grinzing. Better to go to Nussdorf or Stammersdorf.

Except for the point about Schnitzel these are all true.

-d.

How much is that doggie in the window?

2009-03-04T11:04:00.001+01:00

Friend of a friend is getting his grubby mitts on one of these boys any day now.

I seethe with jealousy.

-d.

In the pink

2009-03-04T10:22:00.003+01:00

Pinky the pink albino dolphin .

Some little girl's prayer has been answered.

-d.

My kind of something: Todd Hido

2009-02-20T16:10:00.003+01:00

Todd Hido is an extraordinary photographer. I like him a lot. I would say he has a keen eye but what photographer worth the name does not? So I'm just gonna speculate that he has beige eyes.

Ah, sweet mysteries of life at last he's found ye...

I'm buying a book.

Via A Daily Dose of Architecture.

-d.

Need the info?

2009-02-19T14:30:00.006+01:00

(Image courtesy of Flickr)

En route back from lunch today mes collègues et moi were informed, after boarding our U-Bahn, that Praterstern and two adjoining stations were closed and that a replacement bus service was being set up. No reason given, no nothing. So chaos ensued as scores of travelers were left chain-smoking in the really terribly freezing cold sunshine waiting for a bus to show.

Now, the Vienna transit authority pulls this card all the time, this non-disclosure of information. And it is my personal opinion that it is the not knowing aspect of this kind of thing that makes everything so much more difficult. For example, if they said the cause was a "faulty train" or a "tunnel collapse" then we'd be able to make a reasonably informed guess at how long things would be tied up. But as was? No. And yet there is some merit to this system.

After waiting a spell and inhaling a lot of second-hand puff into our stone-cold lungs, mc&m hopped a taxi. As we passed yet another station exit undergoing a mass exodus, the driver said, "Yeah, looks like someone jumped onto the tracks." I said, what? He said, sure, his nephew drove with the U-Bahn and said that whenever someone jumped the tracks the policy was not to give a reason and close off the stations. I asked him how often this happened and he said at least once a month. Once a month! In Vienna!

This set off a whole slew of stories on his part about how these two kids had tried to commit suicide by jumping off the Floridsdorfer Bridge onto traffic below and how he, our driver, had been the first to stop at the scene and had seen the last grams of breath escape the one who died. And also how a guy had recently decided to kill himself by walking straight into traffic and was, months later, still in intensive care but that the woman who had hit him had already undergone facial reconstruction and had a whole new face now basically made of titanium. Our driver also told a story about how a few months back? His sister-in-law and her friend had walked onto a platform just as a man jumped in front of a train. They had both gotten three days' paid leave for psychological counselling afterward because they had heard the man's bones crack.

The driver and I concluded that if you are going to do yourself in then please have the common courtesy to not take someone else with you or traumatise them for life. For my part, might I add that, if possible, please don't hold up traffic in any way shape or form. 'cause in the end none of the commuters you're holding up are even gonna know you kicked the bucket anyway.

-d.

Who knows what is happening while you're reading this VERY SENTENCE?!

2009-02-19T11:22:00.002+01:00

Life. So short.

Does anyone else suddenly feel like eating Indian food for lunch?

Via the ever-brilliant .:DataWhat?:. .

-d.

I got so excited I almost

2009-02-19T11:03:00.002+01:00

Friend L sent this little gem, claiming a case of the wantsies (a condition wherein you crave things that you absolutely do not need).

Immediately infected: me.

Small hiccup: ~~we don't know who made it or where to get it.~~ It's not for sale. But some other by stuff by the same maker (Ricochet Studios) is!

~~Anyone?~~

-d.

Vai popozuda!

2009-02-19T10:27:00.003+01:00

Crank up your speakers, grab yourself a Portuguese translator and a Cotton Spandex Jersey Double U-Neck Long Sleeve Bodysuit, and your workout can commence.

Five of us showed 'em how it was done on V Day and lemme tell you:
I was sober by the end of it.

-d.

Why I love da USA

2009-02-18T14:52:00.003+01:00

... because they have office Heavyweight Champion of the Macaronis and Cheese Cook-Offs.

Click to enlarge prease

Thanks, S!

-d.

Lighten up

2009-02-18T14:38:00.002+01:00

These people, 5.5 designers (I am assuming there is a half pint child involved), make some pretty nifty, some less nifty things.

Amongst the nifty we may count their "Ecussons Domestique", a collection of embroidered adhesive felt patches designed to spruce up the lowly electrical outlet, wall switch or even just the ceiling.
Behold!

Light switch

Naturally the rosette costs €360.

-d.

Fashing fashion

2009-02-17T15:37:00.002+01:00

J-san asked me today if I had any inspiration for her for Fasching.

I do.

A costume made of Pennymarkt bags

I'm suddenly very, very depressed.

Via VICE Austria

-d.

V Day

2009-02-17T15:14:00.003+01:00

Saturday Little S and I hosted a V Day party of some proportion. We went to town on the deco and it was much appreciated.

A highlight

Though perhaps not as much as the food and booze.

All part of this complete V Day.

-d.

Snacktime

2009-02-17T15:10:00.002+01:00

-d.

Praise Benji

2009-02-17T14:59:00.005+01:00

This is Benji.

A bio technician in his homeland, he now makes our sandwiches while he waits for his next opportunity to practice what he studied. But lemme tell you, the man is an engineer through and through. He turns buckets of ingredients...

... into compact aesthetic little torpedoes of energy.

Plus he's super friendly.

Praise be unto Benji!

-d.

Busy bzzzzbee

2009-02-17T11:58:00.004+01:00

Only a few months ago I wrote that friend D was pouring her energy into a company for fancy animal feeders. Now it seems she's off on another project. Her new blog, Between the Bees, documents her new incarnation as an independent fashion agent. The idea is to suss out menz-trendz for ladies, which would seem to be in keeping with the lads-as-lassies movement we are witnessing on runways and high streets. Think Amelia Earhart and Marlene Dietrich.

D's currently en route back from NY Fashion Week but upon her return we may expect some serious goodies.

You go, girl/boy.

-d.

Koala drinkin'

2009-02-13T16:45:00.002+01:00

Koalas are freakin' mean creatures. They don't like humans. They have claws. But sometimes? They're cute.

SO freakin' cute.

-d.

Food

2009-02-12T16:12:00.004+01:00

Last night after the theater I came across food in two different setting.

I cannot honestly say which I prefer, though I lean toward the latter for its sheer edibility. A criteria? I put it to you.

-d.

My kind of something: Manami Hayasaki

2009-02-12T16:04:00.004+01:00

Cut card by Manami Hayasaki.

Taking Tea

Gaze

Fuyumushi Natsukusa

Just cool and pretty stuffs.

Thanks, S!

-d.

Diplomatic Suite

2009-02-12T15:27:00.003+01:00

Anyone?

-d.

Oh no you didn't

2009-02-12T14:48:00.010+01:00

Spotted on the way to the gym.

Vericose tights.

And last night at a Noh theater performance at Tanzquartier.

-d.

Wochenende am Attersee

2009-02-10T09:55:00.002+01:00

Gatto, Mdm. Seguin, and I spent a luvverly weekend at Attersee. So great was it that I am moved to poetry.

Attersee!

O, ye inland body of standing water, I sing your praise.
Upon your cresting bluffs 'twas that I found,
From the ashen timbers of my old and calam'tous yearning,
A house stand resurrected to rise and comfort me
And in its shallow sea of plenty enfold and drown my sorrow!

OK, so I'm no poet. Allow me this one indiscretion.

Gathina and Charlemagne joined the next day to spurn the party on.

Strange pile o' wood

I was thoroughly depressed upon reentering Vienna's city limits Sunday night, such had been our fortunes full.

-d.

Blossom Dearie dead

2009-02-09T09:21:00.003+01:00

Sad news of Blossom Dearie's passing today.

Shit video, sorry.

Thanks, MAG. Sorta.

-d.

Where's Adolf?

2009-02-05T17:09:00.003+01:00

Has anyone ever asked you to see their stamp collection? This question in our collective consciousness is akin to a senile aunt repeatedly asking you if you want to see a really big boil or a stranger asking if you've found Jesus.

When I visited Mr. S. this weekend, he asked me ifI wanted to see his stamp collection. I politely declined but when he asked again later I said OK and followed him to the sitting room where he promptly presented me with four or five weighty albums containing all of Austria's stamps since 1945. and I am here to tell you now, brothers and sisters, that from page 1 I was in awe.

Most fascinating in this little history of our Second Republic were the first stamps to be issued after the war.

So dire was the need for stamps and so great the nation's poverty that in the immediate aftermath of the war the old Reichsmarken were used, with Austria's name stamped over the visage of its former leader.

Later on they got a little fancier.

Peek-a-boo!

Isn't that insane? I like that he kinda looks like he's in jail. If only!

In 1946 they issued stamps that mourned the annexation of Austria, celebrated the victory of the Allies over the Axis powers, the liberation of the concentration camps, and the rise of Austria out of the ashes of the Reich, and commemorated the "martyrdom" of the Stephansdom (note the crown of thorns).

So I hope next time someone wants to show you their stamp collection you'll think twice before you speak. And Hell, maybe Aunt Geraldine's boil looks like Mary. Go forth! Explore!

-d.

Ensemble, c'est tout

2009-02-05T16:46:00.004+01:00

Last week I went to the underground Ensemble Theater on Petersplatz with maman.

We saw the most amazing play called Yaneura (Under the Roof) by one Yoji Sakate and performed by the traveling (touring?) Ringokun Theater Co.

The play took the course of two hours without intermission and was in Japanese with titles being streamed on two screens either side of the stage. The action all took place in this little box. Seriously, if they are coming to your town go see it.

In the lobby I spotted posters of the Ensemble Theater from the '80s and they were pretty awesome. Here's a sampler:

The fine art of poster-makery has died out in Vienna I am afraid, except for a few hangers-on. Pity.

Seriously, though: Yaneura!

-d.

Auf! Bau!

2009-02-05T16:40:00.002+01:00

Another unlikely candidate for an Aufbau rears its ugly head.

Who approves these things?

-d.

Dunkles Wien

2009-02-05T16:00:00.005+01:00

Until the end of this month the Film Archiv Austria is showing post-war noir Austrian films at their underappreciated HQ, the Metro Kino at Johannesgasse 4. The theme is Dunkles Wien, dark Vienna.

"During the pre-war period Vienna was a waltzing, elegant Arcadia for the world, but after the end of the Second World War the city became one of the capitals of international intrigues – both in reality and the cinema."

Cool, huh?

-d.

Marshmallow, Mann

2009-02-05T15:41:00.002+01:00

Real American marshmallows on sale at the gas station!

Bargain basement price of US$4,50.

-d.

Song of the Morrow

2009-02-05T10:13:00.002+01:00

Today's featured song of the morrow is by Matthew Wilder.

"Who?" I hear you ask.

"I have no idea," I thus reply. "But I bet you know his Top 5 hit from 1983 that I cannot get out of my head today."

Wait til at least 1'40 when some biatch busts in and starts yapping and 3'08 for a nice booty shot.

Last night I had the strangest dream
I sailed away to China, in a little rowboat to find ya
And you said you had to get your laundry clean
Didn't want no one to hold you, what does that mean?

Them's fightin' words, last I checked.

-d.

Tuesday night brouhaha

2009-02-04T11:43:00.000+01:00

Today I came into work two hours late.

2AM

And no one but J-san noticed!

-d.

Good morning!

2009-02-02T09:15:00.000+01:00

Happy Monday!

Via digg .

-d.

Last night: Momentum

2009-01-30T16:40:00.005+01:00

Last night saw Momentum's opening on Schleifmühlgasse at long last. The place was jammed at exactly 19h, which is when it opened.

Their wine is tasty.

Currently on show is work by Nina Rike Springer, who also opened their first gallery at their old location.

Also V (at left) is back at M's side (at right) after maternity leave, which is awesome.

They hired a photographer-cum-lighting designer to install the gallery's lighting scheme, which works wonderfully. At the cross sections of the bars are mild light bulbs that can be switched on separately and dimmed as well. Which is hot.

This guy was wearing a Mühlbauer hat and quite the collar to not match.

Not in the picture are his dyed, rust-colored hair and flamboyant mannerisms.

-d.

Oh no you didn't

2009-01-30T16:38:00.001+01:00

Spotted heading North on the U2.

-d.

Porn 'n me

2009-01-30T15:43:00.002+01:00

This is so yawningly perfect for a blog entry I almost didn't want to post it. So here goes. Kurzfassung.

Last night I went to a Thai massage. A serious Thai massage.

And my masseuse's name was Porn.

And she was awesome.

-d.

Today at Unkai

2009-01-30T15:27:00.000+01:00

In lieu of a stupid flower arrangement or awful balloons, I took Sister S to Unkai today as a way of saying thank you for getting pregnant with a second child.

Let's hope it's as cute as the first otherwise this was a total waste of a luncheon... just kidding!

Or am I.

-d.

Nuts

2009-01-29T15:47:00.002+01:00

Little J made good on her promise today to bring me a pack of them fancy nuts that she eats all the time.

Our former Austrian rock star security guard came down shortly after that picture was taken to deliver to us all a warning about a demonstration taking place downtown tomorrow evening.

You know that when the OSCE vacates their buildings on ol' Wallnerstraße that trouble is a-brewin'.

Personally I hope some of those degraded Burschen get their bloody heads knocked in. The fact that the government allows for these openly fascist neo-Nazis to host a ball at all, let alone in the Hofburg, is cause enough for some serious ruckus.

-d.

Puffy poof

2009-01-29T15:27:00.004+01:00

I go to art gallery openings because it's sort of the only place in town where people I find interesting and/or attractive congregate.

Last night I spontaneously went to a show at a gallery I've forgotten the name of on Schadekgasse. The wine was terrible and the beer ran out way too soon (the owner also owns the bar next door and I think this helped motivate people to give him their monies).

The night was saved by this snazzy coat I spotted.

OK, "snazzy" may be the wrong word but with the plethora of Moncler coats and knockoffs thereof being touted by half the city, this, to me, is the only solution left standing for men who want to wear a comforter as a coat.

And I am one of those men, dammit.

-d.