Marfa; a Giant of a sleepy little town in Texas.

MARFA, Texas: An Unlikely Art Oasis In A Desert Town. Ever heard of it?

marfasigh This tiny town perched on the high plains of the Chihuahua desert is nothing less than a deceiving world class art station like Art Basel in Miami, or Documenta in Germany. It’s a blue-chip arts destination for the sort of glamorous scenesters who visit Amsterdam for the Rijksmuseum ( & let’s not kid ourselves – the drugs too).

Although the locals have mixed feelings about being an art mecca, Kaki Aufdengarten-Scott, Marfa’s one-woman chamber of commerce, says without art tourism, “this town would have dried up and blown away.”

This town has one bank, one pizza place, one coffee shop, one laundry, one radio station, one bookshop — basically one of everything, except for the things of which it has none: billboards, pet stores, chain stores, clothing stores, bowling alleys or traffic lights.

What in the devil? Seen just off U.S. Highway 90. — What in the DEVIL? Just off U.S. Highway 90. See our Eurovan in reflection?

Was this someones idea of a cruel joke? A shopping mirage? Guess the joke was on me when I tried to open the door and it just would not open. Believe me I tried. Hope there was no camera! My husband laughed at my expense because he knew it would have been at HIS expense had the shop actually been open.

Prada, Marfa is a faux boutique displaying luxury bags and shoes in the middle of the sparse Texas landscape. It was created in 2005 by artist duo Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset.

When Hollywood needs Western desolation, it comes to Marfa. giant movie

Hotel Paisano - an oasis in itself. — **Hotel Paisano** – an oasis in itself.

With Hollywood types, it doesn’t hurt that Marfa is, well, a different sort of Texas town, with just one blinking traffic light but 14 art galleries, an independent bookstore and an organic grocery. Are you getting the picture?

“No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood” were filmed here, which made actor Daniel Day-Lewis (of the latter film) a regular jogger up and down the main drag, Highland Avenue, for a while.

Also, more than 50 years ago, famed filmmaker George Stevens also settled on this area for his epic Texas oil tale “Giant,” which starred Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. (Stevens won a best director Oscar for “Giant” in 1957, the only win of that film’s 10 nominations).

Hey, I’ve been to the hotel where they stayed at (Paisano) which was a beautiful little find and even saw the rooms they stayed in which made my imagination run wild at the thought of all sorts of shenanigans going on – who was with who, etc. Well we now know who Rock wasn’t with! Above Photos: d. king

Okay, back to 2012. I don’t want to blow Marfa’s cover too much because who knows.. they might even consider opening up a Starbucks? Oops.. maybe they already have.

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The Scandinavian-born, Berlin-based artist collaborators Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset with their permanently installed sculpture aptly entitled Prada Marfa, which actually stands some 30 miles outside of Marfa. The boutique’s resemblance to its major-city counterparts, however, is purely external; visitors are not invited to enter the installation. Yeah I know that! And how does designer Miuccia Prada feel about the work of art, which features pieces from her fall collection in the windows? The answer is easy: she picked the shoes herself.

FUN

AWay with Words: Tea Quotes

A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt

“Remember the tea kettle – it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings!”- Unknown

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” – Henry James

“Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.” -Ancient Chinese Proverb

“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”
“You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
“Nobody asked your opinion,” said Alice.”
― Lewis Caroll – Alice in Wonderland

“In Ireland, you go to someone’s house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you’re really just fine. She asks if you’re sure. You say of course you’re sure, really, you don’t need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don’t need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn’t mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it’s no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.

In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don’t get any damned tea.

I liked the Irish way better.” – C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman

Here’s my go at it..

Nothing soothes the soul better than having a hot cup of earl grey in the afternoon while reading by the fireplace (with anything chocolate).

Tea tastes better over gossip (so I’m told).

Life is sweeter when you can share a cup of tea with someone.

I promise not to waste your time with my tea quotes ever again.

FUN

B Well – Divine Intervention

Vancouver’s Best Kept Secret – “Tea So Divine!”

The name of a unique little shop I discovered for the first time last week after having sushi. It looked intriguing from the outside (as in not so sure exactly what to expect) and it’s not your typical tea shop. Indeed not! I had to step inside. (double click on any photo to enlarge).

I loved all the different one-of-a-kind hand painted tea cups from the Orient and their great smelling variety of teas. Not to mention a few healthy skin care products, jewelery and cooking oil.

I bought what is supposedly the “world’s best” Earl Grey loose leaf. It apparently won the award but even if that wasn’t the case the smell alone was enough to grab me. Yes; I’d love to take a few photos and write something for my blog so more people will know about this new find.

Stephen the owner is clearly not impressed and asked me why I would want to do that when he hadn’t even explained to me the “real” uniqueness of his shop. I was missing a few key elements.

For instance, his magic tea cups made of Tourmaline & 20 other crystals that generate far-infrared rays & negative ions. So they were more than just a pretty cup! He is the only person carrying them and explained that it makes any drink taste better.

Stephen holding up a "magic" cup. — Stephen holding up a “magic” cup.

Makes tap water taste like spring water, tea & even coffee smoother, sweeter, softer & cleaner. He really educated me on the whole deal and all the health benefits involved. Soft clean water boosts metabolism, blood circulation, weight loss, immunity & well being. How just holding the magic cup brings relaxation & clarity to the person holding it. He insists the cup will change my life. Magic words. Maybe he’s just a really good salesperson but he was so convincing that I’m going back to pick my “perfect” cup. I have to give it some thought as it will be my “cup for life!” We’re not finished…

Then

there’s the Tea “Seed” Oil (not to be confused with tea “tree” oil) which is cold pressed and extracted from green tea seeds and Stephen says it has better health benefits than that of both virgin coconut & olive oil. He’s very convincing but it’s almost too much for me to take in. I start looking into it myself and find out that yes, it contains one of the LOWEST levels of saturated fats and is one of the HIGHEST levels of healthy mono unsaturated fats. It has a great source of vital Vitamin E, antioxidants, healthy omega 6 and 9 fatty acids. Rich in vitamins & minerals, it contains high levels of vitamins A, B and E. It is also a good source of the minerals phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and iron manganese. Hey there’s even more but the thing is it is also the healthiest all-purpose cooking oil as it has one of the highest smoking points (252 C, or 486 F). Also an excellent carrier oil for skincare products. AHA moment! In that case we’re looking into adding it to our new “get spOILed” facial oil. I leave feeling slightly overwhelmed but satiated with this new discovery. I’ll mull it over a cup of tea at home.

Store location: 3175 W Broadway in Kitsilano. Tel: 604.783.3909

Website: http://teasodivine.biz

more….

p.s. This could be a whole post on its own but yesterday I went in to take these photos and was in for an unexpected treat. Feeling a bit run down I was ~~ordered~~ asked to sit down and drink several cups of healing tea inside a magic cup of course, while sitting in front of an infrared heat lamp (he has so many gadgets not available in North America) while wearing an infrared heating pad, crystal chain, healing bracelets and was treated to a very effective but somewhat painful Meridian point neck massage. This guy is not fooling around & he seems to know what he’s doing because I did feel better after. Not to mention more relaxed and centered. Talk about getting spoiled!

FUN

décor & design – The Doors

Part One – DOORS OF TUSCANY

There are things known and things unknown and in between are the doors – Jim Morrison

When one door closes another one opens…

If eyes are the windows to the soul then an open heart is the door to all possibility.

A new door is like a new gift, you never know what you’ll find once you open it.

If the Price is Right you can buy the door and find out what’s behind it!

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. Walt Disney

Visit Pinteresting Places on my Pinterest page:

http://pinterest.com/intrigueimports/

Food + Drink

Simple & Satisfying – Asian Inspired Marinade

For this recipe we used a Standing Pork Rib Roast. The cut makes a show-stopping centerpiece for an elegant dinner. This marinade can also be used for beef, chicken or fish.

MARINADE for a 5-6 lb. Rack of Ribs. Each rib equals one good serving per person with sides.

First slice but do not cut through the ribs on both sides.

*This part is optional but gives it more flavour. Rub the roast outside & in between each rib first with some sea salt & pepper (I use an “everyday spice” which besides salt & pepper includes coriander, mustard seed & paprika). Then mix together in a bowl the following ingredients:

1/3 cup of Molasses and 1/3 cup of Maple Syrup

½ cup low sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 a lemon)

2 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger (about 2 inches of ginger)

4 tsp. minced fresh garlic (about 4 medium size cloves)

4 tsp. Thai red curry paste OR;

**2 tsp. Thai sweet red chilli sauce & 2 tsp. Sambal Oelek (ground fresh chili paste) which is what I used.

2 tsp. grated lemon zest (from about 2 small lemons)

2 tsp. Sesame Oil

½ tsp. ground Coriander

Mix all the ingredients together and in a plastic Ziplock bag let marinate with roast for at least 2 hours.

Remove Pork from marinade. Two ways to bake: To bake as a circular standing rib roast then form a circle with the rib ends up. Tie rib ends together (see photo).

For standing roast just place on a baking sheet lined with foil or a dutch oven with ribs side up (see above photo).

Bake at 400 for a minimum of 25 minutes or until pink in the middle. Internal temperature to the thickest part of the meat should be 145 degrees minimum.

Serve with rosemary potatoes & roasted brussels spouts or broccoli.

FUN

Scene in the City – Raising the Tasting Bar

At Vancouver Urban Winery. The concept at this appealing new spot is to bring the consumer closer to the winemaking experience in a more meaningful way. Yes I get it. I sampled a few wines last week at this place which is unlike any other tasting experience in British Columbia or the rest of Canada. It is a unique experience because you can sample wines from the different wine appellations across BC with 36 rotating wines-on-tap. You can choose from the 5 tasting menu options or customize your very own tasting. You can learn a bit about wine making too.

My friends and I decided to go with the sommeliers recommended 5 tastings perfectly paired with the chosen local food selection. Pairing wines with distinctive local foods makes for an experience that your taste buds won’t forget. You can always expect something different as new food selections and rotating wines-on-tap come in weekly.

The Vancouver Urban Winery tasting bar focuses on promoting local artisan foods with locally made jams, jellies, salts, antipastos, pasta sauces, banana breads, beef jerky and much more available in their local wine shop. The winery manufactures, packages, imports and distributes wine for multiple brands including their own “Roaring Twenties Wine Co.” which you can also purchase.

The Vancouver Urban Winery is also currently the home of FreshTAP, a company specializing in packaging fine wines in stainless steel kegs for the emerging wine-on-tap category. We were fortunate that founder Steve Thorp was in the house and told us about the process.

The 7,700 square foot location with 24-foot ceilings and large exposed wood beams dating back to 1923 is just two blocks off Gastown’s historic Railtown district and also operates as a unique special events space. Right now their tasting room is only open to the public on Thursday & Friday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Cheers!

They are located at 55 Dunlevy Ave.

http://vancouverurbanwinery.com/

FUN

AWay with Words – Quoto Moto

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.

Carre_Otis&Harley01 — Carre Otis on Harley

NEVER argue with a woman holding a torque wrench.

Young riders pick a destination and go… Old riders pick a direction and go.

Only a Biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

Never trade the thrills of living for the security of existence.

Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.

It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed.

Never mistake horsepower for staying power.

A cold hamburger can be reheated quite nicely by strapping it to an exhaust pipe and riding forty miles.

Keep your bike in good repair: Motorcycle boots are NOT comfortable for walking.

People are like Motorcycles: each is customized a bit differently.

Remember to pay as much attention to your partner as you do your carburetor.

If you ride like there’s no tomorrow there won’t be.

It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end. ~Ursula K. LeGuin

FUN

B Well – The Good, the Bad and the Bacteria.

What can be aggressive, multiply rapidly but the naked eye cannot see? Bacteria!

Only viruses are smaller than bacteria. A tiny drop of water can contain billions of these usually single-celled organisms that have only one chain of DNA and no nucleus (control center of a cell). In favorable environments they multiple rapidly and are either aerobic (must have oxygen to live) or anaerobic which means they can flourish without oxygen.

How to get less bacteria in your diet: The Cook’s Illustrated kitchen ran a test on the best way to wash fruits and vegetables using apples and pears an an example. They tried four ways:

Washing with tap water, scrubbing with a brush, washing with antibacterial soap or spraying with a vinegar solution. They took surface samples, grew the bacteria in Petri dishes and compared results to a non-washed control group. Here’s what they found after four days:

A cold water rinse eliminated 25 percent of the bacteria and scrubbing with a brush removed 85 percent. The best way was with something we all have at home: a 1:3 distilled vinegar-water mix (sprayed) which removed 98 percent. Don’t forget to wash off the vinegar mix before eating. There was no comment on using the anti-bacterial soap.

Bad Bacteria – better known are the harmful bacteria in our world like Clostridium tetani (which causes tetanus) or Clostridium botulinum (which causes botulism). These bacteria are responsible for causing illness and death since the beginning. But with the bad there is always some good so…

Good Bacteria – are either harmless or helpful to humans. Our digestive system is full of billions of bacteria, including Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli), which helps us digest our food. Bacteria are also useful in producing some of our favorite foods, like yogurt, cheese and sauerkraut. Some bacteria are decomposers, cleaning our environment of dead and decaying plant and animal material. Some beneficial bacteria are known as probiotics, live and active cultures that promote the body’s digestive system.

It’s like a really bad relationship that you just can’t get rid of. Try to make the most of a bad situation by eating more probiotic yogurt, buying organic as much as possible and properly washing your fruits and veggies.

Also: Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health experts – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America. Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

FUN

Personal Post – In good company

Nice to know I’m not alone in my love and enjoyment of scooters. It’s a no brainer!

Easy on gas, easy on the eyes, easy to park and easy to scoot in and out of ~~traffic~~ alleys.

Lets see who besides me loves to ~~pose~~ ride.

In general what’s not to love?

Allright maybe not out in the pouring rain or the dead of winter but other than that – ANY time is a good time for riding a scooter.

naomiwatts & Liev Schreiber — Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber

juliarobertsvespa — Julia Roberts & hubby

james gandolfini (tony soprano) — James Gandolfino (Tony Soprano)
Ha; and you thought he’d be riding a Harley?

jiajia3 — Jia Jia however is way TOO cool. He says
“Get me on a Harley dammit!”

See my Pinterest page at: http://pinterest.com/intrigueimports/

Scooters…seriously!

More photos below

FUN

décor – aquarium window

So I don’t own an actual aquarium BUT I do have the next best thing – an aquarium window.

A fish tank offers a serene feeling so I tried to create something along those lines by sticking plastic fish decals to my bathroom window.

It might appear childish but it’s my little way of re-creating the tranquility of a genuine fish tank.

The only problem is the fish never move but it’s very pleasant to look at with a theme of beachy shells and rocks on the mantle. The coral was found washed up on a Jamaican beach. I could use more fish!

Do you think this is a crazy idea?
What would you stick on your windowsill?