dandiwatch: This is Our Youth

Last Sunday I had the privilege of seeing the play This is Our Youth at Chicago's Steppenwolf theater (just before it goes to broadway!). Starring Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin and Tavi Gevinson, This is Our Youth follows the lives of three teenagers troubled by fears of who they are--and who they are to become.

dandiread: If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland

Go buy this book. Brenad Ueland uses a direct approach to writing make the argument everyone can write. I believe her. Its time we silence the critics and do what we love!

“Everybody is original, if he tells the truth, if he speaks from himself. But it must be from his true self and not from the self he thinks he should be. ”

“I learned…that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.”

"Orthodox criticism … is a murderer of talent." 

dandidesign: slim aarons

dandiwatch: silicon valley

Why Erlich Bachman is my favorite character from HBO's new series, Silicon Valley.  

At first I wanted to dislike Erlich. His exaggerated personality took up too much space and dialogue.  But unlike Richard, "Big Head," Bertram and Dinesh, Erlich's skill set does not lie in coding but storytelling. At the end of the day, PiedPiper needs Erlich because he says what is on mind and does not look back. 

dandiread: the woman upstairs

Page 1: 

“I'm a good girl. I'm a nice girl. I'm a straight-A, strait-laced, good daughter, good career girl, and I never stole anybody's boyfriend and I never ran out on a girlfriend, and I put up with my parents' shit and brother's shit and I'm not a girl anyhow, I'm over forty fucking years old, and I'm good at my job and I'm great with kids and I held my mother's hand when she died,after four years of holding her hand while she was dying, and I speak to my father every day on the telephone -- every day, mind you, and what kind of weather do you have on your side of the river, because here it's pretty gray and a big muggy too? It was supposed to say "Great Artist" on my tombstone, but if I died right now it would say "Such a good teacher/daughter/friend" instead; and what I really want to shout, and want in big letters on that grave, too, is FUCK YOU ALL.” 

^^ Why I purchased The Woman Upstairs

Read. Absorb. Discuss. 

dandiwatch: Finding Vivian Maier

Finding Vivian Maier, a documentary directed by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel, chronicles the private life of Vivian Maier, an American street photographer born in New York City. Working as a nanny, she led her life with an element of mystery and took over 100,000 photographs -- but revealed none to the public.

Until now.

Stuck by her uncanny ability to capture a raw moment, Maloof sets out to uncover the secret life of Vivian Maier. Compiling old photographs, receipts and other treasures, Maloof pieces together a peculiar story that will no longer be forgotten.

image source: findingvivianmaier.com

dandiwear: Carolina Herrera

"Elegance isn't solely defined by what you wear. It's how you carry yourself, how you speak, what you read" - Carolina Herrera

How to describe Carolina Herrera's fall 2014 collection: confident elegance. Staying true to her trademark -  playful prints paired with classic tailoring - the pronounced shapes, rich colors and triangle print gave off a retro feel with a "I want to be noticed" modern attitude.

Image source: Style.com