As If We Never Said Goodbye

Oh, darlings, such good news - I'm almost as happy about it as Sandy, Bing, Pearlie Mae, and Bob!

Allons, Enfants!

The world's national anthems are a mixed bunch.

73 is the New...

Because it's Ramadan, one of the biggest priorities in getting ourselves settled in our new little flat was making sure that we had access to Egyptian TV.

All Mod Cons

One Tuesday morning, Irene learned that she could refill her Miltown prescription over the telephone.

Shameless Saturday Camp Explosion: Such Elevation

Camp rests on innocence.

- Susan Sontag, "Notes on Camp"

A little treat today, darlings, to celebrate a fine summer weekend.

From Under My Hat: Ten Things I'm Thinking

Hmmm.  Looks like she's just seen a Pinko...

So the long summer break is slowly winding down; on Monday, it's back to the office, or rather off to a new one.

Birthday Boy: Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu

Maxfield Parrish turns a spry 143 today, and what a pleasure it is to wish him many happy returns.

Beach Party Day Dream

It may be just because the Family's been so much in the news in the last couple of days,* although I think it's more likely because the Mister and I spent the morning braving the DMV, but I've decided that all I really want to do is go to a beach party with Princess Margaret and her pals on Mustique in 1972.  I'll have what she's having, and the gentleman in the back in stripes can stop by my cabana about 4:00, please...

*And yes, I did watch the live cam, and the jury's in:  the kid's a natural - did you see his little wave?

Birthday Girl: So Gay, in a Melancholy Way

This lovely and talented lady would have been 89 today had she not gone to join her fourth and final husband on Fabulon some two years ago.

Among My Souvenirs

Well, the good news is that, except for the books (no shelves yet) we've now opened all the boxes and unpacked almost all of them.

Shameless Saturday Camp Explosion: Telephone Tag

I am strongly drawn to Camp, and almost as strongly offended by it.

That is why I want to talk about it...

- Susan Sontag, "Notes on Camp"

Over in his festive corner of the universe (well, one of two of them, actually - he's prolific.  Among other things, or so I've heard....), dear Jon celebrates the birthday today of a woman who has over the years proved something of a pop changeling.

Unpack the Luggage La La La...

...Hi-ho the glamourous life!

It Begins...

OGodOGodOGodOGawd.... as the divine Miss Midler used to moan at the beginning of a particularly choice tirade.

Public Service Announcement

Miss Audrey Meadows makes for a charming spokesperson for "friendliness," a concept we can surely all endorse, but when it comes to her look, the words are most definitely "double knit" and "AquaNet."  And she makes it work, right down to the ascot, no?

Lashes and Sashes

Can it be that it was all so simple then?

Trip Report

Portrait of the blogger as a young monarch...

So our little jaunt to New York was a great success.

Helluva Town

Road trip!

Moonlight and Roses...

...and dishwashing.

Getting Married: Special Recipe Bonus!

So yesterday was really something.

And My Heart Begins to Sing

Reader, I married him.

Watch This Space

Sunday Scenery and a Domestic Update

I thought it might be nice to have a quiet little moment looking at a new snap of dear Mr. Upen Patel, that longtime Café favorite and Bollywood semi-sensation. Isn't he pretty?

Shameless Saturday Camp Explosion: Never Looked Lovelier

"...the way of Camp, is not in terms of beauty, but 
in terms of the degree of artifice, of stylization."

- Susan Sontag, "Notes on Camp"

Meanwhile, in the Drawing Room

Lady Viola knew that she could neither forget nor forgive what she had just seen on the hearthrug.  The singular position adopted by her husband and the under footman was perplexing enough, but the presence of both her prize Airedale and her emerald choker was simply inexplicable.

Birthday Country: Doesn't Look a Day Over 236

Franklin has always been one of my favorite Founding Fathers, not least because I have a feeling that on a hot July day in Philadelphia, he'd be up for something a tad more bracing than Kool Aid...

The Joke is Rather Sad

Well, if we're going to spend an anxious day feverishly checking Twitter updates and surfing around for streaming Arabic television, trying to suss out what's really going on in Cairo, we might as well do it in the ever-splendid company of Dame Shirley.

RIP, Princess and Queen

Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies / A lass unparalleled..

Antony and Cleopatra, Act V, Scene 2

Birthday Girl: Folkbird?

Well, here's a surprise with which to start off July...