More 4th of July shenanigans

After the sun went down completely we walked over to our friend Rob's amazing studio/rehearsal space. Note Claudia's patient mother chillin' groupy style on the back couch. Rob's the one wearing the macho pink crocks. He sold all of us our houses. Welcome to smalltown USA people. Get on board.
Anyway here's a shot of all the guys expressing their jealousy at the awesomeness of the space.

I made Drea and Claudia pose for me with all the hilarious "world music" instruments.


This picture rules because Claudia is clearly frightened. But also because its a great example of the way Drea will take total direction from me whenever I point a camera her way - and she has no vanity whatsoever. (think: me screaming "give me more, more! Make me believe you totally love world music!) That my friends, is the definition of a good f'n actress.

I can't even stand how much this stoner art makes me laugh. I can just imagine the dude who made it having the brilliant revelation that led to it's creation. Dude, wherever you are, thanks for blowing my mind.

Aaaaaaaand then here's me. Because I'm classy.

Claudia is such a cutie pie.

Fox.

The end. July is gonna be so fun upstate! The white trash pool will be operational super soon!

Hermes in Hudson???

So we finally got to go up and spend the weekend in Hudson and let me tell you it was awesome. Among other things we went to a really fun barbecue, bought a dorm fridge (twice), and got to participate in "grievance day" which involves standing in line with everyone else in town to appeal your property assessment. But I'll get to all that later. Here's the sitch. As you may or may not know, Hudson is not really a small town, Its a small city. It's actually very urban in certain ways. There are some definite gentrification issues - major economic disparity - and it is weird to see places like Face Stockholm on main street in a town where the biggest employer is the hospital. So when I walked by this storefront I did a double take. Are you kidding? A Hermes store in Hudson?
Exhibit A:


I will admit that my first thought was, "Yay! My property value is going to go up!"
But it was quickly followed by a huge pile of other, more skeptical ones. I mean the stores on either side aren't exactly Rodeo Drive material. It was jarring. The poppies on the window were really pretty... and those boxes are so iconic... I guess it must be real... right?


But something still didn't smell right to me. Now keep in mind that I am the girl who hung up on a radio deejay three times when he was trying to tell me that I'd won a trip to New York (I lived in Boulder Colorado at the time). Of course, my roommate (who it turned out had really won the trip) and he had a huge laugh listening to the hangups played over and over on the radio. My point is that I'm a wee bit jaded. But... let's take a closer look. Mkay?

Call me kooky, but doesn't that look an awful lot like an enclosed air conditioner? That saggy bottom doesn't look like the sort of detail Hermes would overlook, does it? They kinda have their shidt together over there at the Herm dontcha know. I loved the Hermes H watch that I had... till I left it in a FRIGGIN CAB one morning. But I digress.

So what do you think? My theory is that it's an art installation meant as a commentary on the fancification of Hudson. But theres a good chance that I don't know what I'm talking about.

My favorite House In Catskill

I'm too tired to go anywhere this weekend and have about 6 articles to do anyway - so Joe went up to Hudson to work on the house without me. In the meantime, I thought I'd try to sell everyone on Catskill NY. It's right across the bridge from Hudson and about a million times cheaper. The architecture is out of control. There are some really great ones right on the water that I daydream about every time I drive over the bridge. So beautiful!
Anyway this one looks so creepy and haunted, yet stunning at the same time. I want it! Who cares if neighbor kids throw rocks at me and call me a witch? How would that be any different from now?
Anyway - reclaimed home did a great post recently about property available in Catskill. Check it out. There are some unbelievable places for sale up there. Have a good weekend everyone!

Cleaned Out Basement

Check it out. I know you are all jealous as hell. Cause what's more exciting than a semi empty basement? Actually, for most New Yorkers this is nothing short of Real Estate porn. So take a niiiiiiiiiice looooooooooong look.
ps: two cool things that came with the house - that green farm cabinet on the right and a really cute kitchen table on the left.

But First For Some Pretty Ones...

If you take the train to Hudson this is one of many dreamy views you will enjoy along the way...

This is the view from the house looking towards the street toward the left...

And looking toward the right...

Yep... that pretty much wraps up the pretty things we can show you right off the bat.
Everything else you're about to see will require some serious vision.