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In 1866, the South Island of New Zealand was the hottest frontier for those who wanted to find their fortunes in the unexplored territories of the Southern Hemisphere. The California gold fields were mostly played out, so Europeans who had missed the opportunities of the fledgling West of America were booking passage to Dunedin, then on to Hokitika for a chance to strike it rich in the newly discovered gold fields. This exotic and diverse world becomes the setting for Eleanor Catton's Booker Prize winning, expansive novel The Luminaries.
At 800+ pages, The Luminaries presents a daunting task of a read and the first couple of chapters frame the tale within the context of multiple characters' points of view. Luckily, there is a welcoming diversity to the cast and I found it quite easy to remember each individual and how they were involved in the mysterious events being related. Catton invests a great deal in describing the players with depth and sagacity and takes her time in setting up the foundations of the drama which unfolds through her careful narrative from multiple perspectives.
In Hokitika everyone knows everyone else and this becomes the lynchpin of the mysterious events which have everyone in town and the outer gold fields working the threads to untangle the perplexing knot which includes a great fortune of gold found in the possession of a dead, alcoholic and nearly penniless prospector, the disappearance of a young, successful prospector and the prostitute with a heart of gold (and an opium habit) who loves him and nearly dies the night he disappears. Add in a bevy of seemingly innocent townspeople who may, or may not have a vested interest in the distribution of a dead man's estate and you've got enough intrigue to keep you reading for weeks (or, potentially months).
Catton writes with a surprising accessibility for someone who weaves detail after detail into her narrative, building characters and their motivations with fascinating particulars and believable impulses. I really enjoyed The Luminaries and would recommend it to anyone with a few days to fill.
Having never read Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris, when it was published in 2007, I thought I would go back and finish up the series, mostly to familiarize myself with the entire Hannibal cannon and potentially to help me have more information at hand as the television series continues in 2015.
The reviews for the book when it came out, were not kind, and many thought Harris had crossed a line in the sand by establishing his imagined reasons for Hannibal Lecter's childhood trauma and resulting descent into psychopathy and cannibalism. I will admit, it is not Harris' most well-crafted plot, but Hannibal Rising does, for the most part, complete the circle.
As a child of aristocratic parents in war-torn Lithuania, the invasion of his parents' estate by Soviet looters during WWII becomes a turning point in Hannibal Lecter's life. He is witness to thoughtless atrocities, both large and small and his personality is forged with a determination to find revenge against those who decimated his family. As the only survivor, Hannibal is taken in, as a young adolescent, by his Uncle Robert and Robert's Japanese wife, Lady Murasaki. They raise him as their own in Paris, where Hannibal finishes school and goes on to become a doctor and surgeon. After the death of his Uncle, Hannibal becomes intimately involved with Lady Murasaki, who guides and protects him, while his talents as a culinary artist begin to bloom.
In all the years following, Hannibal never speaks of the loss of his parents, or of his sister, Mischa, whose body is never recovered. Instead, he turns inward and uses his genius mind to plot retribution against those who have offended him to the core. Thus, the precedent for Hannibal's horrendous crimes is established and readers have an intimate knowledge that even Will Graham never learns.
Hannibal Rising was an enjoyable read. Harris is quite a gifted writer, even if his imagined history of Hannibal Lecter isn't what readers wanted or expected. It made sense to complete the Lecter series this way, though it seems reasonable that this book isn't entirely necessary to enjoy the other stories of Hannibal's evil deeds.
Based on the true story of the Witches of Pendle Forest, The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Winterson is an enjoyable romp through 16oos England, full of intrigue, witchery, sex and conspiracies. It's a jolly good read!
Winterson takes the basic story of the arrest and trials of thirteen men and women in 1612 by the Assizes of Lancaster and imagines a fully-realized back story for Alice Nutter, a wealthy widow accused of allowing the Demdike family of witches to live and worship on her property at Malkin Tower. Nutter is imagined to have worked with John Dee, a famed alchemist and advisor to Elizabeth I, and to have engaged in a long-term relationship with Elizabeth Southern(s), matriarch of the Demdike coven.
Winterson provides authentic details in her narrative and doesn't shy away from describing the despicable power of the patriarchy of the age. Alice Nutter is portrayed as a self-possessed and successful woman, in an age when it was believed only a witch, or someone who would sell their soul to the devil, would be able to obtain the necessary savvy, knowledge and skills to be prosperous in business. There is an element of the supernatural delicately woven throughout the tale, which surprisingly lends a modern flavor to the telling.
In a time as fractious, religiously intolerant and dogmatic as England was at the time of the Gunpowder Plot, it makes sense that most citizens of the time would believe that no normal human could avert scrutiny or evade justice when accused of fomenting anti-royalist sentiment, anti-Church of England religious persecution or plotting revenge. Those guilty of crimes against the powers that be would, of course, be prosecuted as witches. Which is a long way of saying, how can one go wrong with historical fiction and sexy witches?
In an effort to not make this review longer than the book itself, I will just say that The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil is a story that could have been written by the love child of George Orwell and Douglas Adams. George Saunders' flawless writing will remind readers of Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but his themes echo the sly political satire of Orwell.
In addition to Animal Farm, high school students should be required to read Phil to better understand the insanity of modern government. Saunders has a marvelous way of describing the intensely idiotic group-speak and herd mentality of politics and brings a refreshing and humorous narrative that perfectly takes up where Orwell left off.
This is the tale of tiny Inner Horner's active aggression against the peaceful nation of Outer Horner and the amazing feats of bravery and leadership by Phil, an Outer Hornerite who will not stand for the Inner Hornerite's encroachment into Outer Horner's borders. Phil takes the reins with the full support of his fellow citizens and all is well, until Phil's brain gets lost.
As funny as it is true, The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil takes only a little time to read, but leaves a strong impression. There's not much more anyone could ask for.
Prompted by the impending second season finale of "Hannibal" I decided to go back and re-read Hannibal by Thomas Harris. Much of this season had been culled from this particular book, so I thought it would be interesting to see how and where the story diverged from the original, since showrunner Bryan Singer does not have the rights (yet?) to the Clarice Starling role and she is a major character in the novel.
I actually liked Hannibal better the second time around. Singer was brilliant to develop the TV series from Harris' books, especially Hannibal, as it is chock full of deeply-detailed historical facts and artistic touches describing both the inner and outer life of Lecter. Hannibal the novel shares a wealth of information about both Hannibal's past and his thought processes as he solves his multi-pronged problem of keeping Clarice Starling safe, removing her adversaries at the FBI and retaining his freedom once his location is divulged to Mason Verger. Verger, a wealthy pork producer was once a client of Lecter's due to a mandated psychiatric assessment stemming from child abuse allegations. Lecter took his own grisly and monstrous revenge on Verger for his crimes against children (including Verger's sister, Margot) and now, Verger will pay whatever it takes to exact his vengeance on Hannibal.
Harris never disappoints readers when it comes to pushing the envelope on the bizarre and complicated rituals Lecter arranges to murder his victims. We take for granted that Lecter's insanely high intelligence, and meticulous organizational skills guarantee his victims never have a chance. The beauty of Harris' crafting of Lecter's character is that in Hannibal we are finally given a perceptible understanding of the complicated and intense compulsion that Lecter has to manipulate the world to suit his desideratum. He is the perfect psychopath, and a killing machine with no equal.
Hannibal opens on an FBI shootout with a drug cartel, led by Clarice Starling, in which several agents and suspects are killed. The blame for this epic cluster is hung firmly around agent Starling's neck as her superiors gleefully push her forward as a scapegoat. Lecter, who always keeps tabs on Clarice sends an encouraging note of support after she is placed on suspension.
At the same time, a police detective in Florence, Italy becomes convinced that Hannibal is hiding in plain sight as Dr. Fell, a scholarly gentleman aiming to become the permanent curator for a family palazzo full of art, architecture and historical wealth. The detective, Pazzi, who wishes to please his wife with great wealth, decides to betray Lecter to Mason Verger, rather than go through Interpol and the FBI authorities. This decision seals Pazzi's fate and his demise is one of the highlights of Hannibal.
There is no part of Hannibal that does not delight (or disgust) the senses. From many angles the story builds to a climax that will shock almost every reader. Harris doesn't pull his punches when it comes to Lecter's proclivities and he absolutely maxes out the gruesome factor when he and Clarice come together to dispatch with her greatest adversary, Paul Krendler.
What I learned is that the book and the series work as standalone entities, and do not crowd each other by telling the story differently. They can be consumed alone, but savoring both makes them each a more scrumptious amuse-gueule.
"A Mad Tea Party" a watercolor by Zelda Fitzgerald, circa 1945
Lee Smith's Guests on Earth had so much to recommend it. I love books about my home state, North Carolina; it promised Zelda Fitzgerald as a main character, and was centered at the Highland Hospital, a mental institution which burned to the ground in 1948, claiming the lives of nine women; one of them the world-famous Zelda herself. That sounded interesting to me, so I dove in with high hopes. Unfortunately, it wasn't as great as I'd hoped, but it wasn't as awful as it could have been. I would give it a solid OK.
Not having read anything by Lee Smith before, I was frustrated by her storytelling. I felt constantly buffeted around within the story of the main character, Evalina Toussaint, the child of a prostitute living in New Orleans who is sent to Asheville and the Highland Hospital after her mother dies. Evalina is first sent to live with the man who had been "keeping" her mother, but she falls into a deep depression and is sent away to recover, only to return to Highland again and again as life continues to lay her low.
Smith doesn't so much jump around in her story as much as she just drops one plot line and moves completely on to another. There are lots of vaguely interesting characters at the hospital, Zelda Fitzgerald being one of them, but I always felt like I was dropping stitches in the fabric of the narrative as Smith jumps from season to season, year to year and event to event.
Evalina herself is a challenging character to warm up to and I was never sure if Smith was attempting to shine a light on her manic/depressive (now called bi-polar) personality or if there was some other intention in the sort of careless flitting around amongst the cast of characters in Guests on Earth. As an experiment in writing it definitely didn't work for me.
I will admit that I simply like Neil Gaiman. I've read a few of his books, and if I see one I haven't read yet in my local used book store, I will almost always buy it, knowing that I will enjoy the reading. Most people I know either *!!!LOVE!!!* Gaiman or they don't like him at all, so I guess I am one of the rare few that sits firmly in the middle.
That being said, I quite enjoyed The Ocean at the End of the Lane. It's a short book, more of a novella really, though it is most definitely aimed at a more grown-up audience. Gaiman thrives in that misty world of childhood fantasy when parents appear confident of reality and children anticipate danger and misery around every corner.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane allows its un-named narrator to peer back into his past, to remember a time in his childhood when life presented shadowy forces, both good and malevolent, impacting his developing view of the world at large. Though his memories from this time are difficult to recall clearly, they remain emotionally charged and intensely felt, even as they shift and mutate in his mind's eye.
Gaiman's narrator returns to his childhood home for a funeral and with some time to spare he takes a ramble through his old play places. While there, he begins to remember back to being seven years old, a time when his family life was stressed and complicated, and the solid ground of family life was quickly shifting and changing, mostly in ways that were opaque to a child's understanding. A recollection of the death of a kitten, under scary and confusing circumstances, propels the narrator into an otherworldly yet protective memory of the watchful magic of the neighboring Hempstock family, who appeared to his unknowing eyes as a child, a mother and a grandmother.
As the story progresses, Gaiman splendidly imagines for us a nasty and destructive force let loose into the world by a little boy's desire to feel safe at home. The power of another child, Lettie Hempstock, wise beyond her professed eleven years, protects and guides our narrator, as he fails to comprehend the dangerous force he has unleashed. As one might expect, it is simple faith in the protective magic of friendship that brings our narrator back safely to a home and family who will never remember the sacrifices made on their behalf.
Gaiman's language, even when describing scary events, is soothing and genteel, a perfect way to accurately depict the hazy, intangible mist of long forgotten childhood memories. At the end, even the narrator is unclear as to what was real and what might have been, even though he feels secure in the knowledge that his care and protection were (and probably still are) honorably defended by his long-ago friends.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, though at times raw and ugly, is a sweet story and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Gaiman's imaginary world of childhood magic and mayhem.
It was a dark and stormy night…
As funny as it might seem to echo the opening sentence of Snoopy's novel in the Peanuts cartoons, it's an apt description of the atmosphere and ambience of Carlos Ruiz Zafón's second novel in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, The Angel's Game. For anyone who has ever spent time in Barcelona and remembers it as being a sunny, youthful and vibrant place, Zafón imbues his Barcelona of the 1930s as a dolorous, dark and mysterious city full of sinister characters, devious plots and cruel skullduggery.
The Angel's Game introduces us to a youthful David Martín, a boy who is badly mistreated by his father, lives in poverty and squalor and desires only to read every book he can get his hands on. He is befriended by Señor Sempre who own a bookstore and allows David to borrow books to his heart's delight. After his father's death, David struggles to survive by working at a local newspaper. He wants to be a writer, but finds himself badly misused by his bosses and later, by a publishing company that deceptively obligates him to write pulp fiction novels under a pen name, for subsistence wages.
Martín is smitten with a young lady, Christina, whose father works for his patron, Pedro Vidal, and he struggles to accept that he will never be able to be with her. Martín's life is further complicated when Christina asks him to help rewrite Vidal's own novel which is awful beyond words. Martín does and Vidal becomes famous as *his* novel rockets up the best seller list and Martín's own novel is buried and forgotten when his publishers renege on their promise to support him.
In a fit of despair, Martín attempts to break from his publishers and takes up residence in a creepy, foreboding mansion in the medieval part of town. And then, things start to get weird. Martín is approached about writing a book by Andreas Corelli, purportedly a French publisher living in Barcelona. Corelli insists that Martín must write his book about a subject selected by Corelli, who assures him it will make him famous. Under mysterious circumstances, Martín's publishers are killed in a fire and he is suddenly free to sign with Corelli.
What follows is both supernatural and mysterious. Martín undertakes Corelli's challenge but begins to suspect that Corelli is not who he claims to be. Martín must solve the mystery to keep his life and sanity intact.
The Angel's Game is surprisingly rich in its language and is full of plot twists and turns which will make readers question if they are following the story correctly. Much of David Martín's story seems dreamed or imagined and it becomes harder and harder to distinguish between reality and fantasy. The beginning of the novel is so grounded in gritty solidity, that the concluding sections of the book seem ever more surrealistic as the story progresses.
I was delighted reading The Angel's Game. It works well as a stand-alone novel, even as it hints at stories told in the other Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. Zafón is an outstanding writer and deserves kudos for weaving the threads of this series together while still crafting stand alone stories that anyone could enjoy.
What does it mean to love something? Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch is mostly about love and what we will do to have it, in all it's many manifestations. This story is not about right or wrong, good choices or bad, at it's heart, The Goldfinch is about what we will do to hold near the things we love.
The Goldfinch is a wild (though sometimes overlong) ride through a life of frivolous delinquency, unintentional criminality, lapses in honesty, breaches of ethics, and misunderstood attractions. For Theo Decker, there is no thing so awful that he wouldn't do it to keep the thing he believes he loves the most, Carel Fabritius' painting of The Goldfinch.
From young adolescence Theo's life staggers from one bad scenario to another. At the impressionable age of thirteen, he is thrust into challenging circumstances that irreversibly drag him into a life that buffets him about like a kite in a storm. Decisions are made for him, few of which make any real sense. He's never offered the opportunity to make thoughtful or calculated choices and most often he is either dragged into less than optimal family situations, or he must make lightning quick decisions based on faulty information that lead him to increasingly shoddy habitats and relationships.
Theo's path through life hinges on one unforgettable day when, due to his burgeoning delinquency, his mother is called in for a parent conference. Together, they wander through the New York City streets, wasting time until their appointment. Instead of getting breakfast as he hopes, Theo's mom decides to take a quick spin through the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see her favorite painting, Fabritius' small, yet powerful image of a chained bird. In a matter of mere seconds, Theo's mother is killed in a terrorist bombing. In the confusion of the blast, Theo comforts a dying art patron and is offered both a signet ring and the Goldfinch painting. Remarkably, Theo successfully escapes the building with the priceless canvas in his possession. The signet ring leads him to the man who ultimately raises and parents Theo, guides him to adulthood and also introduces him to the enigmatic and ethereal object of his affections, Pippa, whom Theo glimpses for the first time, just moments before the explosion.
In the aftermath of the bombing, we follow Theo as he moves into a Park Avenue apartment with his best friend Andy's family, then is uprooted unexpectedly by his estranged father and his new girlfriend, who drag him to Las Vegas. It is in Vegas that we meet Boris, a Ukrainian expat who will become Theo's best friend, closest confidant and defender, but who will also betray Theo in a most deeply hurtful and unexpected way.
After his father's untimely death in Vegas, Theo returns to New York as an orphaned runaway and loses all contact with Boris for many years. Theo is taken in by James Hobart, affectionately called Hobie, the partner of the art patron Theo had comforted during the hysteria after the bombing. Hobie teaches Theo how to restore furniture, evaluate antiques and paintings and the two become partners in the antiques shop Hobie has been neglecting since his former partner's death. Running throughout the story is Theo's obsession with Pippa, another wayward child whom Hobie has taken under his wing. She too has suffered great loss in her life and bears both external and internal scars from the bombing. It is to Pippa that Theo transfers the love and affection he can no longer give his mother.
The Goldfinch is a long and winding tale, almost Dickensian in scope, with many characters, many unfortunate events, loves lost and desires unceasing. Donna Tartt's writing is absolutely accessible to any reader, and though there are many pages to be read, it never feels like a slog and coming to the end may even evoke a sense of sadness, if only because it cannot go on longer. It would be a stretch to call Theo Decker a hero, but his heart and his love are heroic and The Goldfinch frames most eloquently the valuable lesson that art can represent many different things to many different people, but unless it is shared, it's true value may ultimately be lost.
I hope I will not be criticized for enjoying Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood simply as a childhood memoir of well-known feminist lecturer and author bell hooks. It was surprising to me how sweet and tender her quickly sketched remembrances of her childhood could be, as they were unexpected from someone so admired (and by some reviled) for her outspokenness and advocacy for and about women, especially women of color.
Bone Black comes from a place of love and hooks brings a reader into her world of distant, misunderstanding men, strong, capable women, segregated education, burgeoning sexuality and an overpowering love of books and reading.
Her stories are told in short, three page bursts, filled with imagery and emotion. As I read along, I could feel hooks' sadness at being called different, even amongst her own siblings. I admired the women and men who reached out to her within both her church and community, to give her a sense of self, and pride in her abilities that were never encouraged by her family. I admired the trust she placed in her elder's care, especially her grandmother who taught her how to survive and thrive, and a teacher who encouraged her to succeed at school.
Bone Black does an excellent job of telling how Gloria Jean Watkins became bell hooks and is an enjoyable and almost too quick a read. I will always appreciate when a writer, with whom I might share very little common experience, can make me feel welcome and invited in the sharing of a story.
I finished The Unwinding too late to include it on my Best of 2013 Reads list, but if I could, I would totally move it to first place. Everyone should read this book. George Packer has put a human face on the economic collapse of the US over the last four decades, and what he describes is not pretty.
The Unwinding is not a non-fiction economic treatise on bad political and corporate malfeasance used to describe our current inequalities, instead, Packer tells stories. These stories come from North Carolina (my home state), Ohio and Florida. Packer gives us history writ small, detailing the lives of lower middle class and poor individuals struggling to be successful and make a good life for themselves and their families as corporations and our politicians make it harder and harder for anyone but the most wealthy to enjoy anything approaching success.
I won't say I enjoyed reading The Unwinding, but I was thoroughly engaged by each vignette. Packer also gives background on some of the big players in this economic collapse by following the careers of Newt Gingrich, Jeff Connaughton (a political advisor for Joe Biden), Oprah Winfrey, Peter Thiel, Sam Walton, Elizabeth Warren, Jay-Z and others.
Funnily, one of the most interesting bits for me came from an early chapter about Dean Price, a tobacco farmer and biodiesel entrepreneur from central North Carolina. He relates that in the 70s his parents were relieved of thousands of dollars by a local con man, Glenn W. Turner, who ran a pyramid scheme called "Dare to Be Great." This made me laugh for days after, as my daughter currently attends a local public middle school where the motto is, you guessed it, "Dare to Be Great!" This, more than anything summed up the sad, ongoing, downward trajectory of life for the majority of Americans today—the empty promise that hard work and good ideas will never be recognized or rewarded with anything more than platitudes and a limp pat on the back.
I most appreciated Packer's take on the unwinding of American life, because he doesn't have a personal point to make. The book is remarkably free of malice or finger-pointing and does not take a political stance at all. There are people of all types, and a broad swath of American experience is presented. Packer is not judgmental, nor does he cast blame, he merely tells the stories. These are the stories that everyone should know.
I was recently looking to read something easy and quick and my Mom suggested Iron House by John Hart. A North Carolina native, Hart is one of my Mom's favorite authors (or, arthurs, as she says it) and I had read The Last Child and enjoyed it, so off I went with her copy under my arm.
Iron House was a quick read, but I think mystery thrillers have changed quite a bit since I last read one. The body count in this book is enormous! I will assume Hart was writing with a movie treatment in mind but I could have done with a little less blood and gore.
Michael and his brother Julian are orphaned in the remote North Carolina mountains at a very young age. They are taken to a boy's home, the Iron House of the title, not far from where they were found and their lives there are a misery. Though Michael is a scrappy kid, his little brother Julian is puny and weak and is constantly harassed by the bigger boys. One night Julian fights back and kills one of his tormentors and Michael convinces Julian to tell everyone his brother did it. At ten years old, Michael then runs away from the Iron House to make his own way in the world.
At fifteen Michael finds himself homeless in Spanish Harlem where he is rescued and taken in by notorious crime boss Otto Kaitlin, who trains Michael to be an assassin and enforcer. When the elderly Otto falls close to death he asks Michael to kill him as a kindness, but Michael knows this will only begin a dangerous cycle of conflict and retribution with Otto's biological son, Stevan who wants to inherit all of his father's hidden wealth and thinks he can't afford to let Michael live. This could not come at a worse time for Michael, as he has decided to leave his life of crime and start over again with his pregnant girlfriend Elena.
After he kills Otto, Michael goes on the run with Elena to escape his promised fate. As the story unfolds, Michael returns to the mountains of his youth, to find his long lost brother, who was adopted by a wealthy Virginia senator and his much younger wife. The senator's wife wants to help Michael, since she wasn't able to adopt him as a child and she feels that Julian, who is showing signs of mental illness, needs to see his brother again to help him regain some semblance of sanity.
That, my friends is just the bare bones set up for the rest of the book. Iron House is a long, crazy, improbably wild ride with an impressive array of backwoods kooks, psychotic mob enforcers, mentally unbalanced mothers and just downright mean sombitches—not to mention scads of stabbings, impalements, torture, shootings, stranglings, dismemberment and drownings. I hated the first few chapters, but I stuck with it to the end. It wasn't what I expected, but I wasn't entirely disappointed either.
(Image of NC mountains courtesy kern-photo 2011)
I read a lot of non-fiction books about art forgery and was intrigued by the premise of the fictional novel The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro. At the prompting of a friend, I dove in. I won't say it's my most favorite fictional story about art and artists that I've ever read, but it was reasonably enjoyable, and the forgery details were pretty well researched, so I have to give Shapiro props for making the experience more enjoyable because i wasn't constantly howling over inaccurate historical details or technical minutiae.
Clare Roth is a painter with a past. She is skilled and talented, but her reputation is tarnished, so she gets by painting reproductions of other artist's work for a company that commissions sofa art (real paintings that decorators buy for size and color palette rather than artistic merit) which can be direct copies or "in the style of" famous artist's works. Claire's particular talent is in imitating Degas' Impressionistic style.
Claire continues to paint original compositions, but has never had a gallery show of her own. To her surprise, out of the blue she is contacted by an important Boston gallery owner, Aiden Markel, who offers to produce a show of her original works. Of course, his real intention is to convince Claire to make a forgery of a Degas that has been missing since it was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. Markel won't divulge how he has come to possess the painting, or what he plans to do with it once she has created her forgery, and Claire has to decide if she is willing to trade her knowledge and expertise at fooling art experts for a chance to gain accolades for her own, original work.
I wasn't surprised that Claire was intensely attracted to Markel, but I was surprised by the nicely detailed explanations of how Claire created the illusion of age in her forgery, taken from the real-life processes utilized by Han van Meegeren, who successfully fooled both Dutch and Nazi art lovers with his forged Vermeers.
The present-day chapters are interspersed with both Claire's past and letters from Stewart Gardner to her favorite niece, which help nicely set up the mystery of the missing Degas and it's provenance. There are a few clever twists, though I guessed the ending long before it came. The Art Forger is perfect for a rainy day read and recommended for anyone who likes a little art history with their mystery/romance novels.
The Reason I Jump is a short but informative book written by Naoki Higashida when he was just thirteen years old. Higashida is severely Autistic and generously shares his very insightful answers to some common questions non-Autistics often have as they struggle to understand this unusual neurodevelopmental disorder.
I found Higashida's thoughtfulness and intensely creative answers to be refreshing. They are also very helpful in allowing others to understand not only the differing ways in which Autisim Spectrum Disorders affect thought patterns, communication, body awareness and personal relationships, but he also gives very astute and self-aware distinctions as to how things look and feel for him internally in contrast to how they may appear to someone who does not live on the spectrum.
Some of Higshida's short stories are interspersed amongst the questions and leave little doubt that his interior life and imagination are full and well-developed. He has a lot to say and expresses himself well. Every reader will come away with respect and admiration for Higashida's brave voice and appreciate the selflessness of sharing his innermost thoughts.
The Reason I Jump is a quick and informative read and well worth anyone's time. I learned a lot and obtained a truly keen and penetrating insight into what it's like to live inside this often misunderstood disorder.
Having spent some weeks in Barcelona this past summer, I was intrigued to read Carlos Ruiz Zafón's series of novels about writers and booksellers in Franco-era Spain. I actually started with the third book in the series, The Prisoner of Heaven. I enjoyed it immensely and am hoping to read the other two, The Angel's Game and The Shadow of the Wind before the end of the year. A fourth novel is expected soon, to complete the set. The books are not time sequential and do not have to be read in order.
Daniel Sempere runs a bookshop with his father, just off Las Ramblas in the gothic quarter of Barcelona. Daniel, his wife Beatriz and their newly born son, Julián live above the shop. They are happy, but Daniel has some doubts about his wife's commitment to their marriage. Sempere and Son have only one employee, Fermín Romero de Tores and it is Fermín's story that is divulged in The Prisoner of Heaven.
Life in Franco-era Spain was fraught with danger. The Fascist regime was eager to eradicate any and all opposition, and many intellectuals, scholars and writers were imprisoned during the early years to quash intellectual discourse and political resistance. Fermín was one such prisoner (though not the Prisoner of Heaven of the title) and this novel tells of his capture, imprisonment and escape from the Castell de Montjuïc at the top of Barcelona's highest coastal vantage point.
Zafón tells the story with tender prose and endears each character to the reader. After a mysterious stranger enters the bookshop and leaves a very enigmatic and expensive gift for Fermín, he reveals his tale to Daniel. The story then navigates between the end of the Spanish Civil War era and the present-day of 1957. Zafón weaves in the history of Catalan resistance and the struggle to combat the Franco regime within this fiercely independent region with deftness and gives a real sense of time and place to the narrative. Questions are answered as new mysteries are revealed and I was quite entranced by The Prisoner of Heaven.
The Septic Stomach…it's baaaaaack! Before we posted this on tumblr, we contacted our friends at the Baltimore Museum of Art to see if they knew...
Let's all raise a glass to Friday.
Violet Oakley, Jessie Willcox Smith, Elizabeth Shippen Green, and Henrietta Cozens, ca. 1901 / unidentified...
Image: Metahaven.
Quote: Neil Smith, Gentrification In Brief - a Marxist geographer writing in the 1980s about gentrification on the Lower...
What's new in our image gallery: this charming illustrated postcard from Karl Priebe (return addressed "Karl O. Kapi") to his friend Sylvia Fein.


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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
bookworm221b replied to your post: I have legit read more than one Teen Wolf fic…
I dislike when they erase Scott as Stiles' friend entirely because it is canon that they each hate it when the other is mad at them. They fight and get mad at one another, but they are ALWAYS there for one another, even when they are angry.
What I see a LOT of in fic is Stiles leaving Scott to join Derek's pack, and in order to justify this a lot of authors break up Scott and Stiles' friendship — but since Stiles is their hero, they have to villainize Scott so that Stiles doesn't look like a douche.
IDK, it makes me nuts. One of my favorite things about the Teen Wolf canon in the first place is Scott and Stiles' ridiculous, mutual, since-childhood, bad-idea-brain-twins friendship. Scott and Stiles are never breaking up. Everything Stiles does that's related to werewolves — doing research, being the designated driver for shenanigans, learning a little bit of magic maybe, nearly getting himself killed — is canonically, explicitly, because he is Scott's best friend.
If what you love best about Teen Wolf is Stiles, and you take Scott and his friendship and Stiles' devotion to both away from Stiles, you… are taking a huge part of Stiles away from Stiles! Like. What. How does that make sense.

subset: commoncrawl


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Long-described as "Armory Slate", the first detailed pictures, release date and new nickname for LeBron James' 11th release have debuted online. The newly-christened "Parachute Gold" LeBron XI is looking good.
Shorthand for an executive getting a cushy retirement package, the "Golden Parachute" isn't on LeBron's radar anytime soon. To the contrary, 'Bron looks to be gearing up for war in the upcoming NBA season, based on the shoe's colorway alone. Golds, greens and browns make up the majority of the upper; Arctic Mint on the sole and tongue make the shoe pop.
Aside from aesthetics, the shoe represents the vanguard of athletic shoe technology. Armorposite, flywire, a full-length Zoom Air midsole and Lunarlon insole combine to create the most advanced shoe the court has ever seen.
Release is set for October 12, 2013.
Long 7 via KicksonFire


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Created with Mother's Day in mind, our La Rosa Gift Set is an excellent choice that includes a bar of our rose soap, lavender bath salts and classic lavender lotion. This gift is all ready to go in our handmade branded kraft box.
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Bizarrely, the GT540 get's a poor review (No.5) with a lot of mis-leading points.
Hmmm...I find my screen to be very responsive, and a double tap, for magnifying is the most I have to do! I certainly DON'T have to "bend it to my will".the GT540 is stuck with a particularly insensitive resistive model that becomes increasingly frustrating to use as you once again have to double or triple press to bend it to your will
Doesn't run particularly slowly, imho, so that's a bit fatuous!There's a 600MHz Qualcomm processor on board but that doesn't seem to help it run particularly quickly
As for the price being £170.....hmmm...I'd suggest they did a bit more research!
<rant over>
Ok, so maybe I'm a little protective of my phone, but this review is terrible!


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Heat is hot. Fire up your pizza menu with these recipes featuring the newest Burke product -- Hand-Pinched Style® Sriracha Sausage.
Burke is here to help enhance your menu, which starts with quality fully-cooked meats -- request a sample today!
In the limited-service segment, 65% of adults consider the healthfulness of a menu when making a dining decision. This isn't the only section of the restaurant industry that is seeing an increasing health-awareness. Offering flatbread for sandwiches and pizza shells provides consumers innovative, healthful choices without sacrificing flavor. Because there is no industry standard definition for "flatbread," it encompases many types of bread with origins around the world, some of which are below. With flatbread's rising popularity, your customers will be excited to see them on your menu.
Types of flatbreads
Ciabatta - Originating in Italy, this dough is made of yeast, flour, water, salt, sometimes olive oil and milk – no herbs and spices. The crispy exterior, many large air holes interior, and slightly sour taste make this a popular choice for sandwiches such as this Ciabatta Breakfast Melt featuring Burke Turkey Breakfast Sausage.
Pita – One of the world's oldest recipes and another Middle Eastern staple, which consists of flour, water, salt, sugar, and some type of yeast/fermenter. Pita dough shaped into a round, flat dough ball then baked at a high temperature (450-500°F). Separation of the dough happens from the carbon dioxide and steam expanding and the dry exterior pulling away from interior after baking.
Tortilla – The most popular ethnic bread in US, coincidentally coming from our neighbors, Mexico. The dough, made from corn or flour, is kneaded, given time to rest, then rolled and cut into rounds. Traditionally the rounds are cooked in a hot-cast iron skillet or griddle and served fresh off the heat.
Naan – This Indian cuisine staple is an elegant combination of white flour and yogurt. Traditionally naan is baked in a tandoor (clay oven) but can be made in an oven at home. The soft texture and round shape make it a great choice for any wrap, such as this Chorizo Gyro with Mint Yogurt Sauce featuring Burke Chorizo Topping.
Have You Thought About Alternative Pizza Crust Options?
Customers with a gluten allergy or health-conscious habits see pizza as a carbohydrate-filled indulgence. Here are 2 alternative crust ideas using vegetables as the main ingredient:
Cauliflower Crust – A simple mixture of mashed cauliflower, eggs, and your favorite seasons is a great way to keep the simple carbohydrate count low and please health conscious customers.
Sweet Potato Crust – Mashed sweet potatoes, all-purpose flour, baking soda, seasonings of choice, and a dash of salt bring a unique flavor to the table as the base for your favorite pizza toppings.
Growth of Flatbread Pizza
According to a Datassential Menu Trends Report released in October 2013, 5 percent of restaurant menus include flatbread pizza options, and menu penetration has nearly doubled since 2009. The fastest growing toppings for flatbread pizzas include beef and pork crumbles. Other flavors worth noting are Margherita and rosemary. Jack, rich cheddar, creamy ricotta, and fresh mozzarella are cheeses that are currently thriving.
An article released by PMQ reiterated the infiltration of flatbread pizza into the market as well. GuestMetrics' Peter Reidhead stated "While non-flatbread pizzas were 83% of total pizza sales in 2013's first quarter, about 60% of the incremental growth for pizza was due to strength in flatbread pizzas." Multiple factors are contributing to the growth of the flatbread craze. Consumers view flatbreads as an artisan dish, healthier option, and the creative versatility is endless. An unlimited amount of toppings can be used, and their application goes beyond pizza with menu ideas such as sandwiches and salads.
Final Words
If you are looking to add some ethic flair to your menu, flatbread options and alternative pizza crusts are a simple way to do so. The versatility provides a blank slate to let your creativity shine. While experimenting with alternative pizza crusts and flatbreads – be sure to experiment with some Burke fully cooked meat toppings too – request a sample today.
As the year continues it is apparent that chefs, associations, and food professionals have done an excellent job predicting the 2014 culinary trends.
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) conducted a survey at the end of 2013 with what professional chefs considered 2014 food trends in numerous categories. One of the top trends is focusing on child nutrition and concern for more health-conscious kid's meals. Parents and professionals are seeking uses for whole grains and more fruit and vegetable sides.
Coming out on top was bold, ethnic-inspired breakfast dishes. Crepes and burritos are perking up breakfast menus across the United States. According to a Food Genius report, not-at-home-breakfast sales have increased 13 percent in the last nine months alone with quick-service as the leader in activity. Overall, Americans are demanding more breakfast.
Ethnic influence can be seen in all aspects of the food community. Peruvian, Korean, and Southeast Asian have captured the most attention. These international styles are set apart for their unique spices, alternative grains, and use of proteins. A Peruvian dish to capture this trend is causa, which features layers of mashed yellow potatoes, avocado, and mild vegetables. The way other countries prepare food, like pickling and fermentation, are countering the traditional grilling, baking, and frying Americans are accustom too.
A recently published report by Technomic highlighted foodservice mid-year trends. Sriracha is hot (try our newest product – Sriracha Sausage), and everyone is loving the heat. Be on the lookout for habanero and ghost pepper flavors, and spicier sauces. Complementing spicier sauces, barbeque sauce for pizzas, sandwiches, and wraps is smokin' hot. Restaurant Business Online also noted that smoke-infusing foods other than meat, such as mushrooms or pickles, is a trend to watch.
Fast casual and quick service restaurant (QSR) experiences are evolving due to the technology boom. More common in casual dining chains, menus are shrinking in hopes of more user-friendly, efficient service. Consumers heightened interest in food ingredients are challenging restaurants on how to effectively communicate the information. One solution is to publish ingredients online and to create an app that includes product information. According to QSR Magazine, adding avenues for customers to pay online or with their mobile devices is becoming commonplace. Benefits to going mobile include keeping up with competitors (who are also considering it), simple implementation, easier tracking of restaurant activity, and the ability to offer more branded promotions. In addition to mobile apps, consumers would like to see more self-ordering terminals.
Other trends Technomic predicted at the end of 2013 include local sourcing and transparency of ingredients. More than ever, consumers want to know what is in their food and if it is healthy. Alternative grains used in pasta and flatbread items is one way more health-conscious items are coming into the market. In the pizza industry this can be easily done by incorporating a whole grain crust into your menu, like in this Meaty Whole Wheat Pizza.
The food community is always evolving, and the 2014 culinary trends hold true to that statement. Foodservice and manufacturing leaders are here to satisfy American's craving for bold, new innovations from spicy international dishes to using more ancient grains. The first half of 2014 may be in the books, but these trends are looking to make records.
Download your copy of Burke's 2014 Trends Report for creative menu inspiration today!
It's a well-known fact that kids are among the pickiest eaters. School meals are no exception. School lunch items not only have to be nutritious, but they need to be delicious in order to be eaten. Manufactures selling to schools have a difficult role, but with some creative menu new ideas school lunch items can be an area of profitability and success.
Pizza is known to be a favorite, but serving pizza over and over can become monotonous. Instead, offer the same flavors in a fun calzone. Substituting the typical meat fillings of pepperoni or sausage with beef is another great way to add some variation. Beef is a great protein to use in calzones or on pizza because it goes with a wide variety of toppings.
One application of this concept is a Mini White Calzone, this features beef topping, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese as well as roasted red peppers, arugula and caramelized onions. This calzone is then brushed with garlic butter and served with a spicy marinara sauce. This idea works in a school lunch application for a variety of reasons. The mini size makes the calzone more approachable for younger consumers and is easily dipped in the marinara sauce. The caramelized onions add a greater depth of flavor without being overpowering. This is important in a school lunch offering because not all consumers desire a strong onion flavor. The combination of cheese also offers a twist on a typical calzone, especially the ricotta which gives a delicious creaminess to the dish. Finally, the beef offers a great savory flavor and compliments all of the other ingredients.
Another way to appeal consumers is to enhance a favorite. Mozzarella sticks are liked by many and making them even better with the addition of beef will make them loved by all. One alternative version of mozzarella sticks is called Beefed-up Mozzarella Sticks. This includes mozzarella cheese sticks and seasoned beef crumbles wrapped in a wonton wrapper and baked. They are served with a spicy marinara sauce.
With a few simple substitutions mozzarella sticks can be elevated to a new level. Instead of simply breading and frying cheese, this version reduces fat and calrories by using wonton wrappers. This allows for baking instead of frying but still gives the desired crispy and crunchy exterior. The wonton wrapper also allows for the addition of the seasoned beef crumbles. The beef adds additional protein and makes this dish much more than just an appetizer.
For more information about Burke's Beef Toppings and to request a sample visit our website.
Sriracha sauce is heating up products across the industry. Here are a few ideas on how to spice up your products with Burke's NEW Sriracha Sausage.
Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potato – A sweet potato with Sriracha Sausage and a delicate garden-fresh mix of black beans, corns, diced tomatoes, green onion, chopped bell peppers, cilantro and lime. Sprinkle a blend of Colby and Monterey jack cheese on the top and broil until cheese is slightly melted.
Sriracha Sausage Fried Rice - Spice up your classic fried rice recipe with Sriracha Sausage and a tangy peanut curry sauce made with coconut milk, peanut butter, curry paste, and seasonings to see if your taste buds can handle the heat.
Request a sample or contact one of Burke's Industrial Sales Managers to tell you more about Sriracha Sausage.
From June 21-24, food professionals gathered in New Orleans, LA for the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Food Expo. IFT is an organization of over 16,000 members which connects the all aspects of the food community. At the expo, the latest innovations from ingredients to packaging and processing are featured. Seminars, student product development competition finals, and various award ceremonies are activities to attend while at the expo.
Keynote Speaker discusses Food Waste, Hunger, and Obesity
Keynote speaker Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe's, kicked off the seminars. He discussed the issues of hunger, obesity, and food waste in America. Rauch stated that the modern-day hunger is more than lacking calories, it's lacking nutrients too. This is more apparent as you move down the economic scale. Low-income families are driven to buy unhealthier meals with higher calories, which can then contribute to obesity. In terms of food waste, an alarming number of consumers aren't aware of the different between a "sell by" or "best by" date and end up throwing away consumable food. Rauch believes food scientists can play an imperative role in improving food labeling and packaging, extending shelf life stability, and developing nutritious food that is affordable and satisfying.
Hot Dialogue with GMOs
Hot Dialogue with GMOs discussed the various attitudes chefs, consumers, and industry professionals about genetically modified (GM) products. The first speaker, John Schonwald, has led numerous interview with chefs, and the general attitude towards genetically modified foods was fairly negative. Chefs prefer "local and handpicked" ingredients, contrasting from the "affordable, durable, and availability" of GM foods. The second speaker, John Ruff, stated that consumers attitudes are shifting to believe GM products aren't as bad as originally thought. When the floor opened up to audience members, educating chefs and citizens about GM products is essential for the future was the general consensus.
Food Trends at the Expo
Innova Market Insights' Taste the Trend celebrated its 10th anniversary at the expo. The number one trend was titled "Waste Not, Want Not," which complemented Doug Rauch's presentation. Food manufactures are looking for ways to reduce food waste, such as single serving packing and publishing cookbooks that utilize leftovers. Another trend highlighted was the demand for protein, protein-derivatives and their applications. Alternative protein sources such as whey, nuts, seeds, and algae are gaining popularity as well. Savory flavors, ethnic food trucks, and Middle Eastern Cuisine also made the top 10 list.
A Mintel blog post reiterated the importance of the topics and trends discussed by the Rauch, Innova, and the numerous other companies represented. GMO-free and "clean" labels are on the radar of food companies, the FDA, and packaging designers. Other hot topics discussed were the use of pulse flours (dry, protein isolates) and using "whole food" flours in place of vegetable proteins. A blog posted by Food Dive also agreed that "clean labels" and protein derivatives were buzzing throughout the expo. The post also mentioned the innovations in packaging and the influence of social media on food companies and restaurants.
Final Thoughts
The food community is always evolving, and the IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo is a place for professionals to share their innovations or gain inspiration. As industry and food service providers it's a great opportunity to network and find out what trends are taking off.
IFT will celebrate its 75th conference in Chicago, IL July 11-14, 2015.
Click here to check out Burke's 2014 Trend Report.
Since the constitution was adopted on July 4th, 1776, remembering our nation's birthday has included all types of celebrations. Parades and fireworks will fill the streets and sky as people all over the country honor America's birthday. The holiday wouldn't be the same without traditional American foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs, kabobs, pasta salad, and patriotic desserts. Below are a few ideas including seasonal trends to inspire your 4th of July Menu!
'Merican Meatballs – A skewer filled with Italian-Style Meatballs, fresh mozzarella cheese, and roasted cherry tomatoes then drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with basil.
Summertime Pasta Salad – Macaroni noodles, Diced Pepperoni, chopped green pepper, red onion, cubed Monterey Jack, sliced black olives, and pepperoncinos. Toss with a homemade dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, black pepper, basil, cilantro, and oregano.
Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza – An original Bacon Cheeseburger Sauce, a blend of cheddar and mozzarella cheese, and topped with classic burger toppings such as crispy dill pickle chips, red onion, fresh diced tomato, chopped lettuce, Beef Topping, and Bacon Pieces.
Star-Spangled Banner Pizza – For an American flag pizza, start with a rectangular crust, covered with a thin layer of pizza sauce. To create the blue portion of the flag, arrange the spinach in a rectangle proportional to the original flag, then top with mozzarella star-cut outs. Alternate Sliced Pepperoni with mozzarella cheese along the entire length of the pizza to represent the stripes.
And if you offer Take-N-Bake Pizza, share grilling instructions with your consumers. The pizzas can be cooked on top of a heat-resistant surface. Cooking times may vary depending on the type of crust and temperature of the grill.
For more menu inspiration, visit Burke Corporation's Recipe and Menu Idea page.
The temperature is heating up and so is another 2014 culinary food trend. The host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, Brazil, is influencing food service providers, prepared food manufacturers, and individuals around the globe to explore the country's native dishes.
Common Brazilian ingredients include coconut milk, grilled meats (beef, pork, seafood), and Chile peppers. Root vegetables, rice, beans, and tropical fruits such as papaya, acai berries, and mango score with the natives as well. These foods are found throughout Brazil, but each region has their own adaptations depending on the customs, traditions, and ingredient availability.
The following dishes have been winning the hearts of Brazilian natives for thousands of years.
Acarajé – Deep fried black eyed peas and onion balls -- filled with Vatapa. (See picture, right.)
Pastel – Fried pastry stuffed with meat crumbles and a creamy cheese filling.
Salpicão – Brazilian-style chicken salad featuring chicken, apples, raisins, and mayonnaise.
Main Dishes
Churrasco – Skewered chucks of tender meat grilled over an open fire for an original smoky flavor.
Empadão—Similar to an American chicken pot pie, but with a flakier crust and a thicker filling of fully cooked meat crumbles, fresh vegetables, and spices.
Farofa – Fried cassava flour flavored with various seasonings and spices and is consumed daily by most of Brazil. It is used as topping or side dish, especially over beans, meat, and rice. (See picture, left.)
Savory Crepes – A balanced mixture of fully cooked meat crumbles, flavorful sauce, and cheese rolled in a paper-thin pastry shell.Feijoada— Black bean stew including smoked pork or beef crumbles and other seasonings. This is considered one of Brazil's national dishes, so it varies greatly depending on the region of Brazil where its being prepared. (see picture, left)
Vatapá—Coconut milk, peanuts, palm oil, and shrimp are the basis of this rich, creamy paste served as a side or main dish.
Side Dishes
Farofa – Fried cassava flour flavored with various seasonings and spices and is consumed daily by most of Brazil. It is used as topping or side dish, especially over beans, meat, and rice. (See picture, above.)
Pão de Queijo – Light, miniature cheese-filled rolls, most enjoyable when served warm.
Brigadeiro—Beijinho de Coco's cousin, with cocoa powder and sprinkles in place of coconut flakes. (See picture, right.)
Passion Fruit Mousse- A sweet, light and fluffy blend of passion fruit, sweetened condensed milk, and whipping cream.
Brazilian Pizza
Pizza is an international food, so it is no surprise Brazilians have put their own twist on this classic dish. However, it is vastly different from the pizza Americans consume. Here are is a brief overview:
Crust – very thin, similar to a flatbread pizza
Sauce – Thin layer to let other flavors steal the show
Cheese— Catupiry, a soft, tangy cheese, comparable to a combination of mascarpone and cream cheese
Toppings – Corn, curried chicken, eggs, hearts of palm, and potatoes.
Brazilians enjoy savory pizzas like the ones described above, but they indulge in dessert pizzas as well. Sweets such as bananas, citrus fruits, chocolate, guava paste, and dolche de leche are featured.
Brazilian Steakhouses, or Churrascarias, are a current restaurant trend in the United States. This isn't your traditional steakhouse -it is more like a sophisticated buffet. Waiters are circulating around the dining room, serving churrasco. When your plate is empty, waiters come back to your table and offer more meat until you decide you are satisfied.
What are you going to do to capture this growing trend?
From citrus fruits to skewered meat to savory pizzas, Brazilians have an exotic, unique food profile. The 2014 culinary trend of ethnic food is well established in the food community, and Brazilian influences are on the rise. Whatever gold-metal idea you come up with, you can always trust it to the great people and products at Burke.
Request a sample of Burke fully cooked meats for your Brazilian-inspired menu idea today and join the 2014 Trends Team!
One of the most exciting aspects of the food and culinary industry is the constant evolution of popular flavors and ingredient combinations. Chefs, food editors, bloggers, and other industry professionals forecasted numerous ideas about the hot food trends of 2014, and the predictions will not disappoint your taste buds!
Ethnic cuisine is taking 2014 by storm. Peruvian flavors and dishes are making their way into American restaurants and homes. Peru offers complex flavors influenced by immigrants from around the world. Top ingredients in the Peruvian culinary scene include potatoes, corn, yuca, and the yellow aji pepper. Middle Eastern flavors are also on the radar for 2014. Spices from countries such as Turkey and Israel will become well known. This includes sumac a tart spice and za'atar a combination of spices including sumac, thyme, oregano, and marjoram.
Ethnic breakfast items are also trending. The National Restaurant Association states that ethnic breakfast items are the top breakfast trend for 2014. One simple way to incorporate this trend is to replace traditional breakfast sausage with chorizo in an omelet or scramble for a zesty variation on a breakfast favorite.
One of the more interesting trends involves technology's impact on food. Restaurants are making a connection between customer's mobile device habits and their eating habits. Instead of only offering fork and knife options on menus restaurants are including more handheld items like wraps, flatbreads and sandwiches. These items free up diner's hands for their cell phones. Sometimes culinary trends are not solely flavor and ingredient based but respond to a practicality.
Everyday ingredients can also have their moment in the spotlight. In 2014 lemon is predicted to be a trendy ingredient. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice or adding lemon zest to a variety of recipes adds a pure, fresh, and light flavor.
They way consumers are eating pizza is also changing in 2014. Instead of the traditional sit down restaurant, fast casual pizza establishments are becoming the new way to satisfy the pizza craving. The research firm Technomic says that the fast-casual pizza category is "driving the evolution of the pizza landscape". By offering fast and high quality pizza, the fast casual pizza segment is expected to have staying power in the pizza industry.
From ethnic to breakfast to pizza, 2014 has many innovative and delicious trends! For more information about culinary trends download Burke Corporation's 2014 Trend Report.
Burke Corporation is committed to helping you achieve your profit goals in 2014. Cost reduction is usually on the top of the list to increase profits, but methods to achieve the goal of spending less money and making more can vary. One method of improving cost is through process optimization.
Process optimization begins with functional ingredients. Such ingredients are able to introduce or improve certain quality characteristics. In the meat processing world functional ingredients include but are not limited to salts, phosphates, non-meat proteins, antioxidants, antimicrobials, and even water. Functional ingredients can aid in binding meat emulsions for improved yield and throughput speed resulting in lower cost. Sometimes even very small changes can make a difference. Formulating a product with optimal combinations of binding ingredients is a key factor in process optimization.
Other functional ingredients can serve to extend the shelf life of the product. In the meat industry, both antioxidants and antimicrobials will contribute to improved freshness and food safety of a product over a longer period of time. Combinations of functional ingredients optimize the final product for quality and cost.
In addition to functional ingredients, products can be optimized for cost saving by the use of extenders and/or flavor enhancers. The goal is to achieve similar texture and flavor by the use of ingredients that are less expensive or that you can use less quantity.
The bottom line is what matters in any industry. Maintaining and even increasing profits through cost reduction can be achieved by optimizing ingredients in combination and amount.
Burke Corporation is committed to formulating products for process optimization. Let the Research and Development team at Burke Corporation help you provide your customers with optimal products.
Editor's note: Dr. Canon is a food scientist at Burke Corporation. She holds her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in food science and technology from Iowa State University, and has earned her Certified Culinary Scientist degree from the Research Chef's Association. Rely on the Burke Research and Development team to formulate your product or help develop the perfect fully cooked meats that will delight your customers.
© 2014 Burke Corporation.All rights reserved.


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Author Jessica B. HarrisThough Dr. Jessica Harris is well known as a tenured professor and the author of more than 10 cookbooks, including A Kwanzaa Keepsake and The Africa Cookbook, for her latest creation, High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America (Bloomsbury, $26), the culinar ... More >>
Courtesy Ingrid BIngrid B surrounded by fellow Soulcialites. Ingrid Bazin, or Ingrid B, is a host and promoter of three weekly events in Miami. She fuses her passions for poetry and soul music into Soulcial Sundays at B.E.D., a live music dinner party and jam session; the Bohemia Room spoke ... More >>
Meet Jennine Capó Crucet, the next literary big thing.
Take a trip to Zoraville.
Two plays prove Florida does too have the talent for theater


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Don't be a macaronic pronk! (To decode what that means, read on.)
It sounds wrong, but—trust us—it's right! Do you know what it means?
The definition: To do something in a friendly way. For example: "He friendlily questioned my used of the word friendlily."
Looking to find this word on an Italian dinner menu? You won't. Do you know what it means?
It actually refers to when someone mixes two different languages together like, "I quiero a side of meatballs with my macaronic…I'm saying it incorrecto, aren't I."
Though this might sound like some new kind of dog toy, it's not. Do you know what it means?
It's actually a piece of computer hardware that connects a computer to another device.
Wham! Bam! Pronk? Not so much (unless it's the sound your made when you bonk someone one the head). Do you know what it means?
Pronk refers to a weak or foolish individual.
Not the terrifying kind! Do you know what it means?
This means to endure or put up with, which means you could feasibly say: "I abeared this encounter with a bear!"
It does not mean: To sabotage with a taxi driver. Do you know what it means?
It means: coastal navigation.
Not a hipster ox. Do you know what it means?
Believe it or not, this is an outdated term for "armpit."
This word does not refer to the fountain of youth. Do you know what it means?
Rather, it's someone who never laughs.


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Well to make a long story short, me and my girl have been fighting a lot lately and things have been hard, but I picked her up and brought her over last night.
She had found my stash of dog porn a while back, she was pissed at first, but we've talked openly about it since... role played a little in bed, fucked while watching the videos... I've tried a few times to get her to let her dog eat her out, but she always resisted.
So last night I'm going down on her like crazy because I was so horny, and in the middle of it her dog just dives in beside me and starts licking too. She made a faint attempt to push him away, but I gently moved her arm away and said "Let him taste it..." and she just went with it.
Me and the dog licked that tight little pussy for a while, I stopped for a bit and put my cock in her mouth and helped spread her hole nice and wide so he could get that long doggy tongue right up inside her.
Then we fucked and he licked between us as my cock slide in and out of her.
It was so fuckin' hot... I think it shows a lot on her part, because of all the fighting, but she was willing to give it up for me.


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Film Review: 'In the loop'
Date: August 20, 2009
by: Pam Nadon
Political satires are a tough sell on the big screen. Films such as "Wag the Dog" and "Primary Colors" never came close to the genius that fueled Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove" in 1964. But writer/director Armando Iannucci's first feature film, "In the Loop," is on the right track because it watches Washington spin and sell the insanities of war.
Presumably, the film takes place just prior to the Iraqi invasion. Simon Foster, the British minister of international development (Tom Hollander, "Valkyrie"), has given an interview to the BBC in which he states, "War is unforeseeable." The comment enrages Malcolm Tucker, the prime minister's director of communications, (Peter Capaldi) who ships Foster and his neophyte assistant off to Washington to make amends with the State Department.
Because Foster is a dove, he's targeted by Assistant Secretary of Diplomacy Karen Clarke (Mimi Kennedy) and her former lover/pacifist, four-star Lt. Gen. George Miller (James Gandolfini, aka Tony Soprano). Hopes of using him in their anti-war movement are dashed when pro-war State Department official Linton Barwick (David Rasche,"Burn Before Reading") digs up some dirt. He's the guy who uses a live grenade as a paperweight.
Having said all that, "In the Loop" is seriously funny. Razor-sharp dialogue is delivered by a master class of actors. Favorite moments are scenes between Gandolfini and Kennedy, whose intimate past history is evident in their incredible body language. Hollander demonstrates serious star power while he tackles a major range of emotions. Capaldi's relentless bile-spewing profanity was a tad over-the-top, so rapid-fire I missed much of it.
As Iannucci explores the lunacy of pettiness existing among technocrats within government circles, he spares no one. Liberals and conservatives are just as smarmy. And never does he allow the veneer of comedy belie what lies beneath. War, no matter where or why it's manufactured, always takes a grievous toll.
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School of rock
Fans cheered on their favorite bands Saturday at Rock for a Cause.
A budding partnership
Local Kiwanis clubs joined forces to help break ground on a butterfly garden and new information center for Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities.
Walk this way
With less than a month until Election Day, Rhana Bazzini, left, has decided she's had enough with current campaign financing.


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"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
Carrie Bradshaw once said, "Enjoy yourself — that's what your twenties are for. Your thirties are to learn the lessons." But are your twenties really just to 'enjoy yourself'? Like every twenty-something year old, I question if I'm moving in the right direction and doing the right things….
30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself
by: Marc and Angel Hack Life
As Maria Robinson once said, "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have…
Photo Courtesy: the-fame-factory
just press play
These guys are so cute haha (and way better dancers! :P)
Too cute!
I don't wanna have a great, amazing couple of months and then all of a sudden its over. I don't want to experience the feeling of being lost, confused, and hurt all over again. I wanna be with you. And I want us to last, no matter how hard any situation is, no matter what/who comes between us.


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In front of the Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz I exchanged pleasantries and questions with Rami Michail.
Rami is a Dallas Mavericks and NBA fan located in the cross-section of Laker Nation and Lob City. He's still learning the ropes of this writing thing. You can find him at TheSmokingCuban.com, MavsMoneyBall.com, and Crabdribbles.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @RamiMichail, but you'll probably regret it.
Author note: You won't regret it
Purple and Blues: What's going on with Jose Calderon's assists? He's typically among the NBA leaders in the category but is averaging the lowest assists per game since his rookie season.
Rami Michail: While it's abnormal he's averaging below five assists a game, it shouldn't be alarming or come as a shocker. Rick Carlisle has used him the same way Spain's National Team did alongside Ricky Rubio — off the ball to spread the court with his deadly 3-pt shooting — With Monta Ellis dominating the ball.
He also finds himself starting with Shawn Marion and Samuel Dalembert, who aren't exactly the best targets to tally assists due to them being best suited to score around the basket. Along with Ellis, the Mavericks also deploy Devin Harris and Vince Carter, who are used as ball handlers in the pick-n-roll. It's evident that the Mavericks cherish his ability to knock down the 3-ball. I, for one, don't blame them.
PnB: Is Rick Carlisle safe to remain the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks? For how long?
RM: Hard to imagine the Mavericks without Carlisle on the sideline. He is, of course, the coach who led them to their first and only championship to this point. Even with the Mavericks missing the playoffs last season and struggling to get in this, what Carlisle has done is impressive. Leading a team to 41 wins last season, a team who were without their star for almost 30 games and a roster consisting of one-year deals is no easy task.
This season he's been able to turn the inefficient shucking Ellis into one of the best guards at getting to the basket, which results in higher percentage shots for himself and his teammates. Let's not forget he has them in the playoff conversation in the stacked West.
When the time finally comes for Dirk Nowitzki to hang it up, that may also be the last of Carlisle. Carlisle hasn't exactly been the greatest with rookies and young players, so a new face to a new era would probably be best for both sides.
PnB: With what the Mavs and their opponents have left on the schedule, how confident are you that they'll see the 2013-14 NBA postseason?
RM: The Mavericks have put themselves in a great position to determine their own fate. To make it better, two of their final games are against their competitors (Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies).
After missing out on the playoffs last season, I won't bet against Nowitzki this time around. He's been in playoff form recently, and I can't see him allowing his team to falter. Barring a meltdown, the Mavericks will be in the playoffs.
PnB: Should your boys falter, who would you most like to see in their stead?
RM: I do expect the Mavericks to make the playoffs, but if I had to choose for which other team, it would have to be the Suns. The Suns are a young and exciting team. Not sure they can keep up with the San Antonio Spurs, but it would be an entertaining series.
It's tough to see the Mavericks getting out of the first round. With that being the case, I'll just be rooting for some great basketball and series. No doubt the West will be a dogfight, and I'm hoping for the same from the East.
PnB: Mark Cuban. Donald Trump. The Billionaire Troll Club are actively taking swings at each other on Twitter, and it's high comedy and entertainment. Any thoughts on the jabs?
RM: I haven't seen much of this. Probably due to me not following Trump on Twitter. I'm sure it's just two guys with looooots of money who are just having fun — how often can we get in arguments with FELLOW BILLIONAIRES!? I know I haven't had that luxury, but if I did, whew, I'd be hollering at Trump and his hair too!
PnB: All I know for sure is…
Mavericks at Jazz preview from TheSmokingCuban
Mavericks at Jazz preview from Purpleandblues
Clint also answered some questions for TheSmokingCuban:
TSC: How would you grade Tyrone Corbin's coaching this season with this young squad? Do you believe he is the right coach for this team?
CP: As with every season he's been the head coach, Ty Corbin has been in a unique, unwinnable situation. It's difficult to grade him fairly, but I believe he's brought along the young players admirably while at the same time helping to resurrect the careers of throwaways like Marvin Williams and Richard Jefferson.
What I believe matters little, when it comes to whether or not he's the right man for the job. What I do believe is that Ty Corbin will be snapped up very quickly as an assistant on a top team this summer…
Tags: Donald Trump Mark Cuban Utah Jazz


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If you've ever said libry instead of library, or Febry instead of February, then you have perpetrated haplology, the omission of one of a pair of sounds or syllables.
The word was invented by the American philologist Maurice Bloomfield at the end of the nineteenth century. He derived it from the Greek haplos, one or single, and –logy, a word or speech. It's very common in English speech to drop the second of a pair of repeated sounds like this. A nice irony is that haplology is just the sort of word to which haplology happens ...
It's a special case of what's called syncopation, a grammatical term for losing any kind of sound in the middle of a word, such as the poetic shortening of even to e'en, or the way pacifist has been created from the longer pacificist that was its original spelling.
In writing, the equivalent is the rarer haplography — making the mistake of writing philogy instead of philology for example.
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Peter Buchanan-Smith talk at the Walker Art Center
Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/walkerartcenter
Last Updated: November 16, 2010
3237 0 0 comments
"Printing the Eames Century Modern Catalog"
Link: http://www.houseind.com/showandtell/2010/04/02/EamesCenturyModernCatalo
Last Updated: November 16, 2010
Tags: design, events, stop-motion, video
3123 0 1 comments
stop-motion animation for Icograda's Design Currency
Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/designcurrency2010/
The animated promo for the Design Currency: Defining the Value of Design conference has given me reason to give the upcoming design week in Vancouver a second look. Icograda Design Week in Vancouver (hosted by the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada) runs from April 26th through April 30th, 2010. The headlining speakers include Marian Bantjes, Frank Chimero, Brian Collins, Debbie Millman, and more.
Last Updated: November 16, 2010
Tags: design, fashion, illustration, typography, vintage
Topic: Fashion
12994 1 0 comments
vintage American Fabrics magazine, Spring 1951
Last Updated: April 26, 2012
Tags: "type directors, club", design, tdc, typography
Topic: Typography
15619 0 1 comments
The Type Directors Club's too sexy promo?
Link: http://tdc.org/tdc/membership
The new TDC membership promo booklet I received in the mail was an unexpected surprise. To kick off a new series of "limited edition keepsakes commissioned by the Type Directors Club," Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich took a bold approach with a tongue and cheek guide on "How to Make Love to Your Type." The copy-writing and style of this approach is a noticeable departure from the more conservative collateral materials one tends to expect from the Type Directors Club.
(the Art Directors Club had their Pimp My Brand campaign back in 2005 which raised a few eyebrows, while the TDC sent out the classy invite for an Alejandro Paul talk last year).
Here are photos of the spreads in the borderline risqué promotional book:
Though some may not be able to get past the far from subtle sexual references in the new TDC promo book, one can still appreciate the cleverness and unique typographic solutions. Regardless of how you feel about the accusation of an overt attempt to sell their brand with sex, the Type Directors Club is a top-notch, highly respected organization that I can with my heart recommend to all aspiring and professional designers.
This new initiative to commission limited edition designs intrigues me (especially when so many other organizations are cutting down on their printed materials). I'll look forward to the future collaborations appearing in my mailbox throughout the year.
Last Updated: November 16, 2010
Tags: design, matchbooks, music, typography, video
16980 1 0 comments
vintage-styled matchboxes designed just for music video
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qxrN93Xbpg
Last Updated: November 16, 2010
Tags: art, design, illustration, magazines, print
10750 0 0 comments
Print magazine's top "20 under 30" 2010
Link: http://www.mydesignshop.com/product/print-april-2010-digital-download/p
Last Updated: November 16, 2010
Tags: design, illustration, prints, self-promotion
Topic: Illustration
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snail mail: Tad Carpenter illustration promo
Link: http://www.tadcarpenter.com/
Last Updated: November 26, 2010
Tags: design, matchbooks, patterns, saul bass, vintage
29454 6 2 comments
vintage Saul Bass matchbook covers for Hunt-Wesson
Last Updated: November 16, 2010
Tags: chairs, design, eames, house, typography
Topic: Exhibitions
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The House Industries Eames exhibition, virtual view
Link: http://www.picturebubbles.com/gallery/eames_03.html
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It's that time of the year again!
Starting March 4, we will be running our 2nd annual Fan Favorite tournament, which is a Pop GO version of March Madness. 48 geek and otaku characters that have played integral roles in the world of anime, comics, film, gaming, manga and television the…
Posts tagged gaming
E3 2013. It's only one day away.
The biggest event for gamers features two new consoles, beginning a new generation of gaming and igniting an even more intense rivalry between the three first-party publishers. Each year there are surprises that shock even the most jaded gamers.
Of course, when it comes to surprises, we all love to make predictions about what we'll see at the show. From a mythical game reveal to "One more thing…" at the press conferences, here's each of our predictions for E3 2013.
With G4 switching its full content lineup over to a men's channel, there's a woeful lack of programs about gaming anymore. While there is an abundance of gamers on YouTube that provide plenty of entertaining content, most lack the production values that come from having a dedicated crew to produce shows with all that wonderful extra polish.
However, there is one remaining show left that can provide gamers with a gut-busting amount of comedy and is still currently running after more than 150 episodes. It can also be credited with creating the popular "Let's Play" format of many of the YouTube stars you might currently watch today.
Gamers, meet Game Center CX.
After a stuffed holiday season, gamers usually anticipate a bit of time off to catch up on last year's favorites that they might've missed or glossed over.
But 2013 is not one of those years.
Looking at the first six months of this year, publishers are pulling out all the stops, delivering games such as Ni No Kuni, DmC, Rayman Legends, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Gears of War: Judgement, and God of War: Ascension. As good as all these games will be, they didn't even crack the list of Top 5 Most Anticipated Games Of Early 2013.
When gamers first got a glimpse at Far Cry 3 in action at E3, it looked too good to be true. The prospect of vicious combat, an intense story and living, breathing wildlife seemed like a pipe-dream considering the issues that plagued Far Cry 2.
As surprising at it may seem, Ubisoft Montreal has delivered a game that not just meets the hype of six months ago, but largely exceeds them. The best way to describe Far Cry 3 is to say that it's a hypnotizing experience absent from reality, straddling the line between madness and beauty, existing to show us the allure of power, ferocity, and insanity.
My review of the second best shooter of 2012. Definitely give it a try if you already haven't.
2012 has been a magnificent year for gaming. We saw the end of a brilliant trilogy in Mass Effect 3, a familiar face make a triumphant return in Max Payne 3, indie games hit the spotlight like never before with games like Fez and Journey, and sequels return with a complete reinvigoration in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Far Cry 3, and Borderlands 2. But there was one clear standout among them all the fantastic games this year.
With a full experience from top-to-bottom, Halo 4 was the clear winner, redefining my expectations of what a first-person shooter can aspire to be. It may not reinvent the wheel, but for me, it is one of the most refined shooters I've ever played and no doubt the Best Game of 2012.
Hit the break to find out why Halo 4 is one of the best games of 2012.
Later next week, from Dec. 24-28, Pop GO will be unveiling their Best Anime, Comics, Films, Games and Manga of 2012. Each day we will feature a medium, and the staff members from that medium will each publish their choices of best titles from 2012.
But before that, we'd like to know what our readers thought the best titles of 2012 were! The titles that get picked the most from each medium will be crowned the Readers' Choice and will be featured along side the choices of our staff members.
This post is for all the video game fans out there…
What was the best game of 2012?
There are 2 ways to make your pick: 1) Answer on your dashboard if you're a Tumblr user, or 2) answer in our comment box (recommended, especially for longer answers) which you can find by clicking the "Read More" break below. You can either just simply write down the name of the game, or you can also write down the game AND write the reason why. Now there's also a possibility that your pick gets singled out and becomes the representative of the Readers' Choice, so writing why you thought the game was the best would be a good idea.
Help us out and make your pick for best game of 2012!
According to Kotaku, Metal Gear Solid 5 was secretly announced under the ruse of "The Phantom Pain" last night at the Spike VGAs. While the protagonist of the trailer had a very Snake-like appearance (especially with his hair), the trailer appeared to be for a brand new title under a newly formed studio. Of course, this all seems to be another elaborate trick by Konami and Hideo Kojima.
More after the break.
All I kept thinking as I watched "The Phantom Pain" trailer was "SNAKE? SNAKE! SNAAAKKEE!?!" And it seems pretty obvious that the game was running on the FOX engine.


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Prince Edward Island
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Harrington Family Campground & RV Park
Latest Review Submited On
2014-09-07 14:15:49
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Harrington, Prince Edward Island
Harrington Family Campground & RV Park
Camp Information
Date of Stay
September 2014
Latest Rate
Visit Campground Website
(902) 672-3661
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Wireless Internet
Cable TV
Pull-Thru Sites
Big Rig Access
Waterfront Access
Shade Trees
Pool Access
Pets Allowed
Tents Allowed
Family Friendly
Latest Review Information
Ratings (Last 10 Newest/Oldest)
3 5 7 5 4
Clean Restrooms (Last 10 Newest/Oldest)
Clean Showers (Last 10 Newest/Oldest)
Review Rating
[ 3 / 10 ]
September 2014
Open grass field required blocks to level side to side. Very weak and spotty Wi-Fi. Very old laundry with single washer and dryer. No one else here. 20 minutes to Charlottetown waterfront and other way to the beach. Owner has very poor English and was very rude to us when we tried to communicate our desire for a site with good Wi-Fi reception. He was very defensive and thought I was accusing him of lying when I was simply trying to tell him Wi-Fi was important to us. Insisted on a 3-day minimum stay. Price was good because we are Passport America members. Not sure dealing with him was worth the discount. Regular price $29. Don't recommend this place. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
The user that posted this review has 3 other reviews online. Click here to see them.
Review Rating
[ 5 / 10 ]
August 2014
Initially we were put off by entrance looked old and unkempt. We drove past a fallen down house on way to office. We were the only ones there 3 days. Owner pleasant. He lives on property but not actually on camping area. First night i was frightened by the unknown and isolation but then felt safe. Grass level sites. Golf driving range attached. Has good potential but future looks gloomy. Park 1/2 mile away was almost full. Rate was Passport America during high season. I we would camp there again if returned to PEI. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
The user that posted this review has 5 other reviews online. Click here to see them.
Review Rating
[ 7 / 10 ]
August 2014
This park is a real gem. Only park that accepts PA discount for July and August. Large pull through sites, all grass. Close enough to all attractions. Fire pits, pet friendly, laundromat and clean restrooms. WIFI was weak at sites but good at the office. Site slightly slanted but able to cope. Camped here in the first week of August and were the only people here. Better than W/M or boondocking. Would absolutely stay here again. Come on people,,,,great park for day adventures. Cons....no pool, weak WIFI. Pros....quiet, grass, large sites, driving range. We camped here in a Motorhome.
The user that posted this review has 6 other reviews online. Click here to see them.
Display older reviews for Harrington Family Campground & RV Park
Review Rating
[ 5 / 10 ]
May 2014
Rustic location but very handy to many sites on the Island. 10 minutes to downtown Charlottetown. Very weak WiFi. You need to be at or near office to get and hold the signal. They just had it installed that day so it may have been fixed/upgraded since. Good location for short stay if looking for central quiet location. We camped here in a Motorhome.
The user that posted this review has 4 other reviews online. Click here to see them.
Review Rating
[ 4 / 10 ]
August 2013
Rate is Passport America. This campground is very basic - we stayed here 3 nights mainly as it is very convenient to many of PEI's sites and the price is equal to a WalMart + 3 or 4 hours of generator use ;. We camped here in a Motorhome.
The user that posted this review has 52 other reviews online. Click here to see them.
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Who do you think looks best today? (5 photos)
The best street style from London Fashion Week: http://ow.ly/p48HS via @StyleCaster
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Our holiday fragrance lineup just got more decadent thanks to #Marni's...
Milla JovovichNew mom Milla Jovovich showed off her post-baby body at the Nina Ricci show in a dress from the label. The model designer also attended Christian Dior and Balmain.Read MoreLess