"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again"

Last night I went to a screening of the classic movie "Rebecca" at the National Theater as part of the "Dial H for Hitchcock" summer movie series.  "Rebecca" is one of my all-time favorite books, and I love the movie as well (the creepy Mrs. Danvers always gets under my skin!).  I hadn't seen the movie in a while, so it was fun to see it again and to watch the reactions of people seeing it for the first time. 

But truth be told, I was pretty disappointed in the overall experience.  I love seeing old movies in grand old theaters (many of which (not the National) were actually originally movie houses).  But instead, the movie was shown in a long skinny gallery on a tiny screen.  I could barely see the screen, and the plastic patio chair I was sitting on wasn't terribly comfortable.  Plus, the guy sitting next to me was eating McDonald's and kept trying to talk to me during the first half of the movie. 

I hate to complain so much--I was just so bummed by the way things turned out.  They annouced before the movie started that they simply don't have the funds to show the movies in the main theater, much as they'd like to.  And I totally get that--I just wish it had been advertised as such so I'd known in advance what I was getting into before I left work early to be there.   And I wish they'd charge some nominal amount and turn these showings into a fundraiser so that at some point in the future they can show movies on the big screen.

All that said, I'll try to go to another showing this summer.  I hate, hate, hate when people complain but don't do anything to resolve a bad situation.  If the theater has strong support for the "Dial H for Hitchcock" series, maybe it will think more seriously about trying to raise the funds to move the movies to the mainstage.  Only next time, I'll get there earlier for a better seat.  Anyone in D.C. want to join me for "Dial M for Murder" in August?

Yarn Explosion!

Have you heard of yarn bombing?  It's a kind of "street art," like graffiti, only with yarn rather than spray paint.  Essentially, it involves creating legwarmers or sweaters for street signs, parking meters, and mailboxes.  Even bridges and buses have been bombed.  The New York Times described yarn bombing "tak[ing] that most matronly craft (knitting) and that most maternal of gestures (wrapping something cold in a warm blanket) and transfer[ing] it to the concrete and steel wilds of the urban streetscape."

All yarn bombing I've seen in person has been small scale--I've never seen anything quite as extravagant as in the pictures below in person, but I think the concept is really cool.  

(All pictures courtesy of Yarn Bombing.)

Knot Good Enough to Eat

By  now, you might have figured out that I have a strange fascination with food art (especially dessert art). Artist Ed Bing Lee's food items are made by knotting (not knitting!) linen, cotten, and rafia to create these amazingly realistic guilty pleasures.  You children of the 70s may know the technique as macramé, but these pieces are a long way from the wall coverings and plant hangers I associate with the bell bottom set.  Key lime pie is one of my all-time favorite desserts, but that strawberry ice cream cone is making me want to go visit my good friends Ben and Jerry. 

June Special Offer

There is (almost!) nothing cuter than a newborn baby wrapped up in a teeny-tiny handknit baby sweater!  This month's special offer is 30% off all sweaters in size 0-3 months.  The offer is good through Friday, June 17. 
 

 

If you know someone expecting a baby in the fall, be sure to get your order in early so you're ready to go when sweater season and baby arrive!

 

Email yellowhouseknits@gmail to take advantage of this offer!

The Rare Forward

My mom and her friends love to forward emails to one another.  Monkey rescues tiger cub from near drowning.  Leather shoes cause foot cancer.  If you get a call from a number with 123 area code, your phone bill will be $2 million.  Nothing is sacred.  Even worse, she's quick to forward them on to her kids, even though we have begged and pleaded with her not to clutter up our in-boxes.

Most of her forwards quickly make their way to the electronic circular file, since I'm pretty sure that Nieman Marcus doesn't sell its cookie recipe, but every once in a while one catches my eye.  This one--just a picture with the caption "Ever woken up in someone else's bed?"--made me laugh out loud.  And, based on the day I'm having, I needed a big laugh.  So thanks Mom!

(If it's a Photoshopped image, like these often are, I don't want to know.)

License Plate Game

Washington, D.C., is a great place to play the license plate game because (perhaps more than any other place in the United States), people come here from all over the country--with their cars. 

As I was driving around this weekend, I was thinking about which license plates are my favorite.  While I love the cheeky, in-your-face plates on my own car decrying the lack of representation for the District, my favorites are still the classic Rhode Island plates, with the simple ocean swirl, and the Stars Fell on Alabama plates, though I confess that it took me the longest time to figure out the reference (hearing the song for the first time was a real Aha! moment).  The latter plates have since been replaced by Sweet Home Alabama plates, so the state is obviously sticking with the musical theme.  Rounding out my top four are the Colorado mountain plates in green and white, which seem to symbolize Colorado so well. 

Given how much thought I've put into this issue, it should be no surprise that I find the website 15q.net, which has an index of U.S. license plates dating to 1969, to be fascinating.  Not only does it highlight the transformation license plates have undergone, from simple one- or two-color tags to much more elaborate plates that tell a story or make a statement (also a result of the shift from embossed to flat plates).  It's also chock full of interesting trivia.  For example, in 1971, New Hampshire ditched its previous wording "Scenic" in favor of the now infamous slogan "Live Free or Die."

(license plate pictures courtesy of David Nicholson)

Words to Live By

I find these posters from ColorBee featuring song lyrics to be so charming.  I love the bright colors and graphic design.  And ColorBee and I must have similar taste in music because these are some of my favorite songs.  She's picked some of the best lines from some really great songs.  (James Taylor in particular is one of my all-time favorites!)

Browsing through ColorBee's Etsy shop got me to thinking about other songs with lyrics that have stuck with me (not that I think ColorBee is looking for suggestions).  Here are a couple that I thought of.  Do you recognize the songs/artists?

--And the good-bye makes the journey harder still
--Things are gonna work out fine if you only will
--Sing with me, if it's just for today
--Time it was and what a time it was
--Let the river run
--Here's an optimistic thought
--The first days are the hardest days
--This world keeps spinning faster
--Those were halycon days
--Loved by many, hated by none
--I met you on somebody's island
--It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshine-y day
--Teach your children well

Great Minds Think Alike

There's a great deli in the Atlas District (they've since expanded to a couple of other locations in the D.C. area), called Taylor Gourmet.  Actually, it's better than a deli because they have risotto balls, fried ravioli, and mozzarella sticks.  (How can you go wrong?!?)  But what I really love about this place is the sandwich names.  Lombard Avenue.  JFK Boulevard. Wharton Street.  Sound like any other little business you know? 

All of the names at Taylor Gourmet refer to Philadelphia streets (and other landmarks), where both of the owners are from.  Yellow House Knits pays obviously pays homage to the streets I drive everyday here in the District, but I still think it's fun that we both took the same approach. 

And, if I do say so myself, we both offer great products!