GEORGETOWN RESIDENT Walker Lamond wasn't yet a parent when he launched his blog, 1,001 Rules for My Unborn Son (Rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com) a couple years ago. But his pearls of fatherly advice — "There is never an excuse for stealing someone's cab," "Don't date the bartender"— found an instant following. Now, the father of two has compiled a selection of his charming snippets into a book, "Rules for My Unborn Son" ($15, St. Martin's Griffin).
» EXPRESS: The book was born from your blog, but how did the blog start?
» LAMOND: The whole thing began as a personal project of sorts, long before I was even online. I was just trying to keep track of all the things my dad had taught me growing up. It was as simple as that. I compiled them on the back of bar napkins and in a notebook, and then one day, decided to put them online. It grew from there.
Continue Reading "Filmmaker, Author, Dapper Dad: Walker Lamond" »
HOLLYWOOD GLAMAZON Dita Von Teese is best known for bringing back the art of burlesque (OK, and her short-lived marriage to goth-rocker Marilyn Manson). The surprisingly down-to-earth star talks about her new book, "Stripteese" ($30, It!), and how long it takes to put together her throwback Hollywood look.
"Stripteese" is actually a package of three flip books showing you performing. What was the idea behind it?
I love that flip books are very old-fashioned, but I also thought it was a great way to show people what I do without a video. My favorite is the "Classic" book, which shows me up close. In some ways, it's even more intimate than seeing me onstage.
» EXPRESS: What else are you up to lately?
» VON TEESE: For the first time ever, I've put my burlesque performances from the Crazy Horse in Paris on DVD, which is coming out in mid-November. It includes a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, as well as the show. The DVD won't be available in the U.S., but it's not too hard to get. I'm just too hot for America, apparently.
Continue Reading "Burlesque Star, Secret Hoarder: Dita Von Teese" »
DOES CHOPPING AND dicing with the boy's club get old for "Iron Chef America" star Cat Cora? Nah. She relishes going cutting board to cutting board with Morimoto, Bobby Flay et al. Still, eventually, the hit show will probably get another fairer-sex star. And she could arrive shortly. A new face, gender currently undetermined, will join the show soon, with the competition series "The Next Iron Chef"currently airing on the Food Network Sunday nights at 9. Cora dished about secret ingredients and what it takes to hang in Kitchen Stadium.
» EXPRESS: The competitors on "The Next Iron Chef" are good cooks, but what will make one of them win?
» CORA: They have to wear a lot of hats. They have to be a great chef and an entertainer. We have to be able to cook under pressure but also talk on camera and talk to Alton [Brown] and direct the sous chefs. It also has to be someone with media skills — someone who has an overall great persona.
» EXPRESS: If you could give an aspiring "Iron Chef" any other tips, what would they be?
» CORA: Come in with some fantastic ideas. If one cuisine is your strong point, that's great, but bring it in fresh every single show. Try to do something new and different and exciting. And then, put tennis shoes on. You can't wear clogs and be an Iron Chef! Put sneakers on, because you're going to be running.
Continue Reading "Iron Woman: Cat Cora of 'Iron Chef America'" »
IN THE '60s, Andy Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick and Velvet Undergrounder John Cale sported wild-child clothes by Betsey Johnson. In the decades since then, the New York designer has given the world tutu skirts, leopard-print shoes and pink-walled boutiques, all of which seem two parts rocker, one part Vegas showgirl. We caught up with the big-haired, big-hearted, 67-year-old icon last week in her Georgetown store.
» EXPRESS: Why is D.C. a good spot for your designs?
» JOHNSON: It's a place that's very creative, kind of like SoHo. There's room in D.C. for a little frivolous dress-up. The town is driven by parties and lots of special occasions.
» EXPRESS: Well, party dresses are pretty central to your brand.
» JOHNSON: Yeah, they've been a real thing over the years. In the beginning, I was more about Lycra and stretch, kind of Jane Fonda leotard-y wear. But those ballerina tutu dresses caught on. Now we're trying to add casual stuff back, T-shirts and stuff, so we have a balance.
ALICIA SILVERSTONE'S CHEERFUL, lispy voice immediately conjures up Cher, the uber-fashionista she played in the 1995 teen flick "Clueless." But in real life, the amiable actress' main passion is veganism, not, like, totally important designers. Her new lifestyle book, "The Kind Diet" ($30, Rodale), doles out practical suggestions on why adopting a plant-based diet can make you look and feel better.
» EXPRESS: What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
» SILVERSTONE: What I want is for people to realize you can be happy, look amazing and be kind to the planet all at the same time by following [a vegan] diet. I want to reach the people who take aspirin all the time for headaches, or reach for coffee in the morning for energy, or want to lose some weight. There is another solution.
Continue Reading "Actress, Vegan, Author: Alicia Silverstone" »
MANY PEOPLE PAY A lot of money to jet to exotic locales and browse crafts souks or rifle through flea markets. But Keith Johnson, buyer at large for boho boutique chain Anthropologie, gets to globe-trot and shop for a living. In Sundance Channel's new six-part series, "Man Shops Globe" (premiering Wed., 10 p.m.), those envious of Johnson's job (or just his frequent flyer miles) can trek and browse with him in locales from the South of France to South Africa.
» EXPRESS: How did you get such an awesome job?
» JOHNSON: My partner, Glen Senk [CEO of Urban Outfitters and former president of Anthropologie], had started to assist in one Anthropologie store. There were a lot of props there, but customers were disappointed they couldn't buy them. So, he asked me if I could start shopping for the stores, picking up unexpected pieces.
» EXPRESS: Is it hard to find cool furnishings and crafts?
» JOHNSON: The hardest thing is finding something that'll really surprise me, something that'll delight customers. There has to be a certain level of delight, whether an object is from India or Bali or the U.S. Recently, I found a whole French pharmacy that we turned into a section of a store.
Continue Reading "Anthropologie Buyer, Globe-Trotter: Keith Johnson of 'Man Shops Globe'" »
WHEN SHE WAS growing up in Birmingham, Ala., Jodi Arnold loved sewing her own clothes — even if that meant she stood out in the crowd at school. Now, as the designer for womenswear line MINT Jodi Arnold, she specializes in similarly statement-making print dresses, shapely sweaters and embellished tops. She'll be in town today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at a trunk show of her fall and holiday line at the Georgetown boutique Wink (3109 M St. NW; 202-338-9465).
» EXPRESS: What kind of women wear MINT?
» ARNOLD: I think they're most likely in a creative field. They're thoughtful and want to hear what the story is behind a product, what gives it soul.
FOR HIS EMMY-WINNING wildlife adventure shows, Jeff Corwin has snuggled with black bears, waded with restless alligators and been whipped around by a playful elephant. Which might explain why the Food Network tapped the amiable, up-for-anything TV host for its newest show, "Extreme Cuisine With Jeff Corwin" (Thu., 9 p.m.).
» EXPRESS: Your new show has you churning fermented sheep's cheese in Greece and diving for sea cucumbers in Washington state.
» CORWIN: It's really been an epicurean journey that has taken us from Morocco to the U.K. to the Pacific Northwest. What we discovered is that, while each location is unique, there really is a common thread of these stories. Food is the glue that binds culture, that celebrates community and, often, is a way to share the history of the region.
GOOD-NATURED, SILVER foxy chef Eric Ripert (say it "rih-pair") hails from France, but he hangs his toque in America. Ripert began his U.S. career with legendary D.C. chef Jean-Louis Palladin. Now he helms New York's Gallic seafood palace Le Bernardin and D.C.'s West End Bistro. Known for gently critiquing contestants as a guest judge on "Top Chef," he just debuted his own PBS cooking show, "Avec Eric" (Sat., 1 p.m.).
» EXPRESS: Why'd you get into food TV?
» RIPERT: I thought I could do interesting things. But "Avec Eric" is different. It shows me cooking at Le Bernardin and traveling to beautiful places where I interact with hunters, fishermen and farmers.
Continue Reading "Celebrity Chef, Traveler, Toaster Oven Fan: Eric Ripert" »
IF SHOULDER PADS can make a major comeback, so can Christie Brinkley. The original '80s poster girl, former horseback-riding champ and mom of three has returned to fashion as the designer of a colorful, affordable jewelry collection by Ross-Simmons (sold at Christiebrinkleyjewelry.com).
» EXPRESS: Designing seems like an interesting way to experience another side of fashion. Did you enjoy it?
» BRINKLEY: I did! The collection is a reflection of what I love. There are peace and love symbols, but also a lot of items inspired by the outdoors. I'm a big gardener and an environmentalist, and you see that in the floral designs. I also love the wild west and horseback riding — I was a National Cutting Horse Association champion back in 1991! — so, there are elements of Native American jewelry in there as well.
» EXPRESS: As a former model, you're usually associated with fashion. Is jewelry also a passion of yours?
» BRINKLEY: I've always loved jewelry. Having been a model and having traveled around the world, from Kenya to Hong Kong to wherever, I'd always try to extend my trip and stay for a few more days. I'd go to the marketplaces and buy loads of stuff from the indigenous culture — fabrics and furniture and lots of jewelry.
Continue Reading "Supermodel, Jewelry Designer, '80s icon: Christie Brinkley" »
Addison Road