Mickey and Minis

I so dreaded going to Orlando on business. I thought, what can be worse than a humid, alligator-infested, land-locked Florida city? Well folks, I was wrong. What I discovered is Orlando is kinda cool. Sure, it still has mosquitoes the size of dogs, lightning (lots of it) and the aforementioned alligators, but it has some other neat stuff too. Here's a quick download from my very brief trip:

• Thornton Park - A charming, tiny downtown among a stunning neighborhood of parks, lakes and cute cottages and bungalows. Stop for a drink or two and stroll.
• College Park - Another park-themed neighborhood, this area is a little more grungy than Thornton Park, but still has a lot of character. I was especially fond of the neighborhood's 50s-era Publix, which took me back to my 70s-era childhood. Jack Kerouac lived here.
  
• Outlet malls - There is some darn good shopping here, including one of the few outlet malls in the U.S. with European labels. Dior, Ferragamo, MaxMara, Fendi, Marni, Etro.
  
• Disney, Sea World and other worlds of fun for those who still like to wear mouse ears (like me).
  

For more ideas, check out this 2006 NYT story on the area. Guess I'll stop being a travel snob.

Credit goes to thorspecken.blogspot.com for the amazing Publix illustration.

Oh, oh Domino

The best thing to happen to me since Domino unexpectedly shut its doors (and I got a crummy Glamour subscription in its place) is today's discovery of doppelganger Lonny Magazine. I'd heard this was out there but kept forgetting the site, so clearly I'm living under a rock. Oh so exciting!! The best part, you can scroll over items pictured or ads to click directly to the web site to buy.

Desperation Hot Fudge Sauce

It's Sunday night. You desperately need a hot fudge sundae, but alas, no fudge in sight. Here's a recipe that will give you the fix you need - it only takes about 2 minutes out of your couch time and it can be accomplished with no grocery store runs.

• 3 Dove milk chocolates (I'm sure dark would work too)
• 2-3 Tbs. fat-free (or regular) Half n Half
• Vanilla ice cream (preferably Breyers All Natural Vanilla)

Unwrap the three Doves and do not eat while unwrapping. Place in a small microwavable bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Check. Microwave again for 20-30 seconds until you can easily stir all three into a big chocolately swirl. Add a Tbs. of Half n Half. Stir. Add another Tbs. of Half n Half. Stir, making sure the chocolate is not hardening. Microwave another 20-30 seconds until mixture is hot.

Scoop however many scoops of vanilla into a separate bowl. Pour the hot fudge sauce on top and let it melt the ice cream a little. Eat and enjoy.

If you're feeling really energetic, you might also try:

- Adding a Tbs. of coffee to the chocolate in place of Half n Half (or in addition to)

- Adding nuts - chopped pecans preferably

- Putting a cherry on top

Are You Red-dy?

For two years now I've been stalking storefronts for the perfect red top I once saw on the Marni rack at one of my favorite places to waste time. Countless salespeople have told me, "red is not in this season," blue is, or green, or yellow, or white. Whatever. I want red. Lo and behold, that bell-weather of fashion Times is now predicting red will be big for fall. Hallelujah.

Amber Alert

Really? This is what made me fall in love with San Diego.

More or Less

A few weeks ago, one of my dreams came true. I met the heir to Tony Duquette's design throne. And then, I was promptly invited to visit Dawnridge, Duquette's former estate and current home to the aforementioned heir, Hutton Wilkinson. The Bev Hills fantasy-land is chronicled in part in Hutton's new coffee table book More is More, which is total eye candy. I am dreaming up all sorts of new ideas for the Duquette brand. I'm sure my visit will inspire even more of my hare-brained ideas - stay tuned.

Note: I received an email today from the attorney for the Duquette estate and have updated my original post (am glad to see someone's reading this). My intent was not to say that the brand needed reviving, but that I am excited by the momentum the brand is now seeing. It's clear that the team is working hard to bring the brand to the forefront once again. I'm only hoping my little blog post will help spread the word to those outside the colony of design tastemakers.