I am crazy for beautifully artistic films, ones that provoke thought and elicit deep emotion and provide impeccable imagery to guide you through an adventurous journey. Stories of love and heartache, of travel, enlightenment, and finally attaining one’s dreams. Surely you’re expecting a recommendation for a masterful foreign or independent film right now…but what I have for you is even better. A movie that offers everything that I have previously mentioned…and more. Ratatouille. Yes, the animated and amazing 2007 flick about a French rat who has absolutely captured my heart. This picturesque Disney & Pixar creation portrays the most vivid description of French cuisine and a true appreciation of it.

I suggest curling up with this wildly feel-good movie this week. It’s sure to warm your heart.

I was lucky enough to make a quick trip to Portland, Oregon (where I grew up) this past weekend to visit my family. Although it was a short trip, John and I made the most of it. We flew out Friday and immediately headed to James Beard Rising Star award winner Gabe Rucker’s “Little Bird“–the sister restaurant to “Le Pigeon“–where we ordered brussels sprouts, french fries, steak tartare and a gorgeous artichoke soup. Sitting at the bar drinking red wine and a smoked orange bourbon cocktail(!) we imagined ourselves living in Portland–everyone plays this game when they travel, right?

Post-lunch we grabbed a quick coffee at Barista and then headed to the Portland Art Museum for a quick but beautiful hour of art. I hadn’t been in years and we both were incredibly impressed. Sometimes Portland surprises you like that. You think it will be pretty good but it wildly exceeds your expectations. The museum’s collection is spectacular. It isn’t overwhelming like the Met, where you feel like you’ll never see it all and race through the museum.  The quality of painting is extraordinary and it is always a privilege to see art in person. Their collection of Color Field painters is beautiful and there is an Arshile Gorky still life that I could barely tear myself away from. In the downstairs space they had an exhibition similar to StoryCorps: you make an appointment and talk at length about an object you love and cherish and it is held in their archives for others to hear and enjoy. My whole world is oriented around considering objects and the memories surrounding them so I love this idea.

Jules Olitski, Noble Regard (detail), 1989

Friedel Dzubas, Found (detail), 1972

Chris Burden’s “Ghost Ship” fills the sculpture court with the rudders and sails moving and unfurling periodically giving you the feeling that you’re out at sea with them. Really, really beautiful. There is more to come about our visit west and we’ll keep you posted. I didn’t even mention the show of Ed Ruscha’s recent work!

Chris Burden, Ghost Ships, 1991

We promised you five posts last week and I’m happy to say that we delivered! All days of the senses were covered: see, touch, listen, smell and taste, and it was fantastic fun to write up the posts and hear what you thought of them.

Today’s “SEE” post takes us down the street to Gavin Brown’s Enterprise where the super energetic and slightly disorienting show of Urs Fischer is up until November 12th. His last show in the gallery, Such a k-hole, in which he dug a 38 by 30 foot hole that you could make your way around, created a bit of an Alice in Wonderland effect on Leroy Street. I wasn’t able to see that show but this time I did get to see his newest work, Coming to the Table, in which hundreds of tables have been shellacked with pictures of puppies to porn to flowers to small animals.  It’s an overwhelming show given the scale – there are literally tables piled on top of others and they completely fill the space. The concept stems from his interest in how we engage with the table as object and what an important piece it is in our lives. Everything can take place on it as he states:  “the stage on which we act . . . The small personal universe over which we talk, eat, plan our future, pay our bills and raise our children.”  I love this idea; of taking something mundane and utilitarian and recreating it into a super ambitious art piece.  I hope you get a chance to swing by the gallery and check it out yourselves.

Think this dog is friend’s with Beba?

It’s been quite some time since we’ve posted anything, because our site is being redesigned, but that all changes TODAY! From here on out, we are posting everyday (except for holidays) and all posts will be inspired by our love and curiosity of the five senses – see, touch, listen, smell and taste.  The daily topics will give unique insight into gallery shows, movies, designers, music, skincare, perfume, recipes, dinner parties, etc. All the things that we love and cherish in our daily routines. Lookin’ forward to our new gorgeous site launch on November 16th, where we can properly share with you all that we find inspiring.

Today, The Five Senses series kicks off with “See”. This weekend’s snowstorm allowed me to curl up and watch “I Am Love (Io sono L’amore)”.  Believe it or not, I was keeping this movie for the perfect day. Do you ever do that, hoard something for the perfect moment, perfect party, perfect day, perfect whatever? I guess it’s the same idea as saving your fancy dishes for company or keeping your lovely new dress in the back of the closet for the perfect occasion, right? I’ve decided to stop this habit.

From here on out, I am going to use these special segments every day. Instead of waiting a year to see an absolutely exquisite film like “I Am Love”, I’m going to just jump in and watch it immediately. Embrace the present! Make every day special and beautiful. Which is in part what “I am Love” is about – the beauty that is presented in it is breathtaking – ranging from, interiors, clothing, food, history, family relations – simply all of it is inspiring and moving and brought me to tears on a few occasions. I highly recommend you watch it immediately, it will change the way you see things.

This sofa and dress and face tell you everything about the movie. Perfection.

The home plays as much of a role in the movie as the characters.

I haven’t eaten fish or meat in close to a year but this scene definitely made me miss it.

The whirlwind effect of when she meets her lover is portrayed in this overhead shot – literally the world is now spinning around her.

Last year I received the best birthday gift from my dear friend, Louise. We both share a deep love for animals, to the point of emailing or texting each other pretty much every day when a particularly cute dog pops up on Animal Haven, so upon  receiving a package in the mail letting me know that I was the full sponsor of Lily, a beautiful PMU offspring horse, I had a feeling that Louise had something to do with it.

Luckily last month John and I were finally able to make a visit to meet Lily and her Mom, Jill, along with the many other characters that live on the farm with Susan and Karen Wagner in Chatham, New York. Susan and Karen have dedicated their lives to making these animals days better and it shows in everything they do at Equine Advocates. They generously shared the evening with us, telling us the stories of each and every one of the horses – how they got there, where they were headed before they intervened and the importance and need for more education, space and money to allow them to keep helping the animals. Compassion and generosity radiated from them and I felt incredibly honored to share time there. If you get a chance to visit any sort of animal sanctuary, please do, the animals have a lot to share and you’ll feel like a better person after spending time amongst them. It really is magical.

My gorgeous girl, Lily.

In the Lives section of The New York Times Magazine today there is a beautiful photo essay of the rescue dogs of 9/11 that brought tears to my eyes. Between that and the Adam Gopnick piece in The New Yorker on dogs, I think I love mine even more this week.  Is that possible? I didn’t think so, but it appears to be that way this Saturday morning.

I really don’t like to pick favorites but I am having a major love fest with this girl at the bottom, Tara. Those eyes look like they have seen a lot – filled with love and wisdom.

Does this even surprise you?

I had a quiet night in a few days back, doing naught but eating New York Super Fudge chunk and combing the archives of The Selby by candlelight. (Is this a weird alone-person thing to do? I don’t think so.) Like mostly everyone else ever, we here at Castor & Pollux are really big fans of The Selby and are always poring over the interiors that Todd Selby so deftly and Impressionistically (not a word?) captures.

I really freaked out, however, when I saw the airy, whimsical apartment of advertising game-changer and Mad Men-indebtee George Lois. I am not sure when these photos were taken, but from the looks of it, it was a beautiful, perfectly temperate spring day. His alarmingly sunny pad is filled with fascinating, impeccably merchandised artifacts. We’ve included some of our favorites below.

George: want to guest-art-direct Castor & Pollux? Call us!

Thanks to the lovely Angele Parlange for including us in her guide to the West Village this month in Veranda.  She’s one of those people that makes working in this neighborhood so special. We’re lucky like that with our clients.
Have a gorgeous Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and hope for this coming year.

Not much else to say but wow. French Vogue you do it right.

Imagine this day at the beach: white bikini, cold Falanghina in one hand, historical thriller in the other and these new Etten Eller pieces around your neck – a lovely picture of summer. All while under an umbrella.

Come by and pick one up to complete your beach look.