Spa Castle

Spa Castle

Today is Sam's birthday, and we went to Spa Castle in College Point Queens. It is way out there, but worth a day trip.The building is more like Spa Orange County McMansion then Spa Castle. It's cool though cause castles are drafty and dank, and really who wants that in a spa? Maybe the Germans, but very few others.

Some of the Saunas

Like a McMansion the place is huge. They have men's and women's locker rooms on the first floor. They give you a uniform (giant shorts and a shirt) and you go upstairs to a big room with tables, chairs, a salad bar and about 7 saunas.

The Gold Sauna

The sauna's have different themes and temperatures. The gold sauna has tiles that are plated in 24 carat gold. There is a Jade sauna that has a bunch of geodes and even an infrared sauna.

They also have massage chairs that are $3 for 10 minutes.

The place is Korean and has 3 different places you can get food. We started our day with a Mr. Waffle. It was topped with green tea frozen yogurt called Ms. Yogurt.

View of the 3rd floor pools

The second floor is just a warm up for the real show: floor 3. There are pools with greenish water that have all kinds of jets and bubbles in wild and wonderful configurations. I am drooling with relaxation just thinking about it. The piece de resistance is the "waterfall" where you sit on a stool and gallons upon gallons of water pour from a jet onto your head and shoulders. Heaven.

We had lunch of dumplings and fried mushrooms. It was alright.

The Spa on the first floor

After word we went our separate ways into our respective locker rooms. There was a dimly lit room with big arm chairs for napping. I had a bit of a nod before going out into yet more pools. They were hot, warm, cool and freezing with jets, waterfalls, and bubbles.

I can't wait to go back. It was so relaxed and down home (there is nothing fancy about this place) but at $35 per person for entry it is well worth the schlep.

Tropic Tunder

I saw tropic thunder yesterday and it was great.  

I had heard mixed things about it.  It surpassed my expectations.  Robert Downey Jr. is brilliant.

I was a little taken aback at the character that Tom Cruise plays.  He plays a heartless jewish studio head.  It was kind of offensive.  I was surprised that no one has said anything about it.

The trailer is not nearly as funny as the movie.

Scarpetta

I went to Scarpetta on friday with Carolyn and Christina from David Beahm.  

 I remember going to the space like 9 years ago.  It was a really nasty dive.  I remember the bathrooms being filthy and people drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon beer unironically.   Not so much any more.  The space is beautiful, despite the vinyl siding on the outside of the building. There is a sky light in the dining room and the walls are finished with beautiful wood.

The food is great too.  We had a creamy polenta with fricassee of mushrooms that was warm and complex, and a burratta with eggplant that was nicely balanced. 

Carolyn had the black cod with tomato glaze that she described as moist and flakey. Christian had the tagliatelle with lamb ragu, and I had the spaghetti with tomato and basil.  The spaghetti was creamy and light with just enough basil flavor. 

For dessert we had the red wine stewed cherries with yogurt and candied fennel.  It was elegant and homey at the same time.  It seemed like something you would get at a nice dinner party in Sweden.

All in all I will be going back there again, if for nothing else, to have some more of the Mascarpone butter that they server with the bread.

Cause I love you- Lenny WIlliams

I have had this song in my head for a couple of days. My Favorite part is when he talks about watching television till television went off. It is one of the most dramatic love songs of all time.

Pineapple Express afterparty

I shot the after party for the new movie Pineapple Express.

There were famous and semi-famous people there. I had a fever and ran over from another job shooting 35 models in their underwear. I was not really in the mood to care about Paul Rudd or Rumor Willis. Here are some shots of some of the people that were there.

Matthew Settle

This is going to sound bad, but I don't really remember taking this shot. I didn't know who it was, but I knew needed to photograph him. I knew he was famous, just not why. I shot him and he acted like he expected it, so all good, I figured. It turns out that he plays the dad on Gossip Girl. He is like 32 and his TV kids are supposed to be 17.

I just looked it up, he is 39. He could pass for 29. If I worked the door I would have carded him just to be a stickler.

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd was there and didn't really want to have his picture taken. I don't know what the point of going to an event like this is if you don't have your picture taken. It's not like it was a fun party.

I started chatting with some woman in the crowd and she said "you know this is a boring party considering that there are celebs here."

Ummm, DUH!

Celeb parties are almost always a snooze fest. They are work.

Russell Simmons

Speaking of work. Here is a man that knows that parties are part of his job. I saw him at both jobs that night. Yes he was at the underwear show before. I shot him there too. I asked to take his photo at the second party. He said "You just took my photo, why do you want to do it again?"

"Different background."

He shrugged and let me snap a couple of frames.

James Franco

James Franco, one of the stars of the film, was there. There were not really a lot of notable women at the party. I guess chicks don't dig the stoner buddy movies.

Dagmara and Patrick Wilson

I did manage to find a woman. She is married to Patrick Wilson. They live in my neighborhood in Brooklyn. He was in a movie with Kate Winslet where he played a stay at home dad that seduces Kate (a stay at home mom.)

He takes his kid to the playground that we take the baby to. That movie and Patrick are talk of the local moms. I think many of them are hoping that life will imitate art.

a friend with Rob Buckley

Rob Buckley the heart throb from Lipstick Jungle was also there. I got to chat with him a little bit. He and his friend were funny and laid back. He seems like a regular guy that got a break and is loving it.

Pictures of the baby

The baby is more like a toddler now, but I will end up calling her the baby until she is 35. She is getting exponentially more fun. She is taking a nap right now, that is not so much fun. When she is awake she is more fun. She is making up her own language. It is adorable.

I have not posted any pics in a while so I wanted to put out some new shots.

The Best Floral Designer

My dear friend Deryck de Matas is hands down the best floral designer in the business today. His style can range from contemporary, clean, and modern to classic, and posh. What ever he does it is elegant and leaves an impression.

Deryck has worked for every major design company in New York. He has launched his own site and it is impeccable.

http://www.designsbyderyck.com/


Not only are his designs fantastic, but the site is so well conceived and executed. It is a treat to see such a well done site.


Take a moment to peruse his site, you will be glad you did.