Keeping up with the Drapers

I won't bore you with more gushing about Mad Men (best. show. ever), but I just wanted to alert those of you who want to catch up on it that Season Oneand Season 2are both now available at Amazon.com. Season 1 costs $16.99 and Season 2 costs $32.99. Getting caught up in this fantastic series= priceless!

Photo courtesy of AMC.

thirtysomething now that I'm Thirtysomething

Last week I found out that one of my favorite television shows of all time, thirtysomething, is finally coming out on DVD (took long enough...the show's last episode was in 1991). This is big news for thirtysomething devotees/television historians like me (you'll remember I also worked at The Museum of Televison & Radio back in my pre-kids life). And Ken Olin (who played yuppie hubby Michael Steadman) was my first major celeb crush in high school (my equivalent tall/dark/handsome crush now is Jon Hamm on Mad Men). For most of thirtysomething's four seasons between 1987 and 1991, the show didn't actually have a huge audience (it never cracked the Nielsen top 20) but it was discussed ad nauseum by people who either loved or hated its portrayal of Philadelphia yuppies. The main characters- Michael and Hope Steadman and their circle of married and single friends- were either considered to be wonderfully self-aware or pathetically self-absorbed. It also was one of the keenest television portrayals of SAHM anxiety (Hope Steadman always seemed disillusioned with taking care of baby Janey all day). If thirtysomething were on today, you can be sure Moms would dissect it non-stop on Urban Baby. Anyway, if you love thirtysomething as much as I did, you will definitely want to nab the first season on DVD which is being released on August 25th. Buy it for $38.99 here.

Bargain Alert: Punky Brewster on DVD

Note: This is a re-post from earlier this year. I bought this DVD recently and over the July 4th holiday both of my kids (ages 4 1/2 and 7 1/2) were RIVETED to it. Good, wholesome programming for the kids (though the orphan storyline is kind of tricky), plus retro kitsch for the grown-ups ("Mommy, who is Cyndi Lauper??" A winner!


If you were born after 1980, you should probably skip this post. You're too young. But if you are a Gen X-er who remembers the mid-80s sitcom Punky Brewster starring Soleil Moon Frye, read on. I just saw that you can buy a sampler DVD of Punky Brewster episodes, called Punky Brewster: Turn My World Around, on Amazon for just $5.49 (normally $9.98). So your own kids, too, can relive those brightly-colored-legwarmer days where spunky little Soleil gets into all sorts of mischief and is reprimanded by curmudgeonly-yet-lovable foster dad Henry (George Gaynes). It's a family-friendly sitcom that will probably appeal to kids as much now as it did nearly 30 (yes, 30!) years ago, even if the cultural references are dated. I have a feeling that my own 7-year-old will enjoy watching Punky a lot. Buy the DVD here.

I'm curious, do your kids watch any "old" family sitcoms? R. is currently fixated on The Cosby Show on Centric TV (especially episodes about Rudy or Vanessa). Which retro sitcoms do your kids watch?

10 Father's Day Gift Picks

Wait, is Father's Day just one week away? My apologies for not sharing these ideas with you sooner. Check individual websites for shipping deadlines. And remember to check out our past Father's Day gift ideas, too (click on the Father's Day label at the end of this post).



For the sporty Dad: Ralph Lauren Polo Big Pony Cologne ($65 for eau de toilette at Macy's). A top-selling Father's Day gift this year.







For the grilling Dad: Sliders Burger Set ($29.95 from Red Envelope). Full-sized burgers are sooooo 2010.







For the sentimental Dad: Custom Keychain for Papa ($15.50 at the Etsy shop Copper Poppy). Price includes any personalization of your choice.





For the chef Dad: U.S. State Handmade Cutting Boards ($40 at the Etsy shop A Heirloom). Thanks to Woman's Day for this great gift idea!









For the new Dad: Messenger II Black Pinstripe Diaper Bag ($98 by Diaper Dude). One of the newest patterns from the most popular company making these bags for dads.





For the writing Dad: Linen Correspondence System ($25 by Forgetful Gentleman). A set that includes thank you, birthday, congratulations, "thinking of you" and blank cards, and even one emergency Forever stamp.







For the tech Dad: Cork Electronics Sleeves ($22-$39 at Uncommon Goods). Handmade in Spain.







For the couch potato Dad: True Blood: The Complete Third Season ($51.99 at Barnes & Noble). Not sure I get the appeal of this show, but I know it's a hit.







For the golfer Dad: Hole in One Golf Gift Basket ($69.99 at Gourmet Gift Baskets). Everything he needs for a day of golf--including gourmet snacks and keepsakes packed in a fully functional cooler.







For the reader Dad: Kindle, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers ($114 at Amazon.com). Including special offers, this is Amazon's best offer to-date of its top-selling product.

Photojournalism at Its Best

A few months ago, I watched a documentary on PBS about White House photographer Pete Souza. Well, I think Mr. Souza nabbed one of the year's defining photographs with this image of President Obama and his staff watching the mission against Obama Bin Laden play out on May 1st, 2011.

More behind-the-scenes photos can be found on The White House's Flickr photostream.

William & Kate: The Royal Wedding Recap

I don't entertain often, but it was easy for one of my oldest and dearest friends Vanessa (a true NYC glamorista, whom I've been friends with since 1994), to convince me to hold a Royal Wedding Viewing Party. Given my history with the Royal Family, and the fact that this was, of course, the wedding of the century (so far), I decided to have some fun. I invited my most special friends (particularly those who knew me during my Diana years) to come watch the festivities with me, starting at 6am. And I decorated my apartment with royal partyware and pieces of my cherished collection of Diana books and memorabilia.

These are just a handful of my Royal Family books. I started collecting books like these when I was 8 years old, the summer that Charles & Diana got married. I have over 250 books in total (yes, you read correctly). Most are at my parents' house in NJ...and they want me to come get them!




I also have about four hundred magazines featuring the Royal Family, mostly between 1981 and 1997. I have some later ones here in my apartment, like this People magazine cover story on William's 18th birthday in 2000.


For good measure, I also bought some current tabloids about William and Kate...and tiaras and bling for guests who forgot them at home (plus letterpress Union Jack coasters by Sarah Ridgely)..


My lovely friend Alicia Ybarbo--a Today Show producer and co-author of the TODAY Moms book--kindly sent me some commemorative Wills & Kate pieces (an Aynsley plate and these fun "kissing" mugs), knowing how much I'd appreciate them. Alicia, THANK YOU. You have no idea how much this meant to me.



I also got an idea from a Today Show segment to make royal party plates by taping some of my photographs of Diana underneath clear plastic plates:


My party menu included scones, strawberries & cream, and champagne, among other goodies. I even used my wedding china (something I rarely do) as part of the buffet display. Also pictured:


I set everything up the night before. I woke up to my alarm at 5:15am and raced straight to the TV, just as William and Harry were arriving at the church. Turning the TV on then, seeing Diana's little boys all grown up entering the same Abbey where they had laid their mother to rest 13 years ago, I was very teary. Perhaps some of you felt the same way. It seemed so cruel that Diana--who worked so hard to raise these boys "the right way"--could not see this wedding, while a gazillion other people could easily watch it on TV. I tweeted during the wedding along with a gazillion other people, and one one of my Twitter followers very kindly wrote, "Diana is watching. :-)"

On a sartorial note, I loved loved loved William's red military uniform (even if it reminded me a teeny bit of an FAO Schwarz wooden soldier). Some of my guests said "Charles wore red at his wedding to Diana, too." But he did not. I know these things.


As for the bride's dress...I liked it a lot. It was not what I pictured when I hear Alexander McQueen. I actually thought much less trendy designers could've designed the same type of dress. It was far more modern and streamlined than Diana's 1981 confection by the Emanuels. But overall, it remained a stylish and conservative choice, which was required of this occasion (it doesn't matter that this is 2011, if you are the Queen-to-Be getting married in Westminster Abbey, your arms are covered!). I was actually glad that Kate was covered up with long sleeves. I think she looks too skinny otherwise. What do you think?


The ceremony was perfect, though I missed parts of it to chat with my guests (most of whom refused to be photographed, claiming they did not look good enough having woken up at 5am). I need to watch and dissect the whole ceremony again. I didn't catch any references to Diana, which I was hoping for.

Here is my friend Vanessa while we watched the ceremony. Vanessa wore a tiara and other princess accessories on the subway before 6am and no one even blinked. That's New York.


Of course, one of the best, most long-awaited moments was the Balcony Kiss. We were so excited to see the couple come out on the balcony that we screamed as if we were actually there in person:


And here is the now-famous shot of the kiss with the grumpy flower girl (William's goddaughter Grace Van Cutsem, nearly stealing the show.

Oh, I wish I could've watched the TV coverage all day (I missed the newlyweds taking a spin in an Aston Martin, and arriving for the evening wedding party). But real life beckoned, with school drop-offs and pick-ups, appointments for the kids, and lots of work to do. I DVR'd a bunch of coverage and re-cap shows and don't know when I'll ever find the time to watch them!

At the end of the day, I felt elated and relieved...almost like a bride herself. I am so glad that the Big Day went off without a hitch for William & Kate. They seem very much in love and I believe (and really really hope) that their story will have a much happier outcome than Charles & Diana's. And I continue to hope that Diana--whose greatest love ended up being the two young men she raised--was smiling from afar while we all cheered.

I want to hear from you! Did you watch the wedding? Attend any viewing parties? What did you think of Kate's dress? Leave your comments below!

Oh Happy Day

I'll be glued to TV coverage today (and hosting my own party). Follow me on Twitter for the latest. I'd love to hear your comments about the wedding, too. Enjoy!

Newest photo of the couple by Mario Testino, courtesy BBC.

Cinema Verite: An American Family

If you're secretly a reality TV fan (or just a US cultural/social history buff), set your DVR to record Cinema Verite on HBO tonight. It's a highly-anticipated dramatic version of the making of the landmark 1970s PBS documentary "An American Family (The Louds)." The original series first aired in 1973, and was, in essence, the first "reality TV" show that filmed a U.S. family as they lived their everyday lives (the most famous scenes where when Pat asked Bill for a divorce, and pretty much any scene featuring their openly gay son Lance...this stuff was unheard of on TV at the time). I first watched the series when it re-aired on its 10th anniversary in 1983, and when I started working at the Museum & Television & Radio (now called the Paley Center) years later, it was one of the very first series I borrowed from the archives to watch during my lunch hour. HBO's film tonight, starring James Gandolfini, Diane Lane, and Tim Robbins, dramatizes the intrigue behind the filming of The Louds--from ethical questions about what is "OK" to film, to the implied affair (always denied) between mom Pat Loud (played by Lane) and director/creator Craig Gilbert (played by Gandolfini). It's fascinating stuff...and will probably make you thirst to see the original series. The Paley Center in New York and L.A. is screening the original episodes in their entirety over the next few weekends; you can also catch a rare compilation of An American Family clips on You Tube.

Weekend Reading

Like me, you probably have way too many things to read online these days, but....I'm about to give you a few more!

Need a good laugh? Check out Sad Etsy Boyfriends. If you are an Etsy fanatic, it is even funnier.

Wanna see new pictures of Sarah Jessica Parker's cutie pie twin girls? 'Course you do! Check out SJP and her twins' visit to a NYC park at I'm Not Obsessed.

I had one of my best-ever NYC dinners recently, at Recipe on the Upper West Side. They use all fresh, local ingredients. Foodies, check out the mouth-watering menus.

Did you catch the new Bravo reality show Pregnant in Heels? It is quite something (I actually find it very entertaining). Check out some of the videos.

Remember how I celebrated my great-uncle's 100th birthday recently? Here he is again in the local press! Is this fantastic or what?!

Want to give me some shopping advice? I'm searching for a first "real desk" for R. She likes the Larkin Desk and Hutch at Pottery Barn Kids. Do any of you have this? Want to give me some feedback?

Photo courtesy of I'm Not Obsessed.

Diana and Me

With William and Kate's wedding less than a month away, I have a bunch of royal-wedding-themed goodies I want to show you at the blog. But, before I do, I want to tell you more about the special association I have with the Royal Family, which has brought up many emotions for me as William and Kate's Big Day approaches. If you didn't already know, Princess Diana was my childhood idol from the time I was eight years old (when I woke up early to watch her wedding in July 1981) until the day of her death (a devastating day for me). Diana was truly my role model while I was growing up (second to my parents, of course). It's hard to put into words exactly the influence she had on me, but it had a lot to do not only with every little girl's fantasy of becoming a Princess, but also of this particular Princess's amazing gift for connecting with people, inspiring them, and doing good.

I followed everything that happened in Diana's life after she got married. I watched her through her 20s and 30s, as she became a famous icon, "The People's Princess", and a devoted mother to her two boys. I vividly remember the day that William was born--June 21, 1982. I was 9 years old and in the middle of my Monday afternoon piano lesson when my sister excitedly told me she heard the news on the radio that Princess Diana had her baby and it was a boy! So besides feeling very old that that same new baby is now getting married (!), I also feel that William and Kate's wedding will bring me "full circle" since my own interest in the Royal Family began almost exactly 30 years ago. Most of all, I am so sad that Diana won't be there to see her son get married. Since I have my own little boy now, I understand the connection Diana and her boys had. The idea that she didn't live to see the young men they have become--and won't be at William's most important day--is even more heartbreaking to me now that I am a parent myself.

I was lucky enough to meet Diana in person a few times, both in London and New York. Those are other stories for other times. But I promised you all awhile ago that I would share some of my photos of her, so I've posted two of them above. They were taken in June 1997, when she was here in New York (for what would be ultimately be her last visit here) for the auction of her dresses at Christie's. I took the close-up photo of her myself. And in the other photo--well, that is me giving her flowers (another story), and someone else in the crowd took the photo. She was tall (larger than life), beautiful, sweet and kind. These pictures are exactly how I will always remember her.

I'm sure many of you will be watching the wedding live on the morning of April 29th, too. I sure will be. And I hope that somewhere, Diana will be watching too.

For the Long Wait till Season 5

If you're a "Maddict" like me, you're probably also disappointed to hear that Don Draper and company aren't returning for a new season until early 2012. Ugh. So we will have to make do with poring over previous seasons of Mad Men on DVD, including the episodes with director's commentary. Perhaps the soften the news of a late Season 5, Mad Men: Season Four on DVD was just released two days ago. Memorable moments of this season include Anna Draper's death, Joan's pregnancy, Lucky Strike's exit, Sally's escape, Mrs. Blankenship's finale, and, of course, Don's surprise proposal in the last episode. Oh, I can't wait for more.

Buy Mad Men: Season Four at Amazon.com for $27.99 (retail price $49.99).

Portlandia

Have I mentioned that my favorite new show on TV is IFC's Portlandia? It's a half-hour skit comedy show created, written by, and starring Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and Carrie Brownstein. Each skit features different stereotypical "Portland-esque" characters ranging from feminist bookstore owners to aggressive bicycle messengers. The skits send up the liberal leanings of the Pacific Northwest city in a satirical yet gentle way (it is a show written by and for liberals, after all). It's an offbeat, perhaps acquired brand of humor familiar to those who enjoyed shows like Strangers with Candy or Flight of the Conchords. Take a look and tell me what you think. I hope it makes you chuckle.



Portlandia is on IFC on Friday nights at 10:30pm. Set your DVR.