LA to NYC and back again

This afternoon I arrived back from a short and very full trip to NYC. Whew! I'm editing the photos and putting a post together about it as well as a few things that took place before jetting out. These two images were taken yesterday afternoon when I took a little break from the happenings in the East Village uptwon to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Movie Monday: Margin Call

I love good movies, well actually to be more authentic with my words, I love good stories and movies are part of that equation as with books, theater, etc. Last night I decided to take a break from the 24/7 perfume/art making bonanza and watched the film Margin Call by writer-director J.C. Chandor. The modern story is a melodrama with a slew of acting giants including one of my favorites Kevin Spacey. I began admiring Mr. Spaceys work in the 80's when he starred as Mel Profitt in the crime drama Wiseguy. He was also brilliant in The Usual Suspects, one of my all time favorite films.


As I was doing this research I came across on Wikipedia that he Kevin attended Northridge Military Academy, Canoga Park High School (in tenth and eleventh grades), and then Chatsworth High School, where he graduated valedictorian of his class. Gee, so local.

Margin Call is a very poignant film depicting a slightly over 24 hour period taking place at the brink of the recent economic disaster. The acting, story telling and character arcs are fabulous as well as gorgeously shot. When I lived in a coop on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights most of my fellow neighbors were bankers working on Wall Street or lawyers. Ben and I were the only artists in the building and the only ones who had glass block and brightly painted walls.Despite are vast differences many of them were dear friends. None of them were as greedy and unscrupulous as the characters in the film. Toward the end of the film I was wondering why people with such little morality like this continue to thrive, and then I saw the ending. So perfect and made me think of another film I'll talk about next week, Cloud Atlas.

Other films this reminded me of are Limitless and The Adjustment Bureau, the later based on a based on Philip K Dick short story.

Opening image New York City, NY by Tracey.

New York, NY

I'm in Connecticut and New York at the moment...since Sunday actually. We are staying with our buddy Ric Meyers, a friend from Comic Con. I thought I'd be blogging regularly but it has been a bit of a challenge. I'll be back shortly with stories and pictures.

Image: December 15, 1931. "River House, 52nd Street and East River. Shoreline with clouds." 5x7 safety negative by Samuel H. Gottscho.

Art Happens

Click this link if you are having trouble watching this.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™

NY Sniffa 2008: Two

The Sniffa Sunday event transpired in downtown Manhattan, much to my delight, being more of a downtown girl. The festivities began at BOND NO. 9, on Bond St. between Broadway & Lafayette Street. Wasn't Basquiats studio right around here? Hmmm, I'll ask Kelle.

Raphaella greeted me as I walked in the door. We wondered around sniffing and engaging in conversation while brunch was prepared for all the attendees. I had the opportunity to speak with a marvelous grouping of eclectic folks including Cathy Gins the creator of AromaWear, Dorothy McCall of Kingsbury Fragrances and her husband Michael.

Joe Graces asked me to define the difference between natural and synthetic perfume. I graciously obliged, ending with the fact that I use the term "botanical", since I do not use civet (tortured cat excretion) or isolates in my perfumes.


From there Leah and I walked together over to LAFCO, where one can swoon over the Santa Maria Novella potpourri. Along the journey we passed the first apartment I lived in when I moved to NYC in the 80's. Gee, Elizabeth Street has really changed since then!

While at LAFCO Sarah Squerie and I made a pact to be each others olfactory adventure "buddy" for the day. We walked out onto Lafayette to make our way to Le Labo, but got pleasantly distracted by all the merchants on Prince Street. Eventually we headed toward the Country Cafe for the second lunch sitting. The first lunch was running behind schedule so we strolled around a bit and mingled with other second sitting Sniffas. Sarah and I sat at a table up front with Leah and Carol. The four of us had a blast together. We marveled at Sarah's manifesting powers as she won the Sniffapalooza Jazz CD set which she wanted. Poet and perfumer Gerald Dubose blew us all away by his poetry reading and added a whole new level of artistry to Sniffapalooza.


From there we jumped in a cab and made our way to Aedes de Venustas on Christopher Street in the Village. The owners Karl and Robert served up Prosecco Bellini's as we sampled Aedes stellar and vast selection of fragrances.

After saying our goodbyes to beloved Sniffas, a small group of us walked around the corner to Gobo for a savory vegetarian dinner and more inspired conversation. Above is Greg with the heartwarming Ida at his side.

In closing the NYC Sniffapalooza Fall Ball was a dynamic event attended by an array of spirited individuals. Greg and I compare it to the San Diego Comic Con in it's tapestry of souls embodying the art spirit. It is a richly woven, textural fabric intricately threaded with those who create fragrance and the fans who adore it.

Images: The image at top on Bond#9 is by Michael Friedlander, LAFCO image was taken by Karen Adams of Sniffapalooza, photos of Sarah and I at Country Cafe as well as of Gerald Dubois are by Vida, image of Greg and Ida is my contribution.
Roxana Illuminated Perfume™

NY Sniffa 2008: One

In the e-mail that the NY Sniffa 2008 attendees received the Karens stated:

We feel it's our duty to warn you that you will have such a glorious time at this event, you'll meet so many fascinating friends, and you will feel so loved and pampered that you will want to do it again next weekend, and the weekend after that... and you won't be able to!
You have to wait for another Sniffapalooza!

They were spot on., and must have something to do with the magnetism of Team Karen. I auspiciously hooked up with an acquaintance from a dinner party back in 1998, Sarah Squeri. Ah, but I digress, lets begin at the beginning.

The Saturday (Uptown) event began at Bergdorf Goodman commenced at 8:15am with the famous breakfast at Goodman’s Café. At 10am more sniffers arrived and the morning continued on the beauty floor with conversation with special guests and perfumers, sampling, makeup artists, special GWP's, and the legendary BG gift bags.

At 12:30 attendees wondered over to Opia restaurant for a fabulous lunch and more guest presenters, including Avery Gilbert. Avery is the author of What the Nose Knows, he sat next to Greg and I at the luncheon. He was the first presenter and dazzled the attendees with tidbits from What the Nose Knows.

I also presented during this phase of the olfactory adventure. My sampler packages contained a postcard, bookmark and business card. Some contained a liquid perfume sample with a scent strip while others contained the solid perfume version of Sierra. Greg put together a visual presentation to accompany my seven minute discourse.

At 2:45 the gang walked over to Takashimaya for more sniffing & dessert with special guests, like the beloved Neil Morris. Across the street was Henri Bendels, where Janna Sheehan of Trance Essence and Jessica Dunne of Ellie and Ellie Nuit were on hand. Both lovely, beautiful ladies.

While we were all enjoying ourselves inside Henri Bendels the wind and rain began descending upon NYC. Many arrived at the next destination, Spafumerie, drenched from the across town walk. The owner of Spafumerie, Joe Graces, treated us to chocolate covered strawberries amongst other cocktails & reiki work at his spectacular spa. All in honor of the 60th anniversary of Fracas.

(Pictured below, from right to left Greg, Karen Dubin, Vida and myself.)



At this party is where I encountered Sarah, who quickly became my new best friend! Other conjunctions of the heart-kind included; Leah, a sol sister (yes, i mean sol as in sun, we are both Leos with an auspicious amount of similar planetary line-ups) and the passionate and charismatic, Ida.

The evening festivities ended at a long dining table seating at least twenty of us at an Italian restaurant. Stay tuned for the Sniffa Day Two recap next.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™
Images: Heart table illustration by Greg Spalenka, Breakfast area at Bergdorf Goodman by Sarah Squeri, Roxana presenting at the Opia Lunch by Michael Friedlander, Gang of four at Spafumerie by Sarah Squerie and Video clip by Greg Spalenka

The Big Apple

"One belongs to New York instantly,

one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years."

~ Thomas Wolfe

I am back from the big apple with lots of stories and pictures to share. The trip was especially rich with heartfelt connections. We arrived last Wednesday afternoon, after a four hour stint as a sardine. What’s up with those airplane seats? It doesn’t seem to matter how much yoga I do, trying to access my laptop or purse under the seat in front of me was short of impossible.

NYC was grand...the air was crisp, the 24 hour frenetic hum as constant as the inspiration and there was the NYC Sniffapalooza Fall Ball!!!

The Sniffapalooza Fall Ball was so much more than I could ever imagine or anticipate. Two full days of fun, connection with fellow devotees of fragrance. What struck me the most was the kindred spirits I encountered. I knew I would come across some of the most obsessed olfactory beings on the planet. However, as I mentioned above, I was unprepared for the bounty of camaraderie and fellowship.

I’ve experienced some of this type of esprit de corps at Aromatherapy conferences over the past ten years and to a certain extent with artists at the San Diego Comic Con. Sniffa NY was different though...it’s an intangible thing...much like fragrance itself. Part of it, no doubt, was due to being in NYC once again.

"I felt something so intense, I could only express it in a perfume."

~ Jacques Guerlain

We stayed at a friends apartment in the financial district with a spectacular view of the Hudson. On Wednesday we stopped into Enfluerage in the Village and had an amazing Indian meal across the way. Thursday and Friday were filled with visiting friends and colleagues, eating fabulous meals and a tour of FIT, The Fashion Institute of Technology. For those in the city or traveling there I highly recommend the “Gothic: Dark Glamour” show currently on display at the FIT gallery. WOW!

Sniffa took place on Saturday and Sunday. I’ll post about that as soon as I get some photos. For now...from left to right, here I am with Dorothy McCall and Raphaella Brescia Barkley outside of Bond #9 on Sunday morning. The photo was taken by Dorothy’s lovely and talented husband Michael Freidlander. Thank you Michael!

Apple image above, Apple Perfume ©Greg Spalenka

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™

Sloughful

I've turned into what Wendy so lovingly deems "the sloughful blogger". My apologies, life is rather full at the moment, as we get ready for NYC and the Sniffa Fall Ball.

There will be over 150 attendees at the Saturday lunch I am presenting at. This translates into 150+ sample packages to get ready and ship to NYC. Above is a picture of the package contents so far: new postcard, business card, with one liquid and one solid perfume sample. I may put in
one of Greg's postcards as well.

In the meantime Maestro Gregorio has been putting together a visual presentation to accompany my live auditory wisdoms regarding the value of botanical perfume.

It's been one year since we were in NY, yet, about sixteen years since I moved from there to LA. Gee, sixteen years, it doesn't feel that long. I know the city so well and look forward to walking the streets filled with frenzy and a plethora of olfactory delights and horrors all in one sniff.

Back to making packages.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™

New York, New York

I took my hearthrob, aka Greg, to the airport last night. He caught the red eye into NYC. He invited me to come along, now I am rather thinking I made a mistake in not going with him. I chose to stay and focus filling orders, custom perfumes and the second edition of Chaparral. After all, we are going to be in San Diego soon and Mexico after that. Still, New York beckons, it's in my blood.

Shortly after graduating from Otis Art Institute I moved to the big apple. I was fortunate to get freelance illustration work immediately. My first apartment was in the Cobble Hill district of Brooklyn. After a few years, with the help of my mother, I purchased an apartment in Brooklyn Heights. The building had once been a hotel right on Montague Street a few blocks from the Promenade. An old brick building featuring apartments high ceilings. I loved it there and still regret selling the apartment with the view of the Statue of Liberty from the balcony.

I also shared a small studio space in Manhattan with a painter. The studio was for my rather large and cumbersome Van der cook letterpress. More on this soon.

{{{{ sigh }}}}

Greg is in New York for ICON, the illustrators conference. He is the moderator for a panel discussion called "Moving Imagination: Concept Design in the Film and Gaming Industry" with his buddies Stephan and Barry. Ugh, I'm getting really jealous just keystroking this information, best focus now on what I stayed here to do...perfume. Comic Con is right around the corner anyway!

Greg Spalenka
ICON 5, NYC