Monday, June 28, 2010

I Bid You Adieu



Not for good now, but just till the Mistress comes back from holiday! The Mistress traditionally take this time of year to go on vacation to visit her ancestral home and generally take it easy. But that never happens. I'll be visiting my my mother and friends that I don't have the opportunity to see often when I'm home for too short of visits. There will be sand and water for part of the vacation, and some metropolitan life for the other part. And of course some cock-a-tails! And a visit with my good friend Andromeda Strain which will be a hoot and a holler! And even a day spa. Can't you see it now. I hope I get Eduardo again!



The Boy-Toy will hold the fort down whilst I'm gone, and then we will have our vacation in August together. Wonder what trouble we will get into this year? So with Buster packed along with my steamer trunk, liqueur trunk, and hat boxes and my boy assistant I bid you adieu till some time in after the fourth of July! Now where did I put my Ban du Soleil........

Sunday, June 27, 2010

A Very LARGE Organ!

Yes it is true. The Mistress went to see the world's largest organ yesterday to enjoys it's magic and share it with some friends also. I just love large things! Now get your mind out of the gutter, it was the Wanamaker Organ of course! They were having their yearly concert yesterday, and I went with my good friends, The Capital Street Duo to heat it, and first as tradition, we had to go have cock-a-tails first. And what a better place to go then to my favorite Cuban/Colombian joint Mixto.




While there we ogled the hot boys and waiters and enjoyed some refreshing pomegranate mojitos. As you can see they have quite the list of mojitos. And are they delish. We went and had two pitchers of them and my good friend Dame Courtney had a peach sangria which was also very refreshing. After some nibbles and a very nice buzz it was onto The Wanamaker Building, now Macy's, for the Organ Concert.



As always this years concert was free to the public and it opened at 10am with KEN COWAN. PETER RICHARD CONTE and special guests were featured in a concert at 11:30 that was broadcast live on Jill Pasternak's "Crossover" on public radio. Capping the day on the Wanamaker Organ at 5pm was the Grand Closing Concert with PETER RICHARD CONTE, the Philadelphia Brass, and added Brass Chorus and Tympani in a Sonic Spectacular! Wall shaking performances I say! I do like the sound of the organ, but the shows were just long enough to experience one of these shows. A little organ goes a long way, in some cases! But it was a wonderful day with good friends! The organ was built by the Los Angeles Art Organ Company for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the Wanamaker Organ was designed by renowned organ architect George Ashdown Audsley, author of The Art of Organ-Building. This heroic instrument had more than 10,000 pipes, and its construction was on such a lavish scale that costs soared to $105,000,bankrupting the builder. In 1909, Philadelphia merchant-prince John Wanamaker bought the instrument for his new Philadelphia emporium. Thirteen freight cars were required to ship the entire organ from St. Louis, and installation took two years. The Grand Organ was first heard in the Store's seven-story atrium on June 22, 1911, at the exact moment when England's King George V was crowned at Westminster Abbey. Now a National Historic Landmark and valued in excess of $57 million, the Wanamaker Organ is of the American Symphonic design, which can play the great organ masterworks as well as the entire range of orchestral literature. What a marvel to look at!




Saturday, June 26, 2010

A Day With Kasha Davis

This is a behind-the-scenes peek into the life of International Housewife Celebrity, Mrs. Kasha Davis! See life through the gin bottle and watch Kasha's rigorous routine of skin care, "exercise," and social interactions with her hair stylist and noisy neighbor. Once you enter the world of Kasha Davis, you will never be the same again... and probably not sober either. Sort of reminds me of the Mistress just a wee bit. It really is tiring being ladies of leisure.

From the Jungle of My Yard



Have you ever seen such beautiful LARGE leaves? I wonder what kind they are? I saw these while walking Buster tonight and just had to have a couple! But what to do with them. I thought of just laying them in this basket but they sort of get lost and you loss the beauty of them.



Or maybe use them as a swank fan for later today when I go downtown to see visiting friends for the Wanamaker organ concert. It suppose to be a HOT one!



But then I decided to press them in the kitchen table between the table and glass! Not only does it add some natural element to the table, but we can enjoy them while dinning! If they press nicely, later down the road, maybe I'll frame them with nice mats in some chic frames!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

City Hall



One of my favorite buildings to see and visit when in Center City Philly is the beautifully designed City Hall. Every time I go there, sometimes just to see the building, I always spot something new I didn't see before. The architecture is just so detailed and very intricate with pillars, festoons, swags,statues and masonry. Philadelphia's City Hall is the seat of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The principal exterior materials are limestone, granite, and marble some of the most beautiful materials used together.It was the tallest habitable building in the world from 1901 to 1908 and the tallest in Pennsylvania until 1932 when surpassed by the Gulf Tower. It remained the tallest building in Philadelphia until the construction of One Liberty Place broke the informal "gentlemen's agreement" that limited the height of tall buildings in the city; it currently is the 15th-tallest building in Pennsylvania.





The building was designed by Scottish-born architect John McArthur, Jr., in the Second Empire style, and was constructed from 1871 until 1901 at a cost of $24 million. With close to 700 rooms, City Hall is the largest municipal building in the United States and one of the largest in the World. The building is topped by a 27 ton bronze statue of city founder William Penn, one of 250 sculptures created by Alexander Milne Calder that adorn the building inside and out. The statue is the tallest atop any building in the world. The tower features clocks 26 feet in diameter on all four sides of the metal portion of the tower. For many years, City Hall remained the tallest building in Philadelphia under the terms of a "gentlemen's agreement" that forbade any structure from rising above the William Penn statue atop City Hall. In 1987, it lost this distinction when One Liberty Place was completed. (The breaking of this agreement is said to be the cause of the so-called Curse of Billy Penn, under the supposed influence of which no major-league Philadelphia sports team won a championship between 1983 and 2007.) Every time I see this building it just amazes me to see all the detail, and when your standing at the portico's to go in the building, you can see just how immense this building is. I just love this place! Tootles.



Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Well Wishes for David and Kailyn

The Mistress would like to take the time to send some well wishes to two very special people today. After all, I like to spread cheer! First up a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my girl Kailyn!!!


I hope you have a wonderful and enjoyable day, and celebrate with a cock-a-tail or two, after all, as Kasha Davis would say "There's always time for a cocktail!" Kailyn and I met through our blogs. She was the one of the first to comment here at A Day With the Mistress Borhgese. And I was amazed at how much we had in common, things we liked and things we like to do-drink! You may recall she was also hostess with the mostess on our San Francisco trip last summer, when she took us on a tour of Napa Valley and it's vineyards. A day I will always remember. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN GIRL AND ENJOY MANY.....


And as is custom with the Mistress, Aunt Barbara is here to sing your song!


Second, I would like to send a speedy recovery and get well wishes to my good friend and sister Mame, AKA David Dust as he has been way under the weather and now in the hospital.



When I talked with her over the weekend she didn't sound herself as we were dishing the dirt, and he said I should get my black out and wear it for at least a year and then I could switch to a dark purple! Well, I talked to her last night and he is now on the mend and turns out he did have pneumonia, a very nasty case of it too. She would do anything to get Mama Bunny up there for a visit!!! But she did arrive, and is tending to our bunny leader. Funny how just a mother presences will make you feel 50% better, doesn't it? But Mame says she is feeling a little better and I can put the black away. So girl, stay relaxed, take care, and stay calm and let all the hot doctors do the rest!!! I would also like to thank Kayce, Mame's Executive Assistant and Public Relations guru for keeping everyone abreast of David's recovery, you are so sweet!!!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Refreshingly Green

About two weeks ago you may recall the Mistress was in DC for some pride fun and went to dinner with some friends. While there I par took of a new cock-a-tail, a gin and juice, and fell in love with it.Ahhhhhhhhhhh so refreshing on such a hot day. It was basically gin and cucumber juice. And I looooooooove cucumbers, and as you know, I do enjoy a nice cock-a-tail. So over the weekend I tried to see if I could copy the taste by making one! So when I got home Saturday night from being out at a lounge I tried. I started with these two main ingredients.



My two favorite things-gin and cucumbers. I started by peeling the cucumbers first, then cut the width into five pieces and then placed them in the food processor on chop. I then took the mush and placed it into a stainer and squeezed the mush with a wooden spoon over a glass bowl to catch the juice. I filled a high ball with ice, cucumber juice, gin, a little tonic and a pinch of lemon juice. I always free pour spirits so I don't know how much gin I used. But I have to say it was pretty close to the one I had. Of course I think a little sugar or simple syrup would have helped just a little, as it was a tad tart. But I did enjoy about three of them anyhow. To be honest I could just drink cucumber juice by it self.




The Mistress decided that cucumber juice not only makes a refreshing, slightly sweet beverage for a hot summer afternoon, but it looks darn pretty, too! And I'm here to tell ya it was very refreshing! And mind altering!


PS- By the color of the gin cock-a-tail, you can tell I have a heavy hand!!!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Some Splendid Dining



The Mistress spent the better part of yesterday in the heat of this June down in Philadelphia with her visiting friend, Pixie Stick who wanted to go see the Philadelphia Art Museum and one of my favorite buildings, City Hall, which I'll share later in the week. We also walked along the quaint streets of the gayborhood. Of course, if you know the Mistress, their was also involved some delicious nibbles and cock-a-tails! We lunched at one of my and the Boy-Toy's favorites haunts The Caribou Cafe.



The Lillet posters splashed with crimson and gold, a bronze bar-top lamp, some boxy wooden booths and a U-shaped interior balcony make for cozy, casual brasserie-style dining. The bistro's classic French appetizers range from escargots in chive butter, chevre-flecked salads and a buttery or homey soup of the day. At anytime of the day you might want to sit at the bar and enjoy one of their “gourmet sliders ” and sip a draft Krönenbourg or a Chimay, which are good on a hot day! But today it was a a simple lunch of roast beef on French bread with chips in a chip! Followed by blueberry cheesecake. I just love this place.







After a delish lunch we then went to inspect City Hall and did some venturing in the neighborhood in and out of shops, and the Mistress even replaced some of her flip flops for the asking price of $4.98 now on sale that got ruined in the Great Shoe Massacre! We even popped into the Naked Chocolate Cafe. Then for dinner it was off to Prive for dinner which is where Pixie wanted to eat.


Prive is a Mediterranean restaurant and lounge and then the later hours becomes a very chic nightclub.I had the Lamb Lollipops with a rosemary rice.


I had never been here before ,but would probably go back. The food and service was very good and there was much eye candy to be seen, since it was getting to the late hours. Prive has a dark lounge ambiance, with fuchsia neon dimly bathing black and grey walls, and white leather seating completes this conventionally accepted example of modern nightspot decor. The appetizers vary in tastiness depending on your choices, but are generally pretty yummy. Cock-a-tails are pretty classy, the range of liquor perfectly adequate if not ample, you know the Mistress enjoys a nice strong stiffener. If you're in that plastic fantastic bachelor(ette) mood one evening while wandering the club mile near Market Street, pop on in. Tootles.

Why Don't You Love Me

Beyonce's newest song. WOW! While I have come to like Lady Gaga, Beyonce is still my girl. Love the vintage feel, music styling, and her incredible looks in this video. Of course I'm all about vintage. And it sort of reminds me of myself around the abode!!! Looooooooove this! A nice hat tip too my good friend Clara Voyant for bringing all this style and faaaaaaabulousness to my attention.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Puppy For Sale!

Now I ask you. Does this look like the face of a bad puppy with too much time on his hands?



Hell yes it does!!! Our little Buster Bolfig Borghese has been with us for over a year now, and has always been the model, well behaved child. Till yesterday. The Mistress came home to find this!




Why yes dear ones, those are indeed flip flops without the straps! And that's only half of them and not even the shoes! It seems Buster Bolfig had either too much time on his hands or had too many doggie cock-a-tails! The Mistress threatens to sell the little one( not really, but I'm letting him think I'm still sour), for shredding all the flip flops. I keep them all in a huge basket by the door, for weeks now, and he's never bothered them. I just thank God he didn't get the heels. After holding a grudge, we are now made up after he gave me some cute eye action all evening and some extra licks. So glad it's the weekend. Any plans for this Father's Day weekend? The Mistress's father is 8 years gone so their aren't any Father's Day plans here. The Mistress will be out and about playing hostess in Philadelphia for a visiting friend and then head out tonight for a few cock-a-tails, then Sunday relax and the possibility of a Sunday Tea! Oh who am I kidding? Since their will be cock-a-tails and shirtless boys I'll be there. Tootles, And have a wonderful Father's Day to all you men with little ones!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Arvin Is All Over the Mistress's Library

Anyone who knows the Mistress knows she loves herself a good Eric Arvin book. You know that talented writer who also happens to be hunky? Eric Arvin is a wonderful writer and resides in the same sleepy Indiana river town where he grew up. He graduated from Hanover College with a Bachelors in History, and is a fan of the writing of James Purdy. He has lived, for brief periods, in Italy and Australia, and also survived brain surgery, during which they apparently added enough sense for him to decide to write full-time. He has since become author of several successful novels, one naughty comic, Kidd Christmas, as well as his blog, Daventry Blue. The Mistress has all these titles, although I haven't had time to read Simple Men yet. But don't you love the cover art? I love to read all year long, but it seems in the summer I really fall behind in reading. Especially on the beach. Have you tried to read when your surrounded by eyecandy? You can read what the Mistress though of his titles she read here,here, and here.



Well y'all Eric has re-released one of his titles in a reprint, The Rest is Illusion.

A coming of age story with a supernatural bent, set on the campus of Verona College. The story centers on five students whose lives are further complicated by an unseen force that surrounds the college, changing them forever. Leave it to Eric and Young Offenders Media who present The Rest Is Illusion book trail or! Looks like I'll be ordering another Arvin work! Be sure to check at his works and show your support and stop by his blog to say hello!

The Rest is Illusion - Book Trailer from Pat Nelson Childs on Vimeo.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Hell Freezing Over



The following is supposedly an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which, of course, the Mistress finds and actually thinks the anwswer is sort of believable. Who the hell knows!

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic(absorbs heat)?
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law(gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave.
Therefore, no souls are leaving.
As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different Religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell.
With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

- So which is it?

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY "A"

Monday, June 14, 2010

Full of Pride & Sin



What a weekend! The Mistress survived all the Pride festivities, cock-a-tails, debauching, and the handsome men of DC, not to mention the God awful heat and humidity. Of course that made for ALOT of shirtless boys! (Note to self. Wear a pair of older 5" heels to walk the mall next time. Eleven blocks in the heat was pure hell!) Anywho, one of the nation's most prominent Gay Pride events, Capital Pride, took place this past weekend in Washington, DC, and draws legions of participants from all over the country. It was a good time to see our hostess with the mostess and good friend, Patty PassAround and her new abode, and we even caught up with some of the Mistress's dear friends from her old soiree days in Harrisburg who also relocated to DC some years ago. We had a great time at the parade and then par took of a delish dinner at Policy.


What a chic little eatery. The Mistress enjoyed a new gin concoction, Gin and Juice. A poison that consisted of gin and cucumber juice!!! Very refreshing! Must make more of these.


And the Mistress is pleased to say she was able to handle all those boys. My poor co-worker warned me about the very flirtatious boys of DC and their huge appetites. Well, I told him I have been there before, and knew what to expect. Then like the words from the Lil' Kim song The Jump Off, I told him, "I have a man in Japan, and a dude in Tahiti, believe me sweetie I got enough to feed the needy!" And with that everyone was pleased. And what a huge parade! Now that I hadn't seen before in DC. It was over two hours long. But that was alright, as their were many sites to be seen.


Last week's Grande Dame of the Week, Blair Michaels.







The Cobalt float





But this lad at that parade was just adorable!!! And what a boot-tay he had!!! Why the Mistress had a few hot flashed over that!

Now alas, the Mistress is home recovering. And relaxing. And fanning herself. This weekend, we may be away again.........Tootles!