The Mazda Miata of Kimonos

The Mazda Miata of kimonos

One morning I woke up to yet another website trying to get me to sign up for daily emails.  And just before I put it in the trash, I clicked on it and there was this headline:  This Kimono is the Mazda Miata of robes.  I bought it.  I mean who could resist?
I owned a 1992 Miata and when people ask me what my favorite car in the world is, I  say it still is my 1992 Miata, which ended up totaled but that's a story for another day.  And I still miss it.
Has the bathrobe satisfied my longings for my lost car? No.  But it was $20, it fits like a Snuggie but it doesn't turn you into a block-of blue-lard-weirdo––one who loses her dignity when company's not around and it is the . . . well, and that's the other thing that struck me.  Remember when the gold standard was Cadillac?
Highly prized products that were the nonpareil of whatever were called the "Cadillac of ________________".
Cadillac is finally making the right moves. Could they regain that status?  It's unlikely that Cadillac can regain the title, given the extremely high standards throughout the automotive industry.  But I'd put Cadillac's ATS up against any other performance car available today any day of the week.  It's a killer and I mean that in a very good way.

Hope I don't look too smug here.

This is, however, the first time I've ever seen anything called the Mazda Miata of . . ..  And since I love Miatas and have always loved Miatas I bought the robe.  And let me just say that it is a perfect analogy.  The robe fits my personality to a T.  It manages its flair by balancing it with pragmatism, it fits perfectly, the materials are good quality. There's only one thing wrong with it--the belt loops don't have any relationship to my waist.  My Miata had only one thing wrong with it––manual side mirrors.  The mirrors are automatic on later models.  I can't speak for the belt loops.
I deleted the shopping website even though it has the best copy I've ever read--better than J. Peterman.  I cut and paste the bathrobe copy here for your enjoyment.

Me in the Miata.

"The Kimono is the Mazda Miata of robes. Take that as you will.  Listen, we're not here to be overly judgmental. And we're not saying you don't look good in that zippy little kimono. We're just saying, maybe you shouldn't act so proud of it, because it gives off the wrong impression.

What you want people to think is, "That person is super fun and quirky!" Not "That person is clearly overcompensating for shortfalls in other parts of their life."

So next time you slip into that something-more-comfortable, here's what to do. Own it, but with a quiet confidence. Don't go strutting around with a smug look on your face, winking and shooting your finger guns at everyone who glances your way. Because people WILL make fun of you. And you'll be too wrapped up in your damaskness to even notice."  The website name is Woot.com.

And Miatas still rule.  I drove the 2013 MX5 around the Cape this summer top down.  What a blast.  Plus I gained so many points with the great nieces and nephews, it was, um, like, awesome.

Robert Motherwell Collages Guggenheim Museum

Opens September 27th.

I  went to the press preview of the exhibit at the Guggenheim of Robert Motherwell's early collages.  Susan Davidson, the curator of the exhibit spoke lovingly about this period in Motherwell's development as an artist.  She noted that in this period, which covers about a decade from 1941-1951, he was probably the most connected to the materials he used.  The materials include paper he bought on Canal Street--5 sheets for $1.50.  And one of the reporters asked what one of the works was bought for--$150.  Makes one wonder how to value the contributions of artists in our world.  Today that collage would be worth . . .  but what is the worth . . . it inspired me, so that is its worth to me.


Motherwell grew up on the West Coast, graduated from Stanford, went to graduate school at Harvard, and attended Columbia where Meyer Schapiro encouraged him to devote himself to painting instead of scholarship.  Motherwell was influenced by his time in Mexico, he he had his first solo show
at Peggy Guggenheim’s Art of This Century museum/gallery in 1944.  He lectured widely on abstract painting, and he founded and edited the Documents of Modern Art series.

 In 1948, he began to work with his celebrated Elegy to the Spanish Republic theme, which he continued to develop throughout his life.  Robert Motherwell died in Provincetown, Massachusetts on July 16, 1991.






Robert Motherwell: Early Collages
Venue: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York
Location: Annex Level 4
Dates: September 27, 2013–January 5, 2014

The First--and Possibly Only--Bacon Theatre Festival

Sometimes I do other things besides cars.  And the" thing" this week is The First--and Possibly Only--Bacon Theatre Festival.  I'm partnering with some of the coolest playwrights in New York and we've all written six-minute plays, musicals--and in the case of Kate McLeod and Rob Hartmann, an opera.  The festival is being hosted by Wes Klein, the genius behind The Baconery restaurant on Columbus Avenue between 104th and 105th.  Everything in the restaurant has bacon in it.  What's YOUR definition of paradise.  We're holding it at the Ding Dong Lounge, presided over by the incredibly cool (as in, if I had strived everyday to be that cool I couldn't get there) Adrianna Ault Nolan.  Then we have the playwrights  David Johnston, Athur Giron, DeLora Whitney, C. S. Hanson, Lucile Lichtblau, Byron Nilsson, Tzila Levy, Rob Hartmann, Rob Ackerman, Nick Myers, Christie Baugher and Kate McLeod.  The performances take place from 6:45-8:30.  There's bacon mac and cheese, a bacon dessert and wine.  Tickets are $25 and can be bought at 

https://bacontheaterfestival.eventbrite.com/

We have talent coming out of the woodwork for this.  Singers, actors, directors.  No choreography for this one:  it's a reading and the space is, let's just call it limited.  It is, by the way.  Get tickets if you want to be there.  Like today!

Acura TL SE--Such a Sophisticate!

Doesn't this 2013 Acura TL SE have a sleek shape? 

One of my followers was asking me the other day where the hell I've been.  It's a long story involving a renovated bathroom.  You don't want to know.  But everything's back on track and I'm back at the computer.

I went to the International Motor Sports Association's Test Days last week at the Monticello Raceway in Monticello, N.Y.  It was a crystal fall day and as I walked around looking at all the cars that the manufacturers bring to test days for us to drive, I was feeling out of touch with the Japanese luxury brands--Infiniti, Acura and Lexus.  So, along with some of those cars, I drove the Chevrolet Silverado and the Ford F150.  We don't often get to drive these models back to back.  It's enlightening.  I loved both of these trucks but each is its own thing--they feel very different when you drive them.  I have more insight into the truck loyalties that are so strong.

Anyway, it was a great day for us auto journalists.  And I got to drive away in a 2013 Acura TL SE (special edition).  Loved this 4-door sedan with a power moon roof.  It has the coolest 18"x 8.0" chrome look alloy wheels and all season tires.  They looked hot and really set off the paint job in what Acura calls crystal black--a sparkly granite gray--very contemporary.

The  280 horsepower, 3.5 liter V-6 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission was not only responsive, it was quiet, elegant and smooth.  There was just enough growl from the sport-tuned exhaust system to disallow senior discounts.

Fuel economy is 20/city-29/hwy/23 combined, nothing to write home about, but I did fine with mileage.  I wasn't on big highways but I moved along on back roads.

Nice deep cabin is roomy, roomy, roomy.  Loved it.

The way Acura has designed the driver and passenger space with the curved instrument panel makes the front very roomy.  There's also plenty of room in the front and so much room in the trunk my weekly haul practically rattled around.  I tote a lot of stuff back and forth on weekends.

I didn't have navigation in the car and I pretty much stuck with my regular radio--the broadway channel on XM and NPR.  The sound out of the radio was great.  And I went back to my paper instructions, which worked perfectly.  Back roads and all.

Price for this lovely car in 2013 is $38,300.  The 2014s are probably in dealerships now.  Check this one out. 

The 2013 Beetle TDI

The Convertible in Sixties Blue

“It’s a chic car,” my friend Roby said when I put her behind the wheel of the Beetle TDI. “What’s a chic car?, I asked a little disingenuously.  Volkswagen went to great lengths to make this new Beetle appealing to both men and women.  They went so far as to do away with the bud vase, one of the greatest iconic car accessories of all time. Plus, it’s diesel.”

The 2013 is bigger inside, and she, who is one long drink of water, fit very nicely in the car, head to toe.

Powered by a 2.0 liter, 140 horsepower 4-cylinder TDI turbocharged, clean diesel engine that delivers 236lb-ft of torque with a 6-speed automatic transmission and electro-mechanical power steering, the Beetle had smooth acceleration and plenty of it when prompted.

The car was painted Denim Blue, a hark back to the sixties with some tonal differences.  The 1961 VW I bought a year ago––to restore myself with the help of Roby’s son, Brooks, who knows his way around mechanics and will be my guru––is that sixties blue dappled with a bit of rust.

I drove more than 300 miles over a three-day period.  After several long stints, I emerged from the Beetle with an intact back and working legs. It’s a very comfortable car.  Fuel economy is 29 city/39 hwy/32 combined.  I was mostly doing highway driving so mileage was excellent.

The navigation system is pretty straightforward and easy to use, which is about the highest complement you can pay a Nav system these days.  It did refuse to let me input my home address in New York City, trying to make me go to some other Riverside Drive.  Quirks.  These Nav systems all have them.


I did search a couple of gas stations to find diesel.  I had no problems filling the tank and drove by one or two gas stations.

Operation of the radio is uncomplicated. It produces a very pleasing sound, which is provided by Fender, the famous guitar company.  The quiet cabin with Fender’s audio makes a great listening combo.  I’ve recently driven other small cars like the Honda Fit where the cabin noise was noticeable.

With only about $300 in options my vehicle cost $28,360 including destination charges. 

This car is  a complete redo of the “New Beetle”,  the model that brought the car back to America in 1997.  That car was right for its time. But the designers of the New Beetle didn’t want to reference the old Beetle.  This time, Volkswagen has brought design cues from the old Beetle into its new iteration.  They are subtle and the car couldn’t be more modern, but memories stir in the hearts of those of us who grew up loving the Beetle.  You’ll love this one too.

Heads-Up Display--Lordy, lordy

Dashboard Jesus

As my friend Larry Edsall said about this on Facebook, "Now that's a heads-up display."
A head-up display or heads-up display—also known as a HUD—in an automobile projects speed, traffic signs and other information as  transparent display on the windshield in front of the driver.  It allows the driver to keep their eyes on the road continuously without having to look down at the instrument panel  It's showing up on premium and luxury vehicles but should trickle down in the next few years.  I believe Cadillace was the first to put heads-up display in vehicles back in the 90s. There were problems with it that have been ironed out so it is back and I think a good technology.  The above has not been generated by a car company, but it's pretty clever.  The bobbing yellow daisy in the purple container finishes the look nicely, don't you think?

How Many Boxes of Tile Can you Fit into a Fiat Abarth?

Fiat took this photo next to the barbed wire.  So urban!

I was prepared to get a huge kick out of the Fiat Abarth but not to recommend it.  I have been of the opinion that it is too small for U.S. transportation needs.  Families, no.  Outdoorsy couples, no.  Single young women, maybe.  Guys of any age and most occupations--probably not.  People in the design field who make enough money to own a car in an urban setting--yes.

They took this one too.  Graffiti baby.

I drove it for four days recently.

Because I'm a girl, I get to talk about the color or should I say the Rosso (red) paint job.  This color, I assure you, was not chosen in clinics the way color is chosen in some Midwest cities that will remain nameless.  This color has not been clipped from magazines and pasted up on a bulletin board in the design center and talked about endlessly among several designers and their bosses.  This color, and I am making this up but I believe it, was chosen by the lead designer who walked into the studio, looked through some color chips and said––gesturing flippantly with his arms––"that red, Rosso!"   That's how decisive the color is.  It's inspired.  And you get to stare at it a lot, because the dash is the same color as the exterior.

Driving the Abarth with its five speed automatic transmission mounted in the center stack, not on the floor was just a blast.   That placement of the shifter makes it very easy to handle.  At first the transmission seemed a little  jerky but once you get it's sporty groove you adjust to it --it's not seamless, it's sporty. The engine is turbocharged, a 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder that makes about 160 hp. Torque is 107 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm. It's turbocharged so you never feel "OMG it's so small I'm never going to merge."

And this one.  That has to be a Frank Ghery building.  Or at least influenced by Ghery.

The performance leather-trimmed, high-back bucket seats were nicely bolstered and quite comfortable but when I went to fold them it took a bit of yanking.  There's no push button on the front seats.  You have to pull up on a strap and you have to have that strap at the exact right angle or the seat back won't budge.

I was able to fit all my bags into the back by folding down the back seats.  When I ran out of other options it became clear that I would have to drive some wall tile down to New York City from upstate I was skeptical.  But wonder of wonders: I got six boxes of tile into the passenger side of the car.  It set off the seat belt alarm but with some jiggling (and giggling)  I was able to stop it from beeping.  And when your passenger is boxes of tile you can control the radio!

The car's an attention getter.  High fives are as numerous as insects on a windshield.  I was stopped a number of times when getting in and out of the car to talk about it.  One gentleman owned a vintage one and couldn't stop talking about it--seriously.

My Abarth cost $27,400.  It was assembled in Mexico and most of the content of the car is North American.  It has an Italian transmission so we can't attribute the cost to the exchange rate.  You pay for adorable.

The Abarth has airbags front, side and even a knee airbag.  It has an overall five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.   The Abarth is well-equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, remote keyless entry and Fiat even touts it's one step power windows--does any car stateside have roll down windows anymore? 

Base price is $22,000 so there's about $5,600 worth of add-ons and destination charges. It is child seat ready.   There is no navigation system in the car so you can option a Tom-Tom GPS for $600. 

Overall I found the car just a fun, fun ride.  I like small cars.  I like manuals.  I love to drive them.  And this one will stand out as memorable.