Forever 21

It's unusually warm today here in Indiana, with temperatures in the 60s. It will turn cold again soon, but today I walked around the yard and took a photo of our naked sculpture here. It looks as though she needs some clothes. I've draped her before to entertain us, but instead I could just go buy her something to wear at Forever 21.

Forever 21 is a clothing store chain that has become very popular all across the country. We have one in Fort Wayne at Glenbrook Square Mall. Teens love this store - they have a huge selection of things, it's trendy, and prices are generally cheap. It began in California, and was first called Fashion 21. There was one store in the L.A. area in 1984, and by 1997 that number had grown to 40 stores. The Korean-born owners bought designs from hundreds of southern California clothing makers and put them together in their original store. It still works that way - one problem with this is there is no uniform size-scale across the store. A 6 in one item might be the same size as an 8 in another. But, who cares? Informal, fun, so-Cal: It's not Macy's or Banana Republic, but it's not intended to be so.

The local store has an interesting decor - faux tin ceilings (at least I don't think they could be real) that have been white washed; a dozen or so elaborate chandeliers hang from the ceilings. I really like how the accessories and jewelry have a room of their own. The costume jewelry is well displayed, and there is a massive collection: it is one of the best features of the store. Costume jewelry is so elaborate and fun right now: lots of metallics, chain mail strung together, and feathers (really a huge trend).

Separates are the focus of the line. It's not a suits or dresses type of brand. Forever 21 has gained a measure of media attention by printing the bible verse John 3:16 on the bottom of their shopping bags - a witnessing of their Christian perspective. What I didn't know is that the hamburger chain In-&-Out Burger has done the same thing on some of their cups.

Although Forever 21 has been sued by Diane Von Furstenberg, Gwen Stefani and Anna Sui for having suppliers copy their designs, reportedly the company is trying to show more business acumen by assuming a policy of corporate responsibility and posting their plans on their website. For some fun and inexpensive shopping, give it a try. The store is kind of jam-packed with merchandise, which I think makes it difficult, but if you're able to keep your sanity while digging, I'm sure you can find something you like.

Dog Days of Winter

It's been a mild winter in Indiana this year - nothing to complain about. Yet, we languish, wishing for the spring. It will come soon, as we see the tips of buds in the trees, and the tops of the daffodils beginning to peek through the ground. It's time to dig up an old poem of mine, never published. I found it waiting for me in a drawer. It's written in an old style of mine, and written (in some measure) in honor of a friend who has lived with Lou Gehrig's disease for many years now. Blessings to you, and sleep well until spring.



What kind of dawn is this
to loom before the day, so bold?

Pink colors lure one from soft bed
to greet the earth and sky, transcendent in this flight.

A growing, living glow burst from blueness
that becomes a scarlet ribbon on heaven's throat
a swirling comet motionless in space
a crevasse of fire in the sky.

Living dawn so wondrous and magical
that life returns to the earth and heart
a day that begins as a smoky, golden thread
blooms true - orange and peach as no fruit ever dreamed to be.

Most will blink and miss it
but those who view
will know all is well
that there is hope -
a private dawn under the sun.

Where nothing is ever new
something is - this radiant dawn
that makes this day, mine.

SLG

A Star is Born on Remodeled

There's a new guy on reality TV and his name is Paul Fisher. He may have been around for a long time representing top fashion models, but he's stepped up his game - the CW Network is featuring him in "Remodeled" - a reality-drama about his current mission to improve and then network with obscure or small modeling agencies. His staff call him "the vampire" (he works so much it's as if he never sleeps). He is also abrupt, explosive, a live wire - he seems compulsively driven on this new show, and his passion makes for good storytelling.

On the most recent episode that aired at 9 p.m. in Fort Wayne on Wednesday, Paul and his model scouting staff and assistant are in Phoenix to evaluate a potential agency for his group: The Network. He says although the top modeling agencies in the country are housed in New York, the models themselves come from small towns or cities all around the country. He's got the financial backing of the TV show, the business and its sponsors to promote small agencies that he deems worthy: which means finding and representing local talent. It's an interesting hypothesis, and I thought of Chef Ramsey of "Kitchen Nightmares" yelling at small town cooks and restaurant owners. It is sort of the 'Reality' television drama formula. Remodeled is fun, trendy, offbeat, edgy - I'm sure just right for the demographic, the target audience for the CW.

The small agency in Phoenix is called Courtier, and is owned by three men. They are struggling to make it, and are moonlighting at other jobs. Paul convinces the men to transition to an all-male model agency, something that doesn't yet exist in Phoenix. In the show he asks them to narrow their focus and learn how to better scout for talent.

It seems as though the show plays up conflict and drama, and works off his assistants Olga (who helps teach the owners how to find talent) and Joseph, who glowers under his dark bangs in his token cranky-goth sidekick job. Courtier manages to find new talent, Hunter, in a mall "cattle call"- in the background it looked like I saw no more than a dozen or so candidates in a queue. Somewhere else, college student Luke rolls up on a skateboard to be sized up by the agents. Both boys are taken for haircuts and wardrobe changes, and in the end Paul decides Courtier is capable of picking talent after all.

A new agency to his Network is connected, and Paul surprises the staff with new office space and the outfittings and furniture for it. One of the Courtier founders is so excited to see they have been accepted, he uses his cell phone to quit his day job. I imagine the next episode will take Paul Fisher to another town or city, another small agency, to help them make a go of it. How about Charmaine's in Fort Wayne, Indiana? Or near Southpark, Colorado, not far from where this shot of a water tower was taken? The idea of the entrepreneurial spirit in the United States, the fact one can have a dream of owning an agency, of all things, or being approached about being a model, of all things, and then those dreams converging or those opportunities breaking and the whole thing is engineered and produced for national television - we've come a long way, and hope springs new eternally.

Exploring the Rivergreenway

One of the most distinguishing features of Fort Wayne's downtown area is the confluence of three rivers: The St. Joe, the St. Mary's, and the Maumee. It's a natural place for a park: Headwaters Park. A century or two or three ago, trappers and traders met with American Indians and settlers in this location as a kind of town center. Today it's the center of a group of trails and paths along the riverbanks, known as the Rivergreenway.

This 24-mile long, linear park provides for lots of opportunities for recreation: biking, walking, running, skating, dog-walking, and nature-watching. The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department, along with the cities of Fort Wayne and New Haven, own and maintain the miles of trails.

Sometime in the next few years, the trail network will connect to a new section, called the Wabash & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. When this section is completed, the linked trails will increase to a length of 50 miles.

There are many historic sites to see along the trails, including the historic Old Fort and the old landing district. The trails are shaded, peaceful and quiet, mostly out of view from streets, roads and cars. Passages under bridges and tunnels feel secret and untouched by time. It's a way to be in the city and escape from it at once.

It's noteworthy when towns take down old railroad track right-of-ways and do trail systems. One of these on the north side of Fort Wayne will also soon plug into this trail system, further expanding it. See you on the trail, and happy trails indeed to you.