J.B. Taylor

Pirates of The Stockholm, Sweden.

On a recent trip to Stockholm's historic Gamla Stan (Old Town), we wandered into a little antique shop in the town square, and though I hardly purchased anything during the visit (I was much too distracted by the charming architecture), I did adopt a very special piece of art that will happily remind me of my lovely Svenska-time, forever.

It's a costume sketch done in pencil and watercolors, c.1930s, with text in Swedish that translates to "Composition for pirate fantasy outfit", signed by the sweet, young artist in the bottom corner. It was love at first spot, and though I was determined not to buy anything that would prove difficult to carry home in my duffel, I couldn't whip out my 86 krona ($13) fast enough. It now hangs on the wall above my bed, yet my only wish is that I could find "Brita" and tell her just how much I adore her work.

Perhaps I've also just found the perfect Halloween costume.

Age of Consent (1969)

I recently viewed the corny yet totally charming coming-of-age tale, Age of Consent, starring a cherubically sexy and sun-kissed Dame Helen Mirren in her earliest starring role.

Based on an autobiographical novel written in 1935 by Norman Lindsey, Mirren plays a wildly curious young woman named Cora, living with her grandmother on an isolated island in the Great Barrier Reef. Her secluded island becomes inhabited by a disenchanted middle-aged pop artist, played by James Mason, escaping from his crowd of beatnik hangers-on, as well as  his own tortured soul. It was directed by Michael Powell (of The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus), so visually, you know it's going to be a beautiful, tropically vibrant feast of color.

It's also nice to watch a warm, bright and Summery film as the air begins to chill, and we bid g'day to the crispness of Fall.

Mirren's Cora tries everything in her power to woo the jaded painter, but he fears corrupting her innocence and simple way of life. After he shows her what it is to be an artist, she yearns deeply to be his creative muse, as well as gain experience, and a sense of sophistication. It's quite hokey, but also impossible to ignore, as Mirren, giving an absolutely fearless performance at only age 22, is mesmerizing, especially when blissfully running around in the buff, under the Australian sun.