J.B. Taylor: The Birthday Party.

Your truly in my favorite stripey bikini and Holly Hobbie lunch pail (Malibu, c.1978).

Today I became 35 years of age (Geminis represent!), and it actually feels good. Since I usually get pretty contemplative on my special day, I decided to lay low this year, so the mister and I celebrated by going to the legendary Elaine's for dinner, followed by a 'teekin'/record hunting trip around our 'hood in Upstate NY. Vintage angels must've been casting their bargain hunting beams down on us today because we scored tons of treasures . . . like a 1930s scrapbook full of rare Hollywood star photos, a wicker suitcase from the 1940s, a 1920s black cast iron ashtray in the shape of a whale that says "Sag Harbor", and about 30 records from a great vinyl shop that was sadly going of business.

And as i've found out through various emails people have sweetly sent, June 19th happens to be an historically awesome day . . . it was the day that the Statue of Liberty arrived in NYC, the day that Congress officially prohibited slavery in the U.S. (1862), and the very first nickelodeon opened (1905), showing The Great Train Robbery (no wonder I love film so much).

Also, many fabulous people share this day of birth with me, so I will now send those people b-day wishes as well . . .

Gena Rowlands, who a few years back was celebrating in the same restaurant as my family and I (apparently a favorite of hers), and as we were getting up to leave, she came up and hugged me warmly while saying "happy birthday". So I told her I grew up in L.A. and had frequently spotted her in my favorite lunch spot, to which she replied, "well then, we'll have to celebrate together next year!". She's the ultimate Gemini goddess, and her in-person luminosity could knock you over with a feather.

Nick Drake, who was sadly gone too soon, but whose magical, timeless tunes will be loved forever.

Ann Wilson of Heart, who my sister used to dress up as in the '80s and sing These Dreams into a hairbrush, while i'd dress as Nancy, and pretend to play guitar on my dad's tennis racquet accompanied by attempts to do her patented guitar solo high-kick. We love you, Dreamboat Annie!

Good birthday vibes also to; Pauline Kael, Wallis Simpson, Louis Jourdan, Pier Angeli, Mia Sara, Paula Abdul, Kathleen Turner, and Salman Rushdie . . . hope you had a nice one.

And kisses to everyone that sent me gifts and messages for the occasion . . . I love you.