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Saturday night I went to a bonafide movie palace, the Lowe's Jersey Theatre. It launched in September of '29 with a now-little-known flick called Madame X. I went there for something else: Josef von Sternberg's fantastic, visually breath-stopping Shanghai Express, starring his muse, Marlene Dietrich.

This week's ep opens with an interesting twist...an upscale car salesman trying to sell Don, the master salesman, on a Cadillac. Later on, we see Don's secretary, Jane, trying to upscale her position, and being confronted by Joan.

Plus, a sneak peek at next week's Mad Men episode, "A Night to Remember"...

It's that time of year, kids (or should I say, Gashlycrumb Tinies) -- we're in countdown mode for this year's Annual Edward Goreyfest and Auction.

The classic "I dreamed I was [blank] in my Maidenform bra" sets the theme for the episode. The opening episode roll reveals the main female characters, repressed Betty, expressed Joan, and sideways Peggy, in undergarments that look like they were designed by architects. While pitching ideas for a new Maidenform campaign, the men start assessing all the women in the office as either "Jackies" or "Marilyns" -- which leads to this week's quiz... "Which Mad Men-Era Female Icon Are You? Take the Quiz!"

Plus, a sneak peek at next week's Mad Men episode, "The Gold Violin"...

I just got the latest catalog from Pottery Barn, and tucked in at the end was an early look at PB's Halloween offerings for this year. Some nice, spooky goods after the jump...

With all due respect to the Liberty Bell "Forever" stamp (that will always cover the cost of mailing a first-class letter under one ounce despite any future rate increases), the Bell has nothing on the Eames stamps. More Eames stamps after the click...

The challenge: The Models are the Clients, Enviro-Friendly Fabrics Only

It's nice that Project Runway is highlighting eco-friendly fabrics. There are quite a lot of them around, some of them new, like recycled materials, some of them tried, true, and terrific. The Greeks and Romans did wonderful things with linen and still influence designers today (just take a look at the Met's recent Costume Institute installation, "Goddess"). Where would Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters be without muslin? And the Victorians and Edwardians really knew how to rock plain, old cotton...