Five Best Films of 2006

It wasn't tough to come up with five great films from the past year, but I realized while making this list that I didn't have to go through an arduous elimination process in order to narrow it down to such a small number. Though there may not have been an abundance of masterworks in 2006, this is a handful of films that all deserve your …

Elizabeth Shepherd Trio: Start To Move

For the daughter of two Salvation Army ministers, Elizabeth Shepherd must have had first dibs on the dusty jazz records dropped in the thrift store donation box. At least that might explain her soulful musical approach, rooted in the classics yet thoroughly modern. The young pianist/chanteuse, and her Toronto trio, step boldly into the continuum with their mature debut release, Start To Move, out now …

LCDP Liquid Detergent for Delicate Textiles and Lingerie

La Compagnie De Provence Marseille (LCDP), one of the most traditional and long-standing French soapmakers, reinvented lingerie soap with their Liquid Detergent for Delicate Textiles and Lingerie ($21). A happy marriage of edgy design, environmentalism and quality, the gothic lettering lends a mean streak but it's gentle enough for even your most precious clothes. It's also 98% biodegradable—not surprising since it is made exclusively with …