oh hello!

A brief hiatus yet I am back to my blogging duties! These past couple of weeks have brought out a lot of anxiety but I see the light at the end of the tunnel! 
First off, I finally found a place to live over the summer and next semester. A small two bedroom- it used to be a recording studio- nice lighting. ha. And....right across from the Trader Joes! Working with the Realtor was moderately difficult. Slash LOVED going on house tours around the Highland Park area- such gems of houses! Especially old craftsman styles.

I made some delicious lasagna the other weekend. how exciting. no shit man, it was delicious and I had a lot of great left overs. It makes me uncomfortable when people confess feelings. I never want to say the words "do you love me?"

Recently I've become quite the push over. Don't really know how to overcome that. Want people to like me.

Who else reads thought catalog. anyone?
Old people like old things because it reminds them of their youth.

I don't understand adolescents that LOVE LOVE Disney. I just don't get this resurgence of childhood bliss- well...I guess I understand. Late teenagers cling to their last years of childhood and don't want to attain any responsibility. Disney is indicative of childhood. Obviously, I was relating this to myself and my dislike for Disney and my love for the 90s. My dressing in 90s garb is my disney.

ahh. shxxx.

road tripppppppppppinnn'

I'll start my post today like I do all my others- APOLOGIES for not writing here for a very long time. But I'm back! From my up the coast exploration Santa Barbara, Hearst Castle, Carmel, San Luis Obispo, and finally, San Francisco and Berkeley.

Though I could have gone to the desert, by myself, and have some quality alone time I chose to go with my three friends up the coast. We had such good fortune- meeting my long lost Chinese Uncle, having a "kick back in Berkeley after dining at Chez Panisse, and finally- Marty and his sherry.
Santa Barbara was so beautiful but very windy and a bit cold on the beach.

We stayed at this sick Best Western in Cambria, CA - and made s'mores in front of the beach. Coronas in the hot tub watching the sunset on the beach.

Hearst Castle bright and early the next morning-

Next, we drove all the way to SF and had the best luck eva- the Inn San Francisco in the Mission was so quaint and fun!

monday. in a lighter shade of blue.

my blog has recently gone a bit by the wayside as  I have been working on midterms, my mother was in town, and I've been busy with some side projects. this soon shall change and I will be back to posting regularly- as I attempt to chronicle my spring break adventures (like omg sb11!)!!!! Road trippin up to San Francisco.

Recent happenings.
Obviously the oscars were last night but ironically I care even less since moving out here.
realizations:
1. james franco and I are the SAME PERSON. I'm serious. we are.
2. Anne Hathaway suffers from "theater kid" but really.
3. cate blanchett can do no wrong. in my book.
4. most of my predictions were correct. but i'm still bitter about ryan gostling not being nominated for blue valentine.
5. fuck celebrities.
6. celebrities that should fuck: scarlett johannson and jeremy renner.

I'm in a great mood. I went on a date last night, it's not raining, i'm healthy, and i'm wearing dinosaur socks. 
i have this problem called....leading on. it's bad. and directly correlates to my inability to be interested in something for more than a week or however long I realize that the idealized view i have of this person is shattered and they really...aren't that cool/interesting/amazing/perfect/you get the idea.
i guess i'm just too self involved to care because I constantly compare people to myself- especially partners. I want someone to be my equal- I want someone who is interesting and will show me cool stuff to see and do- I don't like being the leader. It gets old.

that's why i like old people. they function more as a teacher.

good food can and should be simple

These last couple of days have been full (no pun intended) of simple delicious food.
Rainy Friday night I decided to go hear the love of my life Anthony Bourdain speak at at some random performing arts center in Cerritos. I braved the cold, dark rain and naturally...by myself....went to hear Bourdain. I've read all of his works so it was a bit repetitive but still fun to hear his voice and travel musings in person! He said a few noteworthy things...

1. Why has it come to the point that we pay for people to NOT fuck up my pasta, hamburger, filet of fish. It's almost a relief when something comes to the table that I say "wow, I could not have done a better job...impressive"  My mother always says she hates to go out because she can "do it better."

2. Food is a tool of communication. Dining should be a fun, communal experience. (I should take that advice)

3. It's not hard to get a decent meal. AND what people don't realize is that if you travel the best food (well...most "authentic" at least) probably isn't going to come from the place your concierge recommends. It's ridiculous that as we do become more globalized it's harder to find traces of culture. Fuck Starbucks. and all chains for that matter.

4. Americans are too accustomed to their own "lifestyle" to be good travelers. Yes, that is a sweeping generalization.

So after my swooning session I naturally had to hit up one of my favourite restaurants for a late night dinner. Pizzaria Mozza- literally so good. I had a tri colore pizza with pancetta and a fried egg. Yum. AND, it's simple. Fresh ingredients prepared well and with no big fru fru.

As for my personal culinary adventures this weekend...
Last night I decided to whip up some seared lemon pepper encrusted Ahi tuna in my residence hall kitchen. Some roasted potatoes. My favourite Ina Garten french salad dressing. oh, and goat cheese. I like when I see mouths watering.

This morning an avocado, tomato, goat cheese egg white omelet. Literally took 5 minutes. Who says you can't make a quick, delicious, simple meal- in a tiny ass makeshift dorm kitchen.

I, like Bourdain, have mixed feelings about the Food Network. I still think people would rather eat takeout on the couch and watch Giada's boobs than make her bruchetta (said in heavy Italian accent). The Food Network is on crack. Man v. Food really? Poor pudgy guy taking eating challenges from mediocre (at best) restaurants? Guy Fieri is a tool. I'm not a hater- I do think the Food Network has given many a confused single guy some useful ideas and Ina Garten makes the best food (if you have her budget and ring of gay helpers).

But damn do I hate Rachel Ray.

*make sure you watch the South Park food network episode- CREME FRAICHE! so funny.

Music: 
Good
Better
Best
Amazing

a few...

Bored during a meeting this week so naturally I had to peruse the fashion weeks photos! Ah! Oh how I wish I could be there. But luckily there are video resources/photos to recap.

Tory Burch

Richard Chai

Ruffian

Ruffian

 

 

These are a few of my favorite looks thus far. Some definite 70s vibe (hello David Cassidy Partridge family velvet suit!) and some 90s Clueless swag as well. Can't wait to post more of what I like from the week.

Random thoughts for the moment:
The Piers Morgan show is moderately trashy.
Some aspiring rapper needs to go by the name Quiet.   
More people need to appreciate prog rock.
Freaks and Geeks > Skins
Al Green invented Valentine's Day.

see, do, meet. repeat.

These past two weeks have been ridiculously busy for me. Last Friday I spent the afternoon with the band Oh No Not Stereo for another Viper interview- we met at the Spanish Kitchen in West Hollywood and chatted over drinks and Mexican food. I'm really enjoying the gig though. I get to meet and kick it with cool people and I get to let out my inner rocker. One of my friends is confused about my double life- college student then adult in LA- he asked me what I wear when I go in and interview people etc...
I said "leather."

Oh No Not Stereo is a really chill group though- we had a lot of fun just talking and hearing stories. It's just funny that little 19 year old  blond me is sitting there with these tattooed long haired rock n roll guys in a band in West Hollywood. Who woulda thought.

This week was crazy with papers and events and tablecloths. Oh, and I had a cold. How not cool is that. Gah. Colds are great because they lower my voice=sexy. Snot and sneezing=not sexy. No time for movies or fun or anything. Except for last night.

I had a great time last night. I hit up one of my favorite restaurants. Animal. It's on Fairfax right down the street from Canter's. Amid a meal of veal brains, pig tails with the most perfect buffalo sauce, and uni I was just dazzled again by the culinary expertise. I could gush on and on and let my purple prose flow like the juices of my rabbit loin but you need to see for yourself. We decided to get all three desserts as well...just for kicks.  Bacon crunch bar=the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

After that I headed to Glendale to hear my friend's band perform. I really don't like Glendale I think it's kind of tacky- and the dated Gallaria is the perfect complement to the city.

This song is definitely great to get ready to in the morning- when I'm not on my daily NPR.
The Video is DOPE TOO. GROOVYYYY

It's so nice to get away, meet new people, and do cool shit.
feels good.
too bad i can't breathe.
I sound like a smug ass motherfucker.

love and basketball

there are a few things I really wish I could do in life. I've accomplished some but the two I could never get...

1. I wish I were a little bit taller; I wish I were a baller. In all seriousness I really wish I could play basketball. Watching Lakers/Spurs right now. So I'm kind of a basketball poser but I could be a fan. I could be.

2. Skateboard. I went through a huge skateboarding phase and have a noticeable scar on my left elbow. Bam Margera and Bob Burnquist were my idols.

This tattoo is tight. On the hand.

seven things.

Rainy Sundays are code for going out to brunch, reading the news/The New Yorker, and hitting up the Pasadena antique centers. 

That is what I have done today...and watched the Lakers lose- but that's a different story. Phil Jackson would be a great dad. Pau Gasol looks like a llama and Blake is a scrub.

I don't really have a point to this post but here are se7en things I'm thinking right now.

1. I've begun a new art project. "Sugar Cuba." Map of Cuba made of sugar cubes.

2.Watched the documentary "Wattstax" the other night as part of this weekly Cinematheque. Great music. Richard Pryor is hilarious yet extremely prophetic. This song is dope.

3. Very angry I missed the showing of "Lemmy" in LA- but I strongly encourage everyone to go and see it if it's in your area- and you're down for that kinda thing. Hilarious article in LA Weekly here.

4. Things in my dorm refrigerator: goat cheese, parsnips, Fat Tire, saffron/pistachio ice cream (freezer,actually), grapefruit juice, Moretti, strawberries, red wine, milk. Essentials.

5. Currently sitting on the couch I purchased yesterday. Apparently it's a collectable "Knoll" design piece bought from Nick Metropolis on La Brea. Super cool outside store which carries everything from life size Ronald McDonalds to giant replicas of the Hollywood sign.

6. So I work at the Viper Room writing for their blog. I know. Strange. But my first article is up here. 

7. I really want to write a college living book: The Bougie Kid's Guide to College. Ways to skirt around the doldrums of college. I was talking to one of my friend's about the different between going to school in LA and going to school on campus. The former is way better and anyone can do it.

learning, leisure, latex

I have mixed emotions about this place of learning, leisure, and latex. College. Sometimes...ok a lot of the time...I have this chip on my shoulder- like I'm 'above' college life and partying etc. It just seems sad, demeaning, and backwards. It doesn't help that the school I go to is basically like high school all over again. More and more I think that people "grown-up" people (note: when is one "grown up?") never get out of high school. Sure everyone has a distinct personality that adheres to a certain stereotype given usually during high school- it's just that people can't look past that stereotype. There will always be beautiful popular people who are attracted to others just like them.
I could go on and on about others but I won't. It's always been a characteristic of mine to sit back from a group and analyze personalities.
I have a 6th sense.

Went to the Vista theater on Sunset in Los Feliz last night. Cheaper movie and a way better and more original theater. Going to the ArcLight or whateverthefuck where you get to "pick your seat" for $16 is RIDICULOUS. Little one movie theaters with kitchy decor are the best!
Blue Valentine wasn't as extreme as I thought it would be- with the oral sex hullabaloo etc. but nevertheless a very realistic movie. Realistic and fucking sad. Very sad but I really enjoyed it and both Williams and Gostling killed it so did Grizzly Bear with the soundtrack.

Hmmm what else have I been up to.
The weather has been utterly beautiful. Started my day with a walk then went to hang out with old people in wheelchairs at Huntington Gardens. It's funny. One really has to learn to look. The eye has to be trained. Now more than ever before because we live in a society where everything is to be understood in a glace- look once at a tv or computer screen and you are to soak up everything- because it is presented in a manner for the "see-er" not the "look-er."
ya dig?
It was just cool going through the galleries practicing looking at works of art. Can you tell I'm happy about taking more Art History classes this semester? That's a yes. Plus, reading about Buddhism in the Chinese garden with the sun shining on my face was a plus.
Too bad I'm an idiot and never bring my camera.

*Saturday was "MLK day of service" at my school. We volunteer around LA and get praised for our minimal amount of service. It's sad. But I do appreciate that we have this program. AND THOUGH I DID HAVE TO WORK WITH KIDS...(which makes me anxious) it made me realize that with patience with yourself, the people you are working with, and to see the end result- even a couple hours can help so much*

Feelin' these right now:
Henry Rollins- the love of my life- played this on his weekly KCRW show aka the highlight of my week. 

Tel Aviv "We Got the Computers"

Finally watched It Might Get Loud a documentary about the electric guitar profiling The Edge, Jimmy Page, and (my new crush) Jack White. Jack White is so strange yet so cool. You can tell from hearing him speak he definitely has his unique vision about music and guitar playing/ LOVE that he lives in Franklin, Tennessee!

The Raconteurs "Blue Vein"

k. word (s).
HH

I think we're good here.

17 days into the new year. Those 17 days have been so productive, successful, exciting, fun...I could go on. Hopefully, this continues throughout the rest of 2011. I like to think I possess strong willpower- let's make this happen.
MOTIVATION ASIDE....
Went to the beach today- not alone! Imagine that. Sometimes...I am able to interact with people...tis possible. We were talking about phases people go through. Some people are phase people others not so much. I am a phase person. I have a tendency to get obsessed with things- movies, people, bands, decades etc...for about a couple months then I move on.
For example,
 1. The 60s.
a couple summers ago I became obsessed with the 60s and specifically The Who. Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and yes, my love Pete Townshend. I remember watching the VH1 documentary "The Drug Years" and becoming obsessed with everything 60s. I even remember turning all the lights off in my room, lighting candles, and playing "The End" by The Doors- it was kind of a vigil. Moving. Indeed.

who do you think you are? Mr. Keith Moon.

2. Ernest Hemingway. As I have posted before, I have a love for Hemingway. Traveled to his birthplace, home in Key West, and gravesite. Read his books. His masculinity is something I secretly and twistedly aspire to achieve. He was such a strong personality and knew what he wanted and how to get it. Sure- he was kind of misogynistic. Noted. and overlooked.

Hem's house in Key West

3. Jackson Pollock. Pollock was my favorite artist for probably 10 years of my life. I recreated his action painting style in my own work, I read countless books about him and received many from friends and family, watched the movie with (another love) Ed Harris, and I still get excited whenever his name is mentioned. I've moved on...kind of.

JP. Painter/bamf

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Ok, so every teenager goes through a RHCP phase. mine was freshman year. I went to their concert, worshiped Anthony Kiedis, read Scar Tissue, started playing bass because of Flea and as I write I am looking at my framed vinyl copy of Freaky Styley which I ordered on Ebay.

6. Presidential History. I love reading and learning about the Presidents. I can spout out countless random unnecessary facts about any President from Fillmore to Tyler to Ford. Who was the first to use a telephone in office? Rutherford B. Hayes. Who died because of rotten cherries? That would be Zachary Taylor. This knowledge will come in handy when I make it on Jeopardy.

Current obsessions:
Patti Smith, Siqueiros, the 90s, 70s babydoll dresses, Bill Withers.

Patti Smith & Robert Mappelthorpe

Tom Morello, a wise man.

I love days where I feel like I accomplished something. Accomplished, yes, but more importantly, learned something.
Went to the Hammer Museum in Westwood to hear a conversation between artist Sam Durant and bad ass guitarist/social activist Tom Morello. It was not my first sighting of Tom as he was on my plane from LAX to Chicago last Christmas- I would say we're almost to first name basis status.
The program and the two artists covered a gamut of issues- from censorship to the Black Panther party to Morello's earliest accounts of racism in his suburban Chicago town. It was just really cool to see two artists of different genres having a thought provoking discussion. Until dumbass people gotta get their question/statement in during q&a time...
BUT...Morello is an inspiration not only because he's a fucking amazing and groundbreaking guitarist but he's also fucking smart. not smart. wise. He's one of those people that is clairvoyant and moreover acts on what he believes and wants to change injustices around the world.
Not to mention Rage is one of my favourite favourite bands. Just raw energy, man.

Furthermore, the power of art has been on my mind recently. Reading Patti Smith has made me think of this even more. She talks a lot in her book about the times she questions why her and Robert Mapplethorpe lived their lives for art. To be an artist you can half ass it. Art is your life, your sole devotion.
Artists live their lives for art and dedicate their life to it.

in platform double suede

I remember maybe two summers ago when the 90s band Marcy Playground came to play a show in Chattanooga. Always looking for someway escape my house and go "DT" was always a pleasure.  I looked in the paper and fondly remembered the song Sex and Candy and decided that was my plan for the evening. A failure. I was 17. You had to be 18.

Too. Young. Always the issue. I'm not saying I hate being a youth but it's obnoxious.
Constantly trying to remind people I am a mere child.
My mother says I am growing up to fast. Sometimes I do want to skirt around the whole college thing. It makes me nauseous- not saying I'm above that- not at all. 
But teenagers scare the living shit out of me.  

hung around venice yesterday. so pleasant sitting on the grass. people watching. reading my new book. abbot kinney is a really cool street- lots of chic furniture and vintage shops to peruse.

alley in Venice

currently reading: Just Kids by Patti Smith- refreshing and cleanly written
currently listening to: Settle Down by Kimbra
currently wearing: my grandmother's gold rimmed Ray Bans
currently watching: completely underwhelmed with Colbert and Sedaris' Strangers With Candy. Does not match my sense of humor. But I did enjoy Girl Next Door last night! ha!

breezy day at beach

he got legs like linguine

so. 1 month is too long for a break. i get into a routine and need to keep with that shit. ya hear? (oh dear, starting to talk like bon qui qui again...)
probably 12 episodes of Chappelle's show in 2 days...?

BUT. I have been seeing some great movies recently...
My new fav hangout: The Aero theater on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica- as I said...where I saw The Misfits and San Fransisco. LAST NIGHT....Andy Garcia was there and The Lost City and City Island were screened. Two very very good movies by someone who obviously cares immensely about acting and really wants to perfect the craft to the best of his ability- plus looking dashing in an ascot and tortoise shell glasses.
 i brushed his shoulder.
feeling achieved.
*but really- go see The Lost City- amazing epic about the days leading up to the Cuban revolution- great soundtrack.  Plus, Bill Murray (the love of my life) has an interesting supporting role- the usual from murray.

True Grit- Jeff Bridges is just so attractive. Had a crush on him since the dude. But, the movie really was in true Coen fashion- dankkkk. Funnier than expected as well. The only thing- why was Josh Brolin given top billing- he's in the movie for like 15 minutes. Whatevs- he's bangin Diane Lane- jealous.

Also had to throw Friday in there- Ice Cube is such a pussy in that movie.

I don't order lemondrops.

she would.

I've have gotten pretty damn close to perfecting the art of dining alone. While this might be seen as...pathetic, sad, lonely, or pitiful I relish in the experience. PLUS...I'm on this new trend of being very lucky and makin' friends everywhere I go!

{ok, so these strangers probably just feel sorry for me and figure that I am an easy target- a young girl dining alone- let's pounce.}


Carrying on. The 'greatest French thinker of the 20th century' and my personal favorite French writer (a close second is Camus, but he's Algerian..whatever) Jean Baudrillard. Just (finally) finished his book America and found numerous snippets of knowledge applicable to my everyday life and he says that dining alone is possibly the SADDEST thing that could happen to a man.
Maybe, he really meant man as man and not universally. Dining alone as a man would be sad- women don't make the effort to hit on guys- it's still a social norm for the men to take the risks/be the pursuer. Dining alone as a girl could possibly be seen as douchebaggy because she is just wanting someone to approach her and flatter her ego.
I am not saying that girl is me.
Not yet.

Gable and Monroe in The Misfits

I have been on a Marilyn Monroe kick recently. I've never really liked the woman because I didn't like how sensitive and feminine she was- and men loved it- because they believe aka she played them-like she could be taken advantage of - she was her movie role of "the dumb blonde" manifested in size 12 glory. BUT... I watched the creepy-ass Don't Bother To Knock then last night attended the Carey Grant double feature at the AERO in Santa Monica. After eating pie and Earl Grey for dinner I headed to the theater and saw The Misfits- an Arthur Miller (my love) screen play with Clark Gable (his last movie) and Monroe (her's as well.) Would definitely watch again- but god did the Marilyn character bother me- crying over animals and shit...pussy. And, again, that's what men like.
Next, was the dreadfully long but entertaining San Francisco (1936) about some drama nightclub shit then culminating in the 1906 earthquakeeee!

*Another point- what about going to movies alone? Is that off limits too? Is that pathetic?

no.

back [again] in LA/ why bother having a blog if you're not going to post.

Yes, I have been a less than satisfactory blogger yet I've gotten
like so
into social media recently.
like wow.

kidding aside,
Happy New Year everyone- and my catchphrase of the new year "This one goes to eleven!" holla at Spinal Tap (one of the greatest movies ever.)

Where I was at 12:00AM 1/1/11:
Alone, drinking some champagne, near a fire, watching fireworks from the mountain above still in Sun Valley.

What I wore:
Warm, because my brother and I departed into the cold to smoke our yearly New Year's Eve Cigar.

Rest of my trip proved successful including my night alone (my family left a day early so I was left to my own defenses in Ketchum) WHERE ...
I visited Hemingway's grave site!
For those of you who don't know...I have a minor (ok, major) obsession with Ernest Hemingway, yes the 20th century writer. I have thus far been to his birthplace in Oak Park, Illinois, home in Key West, and now his grave site.

I got a bit emotional...