la artists market

If you love art and could do without pretense, you'll love the LA Artists Market.

This is an inviting little space on Fairfax featuring an eclectic mix of local artists that reminds you of what an art gallery ought to be. They regularly open new shows which means lots of wonderful art to enjoy on their walls (or yours) and receptions that are worth dropping in-on, especially if you're a local looking for something different to do on a Saturday night.

The current show just opened this weekend, Jul 22nd and runs thru Aug 31st. The next show opens with a reception on Saturday, Aug 26th

Aside from the usual gallery receptions, they're doing a waffle brunch Saturday mornings all Summer long. Another great reason to stop by and check out some great art. If you want to pop in during the day, they're open Thurs- Sun, 10a-8p.

517 1/2 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036

arclight hollywood

Hands down, this is the best movie theater in LA.

I had to jump on the bandwagon here, because everyone's griped about the price of admission and no one has really talked about the free membership program. Sure you pay a dollar or two more per showing (The Grove is up to $12 and you still have to fight kids, crowds and mess for a seat), but who else is offering you points for every dollar you spend? You can redeem them for concessions, discounted companion seats and even free tickets.

Member movies (ones that have been out a few weeks) are only $11 anytime - and you're still in a comfy reserved seat, in a quality theater, without a bunch of screaming kids. Worth every penny.

Then there's the special member's events (you get notice of these when you sign up for their e-mail), like advance screenings and openings with writer and director Q&A's, and their 21+ screenings which include bar service. What's better than having a martini with your date night movie? Try the Orangesicle without the triple sec, it rocks.

We just saw a screening of Clerks II on a Friday night at 5:30 followed by a Q&A with Kevin Smith (that went on until they had to literally drag him out). Because it was before 6pm, the tickets were only $11 and the seats I got online were awesome. How can you beat that?

And the concessions - Who doesn't love a big sausage and some caramel corn? This really is some of the best caramel corn around short of making it yourself.

As for the Cineramadome.. I always loved this theater and it makes my heart smile that they've breathed some new life into it without taking away from the integrity and historic value of the structure and its features. They still do lots of classic film screenings, complete with intermissions. If anything, it's now a draw for thousands of people who never would have bothered.

What more can I say. Thank you Arclight. We love you!

Photo courtesy of Joan S.

summertime

... and the living hasn't really been easy since we were fifteen, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have a fabulous soundtrack to do your thing to. too little time to search out new music, dig thru your old faves and spend hours on track order for summertime mixes? thank yewknee for doing the heavy lifting for you...

otome sophiste is one of the best, breezy, bangin' urban mixes i've ever heard - anywhere. download the podcast and then drag all of the individual tracks into a new playlist for the mix to flow like it should. check out a change in the weather mixed by elastic heart, and summer romance mixed by porkhead. crack open a cold beer, sit back and enjoy!

l'scorpion

If you know me, you know I'm a tequila drinker, and L'Scorpion is just my kinda tekillya bar.

It's got the look of a dark, seedy, cave of a watering hole, but it's actually clean (the way I like my dining establishments). They have an impressive selection and a number of specialty drinks that were pretty damn good, even to the fussy likes of me.

Knowing I hadn't had a chance to check this place out, The Beer gave me a surprise party here for my birthday a couple of months ago. We were in the back room - the one Manny mentioned in his review - but thankfully had a much better experience.

Thursday nights (which my b-day just happened to be) they do a nice tequila tasting and pairing menu for $45/person. It was a great experience, with surprisingly good food, some amazing tequila and well thought out pairings.

As for the service, we must have gotten lucky because the (scantily clad) waitress we had was very attentive, despite working the front bar area along with a full house in the back. She even stopped by a few times with some special shots for the birthday girl, including some strong fruity concoction the bartender came up with called jungla (pronounced yoongla, think, the tequila version of jungle juice) which was the beginning of the end for me, but damn good at the time.

Sidebar: I rarely get wasted, (even drinking loads of tequila, which seemed to impress the bartender who continued to pour), and this ended up being the first night Beer saw me completely "tossed off my box" as he would say. It was all fine and well until we got into the car, at which point, I realized I had to work in the morning and it was gonna be a loooong night - a long night spent passed out on the cold tile of the bathroom floor until about 4am when I could sit up again. Anyhoo ...

I think even the greatest place is gonna have an off night, so I'd say this one is worth giving a shot -no pun intended- and checking out yourself. Let me know what you thought.

Tip: They have a good happy hour here from 6-8 every night if you live or work in the area.

the bowery

For quick, fresh, anytime fare, don't miss The Bowery on Sunset. I'm lucky to be able to take a quick jaunt across the street for lunch, but this is also a great pick if you're catching a flick at Arclight up the street.

The space is small - it's really a bar with a restaurant - but they somehow manage to get everyone squeezed into the black leather booths and chairs comfortably. The specials, along with the respectable by the glass beer and wine list, line a chalkboard wall which meets a coffered tin ceiling and shiny, white subways tiles which also define the street-side exterior. All in all, it's classic, chic and masculine space with a very clean, east-coast vibe.

Americana lunch standards include a juicy, customizable Burger that's nothing short of heaven with a side of their signature Sweet Potato Fries and a Spinach Salad that makes me want to clean my plate every time. Seasonal specials include a Seared Ahi Tuna dish cooked perfectly and served with a very complementary corn and black bean relish, and a stand up Gazpacho that's great given the Summer heat. For dinner, the Moules Meuniere were fresh and sweet and even got a nod of approval from The Beer, which is not an easy feat.

If you're in the hood, this stop should be on your list.

6268 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 465-3400

zen zoo

Considering I come to this Zen Zoo at least once a week, it's only fitting that I give it a great review.

Whether you're in the mood for a delish tea boba concoction (they have a dozen or so named after the signs of the Chinese zodiac), a light meal or organic/vegan sweet treat, they've got you covered.

The staff are fabulous and always happy to give you a sample of this or that.

The hidden, little upstairs dining area is a great find and perfect for a quiet lunch with a read from Borders next door, or an impromptu business lunch.

Tip: If you're in the market for some "alternative" service, or just happen to be curious about what's going on around town, there's a little community board on the wall near the front door that's nearly always jam packed with new business cards.

1517 N Vine Street
Hollywood, CA 90068
(323) 962-9969

here comes the grocery store!

Grocery delivery isn't just for late night cigarettes and the lazy anymore!

A friend turned me on to this service and I've been hooked ever since. You name it, they've got ya covered. They have everything from fresh produce, meats, herbs and pantry basics to baked goodness from La Brea Bakery, artisanal cheeses, and even paper goods, cleaning supplies, pet stuff, and, um "feminine hygiene" products. And of course, a full range of booze, smokes, mixers and ice to round out the experience.

You go online, browse and place your order, then you have the option of choosing immediate delivery (within 30 minutes - no joke), or setting a future time or date (I've ordered an 8:30am delivery at 2am the night before knowing it'll be a good wake up call). That simple.

The delivery fee is just $3.99 and if you spend more than $75 (which most of us do when we're at the market), the delivery is free. At first, I felt indulgent having my groceries delivered, but when you've worked a string of 12 hour days or have last minute company on the way and need to clean house, it's a blessing. Oddly, I've found we actually spend less on Yummy than we would at the store because it seems to preclude us from doing all the impulse shopping we normally would. Go figure ..

Note: Yummy.com delivers to WeHo, Hollywood, Park La Brea (aka the white projects), Hancock Park, Beverly Ctr. and the vicinity. If you're further west, check out HomeGrocer.com (Yummy is the parent company) which offers the same service and rates.

Tip: Try the hand made giant S'Mores and their deli Chicken Curry Salad. Good stuff. Oh, and the delivery boys are cute. Never hurts ;)

musings and expectations

i've always had mixed feelings about the new years resolution process. it just strikes me as another way to set ourselves up for failure. just as i believe that valentines day is a ruse (if you have to wait with bated breath for your lover to lavish you with attention on one corporate deemed day of the year, it's high time for some serious reassessment), so is saving up all of your motivation for one day of the year. when a relationship is thriving, you should never want for flowers, champagne, kind words and tokens of affection. those are things that should be incorporated to keep things alive on a regular basis. by the same token, if you're striving to live a balanced life, how can you pull it off in one day? if there's ever really hope for change, it has to be spread out in manageable bits all the year round.

if you haven't already, why not start a new valentines and new years resolution? make them days to check in on yourself. are you doing all you can to be the person you want to be? are you giving (and getting) everything you need to (and from) your relationships? why not? what little steps can you make on a daily basis to effect real change? what can you do NOW that you know you can incorporate into your lifestyle to be the best you, you know you can be?

think about it. keep it simple. make it happen. enough said.

l

as posted dec 2003:

Another year has rolled along and it's been my intention to post my list of New Year resolutions. As if having them out in the ether would somehow help them to manifest. Now that I've had days upon days to ruminate on said resolutions, I realize that I have none. Not a single one. What could that mean? That I've become so enlightened that there is in fact no need to start the new year with a clean slate? That I failed so miserably last year that I have no business starting on a new list? That I've become so complacent that I can't be bothered to think of ways my life could use improvement? Perhaps that I've reached a point where I've come to embrace that which I cannot change, and understanding that which can be changed, is a part of a constant evolution. Not just something to be thought of for the sake of making a list. I think I'll go with the latter. And with that, a list of that which I'd like to see continue to evolve and manifest.

One nod to New Year's Eve - it's high time to stock up on your bubbly! If you're running low, shop early and take advantage of holiday sales to restock your shelves for the New Year.

Cheers, everyone!

1. To live in integrity.
Sounds simple. In reality, not so simple. Contrary to what one may think, this has little to do with telling others the truth and much more to do with not lying to yourself. This, I assure you, is about as challenging as it gets. However, it does still have a great deal to do with being truthful, because let's face it, telling lies for the sake of telling people what they want to hear gets old in a hurry.

2. To be well.
Basically, to take care of myself. The reality is that I've reached a certain age where if you don't, the only person who suffers, is you. Even though I see the same girl I always have in the mirror every morning, now she has a few wrinkles and enough gray hair to warrant some very strategic highlights along with the $150 haircut. That means more yoga. Even the classes twice a week before work I hate to get up for but am always so thankful to have on the days I do. It means not being too lazy to take care of my skin, even when I'm so exhausted I think sleeping in my mascara will give me a leg up on the next morning. And it means knowing when to turn down the third cocktail party of the week because I need the sleep more than I need another martini.

3. To be content.
Another one that sounds simple and obvious. Not so much. I've learned that even when I have everything, it isn't enough. I always thought it was about what I didn't have and striving to fill in the blanks - a better husband, a better career, a nicer car, a better body, another pair of manolos. And quite simply, it's not. It comes from within, not from anyone or anything else, regardless of how much money you have to spend - which is so much easier said than done. It's actually a counter productive process where the more you acquire the more miserable you seem to be. If you're not continually working from the inside out, what's the point? It's about being mindful. Being grateful.

coming soon!

tune in next week ..

• how to: integrate your spanish revival decor with his comic book geek chic (ahem. make that, graphic novel. this CAN be accomplished without bloodshed. honest.)
• the first update on my guerilla search for gainful employment (including the "very attractive" job offer from a business i learned was under sanctions from the ftc, the irs AND the fda.)
• the joys of british cooking (yes! they really do exist!)
  
• why i "just say no" to the marketing of olympic fashions (is that an oxymoron, or is it just me?)
• last but not least: "failure to mount." (no, this is not a commentary on my love life.)

come fly with me

another all time favorite from the brilliant and hilarious minds at daily candy. in case you're wondering if i left this for my brit lovah before we hit that 9 hour flight to heathrow to visit his family over the holidays? you're damn right, i did! thankfully, he navigated every question correctly - just long enough to distract me and get his hands on my expired passport. that aside, we were able to agree on hot italian chicks and the fact that the food is the love! what a waste of virgin in-flight entertainment and winter knickers, that would have been!

l





1. Hypothetical scenario: One of us gets bumped to first class. Who's going — you or me?

2. Complete the following: When in Rome ...
a) get wasted, dude!
b) don't miss the Spanish Steps.
c) check out those hot Italian chicks.
d) beware of panhandlers.

3. Complete the following: Guidebooks are ...
a) useful, but shouldn't be relied upon.
b) to be used in conjunction with highlighters.
c) for tourists, not travelers.
d) best used as a doorstop.

4. What exactly is your policy on carrying other people's luggage?

5. I have some extra room in my suitcase. I should pack:
a) running shoes.
b) some candles to put by the tub.
c) your handcuffs.
d) my handcuffs.
(Trick question. There is no way I'll have extra room in my suitcase, fool.)

6. Do you have a fetish for having sex in historical landmarks or national parks?

7. We're at the airport and one of us (i.e., me) gets hungry. You then:
a) tell me you'll watch the bags and send me to the nearest Pizza Hut.
b) ask me what I'm in the mood for and go looking for it.
c) suggest we find a nice place to eat, since there's a good 45 minutes before boarding.
d) take something sweet out of your pocket, because you knew I'd be hungry and that airport food is awful.

8. You've finally agreed to take me to your parents' house for a long weekend.
We get there and you:
a) introduce me to your parents, then leave me with your mother for some quality time.
b) suggest that you get the bags while I get to know your parents.
c) have your parents give me a tour of the house while you play with Rex, the family dog.
d) do not dream of leaving me alone with your parents for even one second.

9. Fill in the blank: When we get on the plane, your iPod is ___ iPod.

10. True or false: France, like any foreign country, is a place where you should be careful not to eat too much.
(False. You tell me not to eat in France, it's over.)

11. We get separated. We'll find each other at:
a) the nearest sports bar.
b) the nearest boutique hotel.
c) the nearest shoe store.

12. I will not under any circumstances try to get a look at your passport photo. ________________ (sign here)

why we're not going out

let's start with the short list, shall we?

1. you live in the 909, 949, 562 or the 661 (you may be able to talk me into why it was a good property investment, but that won't explain why you're actually living there)
2. you want to convince me of why life is better behind the orange curtain
3. you can't stop talking about how much you hate LA (go back to wherever the hell you came from already, really)
4. you have someone else's name tattooed somewhere on your person
5. you're emotionally damaged beyond repair
6. you're verbally (or in any other way) abusive
7. you've attempted suicide (even one time is too many)
8. you're old enough to be my father
9. you're so young i can't help but think of how old someone would have to be, to be my father
10. you want me to pass your script off to someone (i know, it's really good, and i still don't care)
11. you don't find my insatiable nature endearing (i like to think of it as being driven)
12. you're put off by any degree of kink
13. you're so kinky that it puts me off (foot fetishes go here)
14. my girlfriends can't stand you
15. you can't stand my guy friends
16. you're threatened by my friends
17. you're threatened by me
18. i can't bring you out with my colleagues
19. you're not gainfully employed
20. you're an actor (sorry, i don't date talent)
21. you're a picky eater
22. you're a vegetarian/vegan
23. your name is scott
24. your name is peter
25. we have nothing to talk about and conversation borders on the monosyllabic
26. silence makes you uncomfortable
27. your commitment issues are deeper seated than mine
28. i'm taller than you in heels (come on! i'm barely 5'2"!)
29. you've ever thought it was ok to use meth (even if you're in construction)
30. you still think doing coke every weekend is 'recreational'
31. you've had a restraining order taken out against you (even if she was 'asking for it')
32. you never imbibe and/or have never had a drop of booze in your life
33. you imbibe so much that i don't really recognize you when you're not inebriated
34. you're even remotely felonious
35. you're more of a primper than i am
36. you don't primp at all
37. you think an entire closet of one designer's clothes is having style
38. you wear too many earrings
39. you wear really bad, ill fitted, or worn out underwear
40. you never, ever wear underwear
41. you don't appreciate my underwear (or lack thereof)
42. you don't defend my honor (even when we both know i don't need you to)
43. you have a limp handshake
44. i feel like my balls are bigger than yours (this is obviously figurative and not literal)
45. you have no presence or worse yet, you're not present
46. your confidence borders on arrogance
47. you're insecure or otherwise need to have your ego regularly reinflated
48. you're rude to the help
49. you generally don't think to say thank you
50. you're a liar (or any other incarnation of dishonest, including with yourself)
51. you're less motivated than i am
52. you like to sleep the weekends away entirely
53. you never sleep in on sunday and roll out of bed for brunch
54. you need a mommy
55. you routinely butcher the english language (i'll bend a little if you're esl.. everyone knows i have a thing for foreigners ;)
56. your idea of reading is skimming the back of the cereal box
57. you haven't the slightest interest in what i'm reading
58. you never smoke
59. you're a chain smoker/smoke in the house
60. you absolutely hate cats
61. your politics are extreme (to either end of the spectrum)
62. you hate the 80's new wave i listen to in the car
63. you don't get why i like kcrw
64. you don't like to dance (or you expect me to lead)
65. you think my volunteer work is a waste of time
66. you work for me/with me
67. you're married, but really, it's over (i've been you and i'm sooo not interested)
68. you don't watch porn
69. you watch porn that is illegal in most liberal western countries
70. you like to have sex with the lights off
71. you have bad teeth (and you're not british and incredibly hot, sexy, witty and bright)
72. you usually date asian women (and feel the need to reiterate this often)
73. you don't have a car
74. you don't know how to drive a manual
75. you drive a miata (sorry, i won't be able to help making fun of you)
76. you think i should be really impressed by what you drive (unless you think i'm sexy driving aforementioned car, in which case, i have been known to make an exception or two)
77. you're a slow, defensive driver and/or squeamish about my driving
78. you constantly want me to put the top up
79. you can't leave the house without your baseball cap
80. you snore so loud i can't sleep ... even when you're not drunk
81. you have no idea what i mean about energy no matter how many times i explain it
82. you scoff at my yoga practice/running and refuse to even give it a try
83. you can't respect that i really do like to be alone sometimes and it has nothing to do with you
84. you can't understand that i really am a busy girl (if i didn't want to see you, you'd be the first to know)
85. you insist on making plans but cannot keep them to save your life
86. you don't like to travel
87. you have a total inability to be spontaneous
88. you're not into using condoms because you're "clean" or they "don't fit you"
89. you haven't been tested in years because "you know you're clean"
90. you're a bigot or a racist
91. yOuVe eVeR WriTTen LiKe tHiS
92. you don't find any humor in my sarcasm
93. you're gay (worse yet, you don't know it, but i do)
94. i have to explain my humor to the point that it's no longer funny
95. you wear white socks with black trousers
96. you have really bad tattoos (or you hate mine)
97. i love your accent but can't for the life of me understand you
98. you're a scientologist
99. i'm just not that into you

of course, some rules are made to be broken, (wink, wink). bonus points to anyone who can connect the dots and figure out which of these correlates to men i've dated and which one(s) apply to the man i'm living with!

fun with lexicons

another ditty on our fine city from the fabulous folks at daily candy. ooooh, how i love the lexicons! a couple of these have already infiltrated my usual vernacular.

l

Paradise City. A place that so often leaves us at a loss for words (okay, fine, it's the blue martinis). Until now.

dressed to spill
adj. 1. Used to describe a woman's precarious and flirtatious state of dress, wherein a great deal more than cleavage will likely be revealed. (Look at Alexis's nonexistent top. That girl is dressed to spill tonight!)

hybris
n. Excessive pride based solely on one's hybrid car.

margariter
v. To serve a margarita for the express purpose of loosening up. Alt. margaritim. (He's just sitting in the corner, Sally. If you're interested you're going to have to margaritim.)

Mulholland jive
n. 1. A party way up in the hills. 2. The drive home following such a party.

p.u.i.
n. planning under the influence. The act of plan-making late in the evening, especially with friends, for next-day activities, such as shopping on Melrose and brunch.

restaur-romp
n. A date that gets out of hand at a dinner table and/or bar area. (After two bottles of wine my date turned into a full-on restaur-romp.)

sky-barred
n. The condition of being excluded from evening planning for having suggested the Sunset Boulevard staple one too many times. (You're sky-barred, Katie. We'll let you know where we're going when we decide.)

self-valetdation
n. Every now and then, when one parks on one's own, just to get away from it all.

Saturday night fever
n. Often followed by a real fever, the delirium that comes over some women as they get (un)dressed for a Saturday night on the town, believing that the temperature is as much as twenty degrees warmer than it actually is.

ordinary spirituality

another classic worth posting for the insight of sylvia boorstein.

l

whenever i find myself in the midst of substantial transition or change - or for that matter, feeling a little lost in the world - i often revisit some of my favorite books and authors. naturally, there is some comfort in nostalgia and connecting to the familiar, but moreso, i think it can be grounding to reflect on where you were the last time you picked up a particular tome. especially in contrast to where you are now .. and where you'd like to be.

one of these authors is sylvia boorstein. (if you've not heard of her, she's akin to a wise jewish grandmother who's checked herself into an ashram). the next few lines from one of her books i think will speak to most:

there are some peculiar notions about what constitutes "being spiritual." there is an enormous possibility of getting side-tracked into self conscious holiness, of putting energy into acting the part of a "spiritual person." spiritual living does not need to be a big deal. being a meditator and developing equanimity do not mean becoming weird. sometimes people decide to make a lifestyle change in the service of waking up. some people join communities or religious orders. some people change their diet. some people become celibate. all of those choices are, for some people, very helpful tools for waking up, but they aren't inherently spiritual. at the heart of spirituality is mindfulness. the aware, balanced acceptance of present experience. it's easier than you think.

- sylvia boorstein

if you enjoyed this, you might want to check out Daily Om.

daily dating affirmations

here's another one from the archive. why? because some things bear a little repeating.

l

for the first time in my life, i've caught myself obsessing over a man. something i thought i couldn't possibly be guilty of (because i'm above that and i know better, right?) then i realized, oh my god, i am that woman. on the verge of becoming nearly as bad as all of the single girlfriends i've been chastising over this kind of behaviour for years. i guess it happens to the best of us. that said, it's time to reset the bar of dating dignity.

guys, this should be true for you too. if you're having to guess whether or not she's into you. ask. and if you're still not sure, the odds are, she's not, and you're just wasting time that could be spent on someone who is. like yourself.

1. I will not date a man who isn't sure he wants to date me.
2. I will not date a man who makes me feel undesirable.
3. I will not date a man who cannot do what he says he is going to.
4. I will not date a man I feel I need to "figure out."
5. I will not date a man I have to make excuses for.
6. I will not date a man who is "too busy" for me.
7. I will not date a man I have already rejected.
8. I will not date a man who doesn't know who he is and what he wants.
9. I will not, under any circumstance, spend my precious time on a man who has already rejected me.

... no matter how fabulous he is or how long it's been since i had great sex! now if anything on that list struck a chord and if you haven't read "he's just not that into you," this would be a good time to check out a used copy on Amazon.. ;)

beautiful people

The most beautiful people are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross