Lotus' Blog

Artiste Down Under

2012-02-02T16:48:00.000-08:00

How wonderful is this interview? Not only an amazing musician, but a heck of lot of fun to hang with too.

Poopie Sauce

2012-01-23T21:08:00.000-08:00

There is a sad new trend occurring on Ventura Boulevard. The Baja Fresh at Coldwater and the La Salsa at Laurel Canyon have both closed their doors. These were two of my favorite quick fixes for lunches and solo dinners. And the sole reason for my continued passionate patronage of these joints was their salsas -- particularly the medium spicy, dark colored, fire-roasted, zesty, tangy salsa.

When Jackie used to work at the office, she would pick up our lunches and she nicknamed my beloved condiment the "black poopie sauce." With the frequent visits to both eateries and the imperative component to the meals, the name stuck.

Trader Joes, Ralph's, Pavilions sell salsa, but nothing nearly as sassy as the black poopie sauce. Something similar was sold at Whole Foods, but bizarrely has been discontinued. So, how do I get my fix? Yes, there are other Baja Freshes and other La Salsas, but it seems frivolous to take a trek for salsa. So what is the other option? Make it myself, of course!

With some encouragement and assistance from Tony, my salsa turned out EXACTLY like the Baja Fresh salsa. Fresh from the blender, it is a little frothy in this photo, but that passed and it was delicious. We dipped chips into it, slathered chicken soft tacos with it, and I, personally, loved just looking at it. It's just a little thing, but I know that even on the worst of days, I can create a rainbow with some black poopie sauce.

Conversion Complete

2012-01-22T16:43:00.000-08:00

Although I have painstakingly tried to resist, I finally succumbed to peer pressure and fully converted into an Apple girl -- 13' Macbook, iPhone, iPad, iTouch, and iPod. Bye bye Sony Vaio. Later Blackberry.

I haven't spent enough time with everything to fall into the inevitable love-fest that you all are in, but my machines are being synched up on Tuesday, and I am ready for a life changing moment!

One thing I do love already -- the camera on the iPhone. ("No duh," say you Apple junkies.) Here's the first photo taken moments after purchase at the Apple store at the Grove. And away we go. . .

P.S. Thanks to Tony for my computer and to Dad and Terry for the new phone and accessories aplenty!

New Years Resolution

2012-01-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

This quote was sent to me in September and I was inspired by it. Now I am making part of my New Year's Resolutions list.

Choose Life over the other stuff. Get out of your head. Live. Dress up. Eat. Touch people. Help out. Give up. Love people. Give your best away. There's more. What's the problem? Relax. You're going to die. Throw a party. Eat off my plate. Sing to me. Meet me in the bedroom. Get a massage. Give one. Let your amazement out into the room. Pry open the box you hide your joy in. Be a poem.

2012

2012-01-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

Hello lovely readers,

I want to thank you for sticking by and checking in even though there have been no new entries since (gasp!) September 2011. The site has averaged about 18 hits a day and you mysterious and loyal 18 are my inspiration to start blogging again. I also get some pleasure while writing entries and looking forward to creating many posts in the future. As usual, I do not guarantee that the posts will be riveting or interesting or even good looking. And that's why I love you readers so! Stick around -- I might sneak something good up here.

And away we go. . .
Tony, a graduate of a culinary school, cooks nearly every meal for us. Everything he does is scrumptious so why take a chance by taking turns? And this allows for me to really bone up on my prep skills and table making savvy.

On Friday night, I was feeling ambitious. I found an easy recipe here and decided to give it a go.

On the left is my chicken, on the right is the recipe's photo.

And mine tasted great! It gives me encouragement to cook more, but then again, my next culinary foray could be more like a "This is awful, let's order a pizza!" moment.

City Girl

2011-10-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

I live in the city, and so it is especially cool to look out my window while getting dressed in the morning to see this:

Hope the little guy had a good breakfast and comes back soon!

Got a moment?

2011-10-06T22:59:00.000-07:00

Tony shared this cool website with me. It takes only a minute and will probably make you smile.

Draw A Stickman

Ingrid & Steve's Wedding

2011-10-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

I know whatever I post about the wedding will not give it justice. There are literally thousands of beautiful pictures on Facebook. In the photos I have seen of myself, my smile is all gums -- something which only happens when smiling too hard! I was so happy, that gummy smile felt natural!

The whole day -- ceremony, cocktails, reception, dancing, post-party, post-post party were utterly flawless. Ingrid and Steve looked blissfully in love and the guests danced and laughed the night away.

Here is a video that captured the event.

Ingrid + Stephen from Kiss The Bride Films on Vimeo.

Congratulations you two!! The wedding ceremony and reception was a HUGE success and hopefully a sign of your future ahead.

Rehearsal Dinner

2011-10-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

Thursday was Ingrid and Steve's rehearsal dinner. It could also be titled Night 1 of the Ramamura Celebratory Party Marathon!

The rehearsal dinner was held at the Greek restaurant, Thalassa. Steve said he likes it because the service is excellent. In fact, he adds that it seems like "there are busboys hiding in the plants waiting to fill your water at just the right time."

The food was also extraordinary, but best of all, it was a superb warm-up to a big weekend ahead!

PS How H.O.T. is Ingrid?!

September Babies

2011-09-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

I must get along well with Virgo's because I've been invited to a bunch of birthday celebrations recently.

Here's Leni Kulzer's party -- an outside, sit-down dinner for 40 (gasp!)in her backyard. Extraordinary evening with her sophisticated, classy, and witty friends. Here is Robert bringing Leni her cake -- unfortunately her back was to me, but you can see her hot Galliano dress.

And below are fellow revellers Dom, Carmen and Karina.

Later in the weekend was another backyard party, but of a totally different kind. It was Piper's 2nd birthday. Even upon entering, you could tell there would be major merriment.

Pony rides, a petting zoo? My inner child rejoiced, although the chickens would only let me touch them if I cornered them. Of course, that's how my interactions with many humans go too!

Here's the birthday girl with her Daddy. Poppie was being the perfect hostess, so I didn't get any photos of her -- boo!

Serving Basics

2011-09-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

Oh please let this sign be up at every restaurant I've ever eaten at. I would think that these are extremely obvious and any server with a moment of training would have these 6 Do's & Don't nailed. But seeing this big sign makes me wonder what else a server would need to be taught or be reminded about with a 4 foot poster. . .

Paul R Bear is the Best

2011-09-22T23:22:00.000-07:00

Get it?! Paul R Bear? Alexis was home in Old Saybrook this weekend and sent me this photo. My childhood best bud was giving me a wave hello! I've got warm fuzzies!

He's got the goods!

2011-09-22T18:07:00.001-07:00

Christine's bf, Garrett Colton, has opened his fabulous new manly boutique on a hoppin' part of Beverly Blvd called Standard Goods. The buzz has already started with rave reviews from Racked.com and in Cool Hunting.com's style section. Both tout the high-quality goods and clean designs.

For you out of towners, the online store is fantastic too. I'm heading over now to do some holiday shopping and bonus perk: high potential to run into hottie Miss Brown too!

The Fruits of My Labors

2011-09-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

Technically, this is a vegetable, not a fruit. But their is labor involved!

This beauty suggests that I am going to have delicious cucumber salad in my future. Unfortunately this is after weeks and weeks and I can confidently say it will never grow larger. And although there was the promise offered my many flowers, this was the only one produced on my plant. Hopefully I'll have better luck with my carrots!

Thanks Norm Pattis

2011-09-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the Komisarjesky trial, and because of the crime, a lot of people have been passionately airing their opinions about the lead defense attorney, my dear Dad. I read a comment on the New Haven Register's webpage that one gentleman thinks my Dad is less than a cockroach and that Yale Law School is scum. Huh? In general, the negative comments sound more hysterical than thoughtful, so it doesn't bother me much.

Today, I found this blog entry from a Connecticut lawyer about the case. It offers a point of view that doesn't make it in mainstream news stories. It's a compelling read and most importantly, says nice things about dear Dad.

Click here to read Norm Pattis' blog.

And doesn't my Dad look very sharp on his way to court today?

H to the B, Christine

2011-09-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend was Christine Brown's 30th birthday party.

Molly and Tim held a grand celebration at their home with jambalaya and a kick-ass magician.

The birthday girl couldn't have looked happier or hotter. Shawn & Kim are looking darn good too!

And yes, I am rocking a fascinator.

Today's Favorite Song

2011-09-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

Love this song by Australian singer Goyte (pronounced Gor-tea-yeah).

He recently attended Melbourne University to study law with a minor in Japanese. Thankfully he left those subjects to focus on arts. Good thing or else we may not have been given this song!

Ray at the Greek

2011-09-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

This is Kelly and my second annual Ray LaMontagne concert at the Greek. We added friends this year -- gallie pallie, Jaison and big pimp, Tony T.

Thankfully a pal at Nederlander was pleased with my cupcake bribe because we had the royal treatment. We started with VIP passes to the hospitality area chock full of wine, beer and snacks. And, best of all, nice bathrooms!

Then we headed to our seats to catch Brandi Carlile crazy rock her big hit and await our man Ray.

He offers no glitz, no high tech screens, no laser lights. Simply his band and those songs that touch your soul. I wanted to belt out my favorite songs along with him, but refrained so I could enjoy his voice! That voice -- I wish I could crawl inside his throat and take a nap.

Above is a clip of a great one, "Home For The Summer". If that morsel hooks your for the entire song, you can click here.

Please Ray, come back to the Greek in Summer of 2012. A tradition as splendid as this one must continue!

He said Sack

2011-09-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

Top Chef winner, Michael Voltaggio, said he named his new sandwich shop, Ink Sack, partly because he wanted to hear people say the word SACK. Wonderfully located on Melrose, I have been driving by and missing their open hours for 3 weeks. But today, the timings worked!

It's small inside -- made to feel even smaller by the throngs of hungry people jammed in every open space. There are shelf-like tables along the walls to stand and eat over. Otherwise, it's "to go" only -- not a chair anywhere.

Here's probably the REAL reason the place is named Ink Sack. Your name is written on your bag and then filled with delicious sandwiches -- most priced for about $5.00.

Here's my favorite one -- the Jose Andres, aka "the Spanish Godfather". It is serrano, chorizo, manchego and roasted red peppers. After I ate it, I got back in line and ordered more sandwiches to go. It blew my mind and I had to share my joy with Tony!

**Side note from 11/30 -- Tony has been to Ink Sack so many times that they write his name on the bag before he has to tell them. He is a several times a week customer!**

Cuddly Cole

2011-09-05T20:04:00.000-07:00

For full disclosure, I am a little scared of babies. They are so small and fragile and heaven forbid they start crying. It's too heartbreaking to hear their unhappy wailing -- especially if the tears start when they are in my arms.

Then enters Bob & Meredith's little guy, Cole. He is so cute and charming that I asked if I could hold him for a bit. Here we are having a grand time. Cole, all little ones should be sweet and smiley like you!!

Adeeb & Aaron

2011-09-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Adeeb and Aaron on your wedding. The beautiful ceremony was this weekend in Rye at the Wainwright House. Such an exciting event was not to be missed so Poppie and I made the journey from LA and after crying at the beauty of the ceremony, we had a total blast.

Adeeb and Aaron's friends are a reflection of their uber-cool, extra hip, jumbo awesomeness, and it was a delight to get to know them. Who could not love this fun crowd?

New York = Best City in the World?

2011-08-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the Big Apple can be a tough city to live in -- the cramped living, the whipping winds around the sky scrapers, the cut-throat attitude. But then you'll get a weekend day with perfect weather and New York becomes the most magical place on Earth.

On this particular Saturday, the sky was blue, the humidity low, and the air warm. People wore cute, colorful outfits while strolling outside, families sat and played together in parks. There was a pervasive sense of blessedness.

Ingrid, Steve and I also hit the streets for a leisurely walk from Tribeca (known as the #1 the most walkable neighborhood in New York) to Chinatown to satiate a soup dumpling craving. Here are some of the sights along the way.

We filled our bellies with dumplings just like that one above. Similarly looking -- not as gigantic!

And here's a statue at the Appellate Courthouse where my Dad has often made appeals.

The loving couple with the new Gehry building in the background.

And a poised and elegant Ingrid -- she's going to be a beautiful bride!

Recent Stuff

2011-08-10T04:48:00.000-07:00

Had dinner at Mr. C's at the new Cipriani Hotel in Beverly Hills with Poppie, Amy and Carolina. Bustling Italian eatery with a fancy clientelle and fancy prices!

Saw Cowboy & Aliens at Soho with Tony, Kim & Andrew. We all decided the movie was a bust -- but in varying degrees. We discussed our reviews at Escuella Taqueria and the results were that Tony and Kim went with super sucked, while Andrew and I agreed it was just slightly less than good. We were 100% on one topic though -- why did Daniel Craig wear pants that gave him a constant wedgie for the whole flick?

Andrew's birthday was Sunday and we celebrated at the game show-type bar on Fairfax called Vodvil. Tony beat out another table at the fast quiz; Christine and Garrett gave up when the questions were about Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey; Austin and Shawn are trivia gurus; and Molly and Tim looked the best while we played! Great choice for a party spot, Kimmie.

Checked out Brit film, Brighton Rock screening. Helen Mirren's acting was stellar, but it couldn't save the film that seemed to drag on and on. Helen, first this, then Arthur? Who is picking your roles?

More movies -- this one got a big thumbs up -- and that's saying a lot since I watched it from the front row!! Rise of the Planet of the Apes will draw you in emotionally and then takes you on a riveting ride. Those monkeys sure are clever.

Off to New York tomorrow for Ingrid's bachelorette!

Special Effects are cool

2011-08-04T04:30:00.000-07:00

Chris Testa sent this link to Tony. Since I'm a nerd, I found it fascinating and had to share.

How cool, right? Especially great since it is for Game of Thrones, but then again, it's also like ripping off a scab since I still find Sean Bean's death unforgivable.

Up in Da Club

2011-08-03T01:19:00.000-07:00

Yup, that's right. More Soho House photo booth pictures.

Kim's young, cool cousin, Jonathan visited LA and made a special request to see celebrities. Soho House usually comes through on that one, so with a bribe of free drinks, I added Kim, Jonathan and his buddy, Kyle, to my guest list.

Jonathan is a baseball superstar -- a starting left-handed pitcher at a Division I school. And Kyle is starting his Junior year of college with a focus of law. Impressive guys! So the company was great, the food was good, the drinks refreshing, the sunset splendid and the photo booth addicting. Here are two of the nearly forty pictures we took that night.

And another success on the celebrity front -- Nick Jonas, Reese Witherspoon, Quentin Tarantino, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Blake Lively. Not bad for one evening!!

Today's Favorite Song

2011-08-02T03:48:00.000-07:00

Son of A Gun

2011-08-01T21:21:00.000-07:00

The same guys who opened Animal have another restaurant, Son Of A Gun, in the old Cynthia's location on 3rd Street. This time, they embraced a seafood theme.

Christine and Kim above. The favorite dish was the (non-seafood item) chicken sandwich -- since the meal Kim has been fantasizing about it almost hourly. You can't put a menu or a piece of chicken in front of her without a mention of the Son Of A Gun chicken sandwich. We also had TWO orders of the peel and eat shrimp below.

Like most of the meal, the dessert was also unique and scrumptious. It's a must-go-to LA restaurant. Just make a reservation FAR in advance -- even 2 weeks prior sometimes only gets you the 5:45 or 9:15 pm seatings!

Garden 2011

2011-07-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

I'm trying again to grow a vegetable garden this year, scratch that, I AM growing ANOTHER vegetable garden this year. I've branched out to more types of veggies. (Like that? *Branched out* About my garden?!)

Along with many herbs, rogue tomato and perennial jalapeno, there are seedlings of cucumber, bell pepper, and green beans. All are coming in very nicely, although I regret only planting one green bean seedling. Even at it's heartiest time of production, I pull off about three beans a day. If I save them for the whole week, that's about 20 beans. Ever make dinner for two with 20 beans?

I feel proudest about the pot below because it came from seed. Organic heirloom carrots! Aren't they beautiful? I go to sleep praying that in a few more weeks, they will be plump, crunchy and sweet. Grow, little babies, grow big and strong!

Photo Booth

2011-07-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love that photo booth at Soho House. Here's is one of our more ridiculous ones -- and with an Elmo appearance no less!

What's Going On

2011-07-27T21:12:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I've blogged. I can cite one main reason for this. . .Settlers of Catan online. I've been a game, and specifically board game, junkie since I was in pre-K and now the addiction has resurfaced to a heightened level. A preferred addiction to cigs, booze or gambling, but this one is definitely a time sucker. I'm trying my hardest not to ask Tony to learn. Then I'd be done for.

Anyhow, a overview update since Vegas. . .Lots of Runyon Canyon, a trip to Din Tai Fung, some yoga, screenings at Soho of "Another Earth" and "Crazy, Stupid Love" -- both of which I recommend. The latter movie not only to check out Ryan Gosling looking like this, but for the good story, great acting, and many laughs too.

Other highlights, a private vegetarian dinner by guest chef Yotam Ottloenghi with wine pairings by chosen by Susan Brink at Veno Kado.

Dr. Rich braving Carmeggedon and coming to LA for a glam dinner at Bazaar. The discovery of the best taco joint in Los Angeles AND it is located in walking distance from Tony's house: Escuela Taqueria. The final chapter to the Harry Potter's with Alexis, who has just returned from winning and placing in 3 competitions in Europe and preparing for the X Games 17 at the end of this week. Check out her latest interview on ESPN-W here.

Mom's dear friend, Valerie, in So Cal for work so we hit up Maggiano's.

And lastly, blown away by Dolly Parton at the Hollywood Bowl with Emma.

Bella's Birthday Video

2011-07-22T22:29:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting one of Bella's fancy birthday videos for years. She (or more like Mommy Becky) posts them on Facebook for a few relatives, pals and *aunties*. I am very honored to now be in that select group!

Birthday

2011-07-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

What a birthday! I was hoping to let 37 just coast on by -- it's no landmark, just another year -- but my nearest and dearest showered me with birthday wishes and I felt so loved. Facebook was flooded, voicemail filled up, the door kept ringing with deliveries. I felt like a goddess! Thanks everyone for a very special day. And extra thanks to Tony T. He took me to a spectacular tasting menu / wine pairing dinner at Drago Centro downtown. Fellas, if you want to wow your lady, this spot is guaranteed to work!!

Today's Favorite Song

2011-07-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

Foster the People's tune "Pumped Up Kicks". Even better, the threesome is an LA band too!

Expressing Myself

2011-07-14T23:44:00.000-07:00

They say when you love someone, you should shout it from the mountaintops. I followed the vibe and announced it to everyone in Times Square.

Money well spent!!

The Lips

2011-07-13T05:23:00.000-07:00

Before leaving for the airport, we made a stop at the Hard Rock Cafe to see the most fun guy evaaaah, Charles Earland.

He's in a new band called The Lips that are killing it in Vegas. He and Ahmad and the other fellas rehearse and write songs seven days a week, so get ready for a posting soon with fresh links to the newest music from your boy, Chuck.

I can't resist posting this video by his past band, Lips Like Morphine. So talented!

Here's a dorky photo of Tony and I from the restaurant. I blame the lack of vibrancy and animation on our extreme sleep deprivation. It was Vegas after all. I wouldn't have bought the so-so snap normally, but since I had new winnings burning a hole in my pocket, why not?!

Austin's Big Birthday

2011-07-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

For Austin's birthday, we went to Las Vegas to celebrate. It was an exceptional trip starting with the new Mandarin Oriental hotel. It is a casino-free hotel, and the peaceful, smoke-free vibe upon check-in was a treat.

Following the adage, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", details of the weekend end here!

New Favorite Song

2011-07-11T04:57:00.000-07:00

I don't have much exposure to Chinese bands, so I am happy to support my ethnicity's other half by posting this video from Irish band, Two Door Cinema Club. They are number two on the Billboard's Top Alternative New Artist chart and have recently opened several gigs for the adored band, Phoenix.

Better and Better

2011-07-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

For our Friday date night, Tony and I planned for dinner and a movie. Like a past date night, we hit up Umami Burger and then the Arclight. Umami once again had incredible food and Tony decided to take a sweet treat to enjoy on our walk to the theater. He opted for an ice cream sandwich in cookies & cream flavor knowing it would be delicious. He didn't, however, expect this magnificent surprise.

A cookie inside the ice cream inside the cookie? Rock on!!

Girls Dinner

2011-07-07T05:01:00.000-07:00

With busy lives, it is harder to make time for a little girlie fun which made last night even more special! Aside from the delicious meal and cool vibe at Lukshon, Kim and I freely gabbed about men, life, family, and more food for over two hours.

Here's a photo of my one-of-a-kind cocktail, a Hot & Sour Gimlet. Made with vodka, dragon chile, lime, thai basil and kinh gioi (a Vietnamese mint), it was cooling, refreshing, spicy and biting all in the same sip.

It is nice how not much changes. Kim and I are in a fire pit picture from last night below and from one over three years ago here!

Inspiring

2011-07-06T01:56:00.000-07:00

Loved the message in this TED video. What should my 30 day goal be? Are you stirred to have one also? What will you do?

Happy Birthday America!

2011-07-05T05:48:00.000-07:00

My calendar had a big circle around the 4th of July long weekend -- I was desperate for a third day of fun in my week. And packed with fun it was!

Tony had an assemblage in honor of his cousin, Pam, and her husband, Paul, visiting from New York.

Of course, he went all out with two types of bbq ribs, fried chicken, mac and cheese, cole slaw, biscuits -- and yes, all homemade!

Here he is with Jarrod & Kim. It is fascinating how they all have perfect teeth!

Then on the 4th, it was a hot day so I hosted a casual hang where we swam and languished poolside.

Karina & William's pups, Oscar and Meyer, were too hot, so they grabbed some shade under their Mommy's chaise lounge.

Here is Adam and the lissome Emma in the lanai. I'll have to get some more manly periodicals for the table -- I think Adam is leafing through my Australian Women's Day magazine? HA!

Yes, after Tony's rib-fest for Pammy & Paul, we insisted he make more! Todd was lingering around the grill because it smelled so good. I think he'd agree, it was worth the wait!

Too bad this isn't a video -- William was doing some sexy pole dancing.

Karina and Rachel and some chilled rosé.

Even though the sun set, we continued into the jacuzzi. From the right, Tony, Dani, Chris and Jarrod.

And Round 2 of ribs for Kim!

Thanks for turning 235, USA! Because of you I had the quintessential summer holiday weekend!

Desk Yoga

2011-07-01T21:13:00.000-07:00

I've spent a decade and a half sitting behind a desk for 40 + hours a week, and I'm starting to feel it. To combat the aches, this video gets my blood moving and my energy back to full performance levels. Enjoy!

http://life.gaiam.com/video/desk-yoga-stress-relieving-back-stretches-do-your-chair

I Love Tom Hanks

2011-06-30T21:36:00.000-07:00

With the opening of Larry Crowne this weekend, it got me thinking about my favorite Tom Hanks movie. What's yours?Market Research

He has so many movie hits that it was difficult choosing just eight to list. Philadelphia? That Thing You Do? The DaVinci Code flicks? The three Toy Story movies? Sleepless in Seattle?

The Money Pit gets my vote!

And even though I love Tom Hanks, I won't be rushing out to see Larry Crowne. Tom is a brilliant actor, but I don't think he will believable as a loser, community college student. He's a HERO. Hollywood royalty. A fired Wal-Mart employee on a scooter? Not a chance!

Fun and Funny

2011-06-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

English food is fun and funny.

Fun: I enjoyed Afternoon Tea at the Promenade at the Dorchester and after the finger sandwiches and scones, I was presented with a plate of French pastries. Wimbledon was happening and the sweets reflect London's excitement and pride. Check out the lemon tennis ball and the green tea tennis court!

Funny: For breakfast, I ordered the continental breakfast, but instead of the carb heavy bread basket, I requested one English Muffin. Room service is clearly very generous because I received a pastry basket, two slices of toast and these bizarre hamburger buns toasted. You'd think that being in England, they'd know how to do English Muffins best?

No admittance?

2011-06-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

I still get a kick out of this picture that I posted on Facebook.

At the Hard Rock Calling event, it was a little unclear which pass was for what, so I was given all of them, plus a Rod Stewart all access pass. I could go on the stage, in the dressing rooms, in the VIP areas, into the post-show party room, into the production area into the sound booth. In other words, I was fully covered and my wrist accessories illustrate that! And yet when I tried to take a short cut from the management office to the side entrance to the stage, I was told I didn't have proper credentials. REALLY?

People, people, people

2011-06-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

I just got back from London where I was treated like a princess at the Dorchester and was on the same British Airlines flight home as Princess Rania!

My purpose for the trip was work. Rod performed for 65,000 fans at Hyde Park for a three day music festival called Hard Rock Calling. I have never seen Rod sing for that many people before and had to take a video of what it looked like. A sea of dancers singing along to every song! Incredible.

Plus, Stevie Nicks and Ronnie Wood (separately) joined Rod on stage for duets, so it was a mind blowing night!

Click here for a glowing review of the show from the Mirror. Sorry Bon Jovi!

For a fin

2011-06-23T22:14:00.000-07:00

The web is full useless junk -- this especially apparent when I accidentally use Bing as a search engine. Thank goodness for Google to sift through the garbage and give me what I need. Seriously, does anyone like Bing?

Yesterday, I found a piece of stationery with a web address written on it in my own handwriting. Even though I had no recollection of what it was, it must have been great if I wrote it down.

http://fiverr.com/

Great indeed. In fact, it is fabulous. If you've got five dollars to spare, this is the ideal way to spend it. Want your voicemail to sound like Stewie from Family Guy? How about a logo design or sketch of anything you'd like? Or advice about your pet behavioral issues or business questions?

How about you are in a rush and don't have time to photoshop your pictures? Five bucks and now you appear without a wrinkle or blemish!

I just purchased a video to be made for me. I'll post it when it is received in 3 days.

Sappy song

2011-06-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

Coldplay's Fix You is a jackpot of sweet sentiment and anthemic sound. Even though it was released way back in 2005, I still get pumped when it's on the radio.

Cove Dinner

2011-06-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

Outstanding in the Field is an incredible organization that says:

Our mission is to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it. Join us in the field for an amazing dining experience.

It is essentially an "underground" dinner party. LA Weekly describes it as: a merry band of activists, artists, and chefs pilot a 60-year-old bus to farms around the country; local celebrated chefs prepare each farm's products for hordes of diners eager soak up the stories of the people and places attached to the meal; instead of magicians, masks, and famous people acting daft, there are, depending on the time of year and the feasting site, nettles, heirloom tomatoes, and mind-bendingly good raw milk cheeses.

Tony and I have been wanting to attend an event for a while, but all of them sold out too quickly, so this year, when the 'tour' was announced, I pounced. I still missed the chance to buy seats, but fortunately a friend was able to plead my case to the Outstanding in the Field gods, and we were in! To make it even more special, we chose one of the rare Cove dinners in Santa Cruz.

Here is a pretty kick-ass video of the set up.

Outstanding in the Field Beach Dinner from Outstanding in the Field on Vimeo.

And below is Tony and I enjoying 2010 Joyce Rose from Monterey County. Joyce was the wine sponsor for the feast and had a delicious pairing with every course.

The shot above and below are during cocktail hour on a cliff near the cove. We chowed down on lobster rolls & old bay aioli and black mission figs & Laura Chenel goat cheese. Those were superb, though nothing beat the Hog Island Oysters. I eventually had to guilt Tony to step away from the table so that other guests could enjoy the oysters too! A conservative guess would be that my man consumed about three dozen of their slightly briny, super sweet molluscs.

The difference between the typical field dinners and a cove dinner is that instead of eating food grown on the farm, we ate food caught off the cove. The exceptional chef was Josh Thomsen from the Meritage at the Claremont in Berkeley. His first offering were Dungeness crab cakes with an heirloom tomato salad and basil aioli.

And this guy is Hans Haveman, the fisherman who caught our meal and owns H&H Fresh Fish.

Extraordinary halibut with morels, sweet English peas (the biggest peas I have ever seen), asparagus, spring onions & truffle.

And there was another course of salmon plus dessert of chocolate beignets, but I was too busy eating to snap pix! After dinner, the bonfire behind us was lit for even more fun times.

And the incredibly special experience was thanks to Adrian. He has been to over 30 meals around the country and was the first person to tell me about it. Here we are with his girlfriend, Nicole.

I highly recommend going to an OITF event if they come close to where you live. Here is the 2011 Tour Information link.

Road Trip to Santa Cruz

2011-06-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

TT and I have never taken a road trip beyond two hours together and as we all know, every relationship should try out the six hours car test and see what comes out!

Here we are on our way to Santa Cruz for a very special dinner (more later) and to see Bella, Becky and Ziad.

It was a success. Although I didn't take an "after" photo, our smiles were still there when arrived!

I post pictures of these beloveds all the time because they are so beautiful. This could be an advertisement for health care -- you can glow and be happy and have an amazing family if you just sign up!

Santa Cruz Farmer's Market

TT & BBH making funny faces downtown. Classic shot of a street busker and Bella sitting on cool street art.

In Los Angeles grocery stores, if you bring in your reusable bags, they credit you five or ten cents per bag. That's a nice perk, though I think the New Leaf stores have a better idea. For each bag, you get a 'ticket' that you deposit into your choice of six charity boxes. Then the tickets are tallied and the charity gets to benefit from your good deed. It is a win for the environment and an organization that needs donations. Much better than offering me 15 cents towards my bill!

Isn't this the epitome of summer? Bright greenl plants, a rope swing, and giggles.

Warren & Natalie

2011-06-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

Warren and I have been trying to put together a dinner for a long time -- and we finally pulled it off. His birthday was June 12th, and he'd been invited by Eddie to celebrate at Il Piccolino -- a restaurant I love. Sometimes everything lines up perfectly!

Here we are after our lengthy meal -- Eddie spoiled us. Warren is flanked by his childhood pal, Jerome, who had JUST stepped off a plane from Australia, and his lovely lady, Natalie, who is pregnant with a boy!

The party continued at Soho House and instead of the regular stiff photo booth shot, we sassed it up a bit!

Baby Buggy

2011-06-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

Amy and Carolina (far right) are involved in a great organization, Baby Buggy. A non-profit founded by Jessica Seinfeld, they provide clothes, services and equipment to families in need. Earlier tonight, Tony and I supported the cause and attended their "Dirty Martinis for Clean Diapers" fundraiser at the Spare Room at the Roosevelt Hotel.

We snacked on spring rolls, Tony played backgammon with Kelly Campbell, and I twisted my neck around looking at all the actresses in the room.

Top New Artist Albums

2011-06-15T23:25:00.000-07:00

According to Soundscan, this week's top new artists albums are below. A mix of pop, country, house, funk, and death metal!

Artist -- Album Title -- Video Link

1. Black Lips -- Arabia Mountain -- Modern Art

2. Nick 13 -- Nick 13 -- Carry My Body Down

3. Morbid Angel -- Illud Divinum Insanus -- I Am Morbid

4. Frank Turner -- England Keep My Bones -- Peggy Sang The Blues

5. Above & Beyond -- Group Therapy -- Sun & Moon

6. Head and the Heart -- Head and the Heart -- Lost In My Mind

7. Skrillex -- Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites -- Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

8. Sondre Lerche -- Sondre Lerche -- Go Right Ahead

9. We Are Augustines -- Rise Ye Sunken Ships -- Chapel Song

10. Brantley Gilbert -- Halfway to Heaven -- Country Must Be Country Wide

Here's my favorite one on the list at #15. Hopefully will break the Top 10 next week!

15. Fitz and the Tantrums -- Pickin' Up The Pieces -- Money Grabber

Whole Foods

2011-06-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Olanna just posted this on Facebook. If you shop at Whole Foods, I guarantee you will laugh. Enjoy!

Super Hero Doggie

2011-06-13T05:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Kim Peeler! Double T and I went to celebrate with Jarrod and Kim and inadvertently revealed that their dog, Derby, is clearly an undercover superhero dog.

Derby recently had a tussle with a skunk and I wonder if his laser eyes were helpful?

Money Saving Tips

2011-06-11T05:06:00.000-07:00

Since I want to buy a Poppiebag, I'll need to save wherever I can. Thus, while reading AAA Magazine today, I found a few tips. And by the way, I am not a total dweeb, I also read cooler publications like In Style, Conde Nast Traveler, The New Yorker and National Geographic.

Here are some ideas that we all can do:

* Underinflated tires can cut your fuel economy by up to 2 percent per pound of pressure below the minimum recommended level.
* Don't warm up your car before start driving. Modern cars don't need it.
* Don't haul extra weight around. You can save up to 2 percent in fuel economy for every 100 pounds of weight you can remove from your car.

Another super dorky piece of info from AAA mag:
It is a myth that red cars cost more to insure because they're linked to speeding. Color is not considered in calculating your rate.

Today's Favorite Song

2011-06-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

This is an old one, but the emotional pull is just a strong as when it came out in 1955. It hit #1 on the R&B Chart and remained there for a whooping 10 weeks. Maybe "Pledging My Love" means more because of the story behind Johnny Ace. In his short 25 years, he was named the Most Programmed Artist and had sold nearly 2 million albums - a huge amount back then. Unfortunately, he was a moron -- while on the road touring, during a break between sets, he was playing Russian Roulette with a .32 and killed himself. Such a shame.

This Cool Dude

2011-06-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

This cool dude I know has his kitchen renovation on This Old House.com ranked #14 in the Best Kitchen Before and Afters 2011 Contest. The remodeling changed his kitchen drastically and he says the process changed his life even more drastically. I'm glad he did it -- I love the new kitchen and love him even more.

Here's the before: OLD KITCHEN

And after: GLORIOUS KITCHEN

Congratulations Tony!

Help A Gal Get Shoes!!

2011-06-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

What girl doesn't want hot shoes? How about helping a gal pal get free hot shoes?

Sigerson Morrison is having a contest on Facebook where you post your favorite sandals from your closet and whomever gets the most likes wins a free pair of shoes! Uber-fashionista Christine Brown posted these blue beauties and is currently in the lead to win, but needs more votes.

Here's what to do and it is soooo easy.

Click on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/SigersonMorrison?sk=wall

On the left of the Sigerson Morrison page, click the "LIKE" block.

Then scroll down to Christine Brown's shoes and press "LIKE". And that's it. Christine will be on her way to a hot new pair of killer shoes.

And even better, when she goes into the boutique to pick out her prize, she can bring 5 friends to get 50% off shoes too! I've been promised to be one of the five, so please help both Christine and I win!!

Hooray Jessi

2011-06-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

I went on the TED homepage this morning -- it is part of my my daily ritual -- along with checking out Facebook, Urban Spoon, AndrewJr and others. I was delighted to see a familiar face on the homepage, Jessi Arrington, Creighton's wife.

What an honor to be on a page that is titled:
Riveting talks by remarkable people

And here it is, Jessi's positive, inspirational speech titled, "Wearing Nothing New".

Congratulations, Jessi. So cool!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

2011-06-05T22:04:00.000-07:00

I'm abbreviating this post since it is so similar to past topics. These are things that excite me and are highlights of this past weekend.

Friday night, Tony made dinner. Frutti di Mare over bucatini in a spicy tomato sauce.

Check out the big chunks of lobster tail? My man looooves me!

Saturday night, we chased down food trucks. The gourmet food truck movement has been going strong for a while and Tony and I had never partaken. We usually see the well-reviewed Kogi Taco Truck when we are driving home with full bellies after dinner. This time, we made a plan. The Kogi truck was in Eagle Rock, so we hunted down the Lobsta Truck. The word on the street was that the Lobsta Truck had the best lobster rolls out of New England and chowder to die for.

Here it is on Ventura Boulevard!

Being a Connecticut gal who has had her fair share of lobster rolls, this one can hold it's own with the best. The buttery roll was grilled perfectly for the crunch on the outside and warm softness on the inside. And look at the heaps of lobster -- no ridiculous celery filler or unnecessary sprig of tarragon. Straight up chunks of lobster.

How about that action shot? Here's Tony cooling down the creamy, slightly sweet, divine clam chowder.

After the Lobsta Truck, we hit up the Grilled Cheese Truck where they make grilled cheese sandwiches with mac & cheese and short ribs in the middle. The line was crazy long and by the grace of god, we were given the sign that said, "I am the last person to order. Sorry." Yup, Tony and I closed down yet another food establishment!

Fast forward to Sunday. . .Tony's first go at making scones. These blueberry ones were perfect. Keep baking, Tony!

NYC Nights

2011-06-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

Another fun one from New York last week.

Adeeb and I met in Tribeca for a bonding night of girl talk! We started with Prosecco and Rose at Smith & Mills, a quaint, hip spot that serves fashionable cocktails and a seasonal menu. The only problem? On a 90 degree day in the Big Apple, hanging in this UN-air conditioned eatery was going to be sticky and uncomfortable. Thus, we moved on.

In the trendy block down Greenwich, the options were plentiful. We essentially chose based on the blast size of chilly air that whooshed over us as we opened the door. The best provider of refreshing brisk air was The Harrison. We snacked on razor clams, fiddleheads, spring pea ravioli and paired those and others with a bottle of red that was better and less expensive than the one I asked the waiter about (love that -- no upsell!!) During the wine and dine, I learned about the exciting wedding planning and I tried to grill Adeeb on how she gets her amazing style -- I was hoping for an easy answer like, "pair these two colors" or "this brand is a must", but it ends up that you've either got it, or you don't! She's got it, I don't!!

Being only a few blocks away from Reade Street Pub, we had to go. It felt great -- familiar, comfortable -- dare I say, like HOME?!

Today's Favorite Song

2011-06-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Anne Litt on KCRW for exposing me to this tender with a hint of dreary gem. . .Jessica Lea Mayfield's "Our Hearts Are Wrong".

Ramamura

2011-06-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

Although it was a lot of work in the daytime in NYC, at night, I was able to play with besties Ingrid and Steve. I joined them in Tribeca just as the sun was setting, so we headed up to their snazzy rooftop and enjoyed wine, cheese and crackers as the day came to an end. Here's me and chiquita bonita, Ingrid.

This photo gives me vertigo -- I'm so scared we are going to lean back just a little too far and fall off the roof!!

Bravo chef! Steve outdid himself -- sauteed shrimp with spinach and tomatoes.

Following dinner, we played my favorite board game, The Settlers of Catan. Ingrid said that the German-style game has won the best international board game honor for the past several years and even the Washington Post called it "the board game of our time". The lure of the game is that the mechanics are relatively simple, but the dynamics are quite complex -- so complex that most games last over an hour.

I was especially happy in this photo because I had just won my first game! I guess what they say is true, seventeenth try is a charm! ha! And thanks to Ingrid for securing my desperate win -- she was willing to make a trade which helped me win faster, much to the disappointment of "no mercy Nakamura". Listen, Heavy, I would have won anyway!!

The Great Debate

2011-05-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

I'm in New York for business and on Memorial Day, I took the chance to zip up to Saybrook for a few hours. Although it was super fast, it was grand to see the family and catch deep orange sun set over the sparkling cobalt blue water.

While home for Dad's famous pesto pasta, the fam had debate and I am in a conundrum about which side is right. . .Please weigh in with your comments!

Here's the situation (all names are purposely withheld to avoid any bias):

One member of my family, who is not allowed to do the laundry for fear that he/she will turn all the whites hot pink and shrink everything to infant size, broke the rule. He/she thought what he/she did was harmless, but you can decide.

The dryer had been running a few minutes when he/she added a towel that he/she had just used after the shower. This damp towel was tossed around with other wet clothes and all were dried together. The reasoning for doing this was because in the humid summer weather, it would dry faster than just hanging on the towel bar.

This caused quite a stir. Here were some of the assertions:
1. Although the body is clean after the shower, once the towel wipes water off your body, the towel is now dirty. Think skin cells, private parts, etc.
2. Adding a dirty towel to the dryer contaminates the clean clothes in the dryer.
3. Not only are the clothes soiled, but the dryer is also tainted and the stainless steel interior will need to be wiped down with antibacterial cleaner.

On the defensive, points were made that:
1. It was a clean body and it's just water.
2. The dryer gets so hot that any germs are killed off.
3. It is a dryer in a private home. We all share germs already!

What do you think?

It's funny -- I talk about food, friends, music, movies and travel on the blog all the time and now I've talked about towel cleanliness TWICE. Time to get the creative juices going!! Happy weekend everyone!

Poppie

2011-05-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

Marvelous Mom, wonderful wife and divine designer, Poppie does it all. Check out her latest clutch that I'm coveting. Love the metallic that will work day to night and the perfect size. So very classic and refined. Must start saving my money!!

And how about these two delicious, bold colors to wear with your summer whites? Too much goodness! Which one should I choose? Which one will you choose? To see more colors, check out Poppie Couture on Facebook here.

ASCAP Awards

2011-05-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

Last month, Rod was given the "Founders Award" from ASCAP. The awards presentation was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel and Rod arrived early to do a bit of press. We thought we were being escorted from the car, through a private walkway, to the press junket but one photographer managed to get a shot.

Angels

2011-05-24T05:22:00.000-07:00

I'm getting a lot of use out of the Soho photo booth!!

Tony was feeling like a stud that night -- we scored the first, awesomest table at the top of the stairs and as everyone walked by, they could see Double T with three dolled up ladies, including two super hottie blondies!

Here are Kelly and Carly and I doing our best Charlie's Angels impression.

Favorite Song

2011-05-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

Band of Horses -- No One's Gonna Love You

This one came out four years ago, but I never tire of it. Each listen gives me the warm fuzzies and a feeling of lightheartedness. The lyrics allude to the beginning of the end of the relationship, but there is such a pure sweetness that prevails.

What do you think this song is about?

Moral Integrity

2011-05-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

While having a deliciously unhealthy breakfast at Jan's earlier, I read an very pleasing article in the Los Angeles Times Sunday paper. Click the title below to read it:

Fraudeulent Use of Disables Parking Placards Explodes In Last Decade

Essentially it says that because the sublime state of California is in financial crisis, the DMV is cracking down on placard fraud. Police have recently set up stings in Beverly Hills' Golden Triangle, Downtown's Fashion District and in Westwood.

I may not be the epitome of moral integrity, but it makes me furious to see young, healthy, energetic people leap out of their cars after they've parked in a handicapped spots. Yes, we all want to park close to the door, but those special spaces are reserved for those who NEED them, not for those who have connections to get a placard.

And the one that irks me just as much is returning to my car after being 5 minutes past the time I paid for on the meter and seeing a $58 ticket, only to look just down the street at the red blink of a meter next to an unticketed car with a handicapped placard displayed.

I understand the lure. And yes, I'm not perfect. I don't FULL STOP at every stop sign. I've been known to park in a red zone while waiting to pick someone up. But the placards have been getting out of hand. Stats say that 1 in 10 drivers in CA have a handicapped placard -- that's mind-blowing.

The reward is petty and yet it hurts people who need help most. So beware, my dears, the punishment is a fine starting at $250 up to $3,500 and a maximum sentence of six months in jail! I don't wish that for anyone, so be a good person and be thankful that you aren't really handicapped.

Go BC!

2011-05-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

I was sent this video in my BC alumni e-letter, aka plea for donation e-letter. It is fun and has great spirit although I am not sure what I would have thought of it when I was a senior at BC.

Please take the poll and let me know your thoughts. . .

Fifteen years ago, if flash mobs were popular, would you have participated in one similar to this video above?online survey

Bridesmaids

2011-05-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

When I first saw the preview for Bridesmaids, I knew it was the perfect Girl's Saturday movie. Unfortunately, with out of town trips and little Miss Olive, it has been harder for Kim & I to coordinate schedules on Saturdays.

Nonetheless, this was one that we were saving to see together and fortunately, the Soho House was showing it in their new screening room.

The room was packed with women and their besties sipping white wine and howling with laughter. The movie was so hysterical and surprisingly touching, I want to see it again and even more, can't wait to see what Kristen Wiig does next!!

After the movie, we were joined by Tony and Richard Gilkerson for dinner. Richard had recently had back surgery and strolled in looking very suave with a cane. I may have to suggest that he keep the cane even after he is 100% healed!

Of course, no one can resist hamming it up in the Soho photo booth!!

Clear Ice

2011-05-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

Last weekend at the Tar Pit, Chris Testa was served a cocktail with a near clear, large ice cube and that sparked a discussion about how to achieve making a transparent piece of ice. No cracks, no air bubbles. Clear.

After some online research, some people swore by using filtered water or using water that has been boiled twice. Many suggested filling the ice tray with only hot water. Others commented that those don't work (and oddly, the back-and-forth about it were rather snide and feisty!).

The link below seems to be the most tried and true answer.

HOW TO MAKE CLEAR ICE CUBES

Of course that may be because the above instructions are such a labor-heavy, inconvenient process that no one has bothered to try and refute it!

Comment if you know how to make glassy ice!

Rod returns to Vegas

2011-05-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

Work has been frantic for the past few weeks while we have been preparing for the exciting announcement that Rod is going back to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for a residency. Tickets recently went on sale for nine shows in August, nine shows in November and nine more in 2012 and all are selling like hot cakes!

Our amazing tour publicist, Hannah, and I put together the video below - shot in a Beverly Hills Hotel bungalow. Who can announce the news better than the Artiste himself?

Don't you love that jacket? Superb alone and even better with the colorful poster backdrops!

Boxing

2011-05-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Tony's dear friend, Marco, was in town producing a Super Six World Boxing Classic Semifinalist fight for Showtime. Chris and Dani joined us on a road trip to the Home Depot Center in Carson for the event.

Marco really spoiled us with super close seats to the ring -- there is no zoom on this picture!! It was a totally different experience to watching a fight on tv. You could actually hear the sound of glove hitting the body. Ouch. I'm not sure if that is worse than watching one of the heavy weights go down and seeing deep red blood squirt out of his nose onto his face, chest and mat.

The enthusiastic fans.

The main fight was between 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, California native, and favored, Andre Ward and Armenian Arthur Abraham. I'd say the crowd of over 5300 was evenly split, with large groups flashing Armenian flags. The Ward fans responded chanting U-S-A, U-S-A!! My group was pleased that Ward easily dominated Abraham over twelve rounds.

One of my favorite parts about the night was listening to the crowd root Ward on. Lots of "double up! Double up!" and "get him in the face!". When Abraham gave a combination of punches to Ward's lower chest, the vocal fan behind me shouted, "that's no problem, little stomach massage!!" Violence and comedy in one setting!

Soho

2011-05-17T20:11:00.000-07:00

After dinner at the Boiling Crab in Koreatown with Kat and John, Tony and I met his friends TJ and Elan at the Soho House for a drink. The two guys had just arrived in town for a legal software convention and were feeling festive before the big work fest began the next morning.

And of course while at the Soho House, Tony and I had to ham it up in the photo booth!

Go O!! (and that is not O for Oprah)

2011-05-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Check out this video for Roots Outfitters. Such beautiful scenery and cool looking gear. But the BEST part about it is the music. Recognize that voice? It's Olanna! Go girl. Amazing song and combination with the video. Hopefully you'll start to hear the song everywhere! And if you'd like to buy it today, go to cdbaby.com.

New Alternative Artist

2011-05-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

According to this week's Soundscan, here are the hottest new alternative artists. I've starred my favorites. My plan was to only list 1 thru 10, but I had to include kick-ass Elbow at number 11!

1. Head and Heart – Lost In My Mind

2. Title Fight – 27
3. Two Door Cinema Club – What You Know *
4. Awolnation – Sail
5. Wye Oak – Civilian *
6. Downtown Fiction – Let’s Be Animals
7. Neon Trees – Animal *
8. Young The Giant – My Body
9. City Harmonic – Manifesto -- This one is Christian rock, blegh!
10. Thao & Mirah – Spaced Out Orbit *
11. Elbow – Lippy Kids *

Happy Birthday Kim!!

2011-05-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hooray -- Kim's birthday is today and last night, I joined her family in a dinner celebration at Melisse. The Josiah Citrin french restaurant has always been a favorite of mine, so it was a real treat to go and delight in the 4-course refined and elegant tasting menu.

The Rufers & Cahns are looking good. Kim definitely has a birthday glow going!

This was taken after the feast, albeit a lengthy one. We arrived at 7:30 pm and finished up at midnight!

And note to self: don't try for the celebrity pout pose. It doesn't work and I just appear angry or sad. Yuck! Or maybe I look foolish because Kim, Todd and Melodie are all so photogenic!

Happiest of birthdays, Kim! Hope 36 is a stupendous year for you. xoxo

Universal All To Ourselves

2011-05-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

Last night, Arnold invited Tony and I to join him at the City of Hope's event honoring Irving and Shelli Azoff with the Spirit of Life award. Instead of doing another boring black tie dinner in a hotel ballroom, they took a much more fun approach and rented out Universal Studios theme park.

It was amazing -- no lines for rides, food and beverage bars at every turn, and games -- and no wallet needed! How about that for decadent and fabulous!!

Here are Tony and I with Shrek and Princess Fiona.

And here is the group after the exciting Simpsons Ride. You can't tell how fun the ride was from this picture -- during the roller coaster, we were all laughing and screaming. And at the relieving, yet disappointing end, apparently no one noticed that the camera was about to take a picture except Ham-It-Up-Me!

Let's get healthy

2011-04-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

Food Tip:

Eat more salmon and yogurt for a healthy belly.
Eat more carrots, beets and asparagus for a healthy brain.

To the right is a photo with beets AND aspapargus together. Someone is going to be a smarty pants!

No bread? No prob.

2011-04-10T23:01:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning, Tony and I woke up, ready to start our days. First step, breakfast. Although Tony's fridge had farm-fresh eggs, it didn't have any bread.

No problem for someone with Tony's talents. After a few moments, he whipped up these buttermilk biscuits -- and he didn't even have buttermilk! How, you ask? Sorry, sharing the no-buttermilk secret it is only up to the chef to divulge. I can say one thing though -- they were fluffy and fabulously flavorful.

After the eggs were poached and the citrus squeezed for juice, we had a perfectly delicious way to start a leisurely Sunday! Yumm.

New Favorite Song

2011-04-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

Coconut Records -- West Coast

Tony's Fried Chicken

2011-02-26T21:22:00.000-08:00

After eating a disappointing plate of fried chicken at Craig's (see post from the 17th), Tony decided to dazzle me with his version of fried chicken.

Right at the start, I was impressed that he butchered his bird. I would have bought the legs, thighs, ribs, wings and breasts sectioned already. I'm glad Tony didn't -- watching Tony carefully and methodically slide the knife down the backbone was darn sexy!

Here are the poultry parts dredged in a mixture of buttermilk, flour, salt, pepper, paprika and two other secret ingredients. Hint: One of them is sitting on the counter in the picture.

Crackling goodness in an extraordinarily heavy metal pan. Is that why it tasted so good? Pan fried vs deep fried?

I think baking means less frying time. Thanks for making the "healthy" FRIED chicken, Tony.

But wait! There is more! Tony doesn't stop at the best fried chicken ever -- he added broccoli, pea shoots (my new fav veggie) and mashed potatoes. Let me not forget the homemade gravy.

I may never eat at a restaurant again!! Would I become obese if I ate this meal every night? More importantly, wouldn't the extra poundage be worth it?!!

QVC Party

2011-02-25T23:03:00.000-08:00

Super chica, Juliet Montague, came down south to join her sisters in their Mom's 60th birthday weekend. To add to those festivities, she invited Poppie and I to join her at the QVC 25th Anniversary party. Never ones to turn down an opportunity to see Juliet (or a free gift bag, for that matter), Poppie and I dolled up and beelined to the Four Seasons Hotel.

Daily Candy Announces First

2011-02-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

February 23, 2011 | Los Angeles

Here Comes the Sun
Il Sole Restaurant Reopens

We’re not usually fans of going under the knife.

But we do love the recent reconstructive surgery of Arnold Stiefel and Andrew Hewitt’s West Hollywood hotspot, Il Sole, reopening tonight.

Nightlifer Brent Bolthouse (and his Midas touch) doctored the Sunset Plaza restaurant into an elegant, intimate space with sleek dark wood, classic white marble, and warm, Edison-amber lighting.

Under tin-tile ceilings, uncork bottles of Brunello or Sicilian Planeta chardonnay at the bar before settling into the dining room’s long banquette to cut into pan-seared filet mignon topped with truffles, classic spaghetti and meatballs, and old faves like Dover sole.

Or relax at a romantic table for two on the heated outdoor patio and order lobster ravioli (chef Isaac Rivera’s ahi tuna and yellowtail crudo will be on the menu soon). Finish sweet with panettone and Nutella bread pudding or panna cotta with caramel.

You may need some time to recover.

Il Sole, 8741 Sunset Boulevard, at Sherbourne Drive, Sunset Plaza (310-657-1182). Map It

Photo: Courtesy of Bread & Butter Public Relations

New Favorite Song

2011-02-18T17:34:00.000-08:00

Mumford and Sons played at Clive Davis's Pre-Grammy Party and also won the Brit Award this year for Best British Album.

** Inappropriate language in this one! **

Craig's

2011-02-17T23:19:00.000-08:00

Last night, Double T and I went to Craig's on Melrose with Martin and Niki. Craig's is the newly opened eatery by Craig Susser, Dan Tana's matire d' for over twenty years. Martin is a long-time Dan Tana's regular, so he's the ultimate choice to bring to Dan Tana's 2.0.

The room had a classic Hollywood feel -- big blue leather booths and wood paneled over brick walls. Retro chandeliers hang over the heads of industry moguls, agents a plenty, ladies who lunch, groups of guys that look like the Entourage crew and regular people like us. All this combined and there is some loud (crazy loud) energy happening.

Although delivered by a perfect wait staff, the food, in one word, is average. Some menu items are their simple salads (chopped, wedge, caesars), unpretentious pastas (speg in meat sauce, linguine with clams, fettucine alfredo), and how could one go wrong with gigantic shrimp cocktail?

I had the honey truffle-fried chicken, which was nicer in theory than reality. The sweetness got in the way of the savory meat and barely noticeable truffle. Since the meal, I've been told to ask for the fried chicken without the silliness of the honey and truffles. Craig's is better with the simple dishes.

Tony and Martin smartly ordered steaks, but the steaks weren't cooked properly. Martin asked for medium, Tony wanted rare. Instead, the food runner flip flopped the orders and Martin was served given a medium-rare piece, while Tony was served a well done, grey, dry piece of meat. Tony politely asked to send his back wanting his rare order, to which and the waiter saw the mistake, genuinely apologized. The kitchen was not so sweet -- they sent back out a lightly seared blue piece of meat.

Not the best review of a restaurant, but still a stellar review of the night. It was fascinating hearing about Martin's training for an upcoming Iron Man Triathlon -- 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike, followed by a full marathon of 26.2 miles. Incredible!!

Amusingly, the last time Niki and I saw each other was a chance encounter at a different type of exercise -- Slimmons!

And the happy couple shared the tales of their latest trip to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco and plans for an upcoming trip to the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival. Yes, I agree with you, reader, I want their lives too!!

Side note: Since this post, I've heard that Craig's is installing noise softening panels. I'm torn whether or not to go back!

Valentines Day

2011-02-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

We eat out at fantastic restaurants several nights a week, so for a "special" day like Valentine's Day, we decided to forgo the crowds and have a special night with just the two of us.

Tony outdid himself -- lobster with spaghetti in a spicy sauce (favorite of mine and Poppie's at Il Sole), butter lettuce and herb salad (favorite from Campanile) and an earthy bottle of Standish pinot noir.

And for dessert, oooooh that dessert!! Chocolate molten lava cake (favorite at Matsuhisa) topped with Chantilly cream. It was the best meal ever! Now that's my kind of romance! Love you, Double T!

Nate Berkus

2011-02-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

I admit it, I took this picture off Facebook, but I loved it so much, it had to be posted. Check out that babe in the front row. Yes, that's Jenn!

Jenn was at the show with her sister-in-law, Cathy. I don't know all the details, but I'm assuming there was room remodel? Wishing the Direct TV bar wasn't in the way of Jenn's hot gams!

And just as I am typing this, I remember that I missed Jenn's birthday on Friday, the 11th. HAPPY BELATED, Jenn. The picture above confirms, as gorgeous as ever!

Clive Pre-Grammy Party

2011-02-12T23:57:00.000-08:00

Like past years, Roger Friedman writes the best reviews of Clive's party, so here it is. However, Roger neglected to mention sightings of the two of the guys in this photo. On the far left, Chase Crawford (Gossip Girl) and next to me, Mark Salling (Glee).

Not sure who the other guy is, but when I was orchestrating the photo, I didn't think it was right to ask the random guy to step away from my photo! Anyhow, shame about the quality, but still fun!

Here's another celeb moment. I was excited to see one of my favorite artists, Ray LaMontagne, across the room at the cocktail party. He is rather reclusive so it I was very surprised that he was out and dressed up. I couldn't help but ask him to be in a picture with me, and although he did it, he doesn't seem to into it, does he?!

Winner!

2011-02-11T20:30:00.000-08:00

My Dad's college roommate, and now my dear friend, Leo Corbett, invited Tony and I to the EMI Grammy Party. It was inside a huge warehouse and instead of having a catering crew dispense cold, bland food, they organized food trucks to park inside the party space where they served up a huge variety of freshly made delicacies. Among the samplings were Italian truck with pastas and sandwiches, a gourmet burger truck, and an ice cream sandwich truck. Tony's fave was the ice cream sandwiches -- they came wrapped in paper that was edible. No waste!

The party was thumping cool music and jammed with fab people, and one of the most fun parts was the photo booth. As you can see, it is sponsored by Patron. I'm honored to be a double winner -- not only for holding two Grammy's, but also for being flanked by two exceptional guys!!

My Dancing Fool

2011-02-10T19:23:00.000-08:00

Last night, Tony invited me to a very fabulous pre-Grammy shindig. Today, our pictures were on Wire Image with the caption below.

Choreographer Tony Testa and Lotus Donovan attend the Friends N Family Dinner at The Jack Warner Estate on February 10, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Choreographer! LOVE IT! ha!

Santa Cruz is Beautiful

2011-02-06T23:35:00.000-08:00

View from the hike.

Moments later -- magical sunset.

This is a black slug on top of a banana slug -- not a natural occurrence. It was staged by Alexis and Sophia!

Pretty flowers growing outside of Becky's door.

Succulents are thriving!

Just a simple, pretty flower.

View from a parking lot!

Hike

2011-02-06T19:21:00.000-08:00

Becky lives ON the State Park, so we took a walk around the 'hood.

Bella likes to examine everything.

While Sophia and Alexis continue on ahead.

Here is Bella foraging for treasures to include . . .

. . .in her masterpiece sculpture.

What a stellar day.

Cool Girls

2011-02-05T21:19:00.000-08:00

To really heighten the awesomeness of my weekend in Santa Cruz, Alexis and Sophia stopped over on a road trip from San Fran to LA. I was surrounded by COOL GIRLS!!

We all scream for. . .

2011-02-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

After shopping at the Farmers Market and for some cute Tom's wedges, we needed an ice cream break. Becky brought us to the Penny Ice Creamery for homemade ice cream. The spot is, in part, famous for being a small business that benefited from the Recovery Act, but mainly famous because the ice cream is unique and EXTRAordinary. And even though there is always a line, it is well worth it.

Check out the creative flavors. If it's too hard to read, here are some examples:
Five Spice Fried Peanut
Brown Sugar, Oats and local walnuts
Cardmom, pistachio, chocolate chip

I think Bella is making this face because she can't decide!

Love me some Santa Cruz

2011-02-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

This year starts a new tradition -- every first weekend of February, I shall travel up to Santa Cruz to spend time with Becky and Bella. This year marked the second annual trip! ;)

Santa Cruz, and Davenport specifically, is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The small city feel, the coastal gorgeousness, the relaxed way of life. Thus, not only to I get some comforting girlie time with my chicas, it happens in paradise too!

Perfect example, on the way to the Farmer's Market for dinner supplies. I took this from the car window while we were driving. This glorious glimpse of nature is just a regular, average shot!

The crunchy, hippie vibe makes the Farmer's Market extra interesting. Not only are the labels for food fun, they offer produce like watermelon radishes! In case you are curious, the writing on the label says:

This cute, round root has a bright pink interior. They make a good lookin' quick pickle and are a crisp and tasty choice for salads. Their color intensifies with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice. We also recommend them roasted or as an ingredient in soups and curries. Their flavor is delicious like daikon.

Miss Bella is adorable and charming -- a superb combination when asking farmers for free samples. I think she scored a dried cherry here! Who could deny that smile?

The Artiste

2011-02-04T23:01:00.000-08:00

He's always been great. Loving this vintage video!

Rod STEWART-Young turks
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Recycle and Reuse!

2011-02-02T20:18:00.000-08:00

It may not be my style, but I love the idea of reusing and Thrillist has the perfect example. The Fridgecouch! The seats are salvaged automobile seats and the base is discarded early '80's fridges. Genius!