Monkeys and Aliens

Apes and Android- according to their myspace page, this futurist orchestra (?) plays pyschedlic rock and electronica. I like it a lot! I'll be catching their January 30 show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. 

You say I'm crazy, I got your crazy

Here are two covers of B.Spear's song "Womanizer"

Womanizer: French cover 

Womanizer: All American Rejects 

Both from Perezhilton.com. 

Sparks Thirty

When it's that time of night and you need a pick me up you can no longer turn to Sparks. Back to Sugar Free Redbulls w/ Svedka :( The MillerCoors company owes a bunch of money and the caffeine drink with 6 or 7 percent alcohol is illegal in 25 states. 

Check this article: R.I.P SPARKS! 

Staten Island Style

Staten Island's afro funk collective Budos Band played at Mercury Lounge December 19. These guys are on the Daptone Record label and some of them also play in the Menahan Street Band. 

Budos...yum..

Here is a link to a NYT article about the label. 

And video from the evening from my Flip....

Meditation at MOMA

Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist's "Pour Your Body Out" at the MOMA is the perfect combination of post modern joy and contemplation, relaxtion and a youngster's Gymboree. 

Here is video of some older kids stretching and flexing in the center of the installation.

I fell asleep for an hour and woke up feeling touched in a beautiful way...not in a creepy sense. 

 

Party like a rockstar...

These are some underground parties I must attend.  I miss the costumes, pyrotechnics and community feelings of some of the parties in San Francisco. I'm confident New York City can represent.

The Danger: The Lost City party on New Year's Eve is my choice to ring in 2009. 

Address in Time Out NY: 

January 1: 2am - Sunrise, $30

341 Scholes St. between Bogart St. and Morgan Ave., Williamsburg

www.thedanger.com, newlostcity.com

********* Update: Full details for the Danger party are now up at the link above.  The theme of the party: New Year's Eve 1929. We're already in an economic recession, why not party like it? I'll be drinking gimlets out of a tea cup in a flapper's outfit at 5am, I'm sure. 

Rubulad: Discovered from a Yelp recommendation here's a link to an article about a previous party and here's hoping to attend an event sooner than later. Also from a different source some more information.This is a party warehouse space in Flusing, Queens. Awesome, i hope they throw hip hop nights. 

Resolute: Throwing an 18 hour party at Public Assembly for NYE. Their web site says it'll be the best techno party of the year. There's a DJ from Berlin so this is very tempting competition.

The Party Hard Social Club: Can't find a lot of info on this party but it's worth noting.

 

BZZZZZZZZZZ.....

Thanks Zagat.com for these updates about new openings:

Greenhouse

150 Varrick Street

212-807-7000

Six thousand square feet of eco-friendly walls, lights and general mayhem means NYC's first green nightclub. This new SOHO club is officially L.E.E.D certified. I bet the drinks are still pricey but how San Franciscan of the owners of Home and Guesthouse to bring us this destination where vodka flows from recyclable packages. 

Shang

in the Thompson Hotel on the L.E.S. 

187 Orchard St. 

212-260-7900

Moderately priced Chinese fusion small plates on the Lower East Side brought to you by Toronto's Susur Lee. 

 

What the hell is the internet?

These are some web sites I recently discovered: 

www.break.com: 

Web site that broke the Australian kid who threw a house party while his parents were out of town's "I look good, I'm not taking off my sunglasses" while on a news program. 

www.fimoculous.com:

Discovered this web site as part of NY Magazine's "The Approval Matrix" section. It put their list of year-end lists in the section headed towards lowbrow brilliant. 

www.thedailybeast.com

Tina Brown has had an amazing career in publishing from Vanity Fair to the New Yorker. This is her website for observations and news links.  

Hanukkah...I like

Erran Barron Cohen, brother of Ali G's Sasha Barron Cohen, just released a Hanukkah album entitled "Songs in the key of Hanukkah" and it's not half bad:) Certainly a better jewish equivalent than the singular "Dominic the Donkey." 

Here's some highlights:

Track 1: Hip hop beats featuring Jules Brookes and Y- Love

Track 7: A lovely song with the incomparable Idan Raichel 

Stitch and Bitch

Alas, fabulous music venue The Knitting Factory will be closing it's NYC location come January 1, 2009. The club, which also has a location in Hollywood, will supposedly re-open in Brooklyn. 

I've seen a Xui Xui concert here, when some guy opened who billed himself as "Your mother has cancer" proceeded to yell that over and over into a microphone. I also had a ridiculous party night here and snuck into a reggae show/Queer as Folk hardcore party!? 

Yep, you could pretty much find the craziest stuff at this three floor venue. I'm dying to see a final show before the doors close for good, I just pray they don't turn the space into condos or apartments. 

I can't believe I missed Q-tip play here with Busta Rhymes in October. Damn. 

Here's some greatness coming up before the end:

1. December 17:  Michael Showalter, Jon Glaser and Eugene Mirman bid farewell to the Knit, music from Tigers and Monkeys

2. December 19: Rakim and other great hip hop and rap acts

Santacon NYC 2008

I want to say 2,000 people but I'm bad at approximating numbers so I'm just going to say A LOT of people converged on NYC dressed as Santa Clause on December 13, 2008. Among many landmarks we hit the public library, Rockefeller Center for the X-mas tree, South Street Seaport and the Staten Island Ferry. Drinking commenced at 10am at 33rd street between 6th and 7th and I'm sure did not end until much later. I took a name around 6pm. This event happened around the country but my friend Julia in San Francisco said the NYC one looked way bigger. 

My favorite part of the whole day: everyone was asked to bring canned food to donate at the beginning of the crawl. I brought three items but I saw people with entire sacks of food to donate. That's a lot of baked beans :) 

David Wain's Show: Wainy Days

There are so many cameos in the web series Wainy Days by David Wain- creator of Wet Hot American Summer and Role Models.  Start at the beginning but start now as you'll be somewhat caught up for the timely return of STELLA -  that's David Wain, Michael Showhalter and Michael Ian Black, all friends at NYU.  They're playing at the Nokia Theater in NYC tonight.  

Parody Wednesday

So this is from one of my favorite blogs out of San Francisco, Laughing Squid. 

It's "Jizz in my pants" - by The Lonely Island, the group includes Andy Samberg and they've made over 30 digital shorts for SNL. 

Favorites include: Jizz in my pants, Giraffe and Dick in a Box.  

According to their blog linked above, The Lonely Island's debut album "Incredibad" hits stores 2/10/2009.

** Update: New video for "Best look in the World"

Space Olympics

      "Iran So Far" - Cameos by Adam Levine and Jake Gyllenhal

People getting punched before eating

Extreme Challenge

Cloister and Fort Tryon Park

Even in winter this Bronx park is an oasis from the stress of life in an urban jungle. 

The Cloisters are a satelite of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's ancient relics collection in the middle of Fort Tryon park. Less crowded that central park with views of the river and bridge. You can drive here up the Henry Hudson Parkway. You can take the subway or a bus. But anyway you can get here - just do it. It's a beautiful little secret for a lot of people. 

Lady Sovereign is ... back?

Last I read about Lady Sovereign, the female British Eminem is how she was branded a few years back, she was yelling at a crowd in Williamsburg that they were nothing and stormed off stage after playing only 2 songs. 

Well she's got a hot new song. Looks like Britney isn't the only one making come backs! 

Song is called "I got you dancing." You bet you do LS. 

Pop Champagne

Jim Jones laid it down last night at Mercury Lounge.  He played some old school hits like "Certified Ganstas" and "Jackin Swagga From Us." The performance was re-scheduled from an earlier date and it finally sold out. Jones was joined on stage by Ron Browz of "Pop Champagne" fame who's coming out with his own album sooner than later. The crowd went crazier for Browz than Jones. People had their cell phones and cameras out but only a select few were really getting down :( Come on NYC! 

The opener Sun Ra (different from Sun Ra Arkestra) came complete with flashy outfits and go-go dancers. Gotta love the live band and hip hop crew combination. Reminded me a bit of Digable Planets. Can't find them online but they said it was rare for them to be together. Only identifier- "we're from the land of moo." 

Streamers

David Rabe's play Streamers is currently on stage at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theater. The Roundabout production highlights wonderful actors and an ambitious script about 4 young soldiers at bootcamp in 1965 Virginia coping with timely issues of anxiety, fear, sexuality and race relations. I was pleasantly  surprised to see an old friend, Hale Appleman, in the lead role of Richie. I went to summer camp with Hale ages ago and it was fun to see him again on stage. 

Hip hop splinters into the future

Sasha Frere-Jones

Music critic for the New Yorker and my personal idol teaches me a lot about new artists and music trends. His recent article December 1 issue talks of 

Steven Ellison, LA based producer, works under the name Flying Lotus and released an album this year entitled "Los Angeles." I own this album and I love it. Perfect mix of electronic and psychedelic beats with hip hop rhythms. Ellison has worked with a variety of artists including A Tribe Called Quest and Erykah Badu. Frere-Jones points out the song "The Reckoner" as a highlight featured on the above myspace page. Click the link! 

Mike Slott  and Hudson Mohawke (song Zoo000oom) from the LuckyMe collective in Glasgow are also mentioned. 

From a previous column: 

Megasoid: Party music from Montreal. 

And from Jamie's recommendation of this Milwaukee hip hop act: 

Figureheads

Television Shows to Watch NOW

Mad Men- AMC, Sundays at 10pm. Two seasons of NYC ad men circa 1960s. A critically acclaimed if slow to catch on drama. Also inspiring many fashion trends this season. Stars Jon Hamm, John Slattery, Elisabeth Moss and January Jones. 

True Blood- HBO, Sundays at 9pm. At the end of season one we see vampires and humans co-existing in the backwoods of Louisiana and beyond. Blood, sex, vampires, murder - what more could you want out of a television show. Plus anything Alan Ball creates you know will be good!

Stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.

Brotherhood-  Sundays at 8pm. A Showtime original series. A mob drama about redemption that follows the lives of two brothers- one in politics and one in the mafia whose lives are entwined at every step. Stars Jason Isaacs, Jason Clarke, Annabeth Gish and Ethan Embry. 

The Riches- Tuesdays at 10pm on FX but recently canceled. You can still catch two seasons of Wayne and Dahlia Malloy as con artist travelers trying to steal the American dream. Stars Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver.  

The Wire- HBO. Whether you're interested in sociology, education, criminal justice system or you just love great television, the Wire is a highly acclaimed narrative about inner city Baltimore. Five seasons of wondering- wow, are they actors or is this real? Stars Dominic West, Sonja Sohn and Lance Reddick. 

Friday Night Lights- NBC, Fridays at 9pm. Returning January 16, FNL is an extended version of the film by the same name. It is a drama about football and the surrounding culture in small town Texas. Stars Scott Porter, Zach Gilford and Minka Kelly.  

Gossip Girl- CW, Mondays at 8pm. Huge buzz about this show in NY and amongst teens and 30 somethings alike. Fashion, backstabbing, sex and drama abounds with spoiled Upper East Side teens wheeling and dealing to get into college and each others pants. Stars Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick. 

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia- FX, Thursday nights at 10pm. Hilarious comedy about 4 awful, heartless glue sniffing, alcoholics running a bar in Philadelphia. One of the funniest things on tv. Stars Danny DeVito, Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olson. 

• Want ways to watch these shows without spending a dime? Check out www.watchtvsitcoms.com or www.hulu.com.  

How to get a media job when the market is down and nobody loves you

I went to a forum at the NY Press Club last night that involved the editor of the Columbia Journalism Review, an Executive Producer from NY1 News and the founder of Mediabistro.com. Here are some tips they provided...

1. Continuing Education: Always be teaching yourself new skills like design, page layout, html.

2. Get a flip camera: http://www.theflip.com - a high definition version just came out too. Get this, mess around, jump into the future.

3. Build your own brand: have a direction, distill yourself down to who you are and what you care about, don't abuse networking * don't always ask people to give you a job, schedule informational phone or in person (if they have the time) interviews.

3a. Informational interviews: Should ask for 15 minutes and stick to that time frame, send a thank you note in an email and card

4. Build a brand online: Blog, Yelp, Facebook, Myspace, your own web site, podcast! 

5. Network: Network, network. And not just the 1970s movie about media. Create an E newsletter once a month to send to people with my clips and what I'm working on, send to friends to pass on to friends of friends, be authentic!!

6. Be mindful of job description: Use key words in job description in your resume and cover letter to avoid automatic filtering process

7. Don't leave 2 minute phone messages with your number at the end: Be clear and articulate on the phone. Leave number at beginning and end and keep it brief!

8. Web sites: newschallenge.org 

                        paidcontent.org

http://typepad.com

bailout@sixapart.com

newsu.org

poynter institute 

cgr

9. Important media terms (for understanding audience on web): BAW- Bored at Work

   CCT- Conference Call Time 

All for the Love of Music and Art

ALMA parties in NYC celebrate "neo-brasilian fusion." Apparently these parties get crazy and I was sad to have missed the last one on November 14 because I was in Florida. Next time around I'm definitely at Sullivan Room in the village to get down and discuss City of Men. 

In yet another striking blow that I don't live in Brazil, Forro in the Dark played at Joe's Pub by Astor Place on Friday, November 13. This genre embodies a conglomeration of jazz and techno music- think DANCING! I'm getting my ticket now for $15 for their next show- January 9 at 11:30pm at Joe's Pub. 

What's your Vice?

Vice magazine co-founder Gavin McInnes spoke recently on a Black 20 news package about hipsters. I first saw the piece from Brooklyn Vegan blog but it led me to McInnes new site Street Carnage. Awesome. More irreverent urban street culture.

Music News from New Orleans

Thanks Jenna. YUM YUM YUM... Candy Girl by G eazy featuring Greg Banks.  

Love the Jamaican rythmes. Totally caribbean moves. 

Hold Up Wait a Minute

Girl Talk, aka Greg Gillis, killed it Sunday night 11/16 at Terminal Five in NYC. People were sweaty and dancing and there were machines hurling toilet paper and confetti into the crowd. I must be getting old because midway through I had to leave the elbow fest for some fresh air and more dancing room but eventually I returned to bump and grind with my crazy neighbors once again. SO FUN but I just don't think I have the energy to see his third show this Tuesday, aka tomorrow, 11/18. 

I missed True Blood for this, that says a lot. 

Welcome to the rap Bizzle

Miami rapper Bizzle, also known as Chowtime, is making waves in South Florida and around the country with his stripper anthem "Naked Hustle."  Notice the new dance move for this song called the Wu Tang. According to the Metro Mix paper it derives from Wudangquan, a form of Chinese martial arts where your moves are meant to taunt your opponent.  I haven't been as pumped about dances like this since The Cupid Shuffle in 2007.  He's also got another single: "Lip Biting Animal."

Southern Florida, and Miami in particular, is finally representing on the hip hop scene with artists like Trick Daddy, Flo Rida and Rick Ross. It looks like Bizzle is coming up. 

My Jewish Mother Recommends: Great Money Saving Travel Tips

How appropriate to travel with my Jewish mother from suburban Long Island, NY to god's waiting room, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. for a week of sun and tasks to help renovate my late grandfather's condo.  We turned this chore into a vacation and, a cheap vacation, at that. Want to know how? At every step of the way, from flights to meals to accommodations, my mother recommends awesome tips to help save money. So don't think you can't travel because of the downward economy. You can still bask in sunny environments and eat like gods with these money saving hints.

1. Fly into a different city. Our destination was Ft. Lauderdale but my mother discovered we would save $30 on each of our tickets if we flew into W. Palm Beach, an airport merely 40 minutes away. We had to rent a car anyway and my mother doesn't mind driving in different states so the quick drive was worth the extra money in our pockets. 

2. Avoid weekend and holiday air travel. Prices are always higher for flights when you travel on weekends or popular holiday times (Warning: Think December and February for Florida, when all the teachers from NY are itching for a break from winter and have time off.) If you're flexible with when you can vacation, leave on a Monday! You'll feel great mid week knowing everyone else is at work. 

3. Bargain with your rental car company. Rental car companies constantly change their prices from day to day or as little as from hour to hour. If you book a car two weeks before your trip, check back online a few days later to see if they're offering any new discounts. Then let your inner Jewish mother out and call them to ask for the current rate. My mother managed to save $32 (From $215 to $183) by simply calling and asking for the best rate. 

4. Zipcar. Forget taxis and drive yourself.  If you're in an area where public transportation is outstanding and you don't need to drive every day all day then consider a local car sharing company in your vacation city or join Zipcar. You become a member and then can have access to cars in 13 major cities- including Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and even London. Gas and insurance is included and the going rate is about $11/hr or $70/day. 

5. Pre-select your restaurants: Obviously a lot of the fun of vacationing comes from trying the various restaurants and cuisines in your new spot. With web sites like Restaurant.com you can choose restaurants in the area you'll be visiting and buy gift certificates that will save you money. For $10, you receive a $25 gift certificate. Want to save even more? Sign up and the web site will send you emails with discount codes. We spent $12 for $75 in food certificates for upscale, quality establishments in Coral Springs and Miami Beach. 

6. Visit long lost friends: You'll stalk people you haven't seen in years on social networking sites but when it comes to real life, there's nothing like seeing your old friend from summer camp or high school live and in person. Forget spending ridiculous amounts of money on fancy hotels and trying activities you would never do at home. Save money by staying with friends and family you haven't seen in a while and doing activities the locals recommend. You'll have a richer, authentic experience without spending more. 

 

True Love

I've found my true love and it's on HBO Sunday nights at 9pm. Alan Ball is a genius and HBO works for him- first with Six Feet Under and then True Blood. 

There are only two episodes left in this first season and it just keeps getting better.  

Vampires are the new pop culture icons. First with Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Book series, then True Blood and now Twilight the movie. Awesome. 

Cable Takes Over My Life

So I've recently been watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on Hulu.com. This is a hilarious show now in it's fourth season featuring four friends that own a bar in Philly. Danny Devito is genius on the show so you should catch it Thursday nights at 10pm and re-run at 11pm on Fx. 

I was watching Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart's election coverage Tuesday night and thought about how Colbert was amazing in Strangers With Candy. A friend reminded me that both Colbert and Office star Steve Carrel both got their start on the Dana Carvey Show.. a prime time sketch comedy review back in 1996. Well the one and only season of the DC show is on Hulu too. Check out crazy hairstyles and denim jackets, OJ Simpson jokes and Ross Perot and Strom Thurmond impressions. 

I've also been watching more and more television since moving to the suburbs. However, it can't be helped with shows like The Office and 30 Rock. At least I'm only watching on one night, Thursday. This reminds me of high school when I would wait for Seinfeld on Thursdays.  

I wish Arrested Development was still on the air!

Obama Victory in Times Square

As I sat on the Upper West Side last night watching thousands of revelers in Times Square, a mere 40 blocks away, I thought- why am I not there? When my children ask me, "Mom, where were you when B.O. was elected?" would I really have to respond "82nd street." So I went to Times Square. And as I exited the A subway train I discovered horns honking, people screaming with joy, complete strangers high fiving each other... I knew I made the right decision. For at that second, Barack Obama was declared the 44th president of the U.S.A. Damn it felt good to be an American last night. 

Halloween in NYC

I took to the streets of NYC for Halloween as a glow stick figure and joined the crowds of thousands in the 7th avenue parade. Surrounded by drag queen Sarah Palin's, naughty cats and sexy cowboys, we followed three lit up Zipcars in the joyous celebration. Next year, I'm not wearing a mask! 

I'm running late...of the pier

According to Late of the Pier's myspace, it's Latin/Glam/Thrash. How could I resist? 

But while I'm linking to cool new tunes. Here's MORE: Wye Oak 

Black Book Magazine and City Guides = YAY

Black Book Magazine and City Guides, just searched through the New York guide and it's awesome. They may try a bit too hard to be witty and irreverent but in NYC, you'll be hard pressed to find a publication that doesn't want to be hip and hot. 

Sharon Jones at South Paw: What did I do to deserve this treat?

Well I don't know what kind of mitzvahs I've done recently to deserve this but Sharon Jones showed up as the surprise guest on Thursday night at the Daptone Records Obama Fundraiser at South Paw in Park Slope. It was amazing. Not only were we treated to an already stellar evening of the Menahan Street Band, Budos Band and I missed Naomi Shelton but heard she was amazing, but to have Sharon Jones end the evening was a heart warming surprise. 

Check out the DAPTONE Label. 

And Sharon Jones encored with "This land is your land" off of her album Naturally. It was a beautiful moment in Brooklyn. And super duper funky. 

Devin the Dude and CMJ week in preview

It's CMJ (college music journal) week in NYC and there are shows everywhere either free or very cheap. Some things to see: Hollywood Holt on Tuesday 10/21 at Angels and Kings Bar, 500 E. 11 St btwn Ave. A & B. Madlib and Peanut Butter Wolf Wednesday at Gallery Bar, 120 Orchard St. The Fool's Gold Showcase at Webster Hall Thursday, 10/23 mindnight show. And an awesome band from CALI Friday, 10/24 at The Annex (Also on Orchard St.) This will be an amazing week of music!

An artist I just discovered in NY Magazine: Devin the Dude. Razor & Tie. New album: Landing Gear. Look out for it.

Daptone Records: You can do no wrong!

The Menahan Street Band performs tonight at Southpaw in Park Slope, Brooklyn. They will also play a show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg later this week. With members from the Dap Kings, Budos Band and El Michaels Affair how could this be bad??? IT CAN'T! In my humble opinion, Daptone Records can do no wrong.

The execs at AIG can go F-U-C-K themselves

I just cannot believe people everywhere aren't ranting about this. OK they are but so then where is the action by the federal government to punish these money hungry idiots who spent nearly half a million dollars on a California retreat vacation only days after recieving millions of dollars from the Federal Government as part of the $700 billion bailout??

Shortly, I will update this post with the name of the CEO of AIG and his email address. Sure they may have called him to capital hill and given him a time out or a mean, scary scolding but come ON! This guy should be in jail; if he didn't know how much his own company was spending on a conference he should be put away for idiocy.

Palak Paneer for Jews and Vegetarians

A recipe I tried today with much success to make Palak Paneer (Creamy spinach and cheese cubes.) I substituted the cheese with tofu and added feta cheese. The I put the whole thing in a whole wheat pancake. YUM.

For the main dish:
2 boxes of creamed spinach (we used the Jewish brand in the frozen food section.You know what I mean, Praegers?)
4 potatoes
1 package of firm tofu
1/2 onion
1 cup feta cheese

For the pancake wraps: (Makes 24-26 pancakes, read the box for appropriate servings)
1 box whole wheat pancake mix
2 eggs
2 cups of milk
2 tbsp of oil

1. Bring hot water to a boil, place potatoes and packages of frozen creamed spinach in water. Leave for 12 minutes.
2. Saute onions in a pan with olive oil or save calories and use water and a spray of Pam. Add salt and pepper.
3. Cut package of tofu into sheets and place in oven to bake. Turn over half way through.
4. When spinach is cooked place in casserole dish. Add tofu, onions and potatoes when they are done cooking. Add feta cheese and stir. Place in oven to reheat or to keep warm.

Wraps:
1. Mix pancake ingredients: milk, eggs, oil and pre-packaged flour.
2. Cook on griddle or in a pan.

Kayaking in NYC: The Downtown Boathouse

Kayaking in NYC? For FREE? YES! At Pier 40 on West Houston Street from May - October The Downtown Boathouse, a non-profit, volunteer organization, works to reclaim the East River for recreation and leisure activities. The nice people give their time and help you into a kayak for 20 minutes (they don't really keep strick track of the time) to paddle up to 75 ft. There are security risks ("If you go past the line the Coast Guard will think you're from Afghanistan," I was warned.)

Other ways to kayak in NYC?
NYC Kayak Company

Where I may put my next bed: Bushwish, Brooklyn

So I hear Bushwick, Brooklyn is the new place to live. Status-pushers refer to it as East Williamsburg but if you look on an MTA subway map, it's more like East Bed-Stuy. I sat next to a very charming academic woman on a flight from SF - NY and she told me she lived in Fort Greene before it was Fort Greene and that Bed-Stuy would never change or be gentrified like other neighborhoods. She told me it was safe but "busy" and that it would always be "busy."

Then I do my research as realize Bushwick, even my mom said it was becoming cool to live there, supports loft parties (like at the newish venue Market Hotel), art openings (Factory Fresh Gallery)

Jim James Goes Down Hard in Iowa

Jim James, front man of My Morning Jacket, took a spill early in the evening at a show in Iowa and had to go to the hospital. The entire concert stopped right there, only about 10 minutes in. If that happened at the Greek Theater when I saw them a few weeks ago, we would have been in tears. I guess the U of Iowa didn't exactly know what they were missing but they probably did.

I may catch MMJ as they play a New Years Eve show at Madison Square Garden. FUN!

Tell me you love me?

Lovefest. Techno, dance and drum N bass. The freaks came out in San Francisco on Saturday October 4 for a long day of partying and craziness.

Spundae hosted a parade and dance party that went through the night. I took some substances and danced my ass off in the main square of the city before heading home for an impromptu dance extravaganza, in sneakers instead of heels.

Then it was off to Mezzanine nightclub for a late evening of Mark Farina spinning mushroom jazz beats. Then I got sick and had to go home to bed.

All in all, I will be back next year. Links to follow.

Fat Beats

Hollywood Holt and Kid Cuti put in down at Vessel nightclub in San Francisco last night for free. It was a dance party. Kanye West has blogged about Hollywood Holt before. He took off his shirt and there was a whole lotta booty shaking. YUM. 

Here's Hollywood Holt's home page

and

Kid Cuti

North to Napa

Headed to Napa Valley on Tuesday night for wine tasting and R&R . We hit up the Robert Mondavi Winery, which I just read was the first upscale winery that inspired the rest of the region. Well, the wine was alright and it was cool to get a souvenir glass to take home but our pourer was rude and not helpful at all.

But the landscaping of the vineyard is beautiful and it was a hot day up north. Beautiful.

We stayed at the Candlelight Inn, which is one of the most romantic bed and breakfast inn's in California and possibly the United States. Wendy, the proprietor, was super nice. There is a huge pool in the backyard and breakfast is a three course delicacy of fruit, crepes and quiche. 

On Wednesday we headed even farther up north to Lake Berryesa to swim. We didn't rent boats but we should have. 

Amazing mid-week getaway online 1.5 hrs from San Francisco but it felt like another world.

Folsom Street Fair

The largest leather festival in California (?) in the world (?) occurs every September 28th on Folsom Street in the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco. We saw S&M, BDM, and just plain jerking off. 

It was a crazy day filled with leather outfits, whips, crazy costumes and music. FUN and interesting sub culture for sure. 

South to Big Sur

If you are looking to escape the grind of the urban jungle head south to Big Sur for a weekend of camping, eating, beaching and (sometimes) sun with good friends!

Visit Deetjen Inn for Eggs Benedict breakfasts.

Point Lobos Restaurant for cocktails with a view. 

Stay at Kirk Creek Campground ($22/night- up to two cars and eight people allowed at each site, bring a propane stove no BBQ's allowed) 

Hit up Pheifer State Beach for purple sand.

Hit up local beaches for everything else. 

HP gets 1984 on your ass

So the Oracle World convention brings an additional 43,000 people to the Bay Area every September. Computer nerds, techies and businessmen and women alike flock to San Francisco for workshops, social networking and free cocktail hours and Treasure Island Elvis Costello concerts. 

At an event I was hostessing last night at Lulu's Restaurant on 4th and Folsom St. I learned about the female CEO of Hewlett-Packard being fired as one of many let go for spying on their employees. Apparently HP is notorious for this brand of political strategizing. 

I can't speak for anyone but myself but if my employer spied on me at work I wouldn't be very productive. I'd be paranoid and neurotic that my every move was being watched. 

Thanks for your music rec Perez Hilton

I know Perez is in negotiations to start his own record label. He recommends music a bunch so here's a band, Arsenal, that he just put on his blog www.perezhilton.com

Arsenal. They're like Royksopp. Here is a link to their song: Estupendo. 

Hot tubbin in the late night yadda mean?

If you live at Trinity Tours or another building with a pool/hot tub combo on your roof top you're used to getting down late night.

If you pay $10 or $20 you can go to Van Ness and get your own room with a hot tub but it's kind of nasty looking.

OR, you can go to Pacifica to a beach hotel with a hot tub in the room for $160/night and wake up early to the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. 

Last night, I chose the last option. AMAZING Sunday.

Pleasure Island

Oh what fun it is to ride on a Bauer's shuttle (party bus, thanks designated driver D.D.) and ride to San Francisco's annual Treasure Island Music Festival. Last year saw acts like M.I.A and experienced the wonder that is Thievery Corporation.

This tiny island 10 minutes from the heart of San Francisco provided beautiful views from a rotating ferry-go-wheel (at $5/pop) or scenic wonders straight on the ground. The background was perfect for Saturday's acts: energetic Hot Chip, Powerhouse CSS, dance-your-ass-off JUSTICE! I even learned about two new artists: Foals and Mike Relm (DJ, mixed M.I.A with Rage Against the Machine. People loved TESTIFY!) 

TV on the Radio was a sexy and powerful set but alas, they did not play Poppy :( 

I can't afford nor do I have the energy to return for day 2 which includes sets by Vampire Weekend, Tegan and Sara and the Raconteurs. OH well. I'm spent. What a wonderful day of music and community art projects on Pleasure Island.

It's chilly outside: I need My Morning Jacket

What a wonderful treat I received tonight. I visited the Greek Theater on the UC Berkeley campus for a stunning three + hr. performance by rock gods My Morning Jacket.  They played a funky encore with Highly Suspicious from Evil Urges. Knot Comes Loose, It Beats for You, Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2, Off the Record- these were all major dance inducers! Hurrah MMJ for another majestic and moving performance at an incredibly unique and intimate venue. 

Click HERE for an official review of the show. 

Take back public space

It's PARKing Day. Hurrah. Whether you're on your lunch break or celebrating a warm, sunny free Friday afternoon in San Francisco grab a parking space for $1.25/hr, gather sod, picnic tables, bouncy balls, boom boxes, frisbees or just plant your little behind in the PARK(ing spot) of your choice. TAKE BACK PUBLIC SPACE! 

This is SF for ya

Borts Minorts. More performance artist than musician. Definitely bizarre. AND HILARIOUS. 

The gap closes between the rich and poor

We're all fucked because of the Wall Street crash that occurred earlier this week. Here's an awesome article by Gawker with tips on how to understand what happened. 

Rolling Stone Tributes the City of Its Birth

Check this article about the Outside Lands Music Festival  that occurred in Golden Gate Park  from Aug 22 - 24. I got free entrance and paid working for Dell making buttons and heat transfers as part of their Summer Rocks promotion. I love craigslist. 

Theater Beyond the Great White Way

Beyond the O'Neils, the Barrymore's, the Arthur Miller's, those classic white male playwrights who wrote the realities of the American dream for the stage, there is a world of other, similiarly real truths portrayed by prolific African American writers and producers from the Negro Ensemble Company, people like Phillip Hayes Dean and Leslie Lee, who tell entirely separate truths that have been marginalized for far too long. 

Check this NY Times article to learn more about the African American theater companies and artists working in New York. Notice the familiar faces of Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington. 

Don't have time to read? Check this link to watch a 2 minute video that covers a history of the theater company. 

Soul Music Makes My Heart Beat Faster

Articles and Links for Bay Area 70s soul and funk lost legend Dorando: 

SF Weekly: December 12, 2007 

Ubiquity Records Press Release

UK based DJ Gilles Peterson: "Digs America" (Features Dorando's "Didn't I" ) 

More Bay Area Gems: 

Nino Moschella

Bayonics 

Sambada

Kenny Burrell's 1963 album: Midnight Blue 

Wes Montgomery 

Jazz Pianist Al Tanner 

Moses Dillard 

JR Bailey 

Wendy Rene 

Happy 50th Anniversary Green Belt Alliance

 For 50 years, Greenbelt Alliance has been the Bay Area's advocate for open spaces and vibrant places. 

Tonight we celebrate! For $75 members of the general public can gather in the Presidio for wine and food like only SF can provide: all organic, local and DELICIOUS! 

Much like Slow Food Nation, I found a way to get in for free. VOLUNTEER. I'll meet, greet and shuffle guests towards the food and then head there myself. 

I can't wait for more Chardonnay. Maybe they'll even have some whites from Louisiana like I sampled at Slow Food that was incredibly tasty but certainly not local (?) 

Click HERE for more information. 

Radio Africa Kitchen

Delicious, organic, all over the city. 

Learn more HERE.

Radio Africa and Kitchen brings people together for conversation, laughter and authentic healthy meals- all while listening to a diversity of African music. Everyone sits together at one table (family style) as if you were in your own home. 

Check out Velo Rouge Cafe or other hot spots for Radio Africa dinners. 

Brooklyn Eateries

Roebling Tea Room: If Sasha Frere Jones can meet members of the Battles here to discuss music and technology then I'm willing to give it a go.

How I will miss the greenery of Northern California

Check this New Yorker article by David Samuels from July 28, 2008

Dr. Kush

Slow Food Nation

Slow Food: It was created to organize the first-ever American collaborative gathering to unite the growing sustainable food movement and introduce thousands of people to food that is good, clean and fair.

Slow food takes San Francisco by storm. If you know who Alice Waters is (mother of California cuisine) you should head down to Fort Mason for 45 tastingsm, more than 1000 vendors and samples, samples, samples. From organic Chocolate ice cream to buttery Chardonnay's, you can have your pick. Tickets are sold out but check craigslist for the coveted chance to indulge in a food coma.

For more information: http://slowfoodnation.org/blog/

Brand Ambassador - Working for the man or just meeting new people?

I've recently been working as a lot as a "brand ambassador" for several companies and temping agencies. My job responsibilities: be outgoing, friendly and don't hard sell. I've also had to make buttons, print t-shirts and hand out products.

I love to meet new people and share information about cool stuff but I'm working for the man. Reinforcing power structures and the American way of sell, sell, sell - buy, buy, buy.

But everything is a contradiction and I may be over thinking things. I'm making ok money to chit chat and try new things. What do you think of promotions and brand ambassadors?

Oh print journalism - how I will miss thee

This is the field I want to work in. I want to write stories that excite and educate people. I should work for long form, investigative feature sources like The Nation, salon.com, Heeb, Rolling Stone.

Check out this the article on Gawker.com entitled" Blogger finds death of newspapers!Capitalism" ( I"m working on activating the link) and tell me not to be cynical. I'm 4 examples away from changing to do PR.

Can we pay you in pennies?

Last night I complained to my roomates that I've recently been accepting part-time jobs where I have to work a lot for little compensation. It got me thinking about salaries and then I read this articles in the NY Times this morning entitled "Psst! Your Salary Is Showing" talking about the increasing transparency of salaries within various companies.

One growing web site, Glassdoor, is trying to accummulate salaries for a wide range of positions within various companies. Go there and post salaries so everyone can be a little less self conscious and can stop making assumptions about their work places.

Just another day at the (temporary) office

In this downturned economy, if you're also downsized there's unemployment, general government assistance and TEMPING. I'm not sure how it is that you are placed in jobs and the agencies don't take money out of your paycheck but alas, I sit here at a marketing and public relations company in San Francisco, making $13/ hour to connect phone calls and inform people they have packages.

I'm glad I'll be paying off my $100,000 education for the next two decades. Does everyone know about this? How come everyone I know isn't temping? You can choose when and where you want to work.

Oh yea, the downside? You're fleeting and no one knows your name and you have no one to go to lunch with. It's lonely and slightly degrading if you're egotistical, and there are no challenges here. So lackluster work for the time being vs. living in a cardboard box?

Update: I was basically fired from my first temp job three days into a five day week because if the following situation. I scheduled a phone screening for a public relations job at noon thinking I could take my lunch from 11:55 - 12:45. My presence was never crucial until, of course, at 11:58 a client enters the building and needs change for $3. The permanent girl is just getting back from lunch but has disappeared so my supervisor Jonathan asks me to go make change for the man. Besides the fact I didn't even know where to do that, I didn't have the time to. I told him no, that Sarah would be back immediately and that I had to take a phone call at noon for an interview.

The supervisor rudely mocks me in front of the gentlemen seeking change and says "this is the temp, she'll be done tomorrow afternoon."

When I arrived this morning, supposedly my last day, I discover I am replaced by another temp. I call the agency and my case worker tells me they had feedback for me that I had a great personality but seemed uninterested in the position.

Obviously my luck that the one time they need me to do something I couldn't and I got fired because of it.

I'm Walking on Sunshine

I don't know much about Tivo, DVR's, High Definition by 2009, 490 channels of cable. I do know about pop culture and tv series that shed a little bit of light, humanity and humor on our overfed, over worked society.

Then there's Intervention, Mondays on A & E. Check out the NY Times article about the show that talks about Alison - a Boston college student addicted to huffing computer spray.

Now check out Alison as she walks on sunshine, kind of. Don't miss this You Tube video.

OYE.

Puns , They're Punny.

Oneupme.com
This is a brilliant word play web site founded by actor Jesse Eisenberg. Simply sandtabulous.

Favorite Web Sites- To be updated constantly

Music:

http://www.myspace.com/mikerelm

http://www.myspace.com/kingsofleon

http://www.myspace.com/darondo

http://www.myspace.com/adelelondon

http://www.myspace.com/nesakykmamai

http://www.myspace.com/mgmt

http://www.myspace.com/kakiking

__________________________________________________________
http://www.laughingsquid.com

http://www.thenewpop.com/nyc-details.php?cid=271

http://waiterrant.net/

www.weburbanist.com

www.worldhum.com

www.yelp.com

www.brooklynvegan.com

http://www.sashafrerejones.com/

Dia: Beacon on the Hudson

I've wanted to check out this art space, located about an hour and a half from Manhattan, for approximately 5 years. That's when I first read about its opening in the New York Times. Today, I was reminded about Dia and its cultural significance when I read about rich Russians buying art and opening their own cultural institutions in the heart of Moscow. Here is the link to that story.

Dia Beacon occupies a 300,000 square foot printing factory. The works to be found there range from 60s and 70s surrealists and pop artists like multimedia artist Dan Flavin, iconic Andy Warhol the monumental sculptures of Richard Serra and the abstraction of Cy Twombly.

For more information about Dia Beacon check out this link.

After checking out new museums in New York like, well, the New Museum on Bowery, I had to blog about Dia because I've had a passion to see it for so long. Next time I'm on the East Coast this will be on my itinerary, even before Six Flags New Jersey.

Places to party and dance in NY

The Afro- Spot Temple: 340 Grand St. 1 block south of Metropolitan between Havemeyer & Marchy in the heart of Williamsburg.

The Queensbridge Theater- two floors of a five-story warehouse on 10th St. at 37th Ave. in Long Island City.

Friday October 31st @ DANBRO BREWERY WAREHOUSE
TODD P / PANACHE BIG HALLOWEEN BASH
DANBRO BREWERY WAREHOUSE

205 Club

Market Hotel

The Bell House: Gowanus, Park Slope

Tubing on the Russian River

Looking for a fun, inexpensive activity outside of San Francisco's foggy August weather? Go tubing on the Russian River about an hour - 1.5 hrs north of the city, bring your own tubes and some beer and float the afternoon away under sunny skies with those friends you adore.  Most of the rentals on the R.R. have a pick up point at Johnson's Beach in Guerneville. 

Get Out of SF Black People

This is basically what San Franciscans are saying to the African American population of the city that once was a haven for jazz musicans, navy workers and families whose lineage stretched back to the migration of the California Gold Rush. Check out Sarah Phelan's article "Black Exodus Emergency" in today's Guardian newspaper and you will see what my eyes have already confirmed: the African American population has declined by 40.8 percent since 1990.

Despite the Mayor's Fillmore Street historic restoration plan blacks are leaving because of increasing rents and cost of living, lack of affordable housing, no creative new jobs and loss of support from friends and families that have already moved.

What should be done to prevent more and more African Americans from leaving their homes and heritage in San Franciso and other increasinly gentrified cities? I propose a lot more than we are currently doing! There needs to be community involvement and cross communication. We all need to speak up for more affordable housing for everyone and to stop the development of luxury condos unless it benefits the people that have lived in these communities their whole lives.

Texas Trying to Include Birth Control as Form of Abortion??

The issue at hand is "right of conscience" for Health and Human Services (HHS) employees of organizations that receive government funding. So you're a doctor, pharmacist and you think God will send you to hell if you doll out contraception then you have a right to refuse to provide any to the people that look to you for help and guidance.  

The HHS was trying to keep this a secret but it got leaked to the NY Times and HHS Services Secretary Leavitt is now trying to defend himself and the policy. Check out his blog.

Email here to sign a petition that says "Contraception is NOT abortion" and stand against this insane legislation!

August is Sandwich Month

Thanks to Jenna in New Orleans letting me know that August is the month of superb sandwiches. Whether you fancy Turkey and Cheddar, Tomato/Basil, Bacon Lettuce and whatever - get some bread and condiments and make me proud (and a sandwich.) 

Here's a list of the best places in SF you can get your sandwich on: 

My favorites: 

1. Submarine Center: Next to gas station at West Portal Muni Stop 

2. Brendas's Soul Food: Tartine breakfast sandwich with eggs and bacon on Polk Street

3. Petite Deli: North Beach shop for bomb sandwiches and more