I Love Hollywood Forever. The Cemetery.

One of the bestest things to do in LA in the Summer is to go to the screenings at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. They're run by this company Cinespia (www.cinespia.org) and they are now in their TENTH year (good job, cinemaphiles). Anyway, the graveyard is at Santa Monica and Gower, so it's not really in Silverlake, but it's kind of East-ish and chock-full of hipsters and so I feel I must include it in this blog.

These screenings are really popular now, so even though the gates open at 7 and the movie doesn't start until it gets dark, you need to get your tickets online (they do that now) and get into the queue early to avoid traffic, not getting in, and possibly being trampled to death. The awesome thing about getting to the line early though, is that it's basically a giant picnic on the lawn of the beautiful beautiful cemetery. Seriously, it's gorgeous:



I arrived at 4 (okay 3:57) with Anna, who I managed to kidnap for the weekend from the clutches of the evil Beverly Hills. I'm just kidding. Not really. We went to Trader Joe's on Hyperion beforehand and got so much good stuff that we had to high five in the store as people stared at us. I maintain they were just jealous of our cheese crunchies. Anyway, we were NOT first in line (we were only like, the 7th and 8th least cool people there). We spread out our blanket and all our goodies and then fell asleep in the sun for an hour. Then our friends started arriving and added to the perfection of the afternoon. It's a pretty mellow line, where you can save spaces and people are drinking, playing card games and generally enjoying each other's company. Also it took Anna 20 minutes to open the container of s'mores:

She's also wearing the green leggings that were part of my Halloween costume because we had a lady sleepover Friday night and she forgot to pack pants. However, no one blinked an eye at her green leggings...because that's Silverlake for you. OKAY, admittedly, to took me 20 minutes to open the exact same kind of container right after Anna. Not only that, but I cut my fingers. Anna took a picture of me, but my left boob is doing something terrible in the photo and I simply cannot publish it.

Finally at 7, the gates opened and everyone made their way to the lawn where the movie gets projected onto the wall of a building. It looks like this:



Pretty, right? Anyway, there's always a DJ before the screenings, and last night this guy who has actually scored films like Ocean's Eleven was playing these awesome trippy, hypnotic tunes. Of course Anthony knew the name of every song. It was Noelia's birthday and she wore a gorgeous floor-length dress (Noley, please do not be mad that I just said it was your birthday, thanks!). So we ate and drank more. Brett pointed out that this must be my idea of Heaven because so many of my favorite humans were there, we were about to watch a fantastic movie, the lawn was full of bearded gentlemen with tattoos, and there was cheese. Finally it grew dark and John, the sexy beardy man who runs Cinespia introduced the film, and Vertigo began.

Okay if you haven't seen Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, then stop reading my stupid blog and stream it on Netflix right this minute. It is so good and romantic but in a sick, twisted way and just so fucking pretty to look at. I mean, HERE:



OOOOOO. After the movie, everyone finishes their wine and then slowly makes their way out of the cemetery in the moonlight. It's honestly the best thing ever. Everyone is in such a good mood and it can be romantic or you can go with a huge group or go with children if you can steal some. It's one of my favorite things about this glorious city. What? It's a long weekend; I am feeling cheesy.

Home!

So I was walking back from Pazzo Gelato tonight with Em and Alpal (bourbon cream and strawberry sorbetto taste GREAT together; who knew?), and we stumbled upon this adorable couple standing in the street. The woman had a cute, pudgy baby strapped to her in one of those frontal backpack things and the dad was wearing the baby's car seat like some kind of hat. They were both freaking out about something in the road. We asked what was up and the mommy pointed out that there was a roach in the street carrying a cigarette:

This picture was taken by Al on her iphone because my berry sucks and has no flash. The couple also took a picture. Anyway, I just wanted to show you (Mom) that even the roaches in Silverlake are hip and stay slender by smoking cigarettes (again, I DO NOT). Also, the fact that this couple and their BABY were getting all excited and laughing hysterically about a roach carrying (or perhaps it was smoking) a cigarette was even more Silverlake than the roach itself. I love where I live.

I Was SO Jubilant...

Okay so, my friend Brett, who actually lives in Santa Monica, convinced me to go to the Silverlake Jubilee for half an hour this past Saturday. Now I used to live with Brett (platonically, though he is handsome and SINGLE, ladies...) and went to college with him and he is a wonderful writer and a delightfully kooky individual who thinks life is a movie and it's his job to direct it (however, one time he did try to get me to slow dance to All 4 One's "I Swear" with a guy I had a secret crush on in a Japanese restaurant with all the lights on and I had to whisper-scream at him that it was not his job to direct the movie that is MY life), but this was actually the first time Brett had ever seen my apartment. Like, I've lived here for two months. Brett Konner really doesn't like going East of the 405. So you can imagine how special I felt when he ventured my way and I jumped at the chance to check out the Jubilee with him. It took place on the road off of Santa Monica at Sunset Junction that extends under the bridge on Sunset (get it? no?). This is pretty much what it looked like:



Also there were 2 stages bookending either side of the festival and a million food trucks and jewelry stands and other stands of stuff in between. Okay, not a million, but it was a pretty cool spread. Also, no, I do not know that ponytailed STUD or the girl with the cool tie-dyed dress and stripy knee socks. I am sorry.

Anyway, Brett and I walked along, looking at the various wares and stopping to talk to one of the creators of 5 Second Films (http://5secondfilms.com/), who was very nice and I felt cool when I realized I'd met him before. I felt even cooler when I ran into my friends Christopher (super-talented musician, check out his band Miracle Parade), Mary Beth (makes you feel bad about yourself because she looks pretty with no makeup on and is kind of saving the world), and Martin (Noelia's cousin; awesome cook who owns his own craft services company and father of 2 adorable tiny babies). These three let Brett and me know that they were serving interesting tequila drinks in the alcohol garden and so of course, we immediately went there. Brett and I got beer though (I am just a sucker for a dark stout and also, I had to drive somewhere 45 minutes later, so tequila may have been a bad idea) and met a charming bulldog while we were in line. Then I checked out a band I was not impressed enough with to even get their name (sorry band!). I had to go pretty soon after that, but it seemed like a successful event. Lots of food trucks, hip looking people, and tons of shiny goods to ogle. I was happy I went.

Take it Down to Thai Town...

Right on Hollywood Boulevard, just West of Los Feliz, something magical happens. That something is called Thai Town. This picture does not do it justice:



I wanted a night shot because there are all kinds of lights and bells and whistles (okay, just lights). Anyway, on a rainy Tuesday Emily Moffet drove me to this delightful strip mall for some grub. And it was amazing. I think the name of the place we went to is the Red Corner Cafe. Oh, it's Red Corner Asia; I just found the site:

http://www.redcornerasia.com/TH/home/home.html

Though it's not much to look at on the inside, this place has fast service and is ridiculously delicious. We got a spicy beef salad, a butterfly shrimp salad, and a papaya salad (we were being healthy and also trying to eat as much vinegar and chili paste as possible). Emily, being a genius, also gets a side of peanut sauce to cut the spice. I personally could put peanut sauce on just about anything and it's so good at Red Corner, kind of light but smooth and not too watery. I like to get a papaya salad whenever I try a new Thai place, because I think it's so funny that I do not enjoy papaya as a fruit but then in a Thai salad, the fruit becomes these savory, spicy noodles and I have never met a noodle I could resist. I drank green tea and gossiped with Em and everything was perfect. Okay fine, afterwards we had Samoa ice cream with chocolate covered pretzels crumbled into it (another Emily invention) and watched Glee and The Voice on TV and THEN everything was perfect. I really suggest checking out Thai Town though; it's a total experience and the food is basically a bonus.

Okay, back to freaking out about my new job starting Monday! I will write again! I must!

To Jubilee or NOT to Jubilee...

Guys, should I go to this?

http://www.songkick.com/festivals/110156-silver-lake-jubilee/id/8732086-silver-lake-jubilee-2011

Probably, right? I mean if I am going to try and be a guide to what's hot in Silverlake in any way I should like, check out what's hot in Silverlake, no? Let's discuss.

PS Want to come with me?

WATCH Like an Egyptian!

This post's title really makes no sense and I KNOW the Egyptian movie theater is technically in Hollywood, but it's just such a cool, hip thing to do in LA, I HAD to write about it.

Okay, so American Cinematheque (http://www.americancinematheque.com/) does these screenings at the Aero and Egyptian theaters and they are just WONDERFUL. Like, Noelia, Kalen and I went to a Saturday screening of Carlos and although it was like seven hours of my life, it was fantastic. Also, after the screening director Olivier Assayas and star Edgar Ramirez did a Q&A session (Edgar Ramirez is so foxy I can barely type his name without like, swooning), which was really informative and lovely. Anyway this time I went with Kalen to what I think was the second night in a series of films directed by Monte Hellman. Mr. Hellman (Monte?) was also there and did a Q&A at the end of the two films; we saw Two-Lane Blacktop and Ride in the Whirlwind.

I loved Two-Lane Blacktop so effing much and I really have to thank the magical Kalen Egan for introducing me to it. I confess to you (Mom) that I met Kalen because he was friends with Noelia and then I essentially forced him to spend time with me. I cannot sum up the man that Kalen is in one sentence, but he is WONDERFUL and I enjoy his company in general, but he is especially wonderful to watch movies with. He has seen basically everything and owns like, the entire Criterion collection and yet he can still enjoy a gem like Drive Angry 3D (Nic Cage's hair is NO JOKE in that movie) and will go with you to Jane Eyre (even though the usher will ask him what he did to deserve going to see it). It was Kalen that suggested this double-feature and I am DEFINITELY grateful.

I really just want you guys to go see the movie for yourselves, but Two-Lane Blacktop stars James Taylor (yup, that James Taylor) and Dennis Wilson (yup, from The Beach Boys) as two drifters who occasionally drag race for money. Warren Oates plays a G.T.O owner who races the guys across the country. There's also a pretty young girl involved. Oh, and did I mention that in the film, the guys look like THIS:



Yeah, I bet you were so confused picturing a bald James Taylor racing all over the USA for pink slips. It is just so awesome and well-written and 70's-cool. At one point I leaned over and whispered to Kalen "It's just like The Fast and the Furious!" and he responded "More like The Fast and the Existential," and of course, he was totally right. The Q&A came after this first film, and Monte Hellman was fine, if a little dry, but what is so fun about these screenings is all of the loonies that come out of the woodwork to "ask questions." I used quotations there, because most people don't ask questions so much as say things like "I auditioned for the role of the girl," or "I did union work in Goodfellas," and then just stare at the speaker expecting a reward or cookie or something. Kalen sort of adores these awkward moments, while I wish I could evaporate out of my chair as I mouth the words "I HATE YOU" to him. Anyway, it's a fascinating experience.

I did NOT enjoy Ride in the Whirlwind, which is a really boring western, even though the film has all of the required shoot-outs and whatnot. It does star Jack Nicholson, who actually wrote the screenplay, and to be fair to Jack, he looks like this in the movie:



I mean, this is why I did not fall asleep. Go to the Egyptian! Maybe look at the schedule first, but then go, GO!

K2...Not What You Think...Maybe in a Good Way

There is this restaurant in West Hollywood called Kokomo and it is just FINE. Like, you can get a decent, if not slightly overpriced, salad or sandwich and the atmosphere is pleasant, etc. I mean, look at it:




Fine, right? Okay, so there's place in Silverlake right by the junction on Sunset called K2 that I am fairly certain is an affiliate of Kokomo. It's a sleek, diner-y looking joint with outside seating, obviously in a prime location. I went with Noelia and Anthony (they are a fun couple to third wheel it with as opposed to just a painful reminder that you're single/grossly cute and touchy). Because it is called K2, I think we all just assumed it was a CHEAPER, more on-the-go version of Kokomo. NOT SO.  Oh, here's some info:


http://www.yelp.com/biz/k2-los-angeles


K2 is MUCH FANCIER than Kokomo. Like, before we ordered we joked we would all need to get side salads as our entrees because the prices were just so STEEP. But of course, we all went crazy and spent way too much money. I got this like 16 dollar BBQ salad and I can't remember what Ant got (sorry Ant) because I was STARING at Noelia's giant pork chop (it was a special) that came with these TASTY polenta pancakes (I tried them. And I tried the chop. It was in the name of RESEARCH). We also got this special side of toasted sunchokes that tasted like a cross between fries and chips which means they were probably the greatest thing I have ever tasted. Oh, the waiters are incredibly nice and without asking, refilled Ant and my diet cokes like, 53 times (I was very jumpy by the end of dinner). All in all a good experience.


By the way, I went BACK to Kokomo with Al for brunch yesterday and it was actually borderline incredible. I had this CREATION called The Devil's Mess, which is like scrambled eggs with grilled zucchini, peppers, onions, and zesty andouille sausage. Very simple and yet I hadn't had something so satisfying for brunch in a long time. Alpal got the crispy chicken salad and I didn't try it but it LOOKED fantastic because there was SO MUCH FRIED CHICKEN on that bed of lettuce, and you KNOW for me a salad is really a vehicle for meat, cheese, beans, and fattening dressing.  Leave me alone; I just live my life!

I SEE IT!

I can see the running playlist post!!! Can you Mom? I hope so. I have to go to Prince now. I know. Life is hard.

Falling Off The Cliff's Edge...

Let me begin by saying I am FURIOUS because I wrote an entire post yesterday about my running playlist and it was charming and funny and informative and it is completely LOST. Like, where is it? WHERE IS IT, BLOGSPOT?! If you (Mom) can see it and I can't just let me know and my sad, sad heart will be unbroken. Anyway, I went to Cliff's Edge the other night. Let's talk about it:




It's pretty, right? Here is the Yelp info and all that jazz: http://www.yelp.com/biz/cliffs-edge-los-angeles


Cliff's Edge is a beautiful, partially outdoor restaurant right on Sunset by Sunset Junction. Make sure you get a reservation, because the first time this same guy tried to take me to this place, they couldn't seat us, so we went to Little Dom's, which I actually love, and then got into an argument about politics (this has nothing to do with Cliff's Edge, but now you know why I am surprised I even made it to the third date with this gentleman). Anyway, we were seated at a free-standing table but they also have these benches with cool Moroccan pillows and stuff. My date said it kind of looked like Vietnam. I obviously thought this was some kind of political statement and grimaced at him.

Anyway, our waitress was very nice and professional and selected a really tasty, mineral-y Sauvignon Blanc for me and Mr. Date got an Old Fashioned, which is cool and manly. I love a steak and so my date encouraged me to order the special hanger steak that came with fries (delicious, not afraid to chow down on a date) and he got the chicken AND ordered us the sweet potato ravioli to split as a starter, because the waitress mentioned that people loved it (also a nice move on his part). The ravioli was insane...like just sweet enough and in a very light sauce. The atmosphere is delightful; it's not too loud and they have flickering (fake, Date and I argued about this, he won) candles and you can see stars and hear birds and such. We did NOT get dessert, but they have all the usual, tasty-sounding options including a chocolate pot de creme, which I've heard is yummy.

Okay so now you are probably thinking I am an asshole, because this dude took me on a perfectly lovely date to a famously romantic restaurant and I ran away from him on my front stoop (to be fair to ME, he got a hug and a thank you, OKAY?). And I might be an asshole, but also, I am just terrible at dating and sadly, not that into this particular fellow (possibly BECAUSE he was so nice and normal and not like, a scary weirdo who is mean to me). Also, to my five friends who read this blog, please still set me up. Things just get scary when it's date THREE, because you feel obligated to get sexy with your date regardless of attraction level. However, in this case we hadn't even KISSED yet, mostly because of our second date political argument that resulted in me asking him to take me home. So like, we were taking it slow. And again, he was totally gentle and respectful, it just wasn't going to happen. Honestly, I am proud I made it to the third date; I usually self-destruct way before this. I am just going to stop typing before I come off as literally the most unappealing woman on the planet. Cliff's Edge = good. I still believe in love! The end.

Today's Running Playlist

Okay so maybe I am still to raw from my night at Cliff's Edge (really nothing bad happened, it's just...well, nothing happened), but I decided to put off that post and share with you (Mom) what I listened to today as I jogged the reservoir. It's effing GORGEOUS outside today so do yourself a favor and step away from your desk for ONE MINUTE to smell the early Summer air.  Anyway, here are the songs I was jamming to:

1) "The Antihero" by Soft Pipes (Again, if you don't go buy the entire Soft Pipes album on itunes right now, like, I don't know if we can be friends. Anthony Polcino's voice is incredible and this particular track has a sort of Strokes-meets-The Beatles pop/rock melody that is paired with really heartbreaking (in a good way) lyrics)

2) "Get Some" by Lykke Li (This song is just fucking hilarious. Not only does it have a super-fun beat, but little Lykke sings lyrics like "like a shotgun need an outcome, I'm your prostitute, you gon get some." Does that make any sense? No. But when you're bopping around and singing along, no words will ever sound so TRUTHFUL)

3) "Under Cover of Darkness" by The Strokes (Meh. You don't have to download this, but I ran to it and I am just being honest. As you know, I feel feelings for this band, but the new album just isn't as good as Julian Casablancas' solo project. I mean, everything they do is good, but this song just doesn't do to me what, for example, "Automatic Stop" does)

4) "Don't Lose My Number" by Phil Collins (I have to give my hip Silverlake friends credit for my discovery of this Phil deep cut. Actually, I was at my friend Jon's birthday in Venice (but I think he will admit he is an East-sider at heart) when Emily and Anthony popped this one on and then it felt like I came ALIVE again. Seriously, this song is SO FUN. I dare you not to dance to it. Or run to it)

5) "It's Thunder and it's Lightning" by We Were Promised Jetpacks (I know, this band's name is so silly. These fellows are my other Scottish boyfriends, and although I do not love them as much as Frightened Rabbit (probably less because of music and more because Scott Hutchison is my one true love), Jetpacks are kind of great. They sing this very raw, yearn-y rock and this song perfectly captures the feeling of staring out a window during a storm, feeling incredibly sorry for yourself)

6) "Laura" by The Scissor Sisters (I saw this band at Coachella, LATE, and danced my ass off (okay no I didn't, my ass is still very much there but I DANCED). They have so much energy and sassiness and singer Ana Matronic encouraged all the dudes to wear spandex and thongs always. This song, specifically, is really fun, and my New York friend slash Coachella partner in crime Kate Nelson pointed out that it has one of the best pauses of all time in it (like, you think the song is over, but it's NOT)

7) "Welcome Home" by Radical Face (So Spring of 2010, I went to visit my family in NYC and went to a day-birthday at a bowling alley in Brooklyn for my friends Liz and Lynn. Needless to say, day-drinking was involved. Then I went to my parents house and ordered this movie On-Demand, The Vicious Kind. In my drunken state, I LOVED it and I especially loved this one really sexy scene where they play this song. I came back to LA raving about this movie and hunted down this song and played it over and over and pictured Adam Scott (star of the movie) all dark and grumpy wanting to make out with me and FORCED Kalen to watch it. Although Kalen is a cinephile, he can appreciate crap when it's kind of brilliant, but he let me know that while Adam Scott is pretty good in the movie, the movie is actually pretty bad. This is a terrible story, but what I am trying to say is that this song, while totally inappropriate for running, is good but the movie from which it came is NOT. Okay, I promise I am done now)

8) "Help You" by Trampled by Turtles (Fun, fast country jam about a girl who is a MESS. So good)

9) "Disturbia" by Rihanna (Guys, when I am at the end of my run I NEED to hear a jam that pumps me up. This one has a fantastic beat AND brings back wonderful memories of when I moved in with Jessica and Kyle helped me bring my stuff over from Santa Monica and I just sang this over and over all day long. I am surprised these people are both still in my life after I did that to them, but they're kind souls)

So I Got a Job...

But GUYS (Mom), I am still totally going to write. This is my passion, my dream. Damn the man! Save the empire! (If you don't know that reference and have never seen Empire Records, I cannot help you with anything.) Also that quote didn't really make any sense there. Anyway, I am still planning on posting all the time as I still have a million places to go to over here and because I don't want all of my relationships to disintegrate. Tomorrow I will post about how Cliff's Edge is tasty and how terrible I am at dating. Everything is fine. I know, you're thrilled.

Scary Nameless Pho Place That is Delicious

God, I am getting so good at these post titles! Anyway, enough about my awesomeness. Since I have moved to Silverlake, I have become obsessed with Pho (totally missing an accent marker somewhere in that word, but of course, I do not know how to make one on my mac). If you don't know what Pho is (I know you know Mom, you foodie), they are these delicious glass noodles that typically go in some kind of gingery yummy broth and then you can get all kinds of meat and/or vegetables along with basil, sprouts, siracha and hoisin sauce to put into your heavenly stew. Also, I have this really attractive portion control problem, so I love Pho because it comes in these HUGE ASS bowls that nobody can finish (okay, I have polished off an entire bowl a couple of times). Anyway, in Silverlake, Pho is my jam (I am also capitalizing Pho, not knowing if that's correct; go with it).


When I first moved here (A LONG TWO MONTHS AGO), I just went to Pho Citi on Sunset always:


http://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-citi-los-angeles-4


Now, I have to say, I like it there. It's a CHAIN (sin!), but the soup is solid and it's open 24 hours a day and it's just far enough away from my apartment that I feel like I get a decent workout if I walk there. Actually, this one weekend I captured Beverly Hills Anna and made her hang here in the East and she LOVED Pho Citi (we also went to Blockbuster afterwards, which made us realize how far from my place we actually were, and then a guy walked by us on the street who was dressed like a jester strumming a mandolin and I panicked Anna would never come back here). Pho Citi is definitely legit. However, people kept telling me I should try the place that is literally 2 blocks from my apartment. 


This close-by Pho place was TERRIFYING to me. Yes, it is in a random strip mall and has no sign or name BUT that's exactly what makes it a magnet for the hippest hipsters around. It is also BLINDINGLY bright in there so everyone can see the little bumps of irritation left over from my mustache waxing. On top of everything else, it is a long, narrow restaurant and there is constantly a line of fashion-y fashion plates hovering over your little table JUDGING your P.S. I Love You t-shirt (it was FREE) and how much food you've ordered.  Here is a picture: 



Look at those crazy orbs of white light! Look at that man's buttery leather jacket! It's a nightmare! So the first time I got the courage to go to this Pho Cafe was with Alpal after one of our tender reservoir walks. I told her I was craving Pho and she suggested I pick up from the Scary Place, telling me she would go in with me and we wouldn't have to stay (because duh, take-out). Al is a genius. It was also like 5PM, which is not primetime for some Pho-slurping. There was one frighteningly cool looking dude with a red fro eating alone and then two slender girls with tattoos, off-the-shoulder tops and really good hair (I just have to get used to these women being around, stealing all the hot dudes) picking at their Pho (Phos? Who knows). Anyway, they were super fast at preparing my order and even though Alison LEFT ME to go to the bathroom (jerk!), I survived. 


And the Pho and Nameless Pho is delicious. Not only that, but it's cheaper than Pho Citi, so that's pretty clutch. Al and I went back on Sunday and ATE INSIDE and I was pretty pleased with myself. We got fresh rolls with tofu and veggies inside (great and the peanut sauce is spicy, which I love) and then Al got the veggie Pho (she swears by it) and I got beef Pho and now I sweat by that too. And there were BABIES next to us! Babies are not scary at all (okay, a lot of you may disagree with this statement)! The guy at the table on our other side (very cute, glasses, with his pretty girlfriend, sad) borrowed our sauces, which made me feel like I was part of the Pho community and therefore, it was all good. 


Oh, and on the walk back home, there were these two guys standing by their motorcycles who were both really studly (one was like a viking: tall and blonde with a beard, and the other was short but with curly brown locks, a beard, an GLASSES). I obviously hid my face and didn't talk to either of them. Anyway, the end. Good story. 

Cat the Sequel

Okay so this happened:

I promise this won't be that blog where I just post pictures of cats (although if you haven't seen "kittens inspired by kittens," well, you're welcome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtX8nswnUKU), but like, this is TOO cute. Okay post about real important things like where to get awesome PHO tomorrow...

Trash Day!

So the funny thing about going to a "white trash" party in Silverlake (okay, it was technically in Los Feliz) is that people don't know you're joking when you're dressed like this:

That's Kyle and yes, that is The Dance Scene on my TV. Kyle is rocking jorts he JUST created with my scissors, wearing a visor and advertising the ever-so-classy Miller Genuine Draft 40 (honestly though, they were delicious). I will not show you what I was wearing but will admit I was ALSO in jorts AND a jean jacket, so obviously I looked beautiful.

My friend Deanna was throwing the party with her neighbor Adam. Deanna is an actress AND was in Maxim's hot 100. Seriously, she is extremely ugly:



Told ya. Deanna is also actually GOOD at acting and ridiculously NICE so clearly I hate her, but went to her party anyway. It was perfect. There was plastic bowling, horseshoes, hamburgers, and a birthday cake made of Twinkies (I don't know who it was for, sorry. Happy birthday stranger!). Then a group of us walked to Tiki-Ti, which is maybe the coolest bar on the planet:

http://www.tiki-ti.com/pages/home.html

It is this TINY shack on Sunset that is somewhat outdoor (I think there are holes in the roof?) so you can smoke inside (MOM DON'T WORRY, I DO NOT SMOKE) and get just about any cocktail you can think of. I had a Missionary's Downfall, which is SORT of like a Mojito with the muddled limes and mint, but with an added element of some dark delicious liquid. Everyone got something different and we watched The Shawshank Redemption on silent in the bar and loved every minute of it. Unfortunately, Kyle had changed out of his ensemble at this point and I was still wearing my Canadian tuxedo. And cowboy boots and giant hoop earrings and a sports bra with a cut off tank top barely covering it. But no one seemed to notice...maybe because they were overwhelmed by my sexiness. Anyway, it was just a typical Saturday in Silverlake: good friends, great drinks, and an outfit made entirely of denim.

I Guess I Tweet Now...

In an attempt to get more people than just my mother to read this blog, I have now joined Twitter. Okay, Anthony signed me up for Twitter and it is so scary and confusing and can these people I follow see me and what is a re-tweet and and I have nothing to say and WILL ANYONE EVER LOVE ME?!! Okay, I am calm again. So like, "follow" me at:

@SilvrStranger

Is that right? I don't know anything anymore.

Cat Signs Are Cuter Here

In Silverlake, this is how people try to get you to buy their cats:

I don't like cats (and judging by their sour faces and how they're always pretentiously licking themselves, I don't think they like us either) but if I DID, I would be totally charmed by this advertisement. I don't know if you (Mom) have magical zoom powers on your computer, but if you manage to find this person's phone number and buy this cat, Mazel Tov (do you capitalize that? I am terrible at being Jewish, which technically I am).

Today's Running Playlist

Let me start by saying it is hot as hot coals out today. When it is this hot and I run, my hands swell up like balloon-sausage-HORRORS and I really shouldn't go outside but no one is around to stop me, so out I went. This is what my hands ended up looking like:

I swear to you I am not morbidly obese and I don't have cankles for wrists. Also the top ring is from my dad and the bottom ring is from my mom and I wear them always even when my surrounding finger skin threatens to swallow them forever.

Anyway, I made a playlist when I ran today and I wanted to share it with you guys. It's actually not even that great for running...some of the songs are straight-up weepie, which might be why I had to walk half of the second hill on my res run (but did I mention the HEAT?).  There is some good shit on here though, so enjoy:

1) "Shine a Light" by Wolf Parade (This is one you can actually run to. I love these hairy, sweaty rockers and their raw sounding guitars. I even went to the Wiltern for them and I hate that elitist venue)

2) "The Twist" by Frightened Rabbit (This one is a little slower and more yearn-y. I am pretty much in love with the lead singer of this Scottish rock band, Scott Hutchison, and this song makes me think of the babies we will make together)

3) "Zero" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The whole album It's Blitz! is danceable and awesome. Karen O is a giant lady crush of mine)

4) "Buttons" by The Weeks (Okay, I will do another post about my horrible phobia of buttons, and I am not sure I am in LOVE with The Weeks overall, but just try and tell me this song doesn't rock; I dare you)

5) "Happy Alone" by The Kings of Leon (I am pretty sure it is no longer cool to like this band as they have gone totally mainstream, but their old stuff is honestly some of my favorite music of all time. The title of this song does not, unfortunately, apply to me, but it is a JAM)

6) "I Am Not a Robot" by Marina and the Diamonds (Like with The Weeks, I don't spend my days swaying to all of Marina's stuff, but this song is plunky and cool in a Regina Spektor-y way, and I enjoy Regina)

7) "What Goes On" by The Velvet Underground (This is a sort of trippy, mellow song that happens to be 7 minutes long. I don't feel like I have to advertise for The Velvet Underground because PLEASE, but I will say that I like to run to long songs. You just say to yourself "make it through this song, damn it," and all of a sudden you're at the end of the long row of pretty houses on the other side of the reservoir)

8)  "Girl From the North Country" by Lions (I have no idea who this band is and I am aware that this is a more hard-rock version of the Bob Dylan CLASSIC, but I got this off the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack (words can't express my love for that show/Kurt Sutter/Charlie Hunnam) and I just dig it)

9) "E.T." by Katy Perry featuring Kanye West (This song is SICK. I'm sorry to those of you who see the name Katy Perry and SHUDDER, but this song is AWESOME. It sounds like a song by t.A.T.u (that IS how you spell it and if you don't remember them, I mean, just enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mGBaXPlri8) and it's one of those jams you can make up all the words to and just make yourself laugh and laugh  ("hit me with your laser, give me all your poison!"))

10) "Please Don't Go" by KC and the Sunshine Band (NOT a running song. This band is just so fun)

11) "Out of the Blue" by Julian Casablancas (Phrazes for the Young is SUCH a wonderful and underrated album. I worship The Strokes, but Julian is the genius and soul of that band (sorry Albert, you know it's true) and I love all eight songs on this tiny masterpiece. This one is the most runnable)

12) "Tunnelvision" by Here We Go Magic (Real fun band comprised of two guys and two girls. Saw them at Coachella and my beloved Troubadour before that and both times found myself entranced by their jangly, dreamy melodies. Again, not really a running song, but you do kind of get hypnotized and forget other runners are staring at you because you are PANTING)

13) "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn (If you (Mom) haven't heard Robyn's recent stuff, I feel really sad for you. This song is not only the story of my life (single tear), but it is SO GREAT to sprint (okay, jog faster) to in the final stretch)

And no, I did not make it through this entire playlist. The reservoir is only 2.3 miles GEEZ, leave me alone!

Not Buying Things at the Mohawk General Store...

After my vegan salad with Jess the other day, we took a stroll as she was looking for a new notebook (Noelia, she saw the one you gave me for my birthday in my apartment and became insanely jealous, which is how you know a gift is successful). Although I wasn't quite sure they carried notebooks, I steered Jessica towards the Mohawk General Store on Sunset because I WAS sure they had a million other awesome doo-dads to look at:

http://www.mohawkgeneralstore.net/

I know; I could talk about this store all day. However, I don't really feel like I have the AUTHORITY to talk about this store all day, because I have yet to purchase a single item from it. Actually, I am almost afraid to touch anything and spoil it with my dork germs...but not too afraid that I don't end up fondling everything anyway.

Mohawk has stuff for men and women, the home, etc. And it is the prettiest STUFF you've ever seen. There are these intensely colored leather thingies from Commes des Garcons (don't ask me to punctuate or capitalize it correctly, it's a Goddamn fancy designer) that are sort of like a cross between a clutch and a wallet and they feel like BUTTER. The way things are laid out in Mohawk General is wonderful too, like discovering treasure in a fabulous grandmother's Hamptons mansion. The wallet/clutches are splayed out on an old wood desk...a butter rainbow. But at like, $300 per thingie, I just have to stroke the rainbow and move on.

The jewelry is displayed in antique glass cases and there are little cards naming which designer goes with each piece. There are some seriously cool rings; square-shaped, spiky, multiple-finger. These I will touch but try not to put on because I have had more than one unfortunate ring-that-I-can't-afford-stuck-on-my-finger experience. There are also these really uniquely designed shoes that line the walls, but I've already dropped one on the floor, so from now on I am just going to OBSERVE them (I also DESPERATELY wish I could pull off a clog...and thought I could in high school, sad). I will say that a lot of the shoes are very reasonable. There are also fantastic clothes/bathing suits for gals and guys, candles, scarves and hats and the sexiest sunglasses I have ever seen (I think the brand that is most represented at Mohawk is called Super Retro Future, but I'm not positive). They also DO have notebooks, but Jess wanted something with a spiral (she is an agent, she is all about function and practicality). Someday I WILL be able to afford an item from that store and when that day comes...I probably won't be writing this blog anymore. Please check out Mohawk!

Today I Am NOT Okay...

Guys, Emily just sent me THIS:

http://www.celebuzz.com/2011-05-03/anne-hathaway-tries-out-british-accent-in-one-day-trailer-video0/

I am sobbing. Like, still crying while I type. Now in my defense, I am currently reading the book from which this movie sprang forth and it's pretty good and emotional, but I have to be honest and say this film version looks awful. Anne Hathaway is NO Renee in Bridget Jones' Diary and I am really concerned about her accent and hairstyles. Jim Sturgess will always be hot because he is...hot (I might be THE only fan of Across The Universe) and also has a real, genuine British accent. The movie just looks like a big, honking mess though. I have been known to cry in Visa commercials (see Morgan Freeman doing the voice-over on those Olympic ads) and when Anna SUMMARIZES some article she's read about a missing child or something (poor Anna has seen me cry at some real weird stuff and has always been a trooper about it). But THIS trailer? Maybe it's because I saw my shrink this morning, but I need to get a grip. Also, this post has nothing to with Silverlake. Good day.

An Experiment in Veganism

Let me just start out by saying I am the opposite of a vegan (do you capitalize the word vegan? I'm not going to. Sorry). I love meat so much that every time I visit my family or they visit me, I make them take me to a steakhouse because I can't afford to go by myself (BOA is really good as is The Palm, but that's kind of a given). The only other food I love as much as meat is CHEESE. I am pretty certain I am completely lactose intolerant, but I will take down a wheel of brie with a speed that is truly frightening. If you happen to be lactose intolerant, I do not recommend eating half a brick of goat cheese at one of those screenings they do at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (however, I really recommend those screenings. www.cinespia.org, you will NOT be sorry) and then attempting to sit through High Noon; I had to drop my friends Daniel, Danny, and Brad off basically on the side of the road afterwards so I could speed home and die (you're welcome for this story, by the way). Anyway, my old roommate and super-agent extraordinaire Jessica IS a vegetarian that enjoys the occasional vegan meal. Jess agreed to meet me for brunch in my neck of the woods, but suggested we try Cru, a meatless, dairy-free restaurant. Here's the site:

http://www.crusilverlake.com/

It's pretty cute in there, right? Also, there was this little flea market going on right outside that they do on Saturdays (I also think they do a farmer's market on Wednesdays, which I have yet to explore). There was no AC inside Cru, but there was a nice breeze coming through the open door so I think they were going for the natural effect. Our very nice waitress brought us some fresh basil limeade which was DELICIOUS. Then I ordered a Caesar salad and Jess got this tostada thing. Okay so this is what I learned about eating vegan food: DO NOT order something that imitates non-vegan food. Like, try to just work with what's available. For example, Caesar dressing is made of MAYO, MILK, and CHEESE. It is not made of nuts and herbs or whatever. And while the Romaine in my salad was beautiful and crisp, the avocado perfectly ripe and melty, the dressing was decidedly NOT Caesar. Jess also told me a terrifying story about a vegan Reuben she ate somewhere, which just sounded WRONG. But Jessica's tostada looked GREAT. No fake meat, no nut cheese, just delicious veggies and avocado and grilled bread (fried? I don't know...a tostada pancake) with some lovely-looking sauce. So while going vegan isn't ultimately for me, I learned a great lesson, Cru was sweet and mostly yummy, and I'll know how to order next time.

Picasa Picasso

I love how no one (Mom) told me they couldn't see any of the photos I took and uploaded onto this blog myself until Saturday night when I had a few friends over for a cocktail before the Soft Pipes (purchase on itunes NOW) show at the Satellite (this sentence makes me sound so hip, right?). Only then was I informed that no one could see my photos. Why not, I asked, and was told it was because I needed to upload my photos to Picasa. Um, okay, I had no idea what the HELL Picasa was or about URLs or whatever program you need to use so that people can see the picture you took of your gym shorts with your Blackberry. Kalen said something about platforms and servers that was so scary, I contemplated shutting down the blog right then and there (to be fair, he was really just trying to be helpful and said he would show me how to do everything, I just can't handle it when my friends are blatantly much smarter than me). Then I remembered my tendency to just not do something that feels daunting or difficult, and so I decided I would sit down and teach myself how to put photos on the internet like everyone else. That's just what I did yesterday and it only took me an hour and a half to figure it out. I mean, I still don't know how to like, edit photos on the program or draw those fun cocaine dribbles on people's faces like Perez Hilton does, but I CAN show you something like THIS:

Okay, so I also don't have a flash on my Blackberry. What you (Mom) are looking at is a tree stump with a smiley face on it. I stumbled upon it walking back from Masa with Emily last night. Masa is this adorable little restaurant that is technically in Echo Park (next to the Echo, a fun venue) that Em referred to as "Grandma's Kitchen" (she is really funny, so I am happy she doesn't blog more and steal my readers (all 3 of them)).  There are couches and all kinds of different old fashioned furniture pieces and those stained glass lamps in the restaurant so it sort of looks like someone's 70's living room. Masa specializes in deep dish Chicago pizza, but we wanted something simple, so we got pasta (you read that sentence correctly). Very tasty, check out the menu:

http://www.masaofechopark.com/

On the walk back we realized two things: the first was that everyone in Silverlake was on a date except for us and the second was that there is all kinds of fun street art everywhere in the neighborhood, the most amusing piece being the happy stump. I will take more pictures in better lighting, don't worry. Street art just makes for a more amusing stroll so I am glad I live in a place where no bus stop is left un-spray painted. Okay it's Monday I have to go for a walk so I can live with myself.