Today I'm Lovin'

The Walkmen's new album Heaven. IT'S SO GOOD YOU GUYS. So far, I can't get over "Love is Luck," "The Witch,""Nightingales," and my fave, "The Love You Love."

Seriously, check it out NOW. Okay miss you bye!

Super Strange Memorial Day

Lil' Strangers, so much happened last weekend! I must start earlier in the week when I went to the Trampled by Turtles show at the Music Box, which we have discussed. I know it's a stupid-ish name, but these guys are INCREDIBLE. They're a Minnesota-based band, very bluegrass with a tinge of folk and basically, they're just unbelievable musicians. The fiddler, who wore is hair in braided pigtails and had a giant beard and I loved him, was INSANE-nasty-good. I took a pretty picture:

Yeah we got really close. That little guy looks strangely like Scott Speedman and has the PRETTIEST voice and the stud next to him plays the meanest of mean banjos. They closed with the Band's "The Weight," so obviously, I cried.

Then Noelia's big bday weekend commenced. Saturday, my friend Keith had a "Honky-Tonk BBQ"(I know; it was not PC) in his giant Los Feliz backyard, complete with KFC, a kiddie pool, and a BAND. The band was Falling Still and I am actually friends with the dudes (not-humble brag). They ROCKED it:

They played so loudly, I am sure all of the East side could hear them, but of course, being the East side, no cops came and no one complained. In fact, people started swinging by. One dude came in with his baby because she had been dancing in the bathtub. Yes, she immediately threw herself at me because I am sure she sensed my ticking biological clock and I ended up hanging with baby Annabelle for maybe 15 minutes. HIGHLIGHT. OF. MY. LIFE.

Anyway, after that we wanted to continue the dance-party, so we went over to my lovely pal Jay's and that's just what we did:

This picture is actually extremely representative of how each of these dudes dances. It's amazing to behold.

Then Sunday was the day of days: Noelia's kickball birthday party. Noey, Emily, Sarah, and I got to the field in Silverlake at 12. The party started at 3. So we got a LOT of sun. Anyway, we played DRINKING kickball, meaning you have to do everything with a drink in one hand. I was not good. No really, Noelia will tell you. I am also left-handed and decided to hold my drink in my LEFT hand because, you know, I knew I wasn't going to be using it to play sports. I made a run though! I also played catcher, so I totally got to talk some smack to the other team (okay, I shyly encouraged them and then laughed when they fell down). LISTEN, Em didn't even pretend to want to play so like, be proud of me!

Then, DUH, we went to Jay's for pizza and cornhole (a weird bean bag game) and dancing and hugging. Look at the bday lady and our friend Christopher:

Awww. Then I was dancing too hard to take anymore pics really, but I did catch Noelia having a snack:

Nutrition! Monday consisted of a hangover walk with Anna into pho into a glorious viewing of the Bachelorette. Oh, and look how tough I am:

That is a close-up of my arm and the giant bruise that was growing on it. I say close-up, because my arm looks ginormous there. It's from when I decided to get real tough in the last two minutes of the game. It actually looks worse today. TOTALLY WORTH IT. GOOD STRANGE SILVERLAKE WEEKEND.

Strange Beats

So Lil' Strangers, usually I don't use this blog with 22 followers to promote my friends...because I only like to promote myself. But last night I went to the scary/legendary Viper Room on Sunset (http://www.viperroom.com/) to watch my friends Anthony, Jeff, and Jon KILL IT DEAD with their amazing new project Beat Club (http://beatclubband.com). Seriously, they were great. The music is super-fun and danceable (Lindsey and Emily were getting their groove on) and the boys are seriously cute. I mean, hi Jon:

YUP. Anyway check out the band; they are great!

Strange Bird

Hi Lil' Puddings. This weekend was relatively mellow but I did go on one of my walks Saturday and discovered THIS on one of the beautiful houses by the reservoir:

Yup, that's a fucking adorable little birdie on a branch painted onto the garage of a beautiful Silverlakeian home. It's like the Portlandia skit "Put a Bird on it." If that is not the ultimate "cute" thing, I don't know what is. Yes I do; it's Louis Bullock.

PS If you haven't been to one of the Cinespia (http://cinespia.org) screenings at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, then you're a doody and need to go right now. I've already seen Strangers on a Train and Silence of the Lambs and they were both MAGICAL (and involved some very twisted fellows, let me tell you).. Anyway, bye!

Strange and Terrible

So yesterday Donna Summer died and the Handsome Furs broke up. I am overcome. Let's just respect, Lil'  Guys...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS5mbeXHOmo&ob=av2e

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IdEhvuNxV8

Songs on a Weds...STRANGE!

Lil' Pop Tarts (I am sorry, I know you're all Strangers, but my new co-workers eat so many Pop Tarts, they are all I can think about/smell), I know it's Wednesday, but I have kind of been jamming out and I wanted you to get in on the action. Of the jamming. With me. It's Hump Day!

1) "I Love It" by Icona Pop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY) I will probably hate this song in three days, but right now it is my dance JAM. I love dance-pop where girls are basically shouting about boys they "don't care about." I especially love the line "You're from the 70's, but I'm a 90's bitch!" I AM A 90'S BITCH! Even though I was born in the 80's...shut up I hate you.

2) "Same Mistakes" by The Echo Friendly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frDUZGd3vwM) so I heard this song in the end credits of the fourth episode of Girls (I am still watching that show, by the way, it's brilliant and if you hate it, you're wrong). This duo is definitely singing from a 23/24-year old perspective, but I find it applies to a crowd that is like 3/4 years older than that...because it applies to me and that is my age and I am currently suffering through a female Peter-Pan complex I DON'T KNOW.

3) "La Femme Ressort" by LA FEMME (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TflDTgADXBs) I heard this song while enjoying a mid-week cocktail with Noey at 4100 Bar (http://www.yelp.com/biz/4100-bar-los-angeles) where I haven't been in FOREVER but am kind re-digging and this song came on the trendy little juke they have there. Noelia Shazamed it and next thing you know, I was wearing a striped boat necked shirt and no pants dancing to this in my apartment. It's so FRENCH and pretty hypnotic. It was hypnotic enough to get me to stop yapping to my friend, which is like, A FEAT.

You're welcome.

Bloomin' ALL DAY LONG

NEW BEACH HOUSE LIL' STRANGERS!!!

If you need me today, that's where I'll be. Wrapped in a blanket of Victoria's voice.

BYE!

Strange Plates

So Lil' Strangers, I recently signed a new lease on an adorable little VW Golf. It is red and zippy and so much better than my lemon of a Jetta that I suffered under for 2.5 years (seriously, SEVEN flat tires is not just bad luck). Anyway, the plates just came in the mail and...um...

Like, I know I am obsessed with poop because it is funny and I like to say the word "doody" all the time, but HOW DOES THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA KNOW THAT? Also, POO1? I really want to know who POO2 is.

Jitladastrange

Lil' Strangers, I know you will think this is like TOTALLY weird, but up until Tuesday, I had never been to Jitlada, that amazing Thai place in...Thai Town (http://www.yelp.com/biz/jitlada-thai-los-angeles). Everyone always talks about it and it's one of those little holes in the wall that will always be hip and I just HAVEN'T MADE IT (also because the Thai Town mini mall is right next door and I always go to Red Corner with Emily and so I just FORGET about Jitlada). It is so unlike me not to go to a famous restaurant that is right by me that serves things like frogs' legs slathered in face-melting curry sauce. So I finally went. Funnily enough, I brought Daniel, who will get mad when I type this, but he is a really picky, fairly non-adventurous eater. In fact, I suggested earlier that we check out Black Hogg (http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-hogg-los-angeles) and he texted me back, "Fine. But you can't yell at me when I don't want to eat weird things." He knows me so well! Then I found out they don't have a liquor license yet and scratched that idea (but you are so close to me, Black Hogg, and I will go if you bring the BYOB policy back!). Anyway, Daniel is still adventurous enough to like Asian cuisine (he took me to Mongolian BBQ, after all), and so we went to Jitlada.

Honestly, I didn't even make a CRACK in the giant menu, but I gave it a solid effort. The menu is split into two parts: regular dishes and the chef's wild specialties (like the aforementioned frog). From the crazy menu I ordered deep fried soft shell crab with curry sauce, which blew my lil' strange BRAIN. Basically, hunks of delicious crab were hidden inside something that tasted like a hush puppy then slathered in a thick, paste-like curry. I also ordered the famous New Zealand green mussels (they were so GREEN!) bathed in lemongrass broth. They were HUGE and fleshy and incredible, look:

I also got freshy rolls because, well WHATEVER I love a piece of tofu in a rich peanut sauce (fresh rolls are not exciting, but they're good and I got them so shhh). I washed all of this spiciness down with a giant Singha, which I LOVE, however, Daniel got some beer called a Chang and it was so light and smooth, I think I might have to do that next time. Also to Daniel's credit, he ordered this ridiculously tasty fried papaya salad that I took many bites of:

There were shrimps in it! Then he got totally un-creative chicken Pad See Eiw, which was obviously BOMB even though you can order that shizz anywhere. I am still full from this glorious meal. Go strangers, go NOW!

Found Art

Lil' Dudes, it's been a while since I snapped a pic of some found art, but this weekend I took two solo reservoir walks and had time to be with myself and think and take creepy photos like this:

Also, not to sound overly self-deprecating, but this kind of looks like me when I'm scared: a pale, nostril-y possible man with questionable eyebrows.

A Little Tennis Action

Strangers, on Wednesday evening I saw Tennis at the Troub with Lindsey Weening (that was a small poem for you). I was pretty tired from my new job (IT IS AWESOME IT IS NEW I CAN'T STOP TELLING YOU...yup, I am Seussical today), but the Troubadour is just the BEST venue ever and Tennis was super upbeat and sparkly. I am not the biggest fan of their albums (HELLO I am a neurotic, darkly-minded Jewish woman from NYC) but the lead singer just has a spectacular voice and looks like a little fairy/Gibson girl and I loved her and she is so precious with her guitar-playing, adorkable husband!

This douche is obstructing my shot. I don't say douche simply because he was in my way, but because he was wearing a repulsive white linen top and was being all ya-cha at the bar, pretending to be all hip because Tennis is all over the damn Internet. Also, isn't "ya-cha" a cool expression? I first heard it from this older lacrosse player when a bunch of us were staying at our friend's place during the Preakness in college...yup, now I am the douche. Bigtime. Happy weekend!

These Weird Songs Are Making Happy Now

Lil Strangers! I am not gonna be good at my blog this week because I have a new job (woop woop!) and therefore need to pay attention to it, at least until I OWN it and then I will be all like, whatever, this is SO EASY. Anyhooter, I am jamming to some weird tunes today, possibly as a result of this transitional phase in my life.

1) "I Want to Come Over" by Melissa Etheridge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckt0TuK0qv0&ob=av2n) So look, this is admittedly weird of me. I actually super-love this song. Also funny, Gwyneth Paltrow stars in the video, which is a literal representation of the lyrics about some chick who is obsessed with someone in a relationship. But like, I love it. It's pure, unabashed, pathetic stalking. It's something that I myself and most people I know would never actually DO, but kind of think about, so it becomes this sort of stalking FANTASY, which is totally sick and I adore that. Anyway, don't be scared of me.

2) "King of Wishful Thinking" by Go West (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry4iwzS4Na0) My precious friend Jon had people over on Sunday and we decided to put this song on, causing the entire party to scream out every word in a state of ecstatic joy. Try not to do that when you listen to it now, I dare you.

3) "Propagation" by Lower Dens (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GafB7NQvQWg) Okay, I had to put a cool song on here. Lower Dens' new album Nootropics is weird and dark and I like that so I like it. Get with it.