Porcelain Raft ROCKS

Lil Strangers, I can't stop listening to Porcelain Raft! Duh, Noelia turned me onto it, but now I am a fan in my own right! It's just the kind of synth-y, sexy, sleepy shit I dig. I think Raft is just this cute, small Frenchman and his keyboard. I am going to see Raft live soon, so I will let you know. Here's a little intro play list so you can fall in love with this music too!

1) "Put Me To Sleep" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzd2CDKJ5fQ) Similar sound to The Horrors (who I ADORE), this jam had a gently building loop that really gets me into a trance. Which is good when I'm, you know, at work.

2) "Tip Of Your Tongue" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsKRNDaRN94) I actually cannot stop with this one. It contains YEARNING, which you know is my favorite activity. I also love how Lil Frenchie sings "teeeep of your tongue." So Euro!

3) "Come Closer" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePRJXavFt0k) This one is kind of mid-to-late 90's-sounding for me, and duh, that is an era I super-dig. This makes me think of a kind of hip prom (like in Angus with "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star), where I am sitting on my chair alone, sad in a ethereal blue dress, when suddenly the bad boy I crush who was even gonna COME to prom, walks over to me and asks me to dance and we go cheek to cheek and a single tear runs down my face. No, YOU live in a fantasy world!

Salt's Cure Cures All

So I had a delightful weekend. On Thursday, I saw Pina at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood(GO...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinerama_Dome ...coolest way to watch movies EVER). Pina is Wim Wenders' 3D documentary-tribute to famous dancer/choreographer Pina Beausch and it is SPECTACULAR. It's a totally different way of using 3D and for anyone who is a fan of dance, this is a a completely unique way of experiencing it- you're on the STAGE with the dancers, you can hear them breathing, see their muscles pulsing...it's just rad.

Friday, I had some buds meet me at the Thirsty Crow, and while I will always love that place and go as it is across the street from my apartment and they serve my favorite drink, the venue was less than ideal. They said they were at capacity when the bar didn't seem crowded at all, so I had a bunch of friends in line and some gave up and went home. Then, when I asked the bouncer if I could go talk to my friends in line, he told me they "didn't want traffic walking in and out," so I would basically have to get in line if I left my own party. But our waitress was lovely and I had the whole back area no problem, so if you're having a SMALL gathering (maybe not on a Friday), this place is still the tits.

Saturday, I popped by my friend/neighbor/hero Jason's in the day and did everything in my power to avoid the delicious meats they were grilling up for his brother Rob's birthday, because after hanging with Anna for a while, a bunch of us went to Salt's Cure (http://www.yelp.com/biz/salts-cure-west-hollywood) in West Hollywood for dinner and my world was rocked forever. I totally broke my diet, but then yesterday I was good, so whatever, WORTH IT. Anyway, Salt's Cure is a SMALL place, so we did have to wait like 45 minutes for our table of 7 (and we had a res), BUT, the host brought us a free bottle of wine/round of drinks and was very apologetic (hey, sometimes people take a long time to eat their food). We also got a pickle plate with the most scrumptious, lightly brined pickle slices, soft/warm pretzel bread and homemade mustard. Then we sat down and the real eating began. We got a cheese plate with three distinctive cheeses (an insanely tasty and salty hard cheese, a semi-soft and semi-stinky little number, and the best cheese I've ever had in my life, which was a blue, sort of in the vein of a Humboldt Fog) and some pistachios and jams.

The way it works at this place is that they always have the same appetizers, but the main menu consists of about ten items that change daily based on what's fresh and then are posted on a big chalkboard at the back of the room. Emily got this beautiful farmer's salad with soft cheese and the freshest (but ripe) avocado I've ever tasted. PRETTY:

I know, I know, IT'S DARK I NEED AN IPHONE. Then I ordered this raw beef sprinkled with arugula and parmesan (I THINK), which was basically a really delicate carpaccio:

Mmmm. Anna and Lindsey got amazing looking bacon cheeseburgers and Brett and Noelia got pretty-pink flank steaks; Noey's with a side of baby broccoli and Brett's came with FRIES (the fries come with mayo, which I adore, but they also make their own ketchup, if you want to order that...OF COURSE THEY DO). Kyle got a moist-looking (ew, moist) crabcake and a side of squash with a creamy hunk of maple butter on it. Emily got beautiful, HUGE grilled oysters and a side of the buttery-est mashed potatoes you've ever seen. I got a chili pork shoulder and then died and went to Heaven. Behold:

Obviously this pic doesn't do this entree justice. It was a giant, fatty, pillow-tender hunk of shoulder, marinating in a soup of its own juices with white beans and kale and I actually wanted to wash my hair in the bowl it smelled/tasted so wonderful. Also, the wine selection isn't super extensive, but after sort of a metallic red blend, Kyle ordered a DELICIOUS cab that helped send me into the food coma that followed this meal. We got this smooth, cold chocolate pudding:

How cute are those baby mason jars? They also brought me a slice of grapefruit pie with a candle in it, which we were all resistant to order but then DEVOURED as it is really a spin on a key-lime pie, except with grapefruit and therefore, fabulous. It was perfect.
Yesterday, it was a rare gray day, and I took a good, long solo-walk around the RES and kind of felt old and wistful, but in a weirdly good way. Then I went to my friends Julia and Jack's place (perfect Venice house, PERFECT funny/smart couple) to watch my Giants MAKE IT TO THE SUPERBOWL BABY!!! Jack won't let me post the photo of him getting "excited" (sounds way scarier than it was) about an intense moment of the game, so here is the TV:

Great TV, Jack and Julia! Then I went and saw Haywire with Kalen and I can't even talk about it because I love Soderbergh and this was...not good. But thanks for the memories, everyone!

It's My Birthday And I'll Scat If I Want To...

Yeah, I'm old. To fight depression on this scary day and to avoid going to the kitchen at work and eating like, 7 doughnuts, I am going to jam out to these songs all day. Don't judge me, just dance with me:

1) "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" by Scatman John (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cnQCk0u49w&ob=av2e) Just be honest with your life and enjoy this song. It is SO FUN.

2) "Tonight I'm Fucking You" by Enrique Iglesias (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDtYkOrV4-E) So this song is very honest and direct. I really appreciate how CLEAR Enrique's lyrics are. Okay, so this song is a little scary, but it's fun to dance to! I just want to dance! Just let me dance!

3) "International Love" by Pitbull (featuring that DICK Chris Brown) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdXesX6mYUE&ob=av3e) So I won't support Chris Brown anymore and buy this song, but I do love Pitbull and this is a jam. Like, it has a good message, you know? If I had one birthday wish, it would be for international love. Okay, it would be for a boyfriend, but that's the same, right?

A Meme

So, I don't even know what "meme" MEANS really, but I am pretty sure I am about to post a meme for you. This particular meme is totally played out, what with "Shit Girls Say (parts 1 & 2)," "Shit Bartenders Say," and "Shit Your Painful Crush Says" (the last one doesn't exist but honey, I could make 7 parts, EASY) all over the interwebs.

However, as someone who hails from NYC, this one in particular made me chuckle. Co-worker Rob sent it to me by prefacing with "UGH, this is so YOU." I'd like to think he was paying me a beautiful compliment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRvJylbSg7o

I Can't...

I just can't, lil strangers. The TWEE. The twee is KILLING me.

Stranger in DC

Hi Lil Strangers (I like "Lil," I'm going with it)! So I just got back from our nation's capitol and I have to say, it's a lot cooler and stranger than I thought. I mean my grandpa lives there, I've been there dozens of times, but only in recent years have I discovered all the funky restaurants/bars/STUFF the city has to offer. Last time I was there I went to the Lincoln Memorial at 3AM...it was PRETTY.

Anyway I got there Saturday EARLY on the red-eye (strangers, if you're going to do this GROSS flight, take Virgin America. It was SUPER nice) and cabbed it to Elisha's apartment, which is kind of near DuPont Circle (LOVELY area). Okay so, Elisha is kind of a baller. Like, she is a lawyer and lives in a SWEET apartment. Anyway, I passed out in her glorious bed for 4 hours. Then we met up with my parents, bro, aunt, grandpa, and my friend Lucy and her husband Ted (glorious, loving, exuberant couple) at my grandpa's "club" nearby. Apparently, in DC, some fancy older people are members of these clubs. My grandpa's club, the Cosmos, only accepts members that have had some sort of huge achievement. Yup, Grandpa is THE MAN. Anyway, we had a grand old time and then I went back to Elisha's with Lucy where college roomie and all-around lovely lady Katie "Rock" Rockman surprised me by flying in from Boston. YAY. We immediately went to Starbucks, Sex and the City-style:

Yeah, I know: they are stunning slash my phone-camera is terrible. Also, this place is HEAVEN:

Anyway, then I had dinner with my fam at this place Corduroy (http://www.corduroydc.com/ ) and I ate that tuna that's on the website pic. It was very good, solid food and kind of Scandinavia meet Japan-feeling in terms of decor. Also, when I was in the bathroom, this dude walked in and relieved himself. I hid in the stall thinking I had mistakenly strolled into the men's room, but then when the guy opened the door to leave, I heard him go "oh, shit." It was funny.

So also, confession: I've been on this weird cleanse. It's not a diet, per se, but it's kind of like this 4-week restrictive diet to rejuvenate my digestive system. Here it is: http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health-wellness-articles/eat-and-lose-weight-1211#slide-1 (note: I am NOT taking those expensive supplements). Anyway, even though food is my LOVER, this thing has been pretty easy to stay on, but Saturday night, after 2 weeks of pure goodness, I drank BOOZE and...it was not a good scene. That's all I'm going to say about that. Oh, except that we went to this really fun bar Church Key (http://churchkeydc.com/ ) and met up with some friends.

Sunday, my fam did brunch at the house of one of my dad's besties from high school Kem. I can't even talk about this family they are so BAD-ASS, but I will mention one of their daughters does human rights work in THE CONGO, Kem's MOTHER just got back from volunteer teaching in Namibia, and Kem and her husband John are going to Haiti in two weeks to help out. Oh also, they are totally humble and mellow and don't brag about this over the incredible poached eggs Kem made at ALL. They also have this GOOD dog:

That's how I like my dogs: adorable and ASLEEP.

Then I met the girls in Georgetown for some shopping and a little hang with my friend Perrin (beautiful, mellow, genius-lady). Later, we had dinner at Zaytinya (http://zaytinya.com/), Jose Andres' DELICIOUS Mediterranean restaurant, with my buds Nate (such a great fellow; we go way back to high school) and Caroline (another baller lawyer. I love a smart lady) and Lucy husband Ted. I did a five course tasting menu that included the BEST Brussels sprouts I've ever had (they had been BATHED in olive oil, then roasted, then grilled I think), hunks of spiced lamb with sweet grilled onion, the creamiest of hummuses (hummii?) and tender, delicately sauced chicken (caloric and yet in line with my cleanse!). Mmmm. Then we went back to Elisha's and made fun of Golden Globes fashions.

Yesterday, I took a lovely stroll with Elisha to meet Perrin for brunch. We walked by the White House! On MLK Day! I felt like such a patriot. See?

I know, my hat is dope. Then I took a picture of Elisha, for no reason:

Awww. Then we saw a cool statue!

I think it's Polish; I have no idea. Then we walked by Occupy DC:

Can you see the tents? Supposedly no one really sleeps there because it is so cold. I'd like to think some folks stick it out, though. We had brunch at Founding Farmers (http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/washington-dc/ff_menus/menu-lunchdinner/ ). So, it was hard to avoid ordering like, white cheddar mac n' cheese, but I was sensible and got eggs over-easy, two pieces of excellently cooked bacon, fruit, and a side of Brussels sprouts (not AS incredible as the ones I had the night before, but still satisfying). Elisha got a 17 vegetable salad and Perrin got a fantastic, juicy-looking burger. Then I did a little shopping with Lucy and met my grandpa for tea and a bite of a giant, tasty, chocolate-chip cookie (sin!) at Firehook Bakery (http://www.firehook.com/e-com/index.cfm ...yeah, YOU try avoiding the goods there). Then Luce took me to the airport and I was back in LA. DC, I miss you! You were so fun!

Yup, They've Still Got It...

M83 was wonderful, duh. Club Nokia is OKAY, kind of like a large Echoplex in that giant LA Live downtown-weird-mall-movie set space. It's the biggest venue the band has played yet, and precious little Anthony Gonzalez apologized for not-the-greatest first couple of songs because they were so overwhelmed to be in such a big venue. But after that shaky start (honestly, I couldn't tell, they are so damn good and their light show is mesmerizing), they basically just brought the house down. I think everyone's hearts collectively exploded when "Skin of the Night" came on during the encore. Here is the song so you get an idea of the awesomeness that occurred (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Pg-2LP76g). Now picture being immersed in this:

I KNOW. Anyway, off to Washington DC tonight to see my family and some lovely friends. Happy Friday!