Back in Silverlake...

Don't worry guys (Mom), I hung out in Silverlake all weekend. Friday night I went to Cowboys and Turbans with Emily (http://www.cowboysandturbans.com/), which is the weirdest restaurant name but actually makes a lot of sense when you know what is on the menu. Like, Em and I ordered a mango masala pizza (the pizzas are served on freshly made naan bread), fries that come with masala sauce (Emily was convinced they brought the fries over from McDonald's...in a good way), and spinach samosas. We did not get any of the Indian burritos, but those are available as well. So basically, this place serves Indian food in an American Southwestern style. I do not know who came up with this idea, but it works. We also sat out on the back patio of the restaurant under twinkly lights with rose that we brought because Cowboys and Turbans is BYOB (which is honestly a GREAT thing; this place is so reasonable and we spent like NO money). I don't think I need to say this, but I had a delightful time.

Then after a Saturday that included a trip to the cemetery to see The Jerk (you guys, this movie HOLDS UP; it's fucking fantastic) and a detour to my favorite spot Tiki Ti's, I had a delightful 7-hour brunch (I am not exaggerating) with Noelia and two men named Jason (very different, but both wonderful) at Edendale (http://www.edendalegrill.com/). I had a scrumptious salmon crostini (2 poached eggs over lox and toast) and bottomless mimosas (seriously, I want to say I had 73 mimosas) and a marvelous time with my friends. Look how happy Jay is:

That is actually his happy face even though it just looks like he is making a contemplative smirk. I cannot explain what's happening with his sunglasses, that are actually Noelia's sunglasses. Did you not read the part where I said we had BOTTOMLESS mimosas? Goodnight.

You're Welcome...

Nothing is making me happier than this song and video right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6ImxY6hnfA&ob=av2e

I've always loved Robyn (and the giant, beautiful Swede boyfriend she brought with her when she ate breakfast next to me at Food Lab), but I give my friend Kate Nelson credit for discovering this jam (okay, we were in a store together) and then I stumbled upon this video and now it is on REPEAT. FOREVER. It's like an actually cool version of that Vanessa Carlton video where she does an interpretive dance of her own song (and to be fair, this is entertaining and hilarious in its own way...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM3fEJyPrrg&ob=av2e). I mean Robyn BREAKDANCES. Heart you Robyn!

Just a Little Strange in NYC...

Hi Guys! Sorry I have been relatively MIA the past week or so (although I was with you, Mom, so I am not sure who else cares). I was home in New York this past weekend for my grandparents' 60th anniversary (60 years...WTF!) and let me just say, it is glorious there. While Manhattan is my homeland and familiar to me, I always try and do some funky things when I am there to maintain the "Stranger in Silverlake" spirit.

Let's see...Friday I let a stranger named Fashion cut my hair...so that happened. Then I had lunch at Momoya (http://www.themomoya.com/) next to Lucy Liu, which felt oddly LA because of the celeb-factor and because the fish in my chirashi bowl was particularly fresh, but that's a good thing.

Then after a glorious stroll through Chelsea and the West Village, I went to the Naked and Famous concert in Williamsburg. I know guys, I went to BROOKLYN. It's actually so adorable there that it's a little overwhelming. The Naked and Famous also surprised me with how hard they rocked the Music Hall of Williamsburg (http://www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com/). Like, they're a good band, and I bet most of you have heard "Young Blood" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdO85Qf4Poc), which is a totally fun song, but I urge you to also check out "Punching in a Dream" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC29pd_5sQU&ob=av2e) and my personal favorite, "Girls Like You" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijX2lAptqwE), which is a song that could not be LESS about me, but I like the beat. Anyway, this is a band worth seeing live. Then I had too many beers at an awesome bar and then acted shadily and got off at the wrong subway stop.

Okay, the anniversary dinner. First of all, during the day my entire family went to the Plaza to take our photo in the room where my Granddaddy (also known as Big Ed) and my Grandmother (a.k.a. Bonnie) got hitched. They were actually setting up for a wedding the day we were there and I found myself cooing despite my hangover and fear of wedding ceremonies. Then there was the big dinner at La Grenouille (http://la-grenouille.com/), which is this very old-school, Mad Men-ish restaurant, where we enjoyed sweetbreads (I don't know why I was more okay eating them when I thought they were brains as opposed to PANCREAS), frog's legs, foie gras and delicious oxtail. But honestly, my favorite part was the dessert. We ordered five different kinds of the most airy yet creamy souffle: Grand Marnier, vanilla, chocolate, lemon, and caramel. Also dudes, souffle is like, mainly made of egg whites; did you know that?! I did NOT and now that I know it's one of the lower-calorie desserts (until you slather whipped cream on it), I am going to be ordering it all the time. When I go to incredibly expensive restaurants. Which I do every day. Anyway, I think Big Ed was happy:

He is so handsome! He also reads this blog and is better at the internet than I am. My brother was also there and I took a pic because he is precious:

That's Teddy making a tough face because I asked him to, not because he hates me. Then we went home and watched Hall Pass, an incredibly inappropriate movie to watch as a family, but I liked the film and the cuddle-times.

Sunday was very typical-NYC: rain, brunch at Eatery (http://www.eaterynyc.com/, yum, but the host yelled at me to tie up my umbrella and I didn't understand what he was saying because I don't speak RAINDROPS), strolling and seeing friends, and then, suddenly, I was back on a plane to LA. I love LA and especially love my Silverlake, but let's face it guys, I am a New Yorker at heart and always will be.

PS I was too exhausted to blog yesterday, but as I was driving home last night this Bee Gee's gem came on the radio and I promised myself I'd share it. So here's "Jive Talkin'," enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBw25CrUS-o

3 More!

Well,  it's technically Tuesday, but I have three more Monday songs to talk to you about!

1) "She" by Green Day (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnF0pkWD2Tc&feature=related). I mean, I know they're not the hippest anymore, but how great was Dookie, you guys? This song specifically is kind of a lost gem from an album full of jewels. Not exactly sure why I am using a precious stone analogy...

2) "Up Around the Bend" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34P18at0Q7s). This song was weirdly prominent this weekend. I don't know...I was being really '70's?

3) "Ritual Union" by Little Dragon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yditHU77U6E&feature=related). Like 3 of my friends separately told me I would be into this song. Guys, I am really complicated and have very eccentric taste! You don't know me at ALL! Except that's a huge lie and I love this song.

Okay, Okay, goodnight for real!

CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP

So I have to be honest and tell you I completely stole this song from Noelia (thanks Noey), but I have spent the past 72 hours listening to it on repeat. It's called "Back to Back" by Wolf Gang, a British band fronted by what looks like a VERY young gentleman:

Here is the like, demo version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvOWcjYdsHQ&feature=relmfu

Here is the super erotic, black and white acoustic version featuring previously mentioned very young gentleman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0DvJYsfYWw&NR=1

Here is the version the whole band did for Burberry (why?) standing outside the lead singer's house (again, why?):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0BeqdxHzfU&feature=relmfu

You guys don't have to be as over-the-moon for this song as I am (I go through odd phases), but as always, I wanted to share. Mom, you might like this one.

Snaping

Guys, I am sorry, but Emily sent me this and I like, have to share it with the world:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/snape%20alan%20rickman%20my%20body%20is%20ready/privatecomedy93/GIFS/tumblr_li8nmgp29K1qd64tf.gif?o=1

It says so much about so many things.

Feliz Friday.

Stranger in Boston

So this past weekend I was in Boston. Boston is, in my opinion, one of the least controversial cities in the world. It's cute and sweet and traditional; a glorified college town. I was there for two reasons: the first was to watch one of my best friends from high school, Siobhan (cool name, right?!), get married and the second was to see my parents and little brother Teddy as they checked out colleges (yeah, I said he was YOUNGER). Also, two of my favorite ladies from college, Katie "Rock" Rockman and Elisha "Bish" Barron were in town and I was lucky enough to able to see them as well.

Anyway, weddings can be...intense, so I needed to do this beforehand:

That's not me (although I wouldn't MIND looking like that). That's Elisha and she's at Temple Bar in Cambridge where we enjoyed those bloody Marys followed by a fantastic brunch with Rock (http://templebarcambridge.com/). Afterwards, Rock walked me to Shibby's ceremony, which was in the CUTEST chapel right next to Harvard Square on one of the most gorgeous days I've ever seen.

Shibs was obviously an incredibly beautiful bride and the ceremony was short but really intimate, personal and sweet. Duh, I cried through the entire thing. I have the emotional maturity of a 15-year-old and I am not sure if I am the type of lady to ever have a traditional wedding (although I DO love to throw a party), but it's SO SPECIAL and amazing to see your friends partake in this kind of ritual. Anyway, then I hugged the bride and groom and their delightful families and went to meet my own family that is delightful in its own dysfunctional way.  Anyway, we strolled around my mom's old apartment (yeah, she went to grad school at Harvard, NBD) and then went back to their hotel to watch Limitless and have a cocktail (I had a Pina Colada and promptly passed out; of course my parents totally enjoyed the movie).

Then we went to THE MOST INCREDIBLE DINNER at this place Craigie on Main (http://www.craigieonmain.com/). Holy BALLS was this place delicious. They have vegetarian options, but seriously, this will be a much more special experience if you are a ravenous carnivore like the members of my immediate family. To start: my dad, George, got the bibb lettuce salad (don't worry, it came with fried pig ear on it), I got pig tails (like this incredibly tender, General Tso-style butt meat), Teddy got cream soup with a scallop in it (he is sophisticated), and my mom, Andrea, got grilled octopus. Then for the main course, I got pork three ways (um, I think I was attempting to eat an entire pig...they did a confit, belly, and a glazed rib), my dad got a sirloin (and ordered the most insane wine and I can't usually taste the difference), and my mom and brother SPLIT A PIG'S HEAD. Like, it's just half a pig's head on a plate and they give you pancakes and the head has been sliced into sections with scissors (it's an open kitchen, we watched a guy do this) and you just grab a chunk of head and EAT IT. Unreal. We also got marrow that came in these huge cow bones and you just scooped it out and put it on toast. Eventually my mom was yelling "get it away from me!" as she continued to scrape more marrow from the bone and we had to stage an intervention. Here's a very dark camera pic of our damage:

Isn't George so precious?! It was a really special dinner (I won't even get into dessert...but things got scary with a coconut ice cream affogato, etc.). Then I met Rock and Elisha for another drink (like I needed to ingest anything else), and whatever local dark, hoppy beer I ordered made me so happy, I decided to hold a photo-shoot outside Harvard Law School (Elisha just graduated from there...so...it counts). Check it:

Sigh. I love them. Then Sunday, another solid brunch and a stroll through Beacon Hill with Rock (we got manicures, my shade was called "Modern Girl," which is, you know, so appropriate). So it wasn't very hip or strange, but I'd say my weekend was pretty perfect. Oh, until thunderstorms made me miss my connection in Phoenix and I had to sleep on a bench in the airport. It was...an adventure.