Summer Reading List 2009

First part of summer anyway. Would need more books to fill up the rest of July and August. Here's the list (from the bottom):

How to Be an Explorer of the World (Keri Smith)
Other People's Love Letters (edited by Bill Shapiro)
Drood (Dan Simmons)
Heart-Shaped Box (Joe Hill)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith)
20th Century Ghosts (Joe Hill)
Disquiet (Julia Leigh)

Dance with Me

Back from oblivion - after a few weeks of intense work, I'm finally getting some good news. I'm going on vacation next weekend so I'm totally excited. Don't worry, I promise to keep up with my posts. Also, I got really, really good news on Thursday about future opportunities (can't talk about it here though). So in honor of these two great "things to look forward to", come dance with me.

Here's how: turn up the volume on your speakers and clear a good space around you. Then, imagine me doing the following - dancing around in my pajamas, eyes closed, flailing my arms, biting my lower lip, bobbing my head and twirling around like a warped 33 record. Got that in your mind? Then you're ready - play this video and dance to Pet Shop Boys' new single "Did You See Me Coming?". I looooove this song!

Don't let me down - I need someone to dance with.

Get Ready for the Weekend Wednesday - 051309

Echo Park Neighborhood Edition

Visit an Actual Vinyl Store

Go to Origami Vinyl where they have racks and racks of vinyl’s and other kitschy stuff, like old-school, high-end record players and home-made shirts & tote bags. Origami is also a local record label so they get in-store performances in the store and they’re very aware of the local music scene around Echo Park and Silver Lake.

Located at 1816 West Sunset Blvd., Echo Park, CA 90026
They’re open 7 days a week, from noon until late at night

Listen to This While You’re Stuck in Weekend Traffic

Local radio station and NPR-affiliate KCRW is celebrating the one-year anniversary of their Guest DJ Project. The idea behind the project is that celebrities share their five-song playlist and talk about their music favorites or whatever else comes to mind. The series is available on KCRW’s web site and is available for download. Some of my favorites from the series are John Cusack, Danny Boyle, and Kevin Rose among others.

Go to http://www.kcrw.com/music/kcrw-guest-dj-project

Go Home While You're on the Road

What can I say about Home? They serve breakfast all day (yay!), everything on the menu is great, and the service feels like, well, home. The atmosphere is also great. They have another location in Los Feliz (that's actually the original one) but I feel this is a better locale. You have to try their French Toast and keep an eye on live entertainment that does happen there once in a while.

Located at 2500 Riverside Drive, Silver Lake, CA 90039
They're open 7 days a week starting at 9AM. Closing hours vary so call ahead.

I Swear It's Not All About Food

Although it is about "lunch", it's not really about food. The Lunchfilms screening and picnic is happening at the Machine Project on Saturday, May 16. Starting at 2PM through all afternoon (til about 7PM), they will have selected Lunchfilms on a loop so you can drop by anytime. Then the party moves over to the Echo Park Film Center at 8PM for a screening of all the Lunchfilms but it all ends with a post-screening reception back at the Machine Project. What is a Lunchfilm, you ask? Click here to find out.

Machine Project is located at 1200 D North Alvarado, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Don't forget! It all starts at 2PM.

Suggested Movies for the Weekend

• Star Trek (if you haven't seen it yet)
• Angels and Demons, starring Tom Hanks
• Management, starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Hahn (limited release)

Get Ready for the Weekend Wednesday – 050609

Mothers' Day Edition

Lebowski Fest LA 2009
May 7-8, 2009

Festival starts with the movie part on May 7 at the Wiltern Theatre. On May 8, the festival continues at Cal Bowl in Lakewood with games, costumes and, of course, bowling.


Afternoon Tea at Gordon Ramsay at the London
Everyday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
The London West Hollywood Hotel

Splurge on your mom by inviting her to a proper British afternoon tea. $28 gets you a selection of teas, tea sandwiches, scones with Chantilly cream and strawberry jam, and pastries. Reservations highly recommended.


A Day at Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa
Corona, CA
Hours: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Going to the resort completely beats the day spa locations. The Corona location gives you access to over ten acres of property, which includes a soak in natural mineral springs, get a red-clay mud bath, a moisturizing Grotto treatment, or a massage treatment. Day use admission for the weekend is $49 and the use of the Grotto and other services require an additional fee. However, just the day use is enough of a pampering for any mom.


Movies Opening This Weekend

Star Trek - May 7
Starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto

Little Ashes – May 8 (Limited)
Starring Javier Beltran and Robert Pattinson

Summer Hours – May 8 (Limited)
Starring Juliette Binoche

No "Weekend Wednesday" Post This Week

I didn't post a "Get Ready for the Weekend Wednesday" this week. My weekend is already completely booked for my daughter's birthday so I don't really know what's going outside of that. We always do a month-long celebration for her (which started on April 24 this year) but we are completely at her beck-and-call during her actual birthday weekend. She also shares a birthday with my dad but the poor man doesn't get any attention at all.

So for this weekend, here are some of the things that are on the deck:

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine
• Disneyland
• Shopping (yuck!)
• and more shopping!!!
• Plus a gastronomic extravaganza that includes a big, big chow down at Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que.

I promise to post a Weekend Wednesday list on May 6, which will start out with the big Star Trek movie release on May 7.