Newest Obsession: Cloud Cult

I have recently discovered that I love to go hear live music. I'm not sure why I never realized it before, but I have been having great luck lately. Last week, Ang and I saw this band Cloud Cult at the Knitting Factory (fun little club on Hollywood Boulevard). The band was fantastic. The music was fun and great and heartfelt and the show only cost $10. Also, I just realized that Angi is a nazi backseat driver. TWICE in the past week, she has yelled at me to pull kamikaze u-turns to garner parking spaces. And, twice, we ended up with rockstar parking. Seriously. We got a spot right in front of the Knitting Factory and one literally on the corner of Pacific and Washington. Both were FREE and on the street and 10 feet from where we wanted to go. If you lived in LA, you would understand the magnitude of these spaces. Honestly, my friend Jen was going to come and meet us on Washington and gave up and went home on a Saturday night b/c she couldn't find parking. It also helps explain my favorite recent pick-up line from a guy I met on Washington who wooed me with his "so, you know, I have two parking spaces." And to think I've dated guys with only one spot - or street parking! The horror.

Happy Birthday, Hollie

Pics from Hollie's birthday last weekend. For some reason, I didn't take any pictures of either me or Hollie, but there's Hally, Matt and Angi, us doing a bellini birthday "cheers" for Hollie and one of the waitresses. The dresses at Chloe were designed by Rami - the hot Israeli designer of Project Runway fame. Also, I luuuurv them, but bellini's are expensive.

Missourians take on Hollywood

Aunt Janice and Uncle Gary were in town last weekend, so Saturday morning my cousin Wendy picked us up, we bought a Star Map and toured through Bel Air, Beverly Hills and Hollywood. The superheroes and Michael Jackson impersonators are from Hollywood Boulevard. The driveway is Eddie Murphy's - we found it on the star map! The first photo is in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theater and the second photo is next to the Kodak Theater, where they hold the Oscars. Note the Hollywood Sign just above Wendy's head. It was a fun day!

Friday Night at the Races

Friday a bunch of us went to the Hollywood Race Track. Sarah Grossmeyer (an old sorority sister at Mizzou) was in town, so we all headed to the races in Inglewood. Was actually lots of fun. We had a box and got to go down on the track during one of the races. Led Zeplin coverband Led Zepagain capped off the night (the rest of the schedule looks amazing, too. English Beat, Journey Coverband, Super Diamond, Smithereens). I'm pretty sure that whoever does the band scheduling for the Hollywood Racetrace is my soulmate.

Sundance at War: Fruit vs. Bagels

Things have gotten really dicey with the Fruit vs. Bagels war here at the Sundance offices. Fridays used to be "bagel Fridays" until Jen, Bridgette (above) and I started a campaign for more healthy snack options. Unfortunately, I feel we're starting to lose the battle. Two weeks ago was half fruit/yogurt/granola and half bagels. Then, last week it was 25 % fruit (a tired bowl of cantelope at that) and 75% bagels! Do people not realize that bathing suit season started 6 weeks ago???

Last Show at Largo

At the risk of looking like a stalker (another Jon Brion posting???), I did attend Jon Brion's last show at Largo on Fairfax. They are moving Largo to another venue - bigger, not a supper club, no more fake red leather banquets, no more crappy $16 Italian dinner minimum. Sigh. It was a great show (thanks for being out of town, Ang:). Flight of the Conchords did a surprise set, the Eels, Fiona Apple, Paul F. Thompkins all performed. And Jon Brion was really upbeat and totally rocking out. He and Flannagan (the owner) performed the final song...lots of tears...I feel really lucky I got to see it.