Me and the Fat Man
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sometimes it feels like there's a fat man sitting on my chest. He's not bouncing up and down all jolly and happy and full of joy. He's on there pushing down, constricting me. Making fun of the fact that I don't know what I want, that I might just be a tad bit of a control freak, that I'm a little too logical. He laughs but it's not with me - it's most definitely at me and every time he laughs, he gets a little bit heavier, leaving me with less room to suck in air.
Sometimes it feels like there's a fat man sitting on my chest and I wish the world would understand me just a little bit better. And I wish I could explain me just a little bit better. And I wish that I didn't feel such a strong desire to be understood. And the harder I wish, the heavier the fat man gets.
Sometimes it feels like there's a fat man sitting on my chest, staring me in the face, his nose right next to mine. He glares directly into my eyes, refusing to back down, refusing to get off. My head starts to swarm from the lack of oxygen getting to my brain and I try to suck in a deep, full breath. But the fat man stays. And he laughs.
He says, "You should be anxious. You SHOULD feel panicked. You need to do it different! If I get up and leave, then you'll just be comfortable again and who wants comfortable for Christ's sake?" He glares at me, daring me to push him off, to tell him that he's wrong. To tell him that I don't need to take a few more risks, that everything is just as it should be. But he knows that I won't tell him that because he knows that I know that he is right.
Sometimes it feels like there's fat man sitting on my chest. He dangles his legs over the sides of my torso and eats a red velvet cupcake so that he can weigh down on me just a touch more. The knot in my throat gets tighter and I question myself, my choices, my path. He looks at me and I can tell that he thinks that I'm such a moron - that I care too much about what other people think. He sticks his big fat sweaty hands on my head and he pushes as hard as he can, making all the thoughts break off into fragments, making the walls feel like they're closing in.
Sometimes it feels like there's a fat man sitting on my chest and I want to stick a pin in his ass.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 3:55 PM 0 comments
Labels: daily, introspection, meltdowns, yeah...i'm a little bit crazy
Bond Street Beverly Hills
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
So last night, I dined with two of my most fabulous friends at the new Bond Street Beverly Hills (that's what the business card says. Bond Street Beverly Hills...with the "Beverly Hills" in cursive.) It's in the new Thompson Hotel.
Imagine the JOY I felt when I heard that one of my NYC faves was traveling to the other coast. Picture squeals of delight, mildly excessive salivation, and email chains to set up dinner dates and reservations immediately. I was ECSTATIC.
To be perfectly fair and honest, I haven't been to Bond Street in NYC since...ummm...I'm going to guesstimate about 2003. I definitely haven't been since I moved. And the few times I ate there, I wasn't paying, so I didn't really notice how expensive it was or wasn't. But the thing that I don't remember is the portions being miniscule. What's the matter? You can't see that word to read it? Yeah...well that's sort of how we felt about the toro tartar that we ordered. Couldn't see it to eat it. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Girl's nights are fun. I love having dinner with girls. I've never been one to have big groups of friends that travel in packs. But it's fun to have a few great girls that you get dressed up for (because let's be honest...they'll notice your new boots more quickly than most boys will) and eat great food with and discuss girly things with. I always have and always will love and adore my girl's nights. They are a necessity to happiness in life.
So last night I had dinner with aforementioned fabulous girls. 2 of them to be exact. I arrived with one Amy at the new Thompson and we immediately scoured our surroundings. The hotel has an NYC boutique hotel feel. In other words, it had a reaaaaaaaally small and fairly dark lobby. That's as far as we got in terms of looking around the hotel but if anyone wants to come visit and get a room there, I would welcome the opportunity to get more acquainted.
We checked in at the restaurant and went to the bar to wait for our 3rd - also Amy. We pondered the chi-chi drinks for a moment (who doesn't love a good saketini??) but in my old age, I have chosen to refrain from hard alcohol for the most part, especially on school nights, and opted for some cold sake. Must say that I love the way the sake is served. It comes in a proper glass - not those little shot glasses that you have to refill every 5 minutes (or 2 seconds - depending on what's happening in your life at the current moment). So Amy and I sat and drank our sake whilst waiting for second Amy to arrive. And we people watched. We didn't even pretend that we could truly have a proper conversation with each other about anything important because there were too many interesting things and people to look at. And by interesting, I sort of mean Euro-trashy. It was like Soho was transported to Beverly Hills.
By the way, the "lounge" part of the LA Bond Street...oooooh, pardon me...Bond Street Beverly Hills (in cursive) is severely lacking in comparison to it's east coast counterpart. If you've never been in NYC, you have nothing to compare it to. But if you're expecting the same kind of swanky downstairs space in LA, you'll be sorely disappointed. You're welcome to eat in this lounge...but good luck finding a place to sit since there are only two tables with room for about 5 at each and a bar that can seat 4. It's all feels like it's been sort of squeezed in. Like an afterthought. And we felt sort of squeezed in there just waiting for our table so I can't imagine trying to enjoy a meal.
When our 3rd arrived, we were seated immediately at a cozy table next to the fireplace. I ordered more sake, and the Amy's both ordered a glass of wine. I always thought there was nothing that annoyed me more than the "upsell." You know the, "if you like that glass of wine, you'll looooooove this one." You mean the one that's $7 more? But last night I found something that annoys me more than the upsell. We'll call it the uppush - in which the waitress does not suggest the more expensive glass of wine, she just simply BRINGS it to you and informs you that she knows you'll love this one more than the one you ordered as she sets it down. That's more annoying than the upsell. The upsell was a big portion of our evening. When we asked the waitress for her favorite dishes, we couldn't help but notice that she just happened to point to the 5 or 6 most expensive dishes on the menu. Huh. Interesting.
Anyhow - we agreed that we would share everything we ordered - the mixed green salad with ginger dressing, the japanese eggplant in miso sauce, the toro tartare, himachi, and cod in a black bean sauce with vegetables. The waitress told us that she felt we were short on food so we decided to include an order of the crispy shrimp with chipotle. Done and done.
Let me say, my company was divine. How can it not be when the topics of conversation run the gamut from sweating to weddings to crazy mother-in-laws to car buying? Fabulous.
The mixed green salad was fantastic - the perfect mix of greens (and no frissee which feels like I'm eating the branch of a tree) and a delicious and tangy ginger dressing that I would have been happy to bathe in. It's a good thing our waitress suggested a 6th dish, because we had trouble finding the food on the other two first courses. While the japanese eggplant was absolutely delish - so sweet and perfectly soft- but very sparse on the plate. And the toro - which came atop of HUGE mound of crushed ice in a beautiful silver bowl, was simple and quite good, if not the SMALLEST bit of toro I've ever seen. But can someone PUH-LEASE explain to me why on God's green earth people in restaurants try to remove food from the table when there is CLEARLY a fair amount of food left on the plate? I mean, they only gave us 7 little pieces of eggplant...DO NOT take the plate away when one still remains! I know this is Los Angeles and there are people who pay to NOT eat, but we are not those people. And we were hungry! This happened with both the salad and the eggplant. And we're not talking 2 pieces of lettuce left on the plate. There was a freaking third of a salad left! Maybe their other tables weren't eating, but I swear, if that busser came over and tried to take an unfinished plate one more time, I was going to cane him with my chopsticks.
The crispy shrimp and the cod were decently sized...about 6 or 7 shrimp and an entree sized portion of cod. The himachi came in orders of 2 pieces - we ordered 3 so that we could each have 2. It was definitely divine yellowtail. No question. And you can't really skimp on the size of sushi. The shrimp were really good and thankfully, fairly filling as we were all beginning to wonder if we were going to end up going home and having to order pizza at this point. The cod was fine - the sauce and veggies were nice and light, the fish a little...well...fish-y. I wouldn't order it again and I wouldn't recommend it.
We opted out of dessert as we discussed that we could never bring our significant others to a place where they would be able to finish an entire order of something in a single bite. After all, we're girls and we weren't feeling satisfied. (Which led the two of us who live close to each other to Urth Cafe to share a proper fruit tart on our way home.)
I don't remember feeling so starving when I left Bond Street NYC. I don't know if that's because the portions were slightly bigger or the people that I was dining with had really deep pockets, but overall, the experience felt entirely different. Perhaps it has something to do with the frilly Beverly Hills tacked on to the end of the name. And I'm sure it will be a destination to see and be seen (Robert Rodriguez was having a dinner party/photo shoot there last night) but I'd rather see the sushi bar at Sushi Wa for 1/2 the price and double the portions. So what if I have to refill my sake glass every 5 minutes?
Bond Street Beverly Hills, 9630 Wilshire Blvd. at Crescent, Beverly Hills 310-601-2255
Wa Sushi and Bistro, 1106 La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood 310-854-7285
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 4:55 PM 0 comments
Labels: food and drink
Shifts Are Better As Dresses
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Expectations.
Buddhists learn not to have them. Yoga tells you that if you are really fully present, it's not possible to have expectations because you will only be experiencing the moment that is here now...while you are reading the words on the screen.
How, when you have friends for such a long time, do you refrain from having expectations? And I don't mean like "they should call me back immediately or they're dead to me" expectations (which, if you have, you should maybe find a shrink...although who am I to say what expectations are right or wrong. But really. Shrink. I have a few great recommendations if you want...) I mean expectations like you just know them...you know who they are and what they believe in and how they will be and well, what you can expect from them. Right? Isn't that something that just starts to happen at a certain point? You feel you truly know someone. So you think you know whether they'll be late or on time (and yes, late still annoys you...but you love 50 million other things about them so it's OK.) You think you know whether they'll be the friend who supports, the friend who encourages, the friend who tells you the truth, the friend who you eat a pint of Ben and Jerry's with. You think you know the shoes they will love and the food that they crave and the things that you can laugh at together just as much as the things you might cry about together. You think you know with whom you want to share what. You think you know...
And then, all of a sudden, something shifts. Perhaps a life experience or a location or a partner. I am certain that there were people in my life who saw different things in me when I met my husband. Especially for the short time when I know that I lost a little of my footing in the whole process. I was trying to figure it all out - they dynamics of our relationship, what it felt like to be around him, what I believed still versus what his influences had me believe. And more than anything, I was just so, sooooooooo about the whole thing and about him that I pretty much didn't think of anyone else but me and how I was feeling about him and whether or not he was thinking about me. I know. And I think it's inevitable - when you're with a person that you are in love with, they effect your thoughts and actions. You're learning a new dance, a new language of sorts...and it takes time to find all of the parts of you that you want to maintain. Sometimes it happens with every single person you meet, sometimes it just happens the very first time you really fall in love, sometimes it happens when it's been a while since you had butterflies. But I can't think of a single friend that it hasn't happened with at some point in time. People shift - even if just ever so slightly or ever so momentarily...they shift. It's from that feeling of never wanting to be away from this new force in your life. It's from wanting to know everything they know and believe and trying to figure out how it fits in with what you know and believe. It's from trying new things and being around new people that you find through this person and figuring out life a little more because of it all. And I think that most of the time, you shift back. You find your melody inside of the symphony that's now playing and you make sure that it plays loud and clear and that together, with the other person's melody, you create a lovely harmony.
Wow - that's sooooooooo cheesy. But what I mean to say is that eventually, you find your way back to you. And generally, your other relationships go back to the way they were - whether there was tolerance or intolerance, annoyance or understanding...things go back.
Except. I don't know. Except what if they don't? What if things DON'T go back to how they were before? What if things feel just a little different? What if you notice that there's that part of someone that was sort of tempered by their last partner but gets highlighted by this one...and it's a part that's really hard for you to swallow? Do you take a deep breath and hope that it will shift back? That it's just part of it all and that it's just taking longer? Do you accept that it might never shift back and that therefore, your friendship might shift permanently? Do you relinquish those expectations that you've grown to have over the years and years and years that you've know each other? Or do you just realize that the person is happy and it's not about you?
And it's not about you...it's them being them. Perhaps a part of them that you didn't love so much, but you took with the rest. But now that part is there more. At first you thought it was just a fluke. But then you realize that since this new relationship came into their life, you've loved being around them just a little less. And it's hard. It's really, really, painfully difficult. You feel selfish and unsupportive and you want them to be happy. But you miss the stuff that you...well...grew to expect.
I know it's selfish. And I know that this is who she is. This has always been a part of her. So I suppose my more self-aware choice would be to try understand why it's so hard for me to deal with this part of her. Why does it agitate me...what does it set off in me? And I'm looking at that too...because there's no bad that can come of that.
But I'm also coming to terms with the fact that people shift. And sometimes, they don't shift back. And then, you have to shift your expectations. Or become a Buddhist.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 4:33 PM 1 comments
Labels: friends, musings on life
A song for Monday
Monday, January 28, 2008
Today I feel like a bloated whale without a brain. But a friend played this song for us on Friday night and I loved it. It's by a band called The Brendan Hines. I couldn't find the lyrics online so I interpreted myself...there's one word I can't understand so I'm just putting an asterisk there, but given the rest of the song, I'm sure it's witty and apropos. And check out their other music...I like them.
I MISS NEW YORK
Hobos and tacos and broken down Hondas
No-doz and slow-mo's and Jane fucking Fondas
Sunshine and red wine and "How was the torque?"
I miss New York
Fuck you but thank you
May I ask who's calling
Run-thru's and Jet Blues and beach volleyballing
Palm trees, exposed knees, a punched Mickey Rourke
But I miss New York
Washington Square are you still there?
Do you still have drugs, jugglers and bugs to spare?
Sunglasses, free passes and come see my band
Valets and bad plays and condoms and sand
Freeways and delays
Carnitas means pork
But I miss New York
****, mad dog stares and avocados
Drunk driving, high fiving, money up my nose
Texting and sexing
I hugged mickey rourke
I miss New York
Tompkins square are you still there
Do you still have bugs, mohawks and drugs to spare?
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 6:02 PM 0 comments
Labels: daily, moving to LA, NYC
The things you miss
Sunday, January 27, 2008
I'll tell you what I miss. I miss the energy you get from being on the street. I miss the pulse that drives my body to go, go, go. I miss the stimulation. I miss the buzz I get from the way the air hits my face when I step outside and whips against my cheeks as I pass through the streets, by the buildings. I miss the spontaneity of wherever my feet may take me in that moment, the ease of changing course. I miss the people I may run into that I already know and those I've yet to meet but might - today or tomorrow or possibly next year. I miss that feeling of being wildly aware. I miss the things I don't see more than the things I do. But then I guess that's sort of obvious. If I'm not seeing them...then I'm missing them.
Today I walked a few blocks. Blocks that I've driven at least 365 times - possibly, no most probably, more. I've driven these blocks time and again but today might have been the first time I walked them. And I found new things. I found an amazing gardening store. It's been there the whole time - I just didn't see it. I couldn't see it because I had to keep my eyes on the road in order to make sure that I didn't bump the car in front of me or run a red light or God forbid, hit a pedestrian. So while I keep my eyes on the road, they aren't allowed to explore and experience all the nuanced changes that happen - or even to find things that are old to others but new to me.
In New York, I was forgiven for the times I was so preoccupied by the new windows going up or the calls of "coming soon" that I mistakenly walked directly into another pedestrian. Often, they were just as enthralled as I was...neither of us were paying attention to the "road". When you walk the same streets every day and every night, weaving your way in and out, up and down, for coffee and dinner and drink dates and commutes to work, you notice the newest billboard, the building going up or coming down, the newest crack in the sidewalk. You notice everything. You are wildly aware because you don't have a choice not to be.
I suppose I'm aware in a different sort of way here. I have to keep my eye on the car in front of me, lest I mistakenly bump someone when I'm going 5 mph and have them sue me for $30,000. But that's another story for another time. I have to keep my eyes on the road. And trust me - it's not easy. Do you know they have electronic billboards that change about 5 times in 30 seconds? How are you supposed to keep your eyes on the road when the signs in front of you are begging you not to miss the next ad...wait! oh! It's changing just as you start to pass so don't slow down, just look behind you for another minute because you absolutely positively CAN NOT MISS THIS AD!!! Seriously? This is safe?
But the truth is, I crane my neck anytime I notice something new - a new facade, a new awning, some new construction. I crane my neck for the opportunity to be in the know, to be wildly aware. But then, the road beckons...safety calls my name. Because if I bump into the other person...it ain't gonna be a pedestrian that was looking, too.
So today, I walked. (Of course, I was with 2 of my favorite New Yorkers while I did so.) And I found the most amazing gardening and home goods store. It's about a block and a half from my house. Can you imagine? A block and a half and I didn't even know it was there. And it's not new. It's been there the whole time. All 365 times plus that I drove that street.
I could still tell you most everything within a 10 block radius of my Perry Street apartment and my 45th Street office. I miss being wildly aware.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 11:30 PM 0 comments
A clarification of sorts
Friday, January 25, 2008
I'd love to clarify something for all of you who are concerned that I am on some downward spiral into depression - or a black hole - based on my last post.
If you scroll down to the bottom of each post, there's a little thing called "labels". Next to the word "labels" you'll see that there are descriptive...well...labels of the post. And sometimes, one of those labels is "past" as was the case yesterday. Sometimes it may even say "writing exercise"...as it did yesterday. What that means is that even though this is written in the present tense, it is from my past. I dug that piece of writing out from something I'd written a couple of years ago...and I worked on it and edited and changed, etc. to make it a better piece of writing...hence the label "writing exercise."
And wallah - there you have it. So thank you for the influx of concern. I really, really appreciate it. But I'm great actually...I was just working on some writing that was honest and true and how I was feeling at a moment in time...and a way that I know so many others have felt at moments in time too. And I know that sometimes, it's nice to know that you're not the only one. It's nice to know you're more normal than you think. Or at least that other people are just as crazy as you are.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 11:21 AM 0 comments
Labels: daily
This black hole
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I come out of the bathroom stall in the poorly lit restroom and begin to wash my hands. I look up at myself in the mirror, admittedly to check and see whether or not I look cute, if the pimple on the lower right side of my face is getting better or worse, if I need a little lipstick. But instead, my eyes meet themselves in the mirror and I actually look at myself. Or into myself I suppose.
“You’re 30.” I hear one of the little me’s that sits on my proverbial shoulder say. (This is severely type A little me. The one that thinks I should have had a corner office and been running Hollywood by the time I was 29.) “What are you doing? What are you doing?” my mini-me screams. Literally screams inside my head. I hear it and I want to shut it out. I want to block my ears and not hear the screaming but that's impossible when the screamer is me.
I realize I am no longer looking in the mirror. I am back in the stall that I came out of, allowing the tears to silently stream down my face. In a moment, I'll come out again and look in the mirror to see if I look cute, to see if the pimple on the lower right side of my face is getting better or worse, to see if I need lipstick.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 3:29 PM 2 comments
Labels: meltdowns, past, writing exercise, yeah...i'm a little bit crazy
Dancing in the Sun - Part 2
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
PART 2
click here to read part 1
ed note/disclaimer: I don't get any less judgmental. Some people may call it down to earth...you choose.
SUNDAY
10:30 AM - SHUTTLE TO MAIN STREET
We have a lunch to go to at noon, so we decide to leave for Main Street, get some coffee and decide what movies we'd like to try to see. You may wonder why there hasn't been any moviegoing thus far.
For a film festival, it is not easy for one to see movies at Sundance. In fact, it's downright HARD. Even though I got a lottery spot for tickets on the second morning of the lottery, there were no tickets left for any of the movies that we wanted to see by the time I was able to buy tickets. So our option was to get on line 2 1/2 hours prior to the movie to get wait listed and even then, there was a good possibility that we would not be able to see the movie. This is annoying. But we decided that we'd try to wait list for a movie later in the day.
Anyhow -- on the shuttle we met some great guys...from New York. Shocker. We decided that one of the most fun parts of Sundance was meeting the people that were truly there for the festival and the films. That it was sort of like meeting people when you travel through Europe. Loved that. Especially since the shuttle rides were REALLY long.
FYI - if you ever go to Sundance, do your best to stay as close to Main Street or one of the headquarters as possible. There's no use renting a car because you can't park anywhere. But the shuttles take FOREVER. They're slow and inconsistent and unless you're staying at one of the aforementioned places, reeeeeeeeally annoyingly difficult. But you do get to meet cool people.
11:30 AM- MAIN STREET COFFEE ATTEMPT
So we went to Main Street and did not get coffee because there were only 2 places to do so on Main Street and both of them were...you guessed it...clusterfucks! We went into one of the private lounges that we had passes for and drank english breakfast tea. Yum.
12 NOON - LUNCH
Got to the luncheon which turned out to be sort of eh...so we snuck out and went to eat at a great little French Bistro, warm up and plan the rest of our day. On our way to the French Bistro, a sales rep that had seen Matt's film approached him to tell him how incredible he thought the film was and how good Matt was in it. The novelty of this never wears off for me as I'm sure it doesn't for him.
Tangent. Forgot to mention that the day before, I had decided to run the dishwasher. I opened the box of soap on the counter and poured it into the machine. You'll notice I haven't said much about our accommodations. Our condo was fine. It was warm and it had plenty of beds to sleep in and it totally worked. Nice? I wouldn't say that. It had the potential to be nice - it just wasn't well kept by the owners. So the fireplace was broken and one of the shower curtains was less than stellar. There were five of us staying there at one point, but only 3 towels. We had to argue to get more than two keys...that sort of thing. So when the dishwasher started bubbling out the bottom, Matt got on the phone immediately to add "broken dishwasher" to the list. (He enjoys doing this...especially when management is less than helpful in getting those extra towels or fixing the broken fireplace. But that's a whole other story...) So he tells them the dishwasher is also broken. Except on Sunday morning, I looked at the box of dishwashing detergent and realized that it was not dishwashing detergent at all. It was Surf. Do you know what Surf is? (Clearly I didn't.) Surf is laundry detergent. So in fact the dishwasher was not what was broken...my brain was broken. We laughed about this for at least several minutes during lunch.
1:30 PM - HYPE GIFTING SUITE
After lunch we went up to another gifting suite and this one was SUPER fun. Matt got his pic taken designing his own Puma's (brown tweed kicks with a maroon stripe up the side...very cool). I got a bright green Puma travel bag. Matt got his pic taken trying on Oakleys. Matt got his pic taken explaining that our dog, Thursday, eats our Havianas and we both went home with a new pair. Matt got his pic taken trying on Frye boots. I got a faboo pair of Frye heels. We loooooved the people at Frye who we added to the list of people who said, "You must be from New York" and then vented to us about the insane Angelenos that had been obnoxiously bombarding them and demanding crap for the past two days. Huh. Interesting.
2:45 PM/any of the times we're wandering MAIN STREET
Matt knows everyone and their mother. Or, somehow, they know him. Or think they do. It's cold. Very cold. One point for living in LA. Also, Main Street is consistently a clusterfuck.
3 PM - ST. IVES LOUNGE
We take a quick breather in the St. Ives lounge and decide we'll try to see a 5:30 screening of "Mysteries of Pittsburgh". We make the decision and leave immediately to get on the shuttle. Jeff says we need to be there by 4 PM.
4 PM - RACQUET CLUB THEATER
We enter the heated tent to get on the waiting list for the film and are greeted by a lovely volunteer who informs us that we have to get there TWO hours before for wait list...not an hour and a half. All 100 wait list numbers have been given out, but we're welcome to wait and see if there's anything left when that's done. That would be around 5:15. So essentially wait another hour and 15 minutes for about .0013% chance of getting a ticket since it's not even guaranteed to the wait list number holders that they'll get a ticket. We think about it for about 2 seconds before we get back on a shuttle.
4:15 PM - SHUTTLE
We realize we have to take this shuttle to another shuttle to get to our condo. ARRRRRRGHHHHHH! Annoying.com. Oh well...cest la vie. We are hungry and tired and frustrated that we can't see a film at a film festival without waiting on line for 2 + hours.
5 PM - CONDO
We sleep.
We order pizza.
We call the awesome lady that knew we were from New York to take us to the Ray-Ban visionary awards for Quentin Tarantino.
7:15 PM - HARRY O'S
It's very interesting that every single place on Main Street is renamed during the festival. With signs and all. And we're not talking plastic banners...we're talking it looks like these places have always been here. I mean, there's a Tao in Park City...need I say more? So I'm not sure what Harry O's is normally called, but it's a music venue on Main Street. We get there and there's a short line. I'm dressed the least appropriately that I've been dressed thus far - in a tank top and a grey cotton/cashmere open sweater with jeans and boots. Of course I have a winter trench on with a hat and gloves. In front of me there is girl in a mini skirt and heels. Without stockings. And despite the fact that she's already injected her lips with some sort of filler, she sticking them out even more. I wonder if her face hurts from holding it in that position...People are INSANE.
We get to the front of the line. Matt gives his name.
"I'm sorry...I don't see you on the list."
Matt pulls out his invite and his RSVP confirmation.
"Are you sure you rsvp'd? The list was closed on Tuesday."
He patiently shows her the rsvp again. (I wanted to say say, "Ummm...can you READ?") He tells her the name of the people he spoke with. She points to the side and says she's sorry - he can step aside and call them. Which is exactly what he does. He calls his BFF Tara. He can't get her on the phone. He tries again.
Just then, a large bouncer comes over and asks us if we're on the list.
"There's a little confusion," I explain. "But yes, we're guests of this event."
"Well, I don't think you're on the list. You'll have to step outside."
I politely explain that someone is coming out to get us just as Matt gets through to Tara who says she's sending someone out to do just that.
"Sorry. You're not on the list. Step outside. NOW." And he puts his hand on my shoulder to "escort" us.
This is where I get pissed. "A. We ARE on the list. Someone is coming outside to get us. B. There is absolutely NO reason for you to TOUCH me or be rude."
He rudely asserts that he's not being rude, he's doing his job, and tells us that we can wait for the person coming to get us outside of the blockade. I can't stand bouncers who think that because they are the doorman, they have all sorts of power and can be TOTAL dicks.
But we do as we're asked and when Rachel comes out to get us, she's pissed a. that we weren't on the list and b. that we were manhandled. She calls one of the bouncers that made us wait outside to come help her open the blockade to let us in. As if that wasn't satisfying enough, she then says to Matt, "We'll need you to come walk the red carpet." I was so joyous that I might have possibly blacked out momentarily and stuck my tongue out at the bouncer. Or perhaps that was only in my dreams.
Inside, we grab a drink and wait for Matt who has just been on the red carpet with Dennis Hopper and Quentin Tarantino. This is VERY cool. After about 20 minutes, the award is presented to Mr. Tarantino who gives an inspired speech from which I have found my new favorite quote:
"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand." - Woodrow Wilson
What an amazing quote and couldn't be more appropriate for me for 2008. I've now written it all over the place.
After we see a montage of the amazing movies he's made and hear him speak, the Bravery plays for a while. They're good - really good. But around 10:30 all three of us had about had it. We were exhausted and felt no need for an evening on the Sundance party circuit.
When we walked out into the brisk night air, it was snowing. Despite all the hustle and bustle, Main Street looked gorgeous and magical.
11:00 PM - BACK AT THE CONDO
We got home really early by Park City standards. We couldn't have been happier to crawl into pj's and turn on the TV.
I'm leaving on Monday...but I've decided to get up to try to see "The Last Word"at 9:15. Since it's the first showing of the day, I only have to wait online for 1 hour instead of 2...so I set my alarm for 7:15 and plan to get up and out to try to see at least one other movie before I leave Park City.
MONDAY
7:15 AM - ALARM GOES OFF
I wake up and for the 3rd morning in a row with such a dry mouth and throat that I can barely speak. It's the altitude and the constant heat...but it feels like crap. I feel like crap. I am absolutely exhausted. But I tear myself out of bed and get in the shower.
7:30 AM - CAN'T ANYONE GET A CAB IN THIS TOWN?
The answer is no. I can not get a cab. I call five different companies. Including the karaoke cab-mobile. No cabs. Not until 1 PM. WTF???? This town is feeling more and more difficult. I contemplate taking the shuttle...it's now 7:40 and by the time I get down to the shuttle it will be at least 7:50. Even if the shuttle comes immediately, I won't get to the Eccles until 8:45 or so because I need to switch to another shuttle to get there. I'll have missed the wait list line and I'm back at a .0013% chance of getting a ticket. I decide that I'm not destined to see a film at this film festival and opt to go have breakfast with Matt before I leave and before he does a day of press.
9:10 AM - ALBERTSON'S
We arrive at Albertson's via shuttle which is where the shuttle driver has told us to get out for the Marriott Headquarters. Said driver has failed to mention that the Marriott is a 15 minute walk from here. It's about 15 degrees. And snowing. We go into Alberston's to get Starbucks which I have been craving since we arrived and is not so easy to come by in this town...(there is no Starbucks on Main Street).
As I pour sugar in my latte, I hear someone call Matt's name. It's the guy from Cinetic that's repping Matt's movie. He tells Matt that the movie is getting great buzz at the "New York intellectual/smartnik film of the festival". Wow. He tells Matt that if a film like this is going to get noticed, it needs all of the right people to champion it...and that seems to be happening -from the NY Times to Entertainment Weekly. WOW. He doesn't know if the film will sell or not - it's really hard with a small film like this...but it's getting the attention it deserves and that's a really great thing.
We thank him for filling us in and are on our now even merrier way. The walk is sort of refreshing and it's nice to get a little exercise.
9:40 AM - BREAKFAST
We stop at a little restaurant close to the Marriott and eat delicious breakfast. They serve mac and cheese for breakfast. I am not kidding. I order it. I'm not kidding. I've been wanting it since I didn't get any at the NYU thing on Saturday. So I have it for breakfast. I know that Amy and Kelly would be proud of me...
It's delicious.
10:15 AM - THE MARRIOTT
Matt has to go to press so I sit in front of the fireplace at the Marriott and read for a little while. I check my flight, which has been delayed from 2:55 to 4:35. I call the car service to rearrange my pick up time. The woman tells me that they can't rearrange my pickup time because they're too busy that day.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??? It seems to me that Utah is not really that ready for the influx of people coming in for this festival. I can't get a freaking cab, I can't change my car service. You would think that at this point, they'd realize that they need to step it up.
Given that I'm being picked up at 12:15, I have to get on a shuttle to go home. I kiss Matt goodbye and head out into the snow. Of course, the shuttle that picks up outside the Marriott doesn't go to the Canyons. Of course. So I walk to the shuttle that does. I wait for 15 minutes for the shuttle and then take a 45 minute shuttle ride back to my condo (which is only about a 10 minute drive from the Marriott.) This is a perfect final shuttle ride to remind me that I am, indeed, ready to leave Park City.
Happily, I encounter no clusterfucks on my final day. And I am very proud to say that I did not fall on the ice or snow ONE SINGLE TIME. This is a huge feat for me.
1:15 PM - SALT LAKE AIRPORT
Since I am here, oooooooooh, 3 1/2 hours before my flight is scheduled to leave, I buy a magazine and grab a seat at the bar in the airport.
The bartender (who may be a man dressed as a woman or a woman dressed as a man) hands me a water. I ask for lemon.
"No lemons."
I ask for lime.
"No limes. I got maraschino cherries."
I'll skip it. You'd think from the way the bartender and waiters are running around that they'd never had more than 2 customers before.
I order a quesadilla without the chicken but with the other stuff. I'm not so into eating chicken at the airport. When it comes, it has nothing in it but cheese. I send it back. I remind her that I'd ordered a beer. About 20 minutes ago. There is chaos everywhere. She/He grunts a lot. I wonder if one works in the airport because they have a bad attitude or if they have a bad attitude because they work in an airport.
I head to my gate at about 3:30 because I don't want to sit in the bar anymore. I am exhausted. I am so exhausted I feel sick exhausted. I am fighting sleep while waiting for the plane.
Finally at 5 PM we take off. I fall asleep for a while and then watch "Project Runway". A fantastic end to a fantastic weekend. This makes me very happy. Especially since my favorite contestants, Chris and Christian, are working together as a team. And Christian coins the term "ferosh"...as in ferocious. I love this boy.
7:15 PM - HOME SWEET HOME
I force myself to unpack because if I don't do it now, I won't do it for days. I eat a skinny cow mint icecream sandwich. I drink about 50 glasses of water. I get into bed. I am exhausted...but I have to say...Sundance was ferosh.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 5:12 PM 0 comments
Labels: the industry, travels, west coast prejudice
Dancing in the Sun - Part 1
PART 1
Ed. note/warning: This post is judgmental. Just so you're aware that I'm aware and know what you're getting yourself into.
First, let me say, I had a faaaabulous weekend in Sundance. It was an amazing and fascinating experience...
FRIDAY 3:15 PM - BURBANK AIRPORT
I am obsessed with Burbank airport and have often thought that I should fly out of it more often. It's small and manageable and easy. No waiting in security lines or check in lines, no walking miles to get to your terminal. So I was thrilled to be able to fly to Salt Lake City from Burbank.
Except this was no ordinary Friday in Burbank. In an airport where I normally breeze through security, I waited in line for 35 minutes surrounded by hipsters in skinny jeans and sunglasses, entertainment execs with bluetoothed ears and one completely dear older man who refreshingly had nothing to do with the business or partying and had no idea why the airport was so packed that day.
7:50 PM -SALT LAKE CITY AIRPORT
Salt Lake City is ten times worse than Burbank was. Holy shite. Is it this packed with every flight that comes in from NY or LA?
11:00 PM - T-MOBILE DINER TO SEE NIKKA COSTA
Nikka is a friend of my husband's and invited us to come see her do an acoustic set at the T-Mobile diner. The show was slated to begin at 11:30 so we decided to get there closer to 11:00 so as to avoid the crowds and the cold. We arrived at 11:10 to be told that the space wasn't ready yet and we'd have to wait...outside. In the 18 degree weather. Lovely. As we're waiting a stretch hummer (otherwise known as obnoxious on wheels) pulls in and out pops some random in a chinchilla coat with sunglasses on followed by his bleached blonde, fake tanned, tucked, sucked, and plumped entourage. One woman's lips were so big I couldn't see her nose. Another woman had on enough clothing to cover my 9 month old nephew. Did I mention it was 18 degrees out? Did I mention that I was going to be judgmental??? These people pushed their way in front of us, only to be informed that they weren't getting in yet either. (At least they didn't let 25 people in but make us stand outside...if that had happened, I would have left.)
About 10 minutes in, one of the PR chicks for T-Mobile comes out to give wristbands to those on the list. Matt gives his name and she gives us wristbands and tells us we'll still have to wait outside because it's not open yet. He asks politely how long it will take. She gives us one of those PR girl looks as if to say, "ummm - you're lucky to even be at this party buster." and says with all the attitude in the world, "I don't know but you can huddle around that heat lamp." We look over to the single heat lamp that already has thirty people huddled around it and Matt looks back at her and says, "Yeah - no thanks...we're not animals." Genius. Said PR girl sees none of the humor or irony in Matt's statement. It is here that I originate my word of the festival: clusterfuck. There is a clusterfuck of people standing around ONE SINGLE heating lamp. And did I mention yet that it's 18 degrees out?
Thankfully, five minutes later, we head in, get a great seat and wait for the show. We are surrounded by ski bunnies extraordinaire and NY club kids galore. So this is Sundance.
Nikka plays a genius set (if you're not familiar with this woman, get some of her music fast...she's AMAAAAAAZING) which is promptly ruined when aforementioned PR bitch comes over to our table to tell us that we'll have to get up because some of her T-mobile team has arrived and the table is for them.
"For them? There wasn't and isn't a sign on it."
"I know...but there was supposed to be sooooooooooo..."
"Sooooooo...we'll get up after this song is over. We came here to support our friend so we're not going to get up in the middle of her song. Thanks."
And we did. We'd had enough of the Sundance scene for the evening...
SATURDAY 10:30 AM - SHUTTLE TO SCREENING
The shuttle is wall to wall to wall to wall people. Clusterfuck. And the traffic is not moving. Apparently, not only has the entire LA party scene transported itself to Park City, but so has the 405. Finally we get off when a local tells us that we're about a 15 minute walk from the library theater.
11:30 AM - SCREENING OF MOMMA'S MAN
The theater is packed which is really cool. I've already been told about the movie -- that it's beautiful and touching but not especially commercial and painstakingly and intentionally slow in parts. I sit toward the back and center of the theater and watch the short that precedes the film. The short is sort of genius - animation set to a song about a tennis game between father and son interrupted by some hoodlums. Really clever and funny.
The movie starts. I'm totally biased but Matt is really good. His face is unbelievably expressive. The film is beautifully shot and both funny and poignant in places. And while there are about 20 minutes in the middle that are indeed painstakingly slow, it's clear that it's on purpose and so, I have to respect Aza's choices in film making...and that this is not one that will necessarily appeal to the masses but those to whom it does appeal will think it is fantastic. And so is Matt. I'm really, really proud.
1:30 PM - WHISKED AWAY IN A CAR
We're picked up outside the theater by the sweetest guy (who my husband, in true fashion, will later become friends with...) to take us to Main Street so that Matt can record a PSA for the Hallmark Channel. It's fun and he's good and everyone is really lovely. We talk to some women who have created a really cool organization called We Add Up - a non-profit based on the idea that you don't have to do EVERYTHING to help with the environment but if you choose one or two things to focus on, then you can make a difference. We're thrilled to realize that we do not one or two, but EIGHT of the things that add up. Cool. I like these ladies -- so check them out and see what you can do to help. We get handed some swag bags and are sort of overwhelmingly jostled through the hallways...before we're sent on our way back to the car to the next thing.
2:30 PM - CREATIVE COALITION CHILDREN'S READING
The car brings us to another Creative Coalition event. Creative Coalition is essentially a non-profit that helps bring together people in the arts to deal with pressing issues and influence the community. Sort of vague but a very cool group. We are greeted by two adorable and very cold (cold like the temperature -- not cold bitchy) girls who whisk us downstairs to intense chaos (clusterfuck). Matt's here to record a children's story for the Creative Coalition and as a thank you, they'll walk him through one of the famous Sundance gifting suites. (For those of you living under a rock, these are suites that are inhabited by all sorts of designers and products and they give away free things in hopes that celebrities will be photog'd wearing their stuff. Ridic.)
Anyhow, we're plopped onto a couch to wait and it is here that I truly see part of the Sundance spirit. There is a peroxide blonde who thinks she is all that but clearly is not loudly touting her credentials to someone who works with the group. She is in something that's at the festival that she also produced (although when I went to check later, I couldn't find her anywhere) and apparently has been in several dozen films (most of which I'm guessing were porn.) This woman is not interested in reading a children's book for charity (and according to her, was not informed that would be there). She is only interested in getting free stuff. She's told that she's welcome to walk around.
"So do we just get to take things?" she asks in a very fake and sweet high voice.
"No, that's not how it works. You go up to each booth and they'll choose whether or not to gift you."
Now, this sounds like it's obnoxious. However, what this woman doesn't know (and neither do I although I'm still impressed with how this is being handled by the very sweet and lovely PR girl,) is that after you do your reading, one of the lovely PR people (who are clearly of no relation to aforementioned T-mobile PR person) will take you around, introduce you to all the vendors and explain what you're starring in at the festival, making them want to gift you. But since this bee-atch doesn't want to do anything nice for the charity, she'll have no such escort.
Matt leaves to do his reading, and I get a front row ticket to the tantrum this idiot throws. She demands to talk to each and every person that she can possibly speak to. One woman explains that they have no control over what the vendors do or do not give away. She yells saying that she's offended that she was invited to such an event. She says it's like being invited to a party and being told you can't come in. After twenty minutes of this ridiculousness, she finally gets someone to take her around. The person that's come with her is so embarrassed that she opts out and decides to stay on the couch. After this INSANE display, I decided I'm going to take advantage of the bar. And have a martini. When I return, Matt has become best friends with two of the amaaaaazing PR girls, Tara and Sarah. They are adorable and can't tell us enough how nice it is to have two people there that are...well...nice. This is not the first time we will hear this during the weekend. Tara takes us around and I get some t's and a bedazzled shirt that I will never wear but my friend Jessica will devour. Matt gets a pair of jeans and most importantly, we get a ridiculous amount of Ahava products. Matt of course exchanges info with Tara who is now referring to my husband as her long lost cousin...and we're on our way to our next stop.
3:OO PM - TO THE DELTA SKY LOUNGE
It's time to actually see some friends! Matt and I head up to the Delta Sky Lounge to meet Phil and Jeff and Evan, to drink, and digest the day. I am in shock and awe that it's only 3 PM. It feels like it's midnite. And I'm starving. We hit the lounge and I immediately get some hot buttered bourbon. Delicious. As I'm waiting at the bar and ordering cocktails for myself and my husband, he heads upstairs and the woman sitting next to me asks how I know him. I tell her and she says she saw his movie on Friday and that he was incredible. This is waaaaaaay cool. I know it - but I enjoy hearing it from others. Can't help it...
I head upstairs and pop about 10 mini-crab cakes in my mouth since I haven't eaten since 9:30 that morning. After a short respite in the Sky Lounge, all 5 of us head back out into the cold to the NYU Alumni function. As we're leaving, there are all sorts of paparazzi parked outside the door. Some random girl asks Jeff if he knows who's in there.
"Ummm...I heard the lead actor in Momma's Man just left."
The girl looks at him with a blank stare. Jeff's favorite game has become dropping Matt's name everywhere as if you're a moron if you don't know who he is. This game is funny.
4:00 PM - NYU AT SUNDANCE
It's really freaking hot in here. But sure, I'll have a glass of sauvignon blanc...why not? I see many people with mac and cheese. It looks next level good. I am FAMISHED. The crab cakes did nothing. I start to make my way toward the mac and cheese but across the room I spy one of the stars of one of the tv shows I work on...his movie is premiering at Sundance in the dramatic competition. We make eye contact and I head over to say hello. He's honestly one of the SWEETEST men ever and I'm thrilled for him that his movie has made it to the festival. He's equally as thrilled for Matt...we chat for a bit and I head back toward the mac and cheese. When I arrive, it's gone. I am left standing there with a celebrity who is equally as distraught by the lack of breadcrumb and cheese ensconced noodles. We look at the waitress who points behind us to a boy with a plate overflowing with the cheesy goodness that we are longing for. The celeb and I look at each other and we both grab forks, tempted to dig into the boy's plate. But we do not. I settle for a biscotti instead. It's no substitute.
The event winds down and my feet are about to fall off. We hop on a shuttle back to the condo and devour the salsa rice chips that we got in one of our bags. They are amazing with sour cream. Then again, what isn't amazing with sour cream...then we all fall asleep.
10:30 PM - CAB TO MAIN STREET
We call a cab to go meet Jeff and his sister and head to a private mansion in Deer Valley. When we get outside, we see a van illuminated with Christmas lights and a disco ball and...A KARAOKE MACHINE. We sing Journey on the way to Jeff's house. It's definitely fun although the van sort of really smells and it's definitely hindering my enjoyment of the situation.
What further hinders my enjoyment is when Matt asks the two seemingly lovely girls why they're at Sundance and one of them responds, "To party - is there any other reason to be here?"
Yes. I'm serious.
11:15 PM - CAR RIDE TO DEER VALLEY
We drive up the winding roads to Deer Valley. One thing I think I've failed to mention is that this place is GORGEOUS. The snow covered mountains are so picturesque that sometimes I feel like I'm driving through a movie set. This area is just stunning and fantastic snow exposure for a girl who misses this time of year back east.
We have to park our car and take a shuttle so we huddle together with some cool Chicagoans while we wait. And technically, we get to the party early, early, early on Sunday morning...
MIDNITE - THE MANSION
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This place is INSANEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I mean...ridiculous. Like nothing I've ever seen and yes, I've been in some of those Bel Air mansions and Manhattan penthouses. We arrive early, (Yes, midnite is early) grab a glass of champagne and go for a tour of the house. There is a racquetball court in the house. And a ski room so that they can put on their skis and take the chair lift up the mountain. From their back yard. And an indoor lap pool (which pushes water toward you as you're swimming so that you have to work harder in a small space) and a multi-leveled hot tub with water spurting out of the wall. And it's weird but this huge-ass mansion doesn't feel huge in the sense that it's very warm and cozy (which was helped by the ridiculous number of fireplaces that existed there.) We meandered for about half an hour and then realize that the people coming in are not exactly the kind of people that you would expect at a place like this. So we managed to snag seats on the couch for all five of us which is a perfect location to (I already warned you...) make fun of everyone that walked in the door. Because with the exception of a few producers and the Sundance Programmer (who totally validated the party for us), the entire party could have been at LAX (the Hollywood nightclub- not the airport.) There was the trio of ski bunnies wearing skintight sweaters and little pom pom hats with heels dancing on the fireplace mantel so to get the perfect back lighting. There were lips galore. That was all I could see of some of the women. That and their fake breasts. There was the couple that was grinding in the living room and making out for SO long that I was sure they couldn't have possibly realized they were in a public place. THIS was the ultimate clusterfuck.
30 minutes after we parked it on the couch we decided we'd definitely gotten our taste of the mansion private party scene and headed out into the freezing cold to head home.
1 AM - CAB RIDE HOME
We got into a cab with the greatest lady who turned and looked at us and said, "You guys are New Yorkers - aren't you?" This was the utmost compliment.
This was my first full day at Sundance.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 10:10 AM 1 comments
Labels: the industry, travels, west coast prejudice
Confessions of a New Yorker in LA
Thursday, January 17, 2008
I have to admit that I'm happy to be in sunny and 70 in January rather than cloudy with the possibility of rain and 35.
I have to admit that I'm enjoying having a car to get me around and get me out that doesn't cost me $85/day to rent.
I have to admit that while there are days that are lonely in Los Angeles, I know there are days that are lonely in New York as well.
I have to admit that I like being able to take hikes in the outdoors rather than get on a treadmill in the gym.
I have to admit that there's something nice about having a spacious house with a living room and dining room and a kitchen to cook instead of 500 square feet where the kitchen, dining room and living room are all one.
I have to admit that I love being able to throw on a sweater and walk outside rather than bundle up in scarves and mittens and hats and coats and layer upon layer to keep me warm.
I have to admit that I don't miss walking through the slush or pushing my way through Times Square.
I have to admit that I actually like eating at home every so often - and being able to grocery shop at the farmer's market every Sunday.
I have to admit that it's nice not to be surrounded by shopping stimuli at every corner.
I have to admit that I love the Arclight and have trouble seeing movies anywhere where I can't get an assigned seat now.
I have to admit that it's pretty damn nice living so close to the ocean.
I have to admit that I think I would miss New York a lot less if I could visit it just a little bit more.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 1:44 PM 1 comments
Labels: is it possible I like it here?
Food for thought
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Sometimes I go back and read old posts and have to wonder what I was thinking. I mean, isn't writing as a means of communication supposed to allow you to go back and read the words again, ensuring no spelling errors, clarity (and hopefully, occasionally, wit). There are moments when I realize that I thought I was being witty at the time but upon second reading realize that I clearly was not. At all. Other times it's I realize I actually sound sort of dumb when what I know I was trying to say is actually quite smart. Or at least not dumb.
Yesterday I wrote that the night before I had been sitting with friends watching Deal or No Deal trying to figure out the banker's strategy. Perhaps you breezed over this or perhaps you said, "ummm - there's not much 'figuring' to this strategy" (which is what I would have said if I'd been reading my own post.) I mean, this is not brain surgery. The banker's strategy is pretty obvious. The better your chances of winning the millions, the higher his offer is. It doesn't take a genius or even a third grader to know this. But that's not what I meant. What I meant was that we were trying to figure out exactly what we thought the banker was going to offer each time. And to determine the odds of the person winning more money than the banker had offered. I know - who cares.
But this got me to thinking about communication - when I write, when I speak, when I listen. I wonder how often we actually say what we mean. I think that we think we say what we mean a lot. But I wonder how often we truly do. There's so much miscommunication, he said she said,
games of semantics. We think we're being to the point and succinct and clear but the other person walks away with an entirely different impression of what went on.
Is this because people are just different? See the world in different ways? Comprehend and process in different ways? Or is it because people often don't listen well. Or perhaps they hear what they want to. Or is it because we're actually saying something other than we truly mean?
Clearly, this is different than me discussing the banker and his strategy. That's a cut and dry case with lack of proper elaboration or explanation. But when someone "misunderstands you", do you ever wonder why or how? Things seem fine with a friend come to find out 2 months later that they've been furious with you. Your boss thinks he asked you to do something one way when you swear he asked you to do it another. You've explained why something isn't possible to someone what feels like 75 times, but they continue to ask again and again.
Wow. All of this because I realized I sounded like a total dummy.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 1:58 PM 0 comments
Labels: daily, random thoughts
Random things about me
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Name one person who made you laugh last night? My husband
What were you doing at 8:00 PM? Returning from a quick dinner/grocery trip to Whole Foods
What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Speaking to an American Airlines agent trying to upgrade us using miles for our trip to Italy this summer
What happened to you in 2006? 2006??? Jeez. I got engaged. I got certified to teach yoga. I took some an online writing class. I got promoted. I started to plan a wedding. I moved from an apartment to a house. I went to Mexico with friends. I grew up a little.
What was the last thing you said out loud? I don't get it.
How many beverages did you have today? 2 bottles of water, 1 cup of english breakfast tea with whole milk and sugar, and I will definitely be having a glass of vino later this evening
What color is your hairbrush? both of my round brushes have cork handles with black bristles.
What was the last thing you paid for? a cup of tomato basil soup
Where were you last night? at home, then Whole Foods, then home with husband and 2 friends watching Deal or No Deal and trying to figure out the banker's strategy
What color is your front door? a lovely blue that's not too bright
Where do you keep your change? in the cup holder of my car for meters, in a jar in our laundry room for coming out of pockets or scooping up of off counters and dressers, and in various bag bottoms
What’s the weather like today? gorgeous - sunny and 70. maybe all you new yorkers should think about moving to LA... I believe weather is my number 1 reason!!!
What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Depends on my mood. I always love mint chocolate chip, but if it's a day when I want "stuff" then I'm a sucker for Ben and Jerry's Phish Food or Everything But the Kitchen Sink. But when my husband makes his ice cream line, it will definitely be that because he has the best flavor ideas EVER.
What excites you? Figuring out what's next for me, upcoming weekends with great friends, cooking and wine, seeing theater or film or reading a book that makes me feel alive, traveling
Do you want to cut your hair? I just did a month ago from the middle of my back to a bob ala Katie Holmes-ish...
Are you over the age of 25? yes. very much so.
Do you talk a lot? yeah, but I'm learning the virtue of not.
Do you know anyone named Steven? I do - my uncle that passed away in the fall and my 2nd cousin that passed away a couple of years ago. Who knew that could be such a morbid question.
Do you make up your own words? Making up words is fantabulous.
Are you a jealous person? I try not to be but I am on occassion. Is there anyone out there that's never jealous?? If there is, can you PUH-LEASE email me or comment so I can know your secrets. I hate being jealous. HATE. I am jealous that you don't get jealous.
Who’s the first person on your received call list? Nancy Cho from my tale of a Brittney Hit and Run
What does the last text message you received say? "I meant sunday. We were going to drive from tuscon sat and either come straight to you or stay somewhere in between. But don't change any plans."
Do you chew on your straw? Never
Do you have curly hair? Yes, but I often wear it straight although it's quite cute curly with the new cut
Where’s the next place you’re going to? the gym if I make it before my dinner at a wine bar where I will be consuming aforementioned glass of vino
Who’s the rudest person in your life? wow. I don't think I can answer that.
What was the last thing you ate? tomato basil soup
Will you get married in the future? already am.
What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? I loved Juno but There Will Be Blood is a definitive must see as well
Is there anyone you like right now? Like? Like boy like or like people like? I like a lot of people...
When was the last time you did the dishes? Sunday I think. Yeah...that sounds right.
Are you currently depressed? Nope.
Did you cry today? Nope.
Why did you answer and post this? I read it on someone else's blog and liked it and they offered it up willingly to anyone who wanted to try...and I didn't feel like coming up with my own idea today.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 5:37 PM 2 comments
Paying for It
Monday, January 14, 2008
Is it possible to have a two day hangover??? I think it is because I think I have one. Which means one thing and one thing only.
I have gotten old.
Notice that I do not say that I think it means that I had too much to drink. No - it simply means I can't hold my alcohol like I used to. Or that I didn't drink enough water mixed in with my bottle of champagne. Or perhaps it means that the two weeks that I spent detoxing from the holidays and only having a glass of wine once or twice a week was actually BAD for me rather than good. Or maybe it means that someone slipped something into my aforementioned champagne. Or that I didn't have enough to eat that evening...
Hmmm. Apparently having a two day hangover can mean way more than one thing...
But just as some people say "You can never be to rich or too thin" (in my opinion, only the former of which is true), I say you can never, ever drink too much champagne. You can drink too much wine or whiskey or tequila. But you can never drink too much champagne.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 5:01 PM 1 comments
Labels: daily, food and drink
Restaurant Redux
Friday, January 11, 2008
I've been remiss in discussing my culinary adventures as of late but there are definitely a few discussions to be had.
Let's start with the new. I visited Comme Ca a few weeks ago with friends and after hearing mixed reviews, I was more than pleasantly surprised. I love a good atmosphere as much as I love a good martini, and this place delivers. The vibe is bustling and sexy in all the right ways. Of course, I wouldn't mind the waiters pairing back their schpiel a bit. I think that our lovely actor-cum-waiter thought he was rehearsing his audition for the following day as he flashed his pearly whites and sold us on cocktails. That said, he DID manage to sell us on cocktails so I suppose he did something right...but I was there to catch up with friends - not get to know our waiter better for the 20 minutes that he spent table side explaining the self-explanatory menu and drinks.
Two of us decided to order cocktails from the bar, where they use one large single ice cube to prevent melting from diluting your drink. I had the East Side Cocktail - a combo of gin, lime, mint and cucumber. It was delicious but eeeeeeensy for a 14 dollar drink. My friend asked them to prepare something on the fresh fruitier side for her and when they tell you to let them know what you like and they'll take care of you, they're not kidding! There was vodka and strawberries and pimm's cup and among other things and that, too, got sucked down in a matter of seconds flat.
We started with a cheese plate (as they were out of the moules frites) with a selection of five cheeses and were lucky enough to get a visit from the less loquacious but highly knowledgeable fromagier. This was one of my favorite cheese plates I've had in Los Angeles and this is not a small feat, considering cheese is pretty much my favorite food. Not only did they provide perfect pairings for each of our selections - from sun-dried tomatoes to dried cherries to some sort of fantastic honey to marcona almonds - but they ALSO instructed us on the order in which to eat the cheese so as to optimize our experience. I would come back for a glass of wine and cheese plate at the bar ANY day. Literally.
My husband and I shared the butter lettuce salad with lemon shallot vinaigrette which was good, but nothing special. But our entrees were fantaaaaaabulous. Each of us ordered perfectly for our own personal palettes and were certain that ours was the best. I was thrilled with the crispy skate served in brown butter with lemon and capers and haricot verts. One word. Divine. Truly. I don't often order entrees - I like to taste a lot of food and entrees tend to be too much of the same flavor for me...but this? This was DEEEEEEEElicious. The skate was full of flavor and cooked to perfection. Everyone at the table agreed that it would please the pickiest eater. My husband opted for the french onion soup and a side of creamed spinach. The soup was delicious - not too salty, not too cheesy, not too bready. The spinach ended up being quite nice, but be forewarned - you will be shocked at the size of your sides when they come to the table. They come in a beautiful copper pot...but the spinach barely covered the bottom. However, my husband said that when all was said and done, it was delicious and more than enough. Just know that you're not getting steakhouse size orders when you decide to order a side here.
Our friends ordered the snapper which came perched atop artichokes and potatoes and was perfectly drizzled with pesto, and the pork chop with roasted apples and a divine mustard cream sauce.
With no room for dessert, we all left full and happy. And agreed that we'd be thrilled to frequent the bar for a glass of wine and some raw bar or cheese on another occassion soon.
This past week I visited two restaurants that I've been to before and thought it appropriate to share my thoughts with all of you Angelino diners.
On Tuesday night my husband and I went to Cube on La Brea - the home of the restaurant opened by the Divine Pasta Company. We were some of the first customers to frequent this small restaurant when it opened two years ago(which coincidentally also has a large selection of cheeses and charcutterie). It's still BYO, as it has been from the get go. But the once casual, reasonable and easy to share menu of pastas, pizzas, salads, cheeses and simple entrees like flank steak with chimichurri and grilled fish has morphed into something completely different. I was pleased with the changes that had been made this past summer - there was a marked improvement in the quality of the food and the daily specials were interesting and diverse - from artichokes with arugula and parmesan to radishes served with herbed butter and sea salt to interesting pizzas and pastas that weren't available all the time - Cube was our favorite place to go with friends to share a wide variety of flavors at a reasonable price.
When I called on Tuesday to make a reservation, I was told that there were 2 seatings: at 7 and 9 PM. I was totally surprised and asked how long they'd been doing "seatings" and the woman insisted it had been for a year. I got off the phone without making a reservation. Neither of those two times worked for us and to be honest, I felt fairly annoyed by the fact that I was being told that I could only come in at two times. I mean, isn't that sort of inflexible??? AND, there's NO way they've been doing this for a year...since we ate there in September with a 7:30 reservation on a Saturday night.
Regardless, we decided to go in and see if we could sit at the bar at whatever time we pleased...and we were accommodated. We happily took our usual corner seats and looked at the very formal menus in front of us. This was not the same Cube we'd been at 4 months earlier. The menu was more expensive and less diverse. We both looked at each other, a bit baffled. Entrees, that used to run in the range of $15-22 were now averaging $28. Our favorite flank steak that had been a staple was nowhere to be found. The perfect mixed green salad that complimented everything we got was completely gone. Since there wasn't a green salad anywhere on the menu, but there was a baby arugula salad included with several of the entrees, I inquired to see if I could get an arugula salad on it's own. The waitress came back apologetic letting us know that it just wasn't possible. She ended up bringing us a tri-colore salad special that she had described as having endive, radicchio, and arugula but in actuality was pretty much all frisee. The goat cheese and parmesan tart with tomatoes and balsamic was fine enough but I felt that it was overly-herbed and had expected the roasted tomatoes to appear in the tart - not on the side. The creamy cauliflower with two kinds of cheese was a nice surprise in that it wasn't outrageously creamy...more steamed with the perfect amount of cheese melted on top. The brussel sprouts, which I generally love, were under seasoned and left a lot to be desired. Lastly, we asked for some cheese guidance with their list of over 30 cheeses and while our waitress was lovely, she wasn't particularly knowledgeable and never offered to bring someone else over who might be.
All in all, it was a disappointment - overpriced, lacking selection (although if I'd never been there before, I'm not certain I would have felt that way), and unaccommodating. We won't be going back to Cube anytime soon - especially with the reservation Nazi.
Our last visit was to Greek restaurant Sofi on Third Street. I'd only been to Sofi once - at least 2 1/2 years ago- and I had LOVED it. The flavors were fantastic, as was the atmosphere on the heated porch. Last night, I might as well have been in a different restaurant.
I don't need a restaurant to be bustling to enjoy my evening, but we were LITERALLY the only table in the entire place. Granted, we were eating early, but by 7 PM, I expected a little company at nearby tables. Nothing. Still, if the food had lived up to my expectations, I wouldn't have cared.
The first time we went, we were waited on by a charming and knowledgeable greek waitress who happily guided us through the menu. Not so last night. Our waitress was certainly sweet, but it baffles me when there is only ONE table in the restaurant why our entire dinner order didn't come out at the same time. Sure, my husband ordered a salad and I ordered soup for dinner but one of our other friends ordered the same salad with chicken! We ordered appetizers (the caviar dip which was fishy for my taste and the spanikopita which happened to be outstanding) and then we all ordered our entrees together. If she was unsure as to whether or not we wanted our soup and salad at the same time as the gyro platter, she could have asked. After the apps were cleared, out came my husbands Greek salad. Alone. "Eat, eat!" everyone told him...so he did. You can't really screw up a Greek salad - and they didn't- but it wasn't anything special. Next I got my avogolemono soup. If you've never had this, don't have it here. It's a Greek lemon chicken soup and at the right place, it's steaming heaven in a bowl. I'm assuming the lemons were left out of the shipment that day, because I didn't taste a single drop of it in my soup. Finally, the other Greek salad with chicken and the Gyro platter arrived and our friends enjoyed their dinners.
The company was fantastic and we hadn't seen each other in a long time so we appreciated the extra time to catch up. But I made sure to tell our companions about Ulysses Voyage at The Grove - my absolute favorite Greek restaurant in Los Angeles. They have incredible salads for lunch (try the chopped or the Halumi salad) and the avogolemono is OUT OF THIS WORLD. Not to mention that everything on the menu at Ulysses is about 3-4 dollars less expensive than at Sofi. Lesson learned.
Happy eating!
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 11:26 AM 0 comments
Labels: food and drink
Things I fear While Driving
Thursday, January 10, 2008
I don't know if I was this way before I lived in New York. I can't remember what it was like to drive when I was younger. I mean, I remember backing into a tree in a parking lot while I was practicing for my driver's license with my dad. I remember driving into the garage door in high school and as if I weren't already in enough trouble, hearing my sister say in her highest pitched voice possible, "I can't sleep in my room tonight!!!! I mean, it's over the garage!! WHAT IF THE HOUSE CAVES IN???" I remember getting my license and getting my first car and driving from Chicago to New York City. I remember getting a flat tire on 128 on my way to a voice lesson and feebly attempting to change it myself in my tight jeans and red leather jacket and ankle boots (ohhhhhh the wonderful memories of high school fashion) until the cops came and changed it for me (but only after yelling at me for being so stupid as to try to change a tire on the side of the busiest freeway in Massachusetts.) But I don't remember if I was a good driver or a nervous driver or an apathetic driver or a defensive driver or a risky driver. I can't remember if I actually liked driving (save the time when I was in high school and it spelled freedom).
But I'll tell you this - I do not like it now. There are many many reasons that I don't like driving, not the least of which is the other maniacs that seem to be on the road in Los Angeles. But mostly, what I don't like is that I actually feel paranoid when I drive. I can walk with reckless abandon, confident that I will not fall, I will not get hit, I will be fine. And the truth is, it's sort of ridiculous that I am soooo confident in my walking abilities given that I am one of the bigger klutzes on the face of the universe. But walking gives me no pause. Driving, on the other hand, seems to have me all up in arms.
I am constantly paranoid when I drive in LA. And in general, the things that I'm nervous about are RIDICULOUS.
When I am stopped and there is a pedestrian crossing - be it at a red light or a crosswalk - I am scared that my foot is going to slip off the brake and I'm going to hit them. This is not normal.
When I am taking a left hand turn and there's not a light, I am scared that I am going to miss that person coming from the left. In driving school they taught us to look left, then right, then left again. I do that...about 75 times. "Left, right, left, left, right, left, left, left...ok...I can turn now...wait left! OK!" This is not normal.
I am nervous that somehow, my car has put up some sort of invisible barrier and other cars can't see me and will back into, drive into, sideswipe, etc. my car because they don't see me. This fear is mildly more rational in that drivers in Los Angeles seem to be completely narcissistic people who only seem to be aware of themselves in their own cars. This is insane, impossible, and also...not normal.
I am paranoid that, while driving on the highway, I am going to be too close to the side barrier and scrape the entire side of my car. Not normal.
I also get scared that trucks will have no idea I am there, change lanes unknowingly and squash my car completely. I suppose this fits in with the belief that my car somehow turns invisible.
Every so often (this one is rare), when it's dark out and I'm stopped at a light, I have a fleeting fear that I'm going to get carjacked. (I know - that's so 90's.)
I get nervous that, because I have ZERO sense of spatial relations, I am going to make a turn and think that I'm turning wide enough but not and hit something. (This has actually occurred before so this fear is not entirely unfounded.)
I am nervous that I am going to physically hurt someone one day - not because I drive into them but because I actually get OUT of my car and physically harm them due to the fact that they are complete and total morons on the road. Example: Last night I was driving down an alley to get to a main street after stopping at a gas station. I turned left into the alley after looking left and right several times (but fewer than normal because it was an alley with almost zero traffic). When I pulled into the alley, there was a car stopped about 200 feet in front of me, but there was also a car coming toward me in the opposite direction. So I pulled behind the first stopped car and politely waited for the car to pass so that I could be on my merry way. However, for some UNKNOWN reason, the car coming in the opposite direction ALSO stopped and sat there...staring at me. I have no explanation for this and I have no where to go because I'm behind one car and the other car is in front of and to the side of me. And they just stare at me. I stare back for a moment and finally throw up my hands and give them this wide eyed annoyed look that clearly says, "Uuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmm where should I go moron? I was being polite and letting you go and now you've boxed me in and seem to be having some sort of Mexican standoff and I'm going to win simply based on the fact that I have nowhere to go except for backwards and I am NOT backing up to give in to your RUDE ASS!" Apparently having read my mind (or just my pissed off expression) the driver moved. However, had he not, I can not be held responsible for my actions of road rage. Driving makes me an angry person. Which in general, I am not. I actually think that this is fairly normal.
I am nervous about parking lots. People in this town are maniacs about parking spaces and seem to do all sorts of illegal maneuvers just to get to a spot. I have total anxiety while driving in parking lots. Especially when I come into contact with the crazies who wave you to go and then, if you don't step on the gas in a matter of miliseconds going from 0 to out of their way, they get annoyed, change their minds, and decide they are no longer going to let you go...and this happens just as your car has finally started to move forward, causing you to slam on the breaks and let the indian-giver go ahead of you.
I feel concerned that the man in the car next to me, ogling at the half-dressed girls walking down Robertson is going to drown in his own drool and side swipe me. Or that the agent that is on her bluetooth yelling at her assistant while checking her blackberry and reading her client's most recent script is going to slam his foot down in anger, forgetting that she's in his car and ram into me.
As you see, I am not at home in the driver's seat. I sort of view a car like a dangerous weapon that's in the hands of the wrong people. A LOT of wrong people. Perhaps including me.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 10:55 AM 0 comments
Schizo
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I'm having one of those days where I wonder why everyone else can do it better than I can. It doesn't matter what it is...I'm just convinced that all the other smart (which I know I am), creative (which I know I am), and let's not forget cute (which I know I am) 20 and 30-something girls have done it better.
Sometimes I'm a comparer. I have worked hard to break myself of this habit because I know that we all go at our own pace. There's no use looking at someone else and asking why you haven't gotten where they are because they do it their way and you do it yours. The zen version is that we all have our own paths. I know this in my head. I have told other people 50 million times. But today it doesn't matter how many times I tell myself too. Everyone else seems to have done it better and I've done it all wrong.
I have told myself time and again that I just haven't found my niche yet. That when I do, I will skyrocket the way that I believe I have the potential to do. It's actually sort of excruciating...this feeling of knowing that you have so much to offer and not knowing where to place those offerings so as to make yourself the happiest and to do the best work you can possibly do.
And to top it off, I seem to have gotten judgmental of my writing and I look at other blogs and I think that theirs is so much better. More creative, funnier, more poignant, more interesting, more everything than mine is (and in that completely irrational moment, ever possibly could be.) And I have to remind myself that I am creative and interesting and those people are too and for Christ's sake IT'S NOT A FREAKING COMPETITION! And I get to learn from reading other blogs and get ideas and get inspired, NOT FEEL LESS THAN! Because how productive is feeling less than??? NOT AT ALL.
The funniest part of this whole cycle is that I then end up asking myself why I can't be a person who doesn't think this way and I'm berating myself for having these less than thoughts in the first place YET I'M STILL SITTING THERE BEING HARD ON MYSELF.
Perhaps by writing this cycle down, I've found a way to laugh at it. Reading it on the page makes it look that much more ridiculous. My head knows that all the time. That's why I wrote this post to begin with. Because I am actually aware of the fact that I'm doing NO good for myself. But emotionally, it's how I feel. And sometimes, no matter how smart my head is, my heart wins because my emotional side feels things more strongly than my head can think them.
Wow. I sound schizophrenic.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 12:33 PM 1 comments
Labels: introspection
Yogi wisdom
Monday, January 7, 2008
On Saturday, my yoga teacher made a genius statement that I have embraced with all of my being. I can't say it as poetically as she did but it's something along these lines: We tag January 1 as the beginning of a new year, and it is true in that it is the first day of a new calendar year. But with it, we throw in all sorts of expectations and resolutions (unless you're me) and new beginnings. Magazines exclaim "New Year, New You!" and all kinds of starts from fresh starts to jump starts to better starts. And because it's been dubbed the definitive start, people tend to be that much more let down if it doesn't live up to their hopes.
But the truth is, every day is a new year. Literally. Perhaps not the beginning of a new numbered year on the calendar, but it is the first day of another year, with all the past days behind us. Every day is an opportunity to do things in a new way, to clean a slate, to start a new habit or kick an old one. As I'm writing this, I feel that there's absolutely NO way that I'm doing this concept any justice. It actually sounds ridiculous and sort of obvious as I type on the page. But hell, I found freedom in the revelation of this fact, and I'm sticking to it in the hopes that perhaps my words are translating in a clearer way than I think.
On Thursday I was feeling like my new year had gotten off to a sort of sour start. I was grumpy and homesick and all sorts of other things...including pissed because it was only January 3rd and I had felt so good about 2008. But then there was Friday and I had a great day on Friday. And with those words on Saturday morning I realized that I'd actually just had a couple of crappy days and now, I was having some fantastic ones. It wasn't about 2008. I could reinvent myself or my thoughts or my anything at any time. In fact, most of the time when I feel inspired it does NOT coincide with a birthday or the new year. So with each new day, I have the opportunity for a "new year."
It still is reading ridiculous. And I've tried to re-write it about 75 times. So I'm going to stop judging myself and just be grateful for yogi revelations and hope that someone, somewhere can get whatever the fuck it is that I'm trying to say.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 3:28 PM 1 comments
Labels: musings on life, yoga
Larchmont
Sunday, January 6, 2008
It's been a while since I've talked about the places in LA that I actually DO like and I figured I could use a little attitude shift. Sometimes when you spend a lot of time someplace, you forget how special it is. It becomes your norm and so you fail to notice how much you love it. This can be true of a place, a person, a thing...
Larchmont village (it's more of a 1 block street but hey, I'll take what I can get) is one of my favorite places in LA. For one entire block there are sidewalk cafes, a proper NYC sidewalk news stand, adorable stores, yoga studios and most importantly, a feeling of community. When I'm walking down Larchmont, I can almost forget that I'm in LA for a few moments (save the 17 year olds drinking their sugar-free Coffee Bean blendeds in short shorts and Uggs.) I go to Larchmont 3 or 4 times a week to practice yoga but today I realized that it's been a while since I've truly soaked it in.
It helps when you get to see something through fresh eyes. I met my friend Stephanie for a yoga class this morning and though she's lived in LA for about 6 or 7 years, she's never been to Larchmont. She was so excited by her new find and it reminded me that it truly is just that - a find.
Let's start with the food. This New Yorker can close her eyes and almost pretend that I'm eating a slice in Soho when I swing by Village Pizzeria. I love a good old slice of cheese - and yes, you can indeed get a slice with perfectly thin crust and that NYC blend of cheese. Try brunch at Cafe du Village - fantastic huevos rancheros and a great little garden in the back. Not a place to go out of your way for necessarily, but a perfect stop for a great salad if you're doing some shopping. And do NOT pass up the opportunity to have a sandwich from Larchmont Wine and Cheese. A great wine store (although definitely on the pricier side so more for the oenophile) filled with knowledgeable and helpful employees, the true delight lies in the deli counter. The manchego and serrano sandwich could literally transport you to Barcelona. Not to be missed. Seriously. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Le Petit Greek and of course, the new Pinkberry.
There are enough coffee places for everyone that you're with to grab their fave - Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Peet's plus all the other places where you can grab a cup of joe. And if you're looking for something a little healthier, grab an all fruit smoothie at Jamba Juice.
There's shopping for everyone in the family. It's a rare day when I don't pop into Pickett Fences to see if there are new Kooba bags or Kors shoes on sale and they've opened Petticoats at the other end of the street for adorable intimates. Sonya Ooten gem bar has exactly that - gorgeous jewels to make you sparkle. Swing by Kicks to get some new ones for your boyfriend or yourself. Spirituali always has an amaaaaazing selection of Bernardo sandals along with great fashions that are little more out of the ordinary that what you find at CO-OP. They carry a small selection of baby stuff as well.
But if you really want fantastic stuff for your new niece or nephew, Flicka and The Little Seed are not to be missed. Flicka has the most fantastic garb from old school concert t's for your one year old to perfect little pink sweaters and jeans for your colleague's aspiring fashionista daughter. Across the street at the newly opened Little Seed, you'll find everything you could want to start your baby off on an eco-friendly foot. Bring your little one with you while you shop - there's a fantastic play area for them while you peruse everything from cribs crafted from sustainable materials to organic cotton onesies to eco-friendly bottles to fantastic jewelry for mom.
Of course my favorite place on Larchmont (besides the NYC style news stand and Yogaworks) is Larchmont beauty. This little store stocks literally everything your heart and your skin could possible desire. From Mario Badescu to Kinerase to Dr. Haushka for your skin and Bumble and Bumble or Mop for your tresses to Votivo candles to Mistral soaps and soaks to Nars makeup. You'll walk out of this place with everything you need to feel as gorg as you are.
I haven't even touched on the adorable book store, the fantasticly convenient hardware store and the Landis General store with their vast selection of stationery and invitations. It's easy to spend an afternoon on this buzzing street, especially on Sundays when they have the fabulous farmers market from 9 AM- 1 PM. It's my favorite way to spend Sunday morning.
I think what I love most about Larchmont is the energy. It's one of the few places in Los Angeles where the sidewalks are always packed with people. You have the opportunity to run into an old friend, to people watch, to hear kids laughing and friends having coffee. There's constant energy flowing. There's never a time when I'm there that I don't feel completely alive.
My only complaint? It's only 1 block long.
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 8:53 PM 0 comments
Labels: neighborhoods
