Take Me Back to Manhattan

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Program...
Monday, August 25, 2008

There's more Burma Boy to come but I have something else to say which hasn't been a common occurence lately.

Just back from a weekend in Chicago to visit two of my good friends from college and meet their babies. It was way too short but great nonetheless as I held my own with the babies (not always the case which is why it heeds mentioning) and picked up with my friends as though we'd seen each other yesterday.

But what truly bears mentioning is this: I miss a city. Yes - I miss THE city. (And if you have to ask which city....ummm hi...check out the name of my blog). But just...in general...I miss a city. LA just doesn't pass for a city. It's one big sprawling suburb after another, interconnected by highways and long ass streets that span miles and miles and miles. You could fit all of Chicago and New York in the "city" of LA and I think you'd still have room for Boston. Something about a street that packs houses and townhouses and apartments and brownstones one on top of each other, almost like sardines, just feels right to me. Building up makes sense. I like being that close to my neighbors and knowing the owners of the restaurants in my neighborhood. A "neighborhood" in LA spans blocks and blocks and yards and houses with a shop or a restaurant thrown in for good measure except for on the major streets where you will constantly see cars circling to get a closer parking spot. And on more than one occasion, I've witnessed a drive from Fred Segal on Melrose and Crescent Heights down the DVF at Melrose and La Cienega...That means nothing to you? Take a look:


View Larger Map


See what I meeeeeean??

In NYC or Chicago, or even Boston, the fun is in the walking, the perusing, the people watching on the streets. The stores are more boutique-y and less trendy, the sidewalks more user friendly. We walked a block and a half to dinner at a fabulous Italian trattoria last night, en route passing no less than 10 other options for eating and drinking and had the stores been open, I would have stopped in every single one. When I walk up my street, I see houses.

This is why I get excited going to Montana Avenue in Santa Monica or Abbott Kinney in Venice, a little bit on Larchmont (at least as far as the stores go) or 3rd street. But I couldn't make a day out of any of those places - a few hours and a meal, tops. And they always have to be a destination. I think that's what I miss the most. I like the whimsy of NYC and Chicago and Barcelona and Florence. The ability to walk out your door, head down the street, and just see where the day takes you.

In LA, it simply takes you to your car.

Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 10:07 PM 1 comments    

Labels: driving, LA rant, travels

The Return Post
Monday, July 7, 2008

Hi.

I've been gone a long time.

I decided it was time to get my ass in gear and get back on here. As soon as I made that decision, I got so totally overwhelmed with the idea of writing that instead, I went to check out my blogging friends here and here because it seemed like it would be far easier to try and catch up on their lives than to start to get back in the swing of my own.

But that only last so long...and before I type in another blog address or go read that script staring at me, I decided I needed to type in this address.

I have so many things to discuss, but rather than try to do them all in one post, I think I'll give some highlights here and then choose whether or not I want to revisit any in the future or perhaps just move forward with what life hands me these days.

So for now:

TUSCANY. Is like a dream. This was my second time there in a little over a year and yes, I am aware that I am ridiculously lucky. We were there with my husband's whole family.

This was the sunset one night on our drive back up the dirt road to our villa. One of the things that amazed me in Europe was how active the elderly are. I saw 75 year old women on motorbikes, 80 year old women at the market and carting their groceries home afterward. Everyone seems to encourage older people to stay active and with all the small towns having life's necessities within their walls (wine, cheese, produce, and shoes...clearly life's necessities...), they are constantly able to and encouraged to do for themselves. It's a very social lifestyle, with people truly sitting on their stoops having late afternoon conversation with their neighbors. We see these things in movies and think, with our fast-paced, get ahead American lifestyle, that this can't possibly be how they live over there. But it is. The stores close from 1:30-4:30 every day so that people can have lunch with their friends or their families or their co-workers. There is no such thing as "lunch at your desk" or a 30-minute lunch break. They respect the idea of "time off", the idea that the human body needs to replenish. It will never be like that here...but I can still envy and dream. And eat lots and lots of pici while I'm in Italy. Pici is handrolled "fat" spaghetti that's made with egg (regular spaghetti is not) and I especially love it with a melted cherry tomato and garlic sauce.

I felt like a kid in a candy store (and from the picture on the right, you can see that I sort of was) in La Boqueria, their daily market filled with the freshest fruit I've ever seen...so beautiful that it seemed impossible that it was real and a taste so unbelievable that almost seemed impossible it was real as well.

We did more than I thought possible in 3 days - even exercised our Spanish skills a bit (and you can only imagine how flattered I was when someone asked me for directions and I was actually able to give them in Spanish!) Barcelona is a city full of play. The goal is to work as little as possible so as to be able to enjoy life as much as possible. We met amazing, interesting people that I am confident we will see again. I truly didn't want to leave this city...felt as though we only brushed the surface.

Every time I travel, I am inspired. Inspired to learn more about others, to learn more about myself. And while I try to subscribe to the school of no regrets and moving forward rather than looking back, I will always regret not studying or living abroad when I was younger. Matt and I are determined to expose our children to different cultures at young ages...perhaps to even go live overseas somewhere with them for a summer or a year. But I do envy the mobile. Those who have little tying them down, who seek out adventure and live in different worlds. I thought that's what I would do after my trip to Burma but then I quickly met a boy and while LA has definitely been an adventure and it's definitely a different world...it's not quite what I had in mind.

I have so many thoughts coursing through my veins, exploding in my brain...it's just a matter of time before they all show up here. But for today, I bid you adios, buena sera, good bye.

Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 11:51 AM 2 comments    

Labels: daily, travels

crosswalks and other things
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

I feel like ass today, so why I'm choosing to blog is sort of a mystery to me...but I feel like I've been neglectful as of late. This is partially due to the number of papers I have had to write for my interior design class. I just finished my third. After I finish an 8-10 page paper, I can tell you that the last thing I want to do is write some more. It's also partially due to the fact that in the pasta month, I have been away for 3 out of 5 weekends. In fact, since 2008 started, I have been gone for at least one weekend a month, often two. Most of the time for fun...but also most of the time including flying back east. So while the fun is fun...the flying...starts to take it's toll.

I was in NYC last weekend. It was totally overstimulating between the reason I was there (my grandmother's unveiling), seeing "Sunday in the Park with George" (to which I need to devote a whole entire post...), seeing "Sex and the City" in New York City (to which I will need to devote yet another post), and how upset with myself I got every single time I got to a cross walk and looked for the button to push to change the sign to walk. (For those of you not aware, this does not exist in NYC. This only exists in LA. I am a NEW YORKER!!!! AAAAAARGH!) I'm sure the last of that list is what has my brain feeling as though it's swimming in a sea of sludge right now. I'm sure it has nothing to do with taking a redeye in on Friday night and a 7 AM flight back on Monday morning. I'm sure it has nothing to do with not wanting to miss anything or anyone - so spending time with friends and family and seeing theater and rarely sleeping and overthinking the 3000 miles away that I am while yet another one of my closest friends gives birth. No, it's entirely about the crosswalks.

But then, I guess it is about the crosswalks. The crosswalks are a function of the rest of it...aren't they? The crosswalks are the reason I don't get nearly enough time with the people I love. The crosswalks are the reason that I'm not there for the babies. The crosswalks are the reason that I have more frequent flier miles than any person not flying for business should have.

Happy Wednesday. Let's hope that tomorrow my brain makes it way out of the sludge.

Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 12:27 PM 1 comments    

Labels: daily, LA rant, NYC, travels

NYC - day 2
Friday, March 14, 2008

First of all, thank you for all the quiche tips and recipes. It was resoundingly unanimous that none of you make your own crust. I am now determined to do a taste test and see if a homemade crust really and truly does make a difference. But I decided that if my grandmother could make crusts from scratch until she was about 82, well then, I better learn sometime so that I could start making her world famous (or at least Massachusetts famous) apple pies.

So on Wednesday evening, I made my first crust. I don't know what the hell I was so scared of...it was new and unfamiliar, so I wasn't certain that I was doing it correctly, but it turned out fabulously and it has inspired me to try to try a few different recipes for Sunday. I will let you all know how they turn out.

In the meantime, I've only discussed a small fraction of my New York extravaganza and the rest of it is in need of discussion...

We woke up on Saturday morning around 9 and headed out to Scarsdale to spend the day with my brother and sister in law (How do you say that? They're both my in-laws. Do i have to say my brother-in-law and sister-in-law? That's a lot of freaking words. Anyhow, you now know what I mean. In fact, I don't have a brother so it could ONLY be my brother-in-law.) It was a perfect day to leave the city given that it was pouring rain and I can't think of anything worse than feeling trapped inside on 1 of the 4 days that you are visiting NYC. We lounged with the kids, who never cease to amaze me with their gorgeous faces and how funny they are. It was nice and relaxing and by the time we got back in the car to come back to the city, the rain had stopped.

That night we walked down to another friend's restaurant in Greenwich Village. Smith's is on Macdougal between Bleecker and Houston and it is FABULOUS. It's warm and cozy and sexy at the same time. Now y0u have to understand something about me. I love food. LOVE. That's a whole other post, but my friends can not believe that after eating a meal that I love, I can effectively repeat back the entire menu that we ate. And not just like "Oh yeah, we had tuna tartare and a salad and steak." I list back all the details of every dish, sometimes in more detail than the menu has given. My husband is starting to get used to the fact that when we sit down to dinner I don't just say, "Oooooooh - deviled eggs!" Instead, I read to him from the menu, "Oh. My. God. Deviled Eggs with marscapone, parmesan, and truffle oil!?!??!" I proceed this way with EVERY SINGLE ITEM on the menu that sounds incredible to me.

So it's a big deal for me to hand over the ordering to someone else because it's often either a joint venture, or it's someone else handing the task of ordering over to me. But when you're dealing with the owners of the restaurant, how could you possibly order better than they could? And so, for the second night in a row (Nizza being the first), I put the ordering into someone else's hands. After excited hugs and hello's (and by the way, AP is one of the best huggers I know. AP and SK hug you like they mean it - like they aren't going to let go until you know how much they love you. I love getting hugs from them) we slid into the black booth, and were greeted immediately by a perfect glass of Sauvignon Blanc. The air outside was still warm and a little damp and a nice cold glass of crisp white wine was the perfect start to the evening.

Shortly after, a plate of Smith's famous deviled eggs (which are now available in the dining room as well as the bar) was placed on the table. And they lived up to every expectation I had. A perfectly smooth salty sweet and savory center topped by an eensy parmesan crsip...I could have eaten these all night and been happy. (But that's only because I wasn't yet aware of all the other things to come.)

The restaurant definitely has a buzz but it's remarkably intimate at the same time. I could hear every word that was spoken and I loved that we were next to a huge window looking into a courtyard (I think...it was night so I couldn't really see.) The white and black decor feels clean and crisp, and the intimate size and din of diners lends a sexiness to the atmosphere. The bar i the back looked like a perfect place to perch myself (especially since the bar menu differs from the dining room, and while you can order anything from the dining room at the bar, the bar menu can only be ordered there. Next time...)

Being one of the people in charge, CC took it upon himself to pair wines with our next 3 courses. Ummm...heaven on earth. He brought us another sauvignon blanc - this one from Bel Air - who knew!? We drank and indulged in an arugala salad with apples and parmesan and a light vinaigrette that was slightly sweet, beets simply roasted matched perfectly with a horseradish creme, and a steamed egg with polenta and gorgonzola foam which was unlike anything I'd ever had before but something I would DEFINITELY want to have again.

The chef sent out a mid-course of a seared sea scallop with celery root risotto and another foam (sorry, the kind is slipping me given that we were now tasting our THIRD kind of wine - a fantastic Pinot Gris from Alsace). Once again, divine.

Meanwhile, I got some amazing time with AP. Matt's never really had an opportunity to spend more than an hour with her and the same is true of me with her husband. Even though CC was running the show, I was amazed and thrilled by the amount of time we got to spend with him at our table. It's been a long time since I've had real time with my friends in NYC. Last year, almost every single trip was about wedding stuff and while I got glimpses of their faces, this was the first trip in a really long time that I was able to truly relax and soak my friends in. That's how I felt at this dinner - as relaxed as though I were soaking in a tub with the grandest glass of wine you've ever seen. The booths swallowed us up and sucked us into a world where we could indulge and feel as though we had days together when in fact it was only a few hours. And when you're visiting old friends, time is the greatest luxury of all.

Our main course consisted of brussel sprouts sauteed with almonds - but they were pulled apart almost like you'd pull apart a head of lettuce - retaining all of the flavor but making them extra crunchy and light. The cauliflower gratin was doused with tallegio and was among the best I've ever had. We also shared the dourade with a lemon vinaigrette (and forgive me for forgetting the accompaniments but it was one of my favorite fish dishes I've had in a while and at the end of the meal, there wasn't a drop of anything left on that plate). All of this accompanied by a perfect pinot noir.

We had no room for dessert but who needs room for dessert? My first bite of the meyer lemon tart made my mouth sing. Often places don't get it right...the lemon is too sweet with not enough tart. There's too much crust...etc. etc. But this was a perfectly smooth and creamy lemon filling with just enough freshly whipped cream to compliment. And I think I may have had a glass of port with dessert...

Over dinner we decided that the 4 of us would vacation fabulously together. This is not true with everyone that you love. Just because you like each other, it does NOT mean that you will have a great time on vacation together. Given that vacations are supposed to be RELAXING, it is IMPERATIVE that you feel that you are able to be yourself completely, that your vacation partners have similar tastes and vacation styles. It is not possible to go away with just anyone. But we were in resounding agreement that the four of us were a good match and we're planning a long weekend in Napa this summer. Can you think of anything better than going to Napa with a wine expert and restauranteur (besides going with the person you love OBVIOUSLY)?

Feeling fully satiated both in my belly and my heart, we said our goodbyes with excitement for our future trip. I'm going back to Smith's again because the filet at the table next to us looked perfect and I'm dying to taste the homemade corzetti (which is a pasta.) Perhaps I'll sit at the bar...

Despite gale force winds, we hopped in a cab after dinner and headed up to Chelsea to SK's apartment for dessert. Yes, I know we'd already had dessert but they hadn't. So I suppose you could say we went up for a night cap. Does anyone really use that word anymore? It's a great word. I think I'll use it more often. "Do you want to come over for a night cap?" Love it. I don't know how long we were there but as always, it was amazingly fun and I've gotten to spend so much time with SK in the past 6 months between her visits out to LA and mine to NY that it's not like visiting at all anymore. Perfect.

We finally dragged ourselves home (although I'm quite convinced that I might have been able to stay up all night, high on the sheer joy of being with my best friends) and went to bed. I did need a few hours of sleep so that I could get up the next day and do it all over again.

Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 10:22 AM 0 comments    

Labels: food and drink, NYC, travels

The perfect day
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

We arrived at JFK at 6:03-an hour later than scheduled. I sat in the middle seat on the plane which meant that anytime I fell asleep, my head flopped over too far and woke me up. Or if I rested on my husband's shoulder, as soon as I'd fallen comfortably asleep, he shifted. Essentially, I was miserable. But no matter...we were home. We got in the car and I immediately dozed off. I'm sure it was no coincidence that I didn't open my eyes again until we were in the city. They cracked open long enough to let the high rises welcome me home. There's nothing that I love more than driving into the city at that time of day, before the hustle and bustle has completely taken over. The sun rising over the buildings is a reminder that it's a new day in this land of possibilty and anything can (and will) happen.


We arrived in the West Village at 6:36 and promptly crawled into bed. Is it completely deranged that the construction of the new apartment building across the street lulled me to sleep? I awoke 5 1/2 hours later to watch "Lost" and eat an egg and cheese sandwich generously picked up by my mother-in-law. There are no egg and cheese sandwiches like NYC egg and cheese sandwhiches. No one else knows how to make them the way New Yorkers do.

We got dressed and ventured out for my favorite kind of NYC afternoon...the kind where you just wander and let your feet lead you wherever it is that you're supposed to go. The air was brisk enough to feel refreshing but not cold. We ventured down Bleecker, stopping in my favorite stores and admiring new ones (thank you Tommy Hilfiger for my new 350 dollar boots on sale for 99.99. I love a good bargain.)


Every time I walk down the streets of Manhattan I feel high. It never goes away - I am invigorated, alive, and on top of the world. I find myself breathing more deeply, walking more quickly, wanting to go places even when I have no place that I have to go.


After a jaunt through the West Village and a stop at my favorite coffee shop, Panino Giusto, for a perfect latte, we headed home. I looked at about 20 stores I could have gone into but it was just day 1...there was no rush.


At 5:30, we went to a pre-theater dinner at old standby, Orso, with my in-laws and my sister. And then we were off to the theeee-ah-tah to see August Osage County.

A. Maz. Ing.

Honestly. You can not miss this work of art. Tony awards are going to abound but more than that, I was riveted from start to finish. A genius piece of theatre about relationships and families and the truth of it all. And if you think you're fucked up, you'll leave this feeling shaken up, but normal. The second act is the most riveting act of theater that I have EVER seen. Period. Beg, borrow and steal to see this one, baby. It's the best and most exciting play I've seen in a long time.

But also know that it will leave you fairly frazzled. After the show we wandered over to meet our friends at their new restaurant, Nizza. Along the way, we talked about the show in partial sentences, unable to fully express our thoughts. I didn't realize how my heart was racing and my mind was reeling until we sat down and I couldn't hold a proper conversation for at least five minutes. I was literally a babbling idiot. In order to calm my nerves, I decided to order my new cocktail of choice, the very appropriate Manhattan. I had my first Manhattan at Thanksgiving in 2007 and I've never looked back. It's fitting that my favorite drink and my favorite place are one in the same. Anyhow, we sat down at Nizza and once we both finally relaxed, had a fabulous evening of catching up with our friends, not to mention a delicious post-theater meal. I was starving - as far as I was concerned, "dinner" was lunch and this was dinner.

Nizza is a sexy atmosphere and a fabulous option whether or not you're seeing theater. The menu is conducive to sharing small plates which is my absolutely favorite way to eat. The socca - a crispy chickpea pancake, was a perfect combination of salty and sweet and the broccoli bruschetta was piled to the ceiling with the delicious topping. You can't go wrong with the talleggio panini with fig marmellata. Figs and tallegio? To die for. But my favorite, by far, was the focacette - fried ravioli filled with gooey cheese. Oh. My. God. I could eat these every day for the rest of my life and not get sick of them. My ass would get sick of them, but my taste buds would not. At this point, you could have rolled me out of the place, but I had to taste the pasta al pesto which used flat wide noodles with a perfectly savory pesto. And once I tasted, I couldn't stop. (There's no use for self control when you're visiting New York City.) I didn't even get a chance to taste the tomato soup with fresh ricotta or any of the mouth watering pizzas...which clearly means that I'll just have to go back on my next trip! And I highly recommend that you do too...

I love being with friends and having so much to say and to talk about and gush about and be thrilled about for each other that you practically choke on the air. And then what is it about New York that makes you feel like you can drink anyone under the table? Two manhattans and several fabulous stories later, we poured out of Nizza with satisfyingly full bellies.

Something happens to me when I'm in New York. I can stay up for HOURS. In LA, I fall asleep on my couch at 10. Despite the fact that I'd barely slept, my body clock was all sorts of fucked up, I'd just seen a 3 and a half hour marathon of an emotionally depleting show, and I'd had two extremely strong cocktails, I was still up for more. We hopped in a cab downtown and met Aisha at Employee's Only. But determined not to ruin the following day with a hangover the size of the entire island, I refrained from any more Manhattans and hydrated myself with water. At 2, I left my husband behind to play with one of his oldest friends while I journeyed home.

This is what I love about New York. At 2:15 on a Friday night, the city was a pulsating mecca of life. I barely noticed that my feet were hitting the pavement - it literally felt like I floated down the streets of the West Village, once again breathing in the crisp air, feeding off the energy of those around me and giving them mine right back. The street lights flickered and the cabs raced by and I played my New York game of seeing how many blocks I could walk without having to stop to wait for a light at a cross walk. The night was on my side and I made it home without having to stop once. It's a good thing too because my body was flying through the streets with such excitement and movement that it felt as though stopping was impossible.

I pranced home, downed a bottle of water, and let my head hit the pillow. I had to be up at 9 for tomorrow was a new day and I wasn't willing to waste much of it with sleep.

Panino Giusto, 551 Hudson between Perry and 11th
Nizza, 630 9th Avenue between 44th and 45th, 212-956-1800
Employees Only, 510 Hudson between Christopher and 10th, 212-242-3021

Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 5:45 PM 1 comments    

Labels: food and drink, NYC, travels

The little things
Sunday, February 17, 2008

Nothing's better than a fire in the fireplace and snow on the ground outside.

Nothing's better than sinking into a huge couch with old friends surrounding you on all sides.

Nothing's better than laughing so hard that your belly hurts, laughing so hard you cry.

Nothing's better than having no place you have to go, nothing you have to do, no one you have to see.

Nothing's better than reminiscing.

Nothing's better than sleeping late and taking naps and doing things on your own schedule rather than the schedule of the world.

Nothing's better than hot chocolate and bloody marys and jelly bellys. Not necessarily together.

Nothing's better than watching old movies that are so bad they're good.

Nothing's better than having a moment where time can truly stand still. Where you can just be and live and experience people in a way that the world so rarely allows us to do anymore.

Nothing's better than cooking in a kitchen full of people, drinking wine and laughing.

Nothing's better than having grown up together and continuing to grow.

Nothing's better than realizing that you're not alone in the things that you struggle with - in work, in love, in life.

Nothing's better than a weekend away with old friends.

Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 8:36 AM 2 comments    

Labels: friends, travels

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