I was really surprised by how boring Speed Racer was. Yes, it’s by the Wachowski Brothers (of The Matrix fame). Yes, it has a ton of CGI. Yes, there’s plenty of racing “action.” And I even saw this in IMAX at the Bridge! But YAWN! I almost took a nap.
Unlike Iron Man, I felt like I was perhaps missing out on a lot of inside jokes or a fuller experience by not being a fan of the cartoon on which the movie was based. I couldn’t connect with what was going on on-screen. By the middle of the movie, I stopped caring.
Anyway, I lust after fast cars, drool over exotics and get goosebumps from the sound of a powerful engine. But here? Speed’s Mach 5 and Racer X’s Shooting Star did nothing to ignite that desire. And thus the races were just as hollow. Maybe because I’m familiar with cars it was hard for me to suspend disbelief. But I’ve heard other people say that they, too, didn’t find the racing scenes exciting in the least. Surely a disappointment considering that’s basically what the whole movie is about.
At an exceedingly long 135 minutes, the film needs more than what might result from the explosion of a Crayola factory, and Speed Racer has nothing extra to offer — no heart, no excitement, no moments to cherish.
So, yeah, if you want to see a really good blockbuster this weekend, go see Iron Man. But if you’re stuck babysitting a bunch of 10-year-olds hopped up on gummy bears, take them to see Speed Racer. All the fast action, shiny cars and sweeping video game-esque landscape will mesmerize them. And if there are story elements they have trouble following. Not to worry as the movie had the bad habit of overexplaining things with flashbacks. I hate that.
I don’t know about you but my mom doesn’t live in town so I don’t have to worry about taking her out for brunch or anything. Just sent her flowers. This weekend is mine (I’ll be up in NorCal though).
Friday, May 9
Kids in the Hall at the Orpheum
Yes! There are still tickets available for the Kids performing at the beautiful Orpheum Theatre downtown. Sure, it’s in the balcony but funny knows no distance. I wonder if they’ll do all their old and beloved characters from the ol’ sketch show? Should be fun and I’m sorry to miss out.
8pm. Tickets: $32-$52. Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, Downtown (map).
Saturday, May 10
Tickets for Beck/Spoon/MGMT at the Bowl Go on Sale
Beck and Spoon and MGMT are playing the Hollywood Bowl in September but Saturday is the day when the tickets go on sale for the first time to the general public. It’s going to be an awesome show. And apparently it’s Beck’s debut appearance as a headliner here. Which is weird considering this is his town.
On sale 10am PDT. Tickets: $20 -$75.
Poketo Warehouse Sale and Cupcake Social
A sale where everything — wallets, T-shirts, plates, and stationary — is only $5-$10. Poketo really knows how to spring clean as it’s doing this to make room for its new wares for the new season. And there will be cupcakes for super cheap like $1!
10am-5pm. Poketo Studio, 510 S. Hewitt Street #506, Downtown (map).
The Princess Bride at Angel City Drive-In
So many great lines in this movie. I must have watched it a bazillion times and memorized them all. I wonder how many people at the drive-in will be quoting along with the movie. And what a fun way to watch it, at the Angel City Drive-In where the Angel City Derby Girls bring you your food, where you can sit on astroturf or in your car and where, more importantly, you can BYOB. Here’s a Princess Bride drinking game to keep things REALLY interesting.
Gates open 7:30pm, show starts at 9pm. $10. Alexandria Hotel, 240 W. 4th Street (2nd floor), Downtown (map).
Sunday, May 11
Free Red Mango Yogurt for Moms
Borrow someone’s kid and pretend you’re a mom so you can get free yogurt at Red Mango where they’re giving away a small yogurt with one topping as a special for Mom’s Day.
Dan Silberstein at CozmoCard and DrinkEatPlay always throws these awesomely fun events — Vegas in LA, Dessert Decadence and ’80s proms. And not only is he throwing a Cupcake Challenge next weekend, which I will be a guest judge for thank you very much (more on that later woo hoo!), but he has the Gourmet 5 Year Old Party next month. Yes, a party that features all the yummy comfort food you enjoyed as a kid except these will be the gourmet versions. La dee dah!
Dan’s inviting guests to once again enjoy this food with the same reckless abandon. Forget diets and cholesterol levels dammit! Dig into the Cannoli Kings’ mac n’ cheese with truffles and brie, savor Dandy Don’s ice cream with espresso shots, relish spaghetti with kobe meatballs, and stuff your face with Plush Puffs gourmet marshmallows. There will also be the food stylings by comfort food restaurants Luna Park and South, plus many more. And since you’re a big kid now, K and L Wine Merchants will be on hand to ply you with liquor, about a dozen free-flowing wines or so. No more grape juice boxes for you!
The event is all the way in June but I’m telling you about it now because you can get tickets on Goldstar for $20 off the original price admission which is $60. There is a very limited amount of tickets available for this price on Goldstar so get ‘em while they’re hot. BTW, there is a $5.50 service fee but so what? Still less than $60. And a percentage of the proceeds will go to Meals on Wheels.
EVENT: SUNDAY, JUNE 22 from 2pm to 5pm
Montmartre Lounge
6757 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, California 90028
Tickets: $40 (Goldstar plus service charge); $60 regular
In my on-going search for new favorite breakfast places on the Westside, I decided to give Amandine Patisserie, located in Santa Monica/Brentwood, a go. It’s just a couple of blocks west of my current fave, Literati Cafe, and it’s gotten a ton of decent reviews on Yelp, The Delicious Life, and Chowhound. I read their online menu and with French toast and omelette specialties and yummy-sounding French pastries galore, how could I go wrong?
Well, turns out I could go a lot wrong. My problem wasn’t so much with the food as it was the entire experience — from counter service to finding a seat to table service to finishing my meal.
OK, this time I don’t care how far away from the Westside Verdugo Bar is. Tomorrow I have to have to go as that’s when the Glassell Park bar is throwing a special Duvel soiree! You know Duvel USA, don’t you? It’s the beer company responsible for such lovelies as La Chouffe, Maredsous, Ommegang and of course Duvel. The good stuff you only see in gastropubs and beer-serious taverns.
Tomorrow night, Duvel USA Market Manager Sarah Lescrauwaet will be in the beer house, I guess spreading the word of Duvel. So they’re going to have cheese pairings with select Duvel beers as well as drink specials on all Duvel beers, naturally. Plus! you get a specialty Duvel tulip glass, while supplies last, that is.
Mmm, beer.
EVENT: TUESDAY, MAY 6 from 7pm to 10pm
Verdugo Bar
3408 Verdugo Road
Los Angeles, California 90065 (map)
(323) 257-3408
When I first saw the trailers for Iron Man, my first reaction was “Meh, another over-the-top blockbuster.” I had no desire to see it. Not because I’m not a fan of the Iron Man story/comics, I’m not, but because the trailer with all its exciting flashes of special effects didn’t impress me. Plus there was a lot of military stuff in there; Afghanistan, missiles, jet fighters — boring! And although I have appreciated Robert Downey Jr. in other movies, I was not loving him as super hero.
But then hints of good reviews started trickling in. And my fate was sealed when dotsara said her friend liked the movie so much that he insisted that she quit her job just so that she could go see the movie in the middle of the work day. Apparently it was THAT good.
Iron Man is an action sci-fi blockbuster extravaganza that provides cartoon thrills for thinking people.
So despite it being opening night for the movie, something I usually avoid like the plague, I found myself buying my ticket to the 6pm show at the horrible Mann Criterion in Santa Monica. Since it was early in the evening, the theater was populated with a ton of teenage boys. Fortunately, I was able to find a seat away from them and instead sat in front of a row of 8-year-old girls wearing pink.
We all settled in for quite an exciting ride of, yes, special effects, explosions and shiny machines (mmm, the Audi R8). But to my surprise, there was also awesome casting, impressive acting and a compelling story. Yeah! I know! In a summer blockbuster! And I found Robert Downey Jr. intriguing in this part. Not annoying at all.
I guess the character he played, Tony Stark, is supposed to be a big asshole in the comic books but here, RBJ, played him like a likable lothario. Knowing about the actor’s real-life debaucherous history sorta works to round out this character. You relished Stark’s enjoyment of his money and fame. In one scene he was sitting in his private jet enjoying a bourbon while his sexy flight attendants danced and a stripper pole started to rise up from the floor. And it just felt right. “Oh, he’s such a scoundrel. Heehee.” And hey, that RBJ has been working out! Didn’t care for his 98 Degrees-style facial hair but other than he looked pretty damn good.
I just love Stark, the imperfect superhero alter ego. True, he, like most superhero alter egos, has to keep love at a distance. But Stark was like that anyway. His work always came first. Women just filled in the quiet times, like his bourbon. And instead of that annoying love interest he has to save, he has the beautiful but smart assistant, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, who can hold her own, including Stark’s respect. Hey, she can outrun super villains and pilot her Audi S5 in Christian Louboutin skyscraper stilettos, she’s definitely got my respect.
And if you’re a tech geek, you’ll drool over all the eye candy in this film. At the end of it, I wanted to buy lots o’ gadgets — an iPod Touch, maybe a MacBook Air, a new digicam. These weren’t in the movie, but I was now craving all things shiny and high-tech.
Anyway, loved Iron Man. Despite its blockbuster tendencies, it held my interest after the explosions and even though there was the occasional “Bah, I knew they were going to do that.” And seeing it with a bunch of Iron Man fans hopped up on years of comic books, energized the movie-going experience. They cheered when the suit was shown in its entirety for the first time — sheet metal flipping, gears moving, eye holes glowing. I even found myself clapping and hollering, as I was carried away in the excitement. This is definitely not the sort of movie you save for a DVD rental. To do so would be a shame.
You need to see this movie at one of those high-tech movie theaters (not a mall multiplex, like I did). Settle into your cushy stadium seat with your overpriced popcorn and soda and enjoy. Unlike most summer blockbusters, you won’t feel dirty afterward and you’ll probably still be thinking about it after you leave the theater.
This past Wednesday, I checked out the Edison’s new weekly event, Incandescence Wednesdays. Vaudeville circus/dance troupe Lucent Dossier was performing from the rafters, the stage and even from the floor among the audience. I usually don’t do nightclubs, where I’m sure this sorta thing happens a lot, so to see a spectacle like this at a downtown bar was quite a treat.
There was this scantily clad lady twirling from curtains hanging down from the ceiling. She could hold herself up with just her ankles! A sword dancer shimmied on stage alongside vaudevillian clowns. And circus-costumed folk pushed through the audience, claiming, “‘Scuse me, I need to catch my train” as they made their way toward the stage.
To enhance the surrealism of the night, there was a specialty cocktail list with libations made with absinthe. But they smartly masked that licorice taste that so many people (me) don’t like.
Grand Opening of the Americana at Brand in Glendale
The mall that took $400 million and two years to make is finally opening tomorrow and shoppers rejoice. The first 300 customers into the new Urban Outfitters there get a free UO/Glendale tote. The first 200 at the H&M store get a free T-shirt and maybe a $10-$300 gift card (gc winners are randomly selected). The first 300 frugal fashionistas at Forever 21 will receive $10-$100 gift cards. Shoppers, start your engines.
9am grand opening ceremony, 10am stores open. S Brand Boulevard and E Colorado Street, Glendale (map).
The Little Mermaid Sing-A-Long at the El Capitan
OMG, I LOVE this movie and knew/know the words to every song. That’s why I highly recommend this sing-a-long at the beautiful El Capitan. Sing at the top of your lungs, show no shame. “Part of youuuurr wooorrrrrrrrrrddddd!” Maybe stop by the soda shop next door before the show for a black & white sundae.
7:45pm, through May 11. $13 ($9 through Goldstar). El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map). (323) 467-7674.
Saturday, May 3
Nike Beach Clean-Up and Fun Run at Dockweiler Beach
You might think I’m weird but I think this sounds like a really fun event. Help clean up the beach first and then go for a run! AND you get a free breakfast first before the activities. If you bring 9 or more of your friends, you guys will get a Nike gym sack for future workouts.
8am-11am. Dockweiler Beach, 6203 Pacific Avenue, Playa del rey (map).
BodyRock in the Park
There’s a party going off in Griffith Park! DJs spinning til dark, barbecues, volleyball games and you can BYOB just as long as it’s beer or wine. Weekend forecast says high 60s so bring a light sweater and blankets.
2pm-9pm. Free but there’s a $10 suggested donation. Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles (map).
As you well know by now, Father’s Office II — aka Father’s Office v2.0 or FO2 — in Los Angeles/Culver City opened last week and everyone’s super excited about the 70+ beers on tap, that Office burger and sweet potato fries, and the huuuge 80-foot-long bar — that’s all fabulous, but what about that cocktail list? It’s so smart of FO 2 to offer the hard stuff for those of us who need something stronger than beer or wine to make a bad day go away…fast.
And, I love that they serve all the major hard stuff except for vodka. Sure, I appreciate the occasional vodka bar (read: Bar Lubitsch). But I also find that vodka seems to have turned into the lazy mixologist’s base liquor of choice, especially with all the different types of flavored vodkas coming out of the woodwork nowadays.
Just in time for the cooler weather this week, both ice cream giants Ben and Jerry’s and Baskin Robbins are having their special ice cream events: a globalwide free cone day (B&J’s) and a nationwide 31-cent scoop night (B-R). This would have been perfect during that scorcher this past weekend, no?
Ben & Jerry’s 30th Annual Free Cone Day
This beloved Ben & Jerry’s tradition started back on May 5, 1979 as a way for good guys Ben and Jerry to show appreciation to their customers and staff. Aww! We love you, too! The free cone day is always a good way to try out B&J’s new flavors risk-free. Don’t like the flavor you picked? No worries, you didn’t pay for it!
Check out Ben & Jerry’s four new creations: Coconut Seven Layer Bar (coconut ice cream, fudge flakes, walnuts, graham cracker and butterscotch), Imagine Whirled Peace (caramel and sweet cream ice creams with fudge peace signs and toffee cookies), One Cheesecake Brownie (cheesecake ice cream with cheesecake brownie chunks), and Cake Batter (yellow cake batter ice cream with chocolate frosting swirl). No purchase necessary.
Baskin-Robbins’ 2nd Annual 31-Cent Scoop Night
It may not be as nifty-sounding as B&J’s ice cream special since it’s not offering freebies and it’s only nationwide compared to B&J’s worldwide endeavor. And sure the event only goes off in the evening from 5pm to 10pm (not really peak ice cream eating hours), but come on, it’s ice cream goodness for mere pocket change!
Take this opportunity to try B-R’s new flavor York Peppermint Pattie or stick to old favorites Jamoca Almond Fudge and Pralines ‘n Cream. Plus select BR stores will host local fire departments to collect donations and B-R will donate $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Limit 10 2.5-ounce scoops per person, per purchase.
In other dairy-related news, Haagen-Dazs’ new flavor day where you can get a free scoop of the ice cream store’s newest creation, Vanilla Honey Bee, is on May 13 from 4pm to 8pm. And Pinkberry now has coffee flavor.
This weekend, to my horror, I realized I ran out of great breakfast joints to go to on the Westside. Usually I just like to roll out of bed, go a short distance and enjoy some yummy dark coffee and an even yummier breakfast entree. And I was kinda sick of my old faves Literati Cafe, Jack n’ Jill and Colony Cafe. I needed something new and different. And I was even willing to go east of the 405 on this 90-degree morning for it.
Then I remembered that Jack n’ Jill’s, home of one of my most favorite yogurt and granola parfaits evuh ($6.95) and the Mexican Hangover Scramble ($9.95) just opened up the Creperie near the Beverly Center last month. Savory and sweet crepes by the Jack n’ Jill’s peeps? I’m in.
I need to find a new drinking hole since I’ve been ousted from my old one. Any suggestions? I’m looking for a place that makes some damn good cocktails. And don’t say the Griffin. As much as I love that’s place, it’s just too darn far from home base. And don’t say Father’s Office II as they only have five cocktails. Although that IS a good stand-by.
Anyone else on Brightkite.com? I love it cuz it takes Twittering to a different level, allowing me to tell people where I am to perhaps join me in my outings. Great for mobile parties or flash mobs. Hmm, maybe I should organize a crackhead bar hop! Anyone game?
For some reason I skipped over this tidbit of information when I saw it so didn’t mention it in my weekend roundup. But LF Stores is having a warehouse sale in Playa del rey today and tomorrow! 70-90% off all the rilly pretty jeans, tops, dresses, etc. They only take cash and credit cards but isn’t that all anyone has nowadays anyway? The address is 5333 McConnell Avenue. Happy bargain hunting!
During chick flick night last night, me and the girls put temporary tattoos on for fun. I now have an Ed Hardy Chinese dragon on my forearm and I kinda like it; the idea of the tat on my arm, not the Ed Hardy tat. So now I’m really considering getting one there but wonder if I’m too old for that now. dotsara keeps daring me to get one. Well, she says, “You’re never going to get one,” which we all know is as good as a dare. But I can’t seem to find a dragon design that I like anyway so maybe she’s right.
Next week is the anniversary that no one should celebrate: Spam’s 30th year of existence — the Internet annoyance, not the mystery meat (which is actually celebrating its 70th). All I can say is that I thank the creator of CoC every day for putting a spam filter on my comments. Thanks, Michael! Otherwise I’d have a bazillion penis enlargement and naked Paris links in my comments. So friggin’ irritating. They don’t even make sense most of the time.
For those who haven’t already heard, the Rustic Canyon Wine Bar in Santa Monica is now open for breakfast. The counter service breakfast is only on Saturday mornings (8am-12pm) and coincides with the farmers market in Santa Monica near 3rd and Arizona, so you can grab and stroll down to the market to kick off a nice relaxing morning.
And, for those who were wondering: I’m sorry to say that like Flavor Flav, Brett Michaels and Tila Tequila before him, Crazy Andy is still looking for that one special person.
Oh, are you going to Coachella? Well I feel sorry for youuu because look what’s going on in town while you’re all sweating it out in that concert in the desert. So what to Prince and Portishead and…and Goldfrapp? ….I’ll be crying quietly in this corner over here.
Thursday, April 24
2nd Annual Charles David Warehouse Sale
Shoe fetishists, Charles David is having a warehouse sale starting today where you can get 50-80% off last season’s pumps, boots, strappy heels, etc. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the last one but hopefully this one will be tons better. Try and carpool as parking around the warehouse is tough. Cash and credit cards only.
Last Day of Virgin America Cool Summer Airfare Sale
Quick! Tomorrow’s your last chance for scoring great deals on domestic fares around the country. Fly the friendly skies in style on Virgin’s amenity-packed airplanes — mood lighting, 3,000 MP3s, pay-per-view movies on demand. Sample roundtrip airfares: LA to NYC $284, LA to SF $93 and LA to Seattle $171. You have until 11:59pm CT to make your summer plans. Fares are valid for travel April 26 to June 11.
Not for Tourists Los Angeles 2008 Release Party at Footsies
Free books and beer! What more incentive do you need to come to Not for Tourists’ 2008 release party? Correction, what more incentive do you need to come to this party early as the books and beer are only available while supplies last (one each per person). So get to Footsies early. Bring this invite to join in the fun.
6-9pm. Footsies. 2640 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. (323) 221-6900.
Saturday, April 26
2008 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Dude, I used to work this festival when I was a bookseller for WeHo’s Book Soup back in the day. Hated working it but envied all the book lovers walking around, enjoying the day browsing the bookstores and attending all the cool panels. Some interesting-sounding panels, at least to me, include the conversation between Gore Vidal and Jane Smiley on Saturday and the one between Walter Mosley and Michael Silverblatt on Sunday. There are also outdoor stage events, including a culinary stage featuring author chefs. Definitely a must-do this weekend if you like to read and stuff.
Saturday 10am-6pm to Sunday 10am-5pm. Free admission but $8 for parking. UCLA Campus, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Westwood (map). (310) 825-4321
Rachel Palley’s Warehouse Sample Sale
Every time I see my fashionable friend Jeannine she asks me if the dress I’m sporting is Rachel Palley. I didn’t know who this was until I looked in the pages of InStyle magazine and saw that celebs wear her. Her stuff looks comfortable and flirty but at about over $200 for a short dress, so beyond my budget. Fortunately her warehouse sale has been extended through the weekend! Find items from Holiday ‘07 and Spring ‘08 at wholesale prices and below. Cash and credit cards only.
Saturday 10am-5pm to Sunday 11am-4pm. 2001 South Santa Fe Ave., #F, Los Angeles.
Why confine environmental do-gooding to one day when you have the whole month? You can still ride that bike, recycle old cell phones and shop. Yup, Heal the Bay and Fred Segal Santa Monica are throwing a big ol’ greenie event this weekend at the Santa Monica store.
Having been involved with the local environmental group for more than 20 years, the upscale retailer to the stars wants to not only raise funds for the good cause but awareness about eco-friendly shopping (i.e. no plastic shopping bags!) during its special Heaven Is Earth shindig from Friday, April 25 to Sunday, April 27.
Friday kicks off the green weekend with a Skyy Vodka cocktail party and silent auction (RSVP required) where guests can bid on 47 different exclusive items (that I can’t even imagine owning), like a $3,000 pair of Barton Perreira Sunglasses and a $1,345 ETRO Travel Bag.
Other parcels up on the auction block include a $20K Smart Pure car autographed by surf-photographer Grant Rohloff, Harajuku T-shirts signed by Gwen Stefani, tickets to American Idol, a Paul Frank beach cruiser and a signed Jimmy Choo shoe sketch. The auction ends at 9pm on Friday for everything except the Smart car, which ends at 6pm on Sunday.
On Saturday and Sunday, shoppers can peruse the various trunk shows, personal appearances and about 100 special drawings around the store.
For instance, on Saturday, Stella Care Organic Skincare by Stella McCartney will be giving 100% organic mini facials at the Fred Segal Studio (first come first served and no appointment necessary). Alabama Stitch will have a sewing circle at Fred Segal Flair complete with organic Bloody Marys from 12-5pm. Just watch wear you stick that knitting needle.
And Organik will be showing off its full line of men’s Organik tees (70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton), V-neck hoodies made with recycled plastic bottles and hoodies (100% certified organic fair trade cotton).
Heal the Bay and Fred Segal have also created a limited edition canvas shopping tote that will be available for sale this weekend for $10. Apparently the last time they did this, the bags sold like hot cakes and are considered a collectors’ item. I want one! Heal the Bay is trying to get a ban on single-use bags in SaMo as well as L.A.; perhaps this will inspire fashionistas to join the fight.
PS: Don’t forget to also sign Heal the Bay’s letter to Mayor Villaraigosa to stop single-use plastic bags.
EVENT: FRIDAY, APRIL 25 to SUNDAY, APRIL 27
Fred Segal Santa Monica
500 Broadway
Santa Monica, California 90401 (map)
(310) 458-9940
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