Monthly Archives: October 2005

Film Complaint: Prime: Heyy, This Isn’t a Comedy!

Bryan Greenberg and Uma Thurman in Prime
Don’t know what’s so funny here.

Warning: Spoiler to follow.

It was a Sunday after two nights of crazy Halloween partying and I just wanted to enjoy a harmless, mindless movie. A comedy. I remembered the commercials for Prime: “older” woman dates much younger man and tells all to her therapist, only to find out that ::gasp!:: her therapist is her new lover’s mother. Sounds fun.

We went to the Arclight, stood in the ticket line alongside Dave Navarro and clingy but cute Carmen Electra, and paid the $14.

OK, I usually judge a movie by the previews since I figure they pick them according to the target audience. Hmmm, one stupid movie preview after another. That Nanny McPhee movie looks so uninteresting. Oh yeah, there was some seemingly Fatal Attractionesque film directed by Woody Allen of all people and starring Scarlett Johansson. Audience: “Wha-?”

Prime itself started off promising. Uma Thurman is adorable as the just-divorced Rafi who stumbles into a love affair with a 23-year-old. Nice! And Meryl Streep is such an amazing actor. Just her little reactions to certain situations, things that you take for granted and then think, “Of course that’s how a person in her situation would react.” Anyway, what started off as a romantic Woody Allen-type comedy quickly disintegrated into a very sad love story. I mean sad as in melancholy, not pathetic. I thought that maybe the lovers would overcome the overprotective mother and society’s restrictions on them…but they don’t. And in the end, to drive home the point that it didn’t work out, they play the saddest version I ever heard of “I Wish You Love.” Such a beautiful rendition by Rachael Yamagata.

My friend and I walked out of the theater in tears. It made us think of our own travails in love and as Meryl Streep’s character said, “You love, you move on, and that’s OK.” Stupidly simple but true. Anyway, you could wait for this movie to come out on DVD. No need to rush to the theater. It’s quiet, some funny moments but nothing special. Definitely don’t see it if you feel depressed and want a laugh as it ends on a sad note, like, “Oh well, such is life.” Rottentomatoes.com gave it a rotten 46% out of 100%.

Bar 107: Downtown’s Hip Hidden Gem

Bar 107

Yet ANOTHER reason to go downtown? Bar 107 and its late-night 8-11pm happy hours virtually every night, unless there’s a cabaret show. Check the calendar. And Bar 107 also offers $1 rum shots on Thursday nights and DJs almost every night. For October, Friday nights boasted a Dancing Downtown event, doesn’t say the same for November but I guess stay tuned. Thing is, I don’t even think they charge a cover for their dance parties!

The bar offers a haven to those “tired of the Hollywood bullshit” with its “New York feel with Chicago attitude.” I’m taking that to mean, it’s where you go for the big-city feel but downhome personality? The crowd consists of USC co-eds and artsy loft dwellers enjoying the kitschy decor. Anyhoo, sounds like a cool bar to me, AND since it’s near other cool Historic Core bars like the Golden Gopher, Broadway Bar and Big Bill’s, you could grab your best guys and dolls and make a Rat Pack-like night of it.

From LA.com:

[Owner Vianey] Delgadillo hit flea markets and antique shops to find decorations like a disco ball, vintage pin-up photos, plastic deer heads (one wearing sunglasses), an Indian statue, a light-up rooster, biblical paintings, a jukebox and the type of oversized clock you’d normally find at a marketplace. Surprisingly, her assorted treasures don’t clutter up the space, painted red to match the candles and vinyl booths; they give the four-room venue a cozy feel….Hoping to foster community and provide a much-needed quirky edge to the district, the bar has hosted a scooter rally party and will welcome a Derby Dolls fundraiser [November 18].

107 W 4th St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 625-7382
Cross Street: Main Street

Free Wine Tastings at Downtown’s San Antonio Winery

Photo courtesy of San Antonio Winery

My friend Beth told me about this winery located near Downtown L.A. A winery near downtown? I imagined a vineyard in Skid Row….that doesn’t sound very tasty. But apparently it really is.

About a hundred years ago, the L.A. River was lined with wineries, but then Prohibition jolted the wine industry. San Antonio Winery survived only because its founder, Santo Cambianica, made a deal with the Catholic Church to supply its sacramental wines. And Beth, a self-professed “big whino,” can attest to the quality of their wines as she partook of the winery’s free wine tasting. Turns out the vineyard isn’t in Skid Row but rather Monterey and Napa Valley with other sources in Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and Sonoma–yes, Wine Country. San Antonio just bottles the stuff in the Los Angeles plant.

There’s also a lovely restaurant on the premises called Maddalena Restaurant. And, the wine tasting (with three tastes maximum) as well as the winery tour are free.

About Maddalena, from CitySearch:

A vaulted hall, stacked with wine barrels, is filled with downtown businessfolk and loft-dwelling artists eating cafeteria-style lunches. California-inspired dishes are tasty and pair with the house wines, available by the bottle or the glass. Penne pasta with salmon is paired with vodka sauce, while spinach-ricotta ravioli is flavored with a medley of herbs.

For those who want to learn more about wine, the winery also offers seminars which include lunch or dinner and run about $65 a person.

Other Eastside friends know about San Antonio and absolutely love it. L.A. has its own winery after all. Who knew?

737 Lamar St
Los Angeles, California 90031
(323) 223-1401
Cross Street: Main Street
Wine tours: weekdays 12pm-2pm and weekends 11am-4pm

Bottoms Up, Little Buddha: Elixir Tonics Mini 6-Pack

What a cute gift to give to the certain someone in your life who believes in sound body, sound mind; who shops at Whole Foods religiously and does yoga regularly; or who simply appreciates something that seems “so L.A.” The tonics are all-natural fruit and herb beverages formulated according to traditional Chinese medicine, and are cited to feed “the body and nourish organs back to a state of health and balance.”

There are different tonics available depending on your needs, such as the classic tonics sampled in the 6-pack; as well as the “soft tonics” that sound comfortingly familiar like ginger ale and root beer tonics; and the ever provocative-sounding “sex and morning after” tonics which promise to stoke sexuality in both men and women.

But in the Elixir mini set ($21) you get six 53ml samples of:

Elixir six-packDepth Recharger (mixed berries and herbs) “replenishes the deep reserves of those whose reserves have been depleted by overly active stress-filled lives.”

Liquid Yoga (apricot and herbs) “calms the spirit, relaxes the senses and nourishes the heart.”

Mind Over Muddle (raspberries, plums and herbs) is a mental prowess power tonic that is said to stimulate blood flow and oxygenation to the brain through the use of Ginko Biloba thus enhancing mental clarity.

Power Plant (lemons and herbs) is a revitalizing jump-start tonic that increases energy and “harmonizes the ying” through the use of Guarana.

Tame the Elements (lemons, honey and herbs) is a “fight-the-good-fight” tonic which “boosts immunity and relieves toxicity.” Billions of people use this base herbal recipe as an herbal remedy “at the onset of a wind-cold or wind-heat attack.” Meaning cold or fever, perhaps? Clever.

Virtual Buddha (peaches and herbs). I love the sound of this one. It’s an “elation-by-the -glass” tonic/liquid path to enlightenment that “calms the spirits, nourishes the heart and tonifies Qi.” Aaahhh…

So are you supposed to drink these straight up or what? Interestingly enough, Elixir’s Web site offers drink recipes where you can make cocktails out of these little tonics.

Examples:

    MindControl
    2 oz. raspberry vodka
    1 oz. Kazi mix
    1 squirt of Mind Over Muddle
    splash of soda
    Pour into a rocks glass and garnish with a lime
    Afterglow
    2 oz. Maker’s Mark
    2 squirts of Depth Recharger
    Pour into a 7 oz. martini glass
    Garnish with a brandied cherry

Strange that in the MindControl cocktail, the tonic that is said to enhance mental clarity is mixed with vodka…something I know doesn’t.

    Elixir Tonics & Teas
    8612 Melrose Avenue
    Los Angeles, California
    310-657-9310 or www.elixir.net

Hollywood’s Hottest “1st Annual” Halloween Bashes

From the sounds of things, it seems like all the cool kids are partaking of the sinister celebrations in Sin City this year for Halloween. But for those staying behind to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve, there are always the hotspots du noir of Hollywood. The following club parties are so hot and so now, they haven’t even been around more than a year! Heh.

Friday, October 28th

    Pumpkin flyer

    PUMPKIN at Club Xes
    Presale: $30
    Ticket Sales Stop at 10pm, October 27th

    Not billed as a first annual but Pumpkin at Club Xes is advertised as “Hollywood’s Premier Halloween Party.” DJ Jason Shibuya will be spinning all night and there will be a costume contest and giveaways. I haven’t seen this event on any of the city guides’ Halloween event lists so either it’s very exclusive or they have sucky PR. But it’s supposed to be one of Hollywood’s hot, uberhip clubs.

    From AOL City Guide:

    XES bills itself as a high-energy dance club more along the lines of Garden of Eden and Barfly than the celebrity-minded scenes of Ivar and Deep….The scene mandates MTV attitude with a strong showing from professional athletes and record producers of the area. Adding an element of hip-hop to an area already drizzled in celebrity nightclubs, XES proves that funk still lives in Tinseltown.

    Xes
    1716 Cahuenga Blvd.
    Los Angeles, California 90027
    (323) 461-8190

    1ST ANNUAL HALLOWEEN MYSTERY at The Day After/Montmartre Lounge
    Presale: $20
    VIP tickets: $30

    Presale ends: 7pm, October 28th

    At 9pm sharp, guests will be invited to experience tricks and treats at this “A-list masquerade and costume party for the Southland’s Halloween themed club jet-setters.” The night promises a 5-hour film festival, themed cocktails, psychics and tarot readers, chilling effects, three dance floors, rooftop patio and celebrity appearances. With the VIP tickets, you get access to private areas and “hosted drinks throughout the evening.”

    The Day After/Montmartre Lounge
    6757 Hollywood Blvd.
    Los Angeles, California 90028

Saturday, October 29th

    1ST ANNUAL HAUNTED HELLOWEEN at Spider Club
    Admission: $20 (no presale available)
    The oh-so sexy Spider Club, Avalon’s VIP venue, will be featuring a very special Halloween celebration the 29th of October. Jamie Barren & Shawn Antonio’s haunted extravaganza (and LA.com’s official Halloween event) will feature DJ Surge, magicians, dancers and creepy decor. You must dress for the occasion (Spider Club is all about dressing to impress) as there is a costume contest: 1st place gets dinner for 2 at Avalon’s late-night restaurant, Honey; and 2nd place wins a bottle of vodka. Sounds like a promising night with lots of dancing and fabulous people/costume watching.

    Spider Club
    1735 North Vine Street
    Hollywood, California
    (323) 462-8270

Monday, October 31st

Cabana Club
    1ST ANNUAL CABANA CLUB TERROR
    Presale tickets: $20
    VIP tickets: $30

    Pre-Sales End: 6pm, Oct. 31

    DJ Graham Funke will be spinning the newest hip hop and rock from 9:30pm-2am at this exclusive Hollywood club. There’s a $250 cash costume contest where the winner also receives gift bags & gift certificates along with a free bottle of limited edition Asom Broso Anego signed & numbered. Cabana Club will also feature “Hollywood’s biggest haunted house.” From the guys who brought you the White Lotus, this newish hotspot has hosted many an exclusive A-list party. Should be quite a scene.

    Cabana Club
    1439 Ivar Avenue
    Hollywood, CA 90028
    (323) 463-0005
    Cross Street: Sunset Blvd.

    1ST ANNUAL HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT at Basque
    Presale Price: $15
    Presale Ends: 6pm, October 31st

    Basque will be hosting its 1st Annual Halloween Fright night. The club, formerly Deep, will be dressed up as a haunted French villa. Special ghoulish cocktails, a burlesque vampire show and DJ Coolwhip promise to thrill and chill you. The club asks that you wear “your scariest, sexiest and coolest costume so that you can win $1,000 in cash and prizes.”

    Since Hollywood Blvd. is closed for Halloween night, exit Vine off the 101 Freeway and take it to Hollywood, or exit La Brea of the 10 to Hollywood.

    Basque
    1707 North Vine Street
    Hollywood, California
    (323) 464-1654
    Cross Street: Hollywood Blvd.

L.A. Panorama Project: Why Nobody Walks in L.A.

Western & Wilshire
I can see for miles and miles: Not from the exhibit but, rather, an equally cool site of panoramic shots.

The thing that bugged me about New Year’s 2000 in L.A. was there was no Times Square, no central area for Angelenos to converge on to celebrate the millenium together. The New Year’s TV specials showed shots of different cities celebrating: Paris’ Eiffel Tower, SF along the Waterfront, Sydney’s Opera House. Everyone gathered around/near these landmarks cheering, fireworks blazing ahead….and what was the shot of L.A.? The Hollywood sign! Who goes there?

But eventually I came to accept the fact: Los Angeles is a sprawl. No one walks in L.A. for that reason. No amount of freeways or metro lines will bring us closer together. I’m a 310, he’s a 213 and ::sigh:: never the twain shall meet. So when I heard about this photography exhibit at Design Within Reach, I was interested.

The L.A. Panorama Project is a collection of the favorite L.A. views of such famous Angelenos as David Hockney, Julius Schulman, Ed Ruscha, Elke Sommer and Angelika Taschen. For the past four years, German shutterbug Peter Loewy has captured the Los Angeles that people know and love, in its entirety in one sprawling panoramic shot. Here, you get everything from a shot of the bustling Farmer’s Market to the static Downtown skyline.


Design Within Reach
8070 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 653-3923
Admission: Free
Exhibit runs thru November 3rd
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 27th 7-9pm

Do They Know It’s Halloween?: Benefit Song by Beck, David Cross, Arcade Fire and Others

This is awesome. The North American Halloween Prevention Initiative (Beck, The Arcade Fire, David Cross, etc.) has come out with a single called “Do They Know It’s Halloween?” Both a trick and a treat, this satire — as well as a charity-benefit song — will donate all the proceeds from its sales to UNICEF.

You can either purchase the original version, the radio mix, the Disco D remix, Th’ Corn Gangg Remix ($1.99 each) or the whole bundle for $3.99. There’s even a ringtone of the song available for your creepy enjoyment.

Here are just some of the boys and ghouls involved:

Trick & Treat Arcade Fire’s Win & Regine
Redd Kross’ Steve McDonald
Beck
R.E.M.’s Joey Waronker
David Cross
Sloan’s Chris Murphy
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark Smoosh’s Asya & Chloe
Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore
Sparks’ Russel Mael
Sum 41′s Stevo
Malcolm Mclaren
Postal Service’s Jimmy Tamborello
Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Karen O

For a truly frightful sight of blood and gore…just kidding, for a cute and artsy treat, check out the video.