Monthly Archives: November 2006

November 30, 2006

Idiocracy: Where You’re the Smartest Person Alive

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Movies
6 Comments

Imagine waking up one morning to find that you are the smartest person in the world — smarter than world leaders, CEOs and Mensa. Apparently that’s the premise of this movie that I never heard of before. Idiocracy is directed by Mike Judge of Beavis & Butthead and, more importantly, Office Space fame and it hit theaters without much fanfare but at the Nuart it gets a midnight showing this Friday as part of the theater’s “Cine Insomnia” series which shows seemingly random popular movies at midnight on Fridays for those who’d rather go to the theater than stare at late-night TV. (Upcoming movies include Escape From L.A. and American Graffiti.)

From The A.V. Club:

Idiocracy’s dumb-ass dystopia suggests a world designed by Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, a world where the entire populace skirts the fine line separating mildly retarded from really fucking stupid, and where anyone displaying any sign of intelligence is derided as a fag.

Anyway, a friend told me about Idiocracy and could not stop gushing about how great it was. So now I’m thinking that doing some karaoke and grabbing drinks on Sawtelle with friends till we’re good and stupid and catching the flick afterward would be a fun Friday night.

EVENT: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 at 12am

The Nuart
11272 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90025
(310) 281-8223

Share|

November 29, 2006

Bread & Porridge: The Secret to a Mellow Morning

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dining, Los Angeles
6 Comments

Bread & Porridge cafe

I wish there were more hours in the morning. I don’t get to do this often if at all since I don’t wake up early enough, but I’d love to just go to Starbucks, grab a caramel macchiato and surf the Web on my laptop to ease into the day. Unfortunately, the Starbucks near my place is usually packed with morning commuters during the weekdays AND the chain charges for WiFi use.

So I was thrilled when I discovered that one of my fave breakfast spots, Bread & Porridge in Santa Monica (fantastic Shepherd’s Scramble btw), has an apparently secret cafe filled with plush chocolate leather couches and ottomans.

Share|

November 28, 2006

Perpetual Kid: Toys for That Party Girl in Your Life

Written by Caroline on Crack in Gift Ideas, Other
2 Comments

Pink Hangover Set

When I first pulled up Perpetualkid.com, I literally squealed with delight. “Entertain Your Inner Child” is this site’s tagline, and with marshmallow shooters (that’s right, a toy that shoots mini marshmallows) and Play-Doh cologne they ain’t kidding. It really is a site that can easily turn any workplace into a playground.

There are a lot of things on this site that I’d put on a wishlist, like those USB Heated G-Gloves (it gets so brrr in the office!) but the following toys are my faves (for obvious reasons). You, however, can keep ‘em in mind for that party girl in your life, that hostess with the mostest or that girlfriend about town.

Cool Jewels Ice Tray ($7.99) blings any drink when you turn regular ice into nice ice. Cocktails at Tiffanys, anyone?
Pink Elephant Drink MarkersCocktail Elephants Drink Markers ($6.99), hurray! Pink elephants on parade. A cute touch for any cocktail party.

Cool Shooters Ice Shot Glass Maker ($7.99), saw this and thought how perfect it is for Irish Car Bombs! No having to get your fingers dirty retrieving used shot glasses with these ice ones.

Faucet Light ($14.49), at first I thought this would be a cool bathroom nightlight of sorts but then realized we could totally use this to give our new wet bar some pizzazz.

Pink Hangover Recovery Kit ($14.99), I think what really got me here was the “Never Again” sleep mask. A cute, pink way to recover from a hangover and look stylish doing it.

Share|

November 26, 2006

John O’Groats: Breakfast of the Easily Satisfied

Written by Caroline on Crack in Dining, Los Angeles
7 Comments

Applesauce Pancakes

It seems like everyone loves John O’Groats except me. I don’t get it. (How do you say that name anyway?) I’ve read the online reviews about how there’s always a line outside of eager diners waiting for that tasty, cheap breakfast so I had to check it out. Plus it’s in my new hood, so having a cheap breakfast nook at the ready is always nice.

From CalendarLive:

If you want a delicious breakfast and you’re willing to wait for it, a meal here might just make your weekend…. Loyal locals who do brave the crowds know what edible rewards await them.

Share|

November 25, 2006

The Cha Cha Lounge: A Hipster-Intrepreted Dive Bar

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife
5 Comments

Foosball match

Why are all the cool bars on the Eastside? Last night was my first time in the Cha Cha Lounge, located right across the street from the Red Lion Tavern on Glendale Boulevard, and I loved it!

Judging from the outside, I didn’t know what to expect. When I think “Cha Cha” I think “Cha Cha Chicken” but for some reason I didn’t anticipate sombreros and marionettes on ceilings, rocker chicks and pretty Asian girls at the bar, cute boys galore or PBR on tap.

The scene and scenesters were awash in that flattering red light that makes everyone and everything look good. All were young and youngish dressed casual or at least their hipster interpretation of it. No attitude but that goes without saying in a Silver Lake bar, I think.

Share|

November 23, 2006

Get a Jump on Black Friday: Camarillo Outlets’ Midnight Madness Sale

Written by Caroline on Crack in Gift Ideas, Los Angeles, Shopping & Sales
Say what?

Flickr Shot by Matt McGee

Flickr Shot by Matt McGee

I myself am not a hard-core shopper. Never lined up outside a store waiting for it to open, open, open and never battled through a Black Friday. But for those into that sorta thing, the Camarillo Premium Outlets way the hell up in the nether reaches of the 101 will be open tonight at midnight for those looking for killer deals. Midnight Madness they call it and certain stores will offer special deals to diehard shoppers only from midnight to the wee hours.

Some stores and their deals tonight:

  • Adidas — 25% off entire store
  • BCBG MAX AZRIA — Additional 15% off entire purchase
  • Coach — Additional 10% off entire purchase
  • Guess — 25% off entire purchase
  • Kenneth Cole — 30% off entire purchase
  • Nike Factory Store — 20% off entire purchase

Of course there will still be sales through Christmas Eve, but the deeper discounts are to be found during Midnight Madness. So dust off your credit cards, make sure you have plenty of extra cash on hand and shoppers, start your engines.

Camarillo Premium Outlets
740 E. Ventura Boulevard
Camarillo, California 93010
(805) 445-8520

Share|

November 23, 2006

Home for the Holidays: 20th Annual West Adams Holiday Historic Homes Tour

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Recreation
3 Comments

Flickr Shot by Gunga Din

Flickr Shot by Gunga Din

I remember my first holiday season in L.A. It was just me and my sis and we were sad, lonely, starving students. We used to drive through Beverly Hills neighborhoods fantasizing that some nice, rich person would come outside and wave us into their palatial home to partake of tea and crumpets by their warm fireplace. Like I said, we had just moved here.

But I was reminded of those times when I saw this 20th Annual West Adams Holiday Historic Homes Tour. It’s my dream come true taken to another level. On the tour you get a guided walking tour of six grand period homes in the 100-year-old Victoria Park, situated in the historic West Adams district, as well as dinner where each course is served in each of the featured properties. And to warm your heart up even more, all the residences are beautifully done up in holiday cheer. It ain’t free ($85) but it sounds lovely.

If you don’t want to do the dinner and would rather walk the tour docent-free, it’ll be $40.

Some of the varying architecture represented on the tour include a unique Gothic Revival manor, an Art Nouveau-influenced Arts & Crafts mansion and a Victorian-inspired Craftsman. So purty.

The tour benefits the West Adams Heritage Association, a non-profit organization founded in 1983 to support preservation of the community’s architectural and cultural heritage.

TICKET SALES / TOUR TIMES
Advance Ticket Sales Only – No Walk-Ins!
Holiday Tour & Progressive Dinner: General admission, $85. Walking Tour (Sunday afternoon only): $40

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2: Docent-led tours depart on the half-hour from 3pm-6pm
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3: Docent-led tours depart on the half-hour from 4pm-6pm

  • Holiday Walking Tour (Sunday afternoon only): Self-guided tours begin every twenty minutes from noon through 2 p.m.

To order tickets in advance, send in your reservation form, available to print out from www.WestAdamsHeritage.com, and a check made payable to “WAHA” to:

WAHA Holiday Tour
2209 Virginia Road
Los Angeles, California 90016

Include e-mail address or phone number for confirmation.

Information/confirm reservations at WAHA Reservations Hotline: 323-732-4223, e-mail wahaholiday@aol.com, or visit www.WestAdamsHeritage.com.

Share|

« Older Posts