Category Archives: merriment

Priscilla Ahn and Seattle’s Best

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Last night my husband and I were invited to attend Priscilla Ahn’s record release party at the Village Recorder. It was a fun night and as one would expect, Priscilla put on a great show.

Looking through the photo albums while waiting in reception was pretty cool. You see, the Village is famous for recordings by Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Petty, The Stones, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Smashing Pumpkins, Chili Peppers, Nelly, Gwen Stefani, BB King, John Mayer and many more known (and not quite so commonly known) acts.

Walking from reception to the party location upstairs was fascinating. Gold and platinum albums are every where you turn. I didn’t realize how common (?) it was for albums to go multi-platinum. Nor did I realize quite how long the Village has been there.

The small room (I guess it would be called a “theater” considering there was a stage) where Priscilla performed was awesome. Very high ceilings. Gorgeous art deco lighting and a balcony we’d all love to have access to in our own homes.

Priscilla’s new stuff sounds great. I’m not so sure they’ll be much radio play, but I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot of her new stuff in movies and on TV (and maybe while you’re out and about shopping).

You can tell she was having fun last night. Lots of giggles and laughter mixed in with the music. Then again, that could have had something to do with with the yummy Seattle’s Best cocktails.

Not so sure what the connection might be between Seattle’s Best and Priscilla Ahn (or the Village Recorder), but I loved that they were there sampling their new level system coffee blends.

They were using Level 3 for hot samples as well as in their cocktails. I think I found my new favorite coffee. So mellow, smooth and well-balanced. Nothing like that bitter stuff you often find around town (which is the reason why I rarely drink drip coffee at local coffee shops).

I tired tracking down the recipes from their coffee cocktails, but no such luck. I liked the Wink and a Nod which I think was coffee, vodka and sweetened condensed milk…yum! Not sure what was in the Shake, Shake, Shake, but that was fine as I wasn’t a fan.

Overall, it was a fun night out. Especially since we’re mid-way through birth-a-versary week. 😉

7 Years: We Will Not Grow Old

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Happy Anniversary to my Sweetie

Thank you Lenka for the reminder that though we might have a long way still to go…we will get there!

We Will Not Grow Old

You and me will be lying side by side…
Forever, forever…
Underneath this adolescent sky…
Together, together…
And you will hold my heart inside your hand…
And you’ll be the one, the one to tell me…

Oh, we’ve got a long, long way to go…
To get there, we’ll get there…
But oh, if there’s one thing that we know…
It’s that we will not grow old…

I made you swear that our hearts will never die…
No never, no never…
Cause no one seems to believe that we can fly…
Forget them, forget them…
Oh, you told me…

Oh, we’ve got a long, long way to go…
To get there, yeah we’ll get there…
But oh, if there’s one thing that we know…
It’s that we will not grow old…

We’ve got a long, long way to go…
To get there, we’ll get there…
But oh, if there’s one thing that we know…
It’s that we will not grow old…

Oh, how could we know that day, it came with age…
That oh, the feeling would fade…

Oh, we’ve got a long, long way to go…
To get there, we’ll get there…
But, oh, if there’s one thing that we know…
It’s that we will not grow old…

Oh, we’ve got a long, long way to go…
To get there, yeah we’ll get there…
But, oh, if there’s one thing that we know…
It’s that we will not grow old…

No, we will not grow old…
We won’t grow old…
No, no, we will not grow old…
No, we will not grow old…
We will not grow old…

Copyright © 2009 Sony Music Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Prince: Opening Night at the LA Forum

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I should start by admitting that I’m not a huge Prince fan.  Like most folks my age, I’m a fan of his more known hits from the 80’s, but I can’t say I know much beyond Purple Rain.  But I was given the opportunity to join my husband at Prince’s opening night show (show 1 of a 21 day stint).  You can read his review of the night here, over on Soundspike (FB).

A couple things stood out that night:

  • $25 is a damn great ticket price!  Especially to see someone as awesome as Prince.
  • At 50+ Prince is still one damn fine entertainer – plenty of costume changes, lots of dancing, and some funny quips.
  • I had no idea he was such a strong guitar player (he’s the only guitar in his band – kinda wish he played more).
  • Be prepared for the show to start late (but wait it out in your seat so you’re not responsible for it starting even later).
  • Be prepared for the show to run LONG!  Our show was over 3 hours long and had 6 encores!
  • Wait it out until the very, very, very end…no matter how many times the band leaves the stage and the houselights come on.  They will be back.

I’m really glad I went.  Even if I’d have spent $150 for the show I’d have been glad I went.  It really was amazing.

My suggestion…get a hold of one of those $25 tickets (again, he’s doing a 21-day stint, so I don’t imagine he’ll be selling out each night).  Take your nosebleed seats and enjoy the show.  The minute you see people starting to leave after what they think is the encore, start working your way down to the floor.  Before the show is over, I have no doubt that you’ll be up close and personal with the man himself.

ChickChat LA: There’s a New Women’s Networking Group in Town

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click image to enlarge for more information

Ladies, there’s a new networking group in town for professional, savvy women and I’m honored to be a part of their “Let Them Eat Cake” ChickChat LA launch party on Wednesday, February 23rd.

It’s sure to be a decadent, French-themed soiree. And instead of feeling guilty for letting those New Year resolutions fall to the wayside, we’ll all be toasting the remainder of the year with wine, martinis, champagne, and of course…cake.

And because they believe that a woman can have her cake and eat it too, you’ll have the opportunity to Speed Network with Coaches (like avec moi!) who will help you create a plan for moving forward with your goals in 2011…or maybe they’ll help you find some better and more exciting goals 😉

Included in your ($40 door) ticket price are:

  • Wine Tasting
  • Moet Hennessy Champagne
  • French Martinis, sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka
  • Dry Soda
  • And of course…French nibbles

A portion of the proceeds from the evening will benefit Dress For Success. And anyone who brings a business/work appropriate belt to donate to Dress For Success will be entered into a raffle to win a Zune MP3 Player.

For more information About ChickChat LA and the Let Them Eat Cake launch party, click here.

Hope to see you there!!

Are Your Favorite TV Shows on the Chopping Block?

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I’ve gotten to the point these days that I don’t even want to start watching any new shows on the regular channels.  I figure half the time, the shows are canceled after only a couple episodes (like Lone Star) or you get sucked into what you think is a great show only to have the cancel it out from under you.

As it stands now, at least (this data from spointertv.com might not be completely recent at the time you read this) 16 shows are in the process of possibly getting canceled.  And yes, I watch  (or more accurately…watchED…in the case of Lone Star) six out of those 16.

What about your shows…are your favorites getting or at risk for getting canceled?

Did You Go To Blogger Prom?

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Last Wednesday was one of the coolest parties in LA, the 2nd annual Blogger Prom. This a big deal and a great way to mingle with other local bloggers. And of course, since it was basically started by a slew of foodie bloggers, you better believe it’s a killer party.

Sadly, I wasn’t able to attend this year (yes, sick again). I can’t figure out what I was more bummed about…missing the awesome fashion, the amazing food and drinks (I can’t believe I missed the The Cheese Impresario!), the giveaways (oh sweet Jesus, the giveaways!) or the swag bag (I heard the swag bag was beyond killer!).

Last year, they had an 80’s prom theme (which I totally failed when it came to my outfit) and this year it was a Hollywood Confidential theme. Imagine all those gorgeous dresses, fantastic hairstyles and the dramatic make up.

For photos and recaps of the event (you know, from people who were actually there), check out the official Blogger Prom blog, the photographer’s official photos, their Facbook Page and their Flickr page.  Now you can be bummed that you missed out on a great party too.

Can’t wait for next year’s prom!!

Bonfire At The Beach: A SoCal Must

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Bolsa Chica Bonfire 05.03.08_0072.JPG

Yesterday was a first for me.  It was my very first bonfire at the beach.  And it was as cool as I always imagined it would be.

It was our youngest niece’s 14th birthday.  And instead of sweating it out in the Inland Empire like we typically do, they opted for a day at the beach.  You better believe I was behind that!  And while I’m not a huge play at the beach and frolic in the waves kinda gal (long story…but it has to do with being a Jersey Girl and hypodermic needles and raw sewage visiting our local beaches), I was all over experiencing this California bonfire tradition.

We’ve driven past the Bolsa Chica beach many times and I’ve always been in awe of the bonfires.  Turns out, it’s one of the few beaches that allows bonfires in the greater LA area (here’s a list of CA beaches that allow fires).  What makes it such a cool experience is that they have the concrete firepits already there and waiting for you.  You still have to bring your own wood (or buy wood from vendors).  But other than that, it’s all good.

Being that close to the ocean, and the ocean breezes leads to some might cold temperatures and quite a bit of smoke and wayward ash.  But it’s so worth it if you ask me.  Though I can’t imagine what it must be like in the winter months.

We got to the party late (fully intending to just experience the bonfire part of the event), after the sun had already set and the fire was roaring hot.  Which was great, because it was freezing (even in late July).  Luckily we still had jackets and a blanket in the car (especially considering I dressed for summer cute and not beachy cold).

I even thought ahead to pick up the ingredients for some s’mores.  Too bad the fam forgot to bring the sticks – LOL.  We managed to make a couple using the BBQ fork, but with that roaring fire, it wasn’t easy.

Oh well, maybe next time.  And I’ve no doubt, now that the nieces and nephews are getting older, that there will be a next time.

Photo: C o l i n

Kisses: What You Give When You Have Nothing Else to Give

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This weekend, as part of a beat the heat promotion, Anthem Magazine was giving away passes to the Irish movie, Kisses.  And yes, yours truly was lucky enough to not only win a pair, but was able to beat the heat as well!

While it didn’t have the happy ending that most of us Americans have come to appreciate, it was a great movie about two teenagers running away from home and heading into Dublin on Christmas Eve (full synopsis below the video trailer).  If it comes to your neighborhood or on-demand, check it out.  As Anthem Magazine puts it, it “features an original score by Lance Daly’s band, Go Blimps Go, as well as half a dozen Bob Dylan tracks, making the movie perfect for the audiophile and film buff alike.”

And yes, it is in English with English sub-titles.  I have to say, we’d have been lost without them.  Oh, and totally unrelated…I have pictures of that very Christmas tree in Dublin 😉

Synopsis

“On the fringes of Dublin two kids, Kylie and Dylan, live in a suburban housing estate devoid of life, colour and the prospect of escape. Kylie lives with five other siblings and her overworked mother. Next door, Dylan lives in the shadow of an alcoholic father and the memory of an elder brother who ran away from home two years earlier. After a violent altercation with his father, Dylan runs away from home and Kylie decides to run away with him. Together they make their way to the magical night time lights of inner city Dublin, to search for Dylan’s brother, and in the hope of finding, through him, the possibility of a new life. Lance Daly’s vision of Dublin, as seen through the innocent eyes of our protagonists, is a kaleidoscope of magic, wonder and mystery. But as the night wears on, and Dublin takes on a darker character, the two kids have to rely on the kindness of strangers, the advice of Bob Dylan and their trust in each other to survive the night.”

Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are!

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I can’t believe that I’m not blogging as much as I used to.  There was a time, a couple years ago, that I blogged almost daily.  Sometimes, I had more than one entry on any given day.  I loved it.  Some might even say I lived for blogging.  I loved calling myself a blogger.

Where did that excitement to blog go?

I know I’m still writing blog posts in my head.  In fact, I’m still starting them many of them as drafts.  But it seems that instead of sitting down to finish them, I just let them pile up. I’m not even getting around to posting weekly in my business blog.  And forget about ConstantChatter, I’m rarely posting there these days.  And this isn’t a trend I’m liking.

I have to wonder what brought about this change.

Is it because I’m busier during the week since I’m teaching again? Is it because I’m now running a business and that takes time each day?  Is it because I no longer enjoy sharing the day to day details of my day?

Maybe it’s because of my increased time playing around the the social networking playground.  I’m thinking that’s the case.  I noticed when I got involved with Twitter about two years ago that my post count went down considerably.  Then I started playing around with Facebook.

Nowadays if I have something to say, I tend to post about it either on Twitter or Facebook.  Let’s face it, it’s quick and easy.  And I can do it from my phone.  Better yet, I can choose how I want to leave an update via photo, video, audio, or a good old fashioned written update.  The choices are plenty.  And while I can update my blog in similar ways, it’s still more work that a quickie Twitter or Facebook update.

I’ll do what I can go get better at updating the blog, but if you’d like to stay in touch better, feel free to friend me on FB and Twitter (links below).

So where are you most likely to be spending your time online these days?

Just be sure to drop me a note letting me know who you are so I can be sure to friend or follow you back…

Facebook My personal Facebook profile (be sure to include a message or I more than likely won’t approve the connection).
Facebook My business Facebook fan page
Twitter My personal Twitter account

On Location: 24 and My Local Macy’s

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One of the cool things about living in the metro LA area is all the random filming that’s done around town.  Where I live there’s actually quite a bit.  We’ve seen Family Jewels, CSI, The Closer, The Mentalist, Saving Grace, Super Bad and quite a few other things I either don’t recall or never got around to asking about.

Imagine my surprise when I headed to my local Macy’s today trying to track down a t-shirt that I knew was on sale and I saw this…

notice_24

set_24

director_24

Complete with a fake coffee bar (love how the cups are already waiting on the tables)…
fake_coffee_bar_24

It all made for some interesting shopping since they had cable, lights and equipment everywhere.  I’m figuring that they’ll be doing some chasing through the plus department there on the right of the coffee shop since that’s where most of the mess was.  Made it challenging to find my bargains (but I did succeed – saved $147 & spent only $45).  There’s also a few baby strollers stuffed behind the coffee counter, so I’m thinking there’ll be “moms” hanging out drinking their coffee.

And totally unrelated, but the other night we were poking around on the Private Practice sound stage. I didn’t bother taking any photos since it was mostly just hospital stuff (beds, nurses station, hallways). Violet’s house was there as well, but it’s not something you would have recognized from a photo if you saw it out of context. I am glad I didn’t park in their parking space considering at the time we had no idea if they were still filming (we also avoided the Ugly Betty and the Army Wives’ spots) and decided to settle for Peer Music instead (no clue what or who that is).

Private_Practice_Parking