The Women: The After Party

Exiting the movie theater was much more difficult than I had expected. We decided to wait for the rest of our party but then a wave of people crushed me as Will Smith and Jada were exiting the theater.

After I had escaped the crowds we went to the after party at the Napa Valley Grill.

There Cher and I sped right past all the celebrity tables to the ladies room. Naturally, there was a line that extended the length of the hallway. Way too long. With the help of Daphne Zuniga (the princess from Spaceballs) we snuck into the mens room. Once we were done, I had to sneak by the dessert table full of brownies, chocolate covered strawberries and cupcakes. 

Most people were very excited to be among the celebrities, I have to admit that I was very excited about the food and free drinks. Arugula salad. Pasta. Lamb. Kobe burgers. Ahi. It was great because I was starving going into the movie. After a few drinks and all my helpings of dinner, I went with Cher to snake around and see who was there.

Cher got entirely excited about seeing Warren Beatty and Annette Bening's table. She managed to take a picture with Warren for her mother. Later we manage to takeover Debra Messing's (after all the drinks, we managed to call her D.Mess) booth and drink her stuff. We made friends with a very cute couple, Kate and Taylor, who also got excited when the 90's dance hits came on. Who then forced me to do the snake. What? So I forced Cher to talk to her bearded party crush. We don't know his name. We just call him Sexy Jesus. 

After speaking to many people, it had occurred to me that many men in Los Angeles have a a few  standard conversation starters/enders: movies (including their place in "the industry"), tattoos (show and tell), or even a distaste for the lower class/black people. (Yes, we just walked away). Needless to say, later Cher and I just laughed a lot at these lame guys' expense over grilled cheese at Kitchen 24 back in Hollywood away from the meat headed UCLA students and aspiring/accomplished industry douche bags and back to our vain and aesthetically Bohemian neighbors.  

Laundry list of celebrities we saw tonight (just so you know): Candice Bergen, Debra Messing, Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Warren Beatty, Tara Reid, Daphne Zuniga, Debi Mazar, "Ryan Schechter's mom", "the woman who killed Selena in the movie", and Eva Mendes. 

Movie Premiere & Review: The Women

The Women
dir. Diane English
comedy, 114 mins.

After Cher tells me the plans, the night began with a conversation about dresses. "Forever 21 or Diane von Furstenburg?" I ask myself. Then I watched the trailer and realized quickly that there was no way I was going to wear a dress to a Meg Ryan premiere.

And rightfully so, I should've worn pajamas for this cozy chick flick of chick flicks. But for the sake of Hollywood's glitterati, I actually wore heels. No dress. Cher and I sped over to the Fox Theater in Westwood to meet the red carpet. We watched as starletts like Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes and Debra Messing paraded down the long line of paps. (My dad would've been excited).  We grabbed our popcorn and sat down to listen to director, Diane English, as she mentions that this screening was very much like being in the "delivery room". This movie was her labor of love in that it was the first film in 80 years to have an entirely female cast. Not one male graced the screen despite Will Smith and Warren Beatty's presence. They were there to support their wives.

The movie is an ode to George Cukor's The Women which was released in 1939. With modern day lovable pop icons like Meg Ryan, we were instantly going to love it. Much like Sex and the City, we are presented with four friends of extremely different personality types that actually mimic the dynamics of one woman. Since it was a remake, the themes in the story were already very familiar. The most refreshing thing about the film, though, was that the women's empowerment did not come from promiscuity, but from a more real approach: suffering and dealing with it. It comes to conclude that female friendships are a driving force in any woman's life. Yadda yadda yadda. I may watch it again on cable. Felt good to watch with a girl friend.

And then the after party...

My fave 16th century astronomer: Tycho Brahe

I've always had an interest in astrophysics, mostly in stellar evolution anyway. So I was intrigued when Jason had told me about Tycho Brahe.

Brahe was a 16th century astronomer whose observations of the sky had help Kepler develop his laws of gravitation. Which Newton then used to create his law of gravitation which then Einstein debunked with his theory of relativity. This is not to say that his observations were in vain, but that Brahe had a large and fundamental contribution to the approach of astrophysics.

Brahe's life was more fascinating than anything. He had an interchangeable wooden nose (he lost the real on in a fight), a clairvoyant dwarf named Jepp used to entertain guests, a pet moose which he was going to trade in for a mini horse, but the moose unfortunately drank too much beer at a party and fell down the stairs to its death.

Tycho also met an untimely death because he had to go to the bathroom at a banquet. But for the sake of courtesy, he held it in. Supposedly he gained and an infection and he died. That's what some believe anyway.

So to Tycho Brahe!

Weather Report for Today, 9/4/08

Outside it's sunny and too hot to stay dry. Where is my hat?

For lunch: undecided

Bike Stuff: Solvang Prelude

Solvang, CA is wonderful: vineyards, windmills, sweets. But twice a year they host a very popular bike rides: The Solvang Century and the Solvang Prelude. Imagine riding your bicycle 50 miles through serene wide open vineyards on a crisp sunny California day. Then later, once finishing the ride we can eat as much aebleskiver and go taste local California wines. After all we just burned off 1000's of calories during a 4 hour ride in spandex. We deserve it.

Consider signing up. I'll be booking rooms.

Here's the website to register for the ride: The 2008 Solvang Prelude


Ps. Yes, after a ride to Nichols Canyon, it was discovered that I neglect my bike. It will be in the shop for a week. Training will start up again afterwards. Daa.

Labor Day Waterbattles and Carne Asada

After a long weekend of fun with my parents, they flew home on Sunday. I have a feeling that some of the urgency in their return was thanks to their new pet, Basilio, a basil plant.

So I went to Jason's Labor Day BBQ at his house in Eagle Rock. He and Meespace made plenty of carne asada, Lorenzo brought bread, I brought Capn Crunch and ice cream, and Steph brought an integral contribution: squirt guns.

After eating enough to fuel us for days to come, 5 of us (Nathan, Lorenzo, Jackie, Anthony and I) decided to play a round of horse on Jason's basketball court lower in his backyard. (Yes, it's a very big backyard) Suddenly as we're innocently making airballs and spelling HORSE, a purple projectile comes whizzing through the trees and onto my skirt! A waterballoon! At least 6 more follow.

We scream and Lorenzo suddenly urges us to charge the upper lawn where Jason, Meespace and Eric are making their balloons. With strategies in place, we successfully took over the lawn. Several battles occur with even Nathan acting on his own to steal the other balloons. Then this:

Jason: (hands up) I just want to guarantee the safety of my cellphone!
Lorenzo: (holding 5 waterguns) Stand back!
Jason: Look! I'm unarmed! Just let me know my cellphone is safe!
Lorenzo: (at me) Go check to see! Stand back!
At which case I have the cellphone in my hand and a bucket of water. Threatening to drop the phone.

We then manage to take on Jason, with Meespace and his phone hostage. (Lorenzo pelted her with a balloon that wouldn't pop, and therefore felt like a rubber stone on her head.) Anthony says "The house is ours. Your parents have 2 days to move out!" Lorenzo and Nathan then got Jason surrounded at which Jason performed the death scene of all death scenes while Lorenzo shot him with a hose.

Jason: (drenched; crawling on the ground towards Lorenzo's ankles)Tell mah boy...Tell mah boy...that I'll see him in HELLL!!!!!


See pictures on Lorenzo's website: Save Lorenzo

Recent DVD madness

I don't know why I've been watching so many movies at home during the last couple of days. Here is a list:

Chariots of Fire drama; American (1981) dir. Hugh Hudson
Enjoyed this film about running after all my friends ran the Nike Human Race 10k. I now imagine running over hot coals all the time.

Knights Tale comedy; American(2001) dir. Brian Helgeland
I still don't understand why people like this movie. I observed that it is a tasteless postmodern pastiche that pays tribute to a weak and predictable lacking love story. Boo.

Gilda drama; American,(1946) dir. Charles Vidor
The story line drags womanhood through the mud and calls it elegance. Rita Hayworth is stunning, however.

Genesis documentary; French(2007) dir. Claude Nuridsany, Marie Pérrenou
Beautiful imagery. Bizarre narrator tells an artful perspective on evolution from the Big Bang.

La Vie En Rose biography; French, Czech, UK (2007) dir. Olivier Dahan
A beautiful film about Edith Piaf and her struggles to stardom. An incredible performance by Marion Cotillard.

The Road to Wellvillecomedy; American (1994) dir. Alan Parker
An interesting perspective on the relationship between love and society set in a early 20th century. A movie set around Kellogg and his attempt to heighten the standard for American wellness.

Singing in the Rain musical; American (1952) dir. Stanley Donan, Gene Kelly
Feels good to watch this movie. The storytelling is creative and imaginative. Great costumes.

The Prestige drama; American (2006) dir. Christopher Nolan
Such an interesting way to tell a story. I know that Nolan enjoys experimenting with the roles of his narrators (Memento) and I thoroughly enjoyed this story about obsession.

Next on the DVD list: All About Eve and Funny Face.

Note: I will watch movies in theaters too.

Weather Report for 9/1/08

It's dark out and cool. Pleasant and good for kareoke.

For dinner: salad and chilled soup

Fred Astaire Dancing on the Ceiling and Why I Love Old Movies

From Stanley Donan's Royal Wedding

This scene was created to reflect the euphoric feeling of love. It was an excellent idea executed with such ease without the power of computers. Well, Donan confesses that the set was built within a gigantic ROLLING cylinder. The camera man was tied to a table that was secured to the cylinder to control the photography. Amazing.

Sackboy and Sackgirl: It's wuv.

User created cuteness. I'd play it.
Music is "Atlas" by Battles

Thanks, Eric

John Williams and a Celebration of Hollywood

What better way to show my parents Hollywood than an enchanting evening at the Hollywood Bowl with John Williams? Close to none. My parents, Jason and I once again trekked to the Bowl for a night of classical movie themes. And as every year prior, it was still very exciting. Like the years before, devoted Star Wars fans proudly lit their lightsabers as the Star Wars theme was played by the LA Philharmonic. Jason's eyes grew with fulfillment as he very loudly requested the "Imperial March" and was granted his wish. I hurriedly grabbed my Reeces Pieces as the ET theme played. My mother, the most outgoing of us, yelled "SUPERMAN!" at the top of her lungs as that theme began.

Williams had a special guest, Stanley Donan, who had directed musicals (i.e Singing in the Rain) and worked with Williams well before he had begun his career with the Spielberg/Lucas vehicle. His stories were so amazing and were so romantic. It was amazing to see what old Hollywood had accomplished before computers and before big budget politics. We watched Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire perform in such magical performances that really made me fall in love with moviemaking all over again. It's easy to forget that there is a unique beauty beneath much of the commercial filth that storms out of Hollywood these days.

Katsuya - Hollywood

My father, who loves TMZ, requested that he see some real papparazzi during his visit to Hollywood. I decided to bring him to Katsuya, a frequent stop for the paps.

Katsuya is entired designed by Philippe Stark, most known for his modern furniture designs including the Ghost Louis chairs. You enter a modern Japanese themed restaurant that could easily be imagined as the set of an action movie. The bar consists of many pedestals topped with knifes floating in plexiglass cubes, or the bigger than life geisha lips that plaster the walls. Candlelight and gothic mirrors then add a sense of warmth.

OK, so beyond the overwhelmingly stylish fascade, the food was excellent. We had several orders of the Katsuya roll and the sashimi samplers which had perfect textures and flavors that had us all grabbing them quickly off the plates, which were beautiful as expected.

A little pricey as sushi tends to be, but really as a taste of Hollywood it really encapsulates the love for themed spaces that characterizes Los Angeles and is spot on.

Katsuya
6300 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
323 871 8777