Music Recommendations from My Friends

Recently I lost an Ipod and my music collection has gone stale. Apparently that Hall & Oates does get boring after a while.

One of the joys of loving music is talking about music. There's so much pleasure in sharing as there is in learning about new songs and albums.

Here are some of what my friends, and therefore I, have been listening to:

Tracy Shao (music video producer)
Gomez - A New Tide
Matt and Kim - Grand
Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
Various Artists - War Child Compilation

Gavin Castleton (musician)
St Vincent - Marry Me
Maps and Aliases - You and Me and the Mountain
Lex Land - Orange Days on Lemon St.
Broadcast 2000 - Building Blocks

Chris Fudurich (music producer)
"new music sucks ... well except for the new Ghostland Observatory"

Wolf and Pig Stop Motion Fun

Dinner and Coffee with Trinh and Grace

Now well into our 20's, Grace Trinh and I haven't really changed. We still laugh and whine and demand like we did while we were in high school.

We had our coffee at the Veronese Cafe in Fullerton. There, we snaked around the labyrinth-like gallery/cafe to find a perfect spot to catch up with minimal disturbance. The old victorian house and garden managed to have at least 20 different little hiding spots some with pictures, some with a victorian theme, some with a western theme, some with couches some with patio views, etc. Even more amazing, the wait staff was always able to find you.

The nice thing to know was that we were still capable of making eachother laugh to tears. We also learned a few other things: Trinh, now an executive producer, does not wear heels to work anymore but NEEDS massages and facials monthly. Grace's favorite mix at Pinkberry is mochi, strawberries and cocoa pebbles. "That's ma mix! THAT'S MA MIX!" and still has to gesture incessantly while talking to clients over the phone at work.

My lovely friends and I are still so well-connected despite our separate lives.

Gang Signs = Ice Cream

Gang signs remind me of summer picnic photos and thus, summer, and thus, ice cream. Therefore, gang signs remind me of ice cream.

Is it Summer or Spring?

This weekend, we enjoyed the typical sunny warmth as much as possible. With downtown boba and haircuts to Venice Arnold Palmers and sunbathing, we are all very tired and suffering from sunburns. But a good suffering...

Believe it or not, I went to church!

Early Easter Sunday morning, I went on a bike ride along the beaches. Upon my return to Venice (California), I decided to go to church. After all, it's Easter. I believe in God and prayer, so why not?

I took my little fixed gear to the nearest church. Locked it up and walked among the well dressed and religious. In the midst of the pastels and dress shoes, I sat there in jeans and a t-shirt. A little boy stared at me the whole mass. It was obvious that I wasn't a regular and that everyone knew.

Nonetheless, I paid attention to the priest, whose sermon was like that of a stand-up comedian. Cracking jokes about other religions and Catholicism. Not only that, he didn't require us to recite entire prayers but simply to say "I do" after he read them. How unconventional!

It surprised me that even if this church was slightly unconventional in one of the most liberal and "weird" neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles, I was still an odd girl out. I biked away wondering if I should go back. Maybe.

From Lorenzo's Brilliant Mind - Sky Larkin

Sky Larkin :: Antibodies; Director :: Lorenzo de Guia from Lorenzo de Guia on Vimeo.

Lorenzo's good eye for emotion and his love of color come out in his latest music video for the UK indie band, Sky Larkin.

Sin Nombre Trailer

Time's Top 10 Jesus Movies

There really isn't a more appropriate way to celebrate Easter in Hollywood than to talk about Jesus flicks. While I'm still confused as to why Jesus Christ Superstar didn't make the cut, I'll go ahead and celebrate Life of Brian.

Check out the the holiest of Hollywood here: Time Magazine's Top Ten Jesus Movies

Somehow this child expresses what I feel

My new bike shoes

From Mike's disapproving nod and embarrassment, I learned that talking into my new bike shoe as if it was a telephone is not what you're supposed to do.

Solvang Weekend - Day 3 - Ostrichland & Santa Barbara

It was a sad day checking out of the Circle Bar B. We had a hearty breakfast, packed up and then enjoyed a little picnic lunch under a tree.

So what next? On the half-century, I rode along the highway and noticed a group of ostriches grazing in a field. I knew where I wanted to go: OSTRICH LAND!

We drove back to Buellton to Ostrich Land. There, we were able to pay $5 for admission and $1 to let us feed the emus and ostriches.

The birds aggresively ate the food from our doggiedish/dustpan contraptions. We enjoyed watching the food slither down their long necks and pondered as they ran off.



Back in the giftshop, they sold fresh ostrich eggs, ostrich patties, and even ostrich jerky. None of which was purchased by us. We also managed to overhear a women discuss taxidermist recommendations.

We drive down the coast on a pleasant clear day down to State Street in Santa Barbara for some ice cream and window shopping. All in all a nice easy day to finish our weekend.

Grace's Fantasy World

Solvang Weekend - Day 2 - Solvang Century and Half Century

Jason and Mike started their 100 mile ride around 6am. Meanwhile, Meespace and I grabbed a couple more hours of sleep for our ride at 9:30a.

At about 53 degrees, the bike ride was pretty cold. We biked 50 miles through the very scenic hillsides of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Meespace and I eventually break off due to our different paces. While riding, I manage to probably feel every emotion I can feel as you're left with only your thoughts for hours. At our rest stop 25 miles in, I probably enjoyed the best pb&j of my life. (Later, I found out that Meespace actually trucked on through without stopping. wow!)

2 flat tires and a fallen chain later, I'm back on track and go on to finish.

My stats: 50 miles, 1800 ft of climbing, avg speed: 16.1 mph, completed in 3 hrs 20 mins.
Mike's stats: 100 miles, 5000 ft of climbing, avg speed: 19.1 mph, completed in 5 hrs 15 mins

After the ride, I happily and guilt-free purchased a butter cookie tub from the Solvang Bakery

Solvang Weekend - Day 1 - Circle Bar B

A narrow single-lane road winding through the Refugio State park brought us to our accommodations for the weekend, the Circle Bar B Ranch in Goleta, CA, aka the middle of nowhere. A perfect way to get away.

We got there just in time to prep bikes for our ride the next day and eat at the family style dinner. At dinner, we ate all of the surprisingly good food with the other guests staying at the ranch who were a mix of horseback riders and weekend excursionists. None of whom knew about the bike ride we were going to do, but were all very excited for us. We wandered around the ranch and noticed all of the taxidermy animals decorating the lobby.

Afterwards, Mike and I played hours of ping pong. There's no tv, radio or cell service here, so we were left with the game room and some books for entertainment, but we liked it that way.

Jason and Meespace arrived later at night. We laid out all of our lycra bikewear, our water, and our snacks for the ride, so we could ride out in the morning.

Who Is You? #16

Wow you really messed up this time.


You = Bernie Madoff

Movie Review: I'm A Cyborg But That's OK

I'm A Cyborg But That's OK, 2006
dir. Chan-wook Park
Romantic Comedy, 105 min
South Korea

This movie was oddly intriguing. After all, we all find some pleasure in crazy people finding love. It's a love story between a woman, Young-goon, who believes she is a Terminator-like cyborg set to destroy and a hyper-paranoid mental patient, Il-sun, who believes he will shrink into a dot if he doesn't brush his teeth constantly. We watch their love grow as Il-sun becomes determined to help Young-goon eat again. (She believes that the food will destroy her cyborg insides)

The colorful color palette and very dramatic performances serve the "live-action-cartooniness" lovingly. They are playful and complement the cast of characters very well. The pacing needs some work and somehow doesn't share the same energy as the sets and clever cinematography. Overall, worth checking out, but I would hold off on watching a second time.

Grace and her Meat Lover's 27th Birthday dinner at Mastro's, Bev Hills

Grace loves steak so it was fitting that she choose a steakhouse for her 27th birthday celebration. This was quite a step up from her last birthday celebration which was not much more than Grace in pajamas and a bucket of chicken. I was surprised that Grace even wore a dress for this beef party.

We wined and dined over gigantic pieces of beef, lobster mashed potatoes, gorgonzola mac and cheese. Grace and Ryan shared a 48 oz porterhouse while the rest of us enjoyed more modest cuts. Nevertheless, Mike's recent transition from vegan back to meateater put him in a biggest food coma of his life.

For dessert, Ryan arranged to have a candle put into a very inviting slice of triple chocolate cake. We were all ready to sing "Happy Birthday" when Grace decided to just blow out the candle and say "Oh too bad. No singing." Our slight disappointment disappeared quickly as we realized how good our desserts were. Oinky oinky.

As Grace puts it, "Good times"

My Perpetual Struggle With Wanting

OK. While I admire those who can live with a single pair of multipurpose shoes (usually men), everyday I enjoy the privilege of choosing which pair of shoes to wear. More often than not, I choose my Toms or a vintage pair. Those are the practical and I don't feel so materialistic when I wear them. Here's the struggle: Despite the comfort, I still wish I could wear a pair of sky high Christian Louboutin's, or YSL's or whatever!

I love fashion. I like the glamour of it despite full knowledge that true glamour doesn't exist. The illusion of glamour, really. I appreciate the energy put into it, I suppose. How much thought is placed into every accessory and how much grace and swagger comes as a result really intrigues me. Something about the dazzle of it all. I wish I was graceful! Then I wish I had that Alexander McQueen dress, the Balenciaga whatever, and the Goyard luggage. Now, the dangerous temptation...

It really is hard to resist, but so delightful to imagine that so much imaginary glamour and good feelings could come from that one LAMB purse, the Chloe glasses and DVF dress or any other overpriced luxury item. Me wantee!

But this is my understanding. I fully know that these things won't bring me glamour or gracefulness for that matter. I'm no Victoria Beckham. Not to mention that my wallet is nowhere near as capable as Posh or the Olsens. I am aware that fashion is a fleeting artform that changes all the time. It is the art of wanting. And best when you can't have it, otherwise they're just clothes.

Ely Kim's Boombox

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

Boombox is a video collage of 100 songs, 100 places over the course of 100 days.
Ely is a friend of a friend. He is currently working on his MFA at Yale. This is what you make with an MFA at Yale. Enjoy.