08-09-2010 Wale

 

So these Shepard Fairey wheat paste murals have been popping up everywhere.  This one feature in my blog I found on the North Side of Pittsburgh  (across from the Andy Warhol Museum) during my last visit.  I've also seen a few in my own neighborhood in South Philly, and if I remember I'll snap a photo of them next time I'm walking around. 

Speaking of my neighborhood, I went with a bunch of my dance friends to the Riverview  Theater tonight for Step Up 3D.  We've been gathering this week to review the previous movies in this series and we played a game like bingo while doing so.  If you've seen any dance related film, you know that there is a certain formula to these movies (and I've been told this applies to the extreme sport film genre as well).  We my friends designed some bingo cards with situations that may occur during the movie and you had to call it out as you saw it, then everyone would mark it off on their sheet.  The first to get bingo (or in our case DANCE) wins.  (I won during Step Up 2-Back to the Streets).  It was so much fun, we took our bingo cards to the Riverview Theater and played during the movie.  Some of the categories for the card were "wrong side of the track love interest", "unnecessary shirtlessness", "dance routine that erupts into a fight", "parental disapproval of dance", "work out my feelings solo", etc.  You get the point....we had such a good time with this.  

Now I leave you with as song from the film that  features one my favorites, Lady Gaga, who coincidentally I just bought her new remix record and the fame monster (both on vinyl, of course). Here's Wale (pronounced Wall-lay) featuring Lady Gaga

07-15-2010 Liz Brady

I took this photo awhile ago with my iPhone inside of one of the Liberty Place towers.  I like that you can see the other tower in the center of the oculus. 
I see these two towers every day when I bike into work, just one of my daily sights of Philly.

Today I ate in one of my old haunts in Philly, in my former neighborhood the Italian Market. (Side note, I think it is called Passyunk Square now, but whatever).  I went to Taqueria Veracruzana for dinner.  Now if you know me, you know that there is nothing more that I like better than hot and spicy food.  Just to give you an idea of my enjoyment of all things hot (and also to further gross out all of my friends) I ordered the Jalapeno Rellenos tacos, which I topped off with generous portions of hot sauce for every bite I took.  Even I will admit it's a bit overboard to put hot sauce on an already hot pepper, but hey, only I bear the heartburn that goes with such endeavors. 

Also, to commemorate my French friend on the other side of the Atlantic and her lazy day, lounging around during Bastille Day, my musical contribution will be 60's French sensation Liz Brady. Bonne fête !
 

07-14-2010 Trish

I can't sleep.  I have a huge day ahead of me at work tomorrow and here I am typing my blog in the middle of the night.  Ugh. So last weekend I headed down to Washington DC for a little getaway and to see Acres of Diamonds play at the Rock and Roll Hotel. I used to live in DC some years ago and this place did not yet exist.  It was a pretty cool venue, with the obvious theme.  I particularly liked the marble painted statues with kiss faces.  At some point during the show, we took a break to go next door where there was the most fantastic pie store.  Yes, I said pie store-and then I wondered, why don't we have one of these in Philly? This place was aptly called Dangerously Delicious Pies where I could see this as being majorly dangerous if there were actually one in Philly.  Maybe this is for the best. 

And upon running home from DC, I make it back just in time to see some of my friends perform at the Koresh Showcase.  Here is a video from the performance.  A mash up of Trish songs- which my friend Joe (better known to you as DJ Didac) made the mix.  It's pretty sexy.  And speaking of sexy, I'm leaving you with my theme music video for the day...Trish "Bump".  If  you haven't heard this Canadian hip hop artist, then you should check her out for sure.  When she blows up, you can say I told you so. 

06-18-2010 Wipers

Summer jams.  If I owned a car I would be riding around and blasting the Wipers out my windows on some freeway.  Instead, I'm just playing it in my room while I compose the dribble in this blog. 

Tonight is the perfect summer night-not too hot or humid and I'm about to see a documentary called the World's Largest out on the lawn at the Piazza at Schmidts.  I've prepared some meals of cold sesame noodles with peanut sauce and a fruit salad for dessert.  I also have some beers to consume discretely in my lenticular Steelers cups that my mom gave to me. 

I'm going to enjoy the film.  You can enjoy my summer jam instead. 

06-16-2010 True Widow

Hello and welcome to puppy land.  That's where I've been for some time now, there and Boston, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.  Lilly had three beautiful dalmatian puppies-and for once I was sad to return back to Philly and leave these little duders behind.

Unrelated note, my good friend Rennie recently sent me an mp3 link to this band called True Widow and it's kind of my new favorite thing.  They have a really good, solid rock sound which is very reminiscent of the '90s, in a good way.  Fortunately for you readers, you can check out this band here in Philly on June 26th at the Fire.  Not only are they good but their front man, D.H. Phillips has website of his art work that includes an array of paintings, drawings and really really amazing furniture.  I am sort of coveting this coffee table.  Maybe one day when I have spare cash to blow, I will commission a piece just like this.  For now, I can only afford their debut double LP, which will be arriving at my door sometime this week from Reckless Records in Chicago.  Until then to hold you (and me) over, here is a video they have from that record called AKA.

05-13-2010 Air Miami

and I'm off...first a flight to Milwaukee for the American Institute for Conservation's annual conference, which occurs annually in various cities.  Currently I hold the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the Photographic Materials Group, a specialty group for photograph conservators.  We have decided to host our reception for the group at the Pabst Mansion (if you live in Philly, you'll be stoked about this.  PBR is a beer staple in this city).  I'm looking forward of delivering you some bizarre imagery from my trip there.  AND leg two of my trip involves a visit to Pittsburgh, where I will be seeing those puppies I mentioned a few months back.  More pictures to come, I promise.

While I hate to leave, I guess I have to get out of this city sometime.  And in light of my upcoming airport travel, I leave you will the Air Miami video for Airplane Rider.

05-10-2010 Screamin' Jay Hawkins

mmmmm....hot tofu soup.   this is so delicious and one of my favorite meals.  it was probably the best idea i had today, seeing that the weather was quite chilly and nothing warms you up more than a boiling bowl of spicy soup.  if you haven't been and you live in philly, you need to check this out.
totally out of the way but totally worth the drive, jong ka jib (soft tofu restaurant) is a real gem of the city.  this whole meal you see before you was (hold your breath) $9.00!  and it's a byo!

i know you're jealous....


and just like the soup, you know you made me love you...screamin' jay hawkins

05-09-2010 Unrest

I know that sometimes I get really sentimental here about my city, but it is really nights like these and places like this with incredible views that make me really love Philadelphia.  This view is north of Chinatown on the roof of the Vox Populi building.  I happen to be at a party with someone who was kind enough to share this amazing place with me.

For those who don't know me personally, I have lived in almost all of the major east coast cities as well as many other places in the mid atlantic and even in the midwest.  And in all of those places I have found little things here and there that I loved but never have I desired to live in a place as much as I have loved living in Philly.  So much, I moved back stat after grad school.  This place always takes a back seat to our larger, more metropolitan neighbor to the north, but if you ask me as someone who has lived in both places, Philly wins hands down.  It has everything you want:  top notch restaurants, great art scene, tons of live music, a wealth of history of this country, the largest city park in the US (take that central park), etc without the high cost of living.  You may argue with me, and I welcome this, but when it's all said and done, I am grateful to call this place home.

And speaking of our music scene, I just bought a ticket to see UNREST on their limited engagement tour.  I have to admit that my few recent reunion style tours have sorta sucked eggs, my hopes remain high still that this one will be a success.  So on that note, I will leave you will a video by Unrest- still one of my favorite songs by them- make out club.  enjoy!

05-02-2010 Mazzy Star

I know it's only May but it feels more like a summer day in mid August here in Philly.  The temperatures are climbing and the humidity is evident in the air.  Yet I made the most of it this weekend escaping the oppressive heat of the concrete jungle for the more soothing breezes of the trees in Bartram's Gardens.  It happens to be the oldest botanical garden in the United States.  Nestled in a neighborhood I've never been in before in Southwest Phila, it's just far enough off the beaten path to seem rural but close enough to still catch a glimpse of the city skyline.  The day I went there was a plant sale and Yards was giving away refreshing beer on the premises.

Post garden tour was a visit to Franklin Fountain where I enjoyed some old fashion ice cream-always a good choice on a hot day.  Following that, I made my way to the Fleisher Art Memorial for an art opening of Tetsugo Hyakuttake, Scott Kip (photo featured above) and Brenna K Murphy.  The photograph I've added is just a glimpse of this incredibly crafted art installation that greatly utilized depth perception and voyeurism.  It will be running through the end of June, so I highly recommend you get yourself over there and have a look.

I'm feeling a dreamy summer jam for today, as per afternoon discussions over ice cream.  Mazzy Star.

04-29-2010 Charles Mingus

This week brought some rather sad news for Philadelphia.  After 30 years of business, Ortleibs JazzHaus closed its doors.   A rather brief article stated the reason to be due to the economy but I was just there on Saturday, one day before the doors officially closed, and it was full of people.
My friends and I started at happy hours (they had great specials) and a $5 food menu that provided me with the largest delicious salad known to man.  So much great music has gone through the doors at this fine establishment that it is a real shame to see it go.  Long lost like these rolls of film I have featured at the left, I bid farewell to Ortleibs.  Please Philadelphia developers, don't turn this fabulously charming venue into another trendy restaurant just because its in No Libs, no offense Steven Starr.   Signing off with a Charles Mingus video for Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.

04-25-2010 Wild Sugar

 So, I went on a tour of the Philadelphia Brewery Company recently and I learned a lot about making beer but I also learned that my favorite PBC beers are either seasonal (Joe Porter) or a special limited edition run of this delicious Scotch Ale (NOTE TO PBC: if you're reading, please brew again.  thanks).  While I left empty handed, I learned that if I repeat the tour next fall, I will be able to purchase a case of Joe Porter all for my own (well, I'll share with friends).


I'm going to go out on a limb here with my musical connection and say that I chose Wild Sugar because sugar is a catalyst for yeast that is used in the fermentation process of beer, though honestly, its just been my current favorite spring time biking riding jam.  Either way...here you go.

04-21-2010 St. Etienne

Spring has finally arrived and with all of my travels and whatnot, I've neglected my blog.  But life has been busy and mysterious things have been happening in my life, so you should take my hiatus as a good sign.
To the left is proof of spring, taken in beautiful Rittenhouse Square .  I'm so happy to be able to eat my lunch outside again- it really makes my days so much more enjoyable. I like to get coffee from La Colombe or yogurt from Yogorino and sit in the park all day.  I often meet my friends before dance class, too.  Its the highlight of my warm weather seasons.

To celebrate spring, I'm going to choose a light hearted tune by St. Etienne appropriately titled "spring".  This is the Air France Remix version.

03-31-2010 Bobby Womack

so, i'm out in grand rapids michigan right now for work, sadly missing my philadelphia.  so hard to be away from both my home and the place i grew up right now because our dog, lilly, just gave birth to the first puppy of her very first litter.  and it's a boy!!! more to come i'm sure once the rest of the puppies are born and i get some pictures.

but before all of the excitement back home began, i was having a typical work travel day in grand rapids.  i ate some pretty decent food here and tonight i sat in a movie theater with two other people, who were also flying solo.  perhaps others on business trips???  i saw this indie film called fish tank on a whim...turns out its about a girl who's a little lost in life and turns to hip hop dancing to find herself in her chaotic surroundings.  i saw it in this art gallery space in the downtown area call the urban institute for contemporary art, where on my way into the theater i saw some cool art on the walls that were words spelled out in old cassette tape film.

the last night in my bed and breakfast too... leonard at logan where i'm staying in the princess cecille room complete with spa tub and heated floors in the bathroom.  if you ever end up here, i can highly recommend staying her.

in the movie fish tank, there is one song that predominates the film, and that's a version of california dreamin' by bobby womack, so i'll leave you with that.  good night grand rapids, hello philly tomorrow.

03-22-2010 Orange Juice

My birthday.

 
My birthday jam.  Simple as that.

03-18-2010 Lady Gaga

Today begins my extended weekend vacation and it couldn't have come at a better time because the weather is just fabulous.  I ended my work day and headed off to dance class, where we performed day two of the Lady Gaga choreography for her new single "Telephone" which features Beyonce.  I'm so excited for the weekend because it is the March Koresh Artist Showcase and some of my fellow dancers are featured in one of the pieces.  The shows are at 8PM on Saturday, March 20th and at 6 and 8PM on Sunday, March 21st.  Go and check it out.

There is so much hype around this new lady gaga video for "Telephone".  The images have nothing to do with the song's lyrics but as lady gaga explains in many a interview, her concept was based around how Americans are so addicted to technology.  Really?  Whatever you want to make of it, this video is worth watching,  just because its so weird.

03-17-2010 Big Star

Today is St. Patrick's Day and although I probably could care less, I still enjoyed a nice brunch with some of my friends who were proud to be Irish. 
It was supposed to be an Irish Breakfast eating contest between two of my coworkers, one male and one female, but in the end the tiny girl just ate the whole lunch, which consisted of some meats I've never seen before.  I had a grilled cheese and a salad- nothing Irish about that.

Unfortunately, the day ended with some rather sad news that Alex Chilton of Big Star passed away.  At only 59, the singer and guitarist leaves us with a couple decades worth of incredible music.  I've always been partial to the song "thirteen" so i'm going to make it today's musical tribute. 

03-14-2010 Air

I guess spring is here because its been rainy and gross (but warm) for the entire weekend.  I finally got out today for a little walk to the store and I almost lost my mind when I saw a hypercolor car.  Who would get such a paint job is beyond me but here is proof as to what I saw.  It was purpleish with pink as the other color...ick.

Well, I had to take a picture and I used my new iphone app called hipstamatic to do so.  Its a super cute vintage camera that allows you to change the lenses, film and flash within the app to make vintage looking photos with your iphone's camera.  Its been my new obsession all weekend.


And speaking of obsessions, I can't stop listening to Air's Moon Safari record from 1998.  I've been jamming out to it as though I've never heard it before.  So here's a little sample from the record, so you can flood you ears over and over again with it like i'm doing.  The video features a live version of "Remember" from a concert in Warsaw Poland.  I like how its shot in a tone of blue (sort of reminds me of how this weather makes me feel) and the sound quality is good.

03-06-2010 Crazy Elephant

Full of breakfast foods, I ventured out on the sunniest day of march thusfar to east falls for my friends baby shower.  I made my way to market east and i've never seen the train station so crowded.  on a saturday!!! -so many people rushing by and the trains looked liked clown cars when people were exiting.  Looking around at all of the people and their gift bags, I quickly remembered it was the last weekend of the philadelphia flower show. 



Today my friends Ryan and Megan sent me a link to their awesome music site Polizei Motion which features rare tracks from bands you've probably never heard of but should really want to check out.  These tracks are really superior songs and are hand picked and curated by ryan and megan who have fantastic taste in music.  So you should trust me on this and check out these recordings uploaded from their own personal record stash.  This Crazy Elephant song "dark part of my mind" (1969) is my jam. 

03-03-2010 Mary Wells

sea creatures and baby quilting-these were the handmade gifts we delivered to emily and jeb tonight for their new baby girl, esther.  she was absolutely adorable.  in news, i found out a few hours later that my mom's dalmatian is pregnant and will be having puppies at the end of the month.  yay! while we are saying hello to these babies and puppies, i'm leaving you with "bye bye baby" one of my favorite motown  songs ever.  mary wells had such incredible voice-and coincidentally her middle name was esther.  enjoy 

03-02-2010 Philip Glass

Monday night and another full moon.  I saw it illuminating the sky behind the backdrop of Penn's Landing as I looked down Pine Street.  I only had the iphone camera tonight so the picture was not fantastic.  You have to just take my word for it. 

Still in my work clothes (a vintage dress I bought last year at Sweet Jane),  I met my friend Megan for dinner at Lovash.  We headed to the Ritz 5 where we were joined by Mary and Meg to see the Art of Steal, a documentary on the controversial move of the Barnes Foundation's collection of modern and post-impressionist paintings from its original location, which was willed by Barnes himself to never leave his building, to a new, more tourist friendly location less than five miles away in Center City Philadelphia.  Definitely worth a watch on the big screen but might suggest you skip the heavy meal beforehand and save it for later.

The movie soundtrack was heavy on the Philip Glass but there was also an orchestrated version of Black Sabbath's Iron Man.  I didn't see who performed it in end credits, but if anyone sees this film and keeps their eyes open, let me know.  In the meantime, today's video is a composition from Philip Glass c.1979 made for Sesame Street.  Its pretty mesmerizing. 

03-01-2010 Cat Power

March already.  My birth month and a time for new beginnings.  I spent the weekend helping a good friend move, so like me, she could experience some much needed change. 

This evening, the sky was a unusual color- an overcast of gray with an undercoating of turquoise.  A back lit area over the city landscape on the left, a deep dark shade over the delaware river on the right.  Later on, a full moon lit up the deep beautiful blue sky, illuminating the concrete of the streets.  I think for sure some good times are on the way. 

Since the sky was so perfect, I decided to choose my musical selection based solely on the moon.  If you haven't stepped outside tonight, do so and enjoy.

02-22-2010 Gary Numan

I finally got out and about today.  Inspired for a long walk because it is partly sunny, the snow is melting and i need to desperately get some groceries from whole foods, I set out on the streets for a hour or so today.  I was thinking about this gary numan song today because I would love to be 'down in the park' and not stuffed up in my house watching tv.  Oh spring, won't you come soon.

gary numan-down in the park (live) from Urg!A Music War

02-18-2010 Mims

Its day two of this choreographed combo of Mims "I did you wrong" in my hip hop class at koresh dance studio.  My back is still sore from Tuesday's rehearsal, but I'm ready for another evening of my teacher Colette Tini to kick my butt.

If you have any interest in trying to learn hip hop (even if you have no dance background at all), you should come and check out the Intro class on Tuesdays at 6pm. 



Below is the video for the new Mims single "I did you wrong" here.  It will surely get stuck in your head.

02-17-2010 Autolux

oh this snow...daydreaming of the projects i will do in the spring.  i imagine the lushness of my urban outdoor garden and also how i'll bring life back to my poor, sun-deprived indoor plants.

today's inspiration are these fantastic indoor terrariums that grace the window sills of national mechanics in old city.  i so long to make one of these.

i need to do more thrift shopping for interesting glass
elements to use for my terrarium.


meanwhile, check out this LA-based trio called
autolux.  i love this song plantlife.  i first heard it
on my friend pat's myspace page back in day...

02-16-2010 Broadcast

snow snow and more snow.  i've never seen philadelphia look quite like this.

this weather is giving me serious cabin fever.  after tons of movie watching and staying inside doing random projects, i'll be glad to hit the streets once again (if the city ever plows and the buses ever run again).  inspired by knee deep snow, this song is sure to warm your heart.  its a beautiful live version of broadcast's "winter now"  

02-15-2010 Stone Roses

just in time for the post-valentines day slump, this song was inspired by the dance floor at the barbary in philadelphia and my friend megan's valentine dress.  on saturday night, we ended up at SORTED indie dance party for their 2nd annual unloveable valentine's day celebration.  maybe it was the beer or the bubbles falling on my face from the ceiling, but either way the evening felt magical.  my heart was a flutter with this stone roses tune. 



also, check out these awesome smiths inspired t-shirts for sale from the sorted party. now go out and find the one that you love.