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