an account of an activity i didn't even do

I've been meaning to blog about this for days, but I had a busy weekend.

On one of my trips back from the French film festival, driving along Sunset, I noticed that Flight of the Conchords were set to perform at Amoeba on Thursday, April 24. Great, I thought, I might actually try to go. I hate Amoeba, I hate crowds, and I hate the anxiety waiting for free shit causes (notice how I've stopped blogging about going to free, advance screenings of movies? It's because I haven't been doing it). But I figured I'd give it a shot, what could it hurt, and I had already purchased a ticket to see Son of Rambow at Arclight for an AFI Director's Series screening for later that night.

Turns out I had to go to this school research retreat (we didn't go anywhere but the patio for lunch). I ducked out early, headed to Amoeba, and swung by around 5:15 p.m. (the show was to start at 6:00) to find there was a line already formed half-way around the one-square block Amoeba occupies. Forget it, I yelled! No big deal. I spotted Bret McKenzie in Skylight the previous Sunday, anyway. I got a better look there than I ever would have at Amoeba. hahahaha

I drove home, only to return at 7:00 to grab free parking, eat dinner, and browse around the vicinity. That's when I discovered that I was almost glad I didn't go to the show, because it was filled to the brim with hipsters. They were crawling everywhere. On the sidewalk. In Baja Fresh. In Border's. It was disgusting. They just drive me insane in their herd-like behavior and vapid conversations I inevitably overhear. And it never occurred to me that the Conchords were hipster fodder.

So now I have to grapple with the fact that I actually really like something that is popular. It's odd. You never know. When Amoeba did a Spoon promotion over the summer, I was amazed at how almost no one showed up when they opened, but the Conchords brought a monster crowd. Cash in while you can, guys!

did you know slap bracelets are back?

Apparently they are. I haven't seen anyone wearing one yet, but twice in the last week I've encountered them. First at Y-Que, Y-Que in hideous animal prints for $1. I marveled at how they are cheaper now than they were back in the day, even considering inflation should have pushed that kind of crap up.

Then today as I was walking through campus I noticed that an organization was advertising that Michael Ian Black is going to be visiting (performing, presumably) on Wednesday night. I asked someone manning the table if this was a ticketed event; it's not, but in addition to the answer I also got a slap on the wrist with a slap bracelet promoting the event.

If you can get them personalized, they've got to be back, right?

I had at least one dayglo-colored one back in the day. When was this? Probably the same time that 90210 was all the rage. Apparently, that's coming back too! (Reimagined, of course.) Nothing will ever be as good as those early years.

when was the last time you used a phone book?

And I don't mean the contacts list, sometimes labeled "phone book," on your cell phone. When was the last time you used the utility-company published yellow (do they come in other colors?) book?

Honestly, in the last several years, the only reason I ever touched one of those was to recycle it, bemoaning why it was even delivered to me in the first place. That was, until last week.

I spent four consecutive days at the City of Lights City of Angels (COLCOA) Film Festival at the Director's Guild of America building on Sunset. If the title's too cryptic for you, the subtitle of the festival was "A week of French film premieres in Hollywood." Duh, you're thinking to yourself, that's just up Stephanie's alley.

I saw three comedies: Shall We Kiss?, Game of Four, and Welcome to the Land of Ch'tis. The latter is currently only playing in Francophone Europe, has broken several French box office records, and is unlikely to be released in the U.S. despite the Weinsteins buying the rights to remake it. It also had the least sophisticated humor of the three, relying mostly on regional ignorance and rivalry. Shall We Kiss? is a farce about why you shouldn't give "meaningless" kisses when you are otherwise entangled. Game of Four is a comedy of manners about cheating on your spouse and the potential fun the injured party can have in trying to stop it without you knowing.

I also saw one drama: A Secret, which is about complicated family relations shifting during World War II and its aftermath. It's not so much about the fighting, but instead conflicts within the family about being French Jews during it.

So getting back to my phone book story... After my first film, where I spent the whole time straining to sit upright, forward, and just damn uncomfortable due to the shifting position of the taller people in front of me, I was determined to rescue my phone book from my recycling bag and drag it with me to the remaining screenings.

What? Seriously. Have you tried to watch a foreign film where the subtitles are blocked by someone's head? I don't care if people laugh at me. I paid to see the movie, and I want to enjoy it! But don't worry, I brought it with me in stylish bag so no one had a clue anyway.

It seemed my dragging the heavy book was in vain until the last night, which started fine. Then an old lady (yes, seriously) sat in front of me. I think she had a bit of difficulty seeing because of the people in front of her so she was as tall as could be throughout the film. The film was projected with the subtitles abnormally low. This is to say nothing of the poor design in general (a gentle slope, low screen, etc.).

What did I ever do before stadium seating?

fresh and easy

Well, I've had a request to blog about this, so I'm going to do it. Not that I didn't think about doing it yesterday afternoon when I got back, but one thing led to another and I didn't.

Ages ago I heard that Tesco, the English supermarket chain, was coming to Los Angeles. And they were going to open in places most American chains wouldn't (like Compton). What a great idea! But I never heard an announcement of "Tesco is here!"

On Saturday as I'm driving around, I was listening to Off Ramp on KPCC, which went to the Fresh and Easy in Compton to talk about the somewhat disappointing show of Tesco's debut in the U.S. No wonder I never heard about Tesco, they fooled me and called themselves Fresh and Easy, which sounds more like an advertisement for adult services rather than a grocery store. I had passed by the one in Hollywood before, but didn't know what it was. Then I heard them mention there's one in Eagle Rock. I got all excited! The Hollywood & Highland complex is a disaster and horribly inconvenient, even if it's technically the closest location to me (we'll see if I use it over the summer since work will be a short walk), but tell me there's one in Eagle Rock and I'm there.

One of the commentators on the radio had complained that it's a limited-choice supermarket and maybe that's why it's not doing so hot. I don't know about that. Look how wildly successful Trader Joe's is, and if it ain't limited choice, I don't know what is! I looked it up online (I've linked you above) and saw how conscientious they are with lower energy consumption and good pay and health care for all employees.

I get excited about these things because it's a family trait to be obsessed with food. And I liked the idea that they had a lot of freshly prepared food that wasn't loaded with preservatives since I don't cook. And I'm sick of eating the same stuff from Trader Joe's all the time.

I loved it. I walked in and immediately saw the English touches, which reminded me of shopping in Sainsbury's in Lancaster, Sommerfield in Glasgow, and even Tesco Express in London. The packaging and food display is straight from England, but the food choices aren't necessarily. While they did have black currant yogurt, they didn't have trifle or digestives! The prices are completely reasonable, if not even cheaper than other stores. They sell plenty of non-F&E brands too, including toiletries, detergents, and alcohol. And they have a big tea section, including some choice decaf black teas (always difficult to find).

I bought a fresh pizza (ready to bake), a frozen one, a frozen dinner (that I discovered later was portioned for two, which then made it a healthy choice...I'm going back for the Shepherd's Pie!), two prepared salads, and some other odds and ends like fruit, hummus, and the best croutons in the world (which I've had difficulty finding lately).

You have to check yourself out, which isn't that big a deal, but something you don't see much out here. My problem was that because I was using my own bag the machine would freak out after I scanned every other item, even when I kept punching "I'm using my own bag."

Upon leaving, I was given several coupons for $5 off a purchase of $20 or more over the next couple of months. You bet your ass I'll be using them.

photo update

Since I know you're unlikely to keep tabs on the update status of my photo album, I thought I'd alert you that I finally downloaded a bunch of photos from my camera and spent the time to upload them and others to the web.

Now you can enjoy photos from my October 2007 trips to San Francisco and Portland, Maine, as well as photos I took about a month ago while on a walking tour of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Caltrans building. Click here to start the fun.

What you won't see in the photo album, is this adorable creature:



Cute, isn't it? Well, I ate him. He was a cake from Albertson's (they actually have an incredible and affordable bakery, including gourmet cupcakes). He elicited questions at check-out and oohs and ahhs from Allie when I showed her this photo. She calls it the "Muppet cake." I haven't seen one like it since.

you're not going to believe this (or maybe you will)

I haven't blogged in a while, so it's probably time I gave you some of my current frustrations.

First of all, I have a blister approaching the magnitude of the one featured in Run Fat Boy Run. (It was a funny movie, but it wasn't as great as the trailer made me think it might be. By the way, Allie spotted Hank Azaria in Westwood on our walk back to the car from the incredible Diddy Reese's.) Did you know that you can get a blister on top of one you already had? Now you know. It's ugly and it hurts when I walk. I'll spare you photographs.

Last night I attempted to see Sex and Death 101 at the Laemmle Sunset 5, where writer/director Daniel Waters was due to do a little Q&A afterwards. It was not publicized much from what I could tell, yet the damn thing sold out before I got there. When I got there and saw a bunch of late 30s/early 40s people milling about in front of the theater it hit me that I should have realized that most Gen Xers would flock to this (hey, it's a nice change of pace from seeing a movie with a theater full of The Greatest Generation). I was excited because Winona Ryder has actually got a significant part in a film! But they were excited (probably) because it's from the writer of Heathers. And this is after I listened to some guy promote his book about how great Generation X really is on one of the local NPR shows in the afternoon. I just thought it was a little funny. So I'm going this afternoon when it will be cheaper and hopefully not crowded. I don't like crowded movie theaters, especially non-stadium ones. I love Laemmle, but I'd really love them if they had stadium seating.

Then this morning I started looking into buying a Flight of the Conchords CD, because Allie got me hooked on the HBO show (via a YouTube video that made me laugh my ass off). They've got an EP out and a full length releasing later this month. I was bummed to see that they are going to be playing in L.A. on May 30, when I'm likely still to be back east celebrating Allie's graduation. I placed an order through SubPop to buy these things, and when I checked that email account I found an email from the Superdrag folks.

You can probably see where this is heading.

Superdrag has finally booked west coast dates! And guess when they are! In L.A. May 28 and 29! (San Francisco June 1 and 2.) Do you believe this? I fly across the country to see this band and then they decide to book L.A. dates when I'm unlikely to be in town! I'm so livid. I haven't booked a returning flight yet--so I can technically make it--but I was planning to spend more than one week there. Originally we were going to spend 2 weeks in Europe, but the trip planning has imploded and we're putting it off until later in the year. Now we're trying to get little East Coast trips in there. I already booked my flight east for the 21st since it was $99 (good luck seeing that kind of fare again with fuel prices and airlines cutting flights). Leaving earlier would have meant I'd have to grade final exams in record time. But if I had known about Superdrag...

All this really gets my goat.

Superdrag are recording a new album. They're going to tour again for that, right? Right? Should I just relax? Better said than done.

Obviously.