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!

apparently actors furloughed by the writers' strike also need to mail stuff

Waiting in the insufferably long line at the Los Feliz post office just now I noticed Justin Chambers of Grey's Anatomy fame two spots ahead of me in the queue. Wow, he's hot in person, wearing prescription glasses and stubble.

Even though this is my post office, I never actually go in since the wait for window service is always long, but the more convenient branch had already closed for the holiday. Don't you just love coincidences like that?

when you least expect it

I picked up Dad and Allie at the airport early this morning, and on the way home, we swung by the 101 Coffee Shop for breakfast. Arriving at the same time, but from the opposite direction, was Johnny Knoxville. He dined alone at the counter. He looked totally hot, but we didn't say anything to him.

This is the first celebrity I've seen there, even though it's apparently quite the place to spot 'em.

just one of those nights

I have so much to blog about, but sometimes you have to let the stockpile sit while the fresh adventures are still, well, fresh.

Tonight is one of those nights where I'm so thrilled to live in L.A.

A couple of weeks ago, on a whim, I took a look at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's schedule and noticed that Paul Rudd and Ana Ortiz were going to appear on August 11's Bro'in Out with Seth Morris. What?! I'm in love with Paul Rudd, and I have been for years. If he wasn't married, I probably would have thrown myself at him. (Okay, probably not, but I just like to say that.) I quickly reserved tickets, and I invited Anna to make sure I didn't try any adulterous moves.

We got there really early to get in line, because I was determined to sit in the front row. We did, which meant a perfect view. I also happened to be sitting directly opposite Mr. Rudd. But fortunately, there were other guests to distract me. To promote The Ten (which I saw earlier in the week, and it's one of those things I've been meaning to blog about...go see the movie--hilarious! I support anything that actually features Winona Ryder post-Saks incident.) Paul Rudd was joined by Ken Marino, David Wain, and Joe Lo Truglio. Ana Ortiz passed out drinks to the guests and let her tiny dog, Fidel, roam around the audience. She got some quality solo time in the beginning, which was nice.

There was some other stuff like some crazy Frank Oz impersonator and a band (The Happy Hollows). The format was like a talk show, if that helps explain all this zaininess at a comedy club. And Anna's heart stopped when she noticed John Krasinski join the audience. Apparently some other guy from The Office was there, but since I don't watch the show I'm not really savvy to who he is. (Unfortunately, I saw the trailer for License to Wed too many times watching crap cable back east in June so I've got Krasinski's face memorized.)

Grand sum of this all: a very good time! I laughed, and I wish I could write this more wittily, but realize I've been up since about 6 a.m. You're lucky this makes sense.

P.S. Seth Morris looks like a younger, taller, smaller-nosed, and non-curly-haired version of my dad. Seriously, I was looking at him thinking he looked familiar. Then it hit me he looked just like my dad--gap in his front teeth and all.

what was joe trading today?

This morning I saw Liv Tyler, her husband Royston Langdon (sporting some really hot stubble,* I might add), and their son Milo (he has platinum blond hair...how did that happen?!) at Trader Joe's in Silver Lake.

It's very funny how that happens. Sure, I've seen celebrities, but when they pop up in places you go all the time but never see them, it's kind of weird. I thought they lived in New York. Plus, I was there much later than I usually go (in the 11 o'clock hour). And I actually talked to them, but it was because I was trying to get past them in the pasta (and everything else) aisle. They had two carts and were deciding on something on the shelf. Only when Liv asked if I was trying to get by in her very soft voice did everything click. I excused myself, of course, and didn't bother them. Even though I was thinking, "Damn! People I actually think are cool!" I really dug Spacehog. I even saw them open for REM in 1999 and waited years for the music they were playing to release on their final CD. I'm going to play The Hogyssey in honor of the occasion.


* For the record, stubble is always hot, but I like to emphasize that.

celebrity breakfast

I generally detest breakfast food, so it's odd when I get a craving for that kind of stuff. Earlier in the week, I decided I really wanted to have pancakes, but I never made it to somewhere to have them. So this morning I decided I was going to have breakfast at the Brite Spot.

And guess who I saw there? Jeremy Sisto! I was sitting at the counter facing the entrance, and he was dining in a booth behind me with a bearded guy wearing a baseball hat (I didn't recognize him). Yes, I'm pretty sure it was him. When I first spotted Jeremy there was a moment of, "You know that looks like...but is it?" Then I heard him speak. He has that sexy, low voice which is unmistakable. I don't know if it was the beard or if he's picked up some weight since the cancellation of Kidnapped but he was a little fuller in the face. Still quite hot though. At the risk of sounding a bit like The Bible's celebrity news, I'll tell you he takes honey and cola with his pancakes, but I won't tell you what color his Prius is!