The Malibu Ingénue Has Moved to Paris!

Follow my adventures here: www.nicolegarton.com/cocoaparis

Celebrate San Gennaro at Little Dom's!

In honor of the feast of San Gennaro, the perennially popular Los Feliz restaurant Little Dom's is offering "special eats" and $5 wine during dinner service this week through Saturday evening. In case you have other dinner plans this week, make up for it with a lazy street-side brunch of their outrageous Bloody Mary's and blueberry & ricotta pancakes. You can now follow Little Dom's on Twitter to keep abreast of future special offerings. @littledoms

Tuesday, September 21-Saturday, September 25

2128 Hillhurst Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90027

323.661.0055

For more Italian festivity, check out Italian Feast of San Genarro Los Angeles this weekend.

Speakeasy Night at The Talking Stick in Venice 9/23

This Thursday lovers of all things vintage are invited to The Talking Stick in Venice to sip cocktails and dance to music of the teens, twenties, and thirties for Mikal Sandoval's Speakeasy Night.

Musical performance by Dutch Newman and The Musical Melodians, featuring vocalists Douglas Rogiers, Cary Farnsworth, and a special surprise guest.

Admission: $10/$5 for students with ID

Thursday, September 23

7:30pm

Come early for vintage/Halloween costume boutique

The Talking Stick

1411 Lincoln Blvd.

Venice, CA 90291

310.450.6052

California Coastal Cleanup Day Is 9/25

From Michael Blum of MSA:

Join the Malibu Surfing Association (MSA) at Surfrider Beach on California Coastal Cleanup Day, the state's largest coordinated beach cleanup.

At Surfrider, MSA will focus our cleanup on the beach areas between Lifeguard Towers 1 (pier) and 3 (Colony fence), along the Adamson House wall, and the Surfrider Beach parking lot.

All are invited and supplies will be provided. For students, this is a great opportunity for community service credit. We hope you'll join us on the 25th.

Saturday, September 25

9:00am-12:00pm

Surfrider Beach

23050 PCH

Malibu, CA

Rooftop Cinema at Palihouse

This Sunday: "Withnail and I" screens at Palihouse as part of its summer Rooftop Cinema series.

RSVP to cinema@palihouse.com.

The Bechdel Test for Women in Movies

WomenArts, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women artists gets the resources they need to do their creative work, shared this eye-opening video.

It is a bit surprising to see that The Princess Bride doesn't pass, nor When Harry Met Sally, as they feature female characters with strong personalities.

The Sex and the City movie was on TV last night, and I got sucked into watching it. Most of the film is these four (named) women talking about the relationships they have with the men in their lives. According to the Bechdel test, I don't think this movie (or the entire catalog of the TV show, for that matter) would pass.

But this makes me stop to think - women often cement their social bonds with other female intimates by talking about their hopes, fears, joys and frustrations with men. I think that talking about men is a pretty universal female trait, just as fantasizing about women is a common male pastime. I think it's fine to have limited-scope female roles in films, but I think that there should be a demand for more films that portray fully-realized adult women. The fact is, many women truly ARE only defined by then men in their lives. Perhaps if movies, which are likely the greatest vehicle of societal influence, showcased an increased number of multidimensional women, more women would embrace mental occupations beyond their boyfriends, husbands or children and expect more from their lives... The greatest single factor in the creation of films is who the directors are, which means, we need more directors to tell women's stories.

This Weekend: Renegade Craft Fair

Starting today at 11am, the Los Angeles leg of the Renegade Craft Fair begins! I am planning to take the Metro and hopefully avoid any parking situations. Can't wait to check it out!

The Story of Stuff Takes on the Cosmetics Industry

If you don't know this stuff already, you really should watch this short film. When I learned about the types of chemicals used to make cosmetics, and the complete lack of government regulation of the industry, I changed my buying habits immediately. That was about three years ago, and since then I have been buying my shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash and makeup from companies who put health & safety first. From what I've learned from The Kind Life website, there are also better options for nail polish, tampons & pads (as well as new groovy alternatives I'd never heard of), and other self care products.

Spotlight on Arthur Ganson

Mr. Ganson is a mechanical sculptor, or as the Wall Street Journal calls him more plainly, "an artist and engineer." I discovered his work while perusing Dead Man's Bones music videos. (Those boys have turned me on to a lot of cool things... like the theremin). Anyway, check out his walking wishbone for the "Dead Hearts" video below. Further down is his TED talk about kinetic sculpture. His sculptures are unlike other kinetic sculptures I know in that they are more sustained in the reactionary motion... Whereas something as simple as a wind chime stills as soon as the wind dies down and gravity brings the pendulum back to center, Ganson's sculptures seem to have a life of their own.

Eerie Summer Playlist

June Gloom is in full gear - nothing quite like the looming cloudcover to remind Angelenos of the mounting troubles of our time... But I'm embracing the eeriness of the summer's dark and cool commencement by indulging in some spooky tunes, new and old, and rather enjoying my brooding commute down the coast - I feel like I'm in a '60s spy film!

In no particular order, here's what I'm listening to right now:

"Come On Let's Go" by Broadcast

"Dance They Way I Feel" by Ou Est Le Swimming Pool

"Song for Dan Treacy" by MGMT

"The Ghost Inside" by Broken Bells

"Silver Soul" by Beach House

"Temecula Sunrise" by Dirty Projectors

"Everlasting Light" by The Black Keys

"Human" by Goldfrapp

"O Morro Nao Tem Vez" by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Stan Getz & others

"Paper Ships (feat.the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children's Choir)" - by Dead Man's Bones (I think I hear a theremin on this one!!)

"Incense and Peppermints" by Strawberry Alarm Clock

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum

"I Feel Free" by Cream

"Season of the Witch" by Donovan

"You Keep Me Hangin' On" by Vanilla Fudge

"Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine" by Country Joe & the Fish

"The Duck (O Pato)" by Charlie Byrd

"Caroline, No" by Matthew Kaminski

"Tighten Up" by The Black Keys

"The Only One" by The Black Keys

"Mood Indigo" by Nina Simone

"Ooh La La" by Goldfrapp

"Dead Hearts" by Dead Man's Bones (Wow, check out this video!)

"Runaway" by Del Shannon

"In the Room Where You Sleep" by Dead Man's Bones

Right now I'm really into the whole Brothers album, as well as Antonio Carlos Jobim's samba classic Wave, some Dead Man's Bones, Dirty Projectors' Bitte Orca, and anything with heavy fuzz, creepy keyboard & theremin. I've got a groovy 60's Palm Springs cabana/Los Angeles heist/backwater angst/stolen kisses in a graveyard vibe going on...

My New Wednesday Ritual

So a while back I posted about the Los Angeles Conservancy's "Last Remaining Seats" summer film series that they host in historic theaters on Broadway in Downtown L.A. Well..... two weeks ago I attended my first screening, and it have to say, buying the series package was a great idea and I can't recommend attending one of these nights enough! For the next month, I'll be attending these screenings, and probably eating beforehand at my new favorite restaurant!

Two Wednesdays ago I left work in Santa Monica, headed downtown, and on a whim, typed "macrobiotic" into my Yelp application. Up came Shojin which is a vegan, macrobiotic Japanese restaurant on the third floor of the Little Tokyo shopping center on Alameda. Seeing as how it was pretty close to the Los Angeles Theater, where I would be seeing "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" later, I drove over to Alameda and found a parking spot on the street. The meter was broken - bonus! (I later found out there is free parking in the shopping center lot, with validation). Anyway, I entered the mall, where I was decidedly out of place, and smiled all the way up the escalator to the 3rd floor where the huge, cheery flowers of the ceiling art glowed pinkly onto the facade of Shojin - also cheerful with its floral paintings on display. I was immediately greeted by the hostess, who later appeared to be the owner as well, and welcomed warmly. She asked if it was my first time and was very friendly. I was so happy just walking in there - as the walls were adorned with colorful paintings from a local artist and the menu depicted all sorts of yummy dishes I had only recently been introduced to (Thanks, Kind Diet!) and extolled the virtues of vegan, macrobiotic meals. I ended up ordering quite a lot, as I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I got the kukicha tea, a barbecued seitan/avocado sushi roll (half size), a vegetable soup and a really delicious ramen bowl, which ended up being huge! It had veggies and noodles and lots of broth, and I took home the leftovers, which were considerable. My food and tea was served by an adorable waitress who bowed to me whenever she placed a dish in front of me, and to whom I couldn't help but bow back! I wasn't sure which spoon I was suppose to use for what - I used the chop sticks for the seitan rolls, but that was really messy. The soup I had with a regular spoon, but I learned that the white ceramic spoon with the flat bottom is for ramen. It's a little awkward to fit in my mouth, but it worked, and my food was too good to notice. Anyway, I had to get in and out quickly so as not to miss the show, so I didn't get to try any of the delicious looking desserts. I'll report back after tomorrow!

Anyway, if you've never had a chance to visit the Los Angeles Theater on Broadway and 6th, you are missing out. This place is beyond gorgeous - it's so beautiful I would happily get married there. I realized then that that's why the venue opened up an hour before the movie started... just so people can wander around and admire the splendor of the interior. There are several levels of the theater itself, with a balcony and mezzanine. The bowels of the theater are where the bathrooms are (eww, gross, no pun intended) and these bathrooms are truly gems. I felt like a princess walking through the mirrored ante-chamber and could only imagine a bride with all her attendants getting ready for a wedding.

Once I get settled in my seat (which was nearly center - oh, the boons of sitting singly), I realized that the house was packed! Completely sold out. The director of the L.A. Conservancy spoke about the Conservancy's work and upcoming projects, mentioned the evening's sponsors, which included 213, my favorite nightlife company (I even saw Cedd Moses outside the theater when I checked in), and then introduced Matthew Weiner - the creator of Mad Men! What a thrill!

Matthew got up and spoke a bit about Mad Men, working with Robert Morse (Cooper on the show) and about the film and it's run on Broadway. Robert Morse and the film's other star - Michelle Lee - were both on hand that night, and indulged the audience with some stories of Broadway, making the film, and some singing and dancing! They were great.

Once the curtains finally parted and the lights went dim, I really had no idea what to expect. But let me tell you, "How To Succeed in Business..." is spectacular! I really don't care for most musicals, but this was smart, funny, romantic, and had choreography by Bob Fosse! I loved the '60s fashion, the storyline, the music, everything! Robert Morse was amazing - I really want to cue it up on Netflix just so I can watch it again. I really loved this movie. I believe it won a Tony, and I can only imagine seeing the original cast on New York's Broadway. I certainly came close that night on Broadway West.

The Wednesday following I did much of the same - that night the film was Hitchcock's "Strangers On a Train" and the venue was the Million Dollar Theater, at 3rd and Broadway. My dinner at Shojin ran a little long as I left work a little later, but it was amazing for a second time! It took me a while to find parking near the theater as it was later, but I made it just as the film was starting. I didn't get the chance to look around as much, but I'll get the opportunity for another showing later this month. Anyway, surprise, surprise, "Strangers" was fantastic as well! I never cease to be amazed by all the great films that have come before, and I wish I had more time to see them! What a creepy-comic film - great for this June gloomy weather we're having. The film was preceded this time by a cartoon from Warner Brothers about a bull dog who cares for a kitty cat - so funny! I missed the opening remarks, but I'm sure they were interesting, as well.

Anyway, have I sold you yet?? Get your tickets for The Last Remaining Seats already! They are mostly sold out, except for the last two. Here's the link: http://www.laconservancy.org/remaining/index.php4

Week 3: The Importance of Being Prepared

So, although I didn't keep track of week 2's breakfasts with blog posts, I did have a great week of eating interesting and delicious vegan foods. I think I started detoxing and was pretty tired last week, and my mind was really foggy, which is probably the reason why I didn't manage to blog every morning! Anyway, I will be better this week, because I really thinking the blog has helped me to stay on track. All of that aside, I ended up having a bunch of foods yesterday that normally would have been treats to me - hot chocolate (nonvegan), tea sandwiches with cream cheese, maracoons and pizza with cheese and sausage. I felt a little like indulging in what I thought would be yummy stuff (even though I knew they were not "kind" foods), but I ended up feeling so sick by the end of the night... bloated (I never used to feel like this!), heartburn-y, and head-achey. Ugh! So, that sure showed me - after nearly 2 weeks of eating great yummy healthy foods, my body totally rejected this gross stuff I put into it, and I won't soon do that again.

Next time, I think it would be helpful to keep sweets somewhat on hand to indulge without totally giving in to the crap, and also to bring food to parties to share and to make sure I eat how I want to eat. (Yesterday, at a Lost viewing party, I brought Malibu Monkey lemonade and macaroons from Chocolate Box Cafe.... sooo good, but I should have brought something more substantive for myself).

I think I also have to be wary of eating anything with white or cane sugar.... I'm such a sugar addict! I need to try out some of the brown rice syrup recipes so I can have some sweets without totally going on a sugar meltdown.

Yard Sale 5/23/10

I'm having a yard sale tomorrow! Come on over bright & early for some shopping. I'll also have a basket of fresh eggs... while supplies last!

6:00 AM to 12 NOON

Details here: FANTASTIC YARD SALE! May 23, 2010 ... - Malibu, CA 90265

- PennySaverUSA

"Write the Future" Best Nike Ad Ever

Bam!

World Cup starts June 11th. Here's how to watch, from ESPN:

ESPN will air 44 FIFA World Cup matches from South Africa – the most ever for the network in one tournament. ESPN2 will feature 10 matches. ABC will broadcast 10, beginning with the U.S. Men’s National Team’s tournament opener vs. England on Saturday, June 12, at 2 p.m. ET in Rustenburg. The tournament will conclude on ABC with the title match Sunday, July 11, at 1:30 p.m. ET from the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Coverage will begin Friday, June 11, on ESPN, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV, with the tournament’s opening match at 9:30 a.m. from the Soccer City in Johannesburg, host country South Africa versus Mexico.

L’origine du monde

I happened across this "only in Paris" moment captured on a Parisian English-language blog, and had to share. A mural-sized and EDIBLE version of Gustave Courbet's "L’origine du monde", considered "the artistic gold standard of female genetalia portraiture" has been installed in Paris by the artistic duo Zoom. It is a highly pixelated version of the painting composed of dark and white chocolate, cheese and bread. Inspired by the 1866 original hanging nearby in the Musee d'Orsay, the artists wanted to "titillate ALL the senses while experiencing art." It's hard to improve upon such a celebrated piece, especially such a beautiful form, but chocolate always adds a certain thrill...! Check out the video below that accompanies a serendipitous meeting.