Philly, home of the bacon-tini.

Back from a week in Philly, first visit. First time in a long line of traveling where I did not feel comfy walking by myself in a city. Could have been the guy that scared the crap out of us, screaming and yelling as we got out of a taxi at our hotel or the potential physical altercation that I almost got into with a cashier at a coffee shop (yes, weird and scary) or just that the town of brotherly love has a rough edge and I’m a tad sheltered out here on the West Coast…..

The convention center was one of the best I’ve been to as far as layout (Union was intense there).  And the Reading Terminal Market cuisine was fantastic.  Rivals my old Pike’s Place stomping ground.

The city is steeped in history and culture – did not ring but checked out the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and the PMA art museum (Rocky steps) has the painting of a print that has been hanging in my house for 14 years which made me cry to see it up close (A Reading of Homer by Alma-Tadema) so gorgeous. Foodies would dig Philly  – we went to Alma de Cuba http://almadecubarestaurant.com/ one of Mr Starr’s – http://www.starr-restaurant.com/  and then went back again as it was so good (ceviche, scallops, vaca were table slappers)….  Continental and Tangerine were also fun atmosphere and good food. 

The piece de resistance was an afternoon spent at National Mechanics Restaurant & Bar – http://www.nationalmechanics.com/ where we sat and talked with 2 guys from South Philly about cheese steaks (they are Jim’s) not Gino’s fans, sports, software and music.  They challenged me to have a “bacon-tini” from the jar of bacon infused vodka on the shelf.  I being of Midwestern and Polish stock was up for the challenge.  After eating headcheese and blood sausage that my Grandfather made at a young age, not much grosses me out.  And I have to say it was good, not “I want 4 more” good, but like a very very dirty martini that had bacon in it.  Okay so it did have some bacon fat floating on top but if you didn’t look it was tasty.  Who know Philly would serve up a new way to have pork….. 

Places to check out:  Alma de Cuba, Continental, National Mechanics, Tangerine and any other Starr Restaurants.  Philadelphia Museum of Art, Reading Terminal Market.  There are great vinyl stores in Philly, my one regret that I didn’t get out to these as I ran out of time.

Tips:  You have to make a reservation to go to Independence Hall and it sells out fast.  Don’t walk downtown by yourself at night.

Hedda’s Helpful Travel Tips #1

Never pass up a chance to go to the bathroom. Especially when in a city you don’t know well. This also applies to family gatherings as its the best way to get away from your skeevie Uncle Walter.

Sin City Summation

“Vegas is built on the kick-back, once you understand that you’re golden.”  This wasn’t necessarily news to me, but to hear a local tell it and many stories about the “kick-back” I was amazed.  6 days there is definately too much, especially with work being the main reason for being there.   Work all day, up all night makes one a tired girl with sore tootsies. 

Highlights – meeting VIP host Adam from the Palms (all of the clubs there are fantastic, Paul Oakenfold was of course amazing – the club itself, Ghostbar was my favorite (loved DJ eXodus).  98% sure we had a Jessica Simpson sighting at the Playboy Club during lingerie night.  Dinner at Fiamma (MGM Grand) could not be beat. (ask for David and have either the lobster gnocchi or Kobe beef Spaghetti – dessert have the duo – the chocolate mousse is a table slapper).  Even my neighbor Thomas Keller’s place Bouchon couldn’t beat it.  Work was great, got to see lots of folks that I don’t see as often since we moved.   Re-met Pete Rose in the Forum shops at Caesar’s.   Checked out Poetry (Hip-Hop) one night very cool.

Perfecto at Rain - Paul Oakenfold

 

Lowlights – Vegas was dead though, no lines, no traffic.  Cabbies said 40% down from the usual, the Venetian/Palazzo is about to file chapter 11 and the City Center is stalled.  All cranes are standing stock still.  My favorite image is of the fake talking Caesar (the original pimp with Crunk cup) and the Atlantis with “Cheesecake Factory” sign that showed up in everyone’s pictures of the fake talking statues. 

Atlantis the warrior, sponsored by the Cheesecake Fact...

Everything is on sale, half off, and rooms are below $100 – so if you want a cheap vacation, Vegas is more affordable than ever. Same local who discussed kick-backs with me told me his secret.  As long as you keep Vegas out of your pockets and out of your nose, its a great place to live.  Seems like good advice to me.

What happens in the bathroom stall....

Bright light city gonna set my soul
Gonna set my soul on fire
Got a whole lot of money thats ready to burn,
So get those stakes up higher
Theres a thousand pretty women waitin out there
And theyre all livin devil may care
And Im just the devil with love to spare
Viva las vegas, viva las vegas

Excerpt Viva Las Vegas – words & music by doc pomus and mort shuman

Big Apples & Florida Oranges

The last four weeks have been quite a blur, cleaned out the house in Seattle – went on the market yesterday, been to NYC twice – saw Xanadu, Spring Awakening and Passing Strange on the Great White Way.  Julia Francis’ CD release show was lovely.  And Alex and Allyson Grey’s Chapel of Sacred Mirrors and Passing Strange have changed the way I see things  - I went to COSM both times and am going back again when I visit in June - thank you Johnny G & MJ & Snath.  I saw a Yoko Ono installation and 15 other amazing galleries, and I had my first UDI after watching the sunrise in Chelsea.  Things always seem to happen in New York City…..

Am in Orlando this week for work – in my hotel room tonight and watched the HBO movie Recount about the 2000 election on the eve of Hillary bowing out of the presidential race.  I started watching while running through some email and was like whatever, but then I couldn’t stop watching and got more and more pissed off – I had FORGOTTEN what a CF that whole thing was.  Made me think, WHAT are we doing this time so nothing like that happens again????   WTF??? Katherine Harris???   I’m all for ethics and morality but I want to see some fight from my party leaders, so ladies and gentlemen, get your can off whoop ass out!!!!!   Or we’re going to have 4 more years of $20 gallons of gasoline, “new and strange” weather patterns that of course aren’t related to that myth global warming, RECESSION, FORECLOSURES, BAD NEGATIVE ENERGY, oh yeah and that little thing called “the war in Iraq” that has no end in sight.  Instead of asking the royal “we” tomorrow at least i’m going to start asking people if they are registered to vote.  Next Step….tba…..  its all apples and oranges isn’t it anyway?

 

 

Lucky Pennies from Heaven

What at treat to watch a good friend rock out and release her second CD into the world.  Julia Francis (known accomplice of mine in many capers) played with a full rockin band last night (many of whom are on her new album, Lucky Penny) at the Triple Door’s Musicaquarium in Seattle.  There were over 100 people there – lots of familiar and new faces.  Note to self Tues is a school night, good lord, sleepy, sleepy today.  Was so nice to see my old work crew and theater friends, like old times.  Makes me miss living in Seattle.  Although if it was snowing this week I’d probably be singing another tune. 

I feel ‘Lucky’ to have watched some of these songs start from a scribbled note in Julia’s journal or something that happened while we were working or traveling or whatever that eventually made it into a song.  A funny snapshot in time.  Songs are like that anyway for most people, but its been fun seeing them start as a sparkle in her eye and grow to a full grown adult-sized song.

2 more CD release parties are coming up in San Francisco at Hotel Utah on May 6th and Sebastopol (my new town) at Ace in the Hole Pub on May 8th – see Julia’s site for more details www.juliafrancis.com.

Its been awhile since I’ve been up to Seattle from Cali – I miss family & friends of course, A few other things I miss about Seattle, especially in our neighborhood Wedgwood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedgwood%2C_Seattle%2C_Washington -   Black Pearl, Wedgwood Ale House and the proximity to NorthGate Mall & Fred Meyer.  Sebastopol is lovely but it is country livin, only has 7,500 people and no one stop shopping.  Although it was 83 degrees last weekend on our deck and we had our first spring swim in the pool…. so what am I complaining about??

TGIF & Visitors

Last weekend fabulous SRT staff over for bonding, visitors from NYC, Chicago, a Dumb Clothing trunk show and my parents all in one week and I managed to sneak in a bunch of work and checking out some new music/movies, etc… whew, I need a nap.

For a tearjerker double feature check out the movies Once & August Rush – jeezzzz both so good.  I also bought the Once soundtrack and have taken to turning up track 4 ‘When Your Mind’s Made Up’ full blast with the top down on these country roads here in Sebastopol.  Yummy. 

Coming soon to a venue near you – good friend Julia Francis is having CD release parties for her new album Lucky Penny in Seattle, SF and North Bay -  first is Seattle on April 22nd at the Triple Door, SF is May 6th at Hotel Utah and North Bay is May 8th at Ace in Hole Pub in Sebastopol.

After frequenting our local bar/restaurant Underwood, just down the street in Graton, I’m continually impressed with the staff and chefs and how lovely little Graton has one of the most rockin bars on a Thurs night that I’ve been to in a while. 

The last bit of sun today is calling my name, so off to the deck I go. TGIF!!

 

 

 

 

The computer is my spray can

Just got back from Phoenix – One Stop Shop Producers Conference – what a great weekend!  Sha Money XL, Kisha and the terrific Money Managment Team put on a great conference.

I worked the technology lounge and panel with Arif Gursel, many thanks to Arif and all the partners/sponsors (AMP, Broadway, Cakewalk, Crossfader, DigiDesign,Digiwaxx, M-Audio, Microsoft, Native Instruments, Open Labs, PC Audio Labs, Scratch Academy, Traxxpad and Zune.)  Our lounges looked great!!

The beat battle was kick ass, there were 10 producers on Sat and then it went down to 3 for the finals.  There was an all-star celebrity panel that included Swizz beats, No ID, Dj Premier, Hi Tek, Pete Rock, Punch, Sha Money XL and others.

M-phases won with a track called “Brooklyn Biggie Tribute” which was off the hook and wild that Biggie died in 1997 on the same night (found that out from M’s My Space) – check out the hook here.

Can’t wait to hang with everyone again.  My favorite quote from the weekend was during the technology panel “Hip Hop is not dead – the computer is my spray can”.  Word.

Let’s see what would that be Technofitti?

Carnival Capers & Valentines

The last few weeks have been a blur – went to the NAMM show and met too many industry and musicians to even list.  Was super surreal being at a trade show but instead of high tech – it was all music, artists, and lots of long hair and rock and roll dudes.  I was in heaven.  Okay one name, DJ Johnny “Juice” who produces Public Enemy – he was sooo cool and inspiring, I had a great time with him and his crew.  Then a concert cruise (www.shipsanddip.com) on the Carnival Victory and 14 meetings/events planned and done in 5 days including peeps from Burning Man performing at a conference event – www.bohemiancarnival.net. 

Ships and dip was a blast, Barenaked Ladies were the headliner, and they were great, however we actually went because we love Carbonleaf – we saw them three times and participated in the “let’s get the guys drunk” party after their 3rd show.  If you haven’t heard them before check out their Indian Summer, 5 Alive or Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat albums they are awesome and really sweet bunch of dudes.  www.carbonleaf.com.  We did a port day in Jamaica and Grand Cayman – we loved Jamaica (Marshall our tour guide) took us for a great day – jerk chicken lunch, the Fern Grove, waterfalls and shopping while drinking some Red Stripe.  It was awesome.  We met some cool people too but the food on the ship was awful.  We had the most amazing meal in South Beach though which made up for it – Table 8 http://www.table8la.com/sb.html is fantastic and the chef James is from a town I lived in when I was a kid (Zionsville, In) and they really treated us with a mid-meal tuna tartar that was dreamy.  Thanks to Darlene we ordered the not on the menu Porterhouse, spectacular!!!

The performance by Bohemian Carnival and Gooferman was great as the Dev Con party too – I think the attendees won’t soon forget the spectacle – I kept hearing “edgy Cirque de Soleil”, “that was the coolest performance I’ve ever seen”,   ”where did you get those guys?”  Burning Man meets the man….. ha ha. 

Dog Oliver turned 15 today and is still our favorite valentine.

Speaking of valentines and love – if you haven’t seen Across the Universe yet – go rent it right now – its AMAZING. 

I survived the Blackout of 2008

Well, this weekend was wild here in West County – 6am Friday to 6pm on Sunday with no power, crazy wind, thunder and lighting that shook the house and made us run out and check the 2oo year old oak tree right next to our house. 

We don’t always remember we live in the “country” as we are so close to Santa Rosa & SF but as newbies, we were very jealous of the generators that our neighbors we’re running.   Was kinda of fun the first night, candles, board games, etc… but Sat we were out of water, wanted some coffee, hot food and some heat.  Thank goodness Willow Wood Cafe in Graton was still serving up Market Plates by the handful. 

More rain is coming so we may be going to Lowe’s tomorrow and check out the goods…. 

SRJC Burning Man Exhibit – Save the Date

A very cool exhibit is coming to Santa Rosa and my company Creative Maven is sponsoring.

 Check it out…..

www.srjcburningmanshow.blogspot.com