I realize that lots of people have already done this and I’m a bit late on the bandwagon, but go Simpsonize yourself! There are a couple of websites that you can do this on, one being the movie’s website, but the one where I made what you see above is best. You upload a photo of yourself and it does most of the work on its own. I didn’t have much luck on the movie website getting it to look anything like me.
I want to see you all, dear readers, as Simpsons characters! Can photos get posted in the comments on this here blog? I have no idea how to do that. Probably not, right? Oh wait – upload it someplace like flickr and then post the link. That would work! Anyone have a better idea?
Oh and the movie’s really pretty great too – I saw it yesterday, totally worth the price of admission.
Here’s me in the kitchen – don’t you just love my shoes??
Filed under: Movies
If you were planning on seeing Charlie Bartlett this summer (and I certainly hope you were), it seems you won’t get the chance. MGM decided to pull the movie from its August 3rd release date at the last minute in order to keep it from getting trounced at the box office. And while I’m disappointed because I was looking forward to people seeing it, it makes sense for the film. Now it’ll have a shot at finding an audience, which is great news! No new release date yet, but chances are it’ll be this fall or early next year. I will, of course, let you know the new date once there is one. You can read more about the decision here.
***UPDATE: Charlie is coming to a theater near you on Feb.22nd – read my post about it here.***
Portland, Oregon is an awesome town. I returned yesterday evening from a long weekend there and it was a resounding success as far as quick vacations go. I was able to get a good feel for the city and catch up with Dylan & Jennifer. And most importantly, I got to know their two rather cute and charming offspring who go by the names of Ruth and Georgia.
Here’s the happy family:
It was great to explore Portland. I’d heard so much about it and was not disappointed. It’s obviously a really livable city and while I love Los Angeles, I’m always jealous of towns that actually make using public transportation a viable option. Oh and towns where you can walk places are nice too. That’s always a bonus.
We managed to fill the weekend with lots of fun activities. Apparently, if my experience is the norm, there’s always free stuff to do in Portland. We went to a free jazz festival:
A free concert – The Minders:
And a free crafts fair:
Man do I love free stuff!
Here are a few more pictures for good measure:
Berry pickin’ – the raspberries were as delicious as they look. I was glad I thought to wear a matching tee-shirt:
Ruth:
As usual, many more photos on my Flickr page.
Tomorrow I am headed up to Portland, Oregon to visit my dear friend Dylan along with his wonderful wife Jennifer and their 2 kids Ruth & Georgia. I’ve known Dylan since I was 17 years old; he walked into the video store I was working at and asked me if we carried The Unbelievable Truth. We didn’t, but I offered to loan him my own personal copy (right after I got over the shock of meeting someone else who’d actually heard of the movie). We’ve been friends ever since. Hal Hartley brings people together.
I’m looking forward to spending some time in Portland as my last visit was not even 24 hours long. I’ve heard nothing but great things about this town, so it had better measure up! I’ll report back next week – in the mean time everyone have a great weekend.
Also – I swiped the photo above from this flickr user – thanks for the great shot footnoteblog.
Filed under: Los Angeles
My kick-ass friend Christine and I went and got some dinner last night followed by some ice cream at a lovely little parlor on Heliotrope Drive, right behind LA City College. It’s a place called Scoops, and if you haven’t been, I suggest a visit. One of my other kick-ass friends, Andy (how’s a girl get so lucky to have so many kick-ass friends?), has been telling me how great the place is for months now and he wasn’t kidding. They’re known for their wacky flavors, and they don’t disappoint: I got pistachio-fig and tiramisu. Christine got cinnamon-basil (I know!) and also pistachio-fig. Soooo yummy. When you go, be prepared for a taste bud extravaganza. Best part: you can try as many flavors as you’d like before you order.
Tell me, dear readers, have you been to Scoops, and if so, what’s your favorite flavor?
As a side note, Christine just got an iPhone. And while I’m not coveting in the way that I assumed I would once I actually laid hands on one, those things are super cool. Here are some more photos, all taken with her sexy sexy iPhone.
Please note the lil’ dog in this one. I love the lil’ dog. The lil’ dog makes me happy:
Oh great calamity,
Ditch of iniquity and tears
How I abhor this place
Its sweet and bitter taste
Has left me wretched, retching on all fours
Los Angeles, I’m yours
Thus goes the final verse of the Decemberists‘ song called “Los Angeles, I’m Yours”. Well, I’m sure that when they were writing those lyrics, they weren’t thinking about what it would be like to play a show at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic. Because if they had imagined for just one second the extreme awesomeness of such a show, I’ m sure their opinion of this city would have changed.
And indeed last night’s show was extremely awesome. And not only because of the Decemberists and the orchestra, but also because of the 2 opening acts, Band of Horses and Andrew Bird. As I said to my friend Bret (who is in my Top 10 list of Amazing Concert-Going Partners) after Bird finished playing, it’s not often that you go to a show and feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth before the main act goes on.
Band of Horses (pictured above) opened the show with the lead singer telling us he was going to “try not to throw up”. And who can blame the guy? A year ago I saw them play at the Echo, where capacity is probably somewhere between 300 and 500 (I’m clearly guessing here). Capacity at the Hollywood Bowl is “just under 18,000″, according to the website. Needless to say, he couldn’t get over the size of the audience. It was rather endearing. They rocked the house and when they started “Funeral” it got its due props from the crowd (most of which came early enough to catch all 3 acts). I loved the show at the Echo for it’s intimacy, but it was nice to hear the songs holding up in a place the size of the Hollywood Bowl.
Andrew Bird. Okay, where to start with this guy. I LOVE his music. If you’re not listening to it, you’ve lost your way somehow, you’ve strayed from the path. Stop, buy the CDs, and then continue on with your life. And go see him live. This was the first show I’d been to, and I guarantee I’ll be there next time he’s in town. He manages to switch from guitar to violin and back again in record time, all while pushing pedals with nothing but striped socks on his feet. And of course he sings, throws in some xylophone for good measure, and whistles. Oh the whistling. This guy wasn’t named Bird for nothin’. With only a drummer (who also plays keyboards) and bassist backing him up, he creates a beautiful wall of sound.
And finally, the Decemberists took the stage with the orchestra on a riser behind them. It was unreal. Last summer I saw Belle & Sebastian play with the LA Phil, and while I’m not a huge B&S fan, that too was a fantastic show. And it ruined me. I can’t ever see them play again because it’ll never come close. So I am now, I think, also ruined for other Decemberists shows. I’d be the one in the back grumbling that the song was MUCH better with a timpani, and wow, this really isn’t so great without a string section. And seriously, the harpist and oboist, they really brought a lot to the whole thing.
Yet another glorious night in Los Angeles. Being at the Hollywood Bowl always makes me love this city more. It’s one of those places that makes me feel lucky to live here and stop and go “Look! Just LOOK at where we are!! Isn’t this place GREAT?” It seems that Los Angeles, I am indeed yours.
More photos up on my Flickr page very soon…
Update: I just found this great review for the show over on Losanjealous.com. Well worth a read!
Filed under: Television
Pushing Daisies is the name of the TV series I’ll be starting work on at the end of July. Today’s article in the New York Times about the show and its creator, Bryan Fuller, has inspired me to start talkin’ it up. I’ve seen the pilot and it’s great, so be ready to set your Tivos for 8pm on Wednesdays come the fall.
And I have more invested in this project than just a job, mind you. I worked with Bryan on Wonderfalls a few years ago, and he’s a fantastic guy. We like it when fantastic guys succeed. It’s much better than when jerks succeed. And working on Wonderfalls also taught me first hand the agony of getting a show that you’ve put your heart and soul into canceled. It isn’t fun. All of us who were part of it loved the show and loved working on it, a rare combination. It was terrible having only 4 episodes make it onto the air, but the good news is that you can get all 13 episodes on DVD. Check it out – it’s great! As a bonus you’ll be able to witness my first (and only) venture into acting as the voice of the Cocktail Bunny.
Anyhow, the Wonderfalls team was a real family, and I’m happy to say that 2 of the editors from Wonderfalls will be cutting on Pushing Daisies, so it’ll kinda be like getting the band back together. We’re all looking forward to it, and I hope you’ll all be watching.
Filed under: Randomness
I took this last night at a party where we were settin’ off fireworks on the balcony. Not too shabby for amateur hour. I’m pleased to report no fires or lost extremities.
Happy 4th everyone.
