Bay Area Bourgeois

Hump Day Inspiration: Texas

2010-03-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

Holy smokes I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow! I wasn't sure if it was gonna happen but it's official- we're taking a road trip to Austin, Texas for that giant music festival known as South by Southwest. Many bands will be discovered, as well as many new sights seen... I've never driven halfway across the country before and I'm stoked to possibly witness natural wonders like White Sands, New Mexico.

I plan on getting acquainted with our new twitter thing so I can keep y'all posted from the roads and honky tonks along the way. If I'm a little MIA for the next two weeks it's probably because I'm busy trying to get a tan at the likes of Barton Hot Springs...

The Weekend Lingers...

2010-03-08T22:58:00.000-08:00

via marispacifica

Stoked on free CDs! Car rides are much nicer now with the sounds and beautiful covers of James + Evander's This Isn't the Beginning of Anything and Mist and Mast's Action At a Distance. PS- Fleet Foxes Remix? Yes!

Highlights from last Friday's Art Murmur definitely include the sculptural works of Mari Andrews and Sheila Ghidini's works on paper (and beeswax!) at 23rd Street's Chandra Cerrito Contemporary.

I shot a baby. Ha, sorry- Lauren and her beautiful little Kiera were the perfect mates for a sunny afternoon at the park and it was wonderful to have the chance to capture them together.

Meghan made us a twitter, oh whaaa...

Now that I watched the Oscars, there's some definite catching up to do- namely, Crazy Heart and A Serious Man. Where have I been?!

HCFM: Little Boots

2010-03-05T10:12:00.000-08:00

Little Boots definitely took the electronica scene by storm last summer, as evidenced by the endless multitude of remixes of her work (which is apparently the gauge for a successful artist now? anyways).

Breathy vocals akin to Alison of Goldfrapp, and a Madonna-style sexy scandal have Little Boots poised to become the next Lady Gaga (like the world needs another!). Check out Little Boots at the Fillmore and catch the rad openers, Dragonette and Class Actress. Or if you're cheap like me, see her at Amoeba Records that same day!

Fillmore show Tuesday at 8 pm, $20, all ages.
Amoeba show Tuesday at 6 pm, FREE, all ages.

Topiary in the 1930s

2010-03-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

view more at WMUD's photostream

I'm doing some research on the Art Deco period for a current project and came across this amazing set on flickr. The images are from The Book Of Topiary by Charles H Curtis. Wow.

Tuesday Choose Day

2010-03-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

Pics from Saturday night's show at the Mezzanine- !!!, Maus Haus, Sugar & Gold, and My First Earthquake all had their best game faces on and all put on amazing shows.

Meghan's pics and write-up for the Wallpaper and Limousines show last Friday over at The Bay Bridged!

Ever wonder how much you should be getting paid? This site is pretty handy.

Tonight marks another installment of Comedy Night at the Layover in Oakland. If you like Russian Roulette but can't handle the committment, this one's for you. Each week features a different line-up, last week's lucky highlights include the antics of Sammy Franco and the wit of BAB-loved Emily Heller.

Susanna's postcard project has really gotten me thinking about how to shed some extra baggage.

Lucy, the heartbreaking star of an amazing story recently told on This American Life.

aaaand....
Shoes

HCFM: Four Tet

2010-02-26T15:03:00.001-08:00

How perfect is Four Tet for a rainy Friday afternoon?

I wish I was one of the lucky peeps gettin to check out this sold out ethereal act tonight at the Independent... but the weather is making me somewhat ok with staying in and listening to amazing tracks like "Hands" amongst my blankets. However, if you're braving the rain the live show promises to be worth it, with amazing opening acts New Villager and BAB-loved Rainbow Arabia.... so dry off by getting your dance on, it's gonna be a damp one.

PS- don't forget about all the other great shows happening this weekend that aren't sold out- Wallpaper promises to make you move at Slim's tonight for $14- definitely worth checking out if you haven't already!

Currently Obsessed With: Urban Loft Rugs

2010-02-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

After the cat threw up on my little Ikea shag number one time too many, I find myself in the market for a new rug. I'm trying really hard to follow the 'buy less, buy better' school of thinking, so am determined not to return to the big-box default choice. I'm digging several from Urban Loft, but have yet to decide on a style. Patterned? Shag? Modern? Traditional?

Monday Morning Music

2010-02-22T12:06:00.000-08:00

A little thing called Noise Pop is showing up again, time to get it checked out: the schedule.

Wednesday features a lovely hump day happy hour presented by SomaFM with entertainment from Love is Chemicals, Ian Fays, & Mist and Mast at divey bike bar Bender's in SF- no cover! PS- can't be there live? Rock out on your itunes with the Noise Pop channel on SomaFM.

Check out this video of Love is Chemicals on Pacific Noise:

Doors: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Show: 5:00 PM
Adv: Free, / 21+

HCFM: Birdmonster!

2010-02-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

I totally blanked on HCFM this week -- worst blogger ever! Sorry guys!

If it's all the same to you, I'm going to keep this brief. Tonight you will find me at Bottom of the Hill for the Birdmonster show. Partly because my boyfriend knows the drummer for Here Come the Saviors (who you guys should totally come see) and also partly because it's Birdmonster and Bottom of the Hill and I love the Bay Area, duh.

Show starts at 9, 21+, $12 at the door.

Hump Day Inspiration: Bee Healthy Honey

2010-02-17T09:43:00.000-08:00

Check out the awesome shelves lining the interior of this sweet local honey shop. Bee Healthy Honey, located on Telegraph in Oakland, made for a pleasant surprise when we stopped in on our way to get coffee next door at Cafe Sidamo. Packed with beautiful beeswax candles, vitamin-rich pollen by the jar, hand creams, and of course a bevy of local honey types, this quaint specialty shop has me inspired to... well.... 'bee' healthier. Stop in from 3-4 pm during the week for honey tasting- flavors include raspberry, blackberry, wild flower, and sage.

And those shelves! Love those shelves.

Another Reason Why the Bay Area Rocks: This Is February

2010-02-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, President's Day, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday...
Take your pick- this is a good week for celebrating!

Above: pics from the Albany Bulb and it's library, Lake Merritt and its birds. More on flickr at marispacifica.

Tonight @ RPS Collective: Handmade Nation

2010-02-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to see this for so long and now it's playing down the street at Rock Paper Scissors. Yeehaw! And I plan on getting completely starstruck by being in the same room as the person responsible for making this awesome film...

The screening will be held on tonight at 7pm, followed by a talk with director Faythe Levine. Admission is a sliding scale of $7-$10 at the door, check out this excerpt:

HCFM: Album Leaf

2010-02-12T09:36:00.001-08:00

This weekend's music is neither happy nor catchy. But 'Beautiful, slightly drone-y, mildly melancholic and vaguely ethereal Friday Music' really has no punch to it so we'll stick with Happy Catchy, for now. Album Leaf's new album, A Chorus of Storytellers, is gorgeously haunting and will make for an incredible night of live music.

Tonight, the Album Leaf will be joined by San Francisco's favorite alt. classical (or indie orchestra?) quartet, Magik*Magik, at the Great American Music Hall. Magik*Magik has collaborated with John Vanderslice in the past and has a Noise Pop show planned with the Dodos, so you know they're legit.

Show starts at 9, $15, all ages.

Tomorrow: Wild Animals!

2010-02-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, as much as you'd like to think it- you're significant other is not that wild of an animal. If you're craving something a little more exotic, check out this event tomorrow evening at the hidden gem that is The Bone Room.

Rawr!

Photo Recap: Agent Ribbons with The Trifles @ Amnesia, SF

2010-02-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

So glad we got the chance to catch these amazing performers- check out the whole set on flickr!

Weekend To-Do List

2010-02-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

Things are pickin up again around here! Before you see Agent Ribbons play Sunday night, be sure to check out the afternoon showing of the hysterical and somewhat-true Pirate Radio at the Red Vic Movie House- there will be a special panel of FCC FreeRadio staff following the 2pm film.

On a side note, as far other goings-on happening Sunday.... all I can say is go New Orleans!

If you'd prefer some East Bay aural pleasure this weekend, check out the honky tonk rock of the Stone Foxes playing Saturday night at the Starry Plough in Berkeley. Saturday night also features an awesome show in the mish' for local illustrator Josh Ellingson- he'll be showing his favorites from the past 3 years at Mission Comics & Art:

Also, lest you forget: tonight is another installment of Oakland's First Friday events, check out some highlights:

2^nd Annual Fun-A-Day In the Bay
6pm-9pm
www.artclash.com
rpscollective.com

Article X
Opening Reception: Friday, February 5th 5-8pm
Johansson Projects
Featuring works by: David Trautrimas and Kristina Lewis
Performance by Conspiracy of Beards

HCFM: Agent Ribbons

2010-02-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

Imagine Amanda Palmer plus Raggedy Ann. Or punk rock Dolly Parton trio with primary-colored wigs. Twangin' alt-cabaret minus the cabaret. Um.

Agent Ribbons will be at Amnesia Sunday night. Their theatrical pseudo-country vibe should fit well in the semi-Saloon type feel of Amnesia. The Trifles and Corpus Callosum will be supporting. Show starts at 9, $7-10, 21+.

Hump Day Inspiration: Heather Thiel and her Cashew Cream

2010-02-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

Not gonna lie, I'm usually one to scoff at the quality of vegan food- it's the skeptic in me. But I've come to eat my words recently as the vegan breakfast burrito at Saturn Cafe, Santa Cruz, has proven itself worthy. The skeptic in me is once again proven wrong with the delicious sounding vegan recipe for Cashew Cream, the award winning entry of Berkeley resident Heather Thiel.

Thanks to Shelley for this inspiring story of a hometown girl who struck it big:

Heather Thiel of Berkeley, CA, has just won Vita-Mix’s national “Pitch Me!” video contest, and is being awarded the Grand Prize of $10,000.

Out of almost 150 videos, Heather won with her video demonstrating how the Vita-Mix can whip up cashew cream. You can see her winning entry here. As the winner, Heather may star in upcoming Vita-Mix television commercials and web-based videos.

Vita-Mix launched “Pitch Me!” a national video competition to discover the next great Vita-Mix video demonstration star. Close to 150 “Pitch Me!” participants entered at www.vitamixtv.com and showcased their skills with a Vita-Mix blender. They were judged on their video’s creativity, popularity and overall quality.

“Pitch Me!” commemorated the 60th anniversary of an American tradition – the infomercial. Vita-Mix founder William “Papa” Barnard created the first infomercial in 1949. You can watch his infomercial here.

2/2/2010

2010-02-02T20:41:00.000-08:00

via marispacifica

I don't care what Punxsutawney Phil had to say, Spring is as good as sprung in my opinion. Today I finally got my laptop repaired after suffering a broken keyboard for two months, walked to the tiny little Koffee Pot in the sunshine, had three homemade meals and watched the amazing Israeli movie Jellyfish. If I had to live this day over and over again, like in Groundhog Day, I don't think I would mind so much.

HCFM: Haiti Aid

2010-01-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

I have mixed feelings about band-wagons. My natural inclination is to buck the trend, beat my own path. Notable exceptions: dance parties, blogging, good causes.

So now let me blog about a dance party for a good cause. (Sometimes corny is good, amirite?)

Tomorrow night, the Mezz will be hosting a keraaaazy night chockfull of local DJs. All proceeds at the door go to Red Cross (a totally legit and not shifty organization devoted to helping people. Right now those people are Haitian and they really need it.) So go and bring all your friends! Shake a leg! Have fun! Expect a lot of this!:

Tuesday Choose Day

2010-01-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

Take your pick:

Got to check out this amazing way to help Haiti. Just discovered this sweet site as well.

Pictures from this past weekend's jager-worthy show at BoTH, Birds & Batteries and the delectable OONA opening for Swedish quirksters Movits!

Video for aforementioned Swedish quirksters:

Uploaded a few more pieces to etsy for your viewing pleasure.

TONIGHT: Free Comedy at the Layover in Oakland. Show starts at 8:30, for more info click here.

HCFM: Birds & Batteries

2010-01-22T09:55:00.000-08:00

Birds & Batteries was one of those huge local indie bands that I slept on until it was way too late. Now the world (i.e. the Bay) is abuzz with love for the experimental rockers and I'm late to the party.

Thankfully, Saturday presents a grand opportunity to right my wrongs. Birds & Batteries will be at Bottom of the Hill with promising supporters OONA and Movitz. I'm hoping to hear my favorite tracks from B&Bs recent Up To No Good EP ('the Villian' and 'Sneaky Times') so I can soak up their indie-electro-spy-pop vibe and maybe hit the town in a trench coat and a wide brimmed hat, Carmen Sandiego status.

Show at 10 pm, $10, 21+.

Coachella Line Up Announced!

2010-01-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

Hump Day Inspiration: Oakland Green Youth Arts & Media Center

2010-01-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

Last week I had the chance to check out the grand opening for the recent addition to the neighborhood, the Green Youth Arts & Media Center. A community garden peeks out from the back and freshly painted walls hung with records and art await inside. The place is home to a muralist collective, offers programs like music and video production, and is sponsored by the Black Eyed Peas' Peaod Foundation among others. I'm really stoked to have this amazing new neighbor! If you'd like to help them out, they're still on the lookout for things like art supplies and old equipment. Below is the video showing the 8 day mural process, pretty neat:

Monday Morning Leftovers

2010-01-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

Nothin' like a night of live and local awesome at your friendly neighborhood El Rio.