Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Viva Vinyl!

I just opened my copy of of The Raconteurs' Salute Your Solution Record.  I've had it for a while, but for some reason I kept telling myself not to open it because I want to keep it in absolute prime condition.  I'm listening to the record as I type this and it's absolutely marvelous.  I'm pretty sure I've heard these two songs before: "Salute Your Solution" and "Top Yourself (Bluegrass Version)", but I'm listening to them with new ears since this is my firs time listening to them on vinyl.


Vinyl rocks.

Which by the way reminds me of an episode of No Reservations when Anthony Bourdain travels to Jamaica and hangs out with a musician who tells him about this circle of life/mega recycling process that occurs with records. Apparently dancehall musicians cherish vinyl to this day and is what they send to djs in hopes their music will be played on the radio or at a party.  If their record doesn't sell then it's recycled and made into a new record.  How cool is that?!



Saturday, April 25, 2009

Friday, April 10, 2009

Getting My Martha Stewart On

The day in pictures...

I saw this sign on my way to shop for two gifts at Street Light Records and decided to stop by for some tasty seafood, in this case "si food"...





The fish tacos were not as good as I expected.  They were $7 (a little pricey) and there was barely any fish in them!  But they look so good in this photo right?

I had the hardest time shopping for the gifts!  I spent at least thirty minutes at Streetlight and left without buying anything.  I decided to go to the mall, which I never do by the way because I dislike spending money on big companies that don't really need any more money to begin with and frankly, shopping at thrift stores is so much more fun because you never know what you are going to find.  The mall is also a place I don't really want to be at because I worked in one for four years.  The first store I went to was Nordstroms and totally got distracted at the shoe department.  Ibiza and Steve Madden seriously make the sexiest shoes ever.  I will have to search for all the cool ones I drooled over today and post pictures soon.  I left the mall without purchasing anything, but I did find inspiration at Urban Outfitters.  I totally fell in love with the following headband and I know the lady I'd be giving it to would appreciate it...



It's really cool looking in person and I like that it's girly, but tough.  I've also been seeing zippers all over the place and absolutely loved the idea of making a rose out of one.  I checked the price tag for this cute headband and it was $24 and that's when it clicked!  I can buy $24 worth of materials at the craft store and make a dozen headbands, so that's exactly what I did, except I spent less than $10.


I honestly thought it would be a piece of cake to whip up a rose out of a zipper but let me tell you that it's not walk in the park.  I gave up after a good hour and opted to make a bow instead...


The bow took at least thirty minutes to put together, not an easy task but patience is a virtue. I also wrapped the head bands in black ribbon which was also very tedious and I totally burned off the first layer of my skin with the hot glue gun, ouch!

I found this little brooch at the craft store and had to incorporate it into a head band as well.  I think I did a beautiful job if I may say so myself.  This second headband will be gifted to lady #2 who is celebrating her graduation.  

Times like these make me realize that making something yourself is a lot more successful, not only is it a lot cheaper but you are working your brain and hands!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

I WANT THIS


It's so damn hard finding THE perfect leather jacket. I think this comes very close to what I'm looking for. Shall I buy?

Urban Renewal Hooded Leather Bomber, $168 Urban Outfitters

Coachella Blues

Next weekend is Coachella and I am not going :( My cousin Rosa and I hoped to go this year, but after planning it out the trip was going to cost an arm and a leg. The fiasco of figuring out where to stay in Indio for the night and how to get to and from the festival was so unattractive I totally gave up trying to make it work. In addition to that, attending a three day music festival is a really big commitment. Last year I went to the Outside Lands Music Festival at Golden Gate Park for three days and I was so pooped out after day one! The sun really kills you because it's beating down on your body and squeezing out the energy. There are a lot of cool bands I would have loved to see live:

Crystal Castles
Franz Ferdinand
Girl Talk
Molotov
N.A.S.A.
Paul McCartney
Peanut Butter Wolf
Steve Aoki
The Crystal Method
The Black Keys
Atmosphere
Band Of Horses
Booker T
Gang Gang Dance
Glasvegas
Liars
M.I.A
The Chemical Brothers (DJ Set)
The Killers
TRV$DJ-AM
TV On The Radio
Antony and the Johnsons
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Devendra Banhart
Lupe Fiasco
My Bloody Valentine
Public Enemy
The Cure
The Kills
Yeah Yeah Yeah's

...but I am sure they will have a show in the bay sometime in the coming months. Summer is my favorite time for live shows because of the outdoor music festivals such as Outside Lands, Rock the Bells and BFD and it's so much more convenient to go to those because admission is not $400 and they take place within 30 miles of my home. Ain't I glad I live near a popping place!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

More San Francisco Art

Now, is this made by Girafa or is it an ode to Girafa?

And this clown totally reminded me of "Smile Now, Cry Later"...

Monday, April 6, 2009

Tormenta Tropical San Jose

Today I had the most beautiful day at the beach. The sun was out, the wind was tamed, the sea was amazing and I even found a sand dollar, weeee!! It's still Spring Break for another week and you know I'll be watching The Birds for the fifth time, listening to the Botticellis and counting the days til' Tormenta Tropical hits downtown SJ!! This is mos def my favorite cumbia party. If you don't know much about cumbia, you gotta know that it's amazing music from Colombia that sounds like this...









There are a few DJs around the world who have put a twist on cumbia and mixed it with electronic, hip hop and even rancheras.
In the bay there are two djs Oro 11 www.myspace.com/oro11 and Disco Shawn http://www.myspace.com/discoshawndj who have been throwing the dopest cumbia parties in San Francisco, recently Los Angeles, and now........SAN JOSE!

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I know, I'm too cool....Hope to see you there, it's going to be hawt!