This past Thursday, I had the pleasure of taking part in Pinot Boutique’s Sunset Wine Cruise. The 1920′s- inspired commuter yacht is run by Patriot Harbor Lines and gives passengers breathtaking views of the Philly skyline in addition to a fantastic wine- tasting experience provided by Pinot Boutique.
On this particular evening, the theme was Pairing Wine and Cheese. Dan the “Wine Man,” owner of Pinot Boutique, educated guests and took us on an eclectic tasting tour, touching upon wines and cheeses from all over the world.
Out of the five pairings, my favorite was the Red Wax Gouda from Holland and Chardonnay by Paradocx Vineyards, located right here in Pennsylvania. The two worked together to create a light, sweet, and summery vibe.
Coming in a close second was Auburn Road’s Classico, a delicious, earthy red made in New Jersey, combined with Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar, from Vermont. While the overall effect was on the heavier side, it’s perfect for cool, summer, evenings.
The experience of enjoying wine on a cruise is new to me, at least in Philadelphia. This inventive excursion is a must for wine lovers and adventure seekers alike and provides the perfect opportunity to socialize and make new friends. It’s just another reason to love life in the City of Brotherly Love.
How have I not seen this film before?? As I was compiling my “Movies to See Before The End of the World” list, I noticed the film Metropolis was constantly being recommended to me. Made in 1927, this film is WAY beyond its time. At first, I was a bit apprehensive because it’s pretty long and it’s a silent film, however, the action really keeps you on the edge of your seat. And what’s more, there are some delicious philosophical themes to dig into as well. Metropolis is a masterpiece and I highly suggest you check it out.
So aside from wanting to expand my cultural arsenal, there’s another reason why I’m so set on watching a ton of movies. I’m delving into the acting world!
Having already been called in for auditions, I had to find a few solid monologues- FAST!
Being the quirky person that I am, I decided to start out with comedic monologues. After going through quite a few books, I f found “222 Comedy Monologues 2 Minutes and Under” by Irene Ziegler.
The book is divided into comic and semi- comic monologues for both women and men. They range from being well- known to pretty obscure, which I found extremely helpful. At the end of the day, it’s best to be original! (I’m sure it must be dreadful for casting directors to hear the same tired monologues over and over again)
I’ve included a link to buy the book on Amazon for actors who are interested in adding some comedic spice to their auditions. Enjoy!
I’m a huge fan of lists. Perhaps it’s one of the side effects of being a goodie goodie, first in school and then in my very brief stint working in the 9-5 world. However, now that I’ve disengaged from creativity crushing office life, I have time to live! And watch films that I’ve been meaning to watch but never got around to. So to make sure I actually get around to it, I’ve made a list. I will use a star (*) to indicate the movie has been seen. Also, I will be updating the list with your suggestions in the comments below,
Movies to See Before the End of the World No, I don’t actually think the world is going to end. Catchy title though, huh? 😉
1. Citizen Kane
2. The Godfather (Was watching it with my boyfriend at the time and I fell asleep in the middle. We broke up shortly after that)
3. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
4. Pulp Fiction (it’s been a long time. need to see it again)
5. The Apartment
6. French Connection
7. Rebel Without A Cause
8. From Here to Eternity
9. The Philadelphia Story
10. The African Queen
11. Grapes of Wrath
12. Ghost World
13. Dr. Strangelove (been a while. need to rewatch)
14. Raging Bull
15. West Side Story (been a while)
16. On the Waterfront
17. Gilda
18. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
19. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (been a while)
20. Cool Hand Luke
21. Some Like it Hot
22. High Noon
23. Sunset Boulevard
24. It Happened One Night
25. Meet Me in St. Louis (been a while)
26. An American in Paris
27. Nashville
28. Inception
29. Fight Club
30. Raiders of the Lost Ark
31. Metropolis
32. Inglorious Bastards (what’s sad is I could have seen this at the Sebastian Film Festival a few years back, and I was massively hungover.)
33. The Artist
34. A Beautiful Mind
35. Rain Man (don’t recall seeing this)
36. The Spirit of the Beehive (may have seen this- need to rewatch)
37. To Sir With Love
38. There Will Be Blood
39. Far From Heaven
40. Summerstock
41. Schindler’s List (need to see this again)
Alright, this is all I can think of for now. If you could make some suggestions as to Spanish language movies that I must see, would be fantastic. (I’ve seen and probably own every Almodovar film- so anything but him) Also, my list seems very domestic to me. I could really use some international recommendations. (I’m pretty well versed on the French new wave- especially Godard and Truffaut but aside from that- more suggestions please!!)
A few weeks ago, I did what many might consider crazy. I quit my steady, decently paying, health insurance providing day job to focus on my music and creative pursuits.
After I had made the decision to make the leap, the days leading up to my formal announcement were downright excruciating. The little voice in the back of my head kept saying, “No! Don’t do it! How will you ever survive? Especially in this economy?”
Well, I told the little voice to shut the hell up and on a breezy Friday morning, I walked into my boss’ office, gave my notice, and felt an immediate wave of relief rush over me.
“Why relief?” some might wonder. “You now have no steady paycheck, lost all of those amazing benefits, and the job market sucks!”
To this I reply, TRUE. However, in this life, you cannot gain something amazing without being willing to sacrifice something. It’s a game of checks and balances. If you want to achieve great things, there is a great deal of risk involved.
Being an artist, I work best when I’m fully engaged creatively. Monotony kills my spirit and the promise of a steady paycheck every two weeks isn’t payment enough for my unhappiness. Time is my most precious commodity and Lord knows I wasn’t put on this earth to answer phones and push paper.
So when I gave my notice, I was relieved because the daily struggle of leading two separate lives was finally over. There’s no such thing as being a part time artist. It’s all or nothing baby. You wake up, you breathe it, you live it- for better or for worse.
Now when I wake up in the morning, music is on my mind. Thanks to the day job, I have the discipline to treat it like a 9-5, but with a freelancer’s get up and go attitude. Every day is different and the past month has been chock full of so many new people and experiences, I feel like a year has passed. While I have less money I am rich in time being spent with all of the things I love- music, literature, friends, and family.
It’s also incredible how things work out. I always seem to have money, whether from a music gig or an acting gig, and the opportunities just keep coming. All I had to do was believe in myself and open that window.
I’m not saying the crazy, artist life is the right path for everyone. As Andy Warhol once said, “Good business is the best art.” Perhaps your passion is business. Well, lucky you! You have the option of having an away from home office with free (usually decent) coffee.
But the point I’m trying to make is if you’re spending the majority of your day doing something that isn’t your passion- change it. I know it’s scary, I know it’s hard, but do it before it’s too late and you’re tied down with marriage, a mortgage, and kids. Money is a tool we should use to make our dreams come true. Its mere acquisition shouldn’t control our lives. Happiness matters more.
When I first stepped into Wong on Cornelia Street, I was immediately filled with a warm, cozy feeling. The softness of the candlelight coupled with the prominent use of wood in the floors, tables, bar, and shelving- created a rustic breath of fresh air. The open kitchen was another nice touch and as Chef Simpson would later mention, was a key element in the creation of Wong’s deliciously imaginative menu. When Chef was busy in his home kitchen on a Friday night, dreaming up the menu that would become Wong, friends would come over, watch him cook, and sample his latest creations.
As I took my seat facing the window to Cornelia Street, I briefly took note of the school theme present in the elementary school chairs and worn, yellowed books on social studies, arithmetic, and grammar on the shelves overhead. My partners in foodie crime soon joined me- Chef Max, Easy Mac, Ramen, and our special guest, Anna Kuchma. After surveying the menu, I knew we were in for a foodie night of epic proportions.
We started off with an array of appetizers and with everything on the menu looking so mouth- wateringly stellar, it was hard not to order all of it. My favorite of the bunch was the Duck Bun. The succulent roasted duck was lovingly laid between two halves of a deep fried roll. The celery and cucumber added a delicious crunch and texture. I could have had two orders of this but knowing there was so much more to try, I refrained. Next on my list of favorite appetizers was the Scallops with Crispy Duck Tongue, Cucumber, and Jellyfish. I know some of you may be reading this with slightly raised eyebrows, but the duck tongue complimented the scallops divinely, and the flavor was so unique, it created a sensory memory I will never forget. Actually, I can honestly say that about most of the dishes at Wong. Each and every one of them has a character of its own and is completely one of a kind, unforgettable.
After sampling a few more appetizers and refilling my wine, it was time to move onto the larger plates. I chose the Lobster Egg Foo Young. Chef mentioned to me that it was his favorite dish because it blended high- brow and low- brow beautifully. Egg Foo Young was a delicious but very inexpensive dish in China and as a child, he dreamed of what it would be like to have something as expensive as lobster in his Egg Foo Young. A few years later and voila! Dreams do come true. This was quite apparent as I took my first bite of the Lobster Egg Foo Young. The first word that came to my mind was “rich,” but in the most beautiful, buttery, someone- please- rub- my- belly- after- this- meal, kind of way. This dish had me grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Next it was onto dessert and I opted for Wong’s famous Duck a la Plum, which was roast duck ice cream along with a dollop of star anise plums (think bubble tea balls soaked in a plum syrup) and a five- spice cookie. This may have been the most balanced dessert of my life. The duck fat added a rich, buttery element to the ice cream and enhanced its vanilla flavor. The added bonus of sweet and soft textures with the star anise plums alongside the crunchy, satiating spice of the cookie made this dessert perfect.
Overall, my experience at Wong was extraordinary. If I were a school- teacher, I would give this restaurant an A++ for serving food that is not only eye- roll worthy delicious but imaginative at the same time. It would be impossible to recreate the magic at Wong and I can’t wait to go back.
So yesterday I was asked to cover the 1st Annual Great Googa Mooga in Brooklyn. Taking place in Prospect Park, this unique foodie/music festival showcased 75 local food vendors, 35 brewers, 30 wine makes, and 20 live music performances from The Roots, James Murphy, and many more notable acts.
Being both a musician and a foodie, the festival seemed like a dream come true. The concept was purely genius in theory. I went for a super early morning run, had a light breakfast, and then set off to Prospect Park to drink and feast.
But that was easier said than done.
When I got to the festival, The Preservation Hall Band from New Orleans was performing but not too many people were really paying attention.
Everyone was too busy waiting around in massive lines to get their nosh of choice. I had my heart set on Luke’s Lobster and waited in line for 30 min until I realized that it would be at least another hour until I got my hands on a Lobster Roll.
Scratch that.
Downright starving by this point (the trip into Brooklyn took a good 55 minutes for me, mind you), I scanned the massive park for the shortest line. I didn’t care what I would be eating, as long as it was quick.
And Eureka! Char No. 4’s stand had a line marked with the time, 10 minutes. I dashed over and paid $10 for a Pork Fennel Sausage. (think a big hot dog- sort of looked like this)
It was absolutely fabulous but would have been much better enjoyed with a beer in hand. I looked over at the line. Would easily be another hour and a half of waiting.
With the sun beating down on me and the prospect of hearing The Roots play in a few HOURS, I decided to leave.
On the plus side, all the time I spent waiting for the train and waiting in line, gave me time to think about how to make the most out of the Great Googa Mooga next year.
Here it is:
1. Bring a picnic blanket.
2. Bring a BIG Group. Put a few people in charge of getting beer, a few people in charge of getting the most desired food items, and a few people in charge of manning the picnic blanket.
3. Bring lots of water.
4. Bring cash.
5. Plan your Googa Mooga adventures around the bands you most want to see. Since most of the big acts performed later in the evening, head out to the festival later to avoid too much time in the heat, get some grub and drinks, and sit back on your picnic blanket to enjoy the free, fabulous music.
Side note: Waiting in line can be so boring! Talk to the people in front of you and behind you and at least make some new friends. In addition, it would be cool to have some sort of entertainment while waiting in line. Maybe food samples? Shots? Some street performers playing the ukulele? The possibilities are endless and if the lines are perpetually long, the wait could at least be made more enjoyable.
So here I am, singer/songwriter chic in New York City, whose been slowly making some career progress in between sips of vino at cocktail parties and drips of sweat at the Bikram studio. My band and I are growing our fan base (opened up for Jon Herington of Steely Dan, then opened up for Cee- Lo and the Black Keys at Virgin Mobile Freefest, performed at Sundance) and along the way, some pretty fantastic music has been written.
We’ve been playing the new material for months at our live shows and now we want to make a new album, “Draped in Green.” But how? How does an unsigned act get the capital to record a new project?
The answer for me was easy because I had been there once before- Kickstarter.
I funded half of my latest record, “The Split Sessions” through Kickstarter and decided to give it a go for this new record as well.
I played it safe with my first campaign and did everything I was told to do- keep your project under 30 days and keep your goals within reach because it’s “all or nothing funding.”
I played the game according to the rules and I was successful. I reached my $2,000 goal which was put towards my recording project. However, the funding wasn’t sufficient to cover all expenses. After the mixing, mastering, pressing of the album, and album cover design, I spent closer to $8,000 and that’s without any sort of promotion budget.
So this time around with the “Draped in Green” campaign, I wanted a real budget to work with so I could make a quality record AND promote it properly. After doing research and crunching some numbers, I learned that $25K at a minimum would be needed for me to achieve my goals. Despite many in my inner circle urging me to aim lower, I said “F**k it.” If my project requires $25K then that’s what I’m going for. Sure, there’s a greater risk that I won’t reach my goal by aiming higher, but as the saying goes- “Shoot for the moon. Even if you don’t reach it, you’ll fall amongst the stars.”
What’s more, I didn’t keep my project to under 30 days. My new campaign will last 55 days, ending on May 25, 2012.
At this point in my career, there’s no point in me starting another Kickstarter campaign with a tiny budget with the same tired time constraint. I’ll just record another album halfway without any means of promoting it. Been there, done that. It’s time for a challenge. It’s time to try something new and if it doesn’t work out, heck, at least I tried and broke out of my comfort zone.
The only limits we have are the ones we set for ourselves. If you don’t push and test boundaries, you’ll be forever running in place or moving sideways.
So I’m raising $25K in 55 days (times a tickin’!) to record my “Draped in Green” album. Will I rise to the occasion and kick some butt? We shall soon find out. But I feel positive vibes all around with this one. By aiming higher I am already seeing my campaign from a new perspective. Nothing new would be gained if I set about my campaign in the same exact way as before. And besides, if I’m going to put in my time and energy, it better be for something worthwhile and darn it, I better learn something.
Sometimes I just need to vent. Being an indie singer/songwriter in one of the most competitive, expensive cities in the world isn’t always a picnic, it’s actually quite a struggle most of the time. You wake up in the morning with this insatiable drive to create and share your musical visions with the world and every day it’s a fight against your rent, a day job, social obligations, the clock, and your own insecurities.
And wouldn’t it be nice to only worry about the music part? Simply taking in new influences and putting out dewy- eyed audio gems, painted on the canvas of your own life experiences? If you’re okay with no one ever hearing your work, this is still possible for you. However, most music is created to be shared, to connect and make sense of the world around us. If you want your music to be heard, time must be taken away from it to do the grunt work- booking shows, doing your own PR, handling the legal end, seeking out new opportunities. As an indie artist these days, you have to wear so many different hats because at the end of the day, no one cares about your music or your career more than you do.
So you work, work, work and more often than not, you don’t see the results of your labor. Or the rewards are so small compared to other industries, at least on the surface. Some days I wonder what it would be like to not be a musician, to not have melody swirling inside of me 24-7. Perhaps if I were an investment banker, the same amount of work and dedication would yield a penthouse in Soho, a chateau in France, etc… My fellow artist friends are some of the brightest minds I know. I’m sure if we took our energy and put it into more traditional careers; we’d have all of that too.
But you can’t judge the life of an indie artist in accordance with the same rewards system. Society equates “success” with money, power, and influence; however, there are a million other ways to define success. As a songwriter, I feel like the most powerful person in the universe when I have a blank sheet of paper in front of me. Anything is possible in that moment. Then to see a song being born, from a few chords and a feeling- well, there’s no better feeling. All the money in the world couldn’t match it.
As artists we are dealing with a different kind of currency- a currency of the soul. A vocal coach of mine, Craig Derry, always says, “The job of an artist is to render the ordinary extraordinary.” As indie musicians, we create the soundtrack to life. Sure, we’re struggling, but in one way or another, every human being on this earth struggles. We have been put here to transform that struggle into song, a tangible thing of beauty that transcends language, sex, race, age, and time. We are able to take the special moments of our lives and make them immortal.
I began this blog post feeling a bit discouraged but now I’m ending it feeling more powerful than ever. As an indie artist, the work will never stop as long as the melody plays and the most we can ask in return is to connect with the world around us, one listener at a time. Life is never easy but at least we can say it is gratifying.
While I’m not the biggest football fan, I am a HUGE Superbowl fan. Aside from being a fantastic excuse to party, it’s also advertising’s biggest night, which isn’t hard to believe considering 111 million people tuned into Superbowl 2011. With that large of an audience, it’s no surprise that the commercials during the Superbowl are a treat to watch, at least for the most part. So in case you’ve been living under a rock or traveling to some exotic destination that doesn’t have cell reception, here is a play by play of my top 10 commercials during Superbowl 2012 along with links to view them on Youtube:
1. M&M’s- “Sexy and I Know It”
This was was definitely one of my favorite commercials this year. With Red M&M stripping off his shell and getting his groove on to the beat of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” he is that guy at the party and I dare you not to giggle. 😉
2. TaxAct- “Free to Pee”
The kid in this commercial is absolutely adorable. And I think we’ve all been in his predicament at one point or another. But what exactly is TaxAct’s message? That the anxiety of finding an available bathroom is the same as the stress associated with getting your taxes done? And that the relief when you do get to, well relieve yourself, is the same as getting a nice return that doesn’t break the bank, that’s FREE? Well, I really couldn’t tell you for sure. But the commercial is memorable and also “giggle” worthy.
3. Doritos- “Man’s Best Friend”
This commercial was one of the winning videos in Doritos’ “Crash the Superbowl 2012” contest. And rightfully so! The premise is fantastic. A murderous dog with an appetite for cats is found out by his owner. Rover’s bribe to keep the crime quiet? You got it. A bag of Doritos. I love everything about this commercial- the rhythm, the music, the characters. It’s perfect.
4. Doritos- “Slingshot Baby”
Doritos wins once again with another video from their “Crash the Superbowl 2012” contest. The entries they received are really impressive. I wonder what kind of effects were used for the “slingshot baby…”
5. Chevy- “Happy Grad”
This Graduate’s enthusiasm (for most of the commercial at least) is quite contagious. It’s a shame that his Chevy dreams will have to chill for a few years, unless he starts a successful dot com out of his dorm room.
6. Pepsi- “King’s Court”
I love Elton John, even when he’s playing an impossible to please “King” of the Court. Subjects perform for his majesty in the hopes of drinking King Elton’s prized Pepsi. Most fall flat and go straight down into the dungeon below, with the exception of X- Factor’s Melanie Amaro that is, who shakes up the castle with her rendition of “Respect” and causes a revolution of sorts when she banishes King Elton himself to the dungeon, where his only company is Flava Flav.
7. Sketchers- “Go Run, Mr. Quiggly!”
I don’t know what I love about this commercial most. Is it the adorable Mr. Quiggly, beating out all of the seasoned greyhounds for the top prize or is it the bubbly British announcers going wild when the unlikely winner races to the finish line and moonwalks? This commercial is too cute for words. 🙂
8. Volkswagen- “The Dog Strikes Back”
This may be my absolute favorite out of all of the Superbowl 2012 commercials. The message of product improvement is adorably demonstrated in the family dog, who whips himself into shape to keep up with the Volkswagen. The creators even go as far as to connect the ad to last year’s commercial, “The Force,” that featured a “Darth Vader in training.”
9. Dannon- “The Tease”
I don’t like Dannon Yogurt and I was never a huge John Stamos fan and I don’t love this commercial. However, it is memorable. And the head butt made me wince. It’s actually still making me wince. Ouch.
10. H&M- “David Beckham Bodywear”
Yum. 😉
So those are my top 10. If you have your own favorites that aren’t on this list, please shoot me a message or comment below!
Things That Zing! 