10 Things: Summer Style

ITS SUMMER!!!!

yeah I know we're in the middle of it now but in California it really just barely feels like it's begun. Even on the 4th we were cold! And work is finally slowing down to where I can take a day or two off and book a vacay.  vacation! that's all I can think about. Funny enough, my best friend just popped the question to of "what should we do for new years?" are you joking?! ook! well here's my top 10 fabulous summer plans. They're not listed in order of importance but I guess in somewhat sequential order.... here we go!

mel and i at our KoL show #1

10. Kings of Leon... yep, just happened but I still have to talk about it. my summer kick off, first road trip, tailgate, sweat-it-out summer show. Played some new tunes, now I'm re-obsessed and I want to go to like... the rest of their tour. yep, all of it. 

9. 311... three eleven, three three eleven. come on, this is me and if I wasn't going to a couple 311 shows in the summer something's wrong. So our schedule is up north (maybe...depends on #8) and then OC and San Diego. Same two venues I saw KoL, ha! their setlists have been pretty ridiculous this summer so I'm excited. I am always happy to see them. 

8. Rage Against the Machine @ the Palladium....what?!?! yeah. Might have a visitor and might try to go. IF I can find tickets. :::crossingfingers::::

7. Girls Weekend... I am jealous of everyone with a summer birthday. THREE of my favorite gals have birthdays this weekend, ridiculous. So I'm heading up to Solvang for my friend Ana's birthday for sunning, wine tasting and some healthy goss. I can't wait, I love a little weekend getaway. We might stay at the hotel from Sideways!

6. Lollapalooza... yes, I am making the trek for the 3rd year to one of my favorite cities, to be with some of my favorite people and take in one of my favorite festivals. I'm going to bounce around and just take in a variety of acts... it's just fun to go. Highlights: Metric, Gaga, The Black Keys, Dirty Projectors, MGMT, Arcade Fire. 

5. Outside Lands... well I have been dying to go up north and Melissa and I are just nutty enough to do it, trek up to San Fran to take in another festival and another Kings of Leon show. Yep, going there! Highlights: The Strokes (since I may skip them to see Gaga at Lolla) My Morning Jacket, Edward Sharpe.

4. Lady Gaga... Gaga is coming to LA!!!!! I am going to go with my girls, have a couple drinks and dance my face off. 'nuff said. 

3. John Mayer..... oh the JM! He was a highlight of our summer last year... we got super up close and personal to John, the tunes, and the abs. I love him. His music means so much to me and I love going with my sister and my best friend. Can't go wrong.

2. RX Bandits.... to cap off the summer, going to see the RXB 3 full album shows at the end of September. Saw them in NYC and it was ridiculous. I'm going to be on the hunt for more tickets so I can drag friends. PLUS, Dexter comes back on the Sunday, so I get to go home to that. I couldn't be happier.

1. Beach, baseball games, pool days, warm nights, happy hours, road trips, bbq..... Looking forward to more of this. Really happy right now and excited about what's to come. I love summer and I am embracing it! 

they wish they all could be California girls...

I wrote this blog originally in August 2007 before I had this blog. I thought it was appropriate to repost now. New blog to follow :)

Nowadays, when you meet people when you're out and about in LA, you ask, "where are you from?" because people that are born and raised in Los Angeles are few and far between. We few grew up in a fast paced, noisy, crowded, smoggy place that is hated but mostly, dreamed about. And yes, it lives up to the hype. I wouldn't trade my upbringing for anything. I am a Hollywood baby, although I grew up in the "suburbs" (as much as you can have suburbs in southern California.) I cannot imagine growing up anywhere else. And I get made fun of constantly by friends and foes for being celebrity obsessed, a bit materialistic, a people person aka the best networker you could imagine...... My cell phone and my camera are perma-fixed to my hand and my purse (so you'd think I'd take better care of them, right?!)

I know I'm leaving, but that doesn't mean I don't love Los Angeles. I will always love Los Angeles. Oh my god, I love the nightlife... from the Frolic Room to the Underground and Busbys... Mood, Sugar.... all the spots... I love the famous dj's and random celebrity sightings. I don't mind the expensive drinks, I work around it. I love the music scene. Every little fucking thing about it, from the tiny Foundation Room above the House of Blues on Sunset Blvd to the massive Emire Polo Fields where they hold Coachella every year... From free shows at the Palladium to the Forum, the Hollywood Bowl and Verizon..... KROQ concerts, Weenie Roast, Acoustic Christmas... shows night after night at the Hotel Cafe, Santa Barbara Bowl trips midweek and Vegas shows on the weekend..... drives to 311 in Norcal, Arizona, Fresno... oh my god, haha..... Zack Hexum, Jessie Baylin, Joel Martin, Brandon Rogers, Lojic, it's really weird, because this is breaking my heart and making tears fall down my face.

On Sex And The City, Carrie once said that NYC was her boyfriend and she wasn't having anyone talking shit about it, and I feel very much the same way. I love my city, I love my state.... I won't hear it. I was raised close enough to the bright lights to respect and appreciate them. My dad brought us into the world of concerts. I was watching shows from the rail at 10 years old! I was winning tickets and passes from 12 on... I was onstage seeing Stone Temple Pilots at 15. I adore Scott Weiland and Robert Plant.... I've flown all over the country to see 311. How many people can say that they've seen all of their favorite bands live? Or that if a show is sold out, it's not a problem? That they've hung out and shared a drink with all three of their favorite bands? (311, STP, Incubus...) I worked for Army of Anyone, Robert and Dean know me.... that to me was the ultimate. I adored them as a kid, and as an adult, we got to reconnect. I am so grateful, beyond, for everything that has been given to me.

I LOVE my life. I'm a lucky bitch, and I do know that! From 311 friends, and everything that's brought me, to interning at the Firm, that experience alone has wet my feet with the industry and I like the taste. I did myspaces for Snoop Dogg, Kelly Clarkson, Enrique Iglesias, KoRn, Chris Cornell...... etc.... The question has gone from, "who have you met?" to "who HAVEN'T you met?" I took 20 friends and got to go backstage at the Snoop concert. I took my little sister to Wango Tango and we watched Kelly Clarkson, Enrique and Fergie from backstage, it was a day I'll never forget. I've turned one backstage pass into three on many occasions.... (and gotten in trouble a few...) I took 10 people in for free for 3 days of Coachella. Twice this year, as Incubus sold out shows like crazy I got tickets for my best friends, and I took one backstage for his first time. Seeing the look on his face when he was 2 feet away from his idols made me so happy. That stuff to me is a thrill. I'm don't see it as bragging, I can't even believe the shit I've lived through... I don't want to ever forget it or act like I don't appreciate every minute of it. I've had all of these experiences... next I want to share it with everyone. My dream is to make some sort of foundation where kids work with artists and you bring the world to them. I don't know how to work it out, but someday I'll do it.

In short, I love LA. If you don't, give it a chance. It's a great place to live. Hollywood is truly magical. I'm leaving, but I promise I'll be back. After all, LA is my boyfriend, where would I be without him? ;) But going to Boulder, life will slow down a little.... I'm going to learn a lot, about myself, my life... and what I really want from all of it. (And ok, Red Rocks and the Fox don't hurt.....!) I have the itch to travel, I think the next year is going to be amazing... try to keep up with me...


I'll leave you with an appropriate quote.....

"Don't you have any real friends?"~William
"Famous people are just more interesting."~Penny Lane

John Lennon: The NYC Years

As if I didn't love New York enough! Now I am dying to go. They just opened a John Lennon exhibit at the Rock & Roll Annex. I've been to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the Experience Music Project in Seattle and I was blown away by both. I am such a sucker for music memorbilia. 

Oh, so excited for summer and east coast road trips :)