Look At This Face...

photo by tricia chatterton

And listen to his ethereal voice in hellohuman's new song, "A Neverending Hall"

http://www.myspace.com/hellohumanband

Perfect Start To Your Friday Night Date Night...

"The RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART presents a new music series that goes to the heart of the matter...

"NAKED SOUL"

Naked Soul is an all acoustic and unamplified music series in RMA's intimate 137-seat theater, an exquisite cherry wood-lined room with some of the finest acoustics in NYC. The artists will be performing their music as it was meant to be heard – no microphones, no amplifiers, just the artists' voices and instruments, as if they were, acoustically speaking, naked. The musicians performing in the series all share a common thread and will draw upon the universal themes inherent in Himalayan art – spirituality, peace, tolerance, wisdom, and compassion.

Sold-out performances have included Michelle Shocked, Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, and Issa (formerly Jane Siberry).

Presented with Music Without Borders and supported by WFUV.

The K2 Lounge is from 6 PM until late, every Friday night. Performances start at 7 PM. Happy Hour is 6-7 PM. Tickets include admission to RMA's galleries."

check out this link for the artist schedule and tickets:

http://www.rmanyc.org/programs/naked-soul.cfm

Some Darned Good Movies...

I've had the pleasure of watching a couple of movies this past week that are worth mentioning. The first one is "Charlie Barlett" which was actually released last year but has resurfaced in the wake of the "Juno" success. Who, really, can get enough of sarcastic youths? I can't. And I certainly cannot get enough of Robert Downey, Jr...especially in the role of a school principal. Good stuff. Check it out.

"Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) has been kicked out of every private school he ever attended. And now that he’s moved on to public school, he’s simply getting pummeled. But when Charlie discovers that the kids who surround him are secretly in desperate need, his entrepreneurial spirit takes over. Charlie becomes an underground, not to mention under-aged, shrink who listens to the private confessions of his schoolmates, and makes the imprudent decision to hand out the pills he’s proffered from his own psychiatric sessions. Then, Charlie Bartlett makes his big mistake: falling in love with the beautiful and bold daughter (Kat Dennings) of the school’s increasingly disenchanted Principal (Robert Downey, Jr.), who is hot on his trail. As Charlie Bartlett’s world and fledgling psychiatric practice unravel, he begins to discover there’s a whole lot more to making a difference than handing out pills."

The second movie I had the pleasure of seeing yesterday was "Definitely, Maybe." I was in that chickflick mood and thoroughly expected some mega cheese scenarios in this movie. Alas, to my shock, I really enjoyed this movie. Even shed a tear. I was impressed by the storyline as I related to the twists and turns Ryan Reynold's character's lovelife took. Of course, my crush on Ryan Reynolds has intensified ten fold. Boys, take your date to this movie and you're golden. Here's the review and a scene from the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfUwvTvzrg8

"Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds), a thirtysomething Manhattanite, is in the middle of divorce proceedings when his young daughter (Abigail Breslin) asks him about his life before marriage, including how he met and fell in love with her mother. Will flashes back to 1992 and recounts his romances with three women, changing their names so that his daughter must guess which one became his wife."

I promise I'll review an art flick next week. After I see "The Other Boleyn Girl", of course. [GRIN]

Best Picture Showcase @ AMC Sat., Feb.23, 2008

It's a bit short notice, I know, but if you have nothing on the agenda for this Saturday as of yet, take advantage of the Best Picture Showcase AMC offers at Empire 25. For $30 you'll get to see "Michael Clayton", "Atonement", "There Will Be Blood", "Juno", and "No Country For Old Men." You even get a large popcorn with unlimited free refills all day (oh, so nutritious). See the following link to get all the details:

http://www.amctheatres.com/promos/showcase/?newLocation=-1&GO=GO

Duets with Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields

photo by tricia chatterton

I know this comes a week too late, but I had to make mention of it because I really enjoyed this performance. Last Valentine's Day I went to see Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields sing various duets with

Marc Ribot (http://youtube.com/watch?v=uGSI8CuH1nQ)

Jim Thirlwell, Steve Bernstein,

Nina Persson (of the "Love Fool" Cardigans),(http://youtube.com/watch?v=uJ5dOTDo2nU&feature=related)

Thomas Bartlett, actor Kevin Corrigan, members of The Honorary Title, TV On The Radio, and Ed Pastorini at Hiro Ballroom on 17th and 9th Ave. It was absolutely the hipster version of a 60's beatnick lounge vibe with a variety of berets, suits,cool hair, and tight hipster jeans. I half expected people to snap (no, I wasn't even a thought in my parents' pants in the 60's but I've heard stories). It was quite the artsy event and I loved every second of it. Jennifer's sultry voice accommodated each and every performer seemlessly, particularly with the boys of The Honorary Title (Think the "Bridge and Tunnel" song-you've ALL heard this song)

(http://youtube.com/watch?v=gvMZE7Ra9Mg)

Although it's past and you can't go to this extravaganza of duets...(promise I'll give you better notice next time), I highly suggest you keep an eye out for performances by any of these artists. They're all immensely talented and I'm always about supporting the arts...you should, too. Just wear your tightest pair of skinny jeans and have really cool hair.

Defrosting. Decompressing. Deerfield Beach.

photo by tricia chatterton

It's cold outside. Bloody cold. So cold that the skin on my face feels like it's going to fall right off. I'm suddenly appreciating the small beach community I grew up in and took for granted... Deerfield Beach. It's not posh but just a great little homey place with the best beach in south Florida, tucked between Boca Raton and Pompano Beach, FL. Blue skies, blue water... Surfers... ahhhhhh...

Don't get me wrong; I love New York City...and I have no intention of leaving any time soon, but sometimes you just need to defrost on the beach, decompress, drink cocktails, and do absolutely nothing other than maybe surf, swim, or float... just like I did about a week ago in Deerfield Beach. If you're in dire need of a weekend getaway for pure relaxation, here's how to relax like a local in my favorite little beach community:

Firstly, I suggest you go there for at least 4 days...otherwise, you're just not relaxing enough. A week is preferrable but I understand some of us can only do a long weekend. You're going to fly 2.5 hours south into Ft.Liquordale and rent a car. Why aren't you just going to stay in Ft.Lauderdale and lay on the beach there? Because the beach sucks there and unless you're a gay male, 25 years old, or a swinging senior citizen, it will hold no interest for you. (Sorry Lauderdale, but you know I'm right).

I digress...so, you drive north on I-95 and exit Hillsboro Blvd. Head east and you'll run into the beach where depending on the hotel you book, you make either a right or a left on A1A. Straight ahead of you will be The Comfort Inn and to your left, Howard Johnson's which is in the middle of all the action. But if you're allergic to budget hotels (actually both hotels are at least $150-$250 in season), The Embassy Suites Hotel is about 3/4 mile down A1A (Ocean Drive) heading south. They've got a decent brunch and Manager's cocktail hour but if you want to be closer to all the acion, as I mentioned, you'll want to either be at Hojo or Comfort. Just bring your antibacterial and your own pillows if you're neurotically clean.

Secondly, you should fly in on Friday during the day so you can hit happy hour at the Cove.

www.thecoverestaurant.com

Get there around 6:00, order dinner (great seafood) and enjoy the 2 for 1 drinks as you watch the locals interact. It's a varied age group, anywhere from twentysomethings to sixtysomethings with the majority of them in the 20s and 30s. Fair warning: it's a meat market, but it's alright if you don't mind a considerable amount of eye candy for both men and women. Just drink up because happy hour only lasts until 8:00pm.

Should you feel you want to carry cocktail hour on further, you'll move onto JB's on the beach. Watch the link on their website and you'll get a good idea of what Deerfield has to offer.

http://www.jbsonthebeach.com/

But don't stay at JB's too long because you want to ensure you make your free 7:00am surfing lesson at Island Water Sports (Known as "Island" by the locals)...

http://islandwatersports.com/events-upcoming.cfm

After you've worked up a hearty appetite surfing and laying on the beach, go have conch fritters, a dolphin wrap with whale fries (they look like potato chips and are simply awesome), and a ginormous iced tea at The Whale's Rib (you'll never get thirsty in this place). If you're not into seafood, have The Whale sandwich. Actually all the food here is awesome. And this restaurant is full of locals (surfers, fishermen) who practially live there, so you know it's got to be good. I've had many great adolescent memories of flip flopping it into that place full of sand with my quicksilver shorts and Billabong tank top over my Rusty kini (totally pre-Roxy). Needless to say, I love this place. Sweet memories.

http://www.whalesrib.com/food.shtml

Now you're going to go back to the beach and lay there like a useless blob. You are going to do absolutely NOTHING. NOTHING! Just slather that sunscreen all over your bod and fry. Fair warning: it's tanned locals with flawless bodies on the north side of the pier and everyone else on the south side of the pier. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Thirdly, for you water babies-you can also rent a boat and go fishing, go waterskiing and do all the water sports you love. Just ask your hotel concierge about organizing your required water oriented adventures. I, myself, prefer to just lay on the beach but I do give in now and then to laying on a boat...or even snorkeling. There are some nice reefs at various points of the beach to behold barracuda up close, but the bigger reefs are in an area the locals call "Tresspass."

[Tresspass is the "No Tresspassing" area of the beach in front of the condos about 1/2 mile to 3/4 miles south of the pier and also includes the beach in front of Embassy Suites, so if you're staying there, you're golden. You just have a longer walk to the restaurants and city center. If there are waves, however, you will find the water filled with surfers that don't particularly care to share their water space. It's fun to watch them in action, though.]

Lastly, in regards to nightlife or partying, JB's is good for late night fratranizing. They usually have a band, either reggae or top 20, and sometimes, a guitarist. It's a bit of a scene but gets rather rowdy (drunken) as the night progresses.

Other notable places:

-Caffe Luna Rosa (across from the beach)-great breakfast, lunch or dinner.
http://www.caffelunarosa.com/menu.html

-Kahuna Bar & Grill (It's across the street from JB's, usually has a DJ at night, and has those slushy frozen fruity drinks if you're into that).
249 N Ocean Blvd, Deerfield Beach, FL

-Amante's (Italian restaurant located in strip of shops behind Hojo)-owned by people I went to highschool with.

-Taco Joe's (good drink specials and tacos a couple of doors down from Amante's) and also owned by a guy who went to my highschool.

My only suggestion is that if you need to have a cocktail whilst on the beach, bring your concoction in a thermos or water bottle. You're not allowed to drink literally ON the beach but whose to know if you've hidden it well. Otherwise, you can do drinks as the beach air blows through your hair at JB's, Ocean's 234 or the bar at Hojo's (you'll definitely run into some characters there).

And that's about it. Defrosting and Decompressing in Deerfield (as my frozen fingers slow their tapping on the keyboard of my laptop-SIGH). If you're looking for an earthy little vacation, this will be perfect for you. Enjoy! I did.