Archive for November, 2008

My New Obsession #4… Brandon Flowers, lead singer of The Killers. I just read an interview with him. He is so very intelligent, has really great style and he is beautiful (yes even with the eyeliner). I am really excited about The Killers new album Day & Age also. And its already getting really great reviews!

So if you didn’t see the American Music Awards last night you didn’t miss much. But the highlight for me was Kanye West. As always, it was entertaining to see him do whatever the hell he wanted to do. When he went up to get his award he told everyone that last year he deserved the award but this year he is giving it away to Lil’ Wayne.

But I thought the best part was his performance. Everyone is criticizing Kanye for going this direction with his music but I think its great. He is stepping outside of his genre and doing something new and different. I feel like it is hypocritical to say no one is doing anything different in music but hate when someone does different things.

(I also really liked the stage set)

“I’m selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I’m out of control, but if you can’t handle me at my worst you don’t deserve me at my best.”

- Marilyn Monroe

My New Obsession #3 is a show here in Chicago called To Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. Over the weekend I went with some friends to a theater called the Neo-Futurists. Its the longest running show in Chicago (20 years).

When you get there they have you roll a die to see how much you are going to pay for the show. They add $7 to that number (I payed $11+ a donation). There were six performers who were running the whole thing (collecting money, trash, etc.) in a very small theater. The concept is to do 30 skits in 60 minutes where the audience is very involved, which I loved. We shout out which skits we would like them to do and some people were pulled on stage (a man was pulled up then kissed by one of the male performers). But don’t be scared he didn’t have to do that if he didn’t want to. The show was very creative and so much fun!

Some of my favorite skits were: Why Does Coldplay Suck So Bad?; Snort These Lines Off My Artist Income Ass; and Ritualized Dating.

Come to Chicago and see it. Its very much worth it! If the show is sold out, they buy you pizza!

http://www.neofuturists.org/

A friend of mine told me that I have an Annie Hall thing going on with my style. I don’t think I would agree but it is a very cool complement. (or at least I took it as a complement; I guess I just revealed how vain I am)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO! HAVE A GREAT DAY! LOVE YOU

My new obsession #2 is a restaurant/bar in Wicker Park called Handlebar. If you live in Chicago or are going to visit here soon you need to go! It is a biker restaurant (bicker as in cyclist) and they have a lot of great vegetarian/ vegan options. But the good thing about them is I went with a lot of heavy meat eaters and they didn’t even miss it. Everyone was satisfied. Bonus: great atmosphere and good beer options.

2311 W North Ave

Chicago, IL 60647

Gracie: well, this is the fucking web we weave

Me: what???

Gracie: i don’t know that didn’t make any sense there did it?

Me: no

Gracie: i have just been wanting to say that for a long time

I love Jenny Lewis’ (from Rilo Kiley) style. Oh… and her music!

On a related note I am really excited to read Malcolm Gladwell’s new book Outliers. In true Gladwell form he explores what separates successful people from unsuccessful people. Suggesting Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were successful because of the year they were born… should be interesting!