Just Voice and Mouth - Mike Tompkins

This guy is awesome! He does the song 'Dynamite' with his voice - only. Amazing! Someone needs to sign this guy fast!

If you can't view the entire screen, see it here on YouTube

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Cartoon That Make You Cry

I just read the PopWatch Confessional article about cartoons that make you cry. Sandra Gonzalez mentions the ‘An American Tail’ as her cheesy/sappy tear-filled cartoon pick. I have to admit, I always feel like a cornball when I cry at movies – especially cartoons. I mean, I understand crying at movie characters because they are actual people (albeit in a fictional story). I feel even worse crying at 'animated' characters, but I digress. Pixar and Disney have a way of ‘tugging at your heartstrings’. Here are a few animated features that got me weepy-eyed.

1. The Fox and the Hound – I cried at this when I was 8yrs old, and I've never had a desire to watch it again. I think it was quite traumatizing.
2. The Lion King – I always cry in the beginning, but I think it’s because I’m really moved by the “Circle of Life’ movie score. I'm a sucker for Hanz Zimmer.
3. Monster’s Inc. – The very end after Mike pieces together Boo’s door. When Sully enters, Boo says “kitty…”. (SOBS GALORE)
4. UP - This cartoon was not made for kids. It was sad right from the start. I think I cried in the first 10min.
5. The Land Before Time – No matter how many times you see it, this cartoon is sad. The entire thing too. Especially when all the dinosaurs hug-it-up with Sara to stay warm.

I’ve been warned about Toy Story 3, which I will receive via Netflix this week. That one may bump up to my number 1 spot.

Transformers 3 in DC

Sorry this post is quite belated. In early October, Michael Bay and the Autobots descended upon Washington DC and Virginia to film the next installment of Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon. Upon hearing that Shia LeBeouf was in town, I made sure to plan my trek to see the filming. I'm always in awe of movie production when it comes to DC. It's pretty fascinating so see all the trailers, lights, crew, etc.

On Columbus Day, we headed down to DAR Constitution Hall. I got a 'tip' that filming was going to be around that area in the morning. Sure enough, we spotted Shia LeBeouf filming what looked like a 'White House' scene for the film. I talked to a couple really nice guys on the production crew, and they stated that the Producers tried to get permission to film at the actual White House, and they were totally shot down. I can't blame them - Obama has better things to do that schmooze with Hollywood. In any case, we stayed for a little while, with the other small group of gawkers, and shot these pics. Thanks to Metromix DC, I submitted these photos for their site, and received some cash for my first amateur paparazzi gig. Pretty sweet. I could totally do this full time!

(P.S., Rest in piece to Autobot Bumblebee who was hit by an actual on-duty police car on Capital Hill that day. Although, I'm positive Mr. Bay has plenty of Camero's on hand for this sort of thing. I image he's blown up a couple Autobots already....)

What Kind of Geek Are You?

This week, I found this nifty flowchart from Flowtown. The chart gives a great explanation of the 'evolution' of the term 'geek', and it details all the various types of 'geeks' there are. I must say, I encompass a few of these. I'm a part music/film/comic book/otaku/pop culture and design geek. I must say, I do not fully understand the Star Wars and Star Trek geeks out there, nor the Dungeons and Dragons geek - but who am I to judge. We're all just dorks in the end.

(click for larger image)

Moroccan Lentil Soup

Once the weather starts to get colder, for some reason my body craves 'soup'. A hearty soup is the best on a cold, rainy day. One of my favorites is the lentil soup noted below. I originally copied this recipe from 'AllRecipes.com', but I modified it a bit. And istead of doing this soup on the stovetop, I use my trusty crock pot. Enjoy! This is definitely a staple in our house during the fall/winter.

1 chopped onion
Beef cubes
Salt (to taste) – just a pinch
Paprika – use judgement
Cinnamon – just a pinch
Nutmeg – just a pinch
Red Pepper flakes – just a pinch
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon ginger
4 cups beef broth (Swanson – low sodium)
2 cups water
1 cup red lentils (or brown)
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained (these are also chickpeas)
1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans (or white kidney beans)
1 (14.5) can diced tomatoes (drain some of the juice)
½ cup diced carrots (about 15 baby carrots)
½ cup chopped celery (about 4 stalks)
1 teaspoon garam masala
1½ teaspoons ground cardamom
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (not necessary if we don’t have any though)
½ teaspoon ground cumin

Directions:
Put all ingredients in Crock Pot. Simmer for 6-8 hours on low.

Ovarian Health Seminar at Sibley Memorial Hospital

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a free informative seminar are Sibley Hospital titled: Ovarian Health: Knowledge Is Power. As many of you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Around this time of year, I often see many women sporting pink ribbons in honor of this month. But, how often have you seen an individual wearing a ‘teal’ colored ribbon? Probably not often.

Not to demoralize or minimize the severity of breast cancer, but I sometimes feel that ovarian cancer doesn’t quite get the recognition it should. It’s one of the most deadly forms of cancer that affect women, and often when it’s diagnosed, most women are in stages 3 or 4. I know first hand how scary this form of cancer can be, as a close family member of mine was treated for this very disease. I truly appreciate the doctors who took time out of their busy schedules to inform us, the public, about this deadly form of cancer. The doctors that spoke on this issue are four of the most outstanding leading medical professionals in the field Gynecologic Oncology. And I know that two in particular specialize in ‘bloodless’ surgery – which in and of itself has a host of health benefits whether you have cancer or not.

While there’s no way I can relay all the information discussed in this seminar, I would like to summarize some of the notes that I took. I was quite shocked that I was one of three women between the ages of 20-30 to attend this seminar. The other audience members were mostly comprised of middle aged to elderly men and women. More women need to educate themselves about ovarian cancer, as it truly is a ‘silent malignancy’. There are rarely any glaring symptoms, as some symptoms are often mistaken for gastric problems. I think you will find the points below very interesting. If you suspect that there could be any problem at all, you should definitely follow up with a doctor. I personally think prevention for any disease can start with regular check-ups – especially if you notice something out of the ordinary.

Wednesday September 29, 2010
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Program MC: Frederick R. Smith, MD, Medical Oncologist
Click here for seminar description

1. Ovarian Cancer is often found after it has spread to other organs


2. Risk Factors include: Family history, BRCA 1 + 2 mutation, age; and women who have not had children, and women who have had other cancers increase the risk.


3. Individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a higher risk of carrying the BRCA mutation


4. Factors that decrease the risk of Ovarian cancer: Having been on birth control for 4+ years and removal of ovaries (though not 100% effective)


5. Ovarian cancer is the most lethal form of cancer, and the symptoms are often very vague.


6. Symptoms of ovarian cancer: excessive bloating, abdominal distention, pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, feeling ‘full’ quickly, gas/nausea/indigestion, tiredness and fatigue.


7. Ovarian Cancer is typically diagnosed by: a pelvic exam, a rectal exam, abdominal exam, tests-such as a pelvic ultrasound, CA125 (although there can be false negatives and false positives), and a CT scan.


8. Ovarian cancer is rarely found in stage 1, and because of this, there is not much data available for stage 1 patients.
   

Chuck Close Prints: Process and Collaboration at the Corcoran Gallery of Art

This review is belated. In fact, the Chuck Close exhibit at the Corcoran is now closed – so I hope you were one of the fortunate ones to view the gallery before its closure on September 26th. I had the pleasure of attending this gallery show in the middle of the summer, a day shy of hearing Chuck Close’s formal lecture.

I must admit, before touring this show, I only thought of Chuck Close as the ‘big portrait’ artist. He’s so much more than that. Chuck Close is not only a portraitist, he’s a printmaker, a photographer, a painter, colorist, master of grid-structure, and even a paper-maker. Working in large scale medium is a challenge for any artist, but Chuck Close created phenomenal pieces with ease. He devised calculated methods to piece-together his large scale creations. His work is often viewed from afar because of the scale – but the real technique is seen when you view his pieces up close. One such piece (photo below) was so fascinating to me. In this piece, Chuck used layered pieces of color paper in grey scale to create a portrait with the depth and three-dimensional appeal of an actual painting. I must admit I started at this one for about 20minutes.

Hopefully this is a traveling show, and will hit a few other cities. It’s a real treat to view Chuck Close’s pieces in person. And it’s so rare to be able to view the magnificent work of an artist who is still alive to ‘tell the tale’.

close up

actual portrait

Food Review: DC Lobster Truck

On Friday September 24th (quite possibly the hottest fall day DC has ever had), I ventured out for lunch around 2pm. Much to my surprise, I spotted the coveted DC Lobster truck across Farragut Park! I finally had my chance to score a juicy, tender lobster roll - the very food I've been hearing about all over town for the last 3 months. If you're an avid Twitter-head, you'll know that many Washingtonians stalk this lobster truck all around town. They're pretty easy to find, but once you do, you have to sometimes wait in an hour long line to score a lobster roll or shrimp roll.

It was my lucky day, because not only did I spot the truck, but the line was only 10 people deep. It only took about 15min to score my lobster roll, Cape Cod chips and Iced Tea ($17 with my $1 discount).

I will tell you now, the lobster rolls LIVE UP TO THE HYPE! The lobster meat was sweet and fresh, with hardly any filler. I think the mix only had a bit of mayo, celery, and Old-Bay. For $15, at first, I thought the roll looked a bit small. But the size will deceive you, because the roll is very filling. I was totally satisfied after lunch, and was happy licking my fingers on my way back to the office.

Famous DC Foodie Tom Seitsema also favors this little truck, and we all know Tom is always right when it comes to DC eats.

Follow the Red Hook Lobster Truck on Twitter!

Virgin Mobile Free Festival 2010

Thanks to a contest sponsored by the Maryland Department of Tourism and the 9:30 Club, I had the privilege of winning 2 VIP tickets to Saturday's Virgin Mobile Free Fest. The package included VIP treatment in the Pavilion and West Stage, some free 'swag', and a Backstage Tour. We had a blast as this was my first time at the Festival. Since I didn't attend the first one a couple years ago at the racetrack, I've not been able to score pre-sale tickets (and regular tickets sell out rapidly).

This is the best venue to 'people watch', although any festival or event that is FREE will bring out the craziest of people. While all the bands were awesome, I enjoyed my backstage tour, and my meet-up with Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation (my favorite band by the way). He was super nice, and I got a chance to take a couple photos, and chat with him a bit.

Another highlight was getting in the front near the stage during the Thievery and Ludacris show. Both were phenomenal. I will hold my tongue on what I thought of MIA (hey, it's FREE!). I was sad to miss LCD Soundsystem, but I heard they killed it during their closing performance.

All in all, I hope I can score tickets next year. Thanks again to MD Dept of Tourism and 9:30 Club. You made my week! Below are a few photos I snapped of the festivities.

DC Turkish Festival

(Click image to enlarge text details)

http://www.turkishfestival.org/

Denzel Washington & Ashanti in DC

Denzel Washington and Ashanti were in DC this week, speaking at the National Press club in behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of America. Imagine how excited I was to catch them leaving the Press building today around 1pm. There were only about 10 people standing around, which meant I was able to get quite close to both celebs. Let me tell you, Ashanti and Denzel are both gorgeous on screen - but they are both even more attractive in person. Ashanti looked lovely in her black studded pumps and pink iPhone. And Denzel was equally as attractive in a dapper suit and pastel color tie.

I'm hoping the next photos I snap will be of the Transformers 3 set!
On a side note, apparently Wilmer Valderama is in town for something as well this week. (Click photos for a larger view)

Spielberg & Lucas Team up for Art in DC

This is a must see gallery event.

American Art Museum

Indie Music

As you know by now, (500) Days of Summer quickly became one of my favorite films. I love the movie, and better still, I adore the soundtrack as well. I have one friend who’s the ‘king’ of discovering indie tracks. I have no idea how he finds his music, but he always has awesome compilations. Here’s a few artists he’s turned me on to recently. If you’ve downloaded Pandora on your iPhone, try creating a ‘Florence + the Machines’ station, and most of the artists will queue. Here’s my recommended list:

1. Florence + the Machine – “Cosmic Love” (Lungs)

2. Phoenix – “If I Ever Feel Better” (United)

3. The Temper Trap – “Sweet Disposition” (Conditions)

4. Lykke Li – “A Little Bit” (Youth Novels)

5. Donora – “I Think I Like You” (Donora)

6. Anything by Sia, Regina Spektor, or Cat Power

San Diego Comic-Con 2011

I can't believe I haven't blogged since July! It's been a busy summer. Well, I have some great posts for you coming up this month. Most notably, Transfomers 3 is still scheduled to film in our Nation's Capital at the end of the month. (Shia sightings!)

I also found out some other very important news. Tickets for San Diego Comic-Con 2011 will be going on sale on Monday November 1st! Be sure to mark your calendars! These tickets sell out fast - like, within 10-15 minutes.

Donovan McNabb at Borders Bookstore DC

Today, DC (and Redskins) newbie Donovan McNabb, stopped by Borders bookstore for a book signing. I must admit, I'm not an avid football fan, but it was still pretty cool to meet Donovan, and get my book signed. I snapped a few photos of the 'feeding' frenzy. It was pure chaos on the Borders lower level. There were at least two fans that tried their best to get Donovan to sign jerseys, but to no avail. I was sort of bummed he didn't do any fan photos, but it was cool to see all the media outlets clamoring for an interview. One lucky fan (the only one in the Eagles jersey) seem psyched to have been approached by at least 3 media personnel for an interview. He was probably the only person that really deserved to have gotten a photo with the football star! Poor guy.

Independent Film Recommendations

As you know, I have a deep appreciation for indie films, especially documentaries with very poignant and distinct messages. Here are 3 that are on my list to view this year. At least two of these were featured at the Tribeca Film Festival….another reason why I plan on attending next year.

Trailers for all three films can be viewed at Apple Trailers. Take a look!

The Lottery
The documentary follows four families from Harlem and the Bronx in the months leading up to the lottery for Harlem Success Academy, one of the most successful charter schools in New York City. The film explores the debate surrounding the education reform movement. Politicians and educators are interviewed about the crisis and how they believe it can be fixed. The film highlights the opposition from the teachers' unions to charter schools (as they are usually not unionized), and the contest between charter and public schools for building space
(Synopsis from wikipedia)

Beautiful Islands
The documentary movie looks at three beautiful islands, shaken by climate change - Tuvalu in the South Pacific, Venice in Italy and Shishmaref in Alaska. They have different climates and cultures but the people all love their islands. The filming, which took three years, focused on their lives, including festivals and traditional crafts. When the people lose their homelands, their cultures and histories face death. By being close to them, we can feel the present state of the earth. The movie has no narration. It is a voyage around the world, listening to the sounds of waters and winds.
(Synopsis from IMDB)


Entre Nos
A film, based on a true story, which offers a fresh take on the issue of new immigrants in the United States. Mariana totes her two children from Colombia to reunite with her husband in Queens, New York. Her life is devastatingly turned around when her husband abandons the family. The woman and her kids have to fend for themselves in a foreign country. Mariana desperately searches for work. In the end, she resourcefully navigates a surprising avenue for making some money, the city's recycling.
(Synopsis from IMDB)

DC Restaurant Review: Rice Bar

This wonderfully chic Korean spot on 1020 19th St NW (between K St and L St) has quickly become my new favorite lunch locale. It’s located in the spot that was formerly known as ‘Chopsticks’. The food at Rice Bar is not only affordable, but absolutely delicious! I’m a big fan of ethnic food, and in a city that prides itself on international fare, I find that good Korean food is sorely lacking at times. DC is fortunate to have RiceBar, and I’m hoping it quickly becomes a staple around here (hopefully rounding out the overpopulation of Devon and Blakely deli’s that have been popping up everywhere).

The staff here is incredibly helpful and friendly, which is excellent because all ethnic food can be quite intimidating to a international culinary novice. Upon my first visit, the lovely Korean gentleman behind the counter walked me through all the combinations available for my ‘Bibimbap’ (this is a bowl of rice topped with a variety of cooked seasonal veggies, meat and sauce). He explained everything in detail, and told me which flavors would compliment one another.

I designed my own Bibimbap with white rice, egg plant, bamboo shoots, kimchi, asparagus, zucchini, spicy chicken, and ‘gochujang’ (red pepper sauce). Not only was this bowl incredibly healthy, but every item was fresh, vibrant and full of flavor. The kimchi had just the right touch of spice, and the spicy chicken was a nice compliment. Also, if nothing else, my bowl was full of color! In fact, ‘bibimbap’ blends together five colors in its dish – yellow, green, red, white and black. This is a tradition in most Korean dishes, and a tradition in which RiceBar takes seriously.

I plan on going back this week to try to the ‘donburi’ and sushi. This is a wonderful spot for locals and tourists. As I always say, skip the typical street fare (Potbelly’s, Corner Bakery, etc.), and try something authentic and exciting. RiceBar will not disappoint. Fresh teas and noodle boxes are also available. And, did I mention the décor was stylish, and the dining area was immaculately clean? The world music playing in the background was also a nice touch.

D.C. Invading Your T.V.

Don't forget to set your DVRs for the new shows recently taped in our fair city.

We have become quite popular haven't we??

Top Chef DC

Premieres June 16 at 9pm on Bravo

Cupcake Sisters (based on the ladies of Georgetown Cupcake)

Premieres July 16 on TLC

Real Housewives of DC

Premieres August 5 at 9pm on Bravo

Transformers 3 to Film in D.C.

Attention all DC natives - yet another epic movie will be filming in the DC area this fall (as reported by DCist and WashingtonPost). The word is Michael Bay is looking to film parts of Transformers 3 in the national's capital. I'll keep you all posted as I hear about scouting locations or calls for film extras or production crew assistance.

You better believe I will try to spot some of the filming. It was pretty exciting seeing a couple scenes of Salt being filmed at the Navy Archives last year.

Viva Las Vegas!

This past weekend, I had my much anticipated vacation to Vegas with my girls. I so needed this vacation. .Things have been hectic, and I feel as if I have no free time. It was nice to just do whatever I wanted for a weekend…including sleeping until 2pm!

Since we packed so much into this trip, there’s no way I can give a synopsis of the entire vacation. So, because I love top 10 lists so much – here are the top 10 experiences I had in Vegas.

1. Vegas is expensive! I knew it would be pricy – but at times, I felt as if I were being robbed. We didn’t gamble, so I can’t imagine how expensive Vegas is for gamblers. The food is pricy, mostly because the cheapest place to eat is the odd dodgy buffet or Denny’s. We never found a Wendy’s, Taco Bell, etc (not that we really eat that kind of food). Also, you can’t hail a cab from the street, you can only get them at the hotels. So, you have to tip the doorman for hailing you a cab, then you have to pay and tip the cabby! *sheesh*


2. The Stratosphere is a tourist trap. If you ever go to Vegas, skip the Stratosphere (hotel, restaurant, and rides) all together. The hotel is super old, and wreaks of whiskey, cigs, and body odor. Strange enough, we saw tons of families there – babies and all. The ‘Top of the World’ restaurant food was subpar, and I actually felt a little nauseous from the revolving restaurant floor. What’s worse is you can vaguely see the roller coaster ride above you and bungie jumpers flying off the side of the building. Super tacky – skip it!


3. The Palms. Next to the Venetian, Encore, and the Aria – this is definitely the place to be. While we were there, Vegas was holding the “Love Festival” which is a 4 day fest full of DJs ‘spinning’ all over the city. The music was constantly pumping through this hotel. It was kind of fun spotting Pauly D from MTV’s Jersey Shore. The only con to the Palms is, it’s a bit away from the Strip – so you must take a taxi. No walking to this venue. If you really want to spot celebs, book a reservation at N9NE steakhouse.


4. Alize Restuant atop the Palms. This French restaurant had the best food that I’ve ever tasted in my life – hands down! We were a party of four, but it felt as if every waiter catered to our table. They were so attentive, and it also helped that our waiter was French as well. I had the French onion soup, and the roasted chicken (which was super moist and tender). My friend got the salmon (which was topped with black truffles!). And I finally got to try an ‘amuse bouche’ (term which I happily learned from Top Chef).


5. The Bellagio. This is where we stayed, and it’s definitely high class all the way – starting with the lovely ceiling glass sculpture, and vast marble foyer. We booked two deluxe rooms for the 4 of us – but we all could have really stayed in one room. The bathrooms were huge, and of course – marble from floor to ceiling. My friends booked a room overlooking the Bellagio fountain. And here’s a tip – the Bellagio fountain show is spectacular from the street, but it’s even more breathtaking from the upper rooms. If you’re going to Vegas solely to party, this may not be the hotel for you. It can appear quite stuffy and a bit formal. But it was nice to feel like I was in a scene from Ocean’s Eleven for the weekend. And sitting by one of the eight calming swimming pools was so relaxing after a night out.


6. Caesar’s Palace. Caesar’s is next to the Bellagio – but it’s nothing like it’s next door neighbor. In fact, Caesar’s is the complete opposite of stuffy and formal. This is one of the party hotels, and you get that vibe just walking through the casino and hallways. Lots of young people here, and not a ‘family’ or ‘baby stroller’ in sight. This hotel may be just as grand as the Bellagio, with it’s lovely fountains, shops, marble, and gardens. Pop over to Serendipity’s 3 right outside Caesar’s for a fabulous ice cream sundae.


7. The Strip. I had this idea that as soon as I got to Vegas, I would be instantly bombarded by advertisements of peep shows, and debauchery around every corner. Oddly enough, Vegas can be somewhat tame. You almost have to go out of your way to find that kind of stuff. The Strip is actually quite beautiful – especially when lit up at night. There’s tons to do for the ‘innocent’ – like comedy shows, Cirque du Soleil, live concerts, etc. There’s always something to see. The Strip itself is sensory overload for newbies. Definitely make time to just stroll the street (and bring comfy walking shoes).


8. Cirque du Soleil “O”. This show isn’t overrated. It’s spectacular! A little on the odd side in parts (hey, it’s French! lol), but quite riveting. You won’t be able to take your eyes of the pool/stage/platform. It was such awesome choreography, seeing how the pool was integrated in every scene with the acrobats and divers. My favorite part (besides the fire handlers) was the 3 diving ‘swing’ platforms. “O” tickets are well worth the price tag. And remember, the front rows are ‘wet’ seats – which means you will need a poncho. In my opinion, front/center in the Orchestra section was a perfect view. And far enough away from the French clowns that ran through the audience.


9. Fashion Show Mall. This mall has many of the same stores you’re probably used to (Nemians, Macy’s, Saks, etc) – but they are all on steroids! The stores are twice as big, and the clothes twice as glamorous. And, the mall sports quite a long runway for it’s periodic runway shows. Another bonus, here you can get reasonably priced food. We saw a Johnny Rockets and California Pizza Kitchen here.


10. The People. Everyone is glamorous – or at least, they think they are. You can wear just about anything. And for those who are normal enough not to expose all their ‘goodies’, it’s fun to people watch. There are some strange characters in this town. And every now and again, if you look closely, you will spot a DJ, a celeb, a sports personality, etc. If nothing else, stake your spot in a high-traffic area and just stare people down. It’ll be the highlight of your day (or night). Trust me.
    
    

One of Bellagio's Outdoor Pools