That's Day of The Dead- aka All Saints Day aka All Souls Day, celebrated every November 1 & 2. Like a good Mexican Catholic holiday, the day comes with a lot of festive food, meant to be shared with family and friends, both living and departed. The skeletons of Halloween trade in gore for color and vibrancy all celebrating the beautiful mysteries of life and death. Celebrate the day with this recipe for the tastiest sweet bread - Pan de Muerto (Bread for the Dead). This recipe was originally published in the LA Times 1980. It was passed down to me by my high school Spanish teacher who encouraged us to make the bread for extra credit.
Once you get past the tedious hand kneading and rising of the dough, it's really easy to make different shapes, all guaranteed to plump up nicely in the oven, and follow with a sweet orange glaze. Get creative and make calaveras (skulls) with colored sugar and raisins. Don't forget the doves, symbols of souls going to heaven, and marigolds, the official flower of Saints Day.

Pan De Muerto
5 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon anise seeds
2 packages dry yeast
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs at room temperature
Place 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt, anise seeds and undissolved yeast in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Heat milk, water, butter in a saucepan until very warm. Gradually add milk mixture to the dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Add eggs and 1 cup flour. Beat at high speed 2 minutes. Stir in enough flour to make a stiff dough. Remove dough to lightly floured board and hand knead until smooth and elastic. Will take about 10 minutes. Grease a glass bowl and place dough inside, turning to coat and not to stick to bowl. Cover with a towel and let rise until doubled in bulk. Takes about 2 hours. Punch dough down and turn in bowl. If the dough feels full and elastic, cut into pieces and mold into the shapes of the skull - two balls for the head and jaw and a braided mouth works well. Or make one large ball into a loaf and decorate with flower and dove shapes on top. After dough is shaped, place on a greased baking sheet. Little dabs of water can help glue pieces together or use toothpicks. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk. Bake at 350 degrees 40 minutes, or until bread sounds hollow when lightly tapped. Remove from baking sheet to cool. Apply orange glaze while still warm.

Orange Glaze
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons grated orange peel (not zest)

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2 minutes. Spoon or brush over the bread. Decorate with colored sugar, candy sprinkles, raisins, or additional orange peel.

Labels: DIY, food

Sandra Oh dining at Dusty's brunchtime. Not the first time she's been known to frequent the popular brunch spot. Dusty's serves the finest quiche on Sunset, parking is easier than Brite Spot, and there's even valet for the evening. Get the cute waiters & waitresses to bring you a caraffe of coffee as it does get a little hectic on the weekends.

Labels: celeb sighting, food

Many have already found the genius Instructables.com - I happened upon the site just today and am kicking myslef for missing out on this world of DIY injenuity. Basically, a group of engineers from an outift called squid-labs started up a forum five years ago where people could solve both scientific and artistic dilemmas and discuss everything from how to repair the rust on your car to building your own solar panels. Now it's a one-stop shop for a wealth of DIY projects and resources. Next rainy day I suggest taking at stab at converting your fridge into a magenetic lite-brite, one of the more popular projects. Other inspiring projects include making your own acoustic guitar pickup on the cheap or a tatoo gun from scrap parts. All of the projects are clearly spelled out step by step with plenty of pictures. There's some fantastic designs for Halloween too.

Labels: DIY

I love this idea - A free concert in the beautiful Union Train Station but it's only free if you ride public transportation to the concert. It's called Public Displays of Affection hosted by non-profit activist group Global Inheritance. They plan to do a handful at Union Station in the next coming months - tomorrow night's inauguration kicks off with Secret Machines and DJ Shepard Fairey (of OBEY fame). There will also be a photography show by Mark Hunter aka CobraSnake, showcasing LA's public transportation. Remember, you can only get in with a bus or subway ticket purchased the day of the concert not originating from Union Station. (No cheating!) Catch the stops here:

Coming from Silverlake
Take the Metro Red Line from the corner of Vermont & Sunset Eastbound to Union Station

Coming from Los Feliz
Take 180 Bus Westbound to Hollywood/Vine Station then take the Metro Red Line Eastbound to Union Station

Coming from USC
Take the 38 Bus Eastbound from the corner of Figueroa and Jefferson exit Chezar Chaves/Union Station Stop

Coming from the Pomona area
Take the MetroLink Riverside Eastbound exit Union Station

Coming from the Irvine area
Take the MetroLink Orange County Line Northbound to Union Station

Coming from Sherman Oaks
Take the 750 Bus from Ventura Blvd to Universal Station and then take the Metro Red Line eastbound to Union Station.

Coming from Pasadena
Take the Metro Gold Line Southbound to Union Station.

Coming from Arcadia
Take the 78/79/378 Bus line to Union Station

Public Displays of Affection Los Angeles - The Secret Machines & Shepard Fairey
Tuesday, October 24 7:30-10:30pm
Union Station
800 N. Alameda
Los Angeles, California

Metro info

Labels: environmental, events, music

Finally! A Friday evening Farmer's Market in our own backyard. While I'm stuck in rushhour traffic, I hear there's great stuff to be found here 3:00-7:00pm every Friday like Japanese dandelion greens and cheap flower arrangements. Made some killer salsa with Jalapenos and fresh peppers from some local gardens from the innagural market last week. Many say, puts the small Saturday farmer's market on Sunset to shame.

Echo Park Farmer's Market
Logan & Sunset Blvd. Fridays 3:00-7:00pm

Silver Lake Farmer's Market
Sunset Blvd. & Edgecliffe Saturdays 8:00am-1:00pm

Labels: food, local, shopping

Hola Top Design! That's right. A new reality shows abounds thanks to the success of Project Runway. How amazing was it last night to see those designers in the main tent at Bryant Park? I was incredibly happy for each of them. And big props to Echo Park Jeffrey for the win! He was truly the most innovative out of the top four. But how dare those producers toy with our emotions by gushing on an on about Uli. You knew as soon as Koors and Garcia gave Uli nothing but praise right before commercial break she wasn't gonna make #1.
Anyways, shooting is under way for a reality/elimination show this time about interior designers with Todd Oldham in the host role and Elle magazine judging/promoting. I've loved Todd ever since he made diy projects on MTV's House of Style. Remember that? Remember Cindy Crawford? Radar Online reports shooting's already begun here in L.A. and will be airing on Bravo next year. But if the show doesn't have the heart of Tim Gunn it might come in third to Top Chef, already sucking up the water cooler gossip in the absence of beloved Project Runway.

Labels: design, fashion, television

Last night one of my girls called me out to Dirty Bingo at Akbar and I couldn't think of a more fun way to drink away a Monday night. Did you know gay bars and Bingo go hand in fabulous hand? Remember that one Sex & The City episode where the girls played drag queen bingo? Legendary Bingo hosts games every Wednesday night at Hamburger Mary's with all the card money going to charities. No drag queens at Akbar last night, but we did get Club Lucky Balls Bingo with the charmingly sarcastic Bingo Boy calling the balls and the dapper lizard Smokey Lounge entertaining the crowd. With East-sider pride, proceeds went to the Silver Lake Conservatory of Music and some prizes were donated by Living Room. My table of hags got to be known as the Charlie's Angels with yours truly taking the Farrah Fawcett nickname. Everyone got to yell Bingo expect me - so I'm bringing the game next time. If you sign up for legendary email list you get double game sheets - that's 20 chances to win for $20.


Akbar
4356 Sunset Blvd. at Fountain, Silver Lake
Happy Hour all night Mondays - All well drinks $3
(Stay tuned for the next Lucky Balls Bingo night)

Hamburger Mary's
8288 Santa Monica Blvd. at Sweetzer, WeHo
Wednesdays
Classic Bingo 7:00pm
Bingo-tini 9:00pm

Labels: bars, games

The Silent Movie Theater has opened its doors once more as L.A.'s premiere spot to see classic silent films. The theater's long history started out in 1942 as a couple from Oklahoma's dream to have their own movie theater play the silents. Now in the hands of its fourth owners, Dan and Sammy Harkham are two brothers in their 20s who bought the theater this summer. I am excited to know there's more silent movie fans out there than just those who were alive when the movies first ran. I am disappointed there's no more trivia contest and vaudevillian song at the opening of each show, like the old manager used to do. But the seats remain small, the music live, and the line-up cycles classics for all tastes. The brothers will dedicate at least one night a week to silents only and hope to bring in "Talkies" for the rest of the week. Highlights from this month include some spooky flicks for Halloween like Nosferatu and The Phantom of The Opera as well as Felix the Cat cartoons where he battles some witches. But really, I'm going for the rare Buster Keaton pictures, like Haunted House (above).

Silent Movie Theater
611 N. Fairfax Ave.
323.655.2520

Silents always @ 8:00pm. Always $9. Metered and street parking available after 6:00pm as well as pay lots across the street by Fairfax High School for $6.

Labels: film, newsworthy

John Cameron Mitchell told Dan Savage recently, "There's weird pressure in a big city to know exactly who you are. You can wind up feeling more lonely because everyone else seems to know who they are."

That quote goes out to many a friend of mine, who I urge to not feel alone. And go see Shortbus. And go rent Tarnation. I'm not going to send you out to see Hedwig And The Angry Inch because those songs will be stuck in your head for days, and no one needs more songs stuck in their heads. But John Cameron Mitchell has an uncanny capability to be both sensitive and titilating. His choice in material is delectable and sparse, only releasing a couple films so far, but prolific supporter of the arts nonetheless. When lonely, the important thing to remember is "everyone else seems to know who they are."

Shortbus showtimes:
(1 hr 42 min)

Laemmle's Sunset 5
8000 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
11:45am, 2:20pm, 4:55, 7:30, 10:00

Laemmle Playhouse 7
673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
11:45am, 2:20pm, 5:00, 7:40, 10:15

Laemmle Town Center 5
17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino
11:55am, 2:30pm, 5:05, 7:40, 10:10

Labels: film

Firstly, thanks for bearing with the lack of posts since I've been out of town. It's taken me another week to get back in the swing of things. I blame the cooler weather that just blew in, forcing me to rotate my closet and trade out the flip-flops for sweaters. Really it's the convenience of procrastinating that has prevented me from this post --
A month back I helped decorate a party for my mom's best friend's 50th birthday party. 2006 has been full of monumental birthdays in my circle of family and friends and monumental parties. This event was held in my mom's backyard, where along with cocktails, tables, and her gorgeous garden, we turned the garage into a funky, shabby-chic style dance club.

Inspired by the window displays at Anthropologie, all it took was some creative DIY know-how to replicate a stunning chandelier event. Chandeliers were borrowed from friends and re-wired for the garage outlets. Old curtains created a neutral backdrop. The rafters were left bare and vintage crystals were hung up with twine, completing a rustic but elegant look. Jealous much, Martha? Crystals can be bought in bulk for a fair price at sites like GSPNcrystals.com. Simply scouring the thrift stores for broken lamps and crystal parts works well too. If you don't have an electrician on hand to re-wire for you try candlelight.


















When you don't want to ruin a perfectly decorated cake - like this one from San Diego's Extraordinary Desserts - try tea lights.

Labels: design, DIY

A couple more pics from High Mayhem, the experimental and emerging arts festival in Santa Fe, NM.

Labels: events, music

High Mayhem the 6th Annual festival for emerging artists took place this weekend in picturesque Santa Fe. The highly eclectic blend of experimental, electronic, spoken word and movement based performances brought me and a motley crew on a sleep-deprived road trip crossing California truckstops and Arizona rainstorms.

Did you know my camera can take pictures in the dark:

Labels: events, music, reviews

Tomorrow, October 5, thousands of mass protests around the country will gather for The World Can't Wait. Bush's Presidential motorcade blocking traffic on the Westside yesterday is reason enough to get angry enough to walk out and join the movement.

An abbreviated schedule
12noon Converge at Pershing Square, corner of 5th and Olive. (Red Line Metro Pershing Square stop).
Tom Morello (formerly of Rage Against The Machine) will perform.

3:00pm March Begins

5:00pm Downtown Federal Building
Speeches by:
Bob Watada - father of Lt. Ehren Watada, the first ranking officer to refuse to fight in the unjust war in Iraq
Jodie Evans - co-founder of Code Pink: Women for Peace
Jesse Diaz, Jr. - co-founder of the March 25th Coalition for immigrant rights. (See him in action and see why the Friends of The Border Patrol think he's such a menace.)
Michelle Phillips, Rev. Richard Meri Ka Ra Byrd, and others.

Labels: events, politics