love #4.

I haven't done a Love List in a long time, so here it is: 10 things we are loving this week.

1. Not one, but two albums featuring the Britten violin concerto. The first is by one of my favorite violinists, James Ehnes. He's Canadian, he's cute and his interpretations are always incredible. I've listened to both the Britten and Shostakovich concertos and love them--and I'm very particular when it comes to these two works.

Play it, Gil.

The other is a new album called 1930s Violin Concertos by the affable Gil Shaham, which is part of a fascinating series of 20th century violin pieces he has released on his own label, Canary Classics. This one also includes the Stravinsky, Berg and Barber concertos. Shaham is like the Old Faithful of violinists--he always delivers, no matter what the genre or era. And he just seems like a really nice guy. I've seen him live twice, and I love how he always gazes up adoringly at the conductor while waiting for his entrance.

2. Love Angel Olsen. I discovered this gal while listening to KCSN 88.5, one of the best radio stations ever. Whenever I tune in, there's a song playing that blows me away, and I have to Shazam it. Angel Olsen has a voice like an abandoned farmhouse on a Midwestern plain, a place where you go to drink beer with your friends in a thunderstorm. It's the kind of music you do your chores and daydream to. I'm really loving the song, Hi-Five on her new album Burn Your Fire for No Witness.

The haunting Angel Olsen.

3. Love Los Angeles when it cools down and rains. Apparently, we are experiencing one of the worst droughts ever. But it did rain a few spots in the last week, and I finally got to wear my Christmas-present sweaters.

Photo by Asim Bharwani.

4. Love the documentary, Birth of the Living Dead. Night of the Living Dead is one of my all-time favorite flicks, and this doc was a fascinating peek into how a low-budget indie from Pittsburgh, inspired by the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War and the general tumult of the '60s, swept the world and changed popular culture. Lots of amazing graphics, too.

 

 5. Love Notebook, an online film magazine. This is a wonderful site for the film-obsessed, especially for those passionate about foreign films. I go here often to check out film poster art. These are from a Polish film from 1961, Mother Joan of the Angels.

6. Love the web site The Selvedge Yard. I love the tagline, "A historical record of artistry, anarchy, alchemy and authenticity." Fun.

I specifically love these photos of the Rolling Stones, which a lady randomly found at a Florida flea market. I actually really like the Rolling Stones. I think Brian Jones was a fascinating character, and I'm convinced he was murdered. I like Mick and Keith. Bill Wyman and Ron Wood--meh. But my secret favorite has always been Charlie Watts.

7. Love this piece I cam across on WaNeLo--I Left My Mind in San Francisco. It's weird, because I know I come across as way more of a San Francisco/NYC type, yet they've never called to me like L.A. But San Francisco is so beautiful, and I wish I could make it up there more often.

8. Love (and kind of don't love) Season 3 of Sherlock. It's exploded, it's all over the internet, so I don't want to go too much into it, but I love it and I hate it. I hate it in the way I hate TV shows when they understand where their appeal lies, then crank up the volume to 11, almost parodying themselves. Sherlock is staring to do this, indulging in its camera stylings and hyper-self-aware jokes. But still, there are bursts of writing that take my breath away.

And the plethora of Sherlock fan art and Tumblrs is staggering. 

The Tesco bag--I die!

9. Love Tulip Magnolias. I see these beautiful trees all around the neighborhood. The flowers are paper-y and origami-like, and I believe the trees do come from China and Japan. My friend Don let me get up close and personal with the one in his yard.

The lovely tulip magnolia tree at Don and David's house.

10. Love Brite Spot in Echo Park. Loving this place for breakfast on Sundays! This is gentrification done right. Preserve the historical integrity of the institution, but serve up Stumptown coffee and Brussels sprout hash. Brussel sprouts hash? Or Brussels sprouts hash. Not sure. But Brite Spot is cozy and delicious.

 A little slice of old school L.A., lovingly updated.

That's all for now, but stay tuned, because I'm pretty sure I have more fun stuff coming up soon!

beauty/horror.

Hello! Since we left off, I've been a couple of places, seen a couple of movies, started a new book and take a couple of photos. Let's take a look.

Was very excited for the opening of the new Echo Park Lake, and I got to go on Opening Day. It did not disappoint. Just as I remembered it, only much spiffier. Lots of people were out enjoying the new grounds, and everyone looked happy.

Because nothing says serenity like lotus blossoms.

Continuing my interest in Criterion-approved horror films, I checked out--not one--but two "Blah Blah...Without a Face" flicks. 

First up was Eyes without a Face. The images from this film have always scared the bejeezus out of me. But seeing the mysterious Edith Scob in Holy Motors left me intrigued. I decided it was time to face my fear.

"The most horrid horror film you could fear to see."

Eyes Without a Face has to be the most elegant horror film I've ever seen. It's the Christian Dior of scary movies.

 
Yet it is horror. No blood, no gore, no manufactured frights. Just a story that makes you shudder. Edith Scob was wonderful, and the basement full of dogs was the stuff of nightmares. Eyes Without a Face has a pretty fantastic ending, too...of course, I won't give it away.

Next up was Fiend Without a Face. This is one of those 50's-era, Atomic Age, drive-in standards. But the reason it's Criterion-approved is because it's one of the first sci-fi/horror movies to employ graphic, gory effects. And even by today's standards, they were pretty cringe-inducing. The joy of watching Fiend without a Face was thinking of the audiences of the time being completely grossed out. You could imagine the shrieks and gasps as you watched it.

"It's as if some mental vampire were at work."

Doing a bit of Googling on this film led me to an interesting blog, The Criterion Contraption, or "I'm Going to Watch Every Last DVD in the Criterion Collection." Roger Ebert even wrote an article on it.  I've thought of doing that myself--watching every film in the Criterion collection. However, author Matthew Dessem seemed to have stopped blogging at the end of 2012.

Come back, Matthew. Come back and watch movies and blog!

So, I started reading Demons by Dostoevsky. In a nutshell, it is a motherfucker. 700 pages total; I'm 200 pages in and have no idea what the hell is going on. Demons was recommended to me by a lovely, young girl named Joan, whom I met through my dear friend, Fran. Joan is 21, and said Demons is pretty much the best novel ever. And yes, it does rankle my ego that I can barely comprehend a book endorsed by a 21-year-old. But I'm going to stick with it.

This gal, Joan, intrigued me because she attends St. John's College. I don't think most people outside of academia are familiar with St. John's. It's is a not a place where you go to study Business Administration or International Relations. No. All you do at St. John's College is read. For four years straight. The great books of the Western canon. See curriculum below.

St. John's has two campuses (campii?), one in Santa Fe, NM, where Joan attends, and one in Annapolis, MD, where I lived from the ages of 10-16. Thinking of St. John's actually makes me a bit nostalgic for Annapolis--and for Maryland blue crabs. You haven't lived until you've feasted on these babies. The Hungry Cat is having a CrabFest on Sunday, July 14th, and I think I may have to go. Who's in?

Since I've been hiking a lot in Beachwood Canyon, I thought it was time to try to the lovely Beachwood Café. It's super sweet inside--like stepping into a gingerbread house. It perfectly captures the essence of the neighborhood, which is very much a little fairy-tale village. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options, and I had an excellent brown rice veggie burger.

After a gluten-free week, it's time for Cannoli Sunday. Bring it.

I also treated myself to a cannoli from the Farmer's Market. It's hard to find certain East Coast delights out here sometimes. Cannoli is one of them. Clams with the bellies attached are another, but the new Connie & Ted's has them, and I'm hoping to sample some soon. Connie & Ted's is a tough reservation, so wish me luck.

All images via Minimal Movie Posters.

I posted something last week about The Party and found a gorgeous poster of it on this tumblr, Minimal Movie Posters. I love a good tumblr. I could be on this one all day.

Here are a couple of designs from Sherlock, which you need to watch. Fun fact I discovered this week: there is a Benedict Cumberbatch fan club called "Cumberbitches."

Here are some beautiful flowers, because summer has kicked in here in SoCal. And while the heat makes me want to throw up most of the time, the flora soaks it in and looks amazing.

 #nofilter

One more thing...a song! "High School Lover" is my new anthem. I hear it on 88.5 all the time. It is the Rock Out in Your Car Song of Summer 2013. Courtesy of Cayucas, formerly known as Oregon Bike Trails. I love a band that brazenly changes its name after one of their songs hits it big.

Local boys out of Santa Monica. Image via npr.org

"You shoulda been my..oh ooo-woah..."

OK, that's all for now. Where are we going next, Isabel?

See you again!