Slowdancing with Strangers » Reviews

Food Truck Row | Friday in Granada Hills

kristel — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 04:31:34 +0000

There are way too many food trucks in LA to keep track, but discovering a new one, a delicious one, is like a receiving an unexpected gift on Christmas.

This Friday I checked out a stretch of road in Granada Hills known as Food Truck Row. I discovered the place on accident a few weeks ago when I wanted to try the Bun Truck. I was surprised to find not only the Bun Truck, but a good 20 trucks lined up one after the other for blocks. I thought at first there was a street festival going on, but after talking to a few vendors, I realized this was just a regular Friday night.

Discovered some really great trucks, many I had never heard of before. Met some really cool people as well. From what I hear, the trucks are all lined up every Wednesday/Friday night, in Granada Hills around the area of Chatsworth/White Oaks. Park in the residential area nearby and just walk on over to avoid the traffic.

Here are a few places I tried on Friday: The Bun Truck, Bollywood Bites, Slap Yo Mama, Mossie Lee’s, Sweet Beats.

Check out the cool video my friend Dev put together from Friday. He even caught me doing some kind of weird jig!

Adele Captivates at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles

kristel — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:11:45 +0000

credit: Timothy Norris | LA Weekly

For months now, I’ve been dreaming about the Adele concert. I watched so many live performances online, listened to her album so many times that I was preparing myself to be mildly disappointed when I went to the Greek Theatre last night for her show. Not because she’s untalented or a bad performer, but because I had been building up this concert in my mind for MONTHS. There was no way it would live up to what ever my imagination had decided it would be. I was, of course, wrong. It was BETTER.

I arrived a bit late, but luckily found my seats by the start of opening act Wanda Jackson’s first song. She’s a spunky woman and I found myself bopping along to her songs, even though I didn’t know the words. During her rendition of “You Know I’m No Good”, dedicated to Amy Winehouse, the moon hung low and red. At first I thought it was a lighting rig peering through the tall trees surrounding the Greek Theatre, but by Wanda’s final song, the moon lifted itself high into the dark Los Angeles sky.

Adele came on stage a bit later than scheduled and the crowd was a bit restless, but when she sang the first line from “Hometown Glory” before appearing on stage, everyone fell silent in awe. Let me just say, the acoustics at the Greek Theatre are amazing. It’s a great outdoor venue and perfect for Adele’s breathtaking voice. Unlike her iTunes Festival performance (where she had just gotten the O.K. from her doctor to sing again), she was strong throughout her entire set. She has an unwavering command of her voice and it’s damn magical.

I saw a couple of whiny reviews about Adele’s Berkeley performance the night before, saying that she wasn’t a performer and that she didn’t engage with the audience, blah blah blah. None of the reviewers disputed her talent, but they seemed disappointed in her concert. Adele didn’t need fireworks or elaborate dance routines to engage the audience. She stood there, completely vulnerable, and belted her heart out. You ever received one of those phone calls at 1am from your best friend and she’s crying, hurting so badly that you want to hug her? With each song, with each personal story, you wanted to console her like you would your best friend. There was something very lowkey and down to earth about her concert, which I really appreciated. The focus of the show was her story and, of course, her talent. Some performers zip through their sets without giving much insight into their music, but Adele chatted with the audience about her inspiration like we were all old friends. She was charming, even when cussing, and always very endearing. I enjoyed her banter as much as her music, which says a lot.

The set list reflected pretty close to her iTunes Festival performance, but I was sad that she didn’t do her cover of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt.

Also, there were two girls in back of me who decided that they couldn’t be bothered shutting up for an hour and a half and proceeded to talk throughout Adele’s entire set. This was not whispering in the ear kind of talking, this was I’m-going-talk-over-Adele-so-everyone-can-hear kind of talking. When Adele would belt out a line, instead of falling silent in amazement like the majority of people there, they talked LOUDER. What the hell is the point of going to a concert if you’re just going to talk the whole time? It’s not only rude to the audience members nearby, but to the performer. I was about to strangle them with my skinny tie.

Anyway, here’s my video of “Don’t You Remember” from last night’s show:

Set list
“Hometown Glory”
“I’ll Be Waiting”
“Don’t You Remember”
“Turning Tables”
“Set Fire to the Rain”
“If It Hadn’t Been For Love”
“My Same”
“Take It All”
“Rumor Has It”
“Right as Rain”
“One and Only”
“Lovesong”
“Chasing Pavement”
“Make You Feel My Love”

Encore:
“Someone Like You”
“Rolling in the Deep”

Fade Out, Fade In – House at Haunted Hill Puts on Quite a Show!

kristel — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 20:08:51 +0000

It’s finally Halloween! Halloween seriously needs to last longer than just one night. How about a full week? There’s just not enough time to do everything!

I heard about House at Haunted Hill through the online grapevine and put it on my MUST SEE list for this year. I knew upfront that it wasn’t a maze, but an experience. The people who put on this show really love Halloween and it clearly shows by the amount of love and detail put into this installation. I went on Friday night, after checking out the Burbank’s Nightmare at the Museum, and left House at Haunted Hill ready to kick off the Halloween weekend.

The House at Haunted Hill has been around since 2000 and has grown and expanded over the years due to its popularity. Original music, script, and high quality special effects? Oh, yes! To read more about their story, check it out here.

Tonight is the last night, so go early and beat the crowd. The house is located on Saltillo St, which is blocked off for the event. You’ll need to park on Canoga Ave (adjacent to Saltillo) and be mindful of the other neighbors. The “show” is free and runs from 7pm-midnight. I really loved it, I wish there were more places like this.

House at Haunted Hill
4400 Saltillo Street
Woodland Hills, CA, 91364

Whimsic Alley is Magical and Perfect for All Things Harry Potter!

kristel — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:12:33 +0000

Went on quite an adventure the other day. I finally got a chance to check out Whimsic Alley in Los Angeles. For Halloween I’m planning on being Asian Harry Potter, complete with a chopstick wand. So, of course, I knew Whimsic Alley was where I needed to go to buy the rest of my costume.

First things first, the parking situation sucks. If you’re lucky, you can find street parking in front of the store or the surrounding area. If you’re lazy (or terrible at parallel parking), however, there’s a nearby public lot where you can. If you’re on Wilshire and Whimsic Alley is on your right, turn right at Cochran. The lot is located on the left side, just look for the signage.

Whimsic Alley is the motherlode of all things wizardly, and in particular, Harry Potter. There were two rooms dedicated to Hogwart’s clothing like v-neck sweaters, cardigans, and robes for each of the houses. Another room had lots of Harry Potter toys, pins, and smaller items. There was a room dedicate solely to Twilight (as you can see in one of the photos), a room stacked with wands (and not the cheap-y looking kind), a room full of hats, a room of books and specialty quills, and finally a room just for grown-ups. This store is for Harry Potter fans, children, and children at heart, although I will note that most of the customers were probably close to my age.

They also host events there, including a winter ball! So if wanna geek out to Harry Potter, I highly recommend checking this place out for yourself.

[review] Knott’s Scary Farm – I am the Monster Magnet

kristel — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 05:38:20 +0000

(this lovely monster told me I was a disgrace, but said thank you when I said I liked her tattoo! haha)

Have I told you guys how much I’m loving Halloween time in Los Angeles? This past Wednesday I went to Knott’s Berry Scary Farm for a work outing. I had A BLAST. Overall, the mazes weren’t as detailed and high tech as the ones at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, but they weren’t overcrowded (unlike Universal) which made for a better experience overall.

First of all, make sure to buy your tickets ONLINE. It’s significant cheaper online and you don’t have to wait in line at the box office. Going during the week will probably be less crowded than the weekend, but seeing as Halloween is next weekend, it might be crowded all week. We made sure to come right at 7pm when the park opened. It wasn’t very crowded and the monsters were “fresh” so to speak, so we got some of their best moves/scare tactics. Towards the end, my co-workers and I saw some monsters slacking, standing around and talking with others while still in the mazes.

Unlike Universal Studios, there are no “scare zones” at Knott’s Scary Farm. The whole park is one damn scare zone, so be ready for zombies, evil clowns, ugly trolls, and all kinds of monsters jumping out to scare you. There was at least two times when I was bombarded with monsters yelling, grunting, and squealing at me. I think I’m a target because of my size (and maybe because I jump and run away when I’m startled). The girl pictured above really scared the crap out of me because she flapped a hand fan in my face and then kept yelling at me that I was a disgrace. She also made some weird snorting/grunting noise that freaked me out. In the meantime, this huge I-don’t-know-what grunted in my ear and the rest was a blur.

There was also a scary looking girl dressed in black who had white contacts on. She came right in my face and contorted her body in a really messed up way and made a really guttural noise. I had to put my hand in front of her face and say, “I’m really sorry, but I can’t look at you. You’re just too scary!” I think the monsters at Knott’s Scary Farm were actually scarier than the ones at Universal Studios because they were really in your face. The ones at Universal Studios had to work a very large crowd, so they had to work quickly, but the ones at Knotts Scary Farm took their time harassing each person.

There are 13 mazes, tons of shows, and rides, so make sure you plan accordingly. I went through all 13 mazes, one roller coaster, one log ride, and one train ride and was at the park from about 7pm-midnight. As I stated, the mazes weren’t as detailed at the ones at Universal Studios, but scary nonetheless.

Overall, I highly recommend Knott’s Scary Farm if you are a haunted house enthusiast. This place has the most bang for your buck. Plus, it’s open until 1am during the week, then 2am during the weekend.

I scanned the map to give you an idea of where all the mazes are. After the jump I’ll give you a breakdown of each maze.

Here’s a Quick Summary of the Mazes:

1. Slaughterhouse – I actually laughed when I got to this maze for some reason. It seemed a bit cartoon-y outside.

2. Fallout Shelter – Strange things are produced when there is nuclear waste, I will just tell you that.

3. Lockdown: the Asylum – I think this was my favorite maze in the park. The crazies have escaped and you’re going right where the chaos is.

4. Club Blood – This maze is actually right next to Lockdown. Like, as soon as you finish with the previous maze, you’re pretty much right in line for this one. This one was loads of fun too. At one point, I felt like I was at a vampire rave/strip club/whichever you prefer.

5. Terror of London -I loved the backdrop for this one and how you actually went through the streets and buildings of London. At one point, I think you see Jack the Ripper or some equally creepy looking guy. Unfortunately I went to this maze towards the end of the night and a few of the monsters did not give us their “A” game. I mean, I understand it’s late and you’ve been screaming all night, but still a bummer.

6. The Doll Factory – This was my second favorite. I will warn you now there is a girl doll in there that will make you say, “WHAT THE F*CK?!” I think the security guard yelled at us to keep going because we were just standing in the room staring at her and swearing.

7. Dia de los Muertos – Didn’t opt for the $1 3-D glasses, but had fun anyway. It was very neon-y.

8. Black Widow’s Cavern – this is a modified ride. It’s a the mine ride with monsters hiding in the shadows. And spider stuff. I hate spiders.

9. Sleepy Hollow Mountain – this is also a modified ride. It was the log ride. I really enjoyed this one, lots to look at. Make sure you protect your phone, though. I got drenched from sitting in the front.

10. Uncle Bobo’s Bigtop of the Bizarre – Another 3-D maze where I skipped the glasses. It was clearly very outdated and probably my least favorite in the park. That’s saying a lot since clowns scare the crap out of me. Sorry Uncle Bobo.

11. Virus Z - What can I say, I’m a sucker for the infected. Before we went in to this maze, there was a zombie guy outside and he stole my co-workers map, threw it away, and then gave her a half torn up map. Then she made him fish it out of the trash can and give her back her original map. That was the best part.

12. Cornstalkers – This was a fun one. Those damn cornpeople hid pretty well, so there were quite a few times when I screamed and swore.

13. Labyrinth – A maze for the girly girls. It was very disorienting because a really pretty nymph would swirl around me and then look at me and make some really messed up noise. I vaguely remember seeing a lot of ugly goat looking things, but that might have been my imagination.

White On Rice Movie Coming to Dole Theaters October 30!

kristel — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:39:38 +0000

It takes a lot to convince me to see a movie in the theater nowadays. Often times now, I’ll just wait for it to come out on Netflix, but there was something about Dave Boyle’s “White on Rice” that had me wanting to see it on the big screen. I saw the trailer randomly months ago, fell in love with it, then showed all my friends. Before even seeing the movie, we recited our favorite parts from the trailer. I told myself that this film ever made its way to Hawaii, I’d be there to see it.

The movie follows Jimmy (Hiroshi Watanabe, Letters from Iwo Jima) in his hilarious and strange quest to find love after getting divorced. He lives with his sister Aiko and her family, sleeping on the top bunk and sharing a room with Aiko’s 10 year old son, Bob. When his brother-in-law’s neice Ramona (Lynn Chen, Saving Face, <33333) moves in, Jimmy sets his eyes on her, and so the fun begins.

I was lucky enough to see the movie at HIFF this year and it had me laughing to the point of snorting at one point. Hiroshi Watanabe is hilarious, even in person, and his portrayal of Uncle Jimmy is funny and endearing all in the same breath. Boyle has chosen a great ensemble cast, but really it is Uncle Jimmy who shines in this movie (he has some of the best lines!).

For those who missed White on Rice’s debut at HIFF, the movie is getting a theatrical release come October 30, 2009 at Dole Theaters. I don’t often endorse movies, but White on Rice is a gem that’s meant to be seen on the big screen with a bunch of your friends. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting director Dave Boyle in person and he’s a really down to earth guy whose put his heart and soul into this film.

Do your part and support this great independent film. For more information about the movie, you can go to their website or their facebook page.

WHITE ON RICE-THEATRICAL TRAILER from Dave Boyle on Vimeo.

A Fine Frenzy’s Bomb in a Birdcage is Perfect for the Long Drive Home

kristel — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:55:42 +0000

I’ve been waiting to review A Fine Frenzy’s newest album, Bomb in a Birdcage, for about a week now. But let’s face it, you have to be in the mood to listen to her music. If not, what should a fun car ride will turn into a depressing sobfest. Trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way by listening to her first hit “Almost Lover” at the wrong time and sending myself into an ugly crying fit while sitting in traffic on the H-1.

Some musicians rely on fancy effects and instruments to make their music enjoyable, but A Fine Frenzy’s Alison Sudol knows that her best instrument is her voice. When she hits those high notes, there’s an aching in her voice that will make you reach for the tub of Ben&Jerry’s in the fridge and a big frickin’ spoon.

Not everyone will like this kind of music. Like I said, you have to be in the mood for it. This is not the kind of music you pump in the car with your friends on the way to the booty club. This is the kind of music that will hurt a little when you listen to it and you’ll be somewhat relieved it can sound so good.

For an album entitled, Bomb in a Birdcage, the sound is actually quite light. Nothing made me want to cry in a closet like her first hit “Almost Lover” did–thank goodness. While “Almost Lover” holds great personal significance to me, I can’t listen to it all the time and that’s really a shame. A Fine Frenzy definitely has the voice and talent. Thankfully Bomb in a Birdcage definitely has higher replay value.

Sounds like: perfect night driving music.

Here’s a cover she did of “I Will Follow You into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie:

More Movie Music with Imogen Heap’s Ellipse

kristel — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:10:51 +0000

When I got my hands on the new Imogen Heap album, Ellipse, I had to listen to it right then. The first time through, I had it on in the background while doing some work. I loved and felt it deserved my full attention, so I gave it a listen without any distractions. It didn’t feel the same the second time around and I couldn’t understand why. But now as I listen to “Between Sheets” for the fourth time while writing this entry, I realize that Imogen Heap is meant to be played in movies and for your inner monologue.

Heap’s music is the kind that’s made for the movies. It’s dramatic without drawing too much attention to it. Her music allows the other characters to have their moment and, if anything, serves as the perfect mood enhancer. I know that if my boring life were being made into a movie, I’d like Imogen Heap’s music to be played during all the important scenes.

I read somewhere that this album was recorded entirely in Garage Band, which–if true– is a testament to Heap’s talent as a musician and producer. Her voice is so incredibly unique and all-consuming through your earphones that you’ll forget where you are. She knows the range and ability of her voice and is a master at using it to create a perfect, lush swirl of sound.

Her latest release, Ellipse, feels familiar and yet excitingly new. Some tracks (like First Train Home, Tidal, and Between Sheets) feel reminiscent of her previous album, Speak for Yourself, and will probably be on those list of songs you’ll be addicted to and then later irritated when you hear it in some pretentious indie movie months later. Other songs are quirkier and less catchy, but definitely shows her range as a musician. If you watch her video blogs, you can see the kind of instruments she includes in her songs. It’s kinda crazy!

Although I am quite fond of this album, I feel like it doesn’t adequately showcase her talent as a performer. Her arrangements are complex and packed with quirks (much like her fashion style). Listening to this album over and over again will be quite fulfilling, but it limits you to hear this one specific arrangement of these songs. As a live performer, she’s constantly re-inventing these gems and each one is worth listening to.

To illustrate my point, I’ve included a live video of “Let Go” by Frou Frou. It sounds so different from the original, but I find myself liking both versions the same, as if they were two completely different songs.

So if your inner monologue needs new music, check out Ellipse. It’ll make the movie of your life that much better.

Review: (500) Days of Summer

kristel — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:27:48 +0000

You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to see this movie. It was so worth the wait.

In the first minutes of (500) Days of Summer, the narrator warns you that “this is a story of boy meets girl. You should know up front this is not a love story.” The movie follows the growth and collapse of Tom and Summer’s relationship. You know from the beginning that they don’t end up together and yet you root for them anyway.

Tom and Summer are such likable characters that you want them together, even if it becomes quite clear (to us and not quite to Tom yet) that they aren’t meant to be. It’s a heartbreaking realization and something that I’m sure we’ve all experienced in our lives. This movie is about love as much as it is about the collapse of a relationship and how love affects our memory.

The elevator scene where Summer tells Tom she loves what he’s listening to is one of my favorites in the movie. It reminded me of those moments in my youth when I felt connected to another human being through something as small (and yet significant) as a song.

(500) Days of Summer spoke to me in a very personal way. How often I’ve been in Tom’s shoes, trying to re-count my steps and mis-steps in a relationship I’ve cherished. I’ve been attached and broken by girls like Summer and found myself (like Tom does) in the process of putting myself back together.

My gripe with a lot of romantic comedies is that the head-over-heels love between the two characters feels forced. We are forced to believe that during a 20 second montage of clips (usually shown about 15 minutes before the movie ends) that the new lovers are filled with an all-consuming love that we’re supposed to hope for in our own lives. Sure, big dramatic declarations of love are entertaining, but it feels empty to me when I see it on screen.This movie realistically portrays the small romantic moments and heartbreaking defeats a couple shares with each other. The progression and demise of their relationship feels real and like in our own lives sometimes, you want the relationship to succeed even when it’s destined to fail.

As a side note, the soundtrack is amazing. I’ve had it on repeat for hours now.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone.

Sushi Samba at the Palazzo! Trendy and Delicious

kristel — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:16:59 +0000

Part II of my Vegas adventures had me at the Venetian’s new tower, the Palazzo, dining at Sushi Samba. My cousin’s boyfriend is the manager there, so she took my sister and I there for an early dinner. First of all, I love the vibe at this place. The decor is awesome–the perfect mix of trendy, asian, and graffiti, I totally imagine Sushi Samba as a place my friends would hang out at for drinks and pupus.

I wish I could tell you the names of what I ate–but honestly, I have no idea. I let my cousin do all the ordering and her boyfriend put together the perfect menu for us. My sister even had a drink that tasted light like cucumber and went down really smooth.

Below are two pictures of the food. Be jealous!

Check out the white stuff towards the bottom of this photo, it’s persian corn!! It was delicious.

My cousin picked out a bunch of sushi for me to eat. I devoured the tempura ones!