beep Blog

Favorites Things

Hello beepsters,

Okay we’re off to the start of hopefully a beautiful 2007.  Here are a few of my favs to kick off the new year!

FAVORITE MOVIE:

DREAMGIRLS (I know this came out in 2006 – but it’s still playing in 2007 – had to discuss)

Based on the 1981 Broadway musical comes Dreamgirls (which I was so fortunate to see as a little girl), a story of greed, tough hate, and romance. Three young women Deena Jones (Knowles), Effie White (Hudson), and Lorrell Robinson (Rose) desire to become pop stars and get their wish when they're picked to be backup singers for the legendary James "Thunder" Early (Murphy). Then they're set free for leads, but Curtis Taylor (Foxx) and Effie's brother C.C. (Robinson) decide for Deena to be lead which upsets Effie.

This movie contains both original Broadway and new songs and it's one movie that the whole family will enjoy! With Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Keith Robinson, and Danny Glover!

Bill Condon's glitzy adaptation of the '80s Broadway hit reaches a very high peak with its centrepiece. As Effie, the most talented but least svelte member of a Supremes-like group named the Dreams, Jennifer Hudson sings "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" with such desperate fury and unbridled chutzpah.

It's also got a refreshingly cynical take on the clash between entrepreneurial drive and artistic fulfillment, the former quality being embodied by the Dreams' slick manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). He wants to get black talent on the white pop charts without losing control to The Man. With great success comes ever greater compromises and he betrays Effie when he makes the more crossover-friendly Deena (Beyoncé Knowles) the Dreams' lead singer. R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy) also bucks at Curtis' control.

Go see this in the theaters before it goes to DVD – LOVE LOVE LOVE.

FAVORITE TV SHOW:

THE OFFICE

Based on the popular British series of the same name, this faster-paced American version follows the daily interactions of a group of idiosyncratic office employees via a documentary film crew's cameras.

If youve ever worked in a modern office youll like this show. Hilarious and emotional............
Filled with so many ups and downs. The branch is closed, the branch is saved, Jim is back, Jim doesn't want to go back, Jim is back!_Between the sheer hilarity of the stupidity of Dwight and Michael esp. at the end.."We did it! We did it" and the roller coaster of happiness YEA!! Jim and Pam will see each other again.

SO FUNNY – great way to spend a Thursday night!
NBC @ 8pm

Wishing all of you a fabulous new year – looking forward to all the faves in 2007.

Love,

Jen D

ps - here is a mushy clip of Pam & Jim moments just for fun :)

Faux Trophy Sweeping The Nation

                  

So back in October, I blogged on ThisNext about the big trend we were seeing of modernized takes on the classic stuffed deer head trophy wall piece. Which I thereby coined, Faux Trophy.

That was back in October: http://blog.thisnext.com/blog/its-hunting-season.html

This past week it came to my attention that the trend has all but dissipated - and in fact, may be going stronger than ever. 

For me, I love it. 

I love a good deer head for many reasons, least of all - it's not a real deer, they have a grand, opulent presence about them, and all these new materials that are being used to re-create the classic masculine icon are simply fabulous. Kitschy, obnoxious and fabulous.

The topic is slowly spidering it's way through the blogosphere, and, as I haven't posted anything in a while, I figured what could be more random that starting the new year off on the Beep Blog than with a post about Faux Trophy?

See more of my Faux Trophy discoveries at ThisNext, and let me know what you think.

Oh, and Happy New Year, my dearies!!

Beep has Cool Friends

Well, at least I can say I have stylish e-friends.   My pal (and fellow ThisNext fashion writer) KRISTOPHER DUKES has made it onto French Vogue's Blogs de Mode today.

I don't know what Vogue says about her (I can only really speak French while drinking wine heavily), but she looks great, and Kristopher Dukes has for a long time been my go-to girl for all things fabulous. 

But don't let her waify good looks fool ya...KD blasts Jay Z louder than anyone, and she can strut for miles in 6 inch heels only women of a questionable profession would dream of wearing.

All the more reason to check out her site daily.

MY FAVORITE THINGS // Milena's Candles

NEW FAVORITE THING ALERT!!!!!

Oh my bejeez…  I am melting into the couch right now as I stare into the burning flame of one of my new favorite candles…  Milena’s food scented candles.  My particular favorite is Crème Brule.

Just about the most delicious, fragrant candle I have ever owned. Not only do they smell good enough to eat, these candles are so pure (made with Soy) that when in liquid form double as a moisturizer. (No kidding, you can rub the warm wax on your body for super soft skin).

Imagine a fresh blueberry muffin straight from the oven with butter melting on the top…

You must must must treat yourself!

Love love love a great scent!!!

Here's Aunt Beep's gushing review on ThisNext.com

MilenasBoutique.com

art on Aunt Beep is a better deal than getting a call girl

I've been chortling at the Nerve.com Scanner blog for quite a while now...but I never thought squeaky-clean Aunt Beep would make it as a mention.

Little did I know the genius of Paige Wery was just waiting to be noticed.

Thanks Nerve guys, and welcome to all our new Beepsters - Aunt Beep loves you!

Modern Denver

Big props to Beep's hometown Denver for being featured as a "modern city" by the ever-fabulous 2Modern Design Talk Blog!

Read their complete profile on Denver's modern stores, modern architecture, modern architects and more...

Leora Lutz featured on decor8 & shelterrific

What a wonderfully crazy week this has been - and all full of blog love!

I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the BlogHer conference in San Jose this weekend in order to represent an exciting new project I am working on: ThisNext.com (more on this later, but you can check out where I've been writing [and hiding] here)

Today I've been catching up on emails and a little lost sleep...how thrilled am I to see that two of my most favorite blogs have written lovely posts about beep Gallery artist Leora Lutz!

Check out the thoughtful insights from two of my most favorite muses:

Really Affordable Art: Leora Lutz at auntbeep.com [shelterrific]

Leora Lutz Paintings + Aunt Beep [decor8]

Thanks guys!

ps: Leora Lutz City Silhouette paintings are available for $75 each and come in a rainbow of colors...a wonderful way to dress those drab walls!

beep Blog is Featured as Top 8 Los Angeles Lifestyle Blogs on About.com

Hello dearies!

The summer has been unexpectedly crazy for Aunt Beep...lots and lots of exciting stuff happening, lots of new babies to welcome into the world, and lots of orders to ship to our lovely customers.

I promise I'll be back with Beep In A Week's real soon - but I know you all are too busy trying to cool off by the pool to sit and the computer, so we'll catch up as soon as it's below 100 degrees - how 'bout that?

One piece of fun news I just had to share however, the beep Blog is featured on mega site About.com as one of the top 8 Los Angeles Social Lifestyle and Celebrity Gossip sites to visit!

How delighted are we to be included in the ranks of such super-bloggers as Defamer, Fishbowl LA, Totally Unauthorized and Curbed LA! (If I ever had two seconds to update my design here on the new typepad site, surely these fabu blogs would be linked on a list...somewhere [cue silent plea for blog designer help])

I'll be back real soon, lovelies.  MUAH!

Favorite Things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad!!!

A few of my favorite things.

Great Food

SUNDAY night I had the pleasure of eating at one of my NOW favorite steak houses in L.A. - Mastro's. The experience was so memorable I had to share it.

It started with our so sweet greeting and ended the most fabulous (and romantic) dining experience I have in long time. The wine – AMAZING, the bread – YUM, he chop salad made from artichoke hearts red pepper - blue cheese with a delicious vinaigrette - chopped so finely you didn't need to chew. THEN came the main course - DELICIOUS prime rib and scrumptious lobster tail. Yeah we did it up right!

What I loved most about this dining experience was the atmosphere. The ambience was that of an "old school" steak house" - dark, boothy and red. Filled with L.A.ites. BUT it didn't feel so sceeney yet there was enough of a scene to properly "people watch". Oh YES and “live” music – a piano bar – HOW COOL? Just the perfect touch to bring you back… I highly recommend.

Mastro's Steakhouse

The Art of Hair

Last Saturday I stopped by my hair stylist for a BD (blow-dry in pampered terms). Rarely do I get "the BD" but once in a while I like to treat myself to the luxurious experience. For “us” females the BD is directly related to self-esteem. Anyway I wanted to share my hair guy with ya'll, because he's fabulous!!! His cut's are impeccable - his color artful and not to mention, he's the sweetest person; the time you spend at the salon is so fun!!! His name is Tony Roldan - you can find him at ALLEN EDWARDS salon in Studio City.

Henry’s Corner

The Cat Sitter! One of the greatest kitty inventions “hours of action packed animal footage enhanced with the sounds of nature. Cats actually think they are in the great outdoors!”… and if we didn’t have an LCD flat screen Henry would be playing with it right now. BUT I thought I’d mention it anyway since we got such a kick out of the idea and then the actual product – see for yourself…

Rauschenberg Fever

I have Rauschenberg fever. I was blessed to attend the Robert Rauschenberg lecture at Pacific Design Center last Sunday May 21st. He's an amazing man and the talk made me feel born again.
Here is a review of the current MOCA exhibition from one of my favorite art writers, Edward Goldman.
Don't miss this show. It's monumental.
Amen.

Scorching Heat of Rauschenberg Summer in L.A.

Let's talk about the much-anticipated cultural event that finally rolled into town over the weekend--and I'm not talking about The Da Vinci Code, that monumental bore I had to flee from after an hour.

The event to really get excited about is the absolutely superb exhibition, "Robert Rauschenberg: Combines", which originated at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and just opened here at MOCA.  For Paul Schimmel, curator of this exhibition and one of the authors of the catalogue, this whole project is, no doubt, a labor of love.  The installation of the exhibition is nothing short of brilliant, a theater presentation full of suspense and intrigue.  As MOCA's chief curator, Schimmel is intimately familiar with the eleven Combines his museum owns, the largest number of these prized Rauschenberg works in anyone's collection.

For ten years, between 1954 and 1964, the artist, it seems, could do no wrong; in a state of sustained fury -- or could it be a state of grace? -- Rauschenberg was churning out one masterpiece after another, and all of them of a kind never seen before.  They were a combination of painting and sculpture, and he called them 'Combines.'  He threw in stuffed chickens and a goat, old socks and dirty linen, rubber tires and a whole panoply of electric appliances, and then, in a baptism of color applied with coarse brushstrokes, the artist transformed this junkyard detritus into sizzling icons of frightening, awe-inspiring power.  How anyone could sustain his creativity at such an unbelievable fever pitch for a whole decade is beyond me.

I definitely plan to see this exhibition any chance I get.  Today's program is only my initial gut reaction to this fascinating, multi-layered exhibition.  The next three months in Los Angeles should be proclaimed 'Rauschenberg summer' as we all are going to bask in the heat of his genius.  But please, be warned: it's possible to get scorched by Rauschenberg's art.

"Robert Rauschenberg: Combines"
May 21 - September 4
MOCA
250 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Hello My Name Is Jen.

This being my first contribution to the blog I wanted to introduce myself and what I aim to bring to the BEEP forum.

Besides being a beep Gallery artist I work in the Entertainment Industry. To be specific I work at a design firm that creates movie Posters… I do love what I do, but what drives me the most are the little simple things in my daily life that I encounter… I have been dying to share all this stuff and what a better way.

I’ll cover everything from beauty stuff to my fav TV shows to great eats. I am obsessed with my cat Henry and since he came to live with my boyfriend and I we have discovered the world of cat toys, accessories, DVDs and more so occasionally I will be sharing moments, finds – anything that touches my soul regarding Henry.

So let’s go… today’s picks:

My Favorite nail color:
I love my mani and pedis – in fact so much so that I go weekly – I know – over indulge, but pampering myself is up there on my top ten list:

MADEMOISELLE & MARSHMALLOW by Essie (mixed)
Marshmallow being the bottom color!!!

NEW treat spot!
PINKBERRY
Not the usual frozen yogurt… and all natural treat that is good for you. I have never tasted anything like it and what I love the most is that they only have two flavors to chose and a load of toppings – simple and yummy – A MUST TRY!

My personal favorite: Green Tea Yogurt with Kiwi & Strawberries!!!

For Henry:
Henry’s new favorite is the Kitty Kaviar - yup that’s right… Kaviar for the little critters. HE LOVES LOVES LOVES it!!!

That's all for now!

Aunt Beep Recommends: Pabst Blue Ribbon. Yes. Beer.

Pabst Blue Ribbon is about to make a comeback. I mean an all-the-IT-celebs-are-doing-it kind of comeback. If you want to be on the forefront of drink fashion, put down your Amstel & your Stella, and pick up a can of Pabst. I've been known to passionately pontificate about this epiphany when in the presence of a pitcher of the old brew, and have been meaning to enlighten my readers on the best cheap beer out there, but now its official. It's in the news. Kris Kodrich of The Oregonian seeks answers to Portland's recent Pabst craze. Kodrich cites a "subculture" uniting everyone "from skateboarders and artists to Vespa-scooter owners and musicians." PBR's marketing Director says that young Portland is "...very passionate about their subculture and very passionate about Pabst'."

HA! All we need here in LA, is a tap installed at the Tropicana, and the nation's most retro cool brew will be the newest libation for the hipster set.

Let's hope that doesn't happen. In the meantime, here are a few places off the top of my head that serve Pabst:
Big Wang's - Hollywood
Beach Ball - Newport Beach
My Bar - Chicago. Serving by the way $1.00 pints every Wednesday by easilly the hottest bartender in Chicago. **
City Grille - Denver

Feel free to tip us off on other fine Pabst serving establishments in your area!

You heard it here first folks.

**also featured at My Bar** for your Birthday, bar owner Brian Cunnignham will do a shot of whiskey out of an ashtray with you.