The Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company will be stopping by UCSB’s The Hub for a FREE improv show tomorrow night from 8-10pm. You get can get more info on the event being thrown by AS Program Board here. I’ve always admired comedians, especially improv performers, for their ability to think quickly on their feet but also to spread some fun in the world! I heard the name of this group and instantly said, “Isn’t that a TV show?” Ahhhh yes, my memory serves me well. The group had their own show on Comedy Central for three seasons from 1998-2000 based off of the popularity of their Chicago and New York theaters and improv workshops. Even more inspiring is that one of the founding members of this comedy troupe is Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live – Parks & Recreation – Mean Girls – Baby Momma – fame, a lot of which include one of my other all-time faves, TINA FEY!!!! Watch the below, and TRY to tell me that smart women can’t be funny:
So I started doing a little digging on Amy Poehler and found out that this woman is one Kick Ass Career Chick. Along with her popular roles in tv shows and films, she is also part of a project called Smart Girls At The Party with her friends Meredith Walker, a producer, and Amy Miles, host of PBS’ Lomax: Hound of Music. Their show airs on ON Networks.com and is a way of inspiring pre-teen girls by showcasing the many talents of the average smart girl next door. I was absolutely charmed by this show and hear this inner voice in me screaming, “MORE!!!!! MORE of this on TV!!!! MORE of this content for smart girls!!!” Take a look and spread the word to any lovely young pre-teens you may know. I think it is absolutely genius:
Was there anything better than the last two episodes of Sex and The City?!?! Carrie whisking away to the fashion Mecca of the world, Paris, living in the Hotel Plaza Athénée and (presumably) eating croissants. Mr. Big comes to her rescue in his classic suit and Carrie twirling about in a ballerina-esque tulle dress and a white fur stole. I could wrap those episodes around me like a warm Pottery Barn throw. Ahhhhhh……a girl can dream of dropping everything and jumping on the next flight to Charles De Gaulle right?!? For a full blown immersion into an appreciation of the French join the UCR French Program and the Department of Comparative Literature and Foreign Languages for the Fifth Annual TournÉes French Film Festival presentation – LIBERTÉ, IDENTITÉ, MODERNITÉ!The film festival will feature French films including a film from last year that I really enjoyed, “The Class”. Don’t worry, there will be subtitles!
I’ve grabbed the schedule from their website which you can view by clicking here.
February 11-25, 2010
University Village Ultrastar Cinemas
1201 University Avenue, Riverside
Doors open at 6:30 PM
Films at 7:00 PM
General Admission $8.00
Student/Senior Admission $5.00 (with valid ID)
THE CLASS (Entre les murs)
Thursday 11 February
LOVE SONGS (Les chansons d’amour)
Wednesday 17 February
I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (Il y a longtemps que je t’aime)
Thursday 18 February
THE BEACHES OF AGNES (Les plages d’Agnès)
Wednesday 24 February
THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN (La graine et le mulet)
Thursday 25 February
Before you head over to the films get in the mood by……….
I heard of this event and instantly loved it! Two of my favorite things mixed together into a cocktail of fun, food and film, or as ArtPower at UCSD has appropriately named their event, FOOVIES: Lust+Passion+Desire. Wow, this just got a whole lot spicier The event being held at The Loft tonight will serve up music and food from 7:30-8pm then a showing of the film Dinner Rush at 8 pm. Now I haven’t seen Dinner Rush so I can’t give you a sales pitch on why you should go out and see it. But I do know it stars John Corbett and I’m sure there’s some type of “Carrie Bradshaw broke Aiden’s heart twice” obligation that makes me always want to support him. Also, he charms me over and over again in My Big Fat Greek Wedding every….single….time. Here’s a breakdown of the film from ArtPower’s site:
When the “star chef” son of proprietor and bookmaker Louis Cropa decides to make changes in the menu of Louis’ hugely popular Italian restaurant, a frenetic evening of comedy is served up to a local police detective, rival gangsters from Queens, and a renowned food nymph. Some things don’t go down so well; other things come up that shouldn’t as the evening boils over with mayhem.
[2001, UK, 98 min.]
My tummy gets all sorts of happy when I read the menu they have planned:
MENU Entrée:Penne with Shrimp and Spicy Tomato Sauce; Antipasto Salad; and Trio of Dips with Assorted Breads. Desserts: Meyer Lemon Pine Nut Tart with Citrus Mascarpone and Ricciarelli Cookies. Wine Choice: An assortment of Italian and Californian wines. Menu subject to change.
Admission price ($26) includes the music, food, and the movie. Now go on and purchase your ticket here, there will be plenty of nights for you to eat Dominoe’s Delivery. And while you’re in the Italian spirit go on and play this:
Second, if you’re not old enough to enjoy a glass of vino you can drink some of this:
I know I’m a little late to join the Food Inc. bandwagon since I’ve heard rave reviews about this documentary for the past year. Driving around LA I’ve seen food trucks with stickers of the film in their windows and even restaurants with full blown posters. It seemed like this film was the new Obama campaign and all the hype made me want to see what it was all about. I got around to watching it over my break and wow…just wow. I’ve spent the past few years being mindful of what I put into my body trying to buy Organic as much as possible and limiting the amount of red meat I eat, partly from reading Skinny Bitch as well as the information I got from my partner who read The Omnivore’s Dilemma. But Food Inc sealed the deal. Like the film’s website reads, I will never look at dinner the same way again. And I’ll also never look at food at the supermarket the same way either. The key things I am going to try and change after seeing Food Inc. are to buy local, seasonal and organic from local farmer’s markets; eat grass-fed meat; and read the labels of what I’m eating!!! I can preach this from the high mountains all day long but seeing this film will truly open your eyes. I will warn you that there are scenes that are not for the faint of heart. I shuddered like a small child under a blanket unable to bear the brutality of some of the images. But the overall film is extremely well done and packs a plethora of information into a great presentation. On my new year and Food Inc. kick I am now on Day One of life without Diet Coke…so don’t blame me if my posts come off crankier in the next few weeks
It is Christmas Eve and I am filled with memories of the Christmas celebrations of my childhood. In our house Christmas Eve was always special since we would dress up to attend Midnight Mass then come home late at night and open the presents Santa had left for us while we were at church. On Christmas Day itself we would sit around in our holiday pajamas and share stories of the past year. In the afternoon we would go out and see a movie since movie theaters are normally some of the only businesses open on this day. Being with family and doing absolutely nothing but enjoying eachother’s company was and is so lovely. During my upcoming break I hope to explore “Il bel far niente”, the Italian saying for THE BEAUTY OF DOING NOTHING. (I had a wonderful time exploring this idea from Elizabeth Gilbert in the book Eat, Pray, Love.) I hope you will do the same. And if you’re going to go about doing that you might as well do it with style. Here are two films that I just absolutely adored. Both layered with stories of love, growth, inner-strength and of course oozing with style. Go out and see them both, you won’t regret it.
AN EDUCATION: Hands down one of my favorite films of the year. I won’t allow my stumbling words to describe this beautiful, beautiful film. Here is the trailer:
NINE: I got to see this film during its limited release. Along with the amazing talent, music, and sequins, the film takes place in Italy during the 60′s so you can imagine that the scenes are gorgeous! To be honest, I don’t think American critics fully understood this film. It is definitely a throwback to the old musical days when the music told the story. THIS IS NOT MOULIN ROUGE. It is not a 2.5 hour music video. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Moulin Rouge. But they are two entirely different films. Here is the trailer:
The iconic bob…dark sunglasses…and she proved at the premiere that yes, indeed, the devil does wear Prada. But with all the criticism, we can’t help but recognize Anna Wintour as one of the ultimate kick-ass career chicks. When Vera Wang turns the green eye of envy at you, you know you’ve really done something…
“I mean, I was there for seventeen years. I didn’t get the job that Anna got. I guess that was my most memorable experience.”- Vera Wang to New York Magazine on her time at Vogue
I have been anticipating the release of the new documentary The September Issuewhich tracks Anna Wintour as she prepares to release the biggest issue in the fashion mag world. It has already been released in New York and it will finally, finally, fiiiiinally make its crawl into Los Angeles today! I love this review from one of my favorite blogs, Fashionista.com, and got even more excited when they said the only movie that made them laugh harder this year was The Hangover. Check out the film’s official site to watch clips here.
Big: people don’t dress up anymore
Carrie: like with waistcoats
Big: and watch fobs I’m gonna bring back the watch fob
I wish we could go back to a time of waistcoats and watch fobs. A time where full petticoat-ed skirts and driving gloves were the norm. But I want it all…I want a broken glass ceiling for women in the work place and pin curls! Valentino The Last Emporer, documents the retirement of the famed designer but also the end of an era. The end of a time where a man like Valentino and the women that he dressed (Aubrey Hepburn and Jackie O) brought glamour and sophistication to the world. The documentary, directed by Matt Tyrnauer, follows Valentino in the last days of his retirement. I never got the chance to see this in theaters so I’m thrilled that the DVD was released this past Tuesday. I suggest picking it up and watching while you pack your things for this weekend’s move-in. Because let’s be honest, you’ve already watched all your recorded episodes of the Rachel Zoe Project. Order your copy of Valentino The Last Emporerhere.
The Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company will be stopping by UCSB’s The Hub for a FREE improv show tomorrow night from 8-10pm. You get can get more info on the event being thrown by AS Program Board here. I’ve always admired comedians, especially improv performers, for their ability to think quickly on their feet but also to spread some fun in the world! I heard the name of this group and instantly said, “Isn’t that a TV show?” Ahhhh yes, my memory serves me well. The group had their own show on Comedy Central for three seasons from 1998-2000 based off of the popularity of their Chicago and New York theaters and improv workshops. Even more inspiring is that one of the founding members of this comedy troupe is Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live – Parks & Recreation – Mean Girls – Baby Momma – fame, a lot of which include one of my other all-time faves, TINA FEY!!!! Watch the below, and TRY to tell me that smart women can’t be funny:
The event being held at The Loft tonight will serve up music and food from 7:30-8pm then a showing of the film Dinner Rush at 8 pm. Now I haven’t seen Dinner Rush so I can’t give you a sales pitch on why you should go out and see it. But I do know it stars John Corbett and I’m sure there’s some type of “Carrie Bradshaw broke Aiden’s heart twice” obligation that makes me always want to support him. Also, he charms me over and over again in My Big Fat Greek Wedding every….single….time. Here’s a breakdown of the film from 
