Post Mortem on the James Bond Weekend.

Another James Bond weekend summed up in one word: Fantastic.

We had dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, Rue St. Jacques on Friday evening and opened up a magnum of 2001 Trefethen Cabernet to share with the wait staff, as it is now become our tradition to bring them wine. The Muppet is fond of his French wines, so getting a bunch of Frenchmen who know their wines very, very well, to sip and enjoy a Napa wine built in a very French way was fun for us both. As usual, the cuisine there was top notch. I have never had even so much as a mediocre meal there - the chef works with organic and fresh ingredients, and everything melts in your mouth.

Saturday we took the Aston Martin to Domaine Carneros (by way of Telfords for some Monte Cristos, as they have a very wide selection of my favorite cigars there...and the ever irresistible In-N-Out Burger. I must admit, we did get a few looks pulling into the parking lot in that car) to pick up some of their Ultra Brut, which they keep to wine club member release only - but if you can get your hands on a bottle, I highly recommend it for an affordable, light, crisp champagne. We typically compare it to the Late Disgorged.

We snapped a few photos there before moving on to Trefethen (upon arriving though, we realized the shipment wouldn't be ready until the end of the month, unfortunately). From there we went to St. Supery, and picked up my Oak Free Chardonnay and the new Elu release. We also got the deal of a lifetime on a case of the 2001 Merlot - which many of you who frequent my parlour will be privy to tasting shortly. I try to get some of this whenever its accessible - sometimes they have it, sometimes they do not. We scored on this trip. Totally.

We decided to stop in to The Rubicon Estate to have a cigar take in the new view, after they demolished the second storage building blocking the view of the vines on to the main road. The Muppet scored me the coveted orange from the Great Lemorange tree...my life is now complete.

After that it was off to the Glen Ellen Inn which is an Oyster Bar and Grille that has these "Secret Cottages" you can reserve...I found the B&B online when I was running a search on Sonoma. Our criteria is always that a place have a restaurant so we can park the car and just walk everywhere else (ie., no drinking and driving!). The little cottage we had was perfectly situated just off a lovely creek with a stone bridge, where we could hear the water just outside the window, gently going by. There was a fireplace, a hot tub - pretty much all the things you could want - all nestled in a sleepy little town off the beaten path.

Dinner at the Inn was fantastic as well - I knew when I tasted his sweet biscuits disguised as little scones that it was all gonna be good. I had a stewed lamb shank with polenta, oysters on the half shell with some good old fashioned southern influence in the sauces (not your run of the mill garlic and white wine vinegar/ginger dip), and we tapped into that Elu for the feast. All was well in Hoosville.

The next day we set out for Sonoma with the intention of antiquing in Healdsburg, however, there is no good way to get from Glen Ellen to Healdsburg so we sort of winged it, stopping in at Chateau St. Jean to sample the Malbec release (yes, it even impressed my Malbec snobbery - but it's still on the light side and reminds me very much more of a pinot noir. The fruit you taste for mere moments in the beginning *could* pass for a traditional Argentine Malbec, however). We noticed a vineyard that the Muppet recalled his former boss had taken over - so we headed on up and up and up north to visit Quivira. They were doing a barrel tasting of a few Zinfandels, which was quite tasty. We chatted a bit with Steven Canter, the winemaker, and I learned a lot about the difference between "head-trained" vines and the t-shape you normally see...how the newly implemented biodynamic farming got rid of a Floxera infestation that nearly saw them pulling up one section of old vines...instead, it has vanished and that crop was saved as a result of the new practice.

We *had* stopped in Healdsburg for burgers on the way, but were too tired to contemplate antiques by the time we finished up north, so back to San Francisco we drove...top down, enjoying life.

...And life *is* good.

Labels: cigars, food, lemorange, napa, sonoma, wine

posted by Rain at 4:52 PM

Haunted Mansion? Srsly. Oh, and Clam Chowder!

So…as you all know the saga of my .08 DUI story, I have a juicy update for you. I have finished my DUI classes as required by the DMV (w00t), and this Saturday will be the last day of five that I have of doing community service.

I had been told many, many horror stories of wearing orange vests and being hauled up the mountain side to cut down trees with a chainsaw (they should not give these to horror writers), or cleaning public park restrooms, or picking up trash along the freeway. I got my assignment three weeks ago, and without giving away what this place is, I can only describe it as a non-profit sort of thing in a gorgeous historical old single family mansion nestled very remotely in the North Bay. I’m omitting the name only because I’m not sure its public knowledge that they get volunteers from the Sheriff’s department work program.

The Muppet drops me off and picks me up, then gets the use of my vehicle for the day. The winding ride was a bit on the treacherous side in the rain, through one-lane roads and up a mountain, past flooded park roads and creekbeds and along a little one lane road that had a mud slide problem already in full swing. Last weekend, however, it was gorgeous, and the primrose was in full bloom.

When we got to the place, it was breathtakingly beautiful – a three story HUMONGOUS Great House, with beautiful heart-shaped garden in front (this would give it away to anyone in the 'know'), winding paths throughout what I can only call a “compound”, and many other unique things…several coyotes and one rather curious mountain lion.

Essentially, I wound up working in a very cool, very old, and very haunted mansion. There is a wonderful story about how the house was built and why, and by whom and for what purpose. As all good haunted houses come with, it is of course a love story. I’m told you can see some of its rooms on various historical shows throughout the various Discovery Channel and History Channel episodes, for reenactments and such too.

I wound up doing work in rooms that the other staff would not go into, or not go into alone. I was told wonderful stories about a certain male ghost pushing her (the staff member telling me) down a certain set of stairs, and that someone indeed did die on those steps. I was told of another (the same, perhaps) male that haunts the 2nd floor, and often the guests complain about him and several psychics have been there all with the same account of the angry gentleman on the 2nd floor…I smelled the distinct scent of burning wax candles upon the landing of the 2nd floor at the top of the stair case, and the warmth of them on my person – despite there being no heat and very little light in the old building itself. Most thermostats registered 60-62 degrees throughout the 3rd floor.

I spent time in the spookiest room on the third floor, which has a temperature far below any other room in the house, and an ominous hole in the brick that leads no where, seemingly set for no reason at all (not the type you’d have for a wood burning stove or pipe). It's called the "sewing" room. I explored nooks and strange little rooms, lots of wonderful hidden doors, and lots of interesting old things.

At the end of two days, I was also offered a job. I'm considering coming back for some weekends in the summer.

I find it incredibly ironic that they sent a horror writer to a great old ominous and haunted mansion in the middle of no where as…punishment.

On Saturday evening I made the Muppet some of my home made clam chowder...only I couldn't find the base recipe I originally modified from the Frugal Gourmet, but what I created will go down in history as the BEST. CHOWDER. EVER.

Vegans beware, this is not for you...but those of you who can do dairy and seafood, just omit the bacon and bacon drippings/fat, and use Extra Virgin Olive Oil as a substitute.

Here is the yumminess...oh, and by the by....you may want to cut this in half, as it makes 12 servings easily.

INGREDIENTS

4 cans clams, drained with juice set aside
3 1/4 cups vitamin D milk
2 cups half and half
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
2/3 cup fresh chopped basil
2 ribs celery
6 scallions, diced (save green ends and chop for chives)
1/2-2/3 cup flour
3 large russet potatoes cubed and boiled (mash half of them)
2/3 of a large yellow onion, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
Thyme to taste
Oregano to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste
Sea Salt and Fresh ground pepper
1/12 sticks unsalted sweet butter
6 strips bacon (maple or hickory) chopped
1/4 cup bacon fat/drippings

Combine the clam juice with the milk and set it aside. In large stock pot heat bacon fat, 1/2 stick of butter, garlic, onions, celery, and a pinch of the fresh herbs at a time. Add another 1/2 stick of butter, more herbs and repeat. Cook until the onions are translucent, then add the rest of the herbs along with the thyme and oregano. (you are making a roux). Add flour and stir until incorporated, then cook while stirring frequently for 5 mintues. Slowly add the milk/clam juice mixture, stirring it in until incorporated.

Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add potatoes, both mashed and cubed. Stir to incorporate, then add cayenne, clams, and bacon bits. Stir in half-n-half slowly, then simmer for 10 more minutes.

Add chives to garnish in bowls. Serves 12~!

Labels: food, ghosts

posted by Rain at 11:50 AM

I have been recruited to teach one of the owners of Nob Hill Grille and his niece a set of Beginner Tango lessons. We'll be doing this at Space Gallery, as Ray has generously donated the hardwood floors to the cause. :) I wrote much of BARFODDER at Ray's old venue in North Beach before he sold it.

The Muppet and I attended their one-year anniversary party some weekends past, and it was full of sublime nibbles and lovely wine. We got to watch them do the photography of the food and guests for the soon-to-be-hatched website, and enjoyed everyone looking very smart in their suits and cocktail casual.

and I have been going there for a year now, and we often take Thumbilina to dinner, as its also her favorite restaurant (ever since they fashioned a birthday candle out of a coffee stirrer and lit on fire atop her creme brulee...tee hee).

Labels: food, tango

posted by Rain at 4:43 PM

happy birthday dr. kaos, & dime store updates

First of all, a very happy birthday to Dr. Kaos. May the woodland sprites bring you lots of lovely treats (and sweep your house of Black Widow infestations like the one you had when you lived in San Jose…shudder), and keep the leprechauns at bay. I do believe I’ve known you now for what…8 or 9 years? Why, just yesterday we were dancing to a Perki/Nando mix at Shrine of Lilith…and Midnight was in his Top Hat with hair down to his butt.

I cannot believe it’s almost August. Because right after August is September, and after September is October – and then comes November, possibly my busiest month this year, depending on how I work the whole thing out. I’ve got to go to Denver for my high-school girlfriend’s wedding, and there is the potential for a Thelma And Louis Southwest Tour with TheMissBlue, stopping off in Arizona to camp at Rockstar Ex’s, before landing in Texas for Thanksgiving. The whole thing should take us about a week.

This weekend was a lot of fun, but rather jam packed. Friday was the usual happy hour at the cigar bar with Lily_Dove and MuppetMan, (c)Superman, Snake Eyes, and the usual bunch. Later, Libitina joined us, and she, Lily_Dove, and MotoBlondeGuy (a friend of Lily_Dove’s) went for Sushi at Sushi Rika. My eye was really giving me trouble at that point, so I wound up begging off early and went home.

The next day I was supposed to have a look at a surf board from a somewhat flakey eBay Guy. He said it only had two small dime size dings that he’d had professionally repaired, but what showed up was two dings the size of the top of a redbull can, and he’d filled them in himself with Blue Steel epoxy – not the kind you’d want to use for a surf board but I would guess it would have been somewhat ok – but it wasn’t even sealed or laminated. I’d have had to take it to a professional repair place at $25 a pop, and told him so, since it wasn’t even water tight. He got angry and said, “Well, if you don’t want it then…” I think he half expected me to stop him. What a freakin’ baby.

He turned around in a huff and threw the board back into his truck, took his toy, and went home. This after telling me he’d lost his cell phone all week, then found it the morning OF the day he was supposed to be in the city and coming by between 11am and 1pm…which turned into 4-5:30…and then he didn’t actually get there until 6:15pm. Originally he’d had the board listed for $400+ on eBay as a collector’s item (and it wasn’t). When it didn’t sell I made an offer to him and said I could pick it up since he was local (San Jose) and he insisted on bringing it to the city. So my whole day was wasted sitting around waiting for this guy, and for a board that wasn’t what he said it was. Needless to say…I was glad to be rid of the whole task. The board isn’t even worth $100 at this point, after what he’d done to it.

I had dinner plans in the Marina with Fleur De Lys (no, not the restaurant – we went to Ace Wasabe). Afterwards, we headed to the Matrix, our fair Mayor’s fine establishment, and chatted away from the unwashed masses in a tidy little corner on a velvety lounger. The waitstaff was very attentive, and we weren’t bothered by horrible drunk marina boys on a mission, as we were out of the view of the meat market crowd. I dare say I’ve found a way to enjoy that place on a Saturday night. Fleur De Lys just got back from Italy, Cambodia, Europe…and had lots of stories.

Sunday I kept to myself, watched the History Channel all day long, reruns of General Hospital (and I have to say I am HOOKED on General Hosptial Nights) from the previous week to get caught up on my favorite Mob family soap, then caught The Notorious Bette Page (on demand) – which was quite a good little movie, even if the actress that played her was a little too thin.

Today I get back to the grind on two difficult scripts for branded content; one involving the Beckhams, and the other a major cosmetic company out of the UK. Fun, fun.

My apologies to TheMusicFairy (aka Charmless) – I did not make it out to see his band last night, though I had meant to. For those of you in LA – Truxton will be playing two gigs coming up this week…here’s the deets from the band:

FOR OUR LOS ANGELES PEEPS:

Wednesday July 25, 2007 @ El Cid (Silverlake CA)

Silver Needle (AWESOME band!)
Truxton
TBA

9pm 8 bucks
__________________________________________
Friday July 27, 2007 @ Relax Bar (Hollywood)

TRUXTON
Kinky Method
Lipstick Dynamite

8pm 7 bucks

Labels: food, friends, LA, music, surfing

posted by Rain at 9:34 AM

SIg Sheets for ILT rec'd...and the Art of the Fez

I got the signature sheets from Cemetery Dance via Norm Partridge today, for IN LAYMON’S TERMS, a Tribute To Richard Laymon. Looks like I’ll be busy with those for a while. Heavy, heavy box.

I hear from my friends in Buenos Aires that it’s snowing there for the first time in 35 years. That’s absolutely and absurdly frightening, and just another notch in the belt of odd weather thanks to Global Warming.

The 4th was fun; friends from the neighborhood, work, and Grille came to celebrate up on the roof, which proved windy, chilly, and a bit obstructed in view this year. Still, a good time was had by all. I promptly came down with the Martian Death Flu afterwards, however, and had to take Thursday and Friday off – plus stayed home Saturday mostly. Sunday I read cards at the Bigfoot briefly, ate dinner at a new Moroccan restaurant…which makes me wonder what Johnny Strike would think of it. Quite tasty, IMHO. The dishes were sweetly seasoned with spice, as opposed to spicy but sweet, which would be how I describe some Indian cuisine. Besides, there was a guy who greeted us in a red velvety Fez. Yes, a Fez!

Which reminds me of n, who once talked me into buying Acnalbasac Noom (He used to wear a fedora...but now he wears a fez...) because he thought it was a tango I should hear. (bad...bad n!).

Labels: food, friends, music

posted by Rain at 12:39 PM

The Bestest Mussel Recipe Ever

Yanno, the Nob Hill Grill really shouldn’t have changed its hours. It’s never open when I need it to be anymore. I was going to stop in an ogle the cute surfer, but alas…closed, closed, closed. *sigh*

Instead I hoofed it another block to Cala, where they had a sale on fresh mussels. I concocted a recipe that rivals even Ian McDowell’s mussel recipe, which is pretty tough to beat. Here tis:

Rainy’s Succulent Mussels in Broth (that ain’t right, I know).

Ingredients:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
¼ cup chopped White onion
2 cloves minced Garlic
¼ cup fresh chopped basil leaves
½ cup White wine vinegar
Salt & pepper
½ cup Sangria*
1/8 cup Fresh parsley
1 lb fresh mussels
½ lemon

Coat a large sauce pan with the olive oil generously. Add the garlic and onion, flavoring the oil over medium heat. Add the basil and parsley, then simmer until the herbs turn dull (cooked) green. Stir in the white wine vinegar, sangria, and salt and pepper. Bring to a light boil on medium high, then reduce heat back to medium and add the mussels. Cover and steam 5-7 minutes until the majority of the mussels are open and plump. Squeeze the lemon over the mussels, stir, cover for one more minute, then serve in the broth, discarding any closed mussels.

I also made a good simple salad to go with it, comprised of shredded fresh basil leaves over mixed summer greens, spinach, black berries, goat cheese, and black olives in a balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Add a half-way decent Pinot Noir (Smoking Loon will work great with this), and you will be a very happy foodie.

*Sangria: If you want to know what was in the sangria, to the best of my recollection, this is what I put in it when I made it last Thursday: two kinds of wine – one decent, one awful (1 Smoking Loon Cabernet and half of a really bad Forestville Cabernet), Fresca (yep, that’s what I said!), sugar, chopped apples, chopped peaches, and chopped pears. Normally I forgo the Fresca and use 7up or club soda if I have fresh oranges to squeeze in or Trader Joes Dixie Peach juice…but Sangria is pretty much comprised of what ever fridge stuff, fruit, and wine you have left over that’s about to go bad. I also have a great white wine sangria recipe - but that's a post for another day.

If you don't feel like going to the trouble of making sangria for this recipe (since I just had some laying around), Carlo Rossi makes an excellent sangria in the jug wine section (No really! It's good!).

Also, the white wine vinegar and salt should offset the sugar content in the sangria - so you need to taste the sangria first to see how sweet it is in order to determine different amounts of the vinegar and salt. I mean, you do remember Justin Wilson tipping that jug, don't you? I just need a littul bit dat dere wiiiine...

Labels: food, wine

posted by Rain at 9:57 AM

On Birthdays, Pirates, and Bond Cars

First of all, Happy Birthday to my lil' sis, Lindsey Rae! May dad make you breakfast and keep you in cordials (unless of course he's traveling, in which case hit up Unc).

I’m reliving a childhood happy place today by eating some red delicious apples and peanut butter, which seems to be a good thing, as I'm slightly hung over from the cigar bar adventure last night.

I took two pages of a story I'm working on to the bar and gave the guys a look. The general consensus was that its good - mmmm...piratey goodness. I'm popping my pirate cherry, since I've never written about them before. Monsieur Bullet will like this one a lot, methinks. Yarrrrr!

After a few martinis and cigars, Muppet Man took me to Tiramisu for dinner. Since the owner is a friend of ours, we relied on his discretion in regards to food and wine. Please to be noting: Handsome, smiling Italian men who own several restaurants will just keep bringing you food until you beg them to stop. After 5 courses, we begged. It stopped. But man, it was good!

Since Libitina is in Austin, she's asked me to ensure Muppet Man has a happy weekend none-the-less, so I proposed a trip to Napa, since the last time we all went it was a blast. "I think the Aston Martin is in the paddock this weekend," he said. Those are magic words, Aston Martin. The name's Bond. Rain Bond. How come Jim Henson never created a Muppet Bond? Nevermind... I promise to take pictures.

Lots of script editing was done yesterday for the day job, and most of that is out of the way. It’s swelteringly hot at the office. For some reason, they don’t air condition us down in the creative sector.

Portable fan. Portable fan. Portable FAN. Just need a PORTABLE FAN!

Labels: family, food, friends, writing

posted by Rain at 11:22 AM

The Week in Type


Friday: Happy Hour was supposed to contain but I got there too late due to office calls and one surley friend who was on his way to Vegas, Baby. Blue Hair Michelle joined me, however, and we had dinner at the new and improved Nob Hill Grill. Please support this neighborhood place - they've really changed it up under the new ownership. The food is reasonably priced (for really good food in a diner atmosphere) and they have a great bathroom. I walked in early that morning and sighed. Big Hot Short Board Surfer was behind the register, and he asked me, "What can I get you?". I said, "I'm hung over. Bad." So he made me this amazing English muffiny goodness with sausage patties the size of burgers (I dare say it was homemade or butcher shop sausage - their ingredients are fresh and very good), some kind of fancy cheese, egg...and home fries. He plied me with brewed tea mingled with raspberry Torani syrup (though I admit this made me sick later because I drank two fast glasses of it there, waiting for the food). I told him he'd cured my hangover when I went to dinner with Blue Hair Michelle, and they were special-nice to us.

And then...Karaoke was suggested by Beastmaster. KILLED it with Sinatra and Patsy Cline. Blue Hair Michelle refused to sing and stated that I had broken all the rules of karaoke simply because I *could* sing and didn't tell them. Beastmaster sang U2 and was imminently disappointed that they didn't get to his second song. I have photos of this. Oh yes, I have photos.

Saturday: Impromptu dinner party at Casa De La Rain, when Libitina found she wasn't feeling well and we had to cancel our plans. Beastmaster made an amazing Italian pork dish (OMG - ground pork, bacon, garlic, onions, olive oil, marinara sauce... what's not to like???), made a salad and brought some Caprese fixins, which I put together. There was so much food just in these little items that only Thumbelina had room for desert (I made strawberry shortcake just for her). She promptly crashed out in the bedroom, and couldn't finish the end of The Never Ending Story.

I always love it when kids give you things they make, too. She drew me a thank-you card for her birthday gifts and then had me leaf through the book I gave her (The Wolves in the Walls) to find her picture waiting for me. She didn't stay up long enough for me to read to her, though, so we're saving that for another night. After she hit the hay, the adults hit the wine. We went through my entire wine fridge (12 bottle capacity and 6 bottles full) throughout that evening...and were up laughing and talking until 6am. (At one point around 3:30 we didn't have the heart to wake up Thumbelina for the walk her home, so we let her sleep until Morning). Midnight did a brief drive-by somewhere in the middle, and though Darkmas had been invited, he didn't have the opportunity to come.

Sunday: Recoup Day. Many re-runs of Carnivale (HBO). Midnight invited me to a BBQ, but man, I was toast, so no...couldn't go. Early bedtime; very content.

Monday: Surf report at Linda Mar was for head high to 1 foot overhead waves, so the Surfistas and I decided to go to Zeitgeist instead. Chardonnay met me, Brit Pop, and Midnight there. Other Joe showed up to chat, followed by Joetech and his girlfriend. About 3 and 4pm I got text messages from SnakeBite and Surfchitect telling me they just got back from Linda Mar and it was off the hook. Snakebite just bought a bandit board and has renounced his 8'4 long(ish)board. I now have the 8'4 privilege whenever I like. Yay! Surfchitect has also granted me borrow of his 9'2 longboard, which would probably be way more stable for me. I'm waiting to hear back on a hot Walden Magic Board - but it’s a 9'4 and would be a bitch to carry. Snakebite had already gone home; Surfchitect did stop in for a beer, and we chatted about the 2 waves he caught. Snake bite was catching everything with the bandit. Eventually everyone dispersed as the sun went winding down, and Brit Pop, Other Joe, and I headed over to Bigfoot, where we met up with more friends (Beastmaster included). Did not get to hang later with SnakeBite, though we'd tried to plan around my buds and his BBQing. All in all, a nice wind down to the holiday weekend. Promised dinner to him last night before he left town today, which was fun, as I got to check out the hot new board. It’s a shorty alright, but looks fast. Not sure I will do well with his 8'4, but anything's possible. I'm just so used to those big honkin' Sunset training longboards.

This week has been busy at the office, and PianoMan has begun to call me about my DUI case, of which, the trial is in July. Its going to cost $800 for that forensic expert to testify (ouch), and my entire bonus check is going to PianoMan (for his graciously reduced and nominal fee of $2500 for good lawyering. I don't know what I'd do without my Gay Mafia behind me). We have a good case building. [and people wonder why I'm always broke].

I heard from Judge Clooney today and it seems his father has taken a turn for the worse with cancer...he may not make the trip with the rest of the boys in a few weeks, but did indeed finish his Marathon. I'm very sad for him and proud of him at the same time. I hate it when tough things happen to wonderful people. There's been a lot of that going around this week.

This upcoming weekend: Surfing Saturday. Saturday evening is the Ox Crew Allnight BBQ; I will be reading tarot cards. Flasheley is up from LA; possible happy hour Friday. If surfing doesn't happen Saturday, Sunday is the other option...though I know I have some kind of obligation that day which escapes me. Catch up on short stories I owe to folks will likely be this weekend, too.

Labels: food, friends, surfing

posted by Rain at 3:07 PM

Scripts, Punk Rock, Robots, and Colibri

Couple o’ things.

1) Screenwriting (I know, I know…I said I’d never do it).
2) Punk Rock
3) Maker Faire
4) Colibri

Before I begin - a big happy birthday to Chardonnay. Viva Las Wankas Peligrosas! Li li li li li li li liiiiiiiii!

1) One day at the cigar bar…(isn’t that how it always starts?) Chocolate Buddha (his choice of name, not my doing) and I were discussing the art of film and writing for film. He got my usual tirade of how I’m anti-screenwriting, and hate the business almost as much as the snake oil type people running the business, and how I hate the format itself. I find it constricting for a writer. We hashed out some good old fashioned writer-talk (read = drunk talk) about projects we’re currently working on, and at one point it seemed like a good idea to go with the epiphany that, yeah, I’ve had lots of opportunities in film I’ve turned down, and yeah, I do suppose that’s a lot of money, but no, I really don’t care and yeah, sure, if you want to try and develop a script for some of the trunk treatments, I’ll send you some.

We both forgot about it (somewhat) in the morning. I got an email or two from Chocolate Buddha requesting reading material...and time went on. Ran into him again, and we rehashed the discussion, and again I was convinced that this could work. The next day I sent him two things - beats for GARDEN OF ANGELS, because I couldn't find the treatment...and 11 pages of script for DANNY, which is sort of a messed up deep ended GREEN MILE sort of pants-grabber.

These were the responses:

I just had the opportunity to read what you've done so far with "Danny" and I am impressed. Outstanding work. I really like Danny's poem. You definitely have a gift. I have so many thoughts about your work. Too many to put in an e-mail. We should definitely speak soon.

And

Decided to also read your beats for GARDEN OF ANGELS today. I can visualize how sinister the Lead Child should look. This is another good idea, but will take a lot of work to fully develop into a script. Can't wait to see you again to discuss.

Now, Chocolate Buddha can write scripts. No doubt about it. But the interesting part came when we connected (again) at the Cigar Bar...he said:

"What do you need me for? I wouldn't change a word of DANNY. It's perfect the way it is. If I can't get into it in the first 10 pages, it's never going to fly. Not only am I into it after 11, I'm hooked. I can't wait to see what happens. It's brilliant."

I was staring blankly at this point, just blinking.

"But it's just a first draft. I haven't even edited it...and I--" He cut me off. "WHY AREN'T YOU DOING THIS FULL TIME?" he shouts.
"Er...cuz I don't like it?" I said. He scowls.
"Well...you just have to!" He proclaims.
"I don't have to do anything." I say defiantly.

But I'm starting to think about it. If anything, I have promised to finish the first act of DANNY and give him another look. During this discussion, Muppet Man pipes up, "Who's going to look over the contract when it comes in?" in typical lawyerly fashion. "That's where you come in," I said. He grins. "I'll do it pro-bono, even."

Its good to know good people. And good lawyers.

Meanwhile I'm going to try and dig up the original treatment I did for GoA. actually took a stab at firming up the original into more of a different story - so perhaps he'll get them both.

2) Punk Rock Bassist bartends at the Bigfoot. Last night he mentioned somewhat of a Mab reunion (for those of you who aren't old school punk - the Mabuhay Gardens, now the Velvet Lounge, was once THE place to see punk in the early 80's) at the Great American Music Hall on June 8th - which might conflict with Judge Clooney and the Bull Semen Boys coming into town for their annual Sideways trip...otherwise, I am going to try and get a ticket. In which case, I may have to see the Slims show on the 7th (the day Judge Clooney flies in). Now, one might recall when Fay and I were doing a documentary on the Mab, and Dirkson was the one who pulled the plug citing he'd already had the idea years ago and we'd be stealing his... but I'm not there to see Dirk (or even help him). I'm there to see the bands.

3) Another event I'm looking forward to: Maker Faire. Learn to make, craft, design or develop: Robots, rockets, crafts, cars, electronics, and alternative energy. What's a nerd not to like? May 19th-20.

4) Colibri... is perhaps the BEST tapas I've had in the city. Thanks to for making it happen last night. What we sampled:

Pisco sours
Fresh blackberry margaritas
Walamu (like Halibut) with a decedent creamy, cheesy, wine sauce over green beans and some other veggies - not too heavy. Very light and flavorful, unlike French food.
Chicken Mole (incredible mole sauce)
Mushrooms in spicy sauce with cheese
Fresh tortillas with 3 types of dipping sauce

This all after drinks with the gang at Bigfoot. All in all a more positive end to a difficult day.

Labels: food, music, writing

posted by Rain at 10:58 AM

Karaoke, Eating Tentacles, and Tom Cats

Friday was a debacle; I was faced with three happy hour commitments. I really only made it to one of them – and that was mostly to get my Gay on, with Mad About Musicals as the theme (afore mentioned). We had Judy Garland running on the big screen – Cabaret playing on the stereo, and when the music stopped, one of our gals dressed in fedora and tie did a fantastic stand alone serenade. Marketing does not fool around – true to the theme of show tunes (and usually what the stars of said shows were doing before and after them), there was straight martini hooch with no mixers. Vodka and Gin…with a side of wine, lemons, and limes.

I skipped Jillians and subsequent invite from Joetech (which would have been right across the street, practically) to hook up with at the Ox, where (c)Superman, Chardonnay, Snake Eyes, and the usual crew were at it with Dice. We stayed for one cocktail, and separated for separate plans. and I hoofed it over to Encore Karaoke, where we met up with a few others and belted out various tunes of varying levels of goodness (subsequent to more cocktails). At some point the bartender was buying my drinks to get me to stay and sing more, and this was very dangerous. I decided to go home before I couldn’t walk the two blocks to get there. I have to say…as Karaoke bars go in this town, Encore was quite fun and polite. There was no attitude (like you get at the Mint), no snobbery, and even the bartenders and bouncers got up to sing here and there. I highly recommend it.

Saturday was such a beautiful day, I was out and about early. Stopped in to the new and improved Nob Hill Grill for a little breakfast, did some grocery shopping, and was generally lazy until hooking up with Stella (I’ve got to come up with a better code name for him other than his Cat). Now that I’m thinking about it, I will point out that he has reminded me uncannily of two people recently. In that way that you sit across from someone and stare at them, thinking, egads—they look like someone I know…but who? After properly stalking the music of his current project on myspace (what, you thought I was going to just give you a link? Tut, tut.), and looking at a photo of the band, I was struck immediately by a certain picture where he looks bizarrely like ‘s Nicky. Now, miss and I have some pretty interesting life parallels, and that particular annotation, like a footnote to a good book, was pretty spooky. Not in a bad way, but in one of those…wow…weird…sort of ways.

The second resemblance I discovered was over some very tasty Korean food on Saturday as we had dinner. There was a dish of some sort of bar-b-qued, large, tentacled thing – Squid I think – some octopi, a fried spicy fish fillet, and a very delicious marinated beef thing. Stella encouraged me to try the pomegranate wine – which I love – and sipping from this very dainty cordial glass (no, little sisters, not the FAMILY size cordial) I realized that Stella has a mop-fop just like n. Only his might just be slightly more unruly.

Both of these comparisons are compliments of course. And everyone loves n’s hair.

After dinner, we tried to go see Grindhouse at the Parkway, but there was a line for the couch seats (the movie theater serves pizza and beer, and if you get their early enough you can get a spot on these cute little couches with little coffee tables…so it’s like watching a movie at home but on the big screen). We decided to wait it out for the second show, and saw 300 instead. I was desensitized to the gore after a while, and really enjoyed the cinematography of this film. It was beautifully shot, and the special effects on the creatures were fantastic. I do love a good wolf-creature. Afterwards we giggled at the high school kids all done up in their Rocky Horror garb. Ah, the memories.

I drove home around 1:30am…slumbered peacefully, and woke to ‘s text message stating the Bay Bridge had collapsed at 4am. I don’t like driving over that bridge. It gives me the heebie-jeebies because every time I cross it I envision what happened in the 1989 quake, and one single car driving right over the collapsed portion, down to their death in the Bay below. I don’t know why I think about it, but I do. It’s the same thing with the Golden Gate bridge, but instead of collapse I envision all the people who’ve jumped off the bridge to commit suicide over the years (once I witnessed a woman stop her car in the middle of rush hour traffic mid-bridge, straddle the rail, and jump straight off. Just like that). I cannot for the life of me take BART without thinking and envisioning John Shirley’s short story, “Cram,” (Black Butterflies)and to this day I’ve only taken BART maybe…4 or 5 times in the 13 years I’ve lived here. Stella and I had just been discussing these irrational fears that very evening. I find it extremely disconcerting that the section of bridge that collapsed just melted like plastic from the heat.

Ok, enough about that.

Tonight , , and I descend upon the culinary delights and hospitality of for pasta and Bellini’s. I’m pretty sure her cat, Tom (who is roughly the size of 3 of your cats, if you have them), is going to ask me to be his girlfriend this time around. Considering how friendly he gets, we ought to be married by now. The question is…will Rufus get jealous? I mean, they are brothers and all…and Rufus does flirt relentlessly. Tom always gets the girl, though, in the end. I do love that cat. :)

It’s a full moon this Wednesday. Hoooooowwwwwl!

Labels: food, friends

posted by Rain at 1:49 PM