Long Weekend Complete with Fighting Robots

My long weekend is not one in the good sense. It's going to be a very long weekend in the sense that I have to go to work both days and have plans at night. So, I'm very happy to not be at work today.

Tonight's agenda includes Live Robot Warfare, which sounds pretty cool, if not loud. I'm not very fond of really loud noises, so I'll just plug my ears if I have to.

All day Saturday and Sunday I'll be taking a continuing education course at work. Since my department is sponsoring the course, most of my co-workers are going and we did not get to take the normal education comp days we get to take.

Tomorrow night I'm going to try to make a quick appearance at a friend's art show before heading over to CIA for Rasputin's Minstrels, which will include the traveling marionette puppet show of circus sideshow freaks. I love it. Following that show, there is midnight comedy that I just may have to skip seeing as I have to be somewhere at 7:30 am Sunday morning. Okay, how much does that suck?

I've listed a few fun things to do in L.A. this weekend. I also want to plug a movie that is opening today in L.A., N.Y., Chicago, Dallas, and Philadelphia called My Date with Drew. It will be opening in many other cities including Phoenix, Vancouver, and Boston on the 12th or 19th. You can look up theaters on the movie's website. I saw a screening a few weeks ago and the film is a very charming documentary. So, I'm doing my part to spread the word about this small independent film that really needs to bring in some box office this weekend! If I'm still awake Sunday evening, I may try to see it to help their numbers.

Live Music

One of my favorite things in the world is live music. Anyone who knows me knows this fact. So considering that and my fascination with lists, I thought I'd make a list of some of the music I've heard in person over the past year. I didn't include most of the orchestral shows I go to during the summer season at the Hollywood Bowl.

• Jill Sobule (multiple times)
• California Guitar Trio with Tony Levin
• Nickel Creek (twice)
• Sting
• Tears for Fears (twice)
• Duran Duran (twice)
• Billy Idol (twice)
• Colin Hay
• Cecilia Noel and the Wild Clams
• Todd Rundgren
• Joe Jackson
• Ben Folds (three times)
  
• William Shatner (twice)
  
• Peter Murphy
• Howard Jones
• Psychedelic Furs
• The Fixx
• Gin Blossoms
• Tenacious D
• Stolen Babies
• The Kids of Widney High
  

Upcoming shows in the next few months that I'm definitely going to:

• Ben Folds-2 night in L.A. and 1 night in Vegas!
• ABC/Naked Eyes
• Brian Wilson/Polyphonic Spree
• Jill Sobule
• Nickel Creek in-store appearance
• The New Pornographers (thanks Ren! I *heart* you!)
• Keane (I bought tickets this evening!)
  

Upcoming shows I hope to attend:

• Green Day

How Many Times Can I Edit This?

Note to self: Don't try to write coherent thoughts when operating on a cumulative sleep deficit for the week. Also, there is a spell check function...Use it!

Last night we went to one of my very favorite places, Largo. It's an intimate venue where some pretty cool artists perform. I go there mainly for music, but occasionally comedy too. Nickel Creek played their upcoming new album for the sold out room, followed by some older favorites. They are best described as a bluegrass band, so unfortunately most of their exposure comes from country radio and CMT. KCRW does play them however, which is how we discovered them. I was blown away by a show they did at the Hollywood Bowl last season, complete with the orchestra backing them for a few tunes.

After the show we wandered around Fairfax a bit and ended up at the Nova Express Cafe. We've walked by it a million times and I have no idea why we never stopped in. They have a great menu and the food was very good. They are also open until 3am during the week and 4am on weekends. We are always on the lookout for a new latenight eatery, so we can add this find to the list. The decor is sci-fi, outer space, robots, action figures, comic books, etc. Very cool. Eric wanted to take some of the lenticular art home with him. I happened to dig the lava lamps on every table.

No wonder I slept through my alarm this morning!