Lala + 90s fashion = <3

1. Lala Sloatman in “Pump up the Volume” + 90s fashion

Awesome example of pre-riot girl, proto-DIY/grunge fashion. Lala played the “best friend character” to also-fave-90s-icon Samantha Mathis in this movie.

Lala (aka Janie’s) style is ON POINT in this movie. Very fashion forward.  As blogger whereisfant says: “The whole thrift store, cat-eyed, post-new wave, post-punk, pre-grunge, not quite riot girl thing is PERFECT.”

PS If you haven’t yet seen the guilty pleasure that is “Pump up the Volume” … please do so. It has Christian Slater + Samantha Mathis + Lala Sloatman (aka black crowes’ frontman’s pre-kate hudson wife) + Ahmet Zappa (aka son-of-Zappa) + Pirate Radio.

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2. Indian festival dresses from the 60s & 70s

See if your mother has one in the back of her closet…because they are beautiful. (and they’re prohibitively expensive on ebay for some reason these days.)

sigh.

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3. When Woody Harrelson got roasted alive on Reddit

Hi I’m Woody Harrelson, AMA. –FAIL–

Never have I seen a PR move fail so epically. And the alleged incident whereby he recently crashed a high school prom and deflowered a sweet girl and then callously left her behind… well basically he sounds like a dirt bag and his AMA will go down in history. History as a mega-failure.

Just read the whole thing HERE.

and here’s an excerpt if you want just a taste:

AndyRooney

I swear this is (allegedly) a true story. I went to a high school in LA and you (allegedly) crashed our prom after party (Universal Hilton). You (allegedly) ended up taking the virginity of a girl named Roseanne. You (allegedly) didn’t call her afterwards. She (allegedly) cried a lot. Do you remember any of this and can confirm or have you (allegedly) been so knee deep in hollywood pooty for so long that this qualifies as a mere blip?

/I’m (allegedly) not kidding.

[–]david-me 1504 points 3 months ago

This is not getting off to a very good start…

 

Now let’s take a look at some of the resulting memes, shall we?

keanu's mind is blown

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Molly says: "hi, reddit"

4. Molly Ringwald’s AMA –where she & the Redditors incidentally poke further fun of Woody

She claimed to be there to answer all of your questions about “Rampage”.

She then garnered further brownie points by claiming the secret to retaining her looks  was “drinking the blood of Kristin Stewart”

For the win!

Read the whole thing HERE.

She also adds some charming behind-the-scenes anecdotes about working with John Hughes on the “The Breakfast Club” & “Sixteen Candles”.

So, when I was trying to think up things to talk about for Music Monday today, I thought “well, the Billboard Awards were last night, let’s do that.” Cool. So I started looking through just to see who won, as base research so I actually know what I’m talking about. Noticed Adele won a lot. No surprise. LMAFO won a lot too, okay… but then we get to the Rock and Alternative categories… this is where I started asking myself what the heck is wrong with these awards.

Question, which of these two pictures would you consider more Rock ‘n’ Roll?

Option A:

or Option B:

I’m really hoping you chose A, because if not, you’re not going to like where this blog is going…

Who proclaimed Coldplay to be “Rock ‘n’ Roll?” I mean, really? The genre is supposed to be loud, fast, have a bunch of guitar solos, etc, etc. Coldplay doesn’t exactly scream sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Why am I getting on Coldplay’s case? Because they won… everything. Top Rock Artist, Top Alternative Artist, Top Rock Album, and Top Alternative Album, against a band like the Foo Fighters. I’m not even that big of a Foo Fighters fan, I never go out of my way to listen to them, but I certainly know they can be called rock music, and Coldplay really shouldn’t be.

It gets stranger. The nominations for both the artists and album categories were the exact same. Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Mumford and Sons, Foster the People and the Black Keys for artist, and the same for album, just replace Black Keys with Nickleback (Ha!). If the nominations are the same for the Rock/Alternative variants of each award, what exactly is the point of having them be different awards? I still question why Coldplay is even in the “Rock” category to begin! None of this makes sense.

Now, I understand that the Billboard awards are calculated differently than say, the Grammy Awards, (where Coldplay has beaten Metallica, METALLICA, for best “Rock” album before) where it’s actually votes that determine the winner, but I’m still left questioning the point of it all? If we’re just going on airplay, record sales, and download sales, where’s the suspense? In this day and age, I’m sure you can pull any ten year old off the jungle gym and have them find the info on Google, or you could probably just ask Siri.

I don’t… I just don’t know anymore… wait… what the? OH, COME ON!

WHAT?! Adele nominated for top Rock song, TWICE!?! And Coldplay is still there! Gah, I can’t, I just can’t anymore.

Take it away, Kyle…

1. The Battle of the Beltways

Interleague baseball begins this week, with most teams playing a single series against an interleague opponent, prior to full interleague play later in June. As usual, the Nationals and Orioles will go at it this weekend, the only difference this year? They’re both actually good. No, really. The O’s are in first place within the AL East, and the Nats are just a half game back behind the Braves. Crazy. It’ll be a good weekend for baseball, despite some possible showers on Sunday for pitching sensation Stephen Strasburg’s start

Nationals tickets

2. Tortilla Cafe (South East DC)

When I was in school, me and my roommates would go on mini road trip food tours to places that had been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and were never disappointed. Tortilla Cafe at 210 7th St. SE, is one place in DC I need to check out. An authentic Mexican-Salvadoran place, Tortilla Cafe has all you’d expect, but if there’s one thing that one would need to try, it would be their pupusas, which are thick tortillas stuffed with pork and cheese.

Tortilla Cafe’s website 

3. The Dictator

The movie to see this weekend would have to be The Dictator… that is, unless you’re really into movies based off board games with a ton of left over Transformers special effects, then by all means, Battleship. But back to The Dictator, these type of Sacha Baron Cohen movies you either love of you hate, I’ve found them to mostly be pretty funny, so why not see another?

By: Cristina

As it says on their website, “What does post-punk soul look like? It looks like JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound.” And it really does.

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, or JCBUS, consists of lead singer JC Brooks, guitarist Billy Bungeroth, drummer Kevin Marks, keyboardist Andy Rosenstein, and bassist Ben Taylor. Recently, they played eight shows at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2012 and tonight, they are coming to DC for one night only at Black Cat.

I only needed to watch/listen to JCBUS’s energetic soul power reworking of Wilco’s classic “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” for me to love the sound of this group . The voice and style of the track makes me think of James Brown or The Blues Brothers, but the group has their own unique R&B/Soul sound. Check it out here: “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” [Wilco] by JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound.

For more information about the event, look here, and for more about JCBUS, check out their website.

Black Cat: 1811 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 2000

$10 Adv/ $12 DOS Backstage / Doors at 8:00

You can buy tickets here.

“Six seasons and a movie” may have just turned into “four and a eulogy” thanks to everyone’s favorite fourth placed network, NBC. The “six seasons and a movie” phrase has been an inside joke, rallying cry, and twitter hashtag for the large amount of passionate Community fans who became very concerned that their favorite show was in danger of cancellation after NBC pulled it off the midseason schedule, late last year. Fans quickly came together via sites like Reddit, and organized Twitter assaults, flash mobs, and felt evil goatee mail in campaigns, amongst other tactics to let NBC know how much they wanted to see Community come back for a fourth season. NBC listened, and last Thursday night, while many fans were watching the episode “Curriculum Unavailable” it was announced that Community was picked up for a 13 episode season, due to air in the fall. Short order, but cool, whatever, it’s something.

All is happy in Greendale, right?

…

RIGHT?!

Well, not so fast. Let’s take a look at NBC’s Thursday night line-up for the fall: 30 Rock, Up all Night, The Office, Parks and Recreation.  It could be on Wednesday, right? That won’t be so bad, hell, it won’t have to go up against Big Bang Theory anymore. Animal Practice, Guys With Kids, WHAT ARE THESE SHOWS?! There’s only one more realistic possibility left… Friday

8:00pm Whitney, 8:30pm Community… oh god, why? Now, whether you like Troy or Abed more, there’s one of two possible reactions to this, you can begin to relentlessly cry out “My emotions!” or look frantically around the room, asking anyone who is near “Guys, I need help reacting to something.” Why am I being so dramatic? Well, ask fans of Firefly about how they felt in regards to the Friday night timeslot, aka the “Friday night death slot” or “the graveyard slot” where shows go to die, good or bad. People generally just don’t watch TV Friday nights, they’ve got things to do, people to see, and all that. Factor in the fact that a large amount of Community’s audience is in the 18-35 range, and you’ve got to figure those are the people with a social life who do things like go out on Friday nights. Then mix in a lead in of the incredibly drab Whitney and you’ve got a ratings starved show, bleeding out on the floor.

It get’s better (not really)

Ask any die-hard Community fan who the most integral part of the show is, and they’ll most likely tell you it is show creator Dan Harmon, whose unique voice, and almost obsessive-compulsive style of storytelling is key to the humor, intelligence, and quality of the show. Guess who NBC hasn’t signed on to be a producer next season? NBC head honcho Bob Greenblatt has pointed out that “shows lose showrunners all the time and do well” and while this is true to a degree, and Harmon may eventually get signed on, regardless, losing Harmon would be a major blow to Community, as it is unlike any other show.

For lack of a better (albeit, clichéd) analogy, Community really is a community of sorts. Its fanbase is like none other in terms of sitcoms. If you log on to Reddit, and look how many subscribers various shows’ subreddits have, you’ll see the ratings juggernaut Big Bang Theory is pushing almost 5,000 subscribers, meanwhile Community will inevitably reach 50,000 subscribers within the week. Take in account that reruns of Big Bang Theory can gather in ten million viewers, meanwhile new episodes of Community hover around three million.  After every episode, the internet explodes with people quoting lines from the episode, making animated gifs of their favorite scenes, discussing the meta references and allusions, and posting screen caps of hidden background Easter eggs laid by the set dressers and prop masters (who really deserve more credit).

Even with all the potential doom and gloom hovering over the fourth season of Community, there’s still hope. More episodes could always be ordered if say, a new show fails (which is very possible given the fact this is NBC we’re talking about) or it miraculously does well in the new timeslot. Perhaps, given how TV on the internet continues to grow, in the future Hulu (who owns the rights to online syndication of Community) could even produce new episodes, similar to how Netflix is producing a new season of Arrested Development.  Time will only tell what the future may hold for the show.

In the end, you have to laugh, though. True to form, Community has kept it’s meta qualities alive and kicking in the real world. Between all the “darkest time line” jokes this season has held, it really has been a dark year for the show, between the possibility of cancellation, Chevy Chase drama, and now this mess. Who knows, it could be one big conspiracy to be extra meta, and everything will be happy in the end.

I don't even know how to handle that many flavors.

1. Thomas Sweet’s (Georgetown)

Willy Wonka has been discovered in Georgetown and his real name is Thomas Sweet. If you’re

craving something to kick that sweet tooth, look no further than this lovely shop in Georgetown. Whether it’s ice cream, fudge, or frozen yogurt, I’m sure you will find something that tickles your taste buds.

*Tip: Try the chocolate oreo marshmallow milkshake. It is heaven.

Thomas Sweet’s Website

2. Lauriol Plaza (Dupont Circle)

Rated the “Best Mexican Food” by the Washington Post, you can rest assured the Tex-Mex inspired dishes at Lauriol Plaza will be rockin’. The chips and salsa are amongst the most delicious in the District and that doesn’t even begin to cover the food. The bar seems to be the hottest spot on Friday and Saturday nights with pitchers of margaritas flowing. Join in the fiesta and salsa on over to Lauriol Plaza pronto.

*Tip: The Crab and Shrimp Quesadilla is the bomb.

Lauriol Plaza Website

The Crispy Spinach. SO GOOD.

3. Rasika (West End)

My lovely Indian friend was telling me about Rasika in West End the other (while simultaneously tying her sari-this woman knows her stuff) and highly suggested I make a trip of my own to experience the delicious food myself. I did and I cannot agree more. I have never really eaten authentic Indian food before and Rasika left an absolutely perfect first impression. I highly suggest you enjoy that same first impression very soon and make a reservation at Rasika.

*Tip: The Crispy Spinach is a superb appetizer.

Rasika Website 

4. Movie of the Week: The Vow

Now, I know what you’re thinking: I am absolutely not watching this lame chick flick. Well, that’s how I felt too until I actually succumbed to final exam studying procrastination and rented it off of iTunes. It was absolutely adorable. I probably won’t persuade any dudes reading this, but for you ladies, give it a chance. It’s based on a true story, it has an awesome soundtrack, and most importantly, the plot is not all butterflies and rainbows. It addresses a true medical tragedy without sugarcoating it and reminds all of us what  love truly entails. Plus, if you hate the movie, you do still get to see Channing Tatum smiling like a hunk in the rain. Not too shabby.

Doug Aitken’s “Song 1″ film has been projected on the Hirshhorn’s exterior each evening for the past 6 weeks.

Aitken structured “Song 1″ around the song “I Only Have Eyes for You.” Dozens of versions of the tune have been specially created for the soundtrack of ”Song 1″ by a wide range of artists including Beck, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, Devendra Banhart, Mountains, CFCF, High Places, No Age, and Lucky Dragons.

But on Friday night, the soundtrack will be replaced by a live one. Music website Pitchfork and Wired Magazine are co-sponsoring an after hours event at the Hirshhorn with musical guests No Age, High Places, Oneohtrix Point Never and Nicolas Jaar. It’s outside film, art and live music. What better way to spend a summer night?

Friday @ 8PM @ The Hirshhorn

Purchase Tickets Here ($25)

This week will be very simple, and very topical to our office over here at OJBG & 20/20 HQ.

Simply put… I love it  …

1. when the INTERNET WORKS properly.

Unfortunately, we have been cursed with horrible, spotty, constantly-dropping internet for the past 2 weeks. And when you are (trying) to run & operate a New Media company…

well let’s just say that it has given me a newfound appreciation for properly functioning internet with good bandwidth.

Sigh, it seems Comcast doesn’t really like its customers that much.

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2. Claire Boucher + “post-internet”

Sure. the (“post-internet”) turn-of-phrase might make you cringe like the sound of nails on a chalkboard.  (or for me it’s more like freshly-cut nails on synthetic fibers). — but think about it just a bit more, and she has probably defined and described the Great Generational Line In The Sand.  It really does come down to a cultural Us vs. Them, as to who grew up with the internet (and learned it like osmosis) — and who was introduced to it, after their brain had fully developed.

She delineates it further here in a Guardian UK interview:

“I should give the disclaimer that that was said in passing and in no way was I attempting to start a kind of meme or anything! The phenomenon I’m referring to is the neurobiological difference between people who were born after the internet became a common, household thing and people who had their adolescence without exposure to the internet.”

Boucher was 11 when the music sharing program Napster came along, meaning: “I went through my adolescence having this revelatory experience – I can have any music I want and I can get it immediately. For me and for a lot of people I know, there’s this musical eclecticism that happened.”

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3. Trans-siberian

I watched this movie on Netflix last night. It was pretty good. It had Ben Kingsley (who is always amazing), Woody Harrelson, Kate Mara, & Emily Mortimer. Great cast. Plus, it takes place on the Trans-Siberian Railway, a railroad trek with which I have a bit of an obsession.

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1) Animal Collective – “Gotham”

2) Here We Go Magic – “How Do I Know”

This relentless, up-tempo single will have you tapping your toes and wondering “How Do I Know, If I Love You?” all day. Stream it here. The album, A Different Ship, is out on May 9th.

3) Best Coast – “Last Year”

On Best Coast’s sophomore album, the sound is the same– but the production is miles better. This is no lo-fi album. Bethany Cosentino’s go-go California girl vocals are crystal clear. On “Last Year”, Cosentino reflects on her success and it’s effects. She’s extremely self aware, but it translates into an almost obnoxiously open and whiny song. It’s catchy regardless and a pleasant summer listen.

4) Santigold – “Big Mouth”

The follow-up to Santigold’s rebellious and raw debut album only took about 4 years. But it’s an extremely pleasing follow-up. Santigold returns with a perfect fusion of world and EDM. The first single “Big Mouth” is not overdone– but it’s not playing it safe either.

5) Young Man – “Do”

The music of Young Man is what it sounds like– the soul-searching of a developing young musician.  On “Do” off of his upcoming sophomore LP, Colin Caulfield opens, “I just don’t know what life is.” It’s a sparkling and earnest track perfect for an early morning summer drive.

Let the hunger games begin.

1. Canton Dockside

If you’re feeling a bit crabby, swing on over to Baltimore for crabs galore. This was my very first experience with Baltimore crabs and they were excellent. Voted one of the best Crab Houses in Baltimore, Canton Dockside has a huge seafood menu and gorgeous views of the Baltimore harbor. I really can’t think of anything better than that on a Saturday afternoon. Just don’t forget your bib.

*Tip: But really, don’t dress nicely, wear jewelry, or expect to go to a gala after eating crabs. You will be a mess, but you will enjoy it.

Canton Dockside Web Site

2. Forbidden Planet Productions: Next to Normal

The modern broadway classic, Next to Normal, is coming to the stage in DC this weekend at George Washington University! Next to Normal follows a family of four as they battle with mental illness and the struggles of a suburban family falling apart at the seams. The music is so great and I know for a fact that the cast of FPP’s production can sing it just as well, if not better than the original cast. This is something you need to see for yourself, so head on over to the Mount Vernon campus tonight or tomorrow night and experience something extraordinary.

*Tip: Get there at least an hour early to purchase tickets. The show is most likely going to sell out both nights and you really shouldn’t miss this because you couldn’t get a ticket.

Forbidden Planet Productions

3. Movie of the Week: La Dolce Vita

I am studying abroad in Italy in the fall and in an attempt to begin preparing myself for the culture shock I will experience in four months, I watched the Italian classic, La Dolce Vita, starring film icons Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg. Simply, it will make you wish you were a black and white Italian film star. Snuggle up in bed during the storm tonight and watch this good ‘ol Hollywood classic.