Two Aunts for Sister Sarah
June 8th, 2006 by Julie Silver
Let me just say that these are three of my all time favorite people in the world. Gretchen and Robin are the best Aunts in the galaxy. Just look at that happy baby!
Photos
On My Mind
The Dog of the House of Yes, Sally
June 8th, 2006 by Julie Silver
Doesn't she look like she has no hind legs? Not to worry, she's all there–and then some.
Your Hostess, Fastidious J
June 8th, 2006 by Julie Silver
Today I had a whole conversation with Sarah Baker about salad and salad-dressing, and how difficult it is to ask for dressing on the side but how lousy it is to have a salad drowning in dressing because you didn't want to go through the difficulty of tossing it at your table. Something to think about.
When Bruce Goes Marching In
June 6th, 2006 by Julie Silver
Bruce Springsteen was the best I've ever seen him last night at the Greek Theatre. I am more and more convinced each time I see Bruce play live, with or without the E Street Band, that beyond his incredible talent, he endures because he recognizes that he is just one person and that the people around him count just as much as he does. Bruce Springsteen, rock and roll's poet laureate, constantly reminds us of our worth and our responsiblities. Monday night continued the call for action in the areas hit so hard by Hurricane Katrina. This time around he sang in the language of New Orleans–jazz, gospel and blues. As Springsteen explained, "anyone who is a musician knows that New Orleans is sacred land". As usual, Bruce turns our collective attention to where it is most needed.
The Seeger Sessions band was a wildly off the hook collection of jazz and blues players with a horn section that blew our minds, vocalists that sizzled, strings that shredded and keys that unlocked every door in the joint. This band is clearly the best of the best.
After September 11, he released The Rising, a masterpiece collection of poignant, almost liturgical songs. In response to the war in Iraq, he released Devils and Dust, one song more dark and disturbing than the next, and all equally compelling. Now, after Katrina he has released We Shall Overcome, combining the timeless folk songs of Pete Seeger with New Orleans jazz and gospel arrangements. We have a tendency to ignore tragedies like Katrina, to move forward without processing or healing. Bruce Springsteen brings Katrina and New Orleans to us, specifically because we'd rather not go there. If it's painful, he digs in and sticks around–reaching out a hand, convincing us to stay right there with him.
Best of all, Springsteen is a new man every time he takes the stage. It's all over his face. He is just as exhilerated and moved as we are. Nothing could be more exciting than watching a performer who is still excited by what he does. Also, I we rarely get the opportunity to hear Bruce fingerpick! What a treat to hear him play acoustic guitars all night and really hear him play so well.
He constantly gives props to his incredible band and the original songwriters. With every tune, he tells us these old songs are bigger than the singer. Yet we still worship at the alter of Bruce as if he not only composed the songs but wrote the language himself. I always feel like I've gone to the best class after attending a Bruce concert. This one felt like a revival–a day trip to heaven.
The people who do good work at the LA Food Bank waited outside after the concert accepting money that the crowd was all too eager to donate after Bruce made us aware of their presence. It was encouraging to see the same amount of people crowd around the t-shirt line as were on line to give a few dollars to the hungry. It was a great moment when Bruce described the government's response to Hurricane Katrina as "all in a day's work, I guess" and then segued into the most moving rendition of We Shall Overcome the 5,700 of us had ever heard.
Surely, when the saints go marching in, Bruce Springsteen will be right there in that number, with the best of them.
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
June 6th, 2006 by Julie Silver
The other day, Garber and I were sitting at Peet's, drinking our daily cup of Josefina, nibbling (fighting over) a cardemon infused blueberry scone, gazing at (declaring ownership of) assorted crossword puzzles that lay before us, each in our own way thanking our lucky stars (and Mary) that we are able to have these relaxing, sunny moments as often as we do, when a stranger approached. Within moments we were fortunate to make a new friend: April Beyer. April is a professional matchmaker. She also has a very sweet dog, Bella. As the conversation continued, my mind wandered back to the Crossroads School Production of Fiddler on the Roof in May of 2005, when Henry Connelly gave us a stellar rendition of Motel the Tailor. I wept through most of it…most hardcore Paul Michael Glaser fans do. April primarily works with men seeking lovely ladies, so if you're single and you want to mingle, check her out. Or you could do it the old fashioned way. Join Revolution Spinning.
April Beyer does great work matching people up with her clients. Check her out at www.beyerandcompany.com.
To rent Fiddler on the Roof, go to netflix
Meet the future President(s)…
June 3rd, 2006 by Julie Silver
Hilary, Mary, and Sarah E. One or more of these ladies may end up in the WHITE HOUSE, yo! Let's hope it's the one on their FAR LEFT!!
Sarah Baker meets her idol!
June 3rd, 2006 by Julie Silver
And to think, all it took was a VIP Pass to the Macy's Day Parade (whose televised broadcast won a Daytime Emmy Award!). Here's Sarah, happy as a clam, in front of Dora the Explorer. After the tears of joy, this photographer had to snap one for the history books!
A Guy Like Eddie
June 3rd, 2006 by Julie Silver
Hey! This is Eddie. He is my main man number one in the galaxy guy!! At The House of Yes, we sing his praises all day and night. And you should taste his Rosh Hashana Ribs!!!
Bach, Brazilian BBQ, and Bar Mitzvahs
June 1st, 2006 by Julie Silver
This is an OLD post.
Lovely day in Southern California. Sarah has been playing with chalk today, and is presently napping. I had a good long run this morning–all over Santa Monica. Mary finished her taping season so she has more daylight hours to spend with the girl. I am listening to Bach double concierto (perlman and stern) in F Minor. Life is sweet.
In other news: Henry Connelly took the family to Green Field, a Churrascaria in West Covina for his 19th birthday. It’s not every day when a young man turns 19, and the occasion truly called for an insane amount of meat consumption. We took a little field trip on the way to the restaurant and got a chance to drive around downtown LA, see the REAL SKID ROW, almost rear end Gretchen and Chris, and then quietly thank God we chose to fill up the tank with gas just before the trip began. FYI–West Covina though not an uninteresting place to visit, is not the only place that serves Brazilian BBQ. Turns out they’re all over the place! Sarah loved the buffet, though, and just watching her with Aunt Gretchen makes the evening even more amazing. Gabriel hit the wall after eating just about every kind of meat offered, but took a “walk” and came back for more like a real champ. Those Connelly Boys can pack it in! Watching Henry Connelly eat is like staring at sculpture. On the surface, it is what it is. But a closer, extended look exposes details that give life and depth to the subject. It’s art, just watching him eat a plate of rice and beans. True dat the birthday boy plays a little peek-a-boo game with Sarah that is almost as cute as his poster/slogan when he ran for Senior Class President at Crossroads.
Post Yoga Stress Disorder
June 1st, 2006 by Julie Silver
I was just in line at my favorite cafe on Montana, La Dolce Vita, waiting to order an iced chai tea latte, when all hell broke loose.
A young woman was waiting for her order, a tuna sandwich and a toasted plain bagel with cream cheese, when she noticed the parking violations truck pull up alongside her Jeep. Flip flops flapping, she ran out the door, dropping her yoga mat on the way, but arrived at her illegally parked car just two seconds too late. The ticket was being written! The fact that she had parked her car in the RED ZONE and not at a meter didn’t seem to matter to her as she cursed at the parking officer, came back to the cafe, rolled up her yoga mat and ranted on about how “fucked up” it was that she was being given a ticket. Clearly, her namastee had been severely harshed.
(As an aside, the tickets for parking in the red zone are huge. You’re essentially parking in the most important spot on the street in case of emergency. It’s one thing to let your meter expire, but it’s another to park in the RED ZONE.)
Meanwhile, she started in on the poor guy behind the counter. “Where’s my sandwich? It’s taking too long!” As if the guy at the cash register should offer to pay her parking ticket. I can only imagine what would have happened to this woman had she NOT just attended Yoga class.
Try the Iced Chai Tea Lattes with vanilla–as Garber would say, they’re “Yumbo!”