Live from Los Angeles

Heidi and Seal's Wild Ride

Because I’ve always liked to celebrate a prolonged Halloween holiday, I’m posting a couple of pictures from Saturday night.

I was at Heidi Klum’s Halloween party for work. But way more interesting than the red carpet was the car Seal and Heidi arrived in.

Check this out:

It’s an old Cadillac, and I’ll have to rely on my dad to read this and tell me what year.

But it was awesome. Seal drove it up to the club, then sat on Santa Monica Boulevard and revved the engine for about 10 minutes. The already-boozed Halloween crowds were going nuts, and security was screaming at them to back away from the car.

When Heidi and Seal stepped out, dressed all-out as crows, a driver climbed out of the backseat and took over the wheel. Here he is afterward, screaming at other drivers to get out of his way as he tries to leave the parking lot.

 

I asked Heidi how they picked out the car, and she shrugged (I think she shrugged – it was hard to tell under all the feathers) and said it just looked like it matched their costumes.

 

It reminded me of another old caddy we saw at the Peterson Automotive Museum when my parents were in town. To me, it looked like candy.

1959 Cadillac Series 62.

 

Beautiful. Any time of year.

 

Image LINK: [BabyChums.com]

Technorati Tags: Heidi Klum,Seal,Cadillac,Halloween,Peterson Automotive Museum

Live from Los Angeles Gets Fit Celeb-Style

So, it looks like this blogging thing is catching on.

Even my editors at Us Weekly think I have a knack. They’ve managed to rope me into doing it for the magazine’s Web site.

Here’s to me, Us Weekly’s first blogger. Read all about me pulling off the Us Weekly 30-day Get Fit Challenge here.

I know what you’re thinking. That I’m a true wordsmith – and that my talent for stringing words together is finally getting me recognition on a national stage.

I think it’s more likely that my editors think my hiney is fat. And that I’m the best candidate to write about losing weight because, well, I could stand to carry around a little less of me.

Either way, I’m now working out with a celebrity trainer, feeling the pain and already wondering what I’ve gotten myself into.

It was really hard to get moving, after avoiding the gym for a good six months. But the truth is – I feel a little better already, now that my blood is moving again. Believe me, I hate to admit it.

But don’t worry. I’m not going “LA” on you guys. If anything, having a celeb trainer is putting me even more in touch with my plebeian roots. The more I try to channel Jennifer Aniston on the treadmill, the more I see visions of Roscoe’s chicken and waffles.

Then again, that might be the LA in me too…

 

Technorati Tags: Us Weekly,celebrity trainer,Roscoe's House of Chicken N' Waffles

To Baseball and Beach Balls

We’re all very excited around here about the Dodgers winning the National League West championship – even if it did take a lot of tries.

And the thrill of the Tigers-Twins game tonight should be enough to get even a reluctant fan in the mood for the playoffs.

I don’t know if we’ll make it to any playoff games this year, but I’m glad we spent as much time as we did in Dodgers Stadium this season.

On that note, I’ll leave you with a picture of our fellow Dodger fans. These guys shed some light – finally – on the mysticism of baseball for me. One of the sport’s great and enduring puzzles. Solved.

Where all those beach balls come from.

Technorati Tags: Dodgers,NLCS,Twins,Tigers,Dodger Stadium

Jon Stewart Stood Me Up

I waited around for hours Sunday night to interview a celebrity I actually had a genuine interest in meeting – Jon Stewart. Believe it or not, he never showed up to his own Comedy Central party.

Me and about 200 other VERY funny people were just left waiting.

Even if he wasn’t going to talk to me, I just wanted to see him up close.

But, hey, I did get to meet Rob Riggle. He mentioned that The Daily Show is a lot of work because it airs every day. Hmm. Almost like daily news.

I also saved his night by giving him mints, which he was desperate for. So if I ever meet him again, I’m sure I’ll be remembered as the mint girl.

Anthony was entertained by Emmy winners who did interviews after they walked offstage. Alec Baldwin was carrying his Emmy by one finger, while all the other winners were clutching them like life preservers.

And when Tina Fey mentioned she’d like to see Meryl Streep play his love interest on 30 Rock, he gave her two thumbs up.

Funny thing is, Anthony and I didn’t actually watch the Emmys. I didn’t see a minute of it until tonight on our DVR.

****************************************************

And in non-Emmy related news, I saw John Abbott from Young and the Restless at Trader Joe’s today!! He was alone and buying his own groceries!

I had to restrain myself from asking what in the world is going to happen to Ashley. I also restrained myself from tailing him in his little white Mercedes.

He didn’t talk to me. But at least I got to see him up close.

 

Technorati Tags: Young and the Restless,Jerry Douglas,Tina Fey,Alec Baldwin,Meryl Streep,Rob Riggle,Comedy Central,Jon Stewart,Emmys

Emmys = Work. And Apparently, It's Sunny and Hot in LA

Emmy time has rolled around again already, and here we are getting dolled up for the occasion:

Anthony left the house way before me, so I don’t have my face on yet. But look how hot HE looks!

I’m actually working this year, instead of just being a hanger-on at parties. I’ll be at the Comedy Central after-party, doing my duty for Us Weekly. Anthony is at the ceremony right now, shagging quotes from winners after they run off stage. From what I've gathered so far, it sounds like things move much more quickly off stage than on.

So far the story of the night is everyone melting onto the red carpet at the downtown Nokia Theatre. (Um, that’s what happens when you leave Malibu, richies. Bulletin: Los Angeles is hot.)

As Justin Timberlake said on the carpet in response to all the complaints about the heat: “It’s Southern California.”

I’ll be up long after you all are tucked in. But I’ll try to post something interesting before I pass out myself. Hey, if I’m lucky, maybe I’ll run into Lorne Michael’s at Pink’s.

 

Technorati Tags: Emmys,Pink's,Lorne Michaels,Justin Timberlake,Nokia Theatre,Comedy Central

A Night with the Lips

Can you ever forgive me for neglecting the blog? I've been cheating on you all with my new job -- working full-time for Us Weekly. But that's a whole other story. If I live to tell, I'll do that here. I promise.

I just wanted to peek in this morning, because nothing makes me happier and eager to share with the world than an evening with The Flaming Lips. Wayne Coyne, I love you.

I did the best I could with the video -- it's hard to hold the camera steady when you're this excited. The guy in front of me smoking a huge joint while filming the whole thing on his iPhone was doing a better job.

Dude, if you can hear me, please post.

Meanwhile, here's Wayne explaining why the encore is so crucial and what to do to make sure we don't miss it.

 

This is what makes the Lips shows so awesome. Wayne makes you feel like we're all just friends hanging out -- all part of the show, all in it together. Like he's just pulled all these props out of his closet, and they just happen to make this mishmash that is a perfectly weird and wonderful occasion.

Then, they do "Do You Realize??" and it blows you away. The power of all that human oddball-ness comes together. (Even the superfans, stage right, dressed as dancing yetti, somehow make sense).

And it's no accident -- it's genius.

 

  Oh, and here are some bunnies who sat behind us. Say hi, bunnies!

 

Bye, bunnies!

I'll do my best to come back more often!

 

Technorati Tags: The Flaming Lips,Do You Realize,Wayne Coyne,The Greek Theatre

Proving That the World Literally Revolves Around Me, Space Shuttle Lands in California

Soon after my re-entry into Florida in 2005, I was assigned to help cover the launch of space shuttle Discovery.

You could say I wasn’t really “into” space exploration at the time. As a matter of fact, I was unaware that space shuttles were still launching.

What can I say? I’d been up to my ass covering crap here on Earth.

My new paper, The Tampa Tribune, took the launches very seriously. The higher-ups didn’t think it was very funny when I accidentally said out loud, “Those things are still going up?”

Well, the Space Coast changed me.

I was lucky enough to see Discovery launch in July 2005. As the shuttle zoomed up in a neat arc and disappeared into the atmosphere, it finally clicked.

I was watching human beings go into... space.

So I was tickled this morning to learn that Atlantis had landed in California, just a couple hundred miles away at Edwards Air Force Base. Turns out Florida was too rainy. (And as we’ve discussed – it never, ever rains in Southern California.)

I was glad to have the company. Welcome home, Atlantis.

 

[Image LINK: AP]

Technorati Tags: Space Shuttle Atlantis,Edwards Air Force Base,Space Coast,Cape Canaveral,Space Shuttle Discovery,The Tampa Tribune,Titusville,NASA

Mannywood Without the Manny

I bought Dodgers tickets in advance of Anthony’s 30^th birthday Sunday, so it sucked especially hard when the news broke last week that Manny was busted either trying to ovulate – or trying to cycle off a round of ‘roids.

Man-Ram was out for 50 games, but we were still holding tickets for Sunday’s matinee match against the Giants.

Apparently, life goes on after Manny.

I know there were Dodgers before Manny. I had been going to games with Anthony since before Manny came to town. But there’s just something magical about that goofy Dominican.

Every time he’s up to bat, the crowd gets giddy. Even the dudes glued to their seats with pencils and scorecards stand up to see what Manny will do. He always swung for the fences. The joy he showed while doing it was contagious.

It didn’t take long for him to become the favorite Dodger.

On Sunday, the mood was resigned. The signs over the “Mannywood” section in left field were down. The fans’ dreads hats were gone. It was like a wake with no body.

How do you mourn the best friend you just found out was cheating on you?

Then, there was this. A countdown to Manny’s resurrection.

Who knows if all Dodgers fans can forgive. But their hearts might be too full to forget him just yet.

 

Technorati Tags: LosAngelesDodgers,MannyRamirez,DodgerStadium

One Mint Julep, Please. Light on the Julep.

Well, we didn’t make it to the Kentucky Derby this weekend, but we did make it to the downstairs bar of the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.

This is one of our favorite places for martinis on special occasions. The bartenders here have a real knack for them.

They believe in stirring, not shaking. Which is good – I want my gin to be well rested before I throw my head back and sling it down the hatch.

And the place has real atmosphere – dark leather, bar stools covered with fake animal skin and arms made out of horns.

It’s classier than it sounds.

And we like that it’s quiet in here, even though you’re in the middle of Hollywood. You’re surrounded by the action without having to be part of it.

It was the perfect stop before seeing “Wolverine” at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre across the street. Our goal was to drink enough martinis to put hair on our chests. And necks and ears.

Actually, looking back on it, we really should have had way more booze than we did. It would have helped “Wolverine” go down easier.

This is what we should have had. Two guys next to us ordered mint juleps. The bartender takes these seriously as well, as you can see.

These patrons made the classic non-Southerner mistake of underestimating the mint julep. I don’t know if it’s the “mint” or the “julep” that throws people off. They think they’re drinking a Shirley Temple or something.

Five minutes into it – already too late to turn back – one of them lowered toward the bartender and says quietly: “Seriously. Dude, this is a strong drink.”

I guess he didn’t watch it being poured – bourbon, sugar, mint. Ice. Heavy on the bourbon.

The bartender smiled.

All the martinis in LA got nothin’ on a true Southern cocktail.

 

Technorati Tags: Kentucky Derby,mint julep,Roosevelt Hotel,Grauman's Chinese Theatre,Hollywood,Hollywood Boulevard

The Forecast Calls for Booty

Last month, my out-of-state travels reminded me – as they always do – of all that is strange about LA.

Re-entry into Los Angeles is a culture shock every time I come back. I am finally getting used to paparazzi at the airport, the graffiti all over the freeway – and the sunshine that greets me, no matter what.

There are, of course, things about LA that I will never be used to.

While catching local news at home in North Carolina and on the road in Florida and Tennessee, I found myself mesmerized by the TV news personalities.

Something, I noticed, wasn’t right. The hair – different. The makeup – different. And why… why are they wearing so many clothes? Is Amish in?

Where’s the cleave? The miniskirt and stripper heels? The sweaters that are so tight you think the sports guy may have to give mouth-to-mouth?

The overdone lipstick that is absolutely porn-tastic, even at 5 in the morning?

It wasn't what I had become used to.

I present to you: my local meteorologists. The LA TV weather hookers.

 

 

They are incredible. I was shocked when I first saw the local news here – I thought “Witches of Breastwick” was on at the wrong time. Or that I had accidentally ordered pay-per-view.

 

And when I brought this up to native Angelenos, they had no idea what I was talking about. They thought every TV “meteorologist” dresses like Lil' Kim.

 

Not to say that sex doesn’t sell news on TV stations elsewhere – obviously, it does. But the sex appeal of the weather I’m used to is... well, more subtle. Less Mons Venus.

Leave it to LA to let it all hang out. Rain or shine.

 

Thanks to my old friend Andréa for, as always, nailing it. She spotted the first news "hooker" back in Baltimore. Chained to our desks at 5 a.m., forced to type, we couldn't turn away from the TV traffic hooker who looked like she'd never gone to bed at all. I have to say, though, compared to these women -- even that chick was downright wholesome.

 

Technorati Tags: Weather Girl,Jillian Barberie,Elita Loresca,Jackie Johnson,KCAL,KTTV,KNBC