Directors I Fancy on YouTube

Some crafty person on YouTube who really knows how to edit, made some great compliation reels of the works of Paul Thomas Anderson, The Coen Bros, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. He also made ones for the films of the 1970s and 1990s. Really well done and if you are a fan of any of the above, definitely worth a click.

MuxTape

Ok so still loving Muxtape and for all those who went on yesterday, it was down because the servers were overrun but all is well now so try again and post any mixes you make in the comments so I can check it out.

Who doesn't love to make a mixtape and now you can make a muxtape! Muxtape is a brand new site that launched on Monday that lets you upload 12 tracks onto their site to create your very own mix that can be sent to your friends. You can also listen to other people mixes on the site. The site has been getting a lot of traffic so its a bit slow but a lot of fun. I'm in the process of working on mine but here is what I have so far: My MuxTape

The Hills

Yes, I watch the Hills. Yes, I loved to make fun of Justin Bobby. Yes, I DVR'd the premiere. No, I don't think Heidi Montag is a "feminist hero" as the NY Times contemplates. More on the intellectualizing of The Hills here.

ps. the premiere had the highest rating of any cable telecast this year with almost 5 million viewers

Spa Week

Spa Week is almost upon us. Come April 14-20th you can go to over 80 spas throughout all five boroughs (and for those not in NY, it also is happening in CA, DC and many more, see link below). and get treatments for only $50. For a list of all the spas participating and where, go here. I suggest you book early as options get limited as the week nears.

I Have a Crush on Obama

a different video then the first image implies... courtesy of JA

She & Him

Lately, I have really been enjoying the sweet twangy tunes of She & Him which is actress turned singer, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Check it!

Music: Myspace

Mr. Show - Part 2?

Mr. Show was one of the funnier series to air in the late 90s and looks like the comedic duo of David Cross and Bob Odenkirk are reteaming for HBO pilot tentatively called ‘David’s Situation.' As Cross tells MTV "It’s a sitcom, it will follow a traditional sitcom feeling, but will also feel like a big sketch, even though the characters will remain the same each week... I’m playing me. I’ve left Hollywood, I’ve had it with Hollywood. I now write for in-flight magazines, and I’ve moved to a gated community in an unknown suburb; you don’t know where it is or what part of the country. I have two roommates - one is extreme right wing, a cranky conservative pro-America guy. The other is this left wing, hippie, liberal-activist guy. And I’m right in the middle.” Well, if the Arrested Development movie doesn't come together, this is the next best thing and if you haven't checked out Mr. Show, do yourself a favor and add it to your NetFlix queue.

Miranda July

I know some people find her brand of ingenue annoying but I like director/ actress/ playwright/ author/ performance artist Miranda July and I liked her movie, Me And You And Everyone Else. I haven't read her books, Learning to Love You More and No One Belongs Here More Than You but I want to. Here is a video of her on VBS. TV learning to make buttons.

All Things Oprah

I have always been an Oprah fan, literally from when I was in grade school, I wrote a report about her and stuck my head on her body. No joke. My Oprah love has not waned but it has been contained to DVRing the show everyday, downloading her podcasts and reading the magazine (if we can call that contained). Recently, I came across a women who is taking it to a whole other level, Living Oprah is an experiment by one women for one year to live just as Oprah advises. Whoa.

NCAA Brackets

I never thought I would say this but I love the NCAA bracket game. I have absolutely no knowledge about college basketball but decided to join a pool anyways and base all my picks off wins vs loses (and team colors when in doubt). I am not sitting at my computer watching the games online or anything but now that I am in it, I am in it to win it (although *high* unlikely). I'll keep you posted how I do, I'm ranked 9th on the first day.

90210

Growing up, I LOVED 90210. I wanted to hang out with Brenda, Kelly, Dylan and Brandon at the Peach Pit (although in later years that might have been awkward for the four of them to hang out since Brenda was with Dylan who then hooked up with Kelly and Kelly was later with Brandon). Despite my nostalgia, I am appalled by the fact that they are doing a spinoff of 90210.

Variety reported today that "the new take on the Aaron Spelling-Darren Star sudser will focus on the Mills family of BevHills and offer a lot more racial diversity than the original show.

Matriarch of the family is Tabitha Mills, a 60-something actress/alchoholic who was a major star in the 1970s and had been linked to everyone from Warren Beatty to Jack Nicholson. After her latest bout at Betty Ford, Tabitha decides to try to live on her own in her BevHills estate.

Worried for his mom's safety, do-gooder son Harrison "Harry" Mills, a 1980s graduate of Beverly Hills High, decides to move back home to the 90210 after years in St. Louis. He brings with him his wife, Celia, an Olympic athlete who's looking forward to living in Cali, and ends up working as a personal trainer.

The couple have two 16-year-olds: Daughter Annie and adopted son Dixon. Annie is an emo/theater kid who's desperate to fit in with the cool crowd. Dylan, er, Dixon is a supersmart bad boy who has lingering social and behavioral issues -- and not an ounce of nerdiness in him."

Sites We Love to Check in the Morning

I promise I don't know the people who run the site but I do love Design Sponge. It has been around for a bit so I am sure it isn't new to many of you but they have great taste. On the downside, everything they post about I want to buy which isn't good for the wallet.

Simply Breakfast is one of those nice to wake up with sites. It has beautiful photography of one girl's breakfast every morning, no words for the most part and no recipes, just pretty images. Try it with a cup of coffee

:: The Playlist ::
A place dedicated to that sweet spot where music and movies meet

For pseudo cinemaphiles like myself who also love music, The Playlist is the site to check out. They report on music used in films as well as general movie developments on actors and directors I actually really like.

The Vulture is run by NY Magazine and a great go to source for all things culture, very NY based but has a cross section of information. They update constantly and their GrubStreet site is good too

Similar to Design Sponge but less product driven, Apartment Therapy makes you long for the time and creativity to turn your small space into one that is could be in a west elm catalog.

I could go on and on but for now, these are some current favorites for morning perusing...

Making Jewelry In Your Own Image

A few steps beyond the name necklace. Why not? Rick Ross is doing it.

Late Addition to SXSW

So I have finally returned to Brooklyn, exhausted but happy to be home. Saturday night ended on a good note with late night drinking debauchery but beforehand, I got to see a great show at St.David's Church where Jim James played a special solo show with guests M.Ward and other MMJ members. Sitting for a show was also a big plus at that point in the weekend.

SXSW Conclusion: No Day Parties

SXSW Day 4 Best Of: A couple activities got canceled so I was able to enjoy the sunny, warm day. Today's highlight was most definitely having a proper meal and sitting in the sun on the terrace of the Intercontinental. I am really looking forward to getting back to NY (rainy weather and all)

Fleet Foxes

Day Three of SXSW Best of: One of the most talked about and best bands at SXSW, Fleet Foxes is a name to remember. Just signed to SubPop, their debut album is due in the fall.

Music: www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes

Clipse

Day Two at SXSW: Most fun day party today- Clipse

Music: http://www.myspace.com/clipse

Grand Ole Party

Day One of SXSW, favorite show today: Grand Ole Party. Super cool trio from San Diego with female singer/drummer

Music: www.myspace.com/grandoleparty

Someecards

These free ecards have been around for a while but it seems like they have been updating their site a lot more and having more topical cards (maybe it's my imagination). Perfect for when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, go this site and read some of the greetings, they will definitely make you smile. Or you can just send to your friends to make them smile.

Siggi's Yogurt

I have been enjoying a lot of icelandic yogurt recently. I discovered it at my local cheese shop a few months back and despite it's higher price, have been treating myself to some of the new flavors. It is thicker and less sweet then regular yogurt, more in line with greek yogurt flavoring. They have great flavor options: Plain, Blueberry, Pear and Mint, Orange and Ginger, Pomegranate and Passion Fruit.

The Wire Series Finale

I have posted about the Wire before but since I won't be able to do so for much longer, I just have to say how much I am going to miss the series. This season has not been my favorite but the last couple episodes have really stepped it up and I am getting word that the finale does the same. I recently bought a new HD TV in anticipation for the finale and after working on some kinks, have been enjoying it immensely. There are some good deals on there on TVs right now as the newer models come out.

Pineapple Express

This hit the web a bit ago but I decided to post now because I think they use M.I.A.'s song "Paper Planes" really well and it has made me go back and re listen to that album. Plus I love me a good Seth Rogen/James Franco movie.

Spring!

Okay, yes this one is way broad but NYC is experiencing a couple early days of slightly spring weather and I am loving it. The anticipation of spring weather is exciting especially since it only sticks around for a couple of weeks these days before summer sets in.
Note: the picture looks nothing NY (yet).

TED

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design and is one of the more amazing conferences in the States. It was started in 1984 and brings together people from all three areas for over four days with 50 speakers each take an 18-minute slot with the sole mission of spreading ideas. This year's conference had people like J.J. Abrams, Jeff Bezos, Al Gore, Richard Branson and the list goes on and on of incredibly inspired people. The conference just concluded this weekend and you can find out more about the presentations on their website.