On this week’s Project Runway, straight off the bat the contestants are taken on a field trip with Tim Gunn. En Route, we learn about the extent of Blayne’s tanning withdrawal, which appears to be getting quite serious. He confesses to Tim that he needs to tan every other day to feel his best. His eyes scan the scenery outside frantically and I truly believe that if he’d seen a tanning salon, he would’ve jumped out of the window. Addicts are like that, you know. For his safety, I think he needs to hit a nice Orbit bed.

The crew arrives at their destination, The Armory Track and Field Center. There they see a dude inline skating around the track. They pretend to be excited but most of them just look bewildered, like, who the hell is this guy and why are we outdoors of all places? The dude turns out to be Apolo Ohno, hottie Olympian, 5-time medalist (2 of them gold) and the only Olympic athlete I have ever so much as had a twinge of a crush on. (I usually like pale, sickly dudes that draw or write, play guitar or have drug problems.) Apolo is there to be the guest judge for the week and to tell them their about the challenge. They are to design an Opening Ceremony Look for the Olympic Summer Games, following in the footsteps of great designers such as Armani and Ralph Lauren. Thankfully, they only have to design for the women.

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The Subways, "All or Nothing"

Comprised of Billy Lunn (guitar, vocals), Charlotte Cooper (bass, vocals), Josh Morgan (drums), The Subways have released their sophomore album, “All or Nothing.”  This album is a follow up to the quietly successful, “Young for Eternity.” Their sound has been labeled as indie-garage-post-punk-revival and while their genre may be a mouthful, this band simply rocks.  Originating from the little island that could: England, The Subways have managed to also bring their multi-layered music to US audiences for the past few years.  Having played with Oasis, Foo Fighters and at Lollapalooza, The Subways have earned their stripes and a definite fan base.  Those who haven’t had the chance to hear The Subways, their new CD is an awesome introduction.

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The long-awaited album by thenewno2 was just released, and it was well worth the wait. The album is extremely diverse, yet it all gels to make one incredibly strong album. With Dhani Harrison on lead guitar and vocals and Oli Hecks on drums, as well as appearances by Nick Fyffe, Josh Lopez, Paul Hicks, Marc Mann, and Tom Hammond, the musicianship is fantastic. There is so much to take in that the first few listens are almost overwhelming. Each song has so many layers of sound and meaning that it can sustain repeated listening without getting boring.

So Vain - This song has a really interesting, ambient kind of groove to it that had me hooked from the first moment. The beginning guitar sounds seem to be reminiscent of the song ‘Lord Lord’ from thenewno2’s Promotional EP 001, but then it soon becomes something totally different. It has a vibe-y atmospheric sound that is developing into a signature sound of thenewno2, and at the same time it is rocking and almost psychedelic in places. The electronic sounds in the background play off the lyrics in a cool way. The music seems to almost illustrate what the lyrics are saying. The song draws the listener into the tone of the album, and into another world for the next 50 minutes.

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(Check out Part 1 and Part 2)

NUMBER THREE: SKYLIGHT

Maybe it’s the tree in the center of the bookshop that really does it for me. Or the fun — nay, funky (in a purely positive light) — staff? The assortment of books and magazines that ranges from wild to classic? Things that you don’t find just anywhere—and are just so artsy I haven’t heard of most?

Whatever it is, Skylight’s got it all. Situated in the adorable, quirky Los Feliz neighborhood, the appropriately named bookstore — absolutely love the lighting! — brings together an interesting and stimulating combination to provide one of the most ideal settings for springtime skimming.

The sunshine streaming through the high ceiling glass, the warm wooden shelves — low to provide an open feeling — and one of the vastest reading collections in Los Angeles. I sincerely appreciate the clear signage of this extensive almost warehouse-like locale. It’s a friendly, comfortable setting both inside and out.

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Sometimes you just need a great bowl of pasta; whether you’re having dinner guests or just cooking for yourself, there are nights when that hearty strainer full o’ carbs just beckons!

This recipe is my own take on some dishes I’ve enjoyed in Italian restaurants, like Cafe Ugo in Culver City, for instance, where their Rigatoni ala Sorentina blends spicy tomato sauce and smoked mozzarella, with mouth-watering results.

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It is a rare kind of joke that remains funny after twenty years. It is a certain mark of comedic genius, then, when a joke is funny thirty years later, told in the form of a “comedic oratorio” accompanied by the LA Philharmonic. Yet such a feat was accomplished in style Saturday night, when Monty Python’s Eric Idle led the second consecutive performance of Not the Messiah (He’s a Very Naughty Boy), based on the 1979 Python film Life of Brian, at the Hollywood Bowl.

Idle and composer John Du Prez (who also worked on the Tony-winning Spamalot) masterfully reworked the story of Brian Cohen, a nice Jewish boy born on the same day as Jesus Christ and mistakenly followed as the messiah. Du Prez conducted the LA Philharmonic through classical rip-offs, gospel, and doo wop, while the Pacific Chorale, four soloists, and Idle carried the story.

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I must admit to wanting a piece of the occasional chain-style establishment - Mimi’s Cafe for its bread basket and french onion soup; the Hard Rock Cafe for its memorabilia; BJ’s Brewery for its Berry Burst Cider - but after an estimated million and one trips to New York (Brooklyn - Williamsburg, Greenpoint - and East Village) I’ve grown fond of the local establishment that exudes a neutral vibe with consistent quality. I’ve been really fortunate to find restaurants in the Valley serving up Indian, Chinese, and Mexican cuisine that seem to operate under the same ideals, but pizza is a whole ‘nother animal. You’ve got your Papa John’s, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Little Caesar, all of which don’t claim to be anything other than what they are. Refreshingly so. Then you’ve got supposed New York pizzerias who make you wish they would just not shame New York by abusing the description. I mean, even Taco Bell allows enough fine print to acknowledge that their food is “Mexican-inspired”.

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Los Angeles was surprised this Sunday by some determined Earthquakes. I’m not talking about a repeat of the natural disaster that struck the L.A. area a week ago. I’m talking about the game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes where the final score was 3-2 in favor of the Bay Area club. The game belonged to Major League Soccer’s Week 19 and was played in McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, Calif.

The Galaxy needed points in order to ensure a more comfortable spot in the Western Conference. On the other hand, the Earthquakes have collapsed in the season and were looking to accumulate any points to help them get out of last place. Regardless, the SoCal/NoCal rivalry did not disappoint as the game was filled with excitement, offensive plays and beautiful goals.

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Radiohead is a band you can’t admit that you don’t listen to, even if you’ve never heard one note of their music. For this reason, I raise my hand and admit, with a little shame, that I’ve never listened to Radiohead. Worse yet, it’s not even on my list of things to do in 2008. For sake of perspective, this list includes letting my eyebrows grow out a little and eating more green things.

Two weeks ago I went to the Roxy on the invitation of Ter Dines, co-founder of Lemonwilde, to hear his band whose sound has been likened to Radiohead. Even I know that’s more than just a passing compliment. Lemonwilde is the sum of 4 un-like minded guys who banded together just a few months ago to form a band that is quickly gaining notoriety among the people who determine what music you and I listen to. You may not have heard of them, but you soon will and more than likely it will be during a movie when the director is trying to elicit an emotion only electronic beats and seemingly incompatible sounds can evoke.

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Audrey Hepburn’s performance in Breakfast at Tiffany’s as the prostitute with the most sophisticated wardrobe around set the bar for lovable call girls long before Pretty Woman. Holly Golightly’s classy demeanor and exquisite Givenchy threads fill the 115 minute film that now rests in classic archives internationally. If you haven’t seen it yet, put it on your must-see list. If you’ve watched it before, watch it again!

What makes this movie so great? The answer is pretty simple: Audrey Hepburn. Not only is she the epitome of elegance, but she’s so good that you might just forget what this film is even about. In a racy role originally meant for Marilyn Monroe, Hepburn brings her own unique touch to the role of Holly Golightly. She is charmingly naive and alarmingly sexual at the same time. Aaaaaaaaaaand, for all of the fashion buffs out there, this is the film that made the “little black dress” an international phenomena!

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Sometimes you just gotta say ‘To hell with LA, I’m going to San Francisco.’ That’s what I did this weekend and I know, I know, this really has nothing to do with food any more local then your own computer screen, but what I found was just too amazing to leave alongside my heart.

Miette (French for “crumb”) is a French pastry shop located at the indoor farmer’s market in the Ferry Plaza and I simply stumbled across their darling little storefront while waiting for my sister. Seriously people. Words do not describe.

All I can attempt to say is when I took a bite out of their French macarons (Rose Geranium and Chocolate) I gave birth to every single pastry shop that every existed in Paris, fused them all together with pure sex, married the fusion and then took it on a honeymoon to god’s bedroom.

Though they are only a small San Francisco company, they deliver their macarons via their website. Hey, that means you can bring them TO LA! Problem solved.  Even so, a trip to San Francsico would not be out of order. Just get them in your mouth.

With Comic Con a week behind us, I’m sure most of you have moved on with your crappy lives, but me…I’m living in the past! Here are some highlights from the panel discussions for some of the coolest stuff on TV! Be careful, because it includes some mild ***SPOILERS***

True Blood – HBO

Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball’s new series True Blood is set to premier September 7th. It is based on the book series by Charlaine Harris, in which vampires are “Out of the Coffin,” thanks to a synthetic blood substitute that allows them to live openly among human society. The story focuses on Sookie Stackhouse, played by Anna Paquin, a psychic cocktail waitress in rural Louisiana who becomes involved with the vampire world. Here are some bullet points!

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