Save PickFair Protest

Growing up on the Westside of LA in the 70's you couldn't help but know about Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. It wasn't because we were all sitting around watching silent movies, it was because they were everywhere. There was The PickFair Bowl, a bowling alley, PickFair Cinemas, PickFair apartment buildings, and probably even more that I didn't notice.

Sadly, the theatres and bowling alley have long since been demolished along with their home in Beverly Hills (yet another reason to distain Pia Zadora).LA has almost wiped all memory of them from it's landscape, with their film studio being one of the last buildings remaining.

As you may have heard by now, The PickFair Studio (AKA United Artist Studio, and now known as The Lot)is about to be demolished. There is a vocal group that will be protesting it's demolition this Sunday. I'm hoping some of you will join them. If you can't be sure to sign the petition.

The details are below or go to the Save PickFair site

Meeting Place: Right off Santa Monica Blvd at Formosa where the offices are located. Say THE LOT in big letters. Allison Anders will be in attendance to lead all supporters.


Time: 1pm PST

Parking: The Target center has parking for $1.50 an hour, free with validation. There is also street parking that should be unencumbered for a Sunday

BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND ALL PRESS!!!

What You Can Do

*Bring video cameras and phone cameras to film the events

*Make protest signs out of big paper and wooden sticks. Suggested slogans: Mary we care, SAVE PICKFAIR. ITS OUR HERITAGE SAVE PICKFAIR. CIM WE’RE WATCHING YOU SAVE PICKFAIR. HONK IF YOU SUPPORT PRESERVING PICKFAIR STUDIOS!

*Be respectful, courteous and law abiding.

Easter Recipes At The Beekman

I just got the Beekman News Letter and its full of Easter recipes. And they look yummy!

If you are thinking "Who are the Beekman's?" You're missing out. First off Beekman is a where not a who. I first found Josh and Brent the owners of the Beekman on a stage at a Discovery channels press tour a few years ago. They had a fabulous show all about the goat farm they bought (Beekman) and all the fun and struggle that went along with it. Sadly the show is no longer, but happily their recipes and goat cheese go on!

Any way back to the recipes. I've listed their descriptions below for actual recipes and to vote on your favorites visit Beekman 1802 and order some cheese while you're there.

MAIN DISH
Which will our guests enjoy most?

NEW RECIPE!
Cinnamon Honey & Roasted Chicory Leg of Lamb
Lamb is certainly one of the most traditional Easter main courses. We've added a level of earthiness by marinating in garlic & ground roasted chicory root (you can substitute instant coffee,) and glazing with our Beekman 1802 Cinnamon Creamed Honey (which you can make yourself, too.)

NEW RECIPE!
Pork Rib Roast with Caramel Orange Glaze
This is the most succulent cut of pork, but you don't necessarily have to truss it up all fancy-like to impress your guests. In this recipe, the caramel orange glaze, made with Beekman 1802 Cajeta and pan drippings is all impressive enough.

NEW RECIPE!
12-Hour Fresh Ham with Gremolata
If a ham hasn't been cured, what is it? It's the most tender, moist pork roast of your dreams, that's what. Especially if it's been cooked overnight till it's falling apart. Paired with a traditional parsley garlic lemon sauce, its a 20 pound, melt-in-your-mouth, big ole' bite of fresh springtime.



SALAD/SIDE
Spring means farm-fresh choices again.

CLASSIC WEB RECIPE!
Forsythia & Pea Shoot Spring Salad
Does food get any sunnier than this? Tender young pea shoots are a short-lived seasonal treat, and they have the same fresh sweet flavor of the sweet peas they'll later bear. Paired with bright yellow forsythia flowers, it's beauty might just rival your centerpiece.

NEW RECIPE!
Updated Spinach Salad with Honey-Lime and Roasted Eggs
Roasted eggs are a traditional start to a Seder Meal, and symbolize mourning for the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. We roast ours the traditional way, in fireplace ashes, but they can easily be done in the oven. And we pair ours with a symbol of life...the only thing that survives every winter in our garden: spinach.

NEW RECIPE!
Chilled Sweet Corn & Sorrel Soup
Yes, we know sweet corn is a summer veggie. But it freezes so well that we always have plenty of these yellow jewels to use all year. For this refreshing chilled soup we combine it with lemony sorrel from the garden and freshly grated orange zest. A great way to start any springtime meal.

NEW RECIPE!
Grapefruit, Asparagus & Radicchio Salad
We could just stare at this salad for hours. Okay, maybe not for hours, but for a good long time. Okay, maybe not that long, because it's too damn delicious. All the bright colors are matched by an equal amount of bright flavors. Oh, did we mention there's mint, too? Yeah. That's almost too much. But it isn't.



STARCH
No meal is compete without carbs. Take that, South Beach.

NEW RECIPE!
Spring Onion & Dried Mushroom Risotto
We plant onion seed in August and are usually lucky enough to pull the first spring onions in mid-April, or sometimes even earlier. The rest we let mature into full bulbed onions that we harvest in the fall. You can probably find spring onions at your local farmer's market, or you can just as easily substitute scallions in this wonderfully creamy side dish.

NEW RECIPE!
Buttermilk Chive Biscuits
Brent's southern, so no biscuits are quite as good as his Mom's or Memaw's are. But we try our best. These biscuits, made with fresh local butter and young spring chives are delicate and light. Perfect for soaking up gravy from lamb or pork main dishes.

CLASSIC WEB RECIPE!
Crispy Potatoes Newman
These are probably one of the most popular recipes on our website. Whole young new potatoes with a crispy, buttery crust and fluffy, soft interior. It's as if the whole potato was one big homemade french fry. Our British friend Jane Newman taught us this preparation method, and we'll be indebted to her forever.

CLASSIC WEB RECIPE!
Risi i Bisi
The bad thing about frozen peas is that they don't include the pods. While inedible, they sure do make a great stock. And from that great stock you can make this classic Italian childrens' (and adult) favorite, Risi i Bisi. But don't fret if all you have is frozen peas. You can substitute a good vegetable stock and no one will be the wiser.



COCKTAIL
Why, yes! We thought you'd never ask.

NEW RECIPE!
Springtime Comfort
Sloe Gin? Check. Rum? Check. Apricot Liquor? Check. Aperol? Wait...what? Aperol is a cousin to Campari. We love Campari most of the year, but love Aperol in the Springtime. Why? Maybe because its ingredients include springtime flowers and rhubarb.

CLASSIC WEB RECIPE!
Sugarbush Margarita
The maple sap ran early this year, but that means there's plenty of fresh maple syrup ready to be used for this spring's pancakes and...margaritas? Maybe Mexico isn't exactly known for its Sugar Maple groves, but this complex margarita is the perfect marriage of springtime north and south.

CLASSIC WEB RECIPE!
Champagne Mojito
This minty champagne cocktail will go perfectly with your springtime lamb dishes. Be sure to check your garden for the first sprigs of mint. The fresher, the better.



DESSERT
The Hallelujah Chorus of dinner.

CLASSIC WEB RECIPE!
Goat Milk Cheesecake
We begin milking the goats again when kidding season starts in March. Which mean we're awash in Spring Flush...the sweetest milk of the year. Which we make even sweeter by using it in our famous Goat Milk Cheese Cake recipe.

EXCLUSIVE BEEKMAN 1802 COOKBOOK RECIPE!
Goat Milk Yogurt Panna Cotta
We also begin making goat milk yogurt with our spring milk. And from that we make a delicious Panna Cotta. This recipe was perfect enough to make it into our Beekman 1802 Heirloom Cookbook. Bonus: You get to use up last year's summer fruit in your freezer for its sauce.

CLASSIC WEB RECIPE!
Rhubarb Black Pepper Sauce
This is one of our most elegant desserts. It also happens to be one of our simplest. This rhubarb sauce isn't sour and mushy. It's cooked quickly, so that the fruit stalks keep their color and shape. And it's spiced up a bit with black pepper. Serve it over vanilla ice cream and folks will walk away with a new sophisticated appreciation for this old "barnyard weed."

For my part I vote Ham, Spinach Salad, Crispy Potatoes Newman (although those chive biscuit are a close second), Champagne Mojito, and Goat Milk Cheese Cake. How bout' you? Don't forget to let Josh and Brent know!

TCM Classic Film Fest Schedule released

The schedule for the TCM Classic Film Festival was released today and I am soooo excited. Even just the first glance reminded me that every year I struggle with two or three films that I want to see that are all being shown at the same time, practically every day. I know champagne problems, cry me a river. Anyway this year is no different.

Some of the films I'm dying to see:

Thursday- Sullivan's Travel and Sabrina (With Mad Men coustumer Janie Bryant)

Friday-Probably any of the films with Robert Evan or Kim Novack speaking. Definitely China Town. Seriously can not believe I can be in the same room with either of those two!!! Oh and Bringing Up Baby and about 10 other things that day

Saturday-Definitely The Thomas Crown Affair with Norman Jewison. Probably Auntie Mame, I've never seen it on a big screen

Sunday-Charade and The Women, plus which ever movies I've missed and they reshow on the last day. Just thinking of it hear makes me sad.

These are just off the top of my head in the next week I will get my personal schedule together. The festival is just TWO WEEKS AWAY!!!!

PBS KIDS Explore the Outdoors for Earth Day

In celebration of Earth Day PBS is airing children's programming promoting exploring the outdoors. Programs will include week long themed programs listed below as well as a new episode of Arthur about Earth Day on April 16th. Leave it to PBS to encourage our kids to turn off the TV and go outside. But I recommend letting them watch these first, or at least while you get dressed



WILD KRATTS “Backyard Adventures Week” - March 26-30

This special week features five episodes all about venturing outside to explore the wonders that are as close as your own backyard. The week concludes with the premiere of a new episode, “Flight of the Pollinators,” on Friday, March 30, which explores the amazing delivery system of plants and their animal partners.



DINOSAUR TRAIN “Nature Trackers Week” - April 2-6

This encore presentation of four “Nature Trackers” episodes of DINOSAUR TRAIN includes “Stargazing on the Night Train/Get Into Nature!,” “Shiny and Snakes/Tiny Flowers,” “Buddy Explores the Tyrannosaurs/Rainy Day Fight” and “That’s Not a Dinosaur/Tiny’s Garden.” The story lines follow Buddy, Shiny, Tiny and Don as they make their own discoveries in nature.

The episodes encourage kids to get outside, get into nature and make their own discoveries.



THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! “Nature’s Know-How Week” - April 9-13

The Cat, Nick and Sally go on a variety of outdoor adventures this week, including journeys to Drippety Dry Desert and Splishy Splashy Pond. Two new episodes premiere: “Super Cleaner Uppers/Itty Bitty Water” on Monday, April 9, and “Amazing Eyes/Water Walkers” on Thursday, April 12.



CURIOUS GEORGE “Explore Your World Week” - April 16-20

During this special week, everyone’s favorite monkey dabbles in a range of activities – from radio DJ-ing, to painting, to building a home for a squirrel. The week includes three premiere episodes – “DJ George/Curious George Paints the Desert” on Monday, April 16, “No Knowing Gnocchi/Here Comes the Tide” on Wednesday, April 18, and a special Earth Day episode, “Junky Monkey/Jumpy Warms Up,” on Friday, April 20.

Mad Men Season 5 Epi 1 Wrap Up

Oh My! We finally have our Mad Men back.

So let's see what we got.

First Joan: We get to see her new baby boy, Kevin and her somewhat challenging mother who starts right out with a reference to breathing fumes. Telling Joan she doesn't want Kevin out in it but then telling Joan to close the door when she takes the baby out. I am dying to find out what this is all about????
Beyond this we hear that Joan's husband is still alive and that she really misses work. Like all new mothers she feels isolated and the lack of fuss the office seems to have made hasn't helped.
Roger says all the perfect things when she visits the office. That no one notices the baby with her holding it, etc... Love that he sent a bicycle???
There's also a line at Don's birthday where Roger thanks Don for not inviting Joan or he'd have to wear earplugs all the way home. Guess Jane has twigged to Rogers feelings and doesn't like it.

Don and Megan: Things looked pretty good to start, Megan seems to know about Dick but like their apartment that is still being put together so is their relationship and it looks like the white carpet shows everything and they'll have to change it. Megan has learn her first Mrs Don Draper lesson. Don will let you make it look however you want to the outside world but know it is all an illusion.
They do seem to have a bit of the S&M to their sex life, Don does like that. It's a little pervy the way she keeps calling him an old man. The Zoobi Zoobi Zoo (or maybe it's bisoux??) song was funny by the way the chorus translation is Zoobi Zoobi Zoo means I want you, there was something about birds in there too. I was a bit to distracted by the floor show to pay close enough attention to the lyrics. It did remind me of when Joan sang and played the song for her husbands colleques.

Peggy and Abe: I love these two together. Abe will really allow Peggy to grow and be the independant person she wants to be. My heart went out to Peggy when they handed her Joan's baby. The adoption of her child with Pete has really left a scar on her heart when it comes to children. I'm wondering if we will see a heart to heart with Abe about this???

Pete and Roger: These two seem like they are going to come to blows at any moment. Roger is being pretty awful trying to poach Pete's clients.Pete seems like he has found himself living in the suburbs and the American dream. He still is fighting for that respect but he seems like he's coming at it in a better way. We'll see if he manages a whole season without raping anyone.

Betty: So even though we didn't actually get to see Betty and Henry we do see the reflection of their house in the car window when Don drops the kids off. It looks like the mansion Betty mentioned last season. Three stories and stone from what I could make out. (Correction: they actually showed the house and Don says give Morticia and Lurch my love. Because the house looks like the Adams Family house.) Based on scenes from next week we'll find out more soon.

This and That:

"I've got tickets to the Bean ballet and the curtain is going up."

Don has 6 phone number for Duck (AKA Herman Phillips) Is he still keeping an eye on him in case he pulls it together?

"It a steinway walking stick" "you could stick it up your ass and have concert"

Roger has switched from Lucky Strikes to Camels. I wonder why????

Zoo Bee Zoo Be Zoo Lyrics (as best I can Make out)

Zoo be---
My God it's hard
Zoo Be ------
The ---Kiss
In The-----
The Lovers----
Like the birds the rendez vous
Zoo bee-----
My God it's hard
Tell me do you understand
What's going on between us
What does Zoobe Zoo mean
It means I want you
But of course I love only you
Zoo be

This is as close as I can get to translating this. I listened several times but there are serious limits to my french vocabulary. If you can make out missing part please fill in in comments.

Kathy Griffin is Back on Bravo

Looks like Kathy Griffin will be returning to Bravo with a one hour talk show. I loved her on The D List. So I'm very excited to see her return. If you want to sign up to be in a studio audience for Kathy Griffin's Talk Show follow the link and fill out the audience form.

Here's the press release:

'Kathy' is the all new one-hour weekly pop culture talk show hosted by two-time Emmy winner Kathy Griffin. Every Thursday night, the original gossip girl will have a whole hour to deflate the egos of everyone who is anyone and those who think they're someone. Kathy will showcase Griffin's unique take on celebrities, co-workers, friends, politicians, and yes, even her own boxed-wine swilling mother, Maggie. She'll be burning the last of her already very few bridges, all while enforcing a clothing optional work environment.

For a list of all the TV shows I love check out Wikets App my username is Elisecd

Left Over Corned Beef And Potato Soup

If you have left over corned beef and potatoes like I do from St Paddy's day, here is a good soup recipe to use them up. My kid had three bowls so you know it's good.

1 medium onion diced
2 stalkes celery diced
2 good sized garlic cloves
32 oz chicken stock
3 large potatoes
1/2 cp milk
however much corned beef you have leftover.
Salt Pepper and Thyme to taste

Sautee celery, onion, and garlic add stock and potatoes. cook until all is soft.
Optional: use immersion blender to puree all for smooth soup
add corned beef and milk simmer for an hour to allow flavors to blend.

I served it with warm bread and they all gobbled it up.

Enjoy!

American Idiot at The Ahmanson

Center Theatre Group invited me to see the opening night of American Idiot. It's an amazing show with a Green Day score.

It reminded me quite a bit of Hair. With a group of young adults trying to figure out their way through the trials of growing up. It's definitely what I would classify as a Rock Opera with blaring guitars and pounding drums.

There are some extremely striking visuals. One aerial scene seemed like the actors were almost swimming. Another dance scene using one of those rubber cords to tie off the arm for injections, two dancers wrap it around one another in various ways. It falls somewhere between ballet and modern dance.

This is a great show to introduce tweens, teens, and young adults to theatre. It does have a copious amount of cursing, drugs, and sex; like any good rock opera should, but it's not too graphic. Still I wouldn't say it's appropriate for young children.

Mad Men Season 5 Premiere

Today marks the last Sunday till Mad Men returns to AMC. That's right kids Next Sunday the long wait will come to an end. I've just finished rewatching season 4 and I have some Mad Men Season 5 predictions.

At the end of season 4 I was disappointed that Don had thrown over Faye for Megan, but after rewatching it again I saw something new. Don is tired of perfection and the pursuit of it. Where Betty wants the children to behave all the time, Megan says don't cry over a spilled milk shake. She even has unusual teeth and is foreign (OK French Canadian). Megan allows Don to just be, it's true that she won't challenge him like Faye. But maybe now that he is entering mid life he is ready to relax, if not face up to reclaiming his former identity.

I'm guessing that we will finally get to find out about where Joan came from this year. I am dying to find out what the medical connection is for her. Christina confirmed that Joan's coughing in the John Deere foot amputation screen was in the script and that she was curios too why she was coughing and no one else was. Fingers crossed for that reveal. Now Joan's baby and marriage... I'm thinking Joan's baby will be born when we rejoin the show. I'm hoping her "lovely" husband will have been killed in Vietnam, but unfortunately I think that would be too neat. But I still hold out hope he'll get it eventually, hopefully killed by his own troops.

I would love to see Betty getting divorced and start out on a voyage of self discovery. But I doubt that will happen. She will probably just continue on her crabby, ostrich with her head in the sand way. I could definitely see her having a baby with Henry. Which would fit conveniently with January's real life pregnancy during the break.

I'm hoping we will find Peggy and Abe in one another's arms, probably living in sin and loving it. Pete is most likely continuing to climb the corporate ladder selling off pieces of his soul along the way.

Just one week till we find out how right or wrong I am. Until then you could join the #MomsLAChat Wed. the 21st at 10am PST for a fun Mad Men twitter party with great prizes from Bev Mo, Queen of Hearts and The Dead Celebrity Cookbook author Frank DeCaro. RSVP to win

Magic City on Starz

Magic City is premiering April 6th on Starz.

I haven't seen it or even seen any reviews but I am really excited for the show. Let's rub our lucky rabbits feet and hope for a home run on this one. We'll be a few weeks into the new Mad Men season 5 by then, so our desperation level shouldn't cloud our judgement.

Here's the show Synopsis from Starz:

Miami Beach, 1959.

As Ike Evans rings in the New Year at his luxurious Miramar Playa Hotel, Havana falls to Castro’s rebels. It’s a turbulent time in Miami, but it’s THE place to be. The Kennedys, the mob and the CIA all hold court here. And Ike, he’s the star of his hotel.

But everything comes at a price. To finance his dream, he sold his soul to mob boss Ben “The Butcher” Diamond. Ike’s wife Vera, a former showgirl, and his three kids think he’s an honorable man, but he can’t break his pact with the devil. His life is a façade.

In fact, nothing at the Miramar Playa is what it seems. By day, it’s diving clowns and cha-cha lessons. By night, escorts have secret liaisons with husbands in the family cabanas, while Miami’s seedier residents and the law drift together to hear legendary singers, musicians and comics.

As Ike’s world threatens to implode, he fights for his family, and the Miramar Playa, in Magic City.

For a list of all the TV shows (and everything else) I love check out the Wikets App. My username is EliseCD.

The Lone Ranger

I just got this First Look shot from the not too soon to be released Lone Ranger movie. They describe Johnny Depp's Tonto as a Spirit Warrior on a personal quest. Does that mean he is not suppose to be a Native American, do they think we won't notice? Spin again....

 I love Johnny Depp, just like everyone, but I do think it would have made more sense to cast an actual Native American in the part of Tonto. I believe there are a few around Hollywood available for work and highly talented. How is it that Hollywood hasn't gotten the message, that this is not OK???

I think they're excuse is that Johnny is part Cherokee. Really? I mean isn't everyone part Native American if their family has been here long enough? Even I am part Shawnee. My paternal grandmother's grandmother was full Shawnee. Which makes me like a 32nd Shawnee. I don't know Johnny's ancestry, but again I think they could have cast an actual Native American.

Oh and Armie Hammer stars as the Lone Ranger.

UPDATE

Here's an interview with Johnny Depp regarding his Tonto make up inspiration.

Friends With Kids Opens March 9th

Friends with Kids opens March 9th and basically stars the cast from Bridesmaid plus a few bonus'. Remember the plan you had in your late 20's with a platonic friend to have kids if neither of you met anyone. Well this movie is about two people who take that plan to the next level.

It is somewhat formulaic, but incredibly moving at the same time. It will hit a lot of married people where they live and scare the crap out of the singles. But in the end you will be confident in whatever choice you've made in the spouse department because somehow this film validates them all.

 Friends with Kids is Jennifer Westfeldt's  directorial debut. You may remember her from the film Kissing Jessica Stein (a personal favorite of mine) or the TV series Tales From The Underbelly. She really must be applauded for this scripts fluidity and emotional gamut as well as dead on authenticity. Her direction must have been great too because I was completely absorbed by the entire film.

This is a definite winner!




For a list of all the movies (and everything else) I love check out the Wikets App. My username is EliseCD.

Angie Dickinson at TCM Film Festival

I just got an announcement from TCM that Angie Dickinson will be at The TCM Classic Film Festival! I got a chance to chat with Angie at the Television Critics Association gathering this past winter. I asked her if she had been approached by TCM and she said she had but was undecided. She asked if I thought people would be interested in her, and I assured her we would all be over the moon to see and hear from her. You see where I am lining this up to take total credit for her coming.

Anyway, I'll be very excited to hear all her stories. 

See below for an excerpt of The TCM press release of just announced special guests. It looking like it will be another GREAT  TCM Classic Film Fest.

The 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival has unveiled another spectacular lineup of special guests and events for this year's four-day gathering in Hollywood. Among the newly announced participants for this year's festival are five-time Emmy® winner Dick Van Dyke, Oscar® winner Shirley Jones, two-time Golden Globe® winner Angie Dickinson, six-time Golden Globe nominee Robert Wagner, seven-time Oscar nominee Norman Jewison, longtime producer A.C. Lyles and three-time Oscar-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker. In addition, the festival will feature a special three-film tribute to director/choreographer Stanley Donen, who will be on-hand for the celebration.

Men in Black 3 Trailer

I can't belive how good the Men In Black III trailer looks. I hope it lives up to it. We'll all find out May 25th. Oh and did I mention it will be in 3D. Enjoy the trailer!