First Illustration in 007
I’ve just posted my first illustration for the new year. It's a quick little 30 minute job.
Greetings 007...
That’s just too cool man, calling the year ‘007… maybe I’m the only one excited about that. Happy New Year folks! Hope you’re all doing well. We had a fairly relaxing post-Christmas season. The wife and I spent a few days in Phoenix hanging out with my dad and stepmom.
So now it’s business as usual: the focus is back on my projects. I’ve got a lot planned for this year and will be announcing some stuff when I feel appropriate. I’ll be adding new products to the store each week.
My cousin Curtis has returned to his outpost in Beijing after a whirlwind tour of India. Check out his adventures over at DJLoo’s Dailybeats.
Children of Men
We saw this Saturday. All I can say is AMAZING.
Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón’s has taken P.D. James novel Children of Men and turned it into possibly the best picture of the year.
The main cast is Clive Owen, Julian Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Claire-Hope Ashitey.
It takes place in England in 2027 and the world is in a grim state; for some reason the human race has become sterile… and no baby has been born in 18 years. England is now a police state and illegal immigrants are rounded up and thrown into refugee camps. Anyway, I don’t want to reveal anymore about the film except this: this is an intelligent film and pays the audience the compliment of being intelligent. A lot happens in the backgrounds of scenes, and the characters don’t keep reminding us what is going on in every conversation. I can’t wait to see this again on DVD. Definately worth a trip to the theater.
Happy Holidays & more fun with Cocktails
On my quest to become a true jack-of-all-trades, I am now a “certified mixologist”, otherwise known as your friendly neighborhood bartender. Recently I learned that the old phrase we know about the old jack-of-all-trades has been truncated. Here is the original (and quite positive) quote:
“Jack of all trades, master of none, though ofttimes better than master of one.”
(I guess I want to be a Renaissance man, without using that title.)
It’s that time again as we get near the end of the year. Enjoy whatever holidays you celebrate and have a Happy New Year. I also want our troops home now. Much love and respect to our brave men and women serving overseas. Stay tuned for more art, music and other randomness here at the Lounge. Cheers!
Borat Royale
On Friday Kristen and I decided to treat ourselves to a day of doing absolutely nothing productive. So we spent the day at the movies.
First we caught the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. If you don’t know who Borat is by now you are probably burried under the ice of Antarctica. Sasha Baron Coen (who also plays Ali G in Da Ali G Show) plays a fake Kazakh reporter and travels across the “U.S. and A” interviewing people. The film is painfully hilarious as some everyday heartland Americans make asses of themselves.
After a short break for Vietnamese lunch, we decided on one more movie. This time we went for Casino Royale the latest James Bond flick. Casino Royale was the first James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming. As the series is now rebooting itself, it seemed an appropriate choice. Bond just got promoted to his double-o status. He’s arrogant, and makes mistakes. He gets hurt. The fantasy gadgets are gone and we’re back to probably the closest on-screen depiction of Ian Fleming’s secret agent. I think this one ranks up there with the first 3 Bond films: Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger. I’m a huge Sean Connery fan, but I think this was the best one ever! Daniel Craig was awesome in the role.
Thanksgiving Wrap-up 2006
Well, we’re just back from wrapping up another “marathon” Thanksgiving. This routine consists of hanging out with mom for a huge lunch then going over to the in-laws for a huge dinner. I’m stuffed.
Last night I went to work at the Encore Karaoke Lounge. I was supposed to be there for training, but around 9pm the place turned into a huge party. So I worked for the very first time as a KJ (karaoke jockey) and learned the ropes under pressure. Was a lot of fun. I’m going to be there a few nights a week. Looks like an easy part-time gig.
Introducing the all new Rabbit Speed!
That’s right folks, new and improved! These Rabbit Speed t-shirts will be available very soon from my online store. Till then check it out in my illustration gallery.
Happy Diwali 2006!
Yep it’s that time of year again folks. The festival of lights is again upon us. For my non-Hindu friends today is the celebration of the return of Lord Rama, victorious in his war against the demon-king Ravana thereby rescuing his wife Sita. Though Ravana’s death is celebrated during Dusherra, on Diwali people light up their villages and cities to help the victorious Prince find their way home. It is a celebration of a major victory of good over evil and for my fellow Bengalis it’s also Kali Puja (Festival of the Goddess Kali). Sikhs also celebrate Diwali as well.Read more
Nay's Nectar
This is a gin drink created by friend Naomi.
- fill rocks glass half full (or less)
- pour Bombay Sapphire gin up 3/4 full
- add a large splash of Lakewood Organics Pomegranate Juice
- add small splash of grapefruit juice
mix and enjoy!
Wednesday night Alan, Lisa and I hit the Red Devil Lounge to see the return of Los Straitjackets. This time around they’re promoting thier new CD “Twist Party”. Los Straitjackets are one of my favorite bands to see live. Surf and instrumental rock n roll performed by 4 guys wearing Mexican wrestling masks, and they only speak to the audience in rapid-fire bad Spanish! Add in their friend Kaiser George from Scotland on vocals and as emcee. Finally add the spice: the cute and sexy World Famous Pontani sisters bringing back old-school burlesque dancing to entertainment!
Do not miss a chance to see this band!
New Website!
Yes! I finally found time to get things restarted around here.
Welcome to Mr. Sid’s Lounge version 19! (Yes, to some 19 seems excessive but my site has been around since 1997.)
Over the next few days there will be a few tweaks here and there, so if you see something funky it’s probably just me working ons omething. Also the store is in the works, and I hope to be selling my tshirts and other creations very soon.
Stick around and enjoy some of my new art and music!
Party Time!
It’s become tradition for me to throw one big party every year to mark my birthday. Somehow it has become my annual belated birthday party. 50% on purpose and 50% procrastination. So in any case, we’re on for Saturday September 30th. If you happen to be in town that day please feel free to drop by.
LA 2006 Day 4
Breakfast! King’s Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant in Torrance. Good stuff. Afterwards, we headed a little further south to Little Saigon, an awesome Vietnamese community with excellent shopping, and an awesome mall that almost makes you believe you’re shopping in Vietnam. Last year we saw a Buddhist monk who was doing somekind of meditation infront of a large bush in the parking lot. We saw him there again. Apparently he is always there. I wonder if its some sort of pennance.
We did some shopping then returned to Andre and Miriam’s to hang out and relax. We got in touch with my brother and got ourselves invited to a birthday party in West Hollywood. After dinner at a Thai Restaurant, they decided to stay home, so we drove back into LA to meet my brother.
We hit the East West bar. Pretty popular place and quite busy. After some cocktails we moved down the street to The Abbey, where my brother had taken us last year. Overall it was a fun evening.
Quinceañera
Kristen’s former ballet student Jaime turned 15 yesterday. Her family is from Mexico. So we were invited to her Quinceañera. This is a big deal in many latin cultures. Basically a coming of age ceremony for the daughter as well as an opprtunity for the family to show off a little bit as well!
Here’s the wikipedia definition:
“The Quinceañera or Quince Años (meaning fifteen years) is, in some Spanish-speaking regions of the Americas, a young woman’s celebration of her fifteenth birthday, which is celebrated in a unique and different way from her other birthdays.
In the Mexican tradition, if the quinceañera is Catholic, the festivities begin with a Thanksgiving Mass (Misa de Acción de Gracias), at which the quinceañera arrives in formal dress (usually white to symbolize purity and innocence), often resembling a wedding dress, accompanied by her parents (padres), godparents (padrinos), a number of maids of honor (primevaras) and chamberlains (chambelanes) ranging in number anywhere from seven to 15 couples. After the Mass, the younger sisters, female cousins and friends of the quinceañera pass out party favors and the quinceañera leaves her bouquet in an altar to the Virgin Mary. The Mass is followed by a party either at the quinceañera’s home or in a banquet hall leased for the occasion. At the party, the quinceañera dances the traditional first waltz with her father and male relatives. Then her boyfriend, or male friend, dances the remaining part of the dance with the birthday girl.”
It was quite a celebration, and the first either of us had been to. Makes me appreciate the cultural diversity of the Bay Area!