BEAT RHYMES AND LIFE: A TRIBE CALLED QUEST

This is a fantastic documentary.  The opening music with animation/graphics is captivating and super creative.  The music and  shots of real time NYC hoods (not just Manhattan ala Woody Allen) are the real thing for   people not from NYC.  We saw how hordes of young people spend their time listening, creating, dancing, relating all around hip hop.  This is not kill the cops, bitches and ho's music.  This music is creative, global, inclusive, artistic and so good to listen to. Q-Tip has gone on to make great music and really presents himself as a well informed musician.  Abe, Reed and I all agree....go see this film!!!!

Audition/ Acting class

This morning I auditioned for a film (CONVERSATIONS) by Ken Johnson, a longtime Austin mainstay in theater.  He's a director, producer and film writer.  And he cast me! 

Next stop was to Marco where he once again helps me to improve in this craft.

Liz picked up a PT photography gig which she'll be able to swing with FT work.    Good day for us all.

ATTACK THE BLOCK/Capital Bikeshare

What fun!!!  Aliens come to a housing project in London and the local young adolescent thugs are the heroes who annihilate  these ugly creatures with neon colored teeth and fangs.  Think Goonies grown up, British accents and violent behavior.  Dialogue is quick, smart, music is hip. While the budget is obviously low we loved the household goods that were used as weapons.  Refreshing, smart, well made, funny, don't miss this!

Guess whose kid just secured $4 million to secure 60 new bike stations in D.C.?  You got it.  Josh Moskowitz, our kid who doesn't drive a car is making the capital a better city.  Now if only the politicians there could do the same for the country.  Abe and I are real proud of this kid!

Sharp's Locksmith on W Mary Street

This morning before 8 a.m. I phoned the local locksmith as a door handle fell off and we could not replace it.  (Stop laughing..we tried.) Phil came promptly this afternoon, told me he'd done all of the locks originally on the house (of course he noticed we'd replaced them all...hey, we're New Yorkers). He repaired the door handle, checked another, and charged us $49.50 less 10% for being 62 and over.  Now, back in Park Slope a locksmith walks in the door for $175.  You ask why I love Austin?  Night y'all.

AMOA/ROARING FORK/PAPER MOON at the Paramount

In this heat downtown Austin has always been a great spot. Everything is close and air conditioned.  First I saw the MONA LISA exhibit and the Design exhibit at AMOA which will close in Sept.  I liked them both and really really loved the furniture designs.  Particularly  Gilbert Rohde, a  guy who began life in the Bronx, went on to make furniture for the Miller Furniture Co. in Zeeland Michigan and learned his first vocational skills from Stuyvesant H.S. The furniture designs and philosophy of this furniture company is exemplary, consumer friendly and so supportive of worker's creativity.  

I then met Ria and Amandine for Happy Hour at Roaring Fork: tortilla soup, wine and desserts all around.  Delicious!!

Then I soloed to PAPER MOON, a fantastic black and white film by Peter Bogdanovich.  I had forgotten how much fun this film is.  The audience really appreciated the young Tatum O'Neal.  She and her Dad were so refreshingly real and honest in their roles.   I loved Madeline Kahn whose portrayal of a loose gal and her young assistant are hysterical.  Dialogue is quick and timeless in its humor.

To be honest,  I just loved watching a smart, hip, slick kid called "Addie."

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

This film is cute, sexy, New York at it's finest with great choreographed flash mobs.  Justin Timberlake and Mile Kunis are adorable together.  I allowed myself to suspend belief and actually enjoy beautiful young people running around NY in 4" heels, living in huge apts, having 6 figure jobs and flawless skin.  Abe and Liz saw HARRY POTTER and were thoroughly pleased. Pure entertainment this evening.  We  enjoyed a light night at the theater.

The Four Seasons and 50 cent drinks

Austin Four Seasons is 25 years old this year.  And on the 25th of each month they offer a spectacular way to celebrate.  So at 5PM today in the Lobby Lounge  they offered specialty drinks for 25 minutes at  50 cents.  And our food was delicious as well!!!!  The Lobby Lounge is beautiful overlooking Town Lake  and was filled with business  people in town for a convention.  It was good people watching and a great deal.  Happy Birthday Four Seasons...another reason to love Austin!