This Charming Mixtape.

What better way to break the monotony of studying and working than by listening to some new music? As a poor grad student, I like it even better when it's free. And when it comes from a guy from NY named Theophilus London, you know it's gonna to be interesting.

You can download This Charming Mixtape here.

And you can get his previous offering, JAM! over here.

OK, back to the books...




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Girl Talk, Feed the Animals

What will people be willing to pay for an album of songs that are created from samples of other songs? Girl Talk AKA Gregg Gillis is out with a new mashup album, available in pay-what-you-want format here.

Regardless of what people may think about the “originality” of remixes, or the potential legal issues associated with sampling/mashups etc, I must say that Feed the Animals is one fun party album. Each track is a creative, seamless flurry of samples from past and current hits, guilty pleasures and other surprising hidden gems (e.g. Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” played over Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge” guitar riff?)… I’ve listened to this album straight through about 3 times today just trying to pick out songs I recognize. It's that entertaining to me. So props to Girl Talk—Feed the Animals is like Ritalin for my musical A.D.D.

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Sojourner Cafe: Santa Barbara, CA

It's been about a month since I decided to go vegetarian. I don't miss the beef/pork/poultry stuff all that much, but I have to admit that my new diet is seriously lacking in variety. After five weeks of living on assorted veggies, tofu, and veggie and tofu soup, I thought I'd check out a local vegetarian-friendly restaurant and get ideas for meals that I could eventually try cooking at home. The establishment: Sojourner Cafe.

Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, the Sojourner features a laid-back atmosphere, interesting artwork on every wall, and a menu of mostly vegetarian and organic dishes. I sampled the golden indian dhal with wild rice and yogurt and chutney on top... it was actually more delicious than I thought it was going to be, and surprisingly filling. The dessert menu is excellent (the desserts are labeled by ingredient for folks following vegan diets). I highly reccommend the the chocolate macaroon torte and the vegan chocolate fudge brownie!

Apparently, the Sojourner Cafe has been voted "Best Spot to Dine Alone" by local papers several times in the past. I don't understand that hype, but I did really enjoy my meal and the staff was friendly. The menu truly opened my eyes to different dishes that I want to attempt at home (WTH, Polenta Royale? Gingered Tofu Wonton Pillows?!), but with the affordable prices here, why cook when I can just come back again and again...


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Dinner Theater, Terra Nova Restaurant: Appetite Killed.

What do you get when you mix a classic episode of Saved by the Bell with Prohibition-Era gangstas and a plate of chicken piccata?

You get something like this.

Ah, yesssss... murder mystery dinner theater. I have secretly wanted to experience one of these ever since I watched Zack, Slater, Screech, Kelly, Jessie, and Lisa spend that murder mystery weekend at Mr. Jameson's mansion.

Every Saturday, the Terra Nova Restaurant (Costa Mesa, CA) is transformed into a 1920's era speak-easy... someone gets murdered, music is sung, comedy and mystery ensue. And somewhere in between, dinner is served. It's wonderfully cheesy.

The food is ok. It's a four-course meal, nothing spectacular but not super horrible either. Clearly, the highlight of the night is the show, not the dinner. If you're looking for something entertaining and random to do with a larger, slightly intoxicated group (e.g. birthday parties), I recommend this. If you're looking to have a romantic, quiet night out with your girl, sorry this is not the place to take her. It's an interactive show and actors will mingle with the diners during serving breaks. They may even call you out during the acts.

The mystery plot made absolutely no sense to me and I still have no clue who the killer was. But that might have had less to do with the quality of the script and more to do with the whole bottle of Pinot Noir I had with dinner. Props to the actors for their improvisation skills-- I suspect that it's not uncommon for a diner to spoil the fun by loudly pointing out that the dude who was murdered in the first act is obviously the new character dressed in drag in the current act (Thanks, Dad). The actors handled this monkey wrench quite gracefully and with wit.

Overall, it was good fun. I'm happy to finally cross this off my list of "things to do at least once in my life." What's next? Ordering a mango tonic with a kiwi twist at the bar...



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AD NAUSEUM: the last thing on my mind.

lately when i catch an old navy ad on tv, one thought comes to mind. no, not "wow i really need to buy me some performance fleece" but rather, "who's supplying the soundtrack?"

to hear what i'm talking about, here's an extended version of the lastest ON "episode," i.e. commercial :

last night the obsessive-compulsive in me decided to do a little sleuthing for the artist featured in the ad campaign. her name is lights, she hails from toronto, her EP is available on iTunes, and all four songs are pretty good stuff.

so, i recommend that you check lights out if you're into that whole indie pop electronic-ish sound. according to her myspace, she writes/produces her music out of her bedroom, which makes me like her more. (my favorite song right now is "drive my soul.")

my guess is that when she eventually comes out with a full-length album, she'll go the ingrid michaelson route and get picked up by VH1 as a "you oughta know" artist (*groan*) or something of that nature. as you may recall, michaelson's song "the way i am" was also featured in an old navy sweater commercial several months ago. the advertising execs succeeded in selling me on that musician too. but the fair isle knits? um, no.


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