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WHO: Presented by Mark DeCarlo and Ivan Kane’s CAFE WAS

WHAT: ODD WEDNESDAYS, the newest comedy & music premiere showcase

WHEN: Beginning St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, 2010, (and continuing EVERY ODD WEDNESDAY of every month (3/31, 4/7, 4/21, 5/5, 5/19 etc.)  Doors @ 8 PM Show @ 9 PM

WHERE: Ivan Kane’s CAFÉ WAS 1521 N. Vine St. Hollywood, CA (323)466-5400

TICKETS:   No Cover Charge – Free – 8PM Sign-up, 9PM Jam Session/Open Mic

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SIGN UP FOR JAM SESSION / OPEN MIC – 8 PM

Singer-Songwriters and comedians are welcome to join us to play 1 or 2 songs or sets on a first come first serve basis; e-mail oddwednesdayshow@gmail.com for sign up sheet. Win cool prizes and the chance to be invited to perform with A-List comedians and musicians in our exclusive upcoming shows the third Wednesday of every month at CAFÉ WAS.

ABOUT MARK DECARLO

When “Studs” took TV by storm, host Mark DeCarlo took to the road. A Chicago native, DeCarlo used the popularity from his television series (Big Deal, Good Night America, the X Show and most recently Taste of America) to play the blues all over the US. Finally after years sitting in with the likes of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cowboy Mouth, Meatloaf, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal, and the Queen of the Blues Ms. Koko Taylor, Mark knew it was time to transform into his musical alter-ego, TORNADO JOHNSON, put together a band and hit the road.  The result, OLD BLUES EYES, features players from LA, Toronto and Chicago – the hottest session guys and composers cold beer and good BBQ can buy. The band is a high energy, at times hilarious, audience blues explosion.  No two shows are ever the same. Sometimes Mark will bring up singers up out of the audience, some nights he’ll become part of the audience himself.  That’s what happens when Tornado Johnson and his five piece musical marauders get up and play. Old Blues Eyes has headlined for CBS Studios & the Deal or No Deal Celebrity Golf Event, rocked the Jimmy Kimmel stage at the Hollywood San Gennaro Festival, and jammed in joints too small to change their pants. No matter where they play, the results are always the same: BIG BAD BLUES. (www.markdecarlo.com)

ABOUT IVAN KANE

With the phenomenal success of Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce in both the Hollywood club and at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and his newest venture, Ivan Kane’s Café Was, a bistro, bar and live music venue, the entrepreneur has added his own unique blend of excitement and edge to going out, turning “nightlife into a more theatrical experience.” His long-range goals include continuing to build the Ivan Kane Enterprises brand and realizing his dream project, a boutique hotel which he has already conceptualized and designed. He’s been called an impresario and a nightlife guru, but most of all Ivan Kane is an innovator. “I’m constantly looking to redefine nightlife,” he concludes, “by doing the unexpected.”  

ABOUT IVAN KANE’S CAFÉ WAS

Hollywood’s newest and most unique Cafe dining experience, created by nightlife trendsetter Ivan Kane offers an intimate bistro experience and piano lounge. Unlike other Hollywood fine dining establishments, Cafe Was integrates a bohemian feel with chic design and classic Bistro fare, offering unique café dining in this reflective dream world on Sunset and Vine. Unique materials, salvaged bars, balusters and doors along with distressed plaster walls, antique mirrors and velvet curtains make up the mystical space. The revolving 1924 Mason and Hamlin grand piano offers optimal views and can be removed for other performances. Wednesday specials: Bohemian Feast- Four Course Prix Fixe Menu only $30.00, Half price flask service in our signature Café Was brown paper bags & Half Price on ALL bottles of wine and champagne with entrée.  Reservations or Information: 323.466.5400 www.cafewas.com

Pierre –Auguste Renoir Exhibit
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
February 14 – May 9,2010

Pierre – Auguste Renoir,(1841 – 1919) the French Impressionist painter known for his luminescent female nudes, was a towering figure in the art world along with other Impressionist greats such as Monet and Cezanne. This ticketed LACMA Renoir exhibit; February 14 – May 9, 2010 – illuminates Renoir’s later works as a postimpressionist whose influence on modern painters, such as Picasso, has received lesser discussion.

This exhibit, which opened this past fall at the Grand Palais, Paris, is the first to focus on the mature works of Renoir, in his last years. The exhibit moves on to the Philadelphia Museum of Art June 17. The show brings together about 80 of his paintings, drawings and sculptures from collections in Europe, the United States and Japan. In addition, works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisee, Aristide Maillol and Pierre Bonnard demonstrate Renoir’s often overlooked influence on their art. A startling echo can be seen in Picasso’s female figures after viewing Renoir’s nudes painted in his 20th century career.

Many years ago a friend and I took our seven young sons – ages 3 to 12 – to see a glorious Renoir exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. The huge canvases of beautiful early career nudes shown as though lighted from behind. On the way home in the proverbial stationwagon of that era I asked, of no one in particular, “Did you like the show?” “Yes,” came the immediate reply from the way way back. “We counted 47 nudes.”

Alas, this show would perhaps have disappointed. I counted less than fifteen nudes, which are different in their light reflective qualities from early works. Nonetheless, it is an exhibit for serious art students as well as casual observers. The curators of the exhibit wish to demonstrate how Renoir’s curiosity and determined art self-instruction influenced his late works.

According to the experts, in October, 1881,  Renoir decided, after finishing his  Luncheon of the Boating Party, one of the most famous and admired Impressionist paintings, to achieve his ambition to go to Italy. He planned to visit Venice, Rome, Florence and Naples to view the paintings of Raphael, Titian and other Renaissance masters. He did just that and was as awed as any ordinary tourist, except his titanic talent allowed him to utilize what he had absorbed in creating something different in his later paintings.

That something different did not always please his admirers. American Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt is said to have written to a friend that Renoir was painting pictures of “enormously fat red women with very small heads.”  Visitors today may see for themselves whether that critique holds true. The later nudes are characterized as “monumental” in describing the appearance of out-of-proportion lower limbs.

As Renoir aged he was ravaged by severe rheumatoid arthritis and moved to Cagnes, in the South of France, for the milder climate. Though unable to walk or even stand, with hands deformed by his disease, he nonetheless continued to explore his vision to create new perspectives of his art. He often used his three young sons and a nanny, Gabrielle, as his models. His later paintings includes the 1902 masterpiece, Reclining Nude ,which recalls Rubens and Raphael themes of idealized spring and fertility.

In 1913, Renoir is said to have stated he was about to reach the goal he’d set for himself with his trip to Italy 12 years before; “I’m starting to know how to paint.”

Perhaps this is the mark of genius when curiosity and ambition cannot be faded by age or infirmity. Renoir is said to have painted until his last days.

Not a bad life for an old man –using his talent to capture his vision of the naked model before him. Beauty such as he created does not age or wither…tastes may change and new perspectives open to works unappreciated previously. This exhibit encourages modern viewers to learn and enjoy the enduring creativity of a great painter.

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Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90036
Tickets – $20; admission $12 –under 17 years free, seniors, $8
Free second Tuesday of each month;Target Free Holiday Mondays. After 5 p.m.
daily “pay what you wish” program.
Hours – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, noon-8 p.m.; Friday, noon-9 p.m.
Closed Wednesdays.
1-323-857-6000
www.lacma.org

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Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright, 2010

Last Valentine’s Day, I had a tour de force culinary experience.  It started with an invitation to a popular restaurant I had heard of, but was afraid to try.  I’m speaking of Dining in the Dark at OPAQUE.

Opaque’s mission is to engage all the senses in a pitch-black dining room, while eager guests are taken from one course to the next, softly guided by their respective blind or visually impaired servers.

Let me start from the beginning.  We first walked in to the lounge area and were greeted by friendly staff, who reacted as if they knew something we didn’t when we announced it was our first time.  They knew we were in for a treat.

We picked our meal in the dimly lit romantic lounge and waited for our server to guide us to our table.  Behind closed curtains we entered.  Hands on my guide’s shoulder we went, slowly making our way between pockets of fading conversations in a sea of darkness.

The maze ended up in a comfortable corner near the entrance to the kitchen. At this point, our ears were still getting adjusted to the mumbling, as we picked up on various voices at the same time, being aware that there might be someone sitting quietly, right next to us, listening.  We sat down as our server explained where exactly we would find our utensils, plate and glasses.  Lo and behold!  They were exactly where she explained they’d be!

My brain wandered: “Will I be startled as a voice jumps from the darkness to fill my glass or ask me how dinner is going?” “When is this going to get old?”  To my surprise, I was very aware of my server approaching the table and the sweet manner in which she guided us from appetizer to entrée to desert.  Each course seemed a discovery all on its own.  Who knew carrots could taste so sweet?  I had no idea what my food looked like, yet I savored every juicy bite, every texture, every discovery.  Even my breath had lingering flavor.

By the time the main course came around, I had given up on the task of accurately putting the fork in my mouth and was using my hands to eat.  This, by the way, was my favorite part of the meal.  The food was easy to identify, satisfactory to pick up with my own fingers, and delectable to all my tens of thousands of taste buds.

The Mango Panna Cotta was nothing short of an orgasm.  Not being able to use my sight for the past hour, my other senses danced around me in circles.   This delicious desert exploded with flavor in my mouth, while, in my head, and I held back from ‘Mmm-mmm-ing’ out loud, afraid of repeating the infamous “When Harry Met Sally” scene.

Needless to say, Valentine’s dinner was as unforgettable and as a sure shot to a romantic ending as the greatest chocolate cake in the world… or the biggest diamond.

Opaque is the ultimate voyage of the senses, all neatly engaged in a prix fixe 3-course gourmet meal, a experience not only of taste but of smell and sound.  This experimental journey of the senses gets the Diva’s Wink ™ of approval.

OPAQUE –Dining in the Dark

http://www.darkdining.com/index_main.php

LOS ANGELES (Also in San Francisco and San Diego)

Every weekend on Friday and Saturday starting at 6 PM.

V Lounge

2020 Wilshire Blvd

Santa Monica,

California 90403

www.darkdining.com

310 546 7619

Regular 3 course dinner menu Price: $99 incl. Tax (no host bar)

For more information or to order make reservations please call 800-710-1270 or visit

www.darkdining.com. Reservations required!

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You are pregnant…congratulations!  Like all moms, I’m sure you want to do everything possible to make sure that your baby is healthy, and going green during your pregnancy is a great way to ensure this.  Here are 6 green living tips that will make a big difference in your life and your pregnancy.  As of the writing of this article, I myself am almost 5-months pregnant and I feel great.  Hopefully my tips will help you feel great too and help ensure that your baby is as healthy and happy as possible!

1. Eat green! You should be eating green both literally and figuratively.  Get as many organic, whole foods into your diet as possible (whole foods mean foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.)  Try and cut out any calories that are not filled with nutrients as they will not nourish the baby but WILL lead to excess weight gain.  Eating healthy is probably the single most important thing you can do for your baby while you are pregnant.[1] It’s also supposed to be helpful in mitigating some of the “symptoms” of pregnancy.  From my own personal experience (again, I’m just a sample of one), I have had no issues with nausea or cravings, no “pregnancy constipation” (which is caused by our digestion slowing down to squeeze the most nutrients out of our food) and my weight gain has been slow and steady.  Also, when it comes to eating green you should literally be eating green foods.  Folic acid, which is very important for avoiding certain birth defects, is easily found in most green vegetables.[2] I can tell you from personal experience, I’m a mostly-raw vegetarian, and when I had my blood tested my folic acid was very high.  In fact, all of my blood results were very good except for Vitamin D, which brings me to point #2.
2. Check your Vitamin D. When you first get pregnant your doctor will do a blood work-up on you.  Be sure to ask her if your work-up includes a test for Vitamin D also known as “the sunshine vitamin.”  The studies on Vitamin D deficiency are pretty new (about 3-years old) but compelling and especially important for a developing baby.  Vitamin D is actually more of a hormone than a vitamin and its deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis, depression, heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, parathyroid problems, immune function and even weight loss.[3] Even though I live in sunny Los Angeles and walk my dog for 20-minutes every day, my Vitamin D test came back severely deficient.  There is talk about raising the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D, but one thing to keep in mind is that if you are dark-skinned, as I am, than you need even more sunshine since the melanin in our skin blocks the UVB rays that synthesize Vitamin D from sunlight.  There are also Vitamin D supplements that you can take orally as well.  Honestly, EVERYONE should be tested for Vitamin D deficiency.  You’ll probably be hearing more and more about this as doctors are just now starting to realize how important Vitamin D is for our bodies.  After giving me my test results my doctor had himself tested and was shocked at how low his own Vitamin D was. 
3. Forget registering for your baby shower…get hand-me-downs! Kids grow quickly, in fact; they grow so quickly that many of the products they used can be passed down to many other children.  My goal is to not buy anything new except for whatever fabrics or paints I may need for the baby’s room and maybe the occasional “special event” outfit (those holiday clothes are super cute!)  As soon as my husband and I decided to get pregnant we started spreading the word that we would take any hand-me-downs that were 1) not subject to recalls, 2) in good condition and 3) made out of natural materials (except for car seats and strollers.)  So far we have gotten 2 cribs (one is for my parent’s house who live very near by), an organic crib mattress, lots of cotton bedding, a solid wood rocking horse, a solid wood high chair, a solid wood rocking chair, a glider, 3 car seats, 2 strollers, lots of books and a changing table.  We haven’t received any clothes yet because we don’t know the sex of the baby, but there is lots of that on the way too.  Ask and you shall receive, it’s amazing!
4. Use green paints in the baby’s room. Most people end up painting their baby’s room.  If you do, be sure to look for paints that are “no-VOC” or even all natural paints like Old Fashioned Milk Paint, made with lime and milk protein.  These paints will not “off-gas” into the baby’s room creating a better breathing environment for your child.  This is especially important for newborns since their lungs are the last thing to develop and will continue to grow as they grow[4].  AFM Safecoat and Yolo Colorhouse and excellent no-VOC paints that cost approximately $50/a gallon which is the same as other “high-end” paints.
5. Eliminate chemicals from your life. One of the most dangerous places in most homes is that cabinet under the kitchen sink with all the cleaning products.  Make an effort to eliminate chemicals as much as possible from your life.  Switch to earth and people friendly cleaners like baking soda and white vinegar or to brands such as Bi-o-kleen, Bon Ami and Begley’s Best to name a few.  I try to buy locally so most of the brands I mention are West Coast based.  If you are on the East Coast then Seventh Generation is an excellent resource for you.  If a product smells toxic to you, it probably is toxic, and you might as well get rid of this stuff before the baby is born!  Products to definitely get rid of include anything with heavy perfumes (often these masks dangerous chemicals like as phthalates), and anything with chlorine and ammonia in them.  Also, be sure to switch to safer insecticides and pesticides such as boric acid and neem oil for around your house and in your garden.
6. Exercise. Exercise is great for building and maintaining muscle tone and stamina, for helping to moderate pregnancy weight gain and for helping to improve your mood among other things.[5] It can also help with constipation brought on by pregnancy![6] Regular exercise, along with a good diet, is said to help with many of the “symptoms” of early pregnancy, and from my own experience, except for occasional fatigue I have had NO pregnancy symptoms.  Now, if you weren’t a marathoner before your pregnancy, now is definitely not the time to start training for one, but getting regular movement is very important for your pregnancy. Maintaining your stamina is especially important if you are going to go for natural child birth (which I am and will be sure to write about when it happens) since labor can be a very tiring experience and you want to be sure you have reserves of strength so that when your midwife or doctor says “you can start pushing” you still have the energy to push.  Walking is a great, low-impact exercise.  My midwife advised me to get up to 3-miles a day (about an hour of vigorous walking) if I could.  At this point in my pregnancy I have been able to maintain my pre-pregnancy exercise regimen of yoga, weights, walking and elliptical training with no modifications.

Remember, every person and every pregnancy is different, so be sure to consult your medical professional before making changes to your diet and/or exercise regimes.  The information in this article should not be taken as medical advice.

Alegre Ramos is a LEED AP interior designer and green living expert based in the San Fernando Valley.  Her store, Green and Greener, is located in Valley Village and online at http://green-and-greener.com.  Stay up to date on important green info by signing-up for her Twitter feed http://twitter.com/greenandgreener.  Copyright Green and Greener 2010.  All rights reserved.

[2] http://vitamins.lovetoknow.com/Foods_High_in_Folic_Acid

[3] http://www.womentowomen.com/healthynutrition/vitamind.aspx

[4] http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/bpd.html#

[5] http://www.babycenter.com/0_seven-great-benefits-of-pregnancy-exercise_7864.bc

[6] http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/fitness/pregnancy-exercise/?page=2

When you are in Washington DC don’t leave the city without a stop at the hip artist collective DEKKA.  It’s a cool, co-op style space located in the heart of the U Street Corridor.  The only one of it’s kind in DC, DEKKA is a unique boutique that showcases dozens of local and international artists and designers whose mediums include music, fashion, jewelry and a range of visual arts.   It’s a treat for the senses that will leave you completely smitten.

Located on the second floor, DEKKA is a fabulous diva’s paradise, offering two stories of gorgeous one-of-a-kind clothes, original jewelry and incredibly affordable art.  The music on the indoor/outdoor system could be anything from Brazilian, to Electronic to Urban beats, and you can even explore underground music at their listening station.  The best part about the DEKKA experience is that it’s a co-op run by the artists, for the artists, so you are likely to run into any of them on any given day of the week.  They are there to answer any questions you have and maybe even custom design a piece for you.

The store is the creation of artist, Josh Titkin, and his wife Liciana Titkin, a clothing designer who fashioned the store after similar stores in her native Argentina.  They are not just the founders but their work is also on display.  Josh Titkin’s paintings on vinyl records are a must–see, and Luciana Titkin’s line YOSOY is chic and sleek with a European edge that will make you swoon.   Even the name is fabulous!  YOSOY comes from the Spanish “Yo soy” meaning “I am,” (a great diva mantra).  Other artists that are not to be missed are photographer Viet Chu, whose travel inspired works will jump start your imagination and jewelry designer Gabriela Huber, whose Peruvian silver jewelry collection “Kamari” is a show stopping stunner.

If you happen to be in the city on the first Saturday of the month, don’t miss the cocktail party where they feature an artist, a musician, a jewelry designer and a fashion designer for a fabulous soiree including interactive video and funky lights.  For added excitement, check out the DEKKA’s schedule for days like the third Thursday of the month when they have Trunk Shows!  That’s right divas, trunk shows, where the designers have hidden goodies on display and offer excellent discounts!  DEKKA is a true diva’s must see.

http://www.dcafam.com/

DEKKA
1338 U St. NW 2nd floor
Washington, DC 20009

A seafood stew was first in line, paired up with Napa Valley’s Duckhorn Vineyards 2007 Sauvignon Blanc.  The main course, pheasant and duck served with sour cherry chutney and molasses sweet potatoes came accompanied by Anderson’s Valley Goldeneye, 2005 Pinot Noir. For the crowning end to the Obama lunch dessert came in the form of apple cinnamon sponge cake topped with sweet cream glace, paired with Korbel Natural “Special Inaugural Cuvée.”  Ahh, sweet taste of Change.

Flower Design by JLB Floral of Alexandria, Virginia

For the full recipes click here:  Inaugural Menu Recipes 2009

The streets of Ottery St. Mary are set ablaze every year with men, women and children running rampant carrying tar-soaked barrels.  This tradition has been carried on from as far back as the 17th century and is said to rid the streets of evil “as if burned off.”  The hoisting of a barrel onto your back is considered “a great honor” and given only to men who pass the barrel onto another male relative, and so on, until midnight.

Coming down to the South Bay I expected everything green to be a little.. well.. bland… Not so the case with the hottest nail salon there!  Mani Pedi Cutie is an eco-friendly salon, filled with amazing people that greet you with a smile, cucumber mint water, and meditation rocks (of course I picked ‘Passion’).  The beach babe pedicure is a diva’s dream!  If you’d like to celebrate your birthday there, the restaurants around will cater and you and your fabulous friends can enjoy a bottle of your favorite wine while you are being pampered.  Since I’ve found them, I will make up any excuse to go there and feel girlie again!  Mani Pedi Cutie gets this diva’s seal of approval.  ;)

PS:  I always make sure to get there around 5:30pm for my complimentary glass of wine.

MANI PEDI CUTIE
507 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
T 310-376-9988
F 310-376-9981

W www.manipedicutie.com E info@manipedicutie.com

HOURS
Tuesday thru Friday 10am-7ish
Saturday 10-7ish
Sunday 10-5
Closed on Mondays. Please book an Appointment!

Jet setting superstar hairstylist to starlet’s like Kiera Knightley, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Gardner, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Biel, and Sienna Miller, Adir Abergel is a diva’s best friend he makes his clients feel confident and beautiful.
TD: Recent trips?
AA: Israel and Africa.

TD: Favorite destination?

AA: Rowanda. Incredible country. Happiest human beings I’ve ever encountered. I loved the people, culture and music. There’s a sense of community and love. All about helping each other.

TD: Any travel tips?
AA: Never forget to bring your high heels because there will always
be an occasion waiting.  Make sure to bring your Louboutin. Every woman
should own a Louboutin.
TD: What are your favorite pair of traveling shoes?
AA: My flip flops and patent leather Bruno Frisoni.

TD: Long flight advice?
AA: Prepare yourself. I use a moisturizing mask throughout the flight. An Evian small bottle mist spray and lots of water to avoid dehydration.
TD: An exotic jet-lag recipe?
AA: Moroccan mint tea. Steep in boiling hot water and leave it in for a good ten minutes. Add a flat tablespoon of white sugar and throw in some pine nuts.