Top 10′s Diva

What is Matta Napkin? It's a daily drawing on a stolen napkin. My plan is to put a new one up on my blog every day for a year.  It might sound easy, but I'm putting my health in danger by eating so much fast food in order to get the proper canvases to create. Also, I dare you to buy nothing at a  Del Taco but then try to grab a stack of napkins... they will go over the counter to stop you. I truly am an American hero/visionary.   How did the idea come about? I was watching a new-ish mom demand that a Subway Sandwich Artist give her free meat samples so her little boy could taste it before ordering. If the child didn't like the meat, he'd spit it out on the counter. If he liked the meat he'd spit it out on the counter, accompanied by an approving grunt. It was the most wonderful thing I've ever witnessed... and I've seen puppies born. So I felt I  had to document the event by drawing it on a napkin to share it with the world. Unfortunately, that napkin was destroyed in a Mr. Pibb accident in my truck. Since then I've been drawing ...

With the economy being what it is today, we all need a cheap laugh.  Included is a list of LA's comedy open mics, for both amateurs and pros come try out their new material.  Feel like a laugh?  Check out these great venues at great low prices: MONDAY HAHA CAFÉ COMEDY CLUB 5010 Lankershim Blvd  North Hollywood, CA 91610 (818) 508-4995 Sign up: 5:00 pm   Show: 6:00 pm Cost: $5 COMEDY STORE 8433 W Sunset Blvd  Los Angeles, CA 90069 (323) 656-6225 Sign up: 6-6:30 pm  Show: 7:00 pm KULTURAS BOOKS (2ND Monday) 1700 Ocean Park Blvd  Santa Monica, CA (310) 450-8707 Sign up: 6:00 pm  Show: 7:30 pm Notes: Music & comedy open mic CAFÉ MUSE 6547 Santa Monica Blvd  Hollywood, CA 90038 (323) 464-6873 Sign up: 7:00 pm  Show: 7:30 pm Notes: Comedy & poetry RAINBOW BAR AND GRILL 9015 W Sunset Blvd  West Hollywood, CA 90189 (310) 278-4232 Sign up: 8:00 pm  Show: 8:30 pm Cost: $2 Notes: Comedy & music open mic SKINNY'S LOUNGE 4923 Lankershim Blvd  North Hollywood, CA 91601 (818) 763-6581 Sign up: 8:00 pm  Show: 8:15 pm Notes: Mostly booked show. Drawing for 2 open mic spots GROUND ZERO COFFEE HOUSE 615 Child's Way  Los Angeles, CA 90089 (213) 821-1484 Sign up: 9:00 pm (USC students)  Sign up: 9:20 pm (general public) Show: 9:30 pm Notes: Music, comedy & poetry open mic LIQUID ZOO 7214 Sepulveda Blvd  Van Nuys, CA 91405 (818) 997-3818 Sign ...

Taste of Playa is an annual culinary event in Playa del Carmen that celebrates the creativity and cultural influences of chefs throughout the Riviera Maya. The event promotes the unique culinary perspectives of local chefs, highlights new event venues and coordinates the efforts of local businesses and municipal governments. In 2009, Taste of Playa captured the attention of national and international media and showed the spirit of multi-cultural cooperation that defines the modern Riviera Maya. International culinary festivals are held throughout the world, with each host city highlighting the chefs, restaurants and retail food outlets that define the culture of the area. Playa del Carmen is renowned for its diversity, its international influences, its culinary expertise and its Caribbean lifestyle. The restaurants and food industry have played a major part in the development and definition of the Riviera Maya. This event provides local businesses with an opportunity to showcase the expertise of their talented chefs. Originally named Xaman-Ha (waters of the north) by the ancient Maya, modern day Playa del Carmen is the heart of the Riviera Maya. Located on the coast 40 miles (60 kms.) south of Cancun, Playa, as it is now commonly known, is the perfect base of operations ...

ODD WEDNESDAYS, the new, live, bimonthly comedy and music variety show returns on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 @ 9:30PM at the famous Ivan Kane’s Café Was featuring an amazing lineup of talented bands, singer-songwriters, and comedians coming together for the newest comedy & music showcase in Hollywood.  The March 31st All Star event will feature the house band Old Blues Eyes with stellar performances by Mark DeCarlo, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Horns, Brad Sherwood, John Ernst, Jimmy & Joey, Hempstead Nursery, Erin Ragland, Roxanne Ferrara, and the house band Old Blues Eyes. Show starts at 9:30PM and there is NO COVER CHARGE. Ivan Kane’s CAFÉ WAS is located at 1521 N. Vine St. Hollywood, CA.  For artists individual bios please see below or visit the Facebook Page: ODD WEDNESDAYS & www.oddwednesdays.com WHO: Presented by Mark DeCarlo and Ivan Kane’s CAFE WAS WHAT: ODD WEDNESDAYS at Café Was: A bi-monthly comedy & music show featuring established A-List performers and artists, together with a select up-and-coming singer/songwriters, providing Hollywood with a unique show every month. The March 31st event will feature performances by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Horns, Mark DeCarlo, Brad Sherwood, John Ernst, Jimmy & Joey, Hempstead Nursery, Erin Ragland, Roxanne Ferrara, ...

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo, ©2009 Chicago – like any great city – has to be enjoyed in small bites. I recently revisited my former hometown, where you can sample at one time only a small slice of the great confection that is this beautiful lakeside city. However, there are attractions that are unique or stunningly significant that should be on any traveler’s short list. This is a sort of "Best of"...Some favorite things include: tour of the magnificent Lake Michigan waterfront museum campus of parks; Art Institute’s Impressionist paintings and Thorne Miniature Rooms; Cultural Center’s magnificent Tiffany Dome ceiling, largest in world; Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex, Field Museum of Natural History; Museum of Science and Industry, 1893 Colombian Exposition building; Lincoln memorabilia/death bed, Chicago History Museum; Chicago’s 38 bascule (meaning see-saw) bridges, including Michigan Avenue Bridge Museum; Sears Tower (tallest building in Western Hemisphere) and Hancock Center observatories; and Chicago Water Tower on Michigan Avenue, a remnant of the Great Chicago Fire, 1871.Yes, I know Sears Tower has been renamed, as has Marshall Field’s, but Chicagoan are loath to let go, hence the names Sears and Marshall Fields reverberate. On my recent trip, my plan was to sample two ...