Hollywood and the Web

Sorry, dear readers, for the way overdue promised summary of "Webolution! Hollywood Adapts to the Web" panel from the Sundance Film Festival '08. As mentioned, Kara Swisher did a great job filming and summarizing this panel on All Things D. But here are my notes and thoughts on this hot topic.

Let me preface by saying I have never understood why the monolithic music and production companies get their panties in a bunch about their trailers or song snippets circling the web. Yes, yes, I am not so stupid as to overlook the copyright and piracy issues where millions of dollars are at stake. I'm talking about folks like Viacom who take down clips from YouTube in the name of copyright protection. As a marketer, I want to hit them over the head with a frying pan, "Don't you know how much this branding and press is worth in the long run? It will help drive viewership, paid downloads, album sales, etc. if you give people a taste and a tease." It is SO frustrating to me. I did ask this question and the panel basically said, "Those that get it, will win. Those that don't will fall behind." OK...I guess. But a young filmmaker in the audience did say that her trailer on YouTube kept up steady DVD sales - until she got into the Tribeca Film Festival who made her take the trailer down for the duration of their festival. Her DVD sales ground to a halt. I'm not saying....I'm just saying.

But I digress. The panel:

• Ted Sarandos, Netflix (in charge of a lot of their subscription service for original content, as well as DVD's)
• Dmitry Shaprio, Veoh.com (a site that offers a one stop shop portal for content. The content is still streamed from Veoh, no matter where it's linked, so viewership can be tracked)
• Dan Glickman, CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)
• Jason Kilar, Hulu.com (another content network; a News Corp and NBC Universal joint venture)
• Mike Volpi, Joost.com
• Erik Flanagan, Digital Media, MTV Networks/Comedy Central/Southpark Studios (he is helping the South Park guys with their digital strategy - they are one of the view content providers in tradition media actually putting thought into giving access and monetizing this new media)
• Phil Lelyveld, Entertainment Technology Strategic Advisor (read: consultant. Also was a big wig at Disney)

If I could sum up the main theme of how Hollywood is embracing the web it would be "trial and error." Studios and traditional media do get that they need to embrace all these new distribution channels, but they are just not sure how to do it responsibly and quite frankly, in the way that makes them the most money. Fair enough. The monetization issue came up in question after question. Some of the panelists see people trying different things in this new Wild West. They all had various opinions about which model will win out: ad supported (the most popular one that they feel Google is making more efficient), premium subscription based (a la Netflix). There was no argument among the panelists that any model needs good, relevant content to succeed no matter what. Nice to see they are keeping their eyes on the ball here.

What are the major challenges with video over the Web today? Answers ranged from "availability of good content" to "finding the right niche" to "protecting intellectual property" (care of the MPAA) to "monetizing the new viewing habits" as mentioned above. The interesting note on this discussion was that much of the uncertainty has been justified in the name of "artist protection" but the panel got to the heart of it and said monetization was more of a real concern that the altruistic positions. That was refreshing.

Many felt access to the good content is the main issue in consumer choice, whether it's through poorly regulated broadband access (a side discussion ensued about how the US lags behind other countries like Japan in universal high-speed Internet from the government vs. what competition has done in this country to slow us down) or finding a single place to aggregate relevant content. Think beyond YouTube, which shows actual short films with videos of Johnny's cat playing poker. That's like having one TV channel and expecting to appeal to the History Channel and G4 audiences all at the same time. How can advertisiers expect to get behind that kind of scattershot ad model? They can't, so until there are niche avenues for content, the advertisers might wait.

The other tangent this took us down was advertising on the web in general. Interestingly enough, these new media are showing actual viewers, length of time viewed, traffic sources - basically data that is not available in traditional media. The old guard has often priced advertising based on algorithmic extrapolations and padded assumptions (for example, the pass along statistics magazines cite to pump up their ad costs) and they were never questioned. Now the Web comes along with trackable metrics and the numbers are appalling in some cases, but usually REAL. So maybe it's not that web advertising doesn't work, but that advertising measurement in general was always flawed and now the curtain has been pulled back. Discuss.

Most talent is not really thinking about their digital distribution strategy, except for the South Park guys. They have created a whole web property where users can take parts of their content and then augment it and virally distribute it. This is a bold move with all the piracy concerns, but as we see from You Tube and social sites like Facebook and MySpace, user-generated and customized content is the name of the game. You have to give a little to get a little and very few artists embrace this philosophy because it requires a lot of trust and connection with your audience.

Everyone generally felt "movie screens would never die out" but the new media has indeed impacted the traditional distribution windows by which the film industry has lived and died. "Windows" are like when a movie is released and only in theatres for a while; then it goes to cable; then to DVD and never the windows shall overlap. Until now. 2929 Entertainment did some experimentation with concurrent windows on some of their films ("Syriana", I believe). And HBO and Netflix did a deal with "Pan's Labrynth" to have the DVD window open the same time as the cable window - as the Netflix guy so aptly stated, "And the sky didn't fall and we all got paid well." So seems those willing to structure win-win deals and take the chance can meet their objectives.

Finally, the other main point was that content producers need to not just see the Web as another distribution channel, where they simply take their content from one media and port it directly to your browser. Thought needs to go up the value chain so that content can be created distinctly for these multiple channels. Anything that succeeds on the web is highly specialized, and soon specific skills for Internet or Cell Phone fimmakers will be in demand from a creative perspective. For example, panoramic shots may work well in a movie theatre or on your 62" Flat Screen but not on small square of video on your laptop or on your iPhone. Also, to the point made earlier, viewers may want to interact with that content in a new way and add self-generated content, recommend to friends and a whole host of other personalization options. One panelist noted, "If there is a free flow of content, piracy goes away because you have eliminated the friction."

Some companies to watch that may help push this digital envelope are Facebook, Google, and ironically some of the folks on this panel.

The panel was great. I was concerned at how they'd balance all the speakers, but they were all to the point and brief, and the conversation was lively. Kara pulls no punches and inserts her own opinions, often challening panelists on their answers to go beyond the PR-approved sound bit. Well done.

The overall relevance for Indie film makers is clear: the distribution opportunities are increasing and this is good news. Especially for short films. For example, in the old world, short films could only aspire to film festivals like Sundance and then there was no mass market for them. Now they can get picked up for distribution on Netflix, iTunes and......wait for it.....XBOX Live. Yes the same evil box that sucks your spouse into Halo 3 has a service to offer short films for download. And bingo, there's a whole new market and channel for the filmmaker's voice.

The next few years should be very exciting on this front. And it also inspired me to maybe produce my short film idea this year after all. But of course, that is always the effect Sundance has on me. Hey, does anyone have stats showing a spike in sales of HD cameras and Final Cut software right after the festival? Hmmmmm.....

Celeb Spotting Update

I was informed by my partner in crime, Carrie, that the good looking guy at Bar Boheme was indeed Tom Welling from "Smallville." Sometimes, there are just really pretty people at Sundance who look like they SHOULD be famous or something, so it's hard to tell. Of course, this was the guy who I think was wondering why I was the only one not hitting on him as I stood next to him waiting for Carrie to come back from the Ladies Room!

Sundance '08: "I totally admire, like, musicians, and stuff."

Sundance '08 brought me home with the memory of Quentin Tarantino bumping into me (literally) in my hotel lobby and a stomach bug. Enjoying a shorter stay than in years past, I ate, drank, and celeb-spotted by way up and down Main Street for only 2 days and 3 nights.

This year, the festival tipped the scales at about 50,000 - up about 10k from last year according to the word on the street. I only started going 5 years ago, but I have never seen it this crowded or crazy. Time was, you could easily get individual film tickets online beforehand (even though that system is as painful as a sharp stick in the eye - Silicon Valley, please hook these guys up....) or just wait a bit in the Wait List line and 4 out of 5 times you were golden. Not the case this year. First off, not everyone registered even received an online ticket buying window (my partner in crime being one of them) and us "lucky" few who did were met with most everything being already sold on when we logged in, leaving the scraps - to which you couldn't even get THOSE tickets. Once you clicked to buy, you got an error message that it was indeed not available. Headache.

We managed to get into 2 films on the waitlist, and a panel so all was not lost. First up was "Good Dick" written, directed by and starring Marianna Palka, an adorable Scottish lass with some weighty ties in Hollywood. While this was her first script, she got her friend Jason Ritter on board, who in turn got Charles Durning in for a cameo (not too shabby) and she also snagged Tom Arnold for the role of her abusive father. I totally admire that she pretty much did this film as a resume piece - she admitted to writing it with all intents of starring in it - and that is good, since the odd dysfunctional and provocative premise of the film leaves little room for mass distribution. But the art is the thing, right? The movie centers around a sexually damaged woman who rents erotica every day from her local video store. Jason Ritter is the adorable puppy dog/whipping post who decides to reach out (in almost stalker like proportions) to this girl, thus creating one of the most disturbing and dysfunctional relationships since Brian the Dog's infatuation with Lois on "The Family Guy." Not sure the characters were likeable enough for me, but I appreciated the moments of black humor and the idea that humans can and must find love in the most unorthodox ways. Palka stated the film cost about $1M to make, which surprised me based on what I saw, but she also chose to film in L.A. which never helps.

We tried to get into some other films, but ended up lucking into "Chronic Town" instead. This isolated tale of a flawed cab driver in Fairbanks, Alaska follows his quest to find friendship and connection after he is dumped by his girlfriend. The desolate, "nothing changes here" locale was perfect for the film's mood and the director, Tom Hines, thanked his producers (which include his now wife) profusely for supporting his desire that they could not film anywhere else. The film starts JR Bourne, a very attractive model-type who they tried to "scruff up" for the role of Truman, an alcoholic, pot smoking mess of a guy. Watch for this guy, I think he'll go far. He managed to make his character wholly likeable while being a complete loser. The acting and production of this film was stellar, but again as with "Good Dick" I felt like the character arc was little plodding.

We wanted to see such films as "The Last Word" about a guy who writes suicide notes for a living; and"Sunshine Cleaning" starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt, two of my fave actresses, as sisters who start a bioharzard crime scene clean up service. But alas, we took what we could.

For more info on other Sundance films, click here for an alphabetical list.

The panel was called "Webolution! Hollywood Adapts to the Web" and was moderated by Kara Swisher of All Things D. This killer panel was small (we were lucky to get in) and had a great group of industry heavies, ranging from the CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, to the heads of Joost, Vioh and HuLu to the guy who does emerging media content distribution for Comedy Central, Spike and other MTV properties. Check out Kara's site for her video of the panel (and her celeb/friend guide Jane Lynch who I also saw - loved her in Best in Show and 40 Year Old Virgin) and I'll write more on another post. This panel was the perfect blend of my high-tech experience and love for the entertainment industry. Hmmmm, maybe I need to make that leap after all......

Celebs spotted this year: Marcia Gay Harden (who looks about a size 0 and 10 years younger than she does on screen), Colin Farrell, ("He's very short and has a big head" says Carrie) David Boreanaz (from Angel and Bones - sat drinking next to him at Bar Boheme), Stanley Tucci (as he impressively naivigated the Main Street sidewalk while doing an interview), Dylan Walsh of "Nip/Tuck" (dining a few tables over at Cafe Terigo), Tom Arnold, Jason Ritter, Rachel Hunter (who doesn't really look all that tall but is still stunning), Dennis Quaid (with a posse he was having as much luck getting into the Queer Lounge party as me and Carrie had, which made us not feel so bad), Marc Jacobs (I have to give this one to Carrie, since I had no clue), Jane Lynch (once on the street, graciously having fun taking pics with people and then again at the Web panel), Harvey Weinstein (with a bevy of blond assistants - they looked like duckings, all huddled around him as they walked). And as mentioned at this post's start, Quentin Tarantino in the lobby of my hotel. We smiled and said hello, but I just didn't have it in me to be "that girl" and say "I love your work. Here's my card. Call me if Uma is not available." Damn it! Then he ran into me when he came back in to the lobby. He's kind of like that clumsy lovable friend you had in High School who is scared of girls. I love that the man who can dream up Lucy Liu's character in Kill Bill is really just a goofy guy. Classic.

I also met a key fundraiser for the Seattle Film Festival in my airport shuttle, so watch this space on how I might get involved with that this year.

So overall: more crowds, less films for me to get into, more celebs spotted (this happens when you go towards the beginning of the festival rather than towards the end), typical inane artistic conversations and loud cell phone conversations about deals and PR. "We need to go through him to get her and I think that would be a win, so let's just offer her what she wants."

Viva la independent film.

This Just In....Golden Globes Winners

Well, the Golden Globes "Winners Special" aired last night on NBC. One nice neat hour of award categories and winner announcments wrapped up in a sweet little bow. I predicted that maybe people would like this format better then the painful 3+ hour spectacle that we are used to. But I have to admit, I missed the emotion, the tension, and the glamour.

Note: I found out later there was some other telecast/press conference with Mary Hart and some people, as well as Larry King coverage? I am so confused - I just thought this was aired on NBC)

And I can say that I have found something even more grating than the stupid teleprompter banter between award presenters. It's the stupid banter between cheesy Nancy O'Dell of Access Hollywood and Billy Bush. It was like watching two work colleagues who don't really like each other too much passively aggressively trying to act like they are chummy and charming. Nancy is actually not half bad as an entertainment reporter and host, but Billy has GOT to go.

What was more painful then a Turkish prison was the random cutaways to Shaun Robinson and Shaun Robinson and Dave Karger, Sr. Writer Entertainment Weekly. He was decent, she was dreadful. Where did they find this woman? She actually made you appreciate experienced entertainment hosts for the skills you never realized they possess, because she just could not comment or interview worth a damn. Maybe this quote will illustrate: Dave was making some pretty intelligent commentary as the award winners were announced, talking about the work, surprises, etc. Shaun pipes in as they lead to a break, "Ok, More assessment to come . This is fun!" Did someone hire their little sister for this or what?

The evening started out with Nancy and Billy basically saying there would be no big awards show this year because the writers are on strike and wow, that sucks. Backed by a glitzy golden-themed podium set that looked like leftover props from about 10 different past Globes telecasts, the conservatively dressed hosts could have at leats worn a gown and tux to jazz it up a bit. Instead it looked like a typical Entertainment Tonight episode or something.

Now we all know these awards would lose the dramatic tension by not panning the audience and zooming in on the hopeful faces of the nominees, as the presenters gleefully rip open the envelope. That 2-3 second moment is full of promise and anticipation. Sweat beads, smiles freeze and everyone holds their breath. "And the Golden Globe goes to...." Sweet, sweet words. But as with the choice of clothing, did they have to make it SO anti-climactic? Not even for us viewers but for the hardworking people who, for the first time, were being recognized for their work for maybe the very first time. What a gyp. A factory-installed synthesizer beat played as they announced the winner like the 10-day weather forecast. It was like watching a corporate video. Did the music composers go on strike too or something?

NBC tried to sprinkle in some online trivia and prediction tie ins to NBC.com, which was a nice attempt to make things a little different. But overall, I've seen better awards presentation at a corporate Sales Kick Off. The devil is in the details, my friends.

So now the nitty gritty: The Globes! Some highlights and surprises:

Best Supporting Actress - Film: Cate Blanchett won for playing a man, Bob Dylan, in "I'm Not There" which just goes to show cross-dressing is always a big awards show hit. Tilda Swinton was nominated for "Michael Clayton" which I did not yet see (I know George, I'm sorry sweetie) but she is always deliciously deep in her roles. And since I did catch "Atonement" I'd like to give a shout out to Saoirse Ronan, the little girl who played Briony at age 13. This talented, intense girl will surely be seen again. She was wonderfully solemn and chilling.

Best supporting TV actor: Jeremy Piven for "Entourage." He is brilliant in this role of the agent you love to hate. But I think he keeps winning because Hollywood can identify with this tenacious character a little TOO closely.

Best Actress - TV Drama: Edie Falco had one last hurrah for "The Sopranos" but the winner was Glenn Close for "Damages" I have not seen the show, but even just the clips were powerful. This woman gets better and better (and more beautiful) with age. Thumbs down to the team responsible for submittimg Holly Hunter's clip for "Saving Grace" - you could not even hear her dialogue with all the background noise in the scene - that was their best example? Someone should get fired.

Best Supporting TV Actress: While my faves Rachel Griffiths and "My Name is Earl"'sJamie Pressley were nominated talented Samantha Morton took it for "Longford." She was brilliant as a killer with a soft side. She's done amazing work over the years and I'm glad to see her have her day in the sun.

Best Actor TV Drama - Huge upset here. The winner was John Hamm for "Mad Men" - the AMC series about the advertising industry in the 60's. I had been wanting to catch this show and now I think I'll seek it out. This is the first major series for AMC. Hamm beat out Hugh Laurie, Michael C. Hall, and Bill Paxton for this one. Consistent with the M.O. of the Globes, they once again crowned a talented new underdog the winner. This is why I love the Globes - they really take to new work and new faces.

Best Animated Film: Ratatouille take the cake (tee hee hee). A Disney film for foodies? It was very enjoyable so catch it if you haven't. Other nominees; The Bee Movie (please just go away) and The Simpsons's Movie - why? Oh, Ratatouille brought in $616M worldwide - I guess rats are nothing to laugh at.

Best Actress Motion Picture Comedy or Musical - Another surprise here. Marion Cotillard beat out Ellen Page, Amy Adams, Nikki Blonsky, Helena Bonham Carter. Cotillard played Edith Piaf in "La Vie en Rose." Having seen Ellen Page in "Juno" I was sad she didn't win - she was just a delight. But I'm sure we'll see more of her.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Javier Bardem as the creepy villain in the Coen Brothers' "No Country for Old Men." From what I've read, this was not much of a surprise. What WAS a surprise was finding out his girlfriend is Penelope Cruz??! Go Javier!

Best Actress Minseries or TV Movie: Queen Latifah for "Life Support" which was a Sundance pick. She beat out Debra Messing and Sissy Spacek. Debra has not won after 7 nominations. I'm seeing shades of Susan Lucci forming.

Best Actor TV Series-Comedy: In the "Maybe I don't watch as much TV as I feared becasue I have no idea about this show"category, David Duchovny won for "Californication". He beat out Steve Carell ("The Office") Ricky Gervais ("Extras"), and "Pushing Daisies" guy Lee Paisley. All the other actors except newcomer Paisely has won a Globe before, so the Hollywood Foreign Press seems to be spreading the love.

Best TV Comedy: HBO's "Extras" wins over 30 Rock and some others. Is HBO a hit factory or what? This show is deliciously painful to watch, as we come to expect from the BBC's "The Office" creator Gervais.

Best Actress TV Comedy: Yay Tina Fey for "30 Rock" - hurrah!!!

BTW: Steven Speilberg was supposed to get the Cecil B. DeMille award for life's work but this was postponed to next year. What a bummer for him.

Best Director: Huge upset here. Julian Schnabel wins for "The Diving Bell and The Butterfly" over Tim Burton, Ethan and Joel Coen, Ridley Scott, and Joe Wright. Quite a coup. I think this is the movie about the guy who writes his life story by only communicating through blinking one eye or something? (OK, so maybe I don't have a career writing movie trailers.....)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical: Johnny Depp for "Sweeney Todd". 7 time nominee and this is his first win. Although from the clip, it looked like he was phoning it in and I would never say that about him under normal circumstances. Maybe it was just a bad clip from the movie. But hats off to the Hollywood Foreign Press for nominating goofiness guru John C Reilly for the Johnny Cash spoof, "Walk Hard". Glad to see they have sense of humor.

Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical: Nominees include "Across the Universe" (WTF?), "Charlie Wilson's War", "Hairspray", "Juno", "Sweeney Todd". And the winner is "Sweeney Todd". This was the 5th time Johnny collaborated with Tim Burton and I advise him to continue to do so!

Best TV Drama Series: Another surprise here: Winner is AMC's "Mad Men". They gave an award to John Hamm from the show and here it beats out "Big Love", "Damages", "Grey's Anatomy", "House" and "The Tudors". Wow. The HFP must really love this show, but then again they are known for picking that talented underdog and standing by it.

Best Actress Motion Pic: Julie Christie wins it for portraing a woman debilitated by Alzheimer's in "Away From Her" (a Sundance pick) after last beng nominated 33 years ago for Shampoo. Wow. What an upset. I thought for sure it was to be a neck and neck between Angelina and Keira.

Best Actor Motion Picture Drama: Daniel Day-Lewis for "There Will Be Blood" about oil barons based on Upton Sinclair's novel, "Oil!" Nods went to James McAvoy for "Atonement", Viggo Mortenson "Eastern Promises", Denzel "American Gangster".

Best Picture - Drama: "Atonment" wins. The movie is beaufifully shot and just a sweeping epic romance if you're into that.

So nada for "Juno" or "Michael Clayton". On a side note, Juno was quirky, funny and sweet. It reminded me of a Wes Anderson flick, a la "Rushmore" or "Life Aquatic" but not quite as out there. The dialogue was snappy and the acting on point. Highly recommend.

Well, we'll see what happens at Oscar time. I hope the strike is over not just for the excessive awards show, but to bring back talented stories. Onward!

Stop Touching that Sick Monkey!

A little Flight of the Conchords to usher in the weekend - these guys are classic and this song is a good one.

Bon Weekend!

Golden Globes, Elections, and The Colbert Report

Sense the randomness? Lots going on in my world this week and since I had little time to get back on my culinary tour bus through Seattle - bar food and beer was the great call last Friday night - I'd like to comment on a few things going on in our world.

First of all, the Golden Globes have been cancelled. With all the hullabaloo over crossing the picket line, many actors were not even going to show up anyway. I'm not sure how it all works, but also, who would write the pithy banter and musical sendups? So word on the street is that the awards will be annonced via an hour-long news conference (which the writers union is skeptical about as a wolf in sheep's clothing - there's also a whole other drama unfolding about whether dick clark productions is involved or not. I can't keep up with this "All My Children" incestuousness).

They'd better be careful: people may like this more no-nonsense format better if it means we get a reprieve from watching Jack Nicholson chew gum like a cow munching hay and from inarticulate acceptance speeches from people who speak for a living. We'll see.

The Hollywood Foreign Press is sad, the networks and advertisers are sad, and of course, imagine being Nikki Blonsky or Ellen Page as your dream of being nominated and possibily accepting a prestigious award has been dashed against the silent Mac keyboards and cobwebbed printers laying like ancient relics in writers' offices all over Hollywood.

My entertainment guru friend, Melanie, even brought up the point of all the money and promotion being lost by as-of-yet-undiscovered clothing and jewelry designers who get their chops by adorning young starlets. Don't cry too much, kids, you'll stain the silk chiffon.

In the grand scheme of all that is going on in the world, this is nothing, really. But it is a bit of fun, glitz and glamour that I am sad to miss out on. And who knows what this bodes for the Oscars come February?

On my second topic, did you guys know there are elections going on? No? Well, let me kindly remove that rock from your head and hose all that mud out of your hair. Maybe I'm more aware or go out partying less, but it seems I've never seen such pervasive primary coverage before. I don't remember ever being this involved and informed on what was going on at the caucases. Not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. But I get hopeful when I see seas of people, smiling and energetic ,ready to rally around their candidate to see change in this country. Makes me forget all the comparisons to the downfall of the Roman Empire I keep hearing about. And no matter what side of the aisle you lay your hat, it is very exciting to see an African American and a woman be able to win presidential primaries. I'm so glad I'm seeing this in my lifetime, and quite frankly, it's about freaking time. One adorable old coot in Iowa even told a reporter, "Well, men have been screwing things up for 200 years. May as well give a woman a chance to fix everything." Classic.

One amusing note if you were listening to NBC's (or MSNBC's - honestly, I can never tell which of my 932 channels I'm watching half the time) coverage of the New Hampshire results. BTW, in case you seriously had not heard, Clinton won the Democratic vote and McCain won the Republican. Chris Matthews and Tom Brokaw were having some filler conversation as they awaited Clinton's victory speech. Matthews kept commenting on the surprise Clinton victory there, given all the polls and whatnot. And Brokaw smacked him down with a "That's the problem with this culture. We need to, as journalists, wait for the results to be in before reporting and speculating - and perhaps impacting - on what WILL happen. We need to report what DOES happen, since polls and guesses and such just do not factor in that humans will change their minds multiple times before making a final decision." Not an exact quote, mind you, but it was a total old school "booya" moment, as Brokaw schooled Matthews in the ways of being an actual journalist. You could almost hear Matthews whimpering as he slinked down under his desk. Felt like watching someone get lectured in the principal's office. Luckily, he was saved by the bell with a "Oh, look! Clinton's taking the stage. Let's listen." Brokaw's stock just tripled in my eyes after this exchange and I fear he is a dying breed.

Lastly, to come full circle back to the day to day impact of the writer's strike, I sadly lament not hearing the golden barbs of Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert during this key political moshpit. But I saw that both TDS and TCR were on air with new episodes on Monday night. Not sure how they did it, but Colbert's show was about 80% past clips which might explain it. And lots of references to the strike itself. Amusing, but not the caliber we come to expect from these mad geniuses.

Writers, we miss you. You don't know what you've got until it's gone. Come back......please!

Happy Birthday Red Slice!

Yes, yes, happy new year as well.

2008 is shaping up to be the year of change and growth. I have foregone my usual bulleted lists of New Year's resolutions (goals, really) for a more organic, balanced mission this year: to seek out new opportunities, follow my passion, and balance my life.

(Side note: pretty vague, so the Type-A in me still has a bulleted to-do list. Damn, I tried.)

In that vein, finally having some closure I needed, I have cleared off my desk, fastened a shiny new logo to my website and hung out my shingle: Red Slice, LLC is open for business! With all the talk of managing your career and the brand of "you", I settled on Red Slice as my umbrella brand for all my creative and professional pursuits. Part of that is my marketing consultancy, where I can assist clients and agencies with strategic or tactical work around branding, marketing planning, programs, and writing. If you have a need for an extra brain and pair of hands to make your marketing pop, give me a shout.

I am excited about this new chapter. I've been needing a change for some time as well as flexibility for my writing and acting passions and this provides an outlet for both. You often hear of this wall that people hit some time in their 30's (cough, cough) where they start to value the work they do and the life they lead more than the title and paycheck. I would have scoffed at this notion a few years ago; now, I get it. I found myself running the Rat Race, doggedly gazing only ahead when out of the periphery, I caught sight of all the other intense faces and wondering how the hell I got here. So I dropped back, quietly veered off course to the next Gatorade stop and now I'm calling the shots.

At least until the next opportunity presents itself. Never say never. I used to beat myself up for having so many interests and taking so many paths. Now I revel in it. For Christmas, I picked up the children's book "Frederick" by Leo Leonni for my nephew. Upon reading the author's bio on the book jacket, this author born in 1910 and who passed away in 1999, was by turns an artist, architectural critic, photographer, businessman, art director, and children's book author. Love it! Sounds to me like he was a well-rounded human being, rather than a job hopper. At the end of the day, who are you trying to please? You still have to go to bed at night alone with yourself and your thoughts - you live in no one else's shoes and they don't live in yours.

Leo was once quoted as saying, "I have the feeling that if you are very thorough and put love and care into a thing it will come out well somehow." You go, Leo.

My hope for all of you this year is that you do what you enjoy and can make a living doing it, or you at least make a living that enables you to do what you enjoy.

The Queen Anne Shuffle

This weekend kept us close to the hood to try two spots we've been passing on our way to and from home.

Portage is an adorable little nook with no more than about 10 tables right at the top of Queen Anne Avenue. They specialize in classic French and the menu is small but mighty. With crisp white linen cloths and tiny votives, it is very cozy and very romantic. The bar carried Hendrick's Gin so that is always a good sign.

Warning: we did a poor job of writing things down on these excursions, so I will try to find what I can.

We were greeted warmly and got some fantastic wine by the glass recommendations. I'm not sure if the manager or the owner came out to pour our wine, but he took the time to tell us a little bit about each winery and the tastiness we were about to consume. Hankering a nice Chateauneuf-du-pape but with no by-the-glass option, I was steered to a lovely Cotes du Roussillon instead. It held grenache and other goodness in it's light berry color. And it warmed my throat and stomach as it meandered down, silky smooth to my tummy on this cold, rainy night. I cannot recall the winemaker, but it was round and full and smooth. Perfect. My husband has a lovely Oregon wine that was Pinot Noir with a touch of what we thought was Cab Franc kick at the finish. The manager/owner gentleman could not recall what the second grape was.

For starters, I opted for the Caramelized delicata squash, frisee, toasted almonds, ashed goat cheese for $8. The flavor packed a smooth punch and the squash melted in my mouth. My husband had the local roots baby greens with a splash of red wine vinaigrette for $7. He said the dressing was a bit overpowering but it looked crisp and fresh.

I tried the Diver scallops with oasted squash puree and foraged mushroom fricassee for my entree. The scallops were big and hearty and the earthy-nuttiness of the rest of the dish balanced out the creamy tang of them. But we also tried the best chicken dish we've ever had in a restaurant, hands down: Roasted chicken, cipollini onions, lardons, baby tomato confit . Most restaurants put on chicken as an afterthought and never quite do it justice, but this was juicy and perfectly roasted - a delectable balance with the sweet kick of the cipollinis.

We rounded it all out with 3 scoops of Chocolate-Grand Marnier ice cream. Overall, it was a good, sturdy meal, but not sure we need to go running back to try anything else. Maybe if they change the menu, as it is right by our house. But there was an odd vibe where I never felt quite "comfortable" - and the entrees took WAY too long with such a small amount of tables. We waited what seemed like a half hour from the time they took our salads away.

Saturday night brought us to modern, funky Betty, a little further up the hill. We had been here for drinks before and it combines a sleek modern sensibility of steel tables, concrete floor, and straight lines with a little bit of warmth - earthy toned canvas painting on the walls, two small stained glass creations flanking the bar. They make killer drinks at the bar (one of the best Grey Goose and Tonic's I ever had and their speciality cocktails are to die for). We decided to eat at the bar since we couldn't get a table anyway - but there is the option of sitting at the chef's counter and watch all the magic happen.

We went for the Mozarella Risotto Balls, fried and gently embraced by a sweet tomato sauce and garnished with kale. I could have eaten ten of these bad boys, they were so flavorful and crispy. I opted for the mussels as my entree and they did not disappoint. Swimming in a light wine broth, they were just the right size. And the bread rocked for dipping! Hubby tried the Steak Frittes and I ended up eating off his plate. The salty, zingy ribeye was cooked to perfection (my mouth waters just thinking about it now) and the fries were perfectly crisped (again, good for dipping in my mussel broth.)

Our bartender/server was great - busy but always attentive and really friendly. Coming from SF, this is a hip spot, sans the hip attitude. Love it and want to go back for more.

Overall, a nice little Queen Anne sampler. Next on the list is the best named restaurant in a while, "How to Cook a Wolf." Yowsa.

For Your Consideration

Call them what you like: petty, vapid, meaningless in the fabric of human time and existence. They are out. The 2008 Golden Globe nominations. A little bit of sparkle and glamour to cheer our winter doldrums. For the complete listing, check out my friend BuzzSugar.

Not a lot of huge surprises in my book. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mary-Louise Parker, Sally Field, Keira Knightly, Kyra Sedgwick, Johnny Depp, Denzel, George, Cate...but some unknown performances that really did deserve kudos (as far as I've seen in review, as I have not seen some of these films yet) also got recognized: Ellen Page in "Juno", Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" (he looks totally creepy and cool), Amy Adams in "Enchanted" (I adored her in "Junebug" but this Disney rom-com needs a bit more to get me to the theatre).

The just released epic romance, "Atonement" based on the novel of the same name (which I indidentally just picked up from Barnes & Noble - talk about timing) got seven nominations across various categories, including acting nods to Knightly and her co-star, James McAvoy. I envy Miss Keira. She has had a charmed acting career, nabbing tons of juicy roles from period pieces to action-adventures. And she's like 20. I hate her. And as for McAvoy, I've seen his work before at Sundance in the moving and beautiful "Rory O'Shea Was Here" and loved his turn as a faun in "The Chronicles of Narnia". I did not get the chance to check him out in "The Last King of Scotland" but I just adore him. I really do. Good for him.

Other random musings:

• Angelina Jolie got a nod for her portrayal of Marianne Pearl in "A Mighty Heart." Shocking.


• Clint Eastwood got a nod in the - wait for it - Best Original Score category for a song he did for the Iraq widower drama, "Grace is Gone" starring John Cusack. I mentioned I saw this at Sundance, since my friend Rebecca Friese was in the film as well. Yeah!


• I have not seen "Juno" yet but the trailers crack me up. Ellen Page is sarcastic, lovable and smart without being cloying all at the same time. Already love her.


• Hurrah for Bill Paxton's nod for "Big Love." Not normally his fan, but he's perfect for the role of Bill, a man trying to live his public and polygamous life separately without having a mental breakdown. Talk about stress. Makes you wanna go home and hug your spouse after you see what his typical day is like.
  
• I'm sad there were not any shoutouts to Judd Apatow for "Knocked Up" or "Superbad."


• Why does "Hairspray" get nominated for anything? I still think that making a movie based on a musical that was based on a movie in the first place is just overkill. I admit, I didn't see it, but how can you turn a John Water's film into a fluffy Hollywood, light-hearted, musical romp? But shout out to Nikki Blonsky who got a best actress nod. I am all for the unknown who sees her star on the rise. You go, girl.


• Does anyone else think Johnny Depp recycled his costume from "Edward Scissorhands" for his "Sweeney Todd" role? And haven't I seen that makeup on Helena Bonham Carter on the red carpet? Meow. I kid because I love HBC. She's a freak and I love that about her.


• "Bee Movie" should be banned on the basis of cruel and unusual overpromotion on an unsuspecting public. I haven't seen anything hawked like that since Ginzu knives. You couldn't run, you couldn't hide. E tu, Jerry?


• Yeah, Tina Fey for "30 Rock." Yeah, Alec Baldwin for the same (he is hilarious, people. I've almost forgotten he married Kim Basinger.) Yeah, Jamie Pressly for "My Name is Earl". She is the most hysterical, sarcastic, fast-talkin' piece of White Trash I would ever want on my side in a bar fight at Hooter's in Arkansas. How much can I pay to watch her in the ring for just 1 hour with both Paris and Brittany? Ah, sweet justice.


• Hugh Laurie is British. I'm tired of people not knowing this. And I think his accent is bad and sounds like Smith from the Matrix movies. My husband says he is actually a really funny and famous comedian back in the UK and I think I'd enjoy him more in that vein than in the "Oh look at me, I'm so acerbic and witty and full of one liners to act like I'm masking a warm heart behind this cold exterior but really I truly am an egomaniacal jerk who knows the answers but likes to make you feel stupid and small and yet you keep thinking I'm such a great doctor" role he plays on "House." Maybe it's just me. "Nuff said.


• No love from the Hollywood Foreign Press for "Heroes"? This is a bit of a surprise.

My parting thought on all of this: Some movies and performances the critics loved got no love, while others they hated got nominations. Just goes to show beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this is all just a bit of fun. But my congrats to all the nominees. I envy the wonderful feeling you must have right now as you get rewarded for work you enjoy doing in the first place. Enjoy your time as belles of the ball!

I Hate When Meg Ryan Has a Point

Do you remember the scene in "You've Got Mail" where Meg Ryan laments to her email-lover (unknown to her to be Tom Hanks) that she hates rude confrontations where she is left speechless and then, hours later, tries to think up some perfect comeback "zinger" she should have used? I had two such moments this weekend. One with my home builder (who, until I get the issue resolved, I will refrain from mentioning) and one from some crazy chick in the movie theatre.

Those who know me know I am not usually at a loss for words. Comes from years of honing my Ninja-like responses to my older brothers' teasing and sarcasm. But sometimes I act so accomodating in the moment, revert subconsciously to a good little Catholic girl - and then get pissed at myself for not saying something meant to put someone in their place.

Forget about the specifics of both cases. One was just someone who tried to guilt me into feeling badly for calling when his personal issue had absolutely no bearing on his responsibility to me. He completely tried to blur the issue by making me feel I was inconveniencing him and I thought, "Don't be heartless, be understanding" so I fell for it hook, line and sinker. Only later I realized the manipulation that had taken place- and I was pissed I wasn't more direct and demanding with him. I SHOULD have calmly said, "With all due respect, that has nothing to do with me. If you had called me back 2 weeks ago when you were supposed to, or if you had already fixed the problem, I wouldn't be calling right now, so let's not act like this is the reason you can't honor your responsibility, shall we? Now, when are you coming to fix the door?" Some people are so good at not only turning the situation around to avoid the real issue, but have a knack for making the other person apologize for it in the end. Wow, what a skill. Not only do I make you feel bad for my breaking into your home, I'm actually going to have you apologize for not leaving the doors unlocked, thus causing me pain and suffering at having to break the window. While the situation was not quite this tragic, it does make you feel like a naive sap.

The second case was just of someone who, as my husband likes to put it, is not self-aware. Not everyone in the world is doing something that annoys you on purpose. You are not that important, relax. And why did I act all apologetic , as if she acted appropriately? To the lady at "The Golden Compass" this weekend who practically hit me and annoyingly told me to sit down or move (at the end of the movie, lights up. trying to leave our row with everyone else - yeah, I know...) because she was desperately trying to read the credits, here's what I SHOULD have said: "Miss, a) no need to hit me, just ask politely, b) you are not so significant in my life that I planned throughout the entire 2 hours to think of ways to piss you off, and c) if knowing that Ian McKellan was the voice of the ice bear who has a whisky problem was THAT important, here's 4 letters for you: I. M. D. B. (.com)."

I guess sometimes it feels like you are the one being taken advantage of, and other times it feels like people are oversensitive about you taking advantage of them. I guess overall it is better to be nice and regret not being mean, then to be mean and regret not being nice (peace on earth, good will towards men, and all of that.) Ay yay yay. I think I'm as guilty as anyone in the end but really....can we hope to stop wars abroad when we can't even get along at a Disney picture? Sheesh. Let's all go get a drink already and calm the heck down.

Mission Accomplished? I Have No Idea...

Until technology and B2B companies learn that their customers are "people", they need to speak in ways people understand, and they do not have to use words their competitors do just to keep up with the Jones', here is an amusing take from Dilbert on creating your Company Mission Statement.

And I raise my hand at being guilty of this sin in the past. What can I say except one of my favorite quips: Sometimes when the bear attacks, you just need to go limp.

Ask "What" Not "Why"

Let me digress from general sassyness, gluttony, and alcohol for a moment and talk about something bigger: living your best life.

I begin with the caveat that I am not a huge fan of most self-help books, but some occasionally provide great nuggets from kick-ass people - like Cathie Black, CEO of Hearst Magazines' "Basic Black The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life)" This is just an interesting and entertaining read if anything else, as she gives you career and life advice with anecdotes from her own amazing journey. This woman has seen and done it all and she is just generally a cool chick. Pick it up if you get a chance to see how people get things done, especially women in the business world.

A more psychological self-help book I've come across is called "Living Your Best Life" by Laura Berman Fortgang. Again, not to say I do not proceed with caution with most books that try to tell people how to live their lives (don't get me started on some professed "experts"), but a few have been interesting and I take away what I subscribe to or that which makes sense to me, and ignore the rest. One self-help book in particular did pave the way for getting out of an unhealthy relationship long ago, but I didn't realize this until much later as the effect took place over time; as a nod to my CEO, some things "influence" the deal, even if you can't prove the deal came directly out of that one particular action. I'm not saying, I'm just saying....

Laura is what seems to be the most unbiquitous profession today: a life coach. Her focus is both on career and aspirational guidance to help people achieve goals both small and lofty. A good friend of mine, Rebecca Rodskog, is also embarking on this journey, but she has an arsenal of change management experience with large and small companies to really make a difference. One of the biggest benefits of coaching, like in personal training for fitness, is that you have the power within you, you have to do all the work; the coach is just a guide that ask the right questions, keeps you on track, and most importantly, keeps you accountable. I think in that light, everyone could use a little personal coaching now and then.

Anyway, Laura has some wonderful insights and personal experiences on the topic. She divides up going after your "best" life (which, funnily enough, Cathie Black also references as the life YOU want to lead, not preconceived or societal notions of success or happiness, but choosing what works best for YOU as an individual) into three phases: The Reckoning, The Doing and The Being. Mumbo jumbo aside, I am only starting out with this book and am smack dab in the middle of The Reckoning. Which sounds like a Stephen King novel, but anyway.....this is where you "get over yourself", accept what you have to work with, and uncover your true life blueprint to get what you really want. It's a lot of reflection and asking questions.

And in this task is this concept called Wisdom Access Questions. Oftentimes, when we are stuck or do not know how to get to where we want to be (or even don't know where that destination is located) we seek causal information: Why did this happen? Why can't I make this successful? Why did they treat me like? Whose fault is it? Why is this so unfair? These tend to be the "Why" questions in our lives. And if you look at how you answer them, they all reflect the past, things that have happened, causes that got you to this point, asessments and opinions on others' behavior. While useful information, at some point, it doesn't help you answer "Where do I go from here?"

Fortgang suggests asking "Wisdom Access Questions" or WAQ's (cheesy, but hear me out) to move forward. What will get me what I want from this situation? What would make a difference? What can be learned? What is the solution? What can I do to improve?. "Why" questions focus on the problem;" What" questions focus on the solution and unleash brainstorming to how to get moving again.

If you're skeptical, as I was, try it for yourself. Write down a situation you are wrestling with and then pose all the information-seeking questions for it. Look at your answers to those questions. Then turn those into WAQ's, the "What's" and see how your answers differ. It was when I did this exercise of Fortgang's that I saw, in black and white, how my What answers were all about solutions rather than general whining and laying blame. And while such childlike-tantrums of blame and shouts of unfairness can feel good and cathartic, at some point you have to wipe away your tears and come out of your room to face the music.

Information-oriented questions often seek to react, uncover evidence of wrongdoing, justify points of view, and stay self-centered and problem-oriented. But switching the questions to Wisdom-oriented enables you to get out of the blame (Why is this person so mean to me at work?) and talk about how to change the situation (What do I want this relationship with this person to be like? What can I do to change it?)

Sounds abstract and psycho-babbley (is that a word?) but I think it really works. I beleive there's an application for this in the workplace especially, as companies dig through data and metrics to determine what went wrong the year before. At some point, they need to stop looking backwards and asking "why" and look forward to say "with that learning, what do we want to do now?"

Again, one person's self-help breakthrough is another person's "Well, duh!" reaction. So whatever works for you and yours. As 2008 approaches, give it a shot and try it for yourself. You may find your mind generates new ideas just by virtue of the questions you pose.

My Mexi-French-Italia Food Fest

Has everyone recovered from turkey and stuffing overload? More imporantly, from "lots of family in close quarters" overload? This year, we did not venture to the wild Midwest but stayed close to home and avoided the airports - talk about being thankful. But I hope everyone enjoyed dining, dishing and debating with family and friends on this lovely pit-stop on the road to Christmas (which is what most retail outlets would have you think is the true meaning of this Autumn holiday) Now Thanksgiving is behind us and advertisers have unabashedly gone full throttle to holiday shopping.

But, oh, what a lovely gastronomic tour de force we had the last 4 days! Before I get to the best which I save for last, let's begin with our quest for some mid-week Mexican love last Tuesday - we found it in La Carta de Oaxaca, a casual joint in Ballard that makes clever use of corn, chiles and chocolate in its homestyle cooking. The restaurant was a plain space, crammed with tables and patrons, but artfully decorated not in pinatas or garish colors, but what seemed like hundreds of poignant and interesting photographs. Varying in size, they seemed to capture the people and architecture of what I have to assume to be Mexico or other South American villages. You couldn't stop staring at the depictions of life gracing the walls.

And I couldn't stop eating my silky smooth chicken mole. This place is known for it's mole (choose pork or chicken), and it delivers. Like a chocolate massage down the throat, the chicken slid off the bone and the mole meandered down to my tummy and settled there warm and wonderful on this chilly fall evening. The portions were sane and satisfying. And the chips and guac were muy delicioso. Definitely on the list of weeknight stops for future Mexican bliss.

Not on the itinerary for the future is Le Pichet. Craving mussels and pommes frites, we ventured to this French bistro in Belltown. While definitely displaying all the accoutrements of the classic bar/cafe - wooden wine label signs, mismatched champagne buckets, bistro tables, small-tiled floors and the Fromage chalkboard displaying featured daily cheeses - the vibe was a bit cold and way too bright in the lighting department. I felt like I was being interrogated in the witness room on Law & Order. Service was spotty - they seemed to act like we were lucky to get a seat without a reservation, even though the place was a ghost town (one amusing note was that they have chalkboard-topped tables so they write "Reserved" on the actual table. As we dined, none of the tables marked "Reserved" ever filled, and even some walk-ins got the supposed "reserved" table next to ours. Methinks this is akin to sending yourself flowers to make the boy you really like jealous, hmmm?)

Boasting a rather long by-the-glass wine selection, you would think they could provide some guidance. But when I asked the waitress which white would go best with my mussels (I was feeling adventurous) I got a very lame, "Well, it depends on what you like" as she listed off about 8 possibilities. No, no, no, people. If you have an extensive wine list AND you masquerade as a French bistro, then get educated and have an opinion. I don't want to be "yessed" to death: I am seeking your expertise. Sigh...

It was not all bad. The bread was crusty, warm and wonderful. My mixed greens with hazelnuts and mustard vinaigrette was fresh and yummy. And my hubbie enjoyed the country-style pork pate, even though that type of pate is a bit more hearty than he prefers. But my mussels were just okay (they seemed a bit understeamed if that is possible) since I am more a fan of the clear wine broths vs. creamy thick mollosk marinades like th bacon, leek and saffron cream in which mine bathed. This is a personal preference, so I would give it a go if I were you. Overall, the bright lights and the sub-par service made me want to get out of there fast. I was saddened by this, since a local French bistro you can count on is a staple for me. The search continues....

And then - joy of joys - we ventured to La Spiga in Capitol Hill on Saturday night. I have been dying to try this spot since our realtor Ron recommended it. And it did not let me down! Stylish ironworks around the bar, high ceilings slatted with pine, and a large front window that upon closer inspection, was revealed to be a glass garage door made this industrial and funky osteria a chic local hotspot for groups, dates and even on our night, a sophisticated bachelor party. According to their site, "in Italy, the osteria is an inviting neighborhood spot where locals savor fresh, seasonal food while enjoying the company of good friends. a sophisticated dining spot." I concur. I enjoyed a tickly and bubbly Kir Royale at the bar. Then we were seated and our dinner fest began: insalata mista with a slightly salty vinagrette was fresh and crisp, and Pere con Pesto di Rucola e Fossa (Bartlette pears topped lightly with arugula walnut and Formaggio di Fossa sheep cheese) was nutty and Fall and wonderful. There is so much on the menu I want to go back and try, but I started with the traditional Tagliatelle al Ragu: a lovely homemade pasta made with rich meat and tomato Bolognese sauce with the right balance (for this Italian gal) of detectable Parmesan. My husband tried the Passatelli al Formaggio di Fossa in Brodo di Carne, which is a free-range chicken and natural beef broth cradling Passatelli dumplings with Fossa aged sheep cheese - the entire dish topped with truffle oil. The prices were reasonable for such a chic spot - entrees ranged from $10 to $15. We also indulged in a side of the most perfectly roasted Yukon potatoes with rosemary that I've ever enjoyed for a mere $6.

Other little treats they offer are specialty condiments of rich oils, vinegars and premiere salts. We tried the Peperoncini nell’Olio - Crushed Arbol Chiles in extra virgin olive oil - and enjoyed the kick in the pants our flatbread received with each dipping.

The wine list offered lots of by the glass options and I partook of a lovely Primitivo (the Italian style of Zinfandel). It was like the good Zinfandels of yesteryear - before they started upping the sugar (and thus, alchohol) percentages. Mmmmm. I had two (hiccup.)

La Spiga rocked. I want to go back weekly to try all the seasonal goodies before the menu changes and also to become a regular. Yes, my dream is to become the "Norm from Cheers" of an Italian trattoria. Call me kooky.

A Scot-Italia Pub Fest

Scotland may indeed be brave, but viva Italia!

Saturday might have been a hangover recovery morning for those attending our housewarming party the night before, but for our Scot-Italia household, it was the Scotland-Italy football (soccer) match for advancement in the European Cup race. Or something. Apparently it has been a big deal that Scotland has advanced this far into the qualifying. All I know is my husband was like a kid in a candy store, bolted out of bed early, forced me to don my Italy jersey while he modeled his Ross County jersey, and ushered me out at 8:00 am to go watch the game.

Married to a Scotsman, I have uncovered a whole other subculture in this country. Like a secret society, this ex-pat or just general fan group graces pubs big and small to watch DirectTV feeds of international soccer games - often at ridiculous morning hours since the games are televised live. This one happily was at a more decent hour.

Tromping through the rain along the silent early morning streets, we hit The George and Dragon, which hails itself as Seattle "only authentic English pub." It seemed deserted - until we stepped inside. We were greeted by a heaving crowd of rowdy Scotsmen and Scotland supporters who has taken over the "English" pub by hanging the Lion Rampart and the Scottish flag strategically throughout the place. The Russia game was on, too, but in a back corner somewhere. Scottish accents, laughter, blue and white jerseys, and kilts filled the room. Yes, my husband must hate me, I thought, as I walked in with my lone Italy jersey. I felt like the stranger walking into a Wild West bar as the saloon goes silent. Now I'm all for rooting for my home country, but talk about stepping into the lion's den. My husband had happily scored a small table and waved me over (someone had to go get the lattes). Glowing and smiling, I think he found his people. Our good friend, Guy, also joined into the fun by meeting us there as well.

The room crackled with excitement and progressively got louder close to 9 am kickoff (or whatever the hell they call it in soccer). A quiet looking man arrived with an odd little suitcase which he opened and pulled out a set of bagpipes. The crowd went nuts as he blasted "Scotland the Brave." Caught up in the super fun excitement, I looked around at all the hopeful happy faces and thought "This is really cool!" I felt like we were back in my in-laws village pub in Evanton or something. We even ordered a Scottish Breakfast of egg, tomato, beans, bacon and sausage. Wasn't great, but it definitely added to the ambiance.

Italy scored first, dampening the spirits a bit, but Scotland rallied and scored as well. Then with about a minute or two to go, a penalty was called and Italy got a corner kick that turned into a goal. And with that, the flame went out, folks finished up their Guinesses, shook hands, and started trickling out into the pouring rain. Piper Guy did one more round for the troops before packing it in as well.

I love examples of the fun little subcultures that abound in our country: groups formed via a shared interest for film or chess or their faraway homeland. It's like there's this undercurrent you never really know about until you tap into the vein and find yourself carried along. My husband was very sad at Scotland's loss, but we are looking forward to spending many more rainy Saturday mornings at The George and Dragon with "his people."

Food and Storytelling

What is it about food that makes it such a great catalyst for storytelling? I have recently dusted off a long-buried memoir idea - a collection of stories about growing up Italian (and not being in the Mob) and I have a whole chapter devoted to food as tradition. But many people can weave an entire night's tale by the fire around a butternut squash recipe.

I wonder why this is. Can it be that food is so universal and representative of different times in our lives? That the aromas and tastes can instantly transport us to another time and place? Maybe it's because food makes use of most of our senses - touch being used most infrequently, but still.....so when we file away a memory of that perfect dinner party or family gathering, it includes the buttery taste on our tongue, the sweet aroma of cumin, the tender meat morsel that melts in your mouth, or the fabulous array of spices and garnish served on the platter.

Of course, food can also be associated with some not-so-fabulous memories. Don't even show me a frozen bag of mixed veggies that include lima beans. I TOLD Mom it would make me sick, but noooooo....she thought I was just whining. I won't go into more detail on that one, gentle readers.

A friend of mine wrote a book that has yet to be published which I just ripped through in less than a day (that's how good it is) and it talks about the European custom of savoring your food, savoring the companionship and enjoying the "event" with all of your senses - from the food itself, to how it is presented to what the table settings look like. I guess my Mediterranean heritage shines through once again, for I love dining in this way. It is an experience meant to be savored and enjoyed.

Too often we look to our meals as "fueling stations" on the highway of life. Something to remember to do when things get crazy. That's sad. Some of the best moments in my life have involved gathering around a table with friends and family to celebrate a holiday, a promotion, or just the fact that we are in each other's lives on a cold Friday evening.

Rather than waiting to sit down to a nice dinner when you have stories to tell and time to tell them, we have to make time for the food - and the memories of that evening will lead to the stories that follow for years to come.

Yum and Ick

We spent the weekend entertaining friends from out of town (as well as friends from in.) This naturally involved lots of eating and drinking, most of it done at sports bars. In summary, we had a wide variety and sucky and good food this weekend, which leaves me feeling a bit bipolar on this rainy Monday.

As for sports bars, thumbs up on Sport by the Seattle Space Needle. They served a Kobe beef burger (what is up with me and the Kobe these days? Must be all the rain driving me to seek comfort in beef) weighing in at 10 ounces, so I smartly shared this with my husband. It was delish, juicy and wonderful. Top it off with perfectly golden crispy onion rings and HDTV screens everywhere you look to watch both the Cowboys and Bears' game, and we were set. Quite a bit more swanky, but less yummy was Fox Grill in downtown Seattle. Large plasma screens, a plush lobby with cushy chairs and panes of glass awash in waterfalls made for nice ambiance but the food was bland and boring. Can everyone just supply their spicy buffalo wings from Bw3 and be done with it, please? Life would taste so much zestier. Although redeeming itself with a Build Your Own Bloody Mary bar sponsored by Pearl Vodka did soften the disappointment a tad. Can't say that simple solution can soothe the broken heart of the Buckeye State, however.

Evening adventures brought us to Wild Ginger, a favorite of one of our guests, a former Tacoma resident. The Pacific Rim meets Northwest inspired menu was full of diverse selections and the decor and service were very upscale. I enjoyed everything I ate, from the Mongolian Noodles to the Princess Prawns (my pick, naturally) to the Seven Flavors Beef to the potstickers. Their signature duck with sticky buns was our guest's favorite, but I'm not a duck fan so I opted out. We also had an excellent Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills, an appellation of Oregon's Willamette Valley.

And then there was Sunday, which was one of the saddest disappointments of my dining experience in a long time. I had been dying to try a local neigborhood trattoria and being Italian, long for good "old country" food within walking distance when I'm too lazy to cook it myself. We took our guests to Sorrentino at the top of Queen Anne. Oh, but how I wanted to love this restaurant. It was festively decorated, we were greeted warmly at the door and they could seat us immediately. This should have been our first sign. The place was deserted. But hey, everyone has bad days. They were even chatting in Italian at the bar! I found my people! But net-net: the Caesar salad was drenched in dressing, the Bufalo Mozzarella pizza was soggy and wet (yes, as the waiter pointed out this is the finest mozzarella and holds more water. But last time I checked, pizza is not supposed to be wet, so here's a hint: USE LESS!) and my friend's ravioli was so much an overly salty, slathering sauce mess that she couldn't eat it. And she had skipped lunch so she was very hungry. Yikes. I have to say my prawn and fettucine entree was very good, but when all your dining companions are unhappy, it is hard to love a place. I was so, so sad this place turned out to be so bad. I hope they can turn things around, I really do. One way they could do this: when a guest takes the care and time to tell you they didn't like something, don't try to justify it. Learn from it. Sigh.....oh, and lose the Italian hip-hop you have playing: it ruins the ambience you've worked so hard to create with the decor. Sigh again.....is Gordon Ramsay free for some tough love? The UK not the US version, FYI.

A Night to Remember

I had a night on Saturday that changes your life. A night so charming, sophisticated and close to perfection as to make you just appreciate being alive, healthy and surrounded by friends and the one you love.

Saturday night, my husband and our friends had dinner at Canlis.

I must admit, I had never heard of the spot and when passing by it in recent weeks, saw the abstract stone signage and thought it was the entrance to a "lifestyle" condo complex. Shame on me. Canlis is well-known in bon vivant circles and has had no shortage of distinctions bestowed on it: Gourmet Magazine Top 50 Restaurants in America - #19; 2006 The Wine Spectator “Grand Award” 1997; 2007 James Beard Foundation “Nomination for Outstanding Service” 2003, 2007....the list goes on and can be found on their site. It's also a haven for celebrities and dignitaries as they breeze through town.

My favorite hotel chain is the Ritz Carlton because when I walk in, I feel equally at home and treated like royalty. And Canlis delivered a similar experience. No detail was spared - each and every staff member worked in concert in a glorious symphony to make your dining experience unforgettable. We were greeted upon entering with stunning views of Seattle at night, over the darkness of Lake Union. It felt a bit like a high-end, sophisticated mountain retreat- only the most urbanly sophisticated touches of wood, rustic decor, and artwork made the place feel like a Northwest hidden getaway of the highest caliber. I hear tale that they have a unique ticketless valet service headed by someone who has worked there for years. They just escort you in and take your car and it miraculously greets you on the way out. And they've never lost a vehicle. Talk about feeling like a regular.

There is way too much perfection on the menu to even attempt to do it justice. I had lamb chops served with Israeli couscous which was "wrapped" in Swiss chard, Oregon blue cheese and bathed in pancetta lamb jus that was done to perfection, the bold flavors coming together as one balanced piece; one of our party dove into the Muscovy Duck Breast served with butternut squash ragout, sage brown butter and aged balsamic and savored every bite, and even the Alaskan Halibut was exquisite. But the tenderloin.....ooooooh, the tenderloin......

Friends....the lot of us have eaten at our share of 5-star restaurants all over the world. One of our companions had just dined at Chicago's Tru a few days before. But this was different. We all concurred this was the BEST piece of meat ever to pass our lips...I mean, EVER....I mean, no, really, "Ever." When we saw it on the menu, I told my husband to go big and order this $70 ticket to paradise. We were out celebrating both my and my friend's birthdays so why not go big?

Here is the description from the menu: "Wagyu Tenderloin - Seattle's most exclusive steak, Kobe-style beef, naturally raised from Japanese sires and Angus cows, a higher quality than prime Tenderloin." It is often said that perfection is simply stated and true regality is carried forth effortlessly. This somewhat effortless description fits that bill. If you ever in your life get the chance to taste true (not imitation) Kobe-style Wagyu, don't ask questions - just do it.

We washed all of these morsels down with a Waters Syrah from Walla Walla, Washington. On a wine list full of delights, this was not only a featured recommendation but insanely reasonably priced. Reason? They had just started carrying it and were trying it out. Next year, we were warned, the prices would most likely increase since it was so good. Versatile and berrylicious, it went with all our different cuts of meat and the seafood entree.

The boys rounded out our gastronomic joy ride with a Whisky club tasting served by none other than Mark Canlis himself. This private club is members only and through some charm and moxie (and the fact that my husband is Scottish) we were allowed to look at the secret club Whisky menu. They chose the Highland Park Lunar Bottling 18 1/2 year old. Mark Canlis graciously chatted at length with us about their Scotches and how his brother is a minister in the Church of Scotland and has lived over there for years. To cap off the evening, we were invited to take a tour of the restaurant and saw their wonderful private party rooms, old photographs and other goodies. By the time we got back to the foyer, our coats were waiting as well as our taxi. Not much more I can say except nights like this are wonderful opportunities to savor all the blessing you have - and the fact that you have the means to enjoy such a wonderful meal, with such a dramatic view, with such laughter and good conversation. When can I go back?!

Tom Douglas, I Adore Thee

A month into being a Seattleite and I think I have found a new god. Tom Douglas. Every city has it's chef and restauranteur of note, and I can't believe I found one so quickly (although I know there are more out there in the Emerald City and I shall find you, oh yes, I shall.....)

We had already hit the Palace Kitchen a few weeks ago for lovely cocktails and gourmet comfort food. And I got a crush. But now that we've had our second date at Dahlia Lounge, I really think this could go somewhere. Amongst lush purple and red fabrics, amber lighting and plush booths, Dahlia dishes out Asian and Indian-inspired cuisine with a touch of whimsy.

We attended with a group of friends and it was a great place to bring an out-of-towner since it was bit adventurous, but also somewhat classic. Dahlia offers little tastes from the sea bar - 2 to 3 bite portions of their aquatic lovelies, and we sampled the Dungeness crab, chili paste, tempura crispies. It was refined with a bit of punch and went down very smoothly. Just the right consistency for crab meat. In addition, we tried the shrimp and scallion potstickers with black vinegar and soy dipping sauce - perfectly golden brown cripsy without being too overdone or greasy. And a good bite of shrimp - no wimps here. Finally, we rounded out appys with the curried vegetable samosas, served with three toppings: avocado with jicama, honey mango, and cilantro yogurt. These were just lovely. Sample all three toppings with a single bite and you are in prime Indian food heaven.

Our entrees spanned from sauteéd Alaskan halibut with Full Circle Farm cranberry beans, warm string bean salad, bacon, tomato vinegar (devine, light, and sauteed to a lovely golden brown) to the Washington beef strip loin, served with buttered sweet corn, pickled peppers, Beechers cheddar dumplings, grilled scallions. We had seafood lovers and haters at the table and Dahlia was a great choice. They did both exquisitely well with lots of creativity but not too much weirdness. I felt like this was a great example of the culinary creativity that exists on the Seattle food scene. I described it recently to someone as a town that is not content to be a copycat food city like NY or SF but to carve out it's own niche to delight it's bold, eager denizens.

Can't wait to eat my way through the other Douglas establishments. Bring it!

Tapas to Tango

This weekend brought more culinary exploration. Hubbie and I tucked into a Friday night dinner at Tango, at the foot of Capitol Hill (click on their website with the sound up just to get a litle dose of Ritmo Latino). This hot tapas spot was recommended via a food writer friend of a beloved food writer friend and was touted as "better tapas than Zarzuela's" in SF's Russian Hill area. Which, by the way, if you have not been and live in the San Fran Bay Area, log off and run like the wind. So I thought it best to check out this claim for myself.

Stunning modern glass architectural windows, exposed brick and iron accessories warm up what could be a very cold industrial space. It's like quaint Spanish taverna meets Dwell. Although the Seattle Metro Magazine's describing it as "Antonio Banderas' bedroom" frightens me. We had a reservation via Open Table but went much earlier due to my need for a Friday evening cocktail. The host was amiable and tried to seat us early, so we killed time at the bar and ordered a Queso Fundido, which was a delicious fondue blend of baked Majon and Idiazabel cheeses with herbs, smoked venison sausage, apples, crostini. I was surprised by how much I liked the venison sausage: spicy and dense, it was lovely. While the cheese was delicious, it was a tad on the greasy side.

The place was jumping but then cleared out after we got seated for dinner - must be a theatre crowd. But it still had plenty of buzz to make for an enjoyable night out. We tucked into the Ensalada Verde, which consisted of organic mixed greens, tomato, grilled hearts of palm, topped by a lemon-pumpkin seed vinaigrette. It was delicious. We had ordered a salad with heirloom tomatoes, which we thought was odd to still be on the menu this late in the year and, sure enough, they were out of it.

I dove into three Oysters del Mercado, a selection of Northwest oysters, which I have to say tasted a bit fishy to me and were drowned in salt. But we very much enjoyed our Croquetas de Papas, which were Crispy horseradish-potato croquettes served alongside smoked tomato jam, and Cotija cheese. MmmMMM! This is what Tater Tots want to be when they grow up and inherit large sums of money. These were so delicately crispy on the outside and supple on the inside....delish.

The main dish was the Puerco Asado: Marinated grilled pork loin served with hot berry compota, roasted corn and mashed yams. Oh my gosh, this was gorgeous. Perfectly grilled and moist, the jammy berry topping made it melt in your mouth. Wonderful dish. We cleaned the plate.

I tried a Spanish Red Wine special Tempranillo which was good, but grabbed me by the shoulders and shoved me a round a little bit. Too strong for an appetizer choice. For dinner, I had the Rioja (not sure which one) and it was just the right choice for our pork dish. And for dessert? I opted for the Valencia Canutos: Orange spiked cannolis filled with espresso mousse and served with fun chocolate dipped candied orangettes. If only I had paired with with a lovely brut champagne, it would have been perfect. This was delicious and "light" if you can use that word to describe a decadent dessert.

The tapas were all good sizes meant for realistic sharing. I didn't get the chance to sample the impressive cheeses or ceviche, but I have not been to a restaurant for a while where there were too many options I wanted to try, so this was a good thing. While not quite as up to snuff as Zarzuela's, it held it's own quite well and was a perfect out on the town dinner spot. A return visit to Tango to try the other delights is definitely in order for this tiny dancer.