Hello Wine Lovers!

Hello Wine Lovers, Mike Berger here from Ralph’s Grocery. Last night we tasted Zinfandels from California. I picked Ravenswood Teldeschi Dry Creek Valley, Ridge 40 Year Anniversary, Ravenswood Belloni Vinyard and Ravenswood Lodi Old Vine. 

The Lodi region is an especially warm climate and perfect for growing bold high alcohol deep fruit forward style wines.  Zinfandel Grapes are a deep dark purple fruit when growing on the vine.  At one time it was one of the most widely planted varietals in California. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers!

Sexy Spring/Summer Beauty Trends for Half the Price

Foreword by Stan Lerner: given that Downtown is the true fashion capital of the country, sorry New York friends but we do twice the business here, we here at downtownster are going to try and bring you a lot more about fashion.

This season is going to be all about a natural, radiant look for the face. Vibrant Lipsticks, colorful eye shadows, and cakey powders can be left in your make-up bag this season, as wearing less is definitely for the best this season. Below is a step through step guide of what you can wear this season to make your make-up look sexier than ever.
 
Eyes:
After many seasons of dark eye shadows taking president on the runways, a more natural look is now in. Continue reading Sexy Spring/Summer Beauty Trends for Half the Price

Reclaiming the Swat

Foreword by Stan Lerner: This blog was written prior to Pakistan’s decision to reclaim the Swat Valley from the Taliban, which makes it a very interesting read — good perspective on Ben’s part.

Pakistan is arguably dealing with the largest problem it has faced in its 62 years history. In February, 2009, the Pakistani government agreed to allow sharia in the Swat Valley in exchange for a promise of no more further expansion by the Taliban into Pakistan. It is debated on whether Pakistan’s accession was more surrender than anything else. CNN’s Farheed Zarkaria claims “Pakistani military was making a virtue out of necessity.” But what is not debated is that not since 1971, when East Pakistan broke away to become Bangladesh, has Pakistan had its territorial sovereignty so out-rightly threatened. Today’s loss of the Swat, however, is a much graver a problem for Pakistan and the world. Continue reading Reclaiming the Swat

MusicUnion ART WALK AFTER-PARTY!

One of the great things about being the editor of downtownster is that a number of really interesting people, places, events, ideas and so on come across my desk. By across my desk, in the year 2009, I mean across my computer or bumping into me over coffee. And although I can’t give everything the attention I would like to, there are times when I can—like NOW. One such character with an idea and a place to do it; is a tall, relaxed, young visionary name Barrett Morse, who is the force behind MusicUnion.

 Barrett, like myself, is a veteran of Downtown—meaning he moved here before the rest of the world knew how cool it was to live in a place where there is more to talk about than the new Yoga Class schedule. Sorry Santa Monica, you’re nice for a visit. As the Downtown community continues to grow and congeal I run into movers and shakers like Barrett more often than in years past. Because, like me, he appreciates a good drink I particularly like running into Barrett at Must or Doheny. So, when a press release landed in my inbox announcing that MusicUnion was doing an Art Walk After Party – I thought it worthy of a post.

And no, it wasn’t news to me because there’s an ad on the downtownster’ leaderboard promoting the event, but an ad can only say so much. I’ve been to one of Barrett’s events in the past (it was a great event) and downtowster writer Shannon Logan covered a MusicUnion mixer just last week, which she enjoyed thoroughly, so I decided it post worthy because I think downtownster readers will really enjoy a MusicUnion event. THE DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

MusicUnion Presents THURSDAY! THE Art Walk After-Party & Concert at the Globe Theater, May 14

LOS ANGELES — MusicUnion continues to revolutionize music and offers artists the chance to be heard with the launch of MusicUnion Presents THURSDAY! THE Art Walk After-Party & Concert featuring a combination of live Indie rock and cutting edge DJ’s, May 14 at the Globe Theater.  The event will be the kick-off for the Art Walk After-Party & Concert series. MusicUnion will provide a place for the Downtown community to come together and discover amazing talent after the Art Walk, each second Thursday of the month. The night will showcase independent artists with progressive and high-energy sounds for what promises to be an incredible evening of live music.  Doors are scheduled to open at 8:30 p.m. 

MusicUnion Presents THURSDAY! THE Art Walk After-Party & Concert will feature an intoxicating mix of live rock, dance & electronic.  Artists include Living Things, Posso, Royal Rumble, Keenhouse, The Library and more.

Tickets are $12.50 in advance and on sale now available via TicketWeb at www.ticketweb.com, $15 at the door. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend. A portion of the door proceeds and MusicUnion merchandise sales will go to benefit the Downtown Women’s Center, which provides permanent housing and a supportive community to homeless women. The event will also highlight Educate Project, an organization dedicated to providing financial education to artists and musicians, and The Tiziano Project, a global NGO fostering citizen journalism in conflict zones across the world.

 The Globe Theater (Club 740) is located at 753 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014, entrance on the corner of 8th and Spring Street. The breathtaking venue features state-of-art audio and lightening system making it the perfect unique space for the Art Walk After-Party & Concert series.  For more information on MusicUnion Presents THURSDAY! THE Art Walk After-Party & Concert, please visit www.musicunion.com

About MusicUnion

MusicUnion is a collective of cross-industry professionals dedicated to helping music evolve and thrive in an ever changing industry. Through media, journalism, events, and consulting MusicUnion fosters vibrant music cultures throughout the world. MusicUnion exists to rethink and rebuild the product of music. It works locally and digitally to build cultures unique to fans, artists, and locations. 

Hello Wine Lovers!

Hello wine lovers, today is Monday the 11th of May and its Monday Merlot Madness! . Tonight from 5pm until 8pm at the wine café at Ralphs we will be hosting Kendall Jackson Winery and the Merlot wines they feature.  Kendall Jackson wine is a household name in the wine industry.  What most people do not know is that Kendall Jackson (KJ) is a major owner of many high end brands that are frequently found on fine dining establishment wine lists.  Legacy, Atalon, Robert Young, and Cardinale are a few wines in the list.  KJ went through a major expansion acquiring high-end wineries that needed a better marketing team to represent the wine they produced.  KJ’s marketing team was the right fit for the task at hand.  KJ owns many more brands much too long to list here, be assured that they are quality wines in the portfolio.  Despite what Miles from “Sideways” might think, Merlot has rebounded as a varietals of choice since the kitschy movie the late 90’s.

Merlot found its roots in the village of Bordeaux being the most planted grape in that region. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers!

THE CASE FOR TORTURE

Foreword by Stan Lerner: late summer of last year I wrote a short blog as part of a supplement to my novel “Stan Lerner’s Criminal”. Readers kept asking for more story. Anyway, with all of the talk of torture these days I thought it might now appeal to more than just the readers of my book. 

Warning this blog is not for the politically correct.         

  There’s Frank, this is f*cking too much, I can’t even take a walk in peace. Maybe Sam is right I should find a nice cave to live in—wouldn’t be the first time.

            Frank walked along beside me. “Nice night for a walk, Stan.”

            “The weathers been great all summer…I don’t really need an escort, unless you know something I don’t. I think I’ll live to see another day.”

            “Sam wants to see you. He said to have you come with at first sighting—that’d be now.”

            “Can’t you forget about the impromptu walk? And we’ll all visit in the morning, when you interrupt my walk to Starbucks.”

            Frank shook his head. “Sorry, Stan. He said the moment you came out of that high rise bunker to have you come with…My car is couple of blocks down.”

Doug, large by even large black man standards, walked up along my other side. “Hey Stan, good to see you, bro.” He held out his hand. “Better give me your cell phone—you don’t want a gps imprint.”

I looked over at Frank.

“Doug and your phone we’ll stay in the neighborhood.” He nodded toward Doug—meaning hand over the phone.

“This is different,” I commented, handing Doug the iphone.

Frank lit a cigarette. “I’m not going to bullshit you—it’s serious…Sam wants to see you.”

I got into the nondescript Dodge Durango. Continue reading THE CASE FOR TORTURE

The Adventures of Betty Booze VOL 5 Diva

Foreword by Stan Lerner: And yes, Betty like her older brother Downtown Oliver Brown just makes stuff up — so get over it!

“It only takes me one drink to get me drunk. The trouble is, I can’t remember if it’s the thirteenth or fourteenth.”

-George Burns

BORDELLO – “a building where prostitutes are available”… ALSO a kick ass bar/club in downtown Los Angeles at 901 E. 1st St.

That was the meeting place for myself and one Ms. Lindsay Lohan, who in my opinion hides from her life and sits in the shadows of a jail governed by public scrutiny. If you’re a drunk, say it. There are a lot worse things you can be… has she never heard of a functional drunk… has she never heard of ME? It not only offends me as a proud alcoholic, but disgraces me as a successful professional.

Oh this was going to be a night to remember…

It was 7:15pm on Friday night. Lilo’s driver was picking me up at 10:45. I offered to take my own town car but she insisted on picking me up. I hadn’t requested this interview, Lindsay’s camp (as they call it in Hollywood) called me.  It was the first time a celebrity had requested an interview and my editor Sal was not ALLOWING me to decline, as much as I wanted to.

I called Sal.

“Hey Sal” I said, “What do you think about me trying my best to get her sh*t-faced?”, “believe me you’re not going to have to try,” he said.

That’s all I wanted to hear. So I went to the computer, found out what her poison was and went to the liquor store. She’s so-called sober, so what do I do? Find the one thing other than penis, she can’t turn down. As soon as I saw it on the shelf, I knew it was the one. It was called Diva Vodka and it was 900 dollars. The bottle contains diamonds and semi precious stones. Well f*ck me sideways, this was THE drink for Lindsay. Continue reading The Adventures of Betty Booze VOL 5 Diva

MOVIE REVIEW: STAR TREK

Space.  The final frontier.  These are the beginning voyages of the Starship Enterprise.  Bodly going where no one has dared go before, JJ Abrams takes the bridge and helms this much anticipated “prequel” to one of the most successful franchises in film and tv history (not to mention the most dedicated and rabid fan base) and brings us the eleventh film in the sci-fi series – STAR TREK.      Walking a dangerous line between the 21st century, the 1960’s when the show was originally created, socio-political and stereotypical gender mores of the earlier time, and always cognizant of and faithful to creator Gene Roddenberry’s vision in every fashion, not to mention casting younger versions of some of the most iconic characters in history (yes, history – not just film/tv, but history), Abrams could only go one of two ways – a glowing success or get stalled in space dock.  Fortunately, Abrams has more than lived up the legend known as STAR TREK and goes full ahead at warp speed with a swashbuckling, smart and sexy film at its high tech sensational best.

Continue reading MOVIE REVIEW: STAR TREK

MusicUnion

Last night I proudly attended the first ever MusicUnion Mixer for fans, musicians, writers, and industry members, held at my trusty downtown hangout spot the Must. I can honestly say I only have one real regret from the evening’s activities.

At some point that night I remarked, with much swagger, that I’d order the Colt 45 from the Must menu. When the bottle arrived at my table a few minutes later, wrapped in a branded Must brown paper bag, accompanied by two champagne glasses, I knew that someone had called my bluff.

The bluff caller was host of the Mixer and MusicUnion founder Barrett Morse. He grinned and waved as he passed my table. I had half a glass of the stuff before I gave in, and ordered a glass of water. Thankfully there were plenty of people around to help me finish the forty. In fact a constant stream of industry professionals had been sitting at my table all night. Continue reading MusicUnion