Westheimer Block Party

The Westheimer Block Party was so much fun! It's basically seven to eight venues, usually former houses, set up with bands on every floor or parking lot, playing all day. Bring your own beer, paint your own face, enjoy the wonderful Houston weather. for the record, everyone's favorite band of the day was Ringo Deathstar, a pop band from Austin.

I loved all the cute families that came out-- my favorite was the little boy who proudly wore his wolf hat. It doesn't get any cuter than that. (And he kind of looks like what I imagine my boyfriend looked like when he was little. I have a adorable photo of him dressed up as a bunny to prove it; will save it for an Easter post). The colors, clear skies and action of the block party set up the perfect opportunity for me to play around with my camera for the first time.

THIS WEEKEND. WESTHEIMER.

So excited. Having one of my favorites in town for the Westheimer Block Party (which I can now walk to thanks to my new location) and the weather looks promising.

Lavender Blonde

I'm loving Lady GaGa right now. I saw this picture of her on Perez Hilton (guilty) the other day and totally fell in love with her lavender streaks in her platinum blond hair... then I stalked her tour and twitter, to find that A: she is not coming to Texas :( and B: she realizes how awesome her hair is too!

Via twitter: getting my hair done. lavender blond is my newest obsession. 7 days till the fame ball. ill begin vomiting with creative anxiety on the 9th.

In 2002, I absolutely swore to myself that I would never have blond hair again, but this women temps me to go all the way.

Cook-Off!

So, cook-off was a total blast. Boyfriend's uncle had a tent, so we started off there which was great, we got to hang out with his family, sip on some margaritas.. and then we checked out the Channel 2 tent which was large, in-charge and very crowded.

The best had to be the Texas Monthly/Red Bull tent.. they had a regular bar, a coffee bar and a GREAT band, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. I was fortunate enough to know someone in the band, so he hooked me and my entourage up (boyfriend, his mom, plus two of our friends from school). If it wasn't for him, we would have not got into that tent. It was a blast, we danced, drank, ate BBQ. Overall great night. So cold though!

I highly recommend seeing Black Joe Lewis if they ever come around your area-- I'm not just trying to support a friend's band. They really are one of the best band I've seen live. Jim Eno of the band SPOON just finished producing their record which was released Jan. 27 on Lost Highway. CHECK IT OUT!

Yeeee-HAW!

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Cook-Off is this weekend! ( The world's biggest rodeo, biggest BBQ cook-off..biggest deal in Houston). One of the perks of my job is free passes to the cook-off from various radio and TV stations. Also, Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears are playing tomorrow night at one of the big tents! Double bonus points.

Wish I could have a reason to buy these cherry blossom boots from caboots.com and wear them more than once a year. So pretty and not cheesy cowgirl style--which always is in abundance at Rodeo.

CC Band Camp

If you are a graphic designer, PR practitioner, writer, web developer or creative professional and want to help out Houstonians going to SXSW:

GO TO CAROLINE COLLECTIVE BAND CAMP!

Song & Dance

No doubt you've seen this video today....

but here it is, just in case you hadn't.

Her Morning elegance by Oren Lavie

Cold Weather Music

The grey skies and cold weather has me jonesin for some John Vanderslice. Pixel Revolt was the soundtrack of my 2005/2006 winter season.

What are you winter songs?

Ziggy Cat Dust

Um, just heard Cat Power/Chan Marshall singing David Bowie's Space Oddity for a Lincoln commercial. How long has this been around? I haven't watched commercials in the past six months because I had TiVO. I'm glad I caught it. Hearing it literally made my heart sink into my stomach. Love her.

Keepin' up with them Hipster Kids

I've been chronically depressed about the fact that I've been lacking cool music over the past year. I simply haven't had the time or resources. I used be so on top of that game, but when INTERPOL--the organization, not the band-- shut down OiNK, a little piece of my heart went down with it.

I'm not going to run around the city with a string tied around my overly-parted, assymetrical bangs, but I miss knowing what the effin' deal is when it comes to great music.

Then, today I remembered that I could stream KTSW (the award-Winning Texas State Radio Station) on iTunes. I've already heard old favorites such as TV on the Radio and Islands. Of course, there are many, many bands that are sparkling new to me. Salvation! Excitement! I'm going to be cool again.

P.S. If you have any music you'd think I'd like, let me know..

Summer Sweets for your Desktop

Happy July 1st. Treat yourself to a fabulous desktop graphic from Smashing Magazine. Every month, a few designers submit some really awesome desktop calendars.

I couldn't resist this sweet little girl taking a break from her V-Dub-driving-job and cooling off with some ice cream while sharing some music on her iPod with her BEAR-y best friend. I think I over punned myself. I would bet they're listening to Lollipop by Lil Wayne because it's the summer jam.

But seriously, is that not an adorable scenario? If too you're hardcore for it, there's less girly options that still nod to summer. Click Here.

Sounds for your Soul

I don't have much to offer today, but I can tell you that I can't stop listening to Theologins by Wilco, from their 2004 album A Ghost is Born. If you haven't heard it, cough up that 99¢ and purchase!

Black Joe Lewis and The Honey Bears

Last night I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears show at Warehouse Live in Houston. I'd never seen or heard them before but let me tell you, they were so much fun! Just by watching the eight-man band, you can see they're having an effing blast on stage.

They opened for Mates of State, and everyone in the audience was like.. "hmm.. these guys are way better than Mates of State," albeit the two bands sound nothing alike. Would Mates of State have a song called Bitch, I Love You? If you're in Austin tonight, check them out at Emo's. It might be the last chance you get until they hit the summer festival circuit. Photo cred.

Bloody Good

My friends Mom had extra tickets to see a show, so Last night I saw Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street and it really blew me away. I think I would have had a hard time following the plot if I hadn't seen Tim Burton's movie a few months ago. No lie... I had a hard time following the movie. It takes me awhile to get into groove of listening to every Cockney'd word of a song.

I'm no Broadway connoisseur, but it was like nothing I'd ever seen. From beginning to end, all ten characters remained on the stage playing instruments while acting and singing.

This production of Sweeney Todd won the Drama League, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Revival of a Musical and was awarded a Special Citation by the New York Drama Critics Circle.

Even though music plays a key part of the story telling in any Broadway show, there's something organic about watching the characters emote themselves through instruments. I had to wrap my head around the fact that the actors had to remember lines, music, songs and choreography without LITERALLY skipping a single beat.

Aside from the strange concept of all the actors staying on the stage throughout the performance, the show was awesome. There was good jokes, interesting use of props and KILLER meat pies. GO SEE IT THIS WEEKEND!!!