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WAIN
Posted by Monica Danna on Aug 26, 2010 in video
Kailey playing in the “wain” this week. Ironically, she hates getting her hair washed in the bath. I guess we should start calling the bath “rain”.
[Day Five] NYC: if you can make it here you can make it anywhere
And that’s exactly how we felt when we pulled across the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway…we made it.
After five days in the car, Andrew and I were low on energy and exhausted from late nights and early mornings. But as soon as we caught glimpse of the NYC skyline, our morale instantly improved with the thought of meeting up with the rest of the band shortly.
I’ve been to New York many times, but driving into the city that never sleeps is an experience I’ll never forget. Our day five commute had us departing Silver Spring, just outside of D.C. at 7am and through New Jersey, Delaware, and a quick detour through Philly, PA on the Ben Franklin bridge. Philly sure does have a purdy skyline, and that’s pretty much all we saw of it.
We rolled into Williamsburg about noon, met up with the rest of the band and Andrew’s buddy, Matt Pace, and artist and DJ in Brooklyn. It was quite the experience driving through Brooklyn in a huge Texas-sized SUV. Of course, I rolled down all the windows and blasted Jay-Z. What else was I to do? 
Matt took us to get some lunch in Williamsburg at Anna Maria’s Pizza, we then headed into the city to setup for the band’s first show of the day at Best Buy in Union Square. I drove the guys and their equipment across the Williamsburg Bridge and said a big hello to Manhattan! Read more…
[Day Four] so long charlotte, hello D.C.
Early, early morning. And it came really early. We departed Charlotte for DC. Six and a half hours later we arrived in our nations capital. Below is a video of us arriving (fully delirious from being in the car too long), soundtrack provided by Lauryn Hill.
[Day Three] Video: At Daaaaawn
Funny things happen when you’re stuck in a car for 3 days with one other person. This is one of them:
We channel our best Jim James for MMJ’s At Dawn, literally at dawn leaving Charlotte this morning.
More DC video coming soon. Warm and Sunny here. Working from the David All Group offices as Andrew loads in for his show tonight.
[Day One] Videos
A few videos of day one on the road. Nothing to eventful, unless you consider a J-Tim singalong eventful. (and who wouldn’t?)
and for mom….
and for KG…
Won't you help me Beckon Lovely, Houston?
Posted by Monica Danna on Mar 28, 2009 in arts + events, video
I first heard about Amy Krause Rosenthal from my friend, and uber talented photog, Karen Walrond. Karen showed me the following video last week, and then shared with me that the creator of this video will be in Houston this Tuesday, to recreate the event here. Rosenthal created the video as an experiment to follow her video 17 Things I Made
I triple dog dare you to watch this video and not feel a little twinge of something. Anything. Lovely.
Please help me spread the word. And hope to see you there on Tuesday to help beckon lovely. Because there can never be enough lovely in the world.
WHERE: Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial Drive (phone: 281.497.8675)
WHEN: Tuesday March 31st, 6:00-7:00 pm
WHO: Nice, interesting people like you
WHY: To feel like wow, that was an exceptionally well-spent hour
WHY NOT: Exactly.
2008 Wrap-up: October
October: The Big 3-0
Yep, it had finally come. The dreaded 3-0. Thing was, I wasn’t dreading it at all. Every year of my life had been getting better and better, and I didn’t see any reason for that to not continue. I had become excited about turning 30, about being taking more seriously professionally, about getting past some of the train wrecks of my 20’s, and about coming into my own. It was around then that I began the idea for the book I’ve been writing. I had an incredible 10 years in my 20’s, and I wanted a way to document those stories. So the book is in the process! Stay tuned.
Every year I make a pretty big deal about my birthday. I figure it’s the one time of the year that’s it’s OK to celebrate yourself. 
So when it came time for deciding on a location for this year’s bash, it was pretty much a no-brainer. In 2006 I had teamed up with Dave Wrangler for Vinyl Ranch at Leon’s Lounge in Houston, and the party was a huge success. And i figured, if it ain’t broke…
Vinyl Ranch + 30th Birthday Bash - Leon's Lounge
So, we headed back to Leon’s for the second installment of the Cosmopolitician B-Day Bash + Vinyl Ranch. The night was proceed by the Schipul 11th anniversary party, which laid ground for the perfect amount of toasty Schipulites in attendance. I seem to always get teased for having made such random acquaintances over the years, and I LOVE my birthday each year because it is a time to get all the randoms under one roof. This year’s party was followed by an impromptu after-party at my place, where a few of us (Katie + Michelle I owe you big for the thievery!) continued the party into the wee hours of the night, where Andrew played the guitar, Paul took some pics, and Michelle, Wod Wod, Nadnuk, and Sean screamed sang in unison. It was the perfect way to ring in the new decade. With friends and music. And alcohol. Stolen alcohol.
Phil, Katie, Ed - Image: Carlos Meltzer
The next morning, after just hours of sleep, Miggy rallied me out of bed for a day long drinking session at Brian O’Neill’s, where we sipped mimosas, chomped on fish and chips, chugged Blue Moons, met some crazy characters, and may have walked home. (Michelle, do you remember?) Following that, we somehow persuaded Susan and Mandy to bring us MORE beer and held a Reba Karaoke Fest. In my dining room. What more can a girl ask for on her 30th?
View party pics from Carlos Meltzer & PureAmber.
More bad health news came in October. I contracted Salmonella poisoning, along with 4 other friends who all attended an event. And let me tell you, it. ain’t. pretty. I’ll spare you the ugly details. Stomach. cramps. aren’t. fun. For. reals. As I got over the Salmonella, I swear my digestive track still isn’t the same, I learned during a Lasik eye consultation that I had several holes in the lattice of my retina. Of. course. i. did. This year, nothing surprised me. SO after 3 eye surgeries to repair the holes, I could finally be a candidate for Lasik. I scheduled it for later in November. The better to see you with, my dear.
Ryan Adams - Verizon Wireless - October 14, 2008
The rest of October was a whirlwind of events. From the debates at Caroline to a 2 week stretch of incredible concerts: Ryan Adams + The Cardinals (i heart you Neal Casal), Girl Talk, Portugal. The Man (thank you, Paul!), The Ton Tons, Ray Lamontagne (2nd row, baby!) and ending the month-o-music with Kings of Leon.
Bandcamp at Caroline (the brainchild of Matt and Philip of KTRU’s Revelry Report rounded off the end of October, an awesome sidelines visit to the Texans Game with Broadway Bankmann (see goofy video below from Michelle); And finally ending the month with Halloween at 13 Celsius with Migs and Foofers.
Whew! What. a. month!
Did you miss a recap? Check out Jan-September here.
2008 Wrap-up: August + September
August: Get In Shape, Girl!
As August hit, I hadn’t had the time to stop and think that my birthday was approaching. And not just any birthday, the big 3-0! A large group of my friends from college and high school had been planning a “Dirty Thirty Bash” in Vegas for Labor Day Weekend. So what else to concentrate on August than getting in shape?!
I went all out. Stopped drinking, started eating healthy, started working out again, and kept the social events to a minimum. I was very strict about it. I was determined to look great in front of 30 of my closest friends in a friggin’ bathing suit. Half of my friends have kids, and have better bodies than me. And it’s terrifying! So I worked my ass off. For an entire month. Even during a trip to the Big Easy for Katie’s Bachelorette party I was still good!
So imagine my surprise when after 4 weeks, I saw no results. I was crushed! frustrated. defeated! I went to the doctor nearly in tears. And sure enough, I had my answer! I had, just like my mom and sister, been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I was elated! Probably the most happy person to every find out they had a disease. I was just so excited to know that there was a reason for my inability to lose weight. I started on meds immediately and they seem to be working! Whew! Thus continued my year of bad health.
Vegas was a blast! With 30 of my closest friends, we closed out the 3rd decade of our lives together, and welcomed the next! I travel to Vegas quite a bit, but I’ll always remember this as the trip that trip that I learned to win at Blackjack! Thanks to Julia, (and to the casino for putting up with our drunk karaoke at 6am at the blackjack table.) | Full Vegas set here.
September: Stormy Weather
In September we experienced some unusually cool weather a few weekends, which always makes event hoping more bearable. One night in particular, as my first Christina was visiting from Florida, I was excited to show her a night in the life of me. We had not spend time together in years and years, so I dragged her from event to event to let her get a taste of Houston at it’s finest.
The Orange Show Foam Raiser, Image: Ed Schipul
We headed to the Orange Show’s Foam Raiser, sponsored by Saint Arnold where we tasted some yummy Lawnmower, and listened to some great music. Next up was the 80’s Movie Night at Caroline. She has heard me talk so much about Caroline int he past months, she was eager to see what it was all about. After a swing through the 80’s party with Erin, Carissa and the crew, we headed for the Museum of Fine Arts for one of my most favorite events in Houston, Mixed Media. We danced all night on the lawn of the MFAH, and I was so excited to share this night with my great, sweet friend. I’ll never forget it.
We had another visitor in September, who wasn’t quite as welcome. When the news that Ike was rolling in, many didn’t know what to believe. Fantastical news reports in the past, had jaded many of Houston’s citizens from taking refuge. I wasn’t about to risk it, and grabbed Michelle and Fayza and headed for my parents in Jersey Village. Dad had purchased a generator large enough to power the whole house and AC. We ended up with quite a crowd, as my mom’s best friend, my sister and her boyfriend, his 2 kids, their dog, his co-worker, wife, 2-year old, and their dog all piled in with me, mom, dad, Michelle and Fayza. Oh, and my parents’ 2 dogs, Patches and Harley. Thirteen in all, plus 4 dogs–who didn’t get along, so we had to keep them separated. It. was. a. zoo! But we were glad to all be together and safe.
The nervousness and exhaustion soon turned to hilarity, as we began broadcasting live from the eye of the storm, followed by a delirious video of how to wash your hair in a hurricane. Still not sure how we all made it out of there without killing each other. | Full Ike set here.
Image: Mark C. Austin
After the Ike madness calmed down, a few musically-inclined souls headed West for Austin’s Annual Austin City Limits Festival. A great lineup this year, with some excellent sets by Band of Horses and Jenny Lewis, and a chance for me to catch one of my all-time music idols, Robert Plant, during whose set, I called my mom, nearly in tears, “I’m watching Robert Plant!” I think she got a kick out of my freaking out about one of HER favorite bands. | View Mark C. Austin’s ACL full set here.
Video: The Calm After the Storm.
Lego sandwiches, Mardi Gras Beads, rising bayous, and overturned umbrellas. All will be in my memories of “hunkering down” for Hurricane Ike.
Thanks to Fayza and Michelle for keeping me entertained. To Dad for keeping the generator running, to Matt and Danny for the BEER, to Jill and Heather for cooking, to Pam for the peach cobbler cooked on the BBQ pit! And to mom for putting up with all of us under one roof for 3 days. and 4 dogs!! Getting nervous again just thinking about it!Note: Mom and Dad got power back yesterday morning!
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Westheimer Block Party Video
Posted by Monica Danna on Sep 10, 2008 in arts + events, video
“I’m gonna ride my skateboard.”
“Jose, i always loved you.”
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more about “Westheimer Block Party Video“, posted with vodpod