Do It. Werner Herzog, L.A. Record's Xmas Party.

Meet a crazy man: Werner Herzog @ Downtown Independent, Fri. at 7pm (9pm showing will have Herzog introduce), $12
Werner "It's not a signficant bullet" Herzog is crazy. The auteur behind amazingly wondrous documentaries like "Grizzly Man" and "Encounters at the End of the World" is set to release a new feature film, named "My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?" and lucky for you, he's coming out to promote it at this Q&A. What could you ask such a man? Here's your chance; it's bound to be entertaining.

Meet a crazy band: L.A. Record's Xmas Party @ Bedrock Rehearsal in Echo Park, Sat. at 8pm, FREE with RSVP and donation of child's toy
Okay, maybe none of the bands playing this holiday gig are as crazy as Werner Herzog (that would be quite ambitious), but they'll give you a good show nonetheless. I've seen fave Smell players Abe Vigoda a few times and they just keep getting better, and I can't imagine The Soft Pack not bringing some great energy to their poptastic beats. Oh, but that dude Daedelus does have crazy sideburns, and add in that free tequila (if you're 21+, of course)...maybe you will be in for a crazy night.

-- Chau Tu

Make It. Gingerbread tips.

I originally set-out to write a post that would demonstrate how simple it is to make delicious and beautiful gingerbread cookies. Unfortunately, I have no business pretending I'm Martha Stewart. I ruined my first three batches. But! That 4th batch came out pretty sweet. So, let my mistakes save you from your own cookie trial and error. Use these tips to get it right... the first time.

• DO use Trader Joe's Deep, Dark Gingerbread mix. The flavor is rich and spicy (and it's pretty much foolproof).
• DON'T coat your baking sheet with cooking spray. When the timer for batch #2 went off, my cookies were floating in a puddle of fake buttery goop.
• DO use parchment paper.
• DON'T wing it. Baking 5-7 minutes at 375 does not equal 10 minutes at 320*.
• DO chill your dough between batches. If the dough gets too warm, your cut-out will not retain its shape.
• DON'T buy the Betty Crocker cookie icing for decorating. Just trust me on this one.
• DO incorporate chocolate. Adding nonpareils to decorate and cover the sloppy icing on my snowflakes proved to be both tasty and pretty.
• DON'T eat them all at work the next day because you forgot your lunch at home. Or do. I don't really have any regrets about that, actually.

*And just what was in the oven that made me think I could bend the rigid rules of baking? Magic Cookie Bars--a specialty of my boyfriend, Adam. They came out perfect, of course. Find the recipe here.

-- Heather Robertson

Check It. L. Ron Hubbard's Winter Wonderland.

This scene right here? This is L. Ron Hubbard's Winter Wonderland. It's taking place right next to where I work... in the heart of Crazy Town. It's pretty innocuous during the day, but this place gets freak-show nuts at night*. Santa is there posing for pictures, Christmas carols blare in both English and Spanish through tinny speakers, piping-hot churros are sold to small, gloved hands, and one of Hollywood's best artistes is on stand-by, ready to render a caricature of every priceless moment. Oh, and the Dianetics crew is administering stress tests.


The above guilt-trip aside, it's sort of lovely: Scientology tries to bolster its image with a family-friendly gift to the community. Instead, it manages to further prove its status as a non-religion by embracing pseudo-Christian symbols. I mean, does your local mosque ever have a display of menorahs? But that's what I love about it--and what I love about the holidays and Los Angeles in general--all the unabashed contradictions.

A churro-fueled ploy to get tourists to do the Xenu shuffle and a Hollywood Holiday tradition since 1983. Check it out at on Hollywood Blvd. at McCadden Pl.

*That's right, they don't come out until after dark.

-- Heather Robertson

Etc. Holiday tunes

Even though they start before Thanksgiving, radio stations never even scratch the surface of all the Christmas music floating out there in the universe. I would love to hear your guesstimate on how many versions of "Silent Night" have been recorded, because my calculation is somewhere close to infinity (I mean, even Willie Nelson has a rendition).

To help you sort through it all, Pandora has an option to create stations that will only play holiday-geared jams. So when you search an artist they pop up twice, once with (Holiday) after their name. Want to hear Christmas music similar to "Wonderful Christmas Time"? Pull up Paul McCartney (Holiday). Easy Peasy. You can still be festive and never have to hear Mariah Carey again*.

One of my favorite x-mas treats is The Kinks' "Father Christmas"--a song completely ignored by radio(most likely for its rollicking realism) but in heavy rotation in my apartment. Check live footage of it below.



Comment with your favorite Christmas cuts. Links are welcome!

*J/K. Mimi+"All I Want For Christmas is You"=Luv 4 Eva.

-- Heather Robertson

Do It. Echo Park Shop Hop.

I love my block in Echo Park. On my walk home from the bus (so super convenient), I pass everything I need to survive. There are dollar-stores, markets, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, thrift stores, hipster-run small businesses, pizza (Chicago and New York style), live music venues, and, above all else, a few great book stores. Well, 826 LA's Echo Park Time Travel Mart (the local outpost of Dave Egger's nationwide literacy centers) isn't so much a book store as it is a completely-awesome-in-every-way store. But you get the idea.

Now, if you lived here, you'd already be home. But if you don't, you can experience it all at the 1st Annual Echo Park Shop Hop being held next Saturday, December 12th. After the Echo Park Parade at noon, local businesses are encouraging y'all to stick around and shop with the promise of discounts, caroling female doo wop groups, and what seems like super-fun holiday block-party chaos.

I'll remind you about it this week and even try to feature some of the holiday must-haves only available on my little corner of Sunset (like these wallets at 826LA). Yes!

Oh, and if you do live here? Make sure to add the Facebook page to support.

--Heather Robertson

Photo Credit: Flickr

Make It. Ripple Afghan.

Following through on yesterday’s promise, here’s how to make a “Ripple Afghan.” I found this in a pattern book from the late 70s called “Keeping You In Stitches”—a cute, kitschy find that outlines all manner of berets and ponchos. However, I really do like this blanket. It’s basic enough for a crochet novice, but the result doesn’t necessarily look simple.

What you’ll need:
1) J size crochet hook
2) About 36 ounces of different colored yarn*

Directions:
If you’re completely new to crochet, I would suggest checking out one of the many video tutorials out there on the internet to help you get a better understanding of what each of these steps looks like.

Do It. Get Crafty.

One of the things I'm most grateful for this time of year are the crocheting lessons my nana gave me growing up. It comes in handy around the holidays when any extra expense seriously strains my already-tight budget. Just a little yarn and planning and I'm checking off everyone on my list with practical and handmade gifts (check back tomorrow for an afghan pattern that I'm currently working with).

If you don't have your own nana to teach you the basics, try one of these reasonably priced sewing and crafting classes offered in Silver Lake. You'll learn an indispensable skill and reap the sweet, sweet reward of self-sufficiency.

Sew LA may be little tricky to find, but tucked away on the 2nd floor of 1637 1/2 Silver Lake Blvd. is a treasure trove of designer fabrics and sewing tools. Best part? They have classes that'll show you how to use them. Their basic Machine Intro class is offered almost every week this month for $45. Classes for creating pencil skirts and dresses are also offered and you'll leave these multiple-session lessons with a finished piece.
Already have the technique, but need the machinery? You can use one of Sew LA's on-site sewing machines for $10 an hour.

Home Ec, located at 3815 Sunset Blvd., is the newest craft store on the scene and owned by a former ReForm School teacher. This month they're offering everything from basic sewing to needlefelting. Classes run between $40-$100. Also be sure to check-out their beautiful blog for more crafty ideas.


Make this cute guy at Home Ec on December 11th!

--Heather Robertson

Photo credit: Home Ec