Fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe

http://www.travelingdiva.com/miscellaneous/fiesta-of-the-virgin-of-guadalupe/

Kalash Festival of Choimus

Ever wanted to do a Winter Solstice party with the Kalash people? The Kalash are infamous for their festivals and Choimus doesn’t disappoint. The only tribe in the area, who never converted to Islam, celebrate the new year with a vibrant flurry of dancing, food, chanting and prayers to the Balomain spirit. The festival lasts for days and moves throughout the valley. Copious amounts of local brewed mulberry wine to drink as you dance in giant circles around bonfires to mesmerizing chanting accompanied by drum beats. Girls wear intricate costumes made of cowery shells, coins and beads with heavy headwear while women paint their faces with ink. Just before the main festival, seasonal foods are offered to the ancestral spirts and a kotik light is lit. Single Kalash women are expected to find a husband during this festival so make sure you chose wisely.

Contact information: TDCP (Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab Tel: +92-91-9213762 or +92-3339233868 http://nwfp.gov.pk/Events/Tour-packages.php Start Date: 12-7-2008 End Date: 12-22-2008

Sade: Traveler of the Heart

So I wanted to post quickly about San Diego and
than mid post Sa-n... started to turn into Sa-de

and well, the rest will end up with a cigarette.

Famous Traveling Stylist Adir Abregel

Jet setting superstar hairstylist to starlets like Kiera Knightley, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Gardner, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Biel,
and Sienna Miller, Adir Abergel is a traveling girl's best friend he makes his clients feel confident and beautiful.

He sat down with me recently in Venice Beach for an impromptu interview.

TH: Recent trips?

AA: Israel and Africa.

TH: Favorite destination?

AA: Rwanda. Incredible country. Happiest human beings I’ve ever encountered. I loved the people, culture and music. There’s a sense of community and love. All about helping each other.

TH: Any travel tips?

AA: Never forget to bring your high heels because there will always be an occasion waiting. Make sure to bring your Louboutin. Every woman should own a Louboutin.

TH: What are your favorite pair of traveling shoes?

AA: My flip flops and patent leather Bruno Frisoni.

TH: Long flight advice?

AA: Moroccan mint tea. Steep in boiling hot water and leave it in for a good ten minutes. Add a flat tablespoon of white sugar and throw in some pine nuts.

###

Best of Sunset Junction

Sunset Junction....

what's your function?

With summer dwindling to a close, tens of thousands of Los Angeles residents descended on eastside hipster haven Silver Lake for the

Sunset Junction Street Festival, which was originally created 28 years ago to address neighborhood diversity

and improve the quality of life in the community of Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz and the greater Los Angeles area.














The festival resembled one big American Apparel ad. It was a visual homage to Angeleno hipsters and leggings wearing rocker-types . There was also an insane carnival ride that made me think I was in a scene from Hostel. My companion gracefully spewed her free Red Bull while I prayed to make it out alive.













Unfortunately, this year the death of one of the headliners blew
the Saturday lineup. A tribute to Mr. Issac Hayes's legacy at the Hoover Stage by the other half of Sam & Dave, Mr. Sam Moore.







Best places to keep your cool:

Reform School. Everywhere you look there's something cool that catches your eye. The recycled/handmade art and craft is steller.

Pull My Daisy. Great selection of locally handmade clothes and accessories, a few hip labels, plus some original quirky gifts and amazing window displays designed by local artists.

Barkeeper. Get your buzz on right. Cool like the last day of school, man. Check out the titanium infused unbreakable fine drinking glasses.

KICKS. Sneakers and stuff. Holla.

Giant Robat 2. Excellent place for unique gifts. Cute silly stickers, anime stationary and adorable stuffed animals. Art gallery in the back.

Le Pink & Company. Best place to pick up super cute gifts for the ladies in your life. The store is stocked full of hard to find bath and body goodies. Great selection of candles. Le romantique.

Matrushka Construction. They have beautiful dresses and the women who work there are super chill. If a dress doesn't fit you they will tailor it right there on the spot so that it fits you perfectly. Who does that? Umm. MS that's who.

Malo. It's a sunny LA afternoon, and for patron's that implies sipping a tasty beverage out on the patio.

(After all the lovely weather and kaleidoscope of sound and taste the appropriate thing than would be a nice hot shower and ample time to sleep it off.)

second city revisited

Chi-town threw some luck my way. I'm wrapped early! Time to get lost in the city.




Can't wait to check out a Second City Mainstage show tommorow.

So thrilled to see what the house of Belushi has spawned.

Time to take a cold shower and grab a bite before
my friend Pete picks me up to head to the House of Blues for
Devon Allman's Honeytribe.

North of Wilshire pre-game spot

Happy hour in Westwood?
If your looking for someplace to get a few drinks after work in Westwood and can't think of a single appealing spot then consider the Palomino as a promising option.

Palomino is head and shoulders the best happy hour in the area. If I recall correctly, a choice of beers or house wine is $3, all of their pizzas (slightly larger than personal size, apparently a woodburning oven, normally $10-13) are $5 each, and a selection of bar appetizers (e.g. calamari fritti) are half of their usual price. Very nice bar area with small two-tops and larger tables for groups..A choice of beers or house wine is $3, all of their pizzas (slightly larger than personal size, apparently a woodburning oven, normally $10-13) are $5 each, and a selection of bar appetizers (e.g. calamari fritti) are half of their usual price. Very nice bar area with small two-tops and larger tables for groups

artists on their knees in pasadena

2008 Best in Festival
- 1st Place Arlou Somo

Last weekend was one of the best events in the Paseo Terrace Courtyard, Chalk Fest! I was with my pops in Venice B. But since, my workspace is only a few feet away, I got a chance to check out the 'street art' a few days later. Albeit, faded, the work was diverse and impressive. My past pavement artistic aspirations alas, never evolved past funny stick figures.

2008 Most Humorous
Disco Ball Disco
Jamie Leake

Hundreds of street painters who trekked from all over So. Cali and points beyond spent two days on hands and knees creating murals on concrete areas the size of two city blocks.

Street surface as canvas history:
For hundreds of years, these street painters ("Madonnari") have made the boulevards and squares of great cities their medium. After WWII, dozens of itinerant artists made their living from street art.
Currently cultural festivals celebrate this traditional art form in Europe and both North/South America.

belated f-day wishes

Fiesta en la playa

Hermosa Beach had a big party for Memorial Weekend, its 36th annual Fiesta Hermosa. Spent a balmy and breezy sunday playing bad volleyball with my family but the Food Court aroma seduced us right to the belly of the beast. Everything smelled delicious. We noshed on the Lifeguards' famous fish tacos and yummy roasted corn.

Not recommended for clausterphobics, its a sea of people but worth the uncomfort level if you happen to be an art lover. There's almost 300 artists and crafters featured.

Labour Day will host another Fiesta Hermosa. Come early and prepare not to leave empty handed.

insomniacs still dream

can't sleep....

still in good company....

packing is pleasure

Diane von Furstenberg quotes about packing tips,


"I think if you've figured out how to pack, you've figured out your life..."


Yes!!! I can't even fold my laundry properly, but I pride myself in planning the smallest detail with great tenderness, because, I will be away from the mundane daily grind. Everything is a promise of escape and delight.

Furstenberg adds, "It's always torture, but when you've done it, you feel great...And when you arrive at the other end and you see how intelligentily you packed, it's almost like an orgasm."

Traveler's porn...

Ozomatli let the good times roll...

Prince played

Creep from Radiohead live at Coachella.

My cousin Helen was sending minute-by minute text
messages on the state of her quiveration. Goose bumps and chills.

She thought he was amazing. Best. Coachella show. Ever.

Disputable, yes?

I did want to see Poor-tis Head although the rumor is they sucked the energy out of the crowd.

Besides, it was too hot to be in California last weekend and

New Orleans was

calling its siren song to me. The first notes of big horns,trumpets, reeds, clarinets, piccolos, drums and percussion had a rebirth vibe.

Rebuild and celebrate music, culture, food.

A good year to start a new tradition.

JazzFest. I flew out to opening weekend.

Friday, I caught Big Sam's Funky Nation at Congo Square stage. Then the Acura Stage to hear Robert Plant and Alison Krauss feat with

T-Bone Bennett. It was his new style. Really country. But he was still packing hard vocally.

Instead of staying for Sheryl Crow, I headed to the other side, the Gentilly Stage for Ozomatli. The band's ability to go across many musical genres never dissappoints.

Still-evolving, they hit their brand of Spanglish with, "City of Angels and "After Party" and latest release "Don't Mess with the Dragon".

Chali 2Na of Jurassic 5 was on stage with them for several songs as well as members of the marching band from St. Augustine High School for “Let the Good Times Roll”.

By far they killed their set. Ozomatli was joined by St.Augustine marching band for a very moving performance of the Hurricane Katrina ballad "Magnolia Soul" The spirited and original MC was on stage, a reunion 10 years in the making. Best of the weekend.

Viva Ozo!

JazzFest first weekend wrapped up.

Friday began with musky humidity and loads of sunshine. The sky grayed into the afternoon with breaks of light showers. But it was all good.

Saturday, the rain grew unbearable around the second set of Cowboy Mouth's show.

I lickety-split it for dryer pastures. Most of the crowd and the vendors were already scurrying for cover. I joined in the exodus.
The faithful diehards stayed for Billy Joel. It hailed, they said with a straight face.

I thawed out at the Hotel Monteleone and met up with friends for dinner at Mandena on Canel Street, all of which were the aforementioned Billy Joel/hail diehards.

We hopped around bars in the French Quarter and ended up on Bourban Street to witness the very talented Big Al show at the Howlin' Wolf.

Hurricanes are for tourists. Sazeracs are for natives

New Orleans is acknowledged by many as the home of the cocktail, and the original and quintessential New Orleans cocktail is the Sazerac Cocktail.

Said to be invented by a Creole apothecary from the West Indies named Antoine Amadie Peychaud. In the early 1800s, while setting up shop in the French Quarter, Peychaud became popular for a toddy he dispensed to his friends consisting of a proprietary mix of aromatic bitters. It consisted of French brandy mixed with his secret blend of bitters, a splash of water and a bit of sugar.
Rumored to be served in the large end of an egg cup called a coquetier which led to the Americanized pronunciation of this as "cocktail"

1 teaspoon of simple syrup (or 1 sugar cube or 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar)
4 dashes Peychaud's bitters
1 small dash Angostura bitters (optional; it helps open the flavors, but hardcore traditionalists may leave it out).
2 ounces rye whiskey.1/2 teaspoon absinthe, or Herbsaint (a New Orleans brand of anise liqueur)
Strip of lemon peel

The other festival: food faire

Coachella was drawing celebrities and club kids last weekend but I joined the crowd of hundreds and danced my goofy ass off in the Big Easy.

The Jazz Festival, had savory mouth watering food.

Culinary delights awaited beyond long lines of hungry people.

The unmatchable cuisine had a dizzying array of choices

such as crawfish po boy, alligator pie, hot sausage, turkey guardinieria, muffeletta, fried oysters, spicy Cajun roasted duck, stuffed artichoke, fried green tomatoes, Creole file Gumbo, gator po boy, sweet potato pie, bread pudding, cannoli, Roman chewing candy, fried pork chop sandwich, shrimp cocktail, boudin balls, fatty pork cracklins and zucchini bisque and meat pie.
Samples of signature dishes from local chefs were offered at the Grandstand.
This week I’m detoxing from all the indulgences. Worth the extra curves.

Gone Fishin'

Been away for awhile.. Back tommorow with New Orleans Jazz Festival posts...