Efron in the ATX?

So, one week from Monday, teeny boppers and adults a like will be at The Paramount to greet Zac Efron and cast as part of the Austin premiere of the film Me and Orson Welles. Likely to be a very lively greeting supported by the Austin Film Society which will donate the event's proceeds to the Texas Filmmaker's Production Fund.

The film, directed by oscar-nominated Richard Linklater, is the story of young director Oroson Welles who puts together Julius Caesar at the newly founded Mercury Theatre in New York, 1937. In the play an adolescent Richard Samuels (played by Efron) is casted with a leading role though he has little acting ability. The coming-of-age, romance film also stars Claire Daines, Ben Chaplin, and Christain McKay. The combination of well-known acting ability should unfold quite interestingly.

While many are intrigued by the film itself, lots of viewers seem to anticipate the drama break out role of Efron's. We'll see how well the High School Musical Hunk proves himself in this more weighty role, but my senses tell me he won't disappoint.

Be there, Monday Nov 30th at the Paramount. Film begins at seven... get there in advance to drown out the screaming young ladies and paparazzi.

For more info on how to get tickets to the premeire check out the Austin Film Society's website.

SoLa Fashion Gate '09

As we all tap our feet in anticipation for winter's arrival in Texas, many are already celebrating like the season is present. Think: the world of fashion. Fall lines came out months ago, and if you're just now advertising for winter clothing, shoes, and accessories you're either barely on time or already late.

This week in fashion:

Catch a winter fashion show at SoLa, a charming little boutique on S.Lamar blvd. The store will host it's 7th annual fashion show, with DJ Ozone preparing beats and Pearl Hair and Make-up Studio prepping the models. The show will finish with shopping and hors d'oeuvres by Carla Nubot.

RSVP online, or pay at the door ($5 donation goes to Safe Place). Hope to see your fashion savvy self there.

Barcelona on Mind

I can't stop thinking about Barcelona. I've been watching steamy, American-perspective movies on the city (insert obvious title here), looking at touristy websites (Gwyneth Paltrow's site GOOP has a very useful guide on the city!), delving into books (critic Robert Hughes wrote a book about the city in the 90's) and looking at all kinds of art.

"The beauty is your head" 

I'm trying to study there, summer 2010 (grades and funds allowing). The beautiful city awaits me.

Current Obsession: The xx

One of my recent favorite Blogs by the NyTimes, The Moment,  introduced me to a new obsession I think you will enjoy, regardless your music taste- The xx. The young (they are all 20!)  band of four from London successfully released an album in Europe and has recently become popular in the states as it released it's album here last month. It's difficult to put them into a genre, but their sound is very...intimate, for lack of a better word. Their voices are sweet, whimsical sounding and of course even more appealing because they grew up abroad. The four met at The Elliot School in London, known best for it's visual and performing arts, (the school that produced Hot Chip) and developed shortly after. 

Though they've been classified as "dreampop" and "indie rock" among other things across the internet, it's clear that their music reaches a broad variety of genres as they list their influences on myspace as "Aaliyah to Coco Rosie, Rihanna to The Cure, Missy Elliot to Chromatics, The Kills to Ginuwine, Pixies to Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake to Tracy, and The Plastics" Check, check, check. Right down my alley. 

Their newest single, Basic Space, will definitely strike your fancy...and the video, directed by up and coming director/photographer Anthony Dickenson is indeed aesthetically pleasing. The song is very thought and emotion provoking, not to mention, commercial/advertisement/soundtrack worthy?

The xx US tour launched today in New York, so catch them live when they come to Austin  a week from tomorrow, the 19th, at, drumroll please... The Mohawk! Tickets are $10 in advance/$12 @ the door. Be there and obsess over their glorious fresh talent with me.

Karen O in the Making?

All you have to do to be famous in the indie/electronica music scene is cut your hair into a short bob, dye it black, and sell your soul to Karen O. Just ask Crystal Castles front woman Alice Glass who's terrifying yet adorable voice led the dance party at FunFunFun Fest on Sunday evening.  Though Glass' image is quite duplicate of that of many other indie female singers, the Crystal Castles member has a certain charisma to her that stops me from hating the band entirely. Not to mention, the 21 year old Canadian has a pulled together style, and quite the large stage presence for such a tiny woman.  

While the Crystal Castles set at FFF Fest was short, the dancing seemed to last an eternity in the crowd. Their classic single, Crimewave, really set the crowd off into a dancing oblivion.  It's difficult to determine what makes CC different from, say, any other electronica/dance band, but at least they can excite their fans in a live performance. Isn't that all that matters anyways? When you've got a crowd full of screaming fans, praising your screaming rather than singing voice, I guess so. 

Holiday of Hope Charity Party and Silent Auction: The Thistle

A friend of mine is interning with this organization next semester...attend! Because it's an excuse to dress up, snack on hors d'oeuvres and support women and their families suffering through poverty. 

Spanx: The Modern Day Corset

After much fashion blog reading this morning, I'm horrifically disgusted with the amount of hype there is recently in women's fashion over spanx. According to NY Magazine after Oprah named spanx one of her favorite things, the market for the shapewear product tripled to $750 MILLION. That's embarassing. Why women feel that shoving their junk into a smaller space is going to solve any body issues beats me.  Sure, whatever get's you into that size two little black dress may be worth your nearly 80 bucks, but the result....an awkward looking, uncomfortable, embarrassment.  Besides,  will the modern day corset be useful when things get steamy with your man and that little black dress comes off?

The developer of the product Sara Blakely coined the term, "No more grid butt!" for her product, encouraging more and more women to purchase the tummy and thigh minimizing product. I suppose spanx can temporarily solve the body results of an always on the go and little time for body care lifestyle, but it's just another example of America's convenient, it-works-for-now consumerism.  The next time I hear a chick in her twenties say she wants to own some spanx, I'm officially moving to Europe after college.