Michael Mina's XIV 06 Dec 2009 | 04:12am Last night was __wolverine__'s company Xmas Party at Michael Mina's XIV on the Sunset Strip. I had put myself through hell to make it possible for me to go so I had extremely high expectations. But, at the same time, I was ridiculously thrilled to get to go at all. I felt like the only person left in Los Angeles who hadn't been since it opened nearly a year ago. We were among the first to arrive to the party held out on the enclosed patio bar. Devastatingly gorgeous women in black dresses (who were refreshingly charming) walked around serving cocktails and finger foods. I selected the Rose Champagne. I wish I had asked what vineyard it had come from because it blew my already high bar setting established by Francis Ford Coppola's Sophia out of the water. For those not familiar, the concept behind XIV is a dining experience comprised of a series of small plates with perfectly crafted small bites on each. Patrons select either 8, 11 or 14 course meals. It's a concept that has been a signature of the chef's but is quickly becoming a trend in California, with Michael Mina's innovative hand leading the way. As for our evening, we were on the light end of that course selection. We were offered lobster grilled cheese, black truffle tarts, scallop dumplings, and tuna tartar on homemade rice cakes. (I'm not mentioning the chicken satay because it was shockingly unremarkable if not boring in the face of all the other bold flavors hitting our tongues.) The main course came in the form of single, small plate servings of black truffle mac n cheese, medium rare filet mignon with chantrelles and kobe sliders. It was roll-your-eyes-back-into-your-head-in-pleasured-ecstasy good, which is exactly what I expect from Michael Mina. And it was worth working back to back shifts with only three hours of sleep in between. I think I was probably the one person there who was like a kid at Disneyland with regards to the entire experience. Our company for the evening wasn't bad either. One of __wolverine__'s co workers (another moonlighting creative like us) brought as his +1 a female comedienne who was all kinds of entertaining. I don't usually have anyone to talk to at corporate events. People in that world take one look at me and make a lot of assumptions without ever giving me the chance to define myself. It's odd to have that still happening at my age but I've learned to take it as a compliment. One night of ultra holiday glam down. At least two or three more to go. It'll be difficult to top this one, though. Post Comment

MIA 05 Dec 2009 | 02:01am I was down for the count with some brutal food poisoning this week. I couldn't move without being in pain and I had to be within a few steps of the bathroom at all times. It was truly an unpleasant 48 hours. Twitter will be my weapon of choice for most of December. I'm so incredibly busy even I have no idea how I am going to survive the month. I wish I could say I was spending it doing stuff I love but I'm not. It's mostly 'pay the bills' kind of junk. I won't be doing anything remotely creative until January of next year. Post Comment

Not Enough Action Here? Then See Where Else I Play Online... 02 Dec 2009 | 01:33am Social Networking http://twitter.com/VictoriaLane http://www.myspace.com/victorialane http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=666083359 Writing RSS Feeds Personal Blog http://feeds2.feedburner.com/RetroHollywoodStarlet LA Metblogs http://la.metblogs.com/author/victorialane/ Post Comment

Parenting Rant 29 Nov 2009 | 12:31pm The lack of parenting in America is getting to me once more. I spend so much time out in public dealing with people that I'm once more seeing things. I strongly believe that the reason human interaction has become so disappointing is a combination of reality television, the new fame seeking culture and poor parenting. Americans have no sense of responsibility for their actions. They fail to think ahead to the consequences of their actions. That all begins as a child. Last night, I was in the midst of two incidents where young children were playing around in a bed of black rocks and giant sea shells inside the Tiki room. The place isn't really a kid's place so we rarely get them. But when they do, I am always aghast at the things their parents let them do. The first time the rock thing went down on this occasion, someone else dealt with it. But the second time around, I instantly went over and told the kids to stop because all of those pretty shells belonged to someone. And they actually do. The owner brought them back from a vacation in Mexico. In fact, everything in the restaurant either belongs to the larger company (which is all historical in nature) or to the owners. But it didn't end there. The fathers both turned to me angrily and one said, "They aren't doing anything." They stormed out after a minute. Yes. They were doing something. They were throwing rocks around the inside of an upscale venue and aiming them at sea shells that could easily break. The disconnect was that because it was out in 'public,' the property involved was community and, therefore, not subject to any sort of hands off policy. The Tiki room belongs to someone. It isn't a Chuck E Cheese or a Los Angeles park. If you don't teach your children to respect other people's possessions, you are going to raise adults who do the same thing - rather like the two fathers in this situation. 2 Comments | Post Comment

A Cosmopolitan Thanksgiving 27 Nov 2009 | 02:48pm I have been unable to not think about the past year during this past week. It's astounding to me how dark and hopeless things were around this time in 2008. And a year later, while our lives are nowhere near the level of privilege and financial security we'd been enjoying, we managed one hell of a bounce back toward something stable. On this Thanksgiving, we celebrated our hard work with an indulgent dinner at one of L.A.'s iconic buildings. On the 35 floor of the Bonaventure Hotel, we had a late night dinner at LA Prime while looking out over the city we both love madly. Everything about it was fantastic, except the table of obnoxious New Jersey tourists having loud conversations about inane subject matters. It punctuated the inner monologue I have been conducting with myself about how other human beings have resumed being a disappointment with very, very few exceptions that I could easily count on one hand. __wolverine__ and I had a marvelous night talking and spending time together, something we don't do much these days due to our opposing schedules. Now it's back to the most ramped up holiday season of my life. Trying to not get swallowed up by the manic energy will take everything I've got. 2 Comments | Post Comment

Thanksgiving 26 Nov 2009 | 02:53am I am not cooking. Not a damn thing. Not a single meal. Breakfast just needs to be heated and I've made reservations for dinner. For that... I am so very thankful. 2 Comments | Post Comment

Five Minutes Of Perfect 25 Nov 2009 | 12:34am I ran down the street to catch the subway home tonight while inhaling the first bit of food I'd had all day - a corn dog. Suddenly, I felt as if time slowed down. I was aware of the city around me in all its late night desolate glory. I could taste the honey in the corn breading. I was ripped out of the obliviousness of the fast lane and into infinite, vivid seconds that had a pounding pulse. Life was exquisitely in focus for about five minutes and I felt alive. 4 Comments | Post Comment

Peace On Earth.. Or At Least In My Own Skull 23 Nov 2009 | 05:53pm "I'm not crazy about reality, but it's still the only place to get a decent meal." --Groucho Marx An undercover talent agent (claiming to be with one of the big three agencies) on Twitter dispensed some advice last night about how a day gig is as important as any amount of training. He/she said that working actors are not just those with full time creative jobs but those with a good side gig that helps them survive while they work toward their goals. It was refreshing to read that because I've spent my entire life feeling that I'm failing if I am not able to support myself purely with my creative work. It came at the perfect time too. I'm resenting my job at the moment for various reasons, the most important being it sucks up more of my time and attention than I feel is appropriate for a circumstance that isn't furthering my dream. Money is never an authentic creative block.* I realized I have been very hard on myself this year. Granted, it's a life long habit of mine to expect nothing but perfection in all things. But during these past 12 months, I have been down right cruel to myself on a variety of topics. I think it's time to give myself some peace. The rest of this year will be dedicated to kindness and understanding. I have no goals beyond that. It'll be a difficult task. I'd like to love my reality again. *Quote from The Artist's Way Post Comment

A Little New York Theater In Hollywood 22 Nov 2009 | 02:30pm Last night we attended the star studded world premiere of Extinction here in Hollywood starring James Roday and Michael Weston. We arrived very early because I am a stickler for such things. We planned to hit 3 Of Clubs across the street for a drink before the show. As we walked up to the bar, we found a guy peeing on the door nonchalantly. He didn't even have the decency to be embarrassed by any of it. He just continued with his business as he muttered something over his shoulder about finishing up. That killed any desire we had to be at that place. I don't think I'll be able to go back any time soon knowing it's pretty much an outhouse for those without the grace to find a damn restroom... or an out of the way bush. As we returned to the theater to stand around and wait for the box office to open, I started to take in the entire area. Theater Row has never been the greatest neighborhood but the economy and migration of homeless had made it three times worse than it ever was in the past. It struck me as completely bizarre that I was about to see a bunch of famous actors do a play against such a stark backdrop. I'm not going to discuss the play because I am reviewing it for Metblogs. I will say that it was fascinating to see James and Michael up close in very dark roles. That alone is worth the price of the ticket. We were both so drained from the intensity of the play that we decided to go home afterward. There was a little reception for the actors but it felt intrusive to remain as a stranger when there were so many of what had to be their actor friends in the audience. I noticed most of the press leaving, though I have to point out I don't exactly fit into the role of the average Los Angeles writer (not to be confused with novelists or other non press types). I admittedly don't like being regarded as one either as it speaks of a social awkwardness and a kind of misplaced entitlement. Not always, mind you. But frequently. I had a secondary reason for not remaining. After performing a piece with such a dark path where actors have to go to ugly places, the last thing I'd want to do is have to deal with people I didn't know, particularly the press whom might misconstrue trying to shake off a character for being an unpleasant person. I didn't want to be a part of that equation. It was an act of respect on my part. On our way home, we were complimented on how stylish we looked. I thought it was funny because we were dressed down. Telling me I look like I'm about to hit a NYE party when I'm wearing jeans is sad. I worry about a world where jeans are looked at as acceptable for champagne nights. Post Comment

Too Much Thinking 21 Nov 2009 | 05:56pm I had a conversation with a close friend about the lack of sensation I have lately. I intellectually become excited or happy but the emotions or body responses that go with those states don't evidence any more. I feel numb most of the time. Numb and tired. I had begun to think it was part of the aging process. I had started to conclude that life just becomes predictable and, after a point, not much will get a person's pulse to pound. She told me she is experiencing the same thing. Now, I'm realizing it's a symptom of everything else many of us have been living through. This economy is literally making empty shells of us. But as my awareness once more climbs Maslow's pyramid, I am having to dispense with measures I put into place just to keep from further spiraling into a very bad place. I'm also trying to achieve the top three tiers all at once, which is too much to accomplish simultaneously. Basically, I want what I perceive to have been my life... back. But my life never left. This is it. This is what it is at the moment. And improvements take time. I need to become intentional on a consistent basis. 2 Comments | Post Comment

I Shouldn't Have To Explain This 20 Nov 2009 | 11:54pm 12 Comments | Post Comment

In The Bukowski Room 18 Nov 2009 | 02:27pm Getting out of bed before noon has been difficult since my return to nightlife as both work and play. I have to create elaborate games with the snooze alarm or guilt myself into dealing with less than 8 hours of sleep. It's taken a chance at interacting with extraordinary human beings to conjure the will to get moving. This afternoon I had the chance to finally meet coppervale at Cafe W as for what would be a brief but lovely interlude. Adding a slice of surrealism, I steered us toward the Bukowski room. I couldn't think of anything more appropriate than a meeting of artists in Ivan Kane's reproduction of a vintage European arts cafe. It's precisely what he intended when building it. coppervale is as charming and magical as I would anticipate a writer who makes his living creating fantasy to be. I didn't expect us to get along as easily or naturally as we did either but I'm not about to complain. Those kinds of relationships are rare. It's been awhile for me to find someone who feels like 'home.' I think meeting Esza Kaye was the last time I had that experience. That was two years ago. Like most interludes, it ended a little too quickly but was all the more sweet for its short passage. Thank you for your incredible kindness and the gift of your free time, coppervale. You are an enchanting person. My inner little girl is twelve kinds of nuts about her own personal dragon. 6 Comments | Post Comment

Frosty Southern California 15 Nov 2009 | 02:39am "The only peace, the only security, is in fulfillment." -- Henry Miller "One has to abandon altogether the search for security, and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of knowing." -- Morris L. West "Many people think that by hoarding money they are gaining safety for themselves. If money is your ONLY hope for independence, you will never have it. The only real security that a person can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability. Without these qualities, money is practically useless." -- Henry Ford It is ridiculously cold in Los Angeles. Once the sun sets, it is down right arctic. __wolverine__ had to break out one of his east coast sweaters so I had something warm to wear tonight. It's supposed to be in the twenties tomorrow night, which is mind boggling to me. I plan to be indoors to avoid that. The last two days have been like meditations. Life has moved at a pace slow enough for each moment to have an impact yet fast enough not to allow me to linger on any one thing. As is the way of the world, light and dark have come clashing over the same hours to create that exquisite agony. I'm starting to understand the benefit of not allowing your ego to enter into your world. It's so much less complicated and these crucible moments are easier to weather because they simply are what they are without any autobiographical garbage adding subtext that wasn't meant to be there. I found out from Onika that the second film I did this summer (Monika's Day) should be in rough cut by Thanksgiving. I've seen one of the scenes and it's hilarious. I can't wait to see the complete work. I think half the Tiki room is in it. And we are a talented bunch of people. It should be a fun movie with a distinctly Los Angeles stamp on it. Post Comment

A Creature Of Glamour 12 Nov 2009 | 07:36pm It's been a wild and wonderful 48 hours. Last night I went to the devastatingly decadent H.Wood to see Lucent Dossier and recline in absolute luxury. Esza Kaye and I had a much needed night of casual elegance while being tickled with insane brilliance brought to life. I was not a fan of the plastic glassware or how difficult it became to navigate the club once it was full. But they were tiny details in what was an otherwise magical evening. This morning I literally rolled out of bed after a fistful of stormy hours of sleep to interview James Roday (Psych) with regards to an upcoming play here in Los Angeles. You can find the final piece on Metblogs. Post Comment

Queen For A Night 12 Nov 2009 | 01:07am 9 Comments | Post Comment

An Intimate Look At Possum Walk 11 Nov 2009 | 03:45pm A new article about Possum Walk appeared today. It's by far my favorite for its daring and intimate insight. 4 Comments | Post Comment

A Night Of Play 11 Nov 2009 | 03:38pm Tonight is one of those rare nexus points upon which many things are occurring. I had multiple invitations to many decadent events. I wanted to be all Hollywood about it and hit up as many as possible but that's simply not realistic as I regain my footing in the realm of nightlife creature. Instead, I'm headed to the infamous H.Wood tucked into a corner of the Hollywood & Highland complex for the grand opening of Lucent Dossier's new residency with DJ Pumpkin of The Wandering Marionettes. As icing, it's been declared an official Metblogs outing and I will be accompanied by my beautiful girlfriend Esza Kaye. There's more glamour about to happen but I'll save each little morsel for maximum enjoyment. Post Comment

The Quest For Balance 09 Nov 2009 | 08:39pm "Mastery does not come from dabbling. We have to be prepared to pay the price. We need to have the sustained enthusiasm that motivates us to give our best." -- Eknath Easwaran "Genius is only the power of making continuous efforts." -- Elbert Hubbard I am in a very delicate place. I'm nearing a kind of exhaustion that sends people to the hospital. I crave a vacation or a couple of days of decadent luxury. Both cost time and money, neither of which I have enough of to make these things possible. Given the tremendous amount of work I do, I should be capable of treating myself. That's part of the problem, though. Things are terribly out of balance. It came to a point this weekend where I was convinced that I was about to drop dead in my tracks. I felt like a horse being driven across the plains by a relentless rider with an urgent mission. Just the simple act of drawing in air to my lungs felt laborious and my entire body vibrated with a tiny tremble imperceptible to the naked eye. It thundered through my body like an earthquake. I could not vanquish it in way. It's a warning sign. And I am heeding it. I need to find a way to not work quite so hard while reaping greater rewards. I also need to feed my creative desires more consistently. Writing hasn't been cutting it. Writing, for me, is as natural as breathing. It's something I do because it's necessary to my core being. It doesn't give me pleasure or a sense of satisfaction in the way that performing arts do. I could use a little miracle or a fairy godmother right about now. 3 Comments | Post Comment

Late Nights In Los Angeles 08 Nov 2009 | 01:39pm Last night on my way home from LA Live, I was standing at a corner along side a hippy looking boy. We were happily ignoring one another in the social avoidance big city denizens so adore when a car drove past us while a guy screamed something out the window. Apparently, both hippy boy and I blinked in confusion. "Did he say 'suck it' or 'sake'?" I laughed at the question that destroyed our cozy little ignore session because I had been wondering the same exact thing. It was an important distinction, really. In one case, I'd rather not, thank you. In the other, I could understand the enthusiasm and would also like to partake so I might be as joyful. If you are going to be one of those douches who yells out your car window at people, you must articulate your words so your terribly important message can be understood and taken to heart by all. 5 Comments | Post Comment

Proof Victoria Bowled (And Smiled) 08 Nov 2009 | 12:31am 2 Comments | Post Comment