If someone had asked me to define what “Christmas in my mouth” meant a week ago I might’ve guessed a mouthful of melting chocolate or perhaps a large bucket of popcorn during The Dark Knight.  Such pleasures wouldn’t have come close to what I now know is the true meaning of this heavenly phrase.

At French bistro La Frite in Sherman Oaks, there exists a burger unlike any gourmet burger I have ever had. Grilled with fire, open-faced and topped with a melting blanket of sweetly pungent, smokey bleu cheese, this goddamn burger saved my life.  That, my friends, is Christmas in your mouth.

I had been to La Frite once before with my boyfriend and we had dined blissfully together on the baked brie appetizer, indulging at dusk under the breezy outdoor awning.  Sadly my food-loving man and I are no longer together, and when you’re going through a breakup the last thing on earth you want to do is eat.

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Lord of the Rings fans (nerds) your time has come! The crowning event of the Old Pasadena Film Festival is this Saturday’s all-night screening of Peter Jackson’s three-movie masterpiece The Lord of the Rings, concluding with a sunrise Hobbit breakfast at approximately 6:00 A.M. Sunday morning. That’s right, you got The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. They will start the magical event at 8:30 P.M. on Saturday night, will run for nine wonderful hours straight. The outdoor showing in the One Colorado Courtyard is presented in part by the American Cinematheque. The screening and breakfast are free and open to the public.

Chairs will be set up for the film presentation, but attendees are invited to bring their own comfortable deckchairs, blankets and midnight snacks for this marathon screening.

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The Dodgers started out the All-Star break with a win that propelled them into a NL West tie with the Diamondbacks, but since that win the Dodgers have been a mediocre .500 team. They are now, again, one game back of the Diamondbacks after losing two of three against the Rockies.

The Dodgers offensive spurts continue as the scoring machine team showed up for the first game winning 16-10 at Coors Field. They scored eight runs alone in the first inning and kept it going throughout the game, led by James Loney’s five RBI night. The next two games were a completely different team scoring four runs combined in a 1-10 and 3-5 losses.

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It’s Friday! Pick a show to celebrate this! Also, stay tuned for our interview with Danger Radio later today!

• Cute Is What We Aim For, Danger Radio, Ace Enders, Powerspace | 6:00pm at the Troubadour - Map | All Ages | Tickets $12 Buy now
• MercyMe, David Crowder Band | 6:30pm at Santa Barbara Bowl - Map | All Ages | Tickets $26.50 Buy now
• Kathleen Madigan | 8:00pm at House of Blues Anaheim - Map | All Ages | Tickets $22.50 Buy now
• Larry Coryell Trio featuring
• EPMD | 7:00pm at Crash Mansion LA- Map | 21+ | Tickets $20 Buy now
• Finch | 7:00pm at Ventura Theatre - Map | All Ages | Tickets $15 Buy now
• Los Lonely Boys | 7:30pm at the Greek Theatre -Map | All Ages | Tickets $35 Buy now
• Millionaires with Hypercrush, Brokencyde, There Were None | 7:30pm at Knitting Factory - Map | All Ages | Tickets $12 Buy now
• Bullet For My Valentine | 7:30pm at The Wiltern - Map | 5+ | Tickets $27.50 Buy now

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California has been in trouble for some time now between strikes, budget issues, and the down housing market. With our Governator unable to sign a new budget (which had a deadline of July 1st- oops) he has decided he may need to slash workers salaries down to minimum wage until legislators give him a budget he can sign. Until he does so we will not be able to borrow the BILLIONS of dollars needed to keep our state solvent. Not surprisingly, people are not very happy with Schwarzenegger’s new plan. Many families, single parents, and others are not able to survive on $6.55 an hour.

Schwarzenegger was expected to sign the order early next week, affecting 200,000 state workers. The deadline for passing a 2008-09 budget was July 1, and without one soon, California may be unable to borrow billions of dollars needed to keep the state solvent, officials have warned.

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VISUAL ARTS

• Cirque Berzerk | Friday, July 25 through Sunday, July 27, 2008 | 8 p.m. | $35-60 | Los Angeles State Historic Park - Map | Join Los Angeles’ only established circus troupe as they launch their original show “Beneath,” a twist on the ageless story of Orpheus that features fire stunts, aerial acrobatics, stunning contortionists, live vocals and an original score. You can even arrive early around 6 p.m. to enjoy “Hollywood Bowl” style picnicking before the show.

FASHION

• American Apparel Factory Flea Market Sale | Sunday, July 27, 2008 | 2 p.m. | Free | American Apparel Factory - Map | This once a year factory sale with over 200,000 garments is not something to be missed. In addition to tons of clothes, the flea market sale features DJs, a slip and side, screen printing, food and drink, as well as Cinefamily’s wacky movies screening in the background. Parking is extremely limited, so carpool if possible.

FILM

• Angel City Drive-In: Xanadu! | Saturday, July 26, 2008 | 7 p.m. | $10 | Angel City Drive-In - Map | Angel City Drive-In never disappoints and have they got a treat for you this Saturday: Xanadu, starring Olive Newton-John in the greatest roller skating movie of all time. Food is provided by the Angel City Derby Girls and an FM Transmitter puts the sound into your car.

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Into The Sun Cover

I don’t like lines. I also don’t like generic rock bands. Most fall in the same category as Nickleback or something; not for me. So showing up to the Viper Room for Candlebox and seeing a line wrapped around the block was a little discouraging. However I figured I’d venture forth, particularly considering I didn’t completely despise what I had heard from Candlebox before. I forged through line, landed in a heavily dimmed and crowded Viper Room, and ended up shocked at the explosive show Candlebox performed.

The record release show for Candlebox’s celebrated the release of their new album “Into The Sun,” their first in 10 years. And like an exquisite wine, it’s clear these fellas and their impressive musical talents only grew finer with age. The Viper Room was as packed as I’ve ever seen it, full of every different type of person, young and old, all rocking out to the energetic performance. I was most impressed by the singers Kevin Martin’s vocal skills; the screeching, hollering, and harmonies all blended into one very appealing sound. It was music to my ears! And while they deem themselves grunge rock, elements of funk and an experimental sound were very evident, catapulting them from a simple “rock” band to something far more interesting and unique.

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La Tinta Grita/The Ink Shouts:
The Art of Social Resistance in Oaxaca, Mexico
The Fowler Museum’s Goldenberg Galleria
July 20 - December 7, 2008

In an act of political expression during duress, artists from Oaxaca made city walls their voice during social conflict in Mexico in 2006. The result is the new exhibit at the Fowler Museum, over thirty wood block prints and stencils created by a group who call themselves the Assembly of Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaca.

La Tinta Grita/The Ink Shouts: The Art of Social Resistance in Oaxaca, Mexico is a deeply rooted in the politics of Mexico, especially since its art was created under the confines of a state that restricted public demonstrations. Mexico has a long history of politically motivated artistry. Diego Rivera is given credit for the “Mexican Mural Renaissance,” along with Jose David Alfaro Siqueiros and Francisco Toledo. One thing that separates these wood cuts from a Rivera mural is that the presence of the master artist is intentionally absent, as Assembly artists remain anonymous. Obviously, this is a safety precaution to avoid persecution, but also because Assembly artists wanted the works to fully speak for themselves, and for the voiceless people of Oaxaca, and not have the message complicated by concerns of what a particular artist “intended.”

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• Staph infection kills high school student -Noah Armendariz, 17, a high school wrestler died Sunday at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, from complications of a drug-resistant staph infection and a teammate was being treated for the illness. Armendariz suffered from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, which is resistant but can be treated and often is not deadly. “The medication was doing its job but the infection was too aggressive,” said his grandfather, Frank Magana. Armendariz, of Downey, developed a rash and flu-like symptoms, then became progressively sicker, until he contracted pneumonia and had holes in his lungs. His teammate tested positive for staph a week after Armendariz became ill but his condition is not serious.
• Deputy fatally shots alleged drug dealer - An LA County deputy shot and killed an alleged drug dealer in the unincorporated Lennox area when he thought the man was about to produce a weapon. The shooting in the 11000 block of Dalerose Avenue near West 111th Street took place around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday. Christian Portillo, 35, died at the scene. No deputies were hurt. No weapon was found on the victim.

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Veteran’s Garden at the VA

Sepulveda at Wilshire, just east of the 405

It’s the peak of summer and the nectarines are delicious. The Westwood Farmers Market, located in the picturesque Veteran’s Garden just off Wilshire, provides a succulent, seasonal respite from L.A.’s muggy city heat and incessant traffic hubaloo. In fact, despite its proximity to many of the West-side’s main thoroughfares, this Thursday afternoon market is surprisingly slow-paced and serene with the ultimate spread of in-season and organic edibles.

Showcasing a range of vendors, spreading from fresh berry-sellers (a 3-pack for $10!) to preservative-free tamales, the Westwood Farmers Market is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon lunch—get out of the office!—and stock up your kitchen for the coming week. The winding marketplace proffers a festive atmosphere, welcoming visitors with grilled corn on a stick ($3), samples of juicy Valencia oranges, and an open area bright with both cut and blossoming flowers. Local artisans and craft-makers also contribute to the market the second and fourth Thursdays of each month.

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Why can’t West Nile just mind it’s own business? Why does it have to come and miss with LA? Three men and one male child were tested positive for West Nile in Los Angeles County. These are the first three human cases of West Nile virus to be found in LA County. Two of the patients were diagnosed earlier this month for meningitis and the third was diagnosed after he donated blood. All three patients are recovering and appear to be doing just fine.

West Nile is spread by mosquitoes and breed in places with still water. Such as lakes, ponds, and even puddles. CBS2 reports:

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Comic Con 2008! Check me out, everyone! I’m down here at the San Diego Comic Con International!

I know what you’re thinking: “Comics? San Diego? What do I care about those things?” Well, shut up. You’re a jerk.

America’s nerdiest party is back and more full of weirdos and crazies than ever!

Stand by for some exciting stuff!

- News on The Watchmen movie!
- First looks at HBO & Alan Ball’s True Blood
- Review of Tropic Thunder
- Silly pictures of weird people
- Review of Pineapple Express
- Lots, lots more!

Stay Tuned!!!