B-Side Blog

The Two Catchiest (and Perhaps Only) Korean Music Videos You’ll See Today

Earlier this week, my friend Bets and I enjoyed a lovely dinner at Palsaik Samgyupsal Korean BBQ, which not only afforded us copious amounts of pork, but also a lovely variety of Korean pop videos on the sizable TV overhead. I wouldn’t call myself a general fan of K-pop (heck, I don’t even know if that’s a real term), but dammit if some of those songs weren’t the catchiest things of all time.

One infectious song, “Trouble Maker” (above), employs the trendiest gimmick nowadays: the whistle. I can assure you that it will quickly take up residence in your brain, perhaps evicting the previous “Moves Like Jagger” tenant. The second song, “Ma Girl 2” (after the jump), will happily make you claw at your ears in the best possible way thanks to its low-rent Flo-Rida-esque chorus, replete with high-pitched feminine guest vocals. I’m not going to lie: I kind of love it.

Please remember that once you listen to these songs, you cannot un-listen to them. It may be worth it though.

“MA BOY. MA BOY MA BOY MA BOY.” (This will make sense to you if you watch the video after the jump) Continue reading “The Two Catchiest (and Perhaps Only) Korean Music Videos You’ll See Today”

CONTEST: Win A ‘Good Cookie’ Spatula from OXO!

The good people at OXO have provided me with a complimentary spatula — specifically, their limited-edition “Good Cookie” spatula, which has a wonderful story behind it. The humble (and stylish) kitchen utensil is tied to OXO’s Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a public charity founded by two OXO employees, Gretchen and Larry Witt, whose son Liam faced a battle with pediatric cancer. The company rallied around the Witts, and through baking cookies and holding bake sales, OXO has raised over $150,000 for the charity.

Now with the “Good Cookie” Spatula comes another fundraising drive. 50% of profits from the spatula will benefit pediatric cancer awareness, up to $100,000. At $6.99, it’s a great way to help out. The “Good Cookie” spatula is available at Bed, Bath & Beyond, amazon.com, and various other local retailers (check out http://www.oxogoodcookies.com/cookie_spatula/index for more info).

BUT WAIT. This is a contest after all, and OXO has not only provided me with a “Good Cookie” spatula, but they’ve provided one for YOU too — assuming you win the contest. The rules are simple: submit the best cookie recipe ever in the comments. The winner, as chosen by me, receives a free “Good Cookie” spatula, courtesy of OXO.

PROTIP: know your judge. I hate berries (except for cranberries) and peaches. If you include those in your cookie, I can guarantee I won’t even consider it. Also, I love chocolate. I’m open to non-chocolate cookies, but… the presence of chocolate will certainly give you an advantage. You have until noon on Friday, December 16th.

Good luck!

REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS PHOTOCAP: Bowling, Ballin’, and Bawling

Another day, another episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ending with a woman weeping in Kyle Richards’ arms. Yes, this is becoming a trend after last week’s hysterics from Taylor. This time around, the show drew to a close with Kim bawling her eyes out over being alone and sad and without a partner in life. It was actually rather tragic (as opposed to Taylor’s tears, which just seemed crazy and booze-fueled). Poor, fragile Kim finally admitted that loneliness has been what’s motivated her life, which explains why she’s shacked up with the unsavory Ken — an allegedly domineering and controlling man.

Kim did attempt to claim that she was happy with Ken, but given that the words croaked out amidst deep, tearful sobs, it was a bit difficult to believe her. Thus, Kim follows in the grand tradition of Taylor Armstrong and Vicky Gunvalson, who have similarly made such dubious claims of bliss amidst total emotional breakdowns. It’s a truly unfortunate scenario, but the way these women grasp onto whatever remaining shreds of delusion to convince themselves that they are, in fact, happy is oddly funny. Sad, but funny. In a twisted way.

Continue reading “REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS PHOTOCAP: Bowling, Ballin’, and Bawling”

REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA PHOTOCAP: A Laborious Episode

Ladies and gentlemen: The Zolciak has spawned again. Yes, Kim gave birth to her baby boy KJ on last night’s episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but despite the high drama that accompanies such activities, I couldn’t help but think this latest installment was a snoozefest. I literally dozed off at one point, which may have less to do with the show and more to do with the fact that I had been in Vegas earlier in the day, but still, I like to think these ladies could keep me awake regardless of my exhausted state.

Continue reading “REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA PHOTOCAP: A Laborious Episode”

Grindhaus Is Closing. I’m Sad.

Sausages are the new black here in LA with Wurstküche, Berlin Currwurst, Wirsthaus, and Currywurst all jockeying for position. Sadly, the sausage wars have taken their first casualty: Grindhaus, a great, small shop that sold absolutely delicious sausages. The outfit sent out a newsletter just minutes ago announcing that the “Sausagpocalypse” had arrived. Yes, Grindhaus is closing, thanks to a bit of bad timing with investments and personal tragedy on their end.

Originally, the shop had intended to extend its brand with a food truck, but that plan mysteriously folded after about a month. According to the newsletter, the owners then tried to transition from shop to eatery, but again, that fell apart too.

And so here we are: Grindhaus has indeed come to a grinding halt. Thanks for the amazing sausages! I will always, always fondly remember the duck, chocolate, and cherry sausage. Come back soon, y’hear!

After the jump, the full Grindhaus goodbye.

Continue reading “Grindhaus Is Closing. I’m Sad.”

REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA: Bar One Is Atlanta’s Hottest Club!

A few observations from this past week’s Real Housewives of Atlanta:

1) Somehow, Phaedra has become one of my favorite housewives. She’s ridiculous, but she’s also hilarious, and this season, she’s eased up on the bullshit (ie. claiming she was at full term after six months of pregnancy). Now what we have a jolly woman who happily delivers lopsided cakes and a comforting coo of “Giiiiiiiiiirlllll!” Plus, while I’ve yet to actually see her legal chops in action, I do love her vigilant attitude in defending Sherayay from both her dubious contractor and her deadbeat husband. The fact that she also scatters each episode with a dozen hilarious observations doesn’t hurt either.

2) For all her ridiculousness, Kim Zolciak has also emerged as a more likable force this season. Dare I say that Kroy truly has grounded her, even if it’s just a shade? I’m glad to see her reined in from the spoiled diva precipice she seemed so close to teetering over last season.

3) Nene has become fairly obnoxious, but she’s still so flamboyantly amusing that it’s impossible to write her off entirely.

4) Bar One seems to be a most ill-advised business venture. First things first: after Peter’s Uptown Club failed last season, Cynthia assured us that her husband had moved on to a much smaller venue. I was so naive to think the space would be a narrow bar, much like many a cute New York City watering holes. Nope. As far as I could tell, this was a full-on house with multiple rooms (none of which seemed ready for the “preview” that we witnessed this week). I’m not sure Peter knows the meaning of small. He might not even know the meaning of “business savvy.” Either way, the place was a disaster — no air conditioning, ugly decor, horrific location. Call it personal snobbery, but I generally hate bars and restaurants that feel like the inside of a home (there are exceptions of course). Everything about this place seems destined to fail, but then again, as Phaedra noted, even people in the hood need someplace to drink…

Photocap after the jump… Continue reading “REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA: Bar One Is Atlanta’s Hottest Club!”

REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS PHOTOCAP: A Big Crying Mess

Let me know if you’ve heard this one before: Taylor Armstrong goes to a social event, cries, accuses everyone of not knowing what she’s going through, and then redirects her own frustrations with her marriage at another woman. It should sound familiar because it’s happened twice already on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and last night, we headed into round three at the Malibu Beach House Party from Hell, as Bravo called it. Yes, it was all the big lipped, blubbering messiness that we could have asked for and then some. The only thing that was missing was, well, Kim.

Continue reading “REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS PHOTOCAP: A Big Crying Mess”

THIS IS REAL: Introducing the Silent Disco

I love a ridiculous fad, and Los Angeles is home to many of them (remember oxygen bars and pitch black restaurants?). Over the weekend, I stumbled upon my first ever Silent Disco, a unique party wherein participants can only hear music by donning wireless headsets. In other words, it’s the most antisocial conceit of all time.

The headsets offer users three channels to listen to, each one corresponding to a glowing color (red, green, and blue), which means that at any given moment, people are dancing to entirely different music. In some ways that’s kind of cool, but at the same time, isn’t the fun of the dance floor that the masses are united in one throbbing, rhythmic, sensory experience?

Like any properly silly fad, the Silent Disco leaves us asking “Why?” but to be fair, there are some practical answers. Silent Discos are apparently a big hit in outdoor venues where noise restrictions limit booming music over loudspeakers. I can certainly get behind that. However, in a small lounge built primarily for socializing, it makes little to no sense. The result is a room full of people dancing around with headphones while the rest of us watch incredulously.

I would say that I’m open to exciting new expressions of dance and social experiences, but this was a shade pretentious, even for me. At one point, my friends Sly and Sawgee and I put on the headphones, and an excitable man walked up to us and screamed, “I LOVE THAT YOU ARE ALL ON DIFFERENT CHANNELS BUT STILL TOTALLY CONNECTING!” Yes, we were all connecting: specifically, on the silliness of the entire thing.

Should you be curious to see a Silent Disco in action, check out the video above.

A Better “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Video Option

I feel like all I’ve been doing this week has been posting about “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Well, here goes once again. Two spritely hoofers have put together a dance to the aforementioned song that can best be described as infectious. It’s cute, sweet, fun, and really impressive. This is far better than the latest Justin Bieber / Mariah mess (not to mention the grainy original video).

As a bonus after the jump, check out another dance routine that is far less choreographed. What it lacks in skill, however, it makes up for in silly goofiness…

Via The Daily What Continue reading “A Better “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Video Option”

Eastern Mediterranean Fare At Mezze in West Hollywood

Small plates are a big thing in Los Angeles these days, which can be a blessing and a curse — if I may be so dramatic. On the upside, small plates lead to greater variety in a meal, and they also engender a convivial social element that comes from sharing food with friends. On the downside, they’re not always a great value. $14 for three shrimp? $13 for a smattering of chorizo? It doesn’t take long to find oneself $30 – $40 in the hole and still suffering from serious hunger pangs.

Luckily, Mezze on La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood offers up small plates that don’t insult diners with big price tags and diminutive offerings. That’s not to say the plates are the cheapest. However, the quantity of food is more than enough to leave hungry patrons feeling satisfied (and more importantly — not ripped off).

The restaurant specializes in “Eastern Mediterranean” dishes: flavors culled from both the Fertile Crescent (shawarma, e.g.) and Jewish tradition (chicken livers with challah). The latter influence comes courtesy of Micah Wexler, who oversees a sizable menu full of interesting options. I hit up Mezze earlier this week as part of a media-comped meal, and I can assure you I wanted to order almost everything. However, I had to limit myself begrudgingly thanks to an ill-timed late afternoon burger binge for lunch. I don’t always think these things through you see…

After the jump, check out pics of the restaurant in all its glory.

Continue reading “Eastern Mediterranean Fare At Mezze in West Hollywood”