I Want a House on the Beach...I do, I really do

Beach House. I've seen them live twice, both free, both in consecutive summers, both times finding myself bored, but really trying to like them. The only song that really grabbed me in the past was "Heart of Chambers," but gotta admit, the song is pretty heavy and sad. I also happened to favorite it on my hype machine right after Hall & Oates, which makes for an especially low, low. Maybe it's Ed Droste. Maybe he's the one making me feel guilty here for not coming around!

Anyways, I think the problem for me was that Beach House's music never syncs up with the picture in my mind, or my initial reaction, to hearing the term "beach house." Beach house makes me immediately think of some little bungalow on Rockaway or Fire Island on a hot, humid, sticky day; lounging around in yellow flip flops, wearing neon tobacco quit line sunglasses and a sun hat, going out for fish tacos and ice cream, and riding bikes. My mistake! This is more of a Beach Boys kind of fun in the sun.

It wasn't until this morning while listening to "Norway," off of their upcoming January 2010 release, Teen Drama, that I got the visuals right for this band. If you've ever been to the beaches on the Oregon Coast (Cannon Beach/Seaside), then it all makes sense. Or, if you've ever seen The Goonies - it's that beach with Haystack Rock on it. Every time I've been to the beaches in Oregon, despite going there in July or August, it's been cold, overcast at some point, melancholic, lonely, introspective. It's the kind of beach that's more conducive to kite-flying than beach volleyball. The mist sits on the ocean, the fog is dense, and the wind from the Pacific Ocean has permanently bent the trees lining the beachfront neighborhoods at a forty-five degree angle.

I think it's fitting that Beach House is now signed to Sub Pop (PacNW!). From what I've heard of the new album, it sounds like Beach House has found themselves more upbeat, with a stronger pulse. There's a soft energy there, maybe it's the vocals cutting through in a slightly forceful way, while still remaining dreamy and lush. If you can grab this mp3 of "Take Care" I have a feeling it will be my favorite on the new record.

The Modern Toilet, Please Come to NYC!

Today, my co-worker said, "Hey Alexa, I was watching the Food Network last night and I saw something that made me think of you."

What exactly made him think of me? Well, it was none other than THE MODERN TOILET, a Taipei-based restaurant with the over-arching theme of toilets. Of course, this sounds pretty repulsive. I could even go so far as to say VERY repulsive. The name of the restaurant itself is enough to make someone run to the nearest bathroom. However, I can't help but find myself completely intrigued with this restaurant AND hitting myself over the head for not leaving the Taipei airport last year when Gao Di and I were stuck there for 6 hours. We used our long-stop over trying to write knock-knock jokes that we now cannot even remember when we could have been fine dining at The Modern Toilet!

Is it just me or do those two dishes look absolutely delicious?!

And in the end, isn't it all gonna end up in the toilet anyways? 
I'll take Toilet #1 puh-leeeeeze (chocolate ice cream/aka poo).

"Who Knew Queens Could Be So Beautiful?"

I almost felt like I was living in California today. It was 73 degrees, and it's November 8th. After a gluttonous weekend, Char and I decided to exercise. Our initial Greenpoint joyride brought us to LONG ISLAND CITY!

Going to Queens was probably the second best decision I made today after picking Huevos Rancheros for brunch. We found these benches on the piers that were shaped like sine curves and I fell asleep with my sunglasses on to the backdrop of Manhattan, only to be woken up to the excitement of a boy who caught a two foot fish in the East River. I think they dumped it back because of laws...probably for the better. 

 To keep the 5pm sunset a little brighter, I've been listening to "Pet Sounds" over and over on repeat, as well as Hall & Oates "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)." Good for the soul? yep.