You're Invited (Not Really): My First LA Dinner Party

So far my hospitality posts (and now that I think about it, my hospitality itself) have exclusively covered one-on-one, extended visits. But about a year ago, I invited a group of friends to my then-new apartment for some conversation, over/undercooked food, and enough booze to erase all of it. I thought they'd forget. They didn't! After several postponements, the time has finally come. The time...for a dinner party.

THE INSPIRATION

My love for Amy Sedaris began with the cult series Strangers with Candy and was recently revived by her often disgusting, surprisingly useful party guide I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. My appreciation of this lady is shared by...

THE GUESTS

Eight in number, fabulous in nature. A ragtag team I met when I first came to Los Angeles, and part of the reason I decided to keep coming back. Here are three of them. They deserve a fine meal, no?

THE MEAL

Aggressively middle-America, with a touch of spice to distract from the poor preparation. Chili fried chicken, Grandma Van Luchene's potato salad, and jalapeño cornbread. 

Can I manage? Who cares, because there's always...

THE DRINK

I found this on some old codger's dinky website, but 1) it looks pretty, inexpensive and refreshing, 2) I love to muddle, and 3) old people really, really know their drinks. 

1 lime, quartered
2 sprigs fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 slices cucumber
2 ounces white rum
4 ounces club soda

You squeeze the lime in, muddle the mint leaves and sugar, throw in the cucumbers, then finish with the rum and club soda. Easy!

Keep your fingers crossed, pray to whatever culinary gods you believe in, and stay tuned.

Everyone in Los Angeles seems to celebrate Independence Day the night before. Is it because they party hard and anticipate a long, glamorous hangover? Do they need a full day of yoga to work off those two ears of corn? These are the tough questions. 

I know one thing: I'll be celebrating waist-deep in the pool of a good friend, possibly under the influence and definitely surrounded by handsome, shirtless young gay men. Because this is AMERICA, dammit! 

The Standard Downtown's painfully fabulous roof (photo courtesy of Oyster)

Ooooh, now I'm all worked up! How about a little liberal spice on your potato salad, heh?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-winkler/a-day-to-make-news_b_888728.html

Norma Jean

I've never understood the Marilyn Monroe thing, but this girl is awfully sweet.

Amadeus

Woody Allen once said that Mozart's Symphony 41 proved the existence of God. For me, it's this:

And here's a surprising, incredibly beautiful vocal version featured in last year's Bright Star. 

Cheap Thrills & Motor Skills

I make my own cards these days. Like a kindergartner, I apparently have lots of time on my hands. Paper cuts, too! 

Weather Post

You know how annoying it is when someone gums up your news feeds with inane weather updates? Yeah, I hate that. But: 

It's prettiest here when it rains.

The Doors

Looking through pictures on my phone, I noticed a strange pattern. J'adore the door. Specifically:

"Pretty Door" (Hollywood)

"Kitty Door" (My apartment, Los Angeles)

"Neighbor Door" (Los Angeles)

 "Holy Door" (Chimayo, NM)

And "LOL Door" (George and Dragon Pub, Phoenix)