I didn't plan it this way but I realized as I slid into the Monday morning blues that I had had a Hollywood weekend. I should preface this with the understanding that a Hollywood weekend is not necessarily all glamour, though that would be just fine. No, my Hollywood weekend was more in the subtle nature of things, I mean, that's where the glamour was to be found. Also, I began the weekend looking one way and came out of it changed.
So, rewind back to Friday afternoon. I went for my 6-month haircut. Oh yeah, I don't believe in "maintaining" my hair through constant trimmings every couple of weeks. Who has time and money for that? Evidently, some folks do just not this folk. Anyway, I spent the usual amount of time driving around the Clark & Diversey area looking for parking. What a mess of one-way streets, permit parking, and construction zones that area has become. Eventually, I snagged a place on that little one-way street right behind the Century. Freeloaders can only park on one side of the street without being ticketed. It's really just a matter of chance and a little good luck. After securing Dalloway (my literary Volvo), I zipped around the corner to Gabby's. I love this Barber Shop! They have both men and women barbers and can do any style that any of the salons can do just minus all the fuss. Normally, when one arrives there on any day at almost any hour, there is a bit of a wait. You write your name on a chalk board and wait to be called, while perusing various fashion mags. However, on this Hollywood day, I walked in the door and was pleasantly greeted by one of the cooler barbers there who whisked me right into her chair as if I was expected at that moment. I told her I wasn't used to such treatment but she said "You deserve this and more." Okay, not really. She actually said "You came in at the right time. I just finished up someone and no one is waiting." So it was a timing thing but that is an important Hollywood skill as well and fit into my weekend.
Now, I must tell you, this woman was fantastic. I can't believe I didn't get her name! My bad. She asked me how I wanted it, made some clarifications, then off she went clipping and cutting. Here's the thing. Her touch was so gentle that I barely felt a thing except for this warm presence and slight hum from the clippers just over my shoulder. We got to talking about tattoos. Evidently, we both have a few and have gotten some of them at the same place over on Belmont at the
Chicago Tattoo Co. Small world. She told me she has even gotten a mother/daughter tattoo with both of her daughters. Why-oh-why couldn't my mother have been that cool? Well, when it was all said and done my do looked fantastic. Normally when I go to Gabby's, I just go with whoever is available but for now on I'm waiting for her.
The rest of Friday was uneventful errands.
On Saturday, I decided it was probably going to be the last day I would be able to go to the beach. So I spent the morning doing the domestic diva stuff and then I lathered up with sunscreen and went off to damage my skin for the price of beauty. When I first arrived at . . . Hollywood Beach (I'm not kidding that's the name) it was kind of deserted. It was almost noon and usually there are quite a few sun worshippers there by then. I began to think that summer was unofficially over as far as boy's beach was concerned. However, I forgot it was Saturday. All the beach boys had been out all the night before and wouldn't begin arriving for another hour. Those boys! Sure enough, by the time I left around three-ish, the place was a virtual cornucopia of bathing bods in speedos and tight-ass shorty-shorts. Makes me dizzy just thinking about it.
I spent the remainder of Saturday afternoon cooking up some blackeyes and bacon. No, not very Hollywood. Actually, very Southern. I had a craving that had to be filled. A little garlic, red pepper, and cumin. Mmmmm! I, of course, returned to my Hollywood theme that evening and watched a couple movies rented from Blockbuster. I suppose I should have rented from Hollywood Video but, as I already stated, I hadn't planned to have a Hollywood weekend, it just happened. I watched a little indie film called Latter Days. It was a cute, slow love story directed by the guy who did Sweet Home Alabama about two gay boys who meet in (where?) West Hollywood and eventually find love.
Jacquelyn Bisset does a great turn as a restaurateur where all the prinipal actors work, of course. I also watched Secret Window with Jonny Depp. Not so good. I'm sure the story of the mad writer (or whatever) has been done before. In fact, I'm sure I've seen this moving before with other actors done by someone else.
I spent the first part of Sunday at the Renegade Craft Fair in Wicker Park. Before arriving, I was wondering what made it renegade but after seeing it I think it had something to do with all the quirky crafts on display. There was one crafter who made colorful wigs that looked like dreadlocks. Another did hand bags made out of old record album covers. There was an artist who did disturbingly deformed little characters and beasties. Another made monster-like pillows. There were the usual assortment of quilters, knitters, jewelry designers, and clothing makers. There were also a consortium of artists who do the promo posters for shows at the Empty Bottle. They were very cool. I bought one of the original posters for the cd release party of the former HeathersDamage.
After the fair, I met my friend Christina and her daughter Lucy at the (are you ready?) Hollywood Grill. It's true! I was really surprised to because the food there has vastly improved since the last time I had been there. They had expanded the space and the walls were covered in an assortment of kitchy Hollywood memorbilia. I had a cheddar-bacon grill cheese on rye with fries. Lucy had pretty much the straight-up traditional grill cheese. However, Christina, claiming to be famished, ordered both a fetta burger and blue- berry pancakes! I told her she was nuts. She swore she wasn't even full afterward.
I completed my Sunday with (no surprise here) the Emmys. I actaully only watched the red carpet stuff and then flipped back and forth between Charmed and the first hour, then I entirely skipped the second hour for Jack & Bobby. However, I did see both Michael Imperioli and Drea de Matteo win theirs. Wasn't it cute how two people who played lovers on the same show both won? They deserved it. However, neither SJP nor Kelsey Grammer really needed to get it again. Did they? Especially SJP. Although, what a surprise when Cynthia Nixon got it over Kim Cattrall. I suppose the Academy went with the single mom story line over the more controversial breast cancer survivor story line, not to mention (or celebrate) the sexual freedom of KC's character on Sex. James Spader grabbing lead actor was interesting. He was only on The Practice for a short time. I was delighted for the Sopranos to grab best drama series, but another surprise was that Arrested Development got it for best comedy series. Good choice nonetheless.
That about wraps up my Hollywood weekend. Next week's post will be a Big Apple weekend. That's right, I'm off to New York where I'm sure to come back with the most fascinating tales to tell.
