1st Quarter Report - 2010

Can you believe it, folks? The first three months of the new decade have flown by us like those little white flying things from Avatar. I've decided to take this self-created opportunity and list my top 5 things of the first quarter of 2010. Please keep in mind that the only criteria for this list is that it is new TO ME in the past 3 months. Maybe you knew about this stuff a decade ago. So, here they are, in no particular order.

1.) www.livestrong.com - this marvelous website provides many tools for healthy living conveniently and for free. You can track your daily food intake and exercise in a non-intrusive way. There is also a handy little app that you can get for your blackberry or iphone that syncs with the website so you can keep track while you're mobile. Additionally, the website offers help with smoking cessation and finances and many other "lifestyle" areas.

2.) Wine Clubs - Joining a wine club is truly one of the nicest things I've ever done for myself. Every couple of months, two or three delightful bottles arrive at my office and make me feel very important. I decided to join after visiting Mumm on a holiday trip to see Niki who lives in Napa. The winery is lovely and has amazing views. There is a quaint little patio where you can enjoy the sunshine and a glass of bubbly. Lately, I've been drinking lots of sparkling, so Mumm made sense for me. The best thing about visiting a winery and then becoming a member is that when you get the reserves in the mail, you know exactly where the grapes grew. It's also exciting because next time I go to the winery, I will get my complimentary tasting in addition to my member discount. Their Brut Rose is divine, by the way, and you can get it in Trader Joe's for $17.99.

3.) The amazingly talented singer/songwriter, Katie Thompson - This bitch can sing. I had the pleasure of seeing her perform at a club in West Hollywood and then as a "special guest" in my friend's one-man show. She brings the house down, people. As an independent artist in a struggling industry, she has started releasing two tracks a month on her own via the internet. I highly recommend that you go to itunes and get some of that shit at your earliest convenience. Her cover of Heaven is a Place on Earth is truly mind blowing. Get on this train.

4.) Another website - Groupon.com - If you are not a member of this site by now and you live in a major city, I'm not sure what is wrong with you. Everyday, these guys email you "the deal of the day," offering significant discounts (sometimes 80%) on the services of a local business in your area. Sometimes it's a restaurant, sometimes it's yoga classes. Today it was 74% off an infrared body wrap. I'm not sure what that is, but sounds like a good deal to me. You buy the "groupon" through their website and then you can print it when you want to use it. You usually have a couple of months to use it from the date of purchase. In order for the deal to work, enough people have to buy it. So, once enough are sold, the deal is on. Thus, the name Groupon. Don't get what I'm saying? Go to the website and check it out. Tell them I sent you. http://groupon.com/r/uu984853 (Cut and paste this).

5.) Food + Lab on Santa Monica and Poinsettia - I actually learned of this place through Groupon. It's a tiny little restaurant with counter service that concocts some of the most delicious organic fare I've ever had the pleasure of ingesting. Very reasonably priced, they offer sandwiches, salads and amazing sides. You can also get breakfast dishes if you get there early enough. Everything is fresh, the eggs come from chickens who roam free and I don't know where the bread comes from, but it is about as perfect as bread can get. Sandwiches include GORGONZOLA DOLCE WITH FIG COMPOTE, PEAR & HONEY ON RAISIN WALNUT and ORGANIC CHICKEN WIENERSCHNITZEL W. LINGONBERRY CHUTNEY & AIOLI ON CIABATTA. Click here for the entire menu - http://foodlabcatering.com/new_menus/lunch_menu.pdf
The only downsides are that the chairs are very uncomfortable and if you go when they're busy, you can expect a long wait for your food. I was once there for 30 minutes for a to-go order. BUT, I can walk there from my house, soooo...there you go. My personal favorite is the chicken salad. Seriously the best I've ever had. I mentioned this to one of the employees once and he told me that he sometimes dreams about it.