I am off to Santa Barbara (Solvang) for work Thursday-Sunday. Found out that there is a sweet film festival with the premiere of Melinda & Melinda. Unfortunately there is no way I will be able to go. Also found out a bunch of good shows (modest mouse for one) will be going down right after I leave. Anybody who knows anything extraordinary to do out there let me know.

Cool. It also gives you the opportunity to meet some of the fine peeps in Cali.

Not really, Santa Barbara is about 1 1/2 hr.- 2 hr. drive from LA. If school started, there will be plenty of parties around UCSB... it's a party town. Don't really know too much about SB so I couldn't tell you where to go music-shopping.

I say you just come to LA and party. And of course, the all-mighty Amoeba is in Hollywood. It doesn't look like it'll be rainy too much.

I hope not - if it rains on Sunday, I'll be forced to miss my weekly kickball game...

Thurs 01.27- 63/partly cloudly
Fri 01.28- 62/few showers
Sat 01.29- 65/partly cloudly
Sun 01.30- 66/sunny
Mon 01.31- 68/sunny
Tues 02.01- 71/sunny
Wed 02.02- 70/sunny
Thurs 02.03- 69/partly cloudly
Fri 02.04- 69/sunny

....and hence, the reason why I love Southern California. There's your 10-day weather forecast.

Also where weathermen go to die.

Seriously, what the hell do the weathermen do during their segments?

Solvang's a drive away even from SB.

School's def. in session. Our best local record store just moved down the road to Ventura, but you could always go meet the irascible Dr D:

http://americanpierecords.com/address.html

which is right across from la superica, lauded by the late local julia child as best mexican food ever and insanely cheap to boot.

You might enjoy catching a movie at the Arlington (home of the MM gig you're missing); it's one of those nice old fashined places with a balcony, stars on the ceiling, etc.

Also, it's pissing rain here right now.

Have fun. I'll be in Illinois!

Pagoda, the only bar I've been in there is The James Joyce. It was pretty cool. Bloor and I have some very good friends who live there, that I'm sure would show you a good time. Lemme know and I'll see what they're up to.

Bloor likes talking in third person eh?

I used to prop up the Joyce when I first moved out here, but it's gone downhill a bit in recent years. I'd go to Elsie's if I were you.

You could always hit up some of the local wineries.

Couldn't the Senator be squatting still in Yail's crib, and in visiting the site (from the homeowner's computer) not making sure he's posting under his own screen-name?

Exactly what happened, and I changed out before fixing this post.

Also, renters are different from squatters, holmes. See the Apple CPU thread for the reasons this malapostism happened. (i.e. I'm waiting for my new machine to arrive)