Conchis Living: Hello, Friends...

Hi again. Been down for the count recently thanks to work. I’m still kicking, for sure, but haven’t had the time to contribute here lately. Will try to catch you up briefly, though…

My last posting was nearly two months ago, on my bday, which incidentally was great. Spent the actual day with my fam and everyone’s respective significant others at Mako, then the following Saturday with no less than 16 great friends at Chaya. Both were wonderful, unforgettable evenings – thanks so much if you were there to share the moment with me.

Monday Jan. 29 we saw former Mexican President Vicente Fox speak at the Music Center downtown, as the first night of our subscriber Speaker Series. What a crook! The guy is like cowboy Mafioso – all bravado and no substance. He pathetically read his entire 45-min speech off his BlackBerry, and proceeded to say absolutely nothing of worth during that time. Then the audience questions began and he expertly dodged every one of them. Example: “Mr. Presidente Fox, you said at the beginning of your term that you would establish a working middle class in Mexico. Well, where is it?” Fox: “95% of Mexicans have electricity. 91% have potable water. 87% have television. 82% have laundry machines…” On and on and on. It was a joke. The only thing of import he did say was this: “Amigos, listen to me! The work you are doing in this country is important. We need the wages you earn here back at home. Please continue to send them. You are the lifeblood of los Mexicanos!” Grrrrrreat. The sole enjoyable portion of the night belonged to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who introduced Fox. Very slick speaker, and he says some reasonable, middle of the road stuff. I really like him.

Spent four days in February in Toronto. What an amazing city! I loved it (had never been before). Headed out for a friend’s wedding – an old buddy from my year of study aboard some 8 years ago. Our good friend Marni was gracious enough to offer her and her husband’s house as a crash pad, so a few of us from all over the world convened on Euclid Ave. in “The Annex” and basically turned the wedding weekend into one long, slurry, slumber party. The city struck me as the perfect amalgamation of New York and San Francisco, melding all the former’s cosmopolitan tendencies with the latter’s laid-back, intelligent streak. Its people were among the most friendly, approachable, open-minded, worldly - and, yes, attractive - people I’ve ever met. From fireside brunches in pubs, to sunny subfreezing strolls along hip and high-end retail promenades, to the wedding that just would not die (we were still ripping up the Four Seasons's main ballroom dance floor at four that morning), it was a perfect weekend.

(Btw, that's me, Marni, Zev & Jess up top, enjoying a little mid-morning flurry. Was the only time it snowed all weekend - ten minutes later is was sunny without a cloud in the sky. Below: Zev, Howard and yours truly bringing in the style.)

Got March off to a quick start with a night of extremes: “Wicked”, the musical, with another couple, then over to Vanguard for Digweed, MSTRKRFT and everyone else we know in this city. Brilliant evening. First of all, “Wicked” is incredible – a perfectly conceived and executed production that put the biggest smile on this “Wizard of Oz”-fanatic’s face. The back-/side-story is simply genius, and the performances, sets and costumes were awe-inspiring. Elpheba – the lead, as the Wicked Witch – was arresting in her performance. Her voice has a smooth warmth in the middle registers that just melted me inside. The songs weren’t out of this world, but they were solid enough to allow her and her costars to soar and astound. I loved every minute of it. The Pantages run has been extended “indefinitely” – if you have even the slightest interest in such things, I highly suggest you go. Digweed, of course, was something else entirely – but, needless to say, we fucking had it. Good times with great friends.

Last week a dream came true for Grace: she and George HW (aka #41) were in the same room together! Just 24 hours after passing out on the golf green in Rancho Mirage, he spoke at the Music Center as another featured guest of our Speaker Series. The man is a pimp - at 82, he is as intelligent, witty and entertaining as they come. He spoke on “values”, and held the massive hall of libs and conservatives alike rapt with attention...and fits of laughter. His worldview is spot-on, if you ask me. Such a shame the son fell so far from the father.

Just returned last night from three uber-relaxing days in La Quinta at the house of the parents of a good friend from SF. He flew down, and he and we and his parents lounged it up in style. Non-stop home-cooked gourmet meals, some serious fine wine, ridiculous amounts of pool time, and lots of laying around reading. Saturday we hit up the Pacific Life Open - the annual pro ATP tennis tourney in Indian Wells - where American Andy Roddick solidly got his ass handed to him by Nadal the Spaniard in the semis (who went on to easily win the title the next day). Roddick’s pathetic performance was only outdone by his showing later that evening at the local bar, where he - beside us - drowned his loss in a yard of green beer and endless flirtations with young, unattractive groupie girls. Too funny. Big thanks to the Spikey D for opening his beautiful family and home to us – it was a treat of unimaginable magnitude.