fave five of the week

Hey all! Sorry for the three-week hiatus, I was on Spring Break! I'm excited to be sharing things with you again. I took a trip to LA and Seattle, and among thesis writing, have been job hunting and socializing like none other. I have some fabulous stuff on the list this week, so I hope you'll enjoy. Have at it!

1. MIRROR

Seattle Art Museum's new permanent, constantly changing, huge side-of-the-building installation. The installation involves giant LED screens loaded with thousands of hours of imagery of the Pacific Northwest that will constantly come together, move, and change depending on traffic, weather, pedestrian activity, and others. Futuristic and beautiful. The unveiling was Sunday night, complete with food trucks, the mayor, and a fantastic crowd. Check out the vid below.

2. Kane Mathis, musician, historian, and stud.

While I was home in Seattle, I also had the pleasure of seeing Kane Mathis perform twice (once on purpose, with Abigail Washburn, and once on accident during the MIRROR after party at the Triple Door). Kane's sound is multidimensional: he plays the kora, a West African harp that, combined with his voice, will bring you to tears, but he is also apparently a quite talented atmospheric DJ, skills that he also combined with playing the kora when I saw him at the Triple Door. Check out his music; I know I'll be buying one of his albums in the very near future.

3. LA wasn't too crazy, because we truly were there to relax and enjoy the sunshine, but we did manage to get ourselves away from the pool to spend an evening at The Varnish, a delightful prohibition-era speakeasy in the back of Cole's restaurant in Silver Lake. It's a speakeasy, so you'll have to see for yourself all that it has to offer, but know this: the bartenders concoct their DELICIOUS poisons with multicolored liquids out of potion bottles. It's pretty awesome.

4. Bill and Melinda Gates' latest philanthropic investment: condoms. I think it's about time that old rubber thang gets a makeover, and they clearly agree. Don't you?

5. L'ABC de Monsieur Pizza, by Ohara Hale (what a name, also!). This bilingual quirky adorable book was just featured on one of my favorite comic and animation blogs, Drawn, and though I haven't read it yet, the promo video seems to do it justice, because I am totally sold.

L'ABC de MONSIEUR PIZZA by Ohara Hale from Ohara Hale on Vimeo.

5 1/2. It also begs mention that it's Nathan Fillion's birthday, just cause he's kind of one of my favorite people ever. Happy Birthday, Cap'n Mal/Cap'n Hammer (p.s. why are you always playing Cap'ns?)!