One of my sons introduced me to the music of my new favorite singer: Manu Chao. Thanks Tommy!

He was born in Franco’s Spain, left as a small child with his parents for political reasons, grew up in Paris and sings in Spanish, French and sometimes Turkish. It is uncategorizable music: a little street, a little European pop, a little Spanish traditional, French cabaret…
He’s very famous in Europe and pretty famous here. I, of course, had never head of him. But now I have heard of him and heard him and that’s pretty much all I listen to. click here
Except…
My other new favorite singer, Citizen Cope, introduced to me by my other son. Thanks Max!

He’s from DC, the world’s weirdest place. Again, uncategorizable music. Folk rap? It’s haunting and moving. His real name is Clarence Greenwood and he has an incredible, unusual voice. click here

The talented and beautiful Jenna Gates, web designer, mother and dog rescuer extraordinaire, has organized the second annual canine cocktail pawty! I’m going. Don’t be square–be there! It’s for a good cause and there will be dogs and…cocktails! Sunday July 22!
Click or read on for more info…

How Do YOU Pawty?

The NYC Shiba Inus are doing it again! The first Canine Cocktail Pawty was such a hit, that these mischievous dogs have decided to do it again. We’ll be getting together for drinks, hors d’ouvres, off-leash play time, and a raffle. Everyone is invited, regardless of breed or species! Well-behaved dogs attend free. Well-behaved humans pay $40 each.

Ticket purchase deadline extended until Tuesday, July 17th. Get your tickets before it is too late!

What: Cocktails and Hors d’ouvres
Who: All the coolest dogs in town (and their humans)
When: 6pm, Sunday, July 22, 2007
Why: To raise money for Animal Haven
Where: Animal Haven SoHo Adoption Center

Human Catering by Gotham Caterers. Canine Catering by Culinary Crossing.
Ticket sales will close at midnight on July 17th. Tickets are non-refundable. No admission without a ticket. At this time, we do NOT foresee having any tickets available at the door.

Raffle Items will include:

* an iPod donated by Commerce Bank
* a Shiba pendant created and donated by Kelly Vivar
* an original pet drawing by artist Jaqi TG similar to this Shiba drawing
* a Pop Art Pet Portrait by Feron Pet Portraits
* Three signed copies of The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine
* a $50 gift card donated by Commerce Bank

I’m in Malibu. What you see above is a font called Malibu. It’s lovely, but Malibu the place is lovelier. I have been a bad blogger. That’s because I have had a deadline and cannot blog and chew gum at the same time. Just writing “and chew gum at the same time” makes me nostalgic for the days of Gerald Ford. Those were the days. At least, those were days without George Bush. But I’m in Malibu for a few days, so I’m in deep and happy denial. These are the days!