Best of the Bests: Macaron

Macaron

The Pistascio Macaron Cookie at Hotcake Bakes in Mar Vista, California. This lovely and oh-so-tasty authentic cookie is a light almond flour meringue cookie sandwiched with rich buttercream (the filling so super smooth, light and fantastic). $2.50, mini $1.75. 4119 South Centinela Avenue Los Angeles CA 90066 Mon-Sat 9am-7pm. Sun 10am-6pm. info@hotcakesbakes.com 310.397.2324 www.hotcakesbakes.com/

Best of the Bests: English Trifle

English Trifle

This old-school concoction (fans of "Little Women" will remember it as a special treat that's easy-to-eat) of Rum & Sherry laced cake layered w/ vanilla custard cream, strawberries & fresh whipped cream. It's often given as a comp dessert for those celebrating an event and couldn't be more welcome. The cake is very light and airy and the fruit is very fresh and the whipped cream, real. Lawry's Prime Rib Beverly Hills. Locations worldwide, http://www.lawrysonline.com.

Best of the Bests: Scone

Scone

First of all, yes, we've had scones at Harrod's in London. We've also had scones at The Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C. So it may surprise you that BeansTalk's winner is The seasonal Pumpkin Scone from Starbucks. Yes, livestrong.com says it has 480 calories, but if you can spare the calories, it is truly wonderful, spicy and sweet. wwww.starbucks.com

Best of Bests: Unusual Bakery Cookie

Unusual Bakery Cookie

This unusual deliciousness is a small roll of chocolate marzipan, covered in the green marzipan frosting they use for their signature Princess Cake, with each end of the roll dipped in dark chocolate from Gelson's Market, Century City. Gelson's baked goods are often run by the Viktor Benes Bakery. www.viktorbenes.com or www.gelsons.com

Best of the Bests: Cream Puff

Cream Puff

The regular Vanilla Cream Puff at Beard Papa is made fresh, right when you order it. The pastry is light and subtly sweet, but the vanilla bean filling is less of cream than it is a scrumptious soft pudding. They're delicious and addictive. For locations (worldwide). $1.50 each. www.muginohointl.com/.

Best of the Bests: White Bread

White Bread

Cherry Blossom or other brands of Japanese White Bread, also called Japanese Milk Bread or Shokupan (we call this "the bread that satisfies all hunger" an obscure reference to the film "Mio in the Land of the Faraway). This sliced loaf (which comes in sandwich slices and thicker cuts) feature a wonderful scented, beautifully textured (dense but not unpleasantly so) center, soft and lightly chewy. You can find the cellophane covered fresh loaves at Japanese bakeries and markets. A single thick slice is about 180 calories, so savor. Approx. $2.50

Best of the Bests: Grocery Store Cookies

Grocery/Mini-Mart Packaged Cookie

Forget Mrs. Fields, the "traditional" cookie has evolved and Tate's White Chocolate-Macadamia Nut is the future. Crispy (key!) and full-flavored, buttery and thin, this is a delightful snappy cookie. $5-$6. http://tatesbakeshop.com
First Runner Up: Pepperidge Farms' Chessmen (it's hard to eat just one, and since they are buttery and shortcake like, they're not lo-cal. Thankfully, they are available in 100-calorie snack pack, which enables monitoring of sweet intake). www.pepperidgefarm.com Approx. $3.25.

Best of the Bests: Coconut Cream Pie

Coconut Cream Pie

(Can you tell we love coconut?) Coco's (frankly, it's the ONLY thing to eat there, but we've sampled Coconut Cream Pie everywhere, and Coco's is just the best). You can taste the flavor of coconut, in the shavings on top, in the whipped-cream top layer and in the thick creamy pudding, as well in the light buttery crust. Coco's pies are actually baked daily in the actual restaurant you dine in/purchase a pie. Approx $3.

Best of Bests: Red Velvet

Red Velvet Cake

Love red velvet -- forget the now-waning trend. The surge of alleged "red velvets" in the last decade has allowed anyone with red food coloring and off-white icing to call their product red velvet (yes, Ralph's Market, I'm talking about you). But we have a discerning red velvet palate. We have sampled and eaten Red Velvet cake and cupcakes in various parts of the world (that's right -- our knowledge of red velvet cake is global, man), and at many of the boasted-about bakeries on The Food Network. The genuine best, in both flavor, texture and cream-cheese frosting? Hands down, California Pizza Kitchen. It features a very light vanilla bean fresh cream plate swirl, and white chocolate curled shavings on the end of the slice. The rich-red (likely food coloring, because it's really too red to be beet juice or another natural source of color) cake is very moist, and very flavorful, but not cloying like many other variations of it. It is the slice you never want to have to share. Locations, www.cpk.com/menu/desserts/

They Might Be Giants

Launch East Coast Tour Dates Including
The Kennedy Center in DC &
Two Shows at NYC's Town Hall


“They make defiantly uncool look and sound unbelievably cool…” - Village Voice

"Not sure whether to give these guys another Grammy, a Nobel Prize in one of the sciences, or both.” - Urban Baby

“TMBG continues to deliver the current generation’s answer to ‘Schoolhouse Rock’…” - The Boston Globe

“The album functions as a wonderful synthesis of old and new; in the process, it reaches a multigenerational audience… ” - NPR Music

They Might Be Giants continue their US tour, hitting the east coast this September. The Brooklyn rockers will play a special free show as part of the Milennium Stage Series at the Kennedy Center in DC in addition to two performances at New York City’s Town Hall and the 5th annual “fan appreciation show” at Mohegan Sun!

The band is scheduled to play both days of this year’s Life is good Festival in the Boston area alongside three stages of headliners, including Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, OK Go, Ben Harper & Relentless7 and many more. All proceeds go to benefit The Life is good Kids Foundation whose mission is to provide support to kids who face life-threatening conditions such as the trauma of violence, poverty and loss.

The Giants’ kids album, Here Comes Science, released in September 2009, has received praise across the board for its unique and exciting fusion of rock, education and humor. Boing Boing described the album as “top-notch pop music with humor that's aimed at both kids and adults” and called the album“better than great. Perfect.”

They Might Be Giants Tour Dates

10/02: Washington, DC @ Millennium Stage Series at the Kennedy Center (Family Show, Free)
10/16: Port Washington, NY @ Landmark on Main Street/Jeanne Rimsky Theater (Rock Show, 3:00pm)
10/16: Port Washington, NY @ Landmark on Main Street/Jeanne Rimsky Theater (Rock Show, 8:00pm)
10/17: Morristown, NJ @ Community Center at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts (1:30pm)
10/17: Morristown, NJ @ Community Center @ Mayo Center for the Performing Arts (Family Show, 4:00pm)
10/30: Fairfield, CT @ Quick Center for the Arts (Family Show, 2:00pm)
10/30: Fairfield, CT @ Quick Center for the Arts (8:00pm)

New to You: Andrew Stone

This is the first in an occasional series -- "New To You" -- in which BeansTalk introduces you to an up-and-coming artist (actor, musician, writer, painter, etc.)

Alternative rocker Andrew Stone, 22, was born in Missouri and raised in Hawaii before he made his pilgrimage to Austin, Texas. In Austin, Stone has spent the past couple of years forging his diverse musical background – he is often compared to: Robert Plant, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley. On stage, he is a dynamo, a passionate and fiery windmill of power chords.

Stone was a finalist in the 2009 Uncommon Grounds Songwriter Competition in Chicago. He is currently in the studio working on his first full-length record scheduled to be released this fall. His musical influences include: Jeff Buckley, Led Zeppelin, U2, and White Stripes.

Stone is popular with the college and university crowds throughout Texas. He has played at Momo's, Stubb’s, Hole in the Wall, Red Eyed Fly, Monk's in Abilene, Sugar Brown's in Lubbock, 806 in Amarillo, and many others. Andrew recently signed with manager, Harrison Cheung, who previously managed Christian Bale and was instrumental in the actor's career. Stone will make his Los Angeles debut in the near future. Cheung suggests this winter.

Reviews:

“A very talented player. His vocals are emotive and his slide guitar playing unique.”
BigWesternFlavor

“Unless you’ve been to one of his live shows, you’ll never fully appreciate the young musical dynamo that he is.”
Abilene Creative Pulse

“Andrew Stone is one hell of a show. Stone is an animated passion on stage, he often reminds me, quite starkly; of Jeff Buckley the way his vibrato comes out, and the way he's always about to spontaneously overheat and blow up his guitar.”
Smoke a Risin’

“Kind of awesome. Jeff Buckley fans will love Andrew Stone.”
Hairy Man Festival

Web site for videos, scheduling and more.

Andrew Stone's MySpace Page

Andrew Stone's FaceBook Page

Judy Collins' Takes on
the "Weight of the World"

Judy Collins' new album 'Paradise' (Wildflower Records) has Collins’ take on songs from the likes of Jimmy Webb, Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Tim Buckley, and Stan Jones, as well as duets with Joan Baez and Stephen Stills.

One of the most affecting tracks on the album is “Weight of the World” by emerging Wildflower recording artist Amy Speace, an anti-war song with powerful and personal lyrics. Singing about a brother unthinkably heading off to fight, Collins’ voice is a plaintive, universal cry expressing the unspeakable senselessness of losing a loved one to war. The weight of her world is deeply felt in the intimacy of the song’s lyrics, resonating with “The weight of the world, too heavy to lift/ So much was lost, so much was missed/ It doesn’t seem fair that any boy or any girl/ Should have to carry the weight of the world.”

Click Here to Listen

Ways to Save: Books

(the first in an occasional "Ways to Save" series)

By BeansTalk

Duh. The Library.

I'm at the point where I very rarely buy books at bookstores. It may seem like a no-brainer, but the library can be very convenient. Just remember to either renew or return the books when they're due.

Used Or As We Prefer, Recycled, Books

If you must add everything you read to your collection of "keeps," consider visiting sites/places which offer books at reduced rates. One such place is a library -- many libraries have designated rooms for library book discards or donations.

Library Discards or Donations to Buy

Our local library offers all mass market fiction sized books for .50 cents and all trade paper and hardbound for $1. There must be a lot of readers in our community because the turnaround is very good. Many libraries hold quarterly/bi-annual/annual book sales, too. Keep an eye out for them. Visit http://www.booksalefinder.com/ and get on their mailing list and they'll send you a weekly listing of all book sales in your area (based on zip codes).

The Thrift Store Alternative

Another option is time consuming, so set aside a nice block of time to peruse thrift store bookshelves. This is an unpredictable venture since some stores have large sections and others very little. The only way to tell is to visit thrift stores in your area (or, for that matter, anywhere you are) and head to the book section. This is not a quest for the impatient or intolerant.

If you cannot bear the thought of actually going out to look for whatever you might find, ie. out on the hopes you might get lucky and the book you're looking for is on a thirst store shelf for hardly anything.

Try Locally, Be Green Globally

We're in Southern California, on the Westside of Los Angeles and in the last couple of years we've lost two excellent thrift resources for books -- the now defunct Salvation Army on Washington Blvd. in Culver City and the Boys and Girls Club, also on Washington Blvd, but in Culver City west. Both shops had separate rooms dedicated to books and it could be a real joy scanning and finding something you've been wanting.

You can't rely on on one thrift store chain to concentrate more on books. This takes an actual visit. There are some Out of the Closets that don't carry a lot of books and some that do (the one on Pico Blvd. west of Overland Avenue in West Los Angeles and the one on Fairfax between Third and Melrose are excellent book hunt venues).

Yelp Help

If you visit yelp.com and search for local thrift stores and a sub-search for books, or simply read through comments (contributors often mention if a locale is "good" or "bad" for books). In addition to the more commonly recognized names, be sure to consider independents or smaller charities.

Some Goodwills are donation centers that sell books-only, check their website for more details.

Online Book Sales

If you'd rather tinker/patrol/stalk/monitor the internet than actually getting in a car and driving to peruse bookshelves, you might want to consider buying online -- there's the Ebay-owned company, www.half.com or Ebay itself. Amazon offers used books, too.

Trades and Swaps

Another alternative to support your reading habit is to consider swaps -- www.swap.com. Establish contact and online associations with like-minded readers.

Peep-Toe Black Booties

We have to admit we're intrigued with this look -- the open-toed bootie. It's strictly for fashion, since an open toe, socked or not, is not going to keep you warm if it's cold. It surely not for comfort with the heels most of them sport. At any rate, Friday Fashion offers a look at what's out there for this very trendy (and not likely long-lasting) well-shod style. We also present to you a wide variety of price points.

Alexander McQueen

leather upper.
Provocative peep toe.
Zipper front closure with a supernatural skull zipper pull engraved with "Alexander McQueen".
Fascinatingly fierce leather fold down lapels with snap button closures on the vamp.
Hypnotically repeated circular pattern stylishly stitched at the back quarter.
Leather lining.
Leather and synthetic insole.
Leather outsole.
Stiletto heel.
Made in Italy.
4 3/4" heel.
3/4" platform.
12.00 oz.
(BeansTalk note: These are admittedly more extreme, and probably the most "fashion-forward" [or "fast" as they say in the biz] of the collection we've assembled for you. With Sarah Jessica Parker and other celebrity fashionistas honoring the late designer, we felt compelled to include this style.)

$1,159

Giuseppe Zanotti

Grainy leather upper.
Pull-on style.
Captivating fabric cuff with sequin embellishments.
Enthralling open toe.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Spectacularly stacked stiletto.
Leather sole.
Made in Italy.
4" heel.
9.00 oz.
(BeansTalk note: We've got two different versions -- and price points -- that feature a faux sock element. While the open toe means your toes won't be cozy, this style is likely to be more comfortable around your ankle and keep it warm.)

$1,125.00

Michael Kors

Leather upper.
Back zip closure.
Rows of elastic strips create allure.
Peep toe.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Leather-covered platform.
Leather sole.
Made in Italy.
4" heel.
3/4" platform.
9.00 oz.

$875

Burberry Engraved Crepe Peep Toe Bootie

Suede with leather detailing.
Front zipper closure.
Peep toe.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Etched synthetic outsole.
Made in Italy.
3 1/2" heel.
3/8" platform.
10.00 oz.

$595

Donald J. Pliner Zerli

Quality leather upper.
Flirty peep-toe style.
Easy side-zip closure.
Branded metallic buckle.
Leather lining and insole.
Cone-shaped heel.
Branded leather outsole.
Made in Italy.
3 3/4" heel.
3/4" platform.
6.00" shaft height.
10.50" circumference.
12.00 oz.
$450

Velvet Angels Opium

Leather or metallic leather upper.
Intriguing design at vamp that wraps around the ankle.
Metallic button accents.
Side zip closure.
Lightly padded footbed.
Man-made lining.
Covered heel and platform.
Leather sole.
4 1/2" heel.
1" platform.
4.00" shaft height.
10.50" circumference.
12.00 oz.

$329

7 for all Mankind Brussels

Crinkled leather upper
Back zip for easy on/off.
Pyramid stud detail adds a dose of shine.
Leather lining.
Leather insole.
Wrapped wedge heel.
Synthetic sole.
Imported.
4" heel.
1/2" platform.
7.50" shaft height.
11.00" circumference.
15.00 oz.
(BeansTalk note: The studs and wedged heel make this rocker and gothy and different.)

$325