STRIKE A POSE

Lawrence and I were talking the other day and decided that Ellen's blog was the best one out there right now.

Think Karen Plus One meets America's Next Top Model.

A little back story: Ellen is a really close friend of mine who left all of us kids (and her bitty dog piper) back at home to go to London for about a month to model. All her new friends in London are models because that's all she interacts with. They're all hot and adorable and Ellen is really fucking hilarious. Really, even if you dont read the blog (which you should because it's great), the photos are worth the visit.

SELL YOUR DEAD SOULS

I hate promoting shit... but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. So in order of dates... here's your fun for the next few days:

TONIGHT

come find out why we're nominated by Paper Magazine as one of the best nyc parties. come dressed up. make out with someone cute.

SUNDAY

I went to this party on thursday night a few weeks ago and it was one of the best parties i'd been to in a while that i had nothing to do with and wasn't misshapes.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2
My brother is making his DJing debut at Gothamist's 5th Movable Hype show. Jen Carlson booked the night and the line up is pretty great: The Capitol Years, The Cloud Room, Snowden, and Bravo Silva. Smoke tons of weed and show up wearing comfy shoes.


So where do i start? From the beginning? From the end? An ending fitting for the start...

In all honesty, my life has been pretty busy lately. Non-stop, and when it stops, i'm not really in the mood to update my blog. Partly because a lot that happened in my day really can't be blogged. The people i see, the things I do... everyone wants their secrets kept secret and I'm starting to be one of those people.

Last week is all a blur of dates lined up. At one point my friend Robbie showed up with his incredibly good looking (and straight. and single) friend Juan. I ended up meeting up with them at some point, i think wednesday, at Hi-Fi... after having dinner with my family and israeli cousins. I then drove downtown, met up with Alex and co, went to Hi-Fi to meet up with Robbie and Juan and my friend Patrick who was in town with his band Youth Group that had opened up for Death Cab earlier in the night. We all stayed there til it was really fucking late. Gurj put us in a cab and we went home.

Thursday I went to see my old friend's band, Vega 4 play a showcase at Epic Records. I don't know if I was technically supposed to be there since that's a rival label to mine... but as a guest of the band, i thankfully wasn't ushered out. My friend Bruce plays guitar in V4 (they're now called Hopeland, btw), and I met him in 2000 when they were recording their first album for Capitol Records. A doppelgangher of Gaz Combs from Supergrass, I thought Bruce was the cutest thing I'd ever seen and made quick friends with him.

We remained close all these years. I know that having a friend for five or six years is no big feat, but in this city, that sort of thing happen rarely. I've always appreciated Bruce.

After Bruce's showcase I went home to see my interns and get working on the final NOY ST singles (which were finally mailed out!!!! at last!!!). I then took Sasha the Intern to see the International Jew Conspiracy and the Bravery at Roseland. I showed up with a flask of delicious peach flavored Zygo vodka and poured half a can of redbull down my throat and filled the rest of the can w/vodka. I started drinking during T(i)NC's set... which was good. By the time the lights went down before the Bravery's set I was a bit buzzed and feeling inhibited enough to have a wacky smoke. By the time the Bravery finally took the stage I was drunk, stoned, and happy. The people I was with, which was mostly people from Island records, all danced around with me. OK, so i'm not the BIGGEST Bravery fan, but their good songs are great. I really had a wonderful time... and since the venue was half full, i had tons of room to enjoy myself.

After the Bravery show i took Gurj with me to Mercury Lounge to see Patrick's band Youth Group. Gurj and I were having a drink with Patrick at the bar when Gurj's poor tired eyes started to give in. Poor thing had to go home before the band even began. I wish she stayed because she would've been there with me when the band played "Skeleton Jar," a song so gorgeous that it makes me want to climb inside the speakers just to get closer to the songs. Sadly, the band didn't play their cover of Alphaville's "Forever Young."

Once their show was through I bid Patrick farewell and headed to the Delancey for the Soulpusher party that Omri throws. I met up with the ridiculously amazing Lauren Ashley and Jenne. I was also supposed to meet up with Bruce, but I couldn't find him and just ended up dancing with Lauren and a friend of hers. I started to get a bit tired and decided that maybe my day was busy enough to warrent me going home. As I was walking out i ran into my friend Sioux who told me that Bruce had been on the roof of the Delancey waiting for me. So I went up and joined him. We caught up on our lives. He looked amazing. When I met Bruce he was wearing baggy skater jeans and skater shoes. This particular evening he was wearing tight pants and converse... finally! I could hardly recognize my suddenly fashionista'd Bruce. He looked so hot!

I had to say goodbye to Bruce after about an hour because my body was about to break down.

Friday I had a meeting on the upper east side. On my way to the meeting Rob Hitt called to see if he could come over to my house later cause Fuse would be doing something about a band on his label (i surrender records) named Valencia. I told him to meet me at home and i'd make sure it would be tivoed. Then Patrick called me because he wanted to see the OC that i Tivoed where they had his band's Alphaville cover playing. He was also on the upper east side, so after my meeting we met up and headed home together. Between Rob and Patrick, we had a whole "lets watch ourselves on tv" party. It was fun.

Patrick had to go to meet up with his band, and some more friends came over to party before heading over to the Orchard bar for a fun filled dance fest.

Then on saturday i saw madonna in the flesh.

more updates coming soon.
love always,
sarah

ps. since so many of you are crazy Josh Madden fans... look at this cute photo:

THE PLEASURE THE PRIVILEGE IS MINE

THIS IS BANANAS!

I swear i'll be giving a proper update sometime today that wont consist of what Jordan suggested I make it: "I've been really busy doing a ton of fun stuff. I don't have time to write about it all, so i'll just start from scratch, starting now."

i'll try my best to do a real, proper update.

Until then...
PLEASE VOTE FOR ME
In the Paper Magazine Nightlife Awards.
I can't believe I'm nominated! (twice, even, if you count Stolen Transmission! yay guys!)

VOTE HERE FOR ME AND STOLEN TRANSMISSION PLEASE

thanks.

I'LL BE BACK

I've been really busy lately and so I'm sorry I haven't been posting.

What have I been busy with? Watching Madonna DJ at Misshapes is one thing. Here's a photo my roommate Gurj took. In the background is Jeppe from Junior Senior. He looks STOKED.

DEAD CITY SUNBEAMS

Is it Friday already?

Lastnight, after my fast, my Brother Lawrence and I went with Rob Hitt.com and Alex S. to see My Chemical Romance at the Continental Airlines Arena. We were a little late because my mom first loaded up Alex and Rob with homemade Egyptian delights like spinach and cheese konafa and baklava before sending us on our way. i"ll write about the show later, but my ears are a little deaf from all the kids screaming at the top of their lungs. Honestly, they were louder than the band, and I'm still in a slight bit of shock over the experience.

After the show, I went with Rob and Alex to this new(?) party in Brooklyn that the Misshapes crew were DJing. It was at this really amazing loft space called Monsoon (or was it Mamoun?... it was on N.10th between bedford and driggs), and pretty much seemed like the type of party you would see in a movie that was supposed to be the quintessential New York City party... only it was in Brooklyn. I NEVER go to Brooklyn, but I'd actually return to this thing in the future. I guess it's every thursday, but I'm not 100% sure.

Anyway, my legs are exhausted from all the running around, dancing, and jumping around I did last night, but not tired enough to keep me from exploding into bursts of fun at tonight's STOLEN TRANSMISSION. Will you people come say hi to me when you come?

FUCK YOU IPOD!!!!

AHHHHAHHIDAIONFPAKODFIOASDNGIOPANAHAHRGH!!!!

As my Brother Lawrence put it, iPod just made it WAY EASIER TO WATCH PORN... Like 150 hours of it on your iPod.

Dear Apple:
Please send me your products for free. I will write about them.

THE 25 HOUR FAST...

Begins at sundown. Ready, set, GO!!!

Hey observant Joos, have fun fasting and repenting.

Here's an issue i face whenever I repent: I think about all the things I'm supposed to be repenting and all that goes through my head is "man, that was so fucking fun. i'm going to relive that moment in my mind on repeat for the next hour to get me through this day quicker." and then when i'm done i say to myself "ok, that was wrong... don't do it again." But do i listen to myself? No. I do it again.

Sorry God. I'll try better next time.

SCOTT AND ELIZA SITTING IN A TREE!

Congratulations to Scott and Eliza! Today they are getting married! I'm so excited for them and will be wishing them the best of luck this evening at their wedding.

HOLY MOLY!!!

Check out Jordana the Intern's blog!

HOME? I HAVE NO HOME...

The above quote was a line said by the Bela Lugosi character in Ed Wood (and i suppose whatever movie it came from), but it's a line that's being uttered by one of my friends, Baron.

Baron is in his mid-20s. He works in finance. He hails from Orange County, CA (the real OC), and he's got one of the best tastes in music out of anyone i know. Another remarkable thing about Baron is that he's HILARIOUS and a walking party.

Anyway, Baron is looking for an apartment in the city. email me (sarahlewitinn@gmail.com) if you've got a room he can sublet or rent or lease or whatever.

Thanks!

ALL HE EVER GIVES US IS PAIN

Buddyhead did a good one and posted new Depeche Mode tracks on their MP3 blog. Click here to go to the downloads.

Looks like Bush was on a mission from God. Wow, a President that speaks to God...

I went to see the Rapture last night at Crash Mansion. I found out once I got there that it was actually a secret show, which bummed me out cause I would've posted about it here so people who read this blog could get a scoop or some shit like that. I thought I was just so out of the loop that I didn't even know about the show until the last minute. Anyway, the band sounded fantastic and look as young as ever. They played some new songs which sounded a lot more straight forward and structured than their debut album. One song oddly reminded me of Yazoo's "Situation", and hopefully it'll be as big of a hit as the Yazooooo one.

OK, now for the IMPORTANT STUFF:
TONIGHT, FRIDAY, 7th of OCTOBER, BRIGID BOYLES BIRTHDAY

Tarts of Pleasure present... Stolen Transmission @ ORCHARD BAR.
200 Orchard St, right below Houston.
We DJ from 1-4
Not only do we DJ like a broken record, but we post like one too!

TOMORROW, SATURDAY, 8th of OCTOBER, BRIGID BOYLE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Tarts of Pleasure gueststar at.... MOVIDA.
7th Avenue and Leroy St, across 7th from Misshapes (sorry guys!)
I think we DJ from 1-3

Ok, thats all.

BURIED IN YOUR CAMPUS YARD

I told El Brando that I would post that Nightmare of You will be doing a very rare, very intimate, acoustic performance at St. John's University in Queens, NY.

WSJU welcomes: Nightmare of You
Thursday, October 6th
6:00pm
St. John's University on the Great Lawn
FREE to all.

Sounds like fun. Wish I could be there.

I've been getting up at 6 or 7am for the past few days to do radio interviews for hours and hours to promote my book. It's been a very interesting experience that i've definitely learned from. My oldest brother Albert would listen in on a few of them and critique me endlessly. Mention the book more. Say the interviewers name. Mention the website. Spell things out. Sell your book. Sell your book. Sell your book. I want to sell my book, but when doing interviews at 7am, I sometimes forget things. I forget to remind the interviewer to mention the name of my book.

When I haven't been talking about myself to people I've never met, I've been going to Shul for Rosh Hashana. Happy New Years. I go to this shul on the upper west side that i've attended my entire life, and yet, I feel like I'm new there. I don't really know too many folks over there, and it's always been a dream of mine to meet a cute boy there... but there aren't many people my age. My shul is really wonderful because I believe it might actually be the oldest congregation in the US (or maybe it's the oldest sephardic congregation... not sure), and it's in this gorgeous building that looks like one of those classic churches, but far less ornate. My favorite part about going there is that there's this powerful male choir who sing the prayers. I'm not sure if the acoustics are remarkable in my shul or what, but I think a band should really record there one day.

Anyway... i wish this were real:

HUNGRY FOR GLAM

I'm not going to review the Across the Narrows show because: a) i hate reviewing things. b) i would end up just spending about 30 lines talking about how cool it was that the Killers played "Everything Will Be Alright" for the 3rd time ever -- their set up was the four of them at the front of the stage, each (save for Dave who was at his guitar) behind synths. c) I'd spend far too long discussing the poor advertising and marketing the promoters did for this event -- seems as if NOBODY knew about it and the attendance of about 4000 people proved this.

Instead, the only thing REALLY worth talking about was one of the funniest moments I've ever witnessed with my own eyes: Brandon Reilly and I were walking to the stage from the catering so we could watch the New York Dolls. Suddenly from behind I hear my brother Lawrence shout something like "the dolls!!!!!" We turn around to see him charging to the stage with a plate of GIANT chocolate cake in one hand and pepsi in the other. Both Brandon and myself couldn't process this image without falling to the ground on our backs and laughing our asses off. Mind you, moments before he came up to me, Brandon and Wyatt backstage, clutching a giant cone of blue cotton candy yelling "I JUST SAW DAVID JOHANNSON!!!!" I felt like a parent at the food court of Disney World hearing my 5 year old get stoked out over peeping Mikey Mouse.

Check out my brothers photos:
Lawrence eating cake, oranges and photos of the New York Dolls
Photos of the Killers and Misshapes

STOKED

I am posting this photo up because I fucking love it. I love it. I love it.

Sexy Party or Brandon Sandwich... yay.

TAKE HOLD OF YOUR TIME HERE

I was sitting at work, minding my own business when I came across an article about the man who invented Valium. In the article, it said: "Sternbach, an award-winning chemist who helped the Swiss drug conglomerate Roche Group build its U.S. headquarters in Nutley, N.J., after fleeing the Nazis during World War II, died in Chapel Hill, N.C., after a short illness late Wednesday. His wife, sons and other relatives were at his side, according to the company."

Which sparked a rather morbid IM conversation with a close friend of mine:

Ultragrrrl: i hope i'm not alone when i die.
my friend: You won't be
Ultragrrrl: i jsut read an article about the inventor of Valium. he died yesterday and the article said he was surrounded by his wife and kids when that happened, and at that moment "in an aeroplane over the sea" came on, and i thought, wow, I really dont want to be alone when I die.
Ultragrrrl: I hope not.
Ultragrrrl: Who knows, i could die in my sleep. i could die in a car accident. i hope when i die, it's while i'm with someone who loves me so they can continue living knowing i didnt die alone.
my friend: You won't be alone
Ultragrrrl: do you plan on killing me to make sure that happens?
my friend: Yeah but if you're dead, you're dan.
my friend: Dead
my friend: Not dan
my friend: You're sarah
Ultragrrrl: I dont want to be Dan.
my friend: Hehe
Ultragrrrl: My dog died in my arms. She wasn't alone.
Ultragrrrl: it's so weird when you think about life and how pointless it is, yet I want to live.
my friend: Totally pointless, yet totally desirable and urgent.
my friend: If you think about it, nothing matters.
Ultragrrrl: nothing matters AT ALL.
my friend: Because in the end your alone and you die
my friend: Its so depressing
Ultragrrrl: in the end, death is the only constant.
Ultragrrrl: we live in social order because people are essentially social creatures who want to experience things with people.
my friend: Morrissey has the most touching lyric about life and death
Ultragrrrl: what is it?
my friend: "When I'm lying in my bed, I think about life and I think about death. And neither one particularly appeals to me."
Ultragrrrl: i havent thought about that lyric in AGES.
my friend: I think about it everyday
Ultragrrrl: i suppose humanity is nothing but a chain reaction.
Ultragrrrl: you need to not be in dispair so the people around you aren't in dispair, and the people around them.
my friend: I want everyday of my life to be amazing
Ultragrrrl: i want everyday of your life to be amazing.
Ultragrrrl: wow!
Ultragrrrl: i feel like the only thing that i'm ever anxious about is money. i want money. i dont want to let people down financially. but lately, i care a lot less about things. I didnt have sex cause i was completely in fear of it. I didn't do drugs cause of fear. but i dont know what i'm scared about.
my friend: Yeah
Ultragrrrl: i think about death a lot these days, i think cause people i know are dropping like flies.
my friend: Aw
Ultragrrrl: i dont mean that in a sad way.
Ultragrrrl: i just mean it in a reality way. at least art lasts forever.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this subject they care to share?

Or you can enjoy this Mock Trailer of "Shining" that Paul Hanley sent me.

LINE UP THE WHITE CARPET

The SPIN 20th Anniversary Bash on Wednesday went really well. Those sort of things could go so terribly wrong all the time. From a performer not showing up to a guest getting into a brawl, so many factors can put an event that's supposed to be really fun into geopardy. Thankfully, that wasn't the case here.

I spent the day attepting, but failing, to power nap. I can't remember what I did for most of the day (including the actual party itself), but I'm pretty sure it included a lot of working from home. It seems like I've been goofing off a lot less and focusing on work a lot more, or at least trying to. Oh wait, now i remember... that day I went out to lunch at Teany with my roommate Gurj and then headed back home where I spent the afternoon TOASTING ROSE PETALS. I finally figured out that if I put those rose petals in the toaster and bake them for a minute and then let them cool off for another 5 mintues, I'm left with nearly perfect rose petals that don't rot and dry quite nicely. These days, at APT 3A, if you have to use the toaster, you've gotta go into my room. It's kinda silly. My rose toasting ceremony was accented by a delightful visit by Brandon and his girlfriend Lauren bearing Hogaarden beers ("I brought Hogaardens for ... my ho garden."), which I couldn't touch since I was working. Sad. But I guess it's good to know that when left to my own devices I can restrict my indulgences.

Gurj and I met up with the NOY Boy Toys outside of Webster Hall. Brandon, Joe, Joe's girlfriend Jenne, and myself walked the red carpet and got interviewed. I haven't been able to watch the video, sadly, but Brandon said that he and I were the walking equivlent to "Curbed Your Enthusiasm," which means that it's probably cringeworthy to watch, but a trainwreck designed for pure enjoyment. We're more Larry and Jeff than Larry and Cheryl.

There was an open bar downstairs in the greenroom which I indulged in before, after, and during my DJ set. Karen told me that Vodka sodas are calorie and carbohydrate free, so I didn't feel guilty pumping that shit through my veins. By the time NOY took the stage I was sauced up and danced up front with Jenne and friends. After that set Brandon and I attempted to check out the party. I got a little overwhelmed, lost Brandon in the shuffle, and found him back in the greenroom where I got another drink -- which now makes sense... 7 drinks in the night... ok, now i know why i couldn't really last past 12am. I missed the Living Things cause gravity was having it's way with me. I came home and watched Curbed, Degrassi, and sadly missed Death Cab for Cutie and Public Enemy. If there was a power to fight, it was my sobriety.

Yesterday I had the interns come over. I've got two new interns to add to the already fabulous Jordana: Nick and Sasha. I've known Nick from the internet for a couplel years and Sasha is a friend of his. We spent most of the time watching "Degrassi: The Next Generation," listening to demos from bands I fucking love, new oohlas songs, and making those Nightmare of You singles that are the bane of my existance. We managed to make about 30 of them in one day! Holy shit... only 2 dozen more to send out and those things will finally be out of my life. I love NOY. I love those singles. But i'd love my life back!

When 8pm rolled up the interns opted for staying in to watch the OC rather than going to class, going to their own homes, and going wherever else they had to go. I left them to check out a band called Warren Suicide at Rothko. They were a great, possibly german? techno rock trio. Male/Female vocals. I spent the entire time trying out new dance moves and thinking about how cool it must be to be from wherever they're from. Then I went home. I meant to go to Elhaam's birthday party, but my bed needed me.

This morning I had to get up super early to audition for an MTV-U gig. I'm not sure how that went. Probably not too hot since it was early (for me) and outdoors and today is the first freezing fucking cold day of the year. My luck!

Tonight I'm going back to NJ for dinner w/my family then heading over to the Orchard Bar for STOLEN TRANSMISSION! The party has been going so well, and some friends of mine who are playing in Long Island tonight might make a quick visit, which would be nice.

Anyone going to the Across the Narrows show tomorrow? Which one? the Pixies or the Killers? I'm going to be hitting up the Killers one... between them, Interpol, British Sea Power, and Tegan & Sara, it's like my ideal evening. Oh joy!

I love you deeply,
Sarah

TEAR US APART

I recently shot this thing for MTVU called SOUNDTRACK. It used to be that you could only watch MTVU on college campuses, but that's changed. Now you can go to MTVU.com and see all their programming ON DEMAND... Including my "Soundtrack" show! But sadly, this only works for people on PCs (no macs, dunno why). The way to get to it is to go to the site and click on the WATCH NOW button under the giant U on the left of the screen. Choose "Watch MTV U On Demand"... a window will pop up and on the left side you'll see little me under SOUNDTRACK. (you can also click on "all shows" and choose "soundtrack" there.)

There's one segment where I'm hanging out with Nightmare of You in my room... which is the G-Rated Version of what we normally do. There's also a segment where I'm hanging out and DJing with Karen... and I finally notice that I'm REALLY FUCKING SHORT. Holy shit. I need to get platforms ASAP.

WHO LOVES THE SUN?

Someone suggested I mention on here that I will be on the Morning Sedition show on Air America. If you're in the NYC area, you can hear it at 1190AM. I'm appearing LIVE at 7:30 am (or at least that's when the show begins... not sure my exact air time).

When I showed up to my uncle's shiva last week dressed a bit casual, my brother Albert yelled at me about it. I replied "Chill out! I just came from work! Give me a break!" To which one of my cousins replied "You go to work LIKE THAT?" When Albert said I looked like shit, I said "That's because i've been up since 8am!" Yeah... that answer didn't really win much sympathy either.

So, I suppose other folks wake up at really early hours... if you're one of those people, check me out on Air America.

YE OLDE HOME

My old stomping grounds, SPIN, is turning 20! To celebrate this event, they're throwing themselves a killer party that you can get tickets to.

The show's main stage -- hosted by Juliette Lewis -- will feature live performances from Public Enemy, Death Cab for Cutie, LCD Soundsystem, Drive-By Truckers, and Lady Sovereign, plus DJ sets from Afrika Bambaataa, Diplo, DFA, DMC, and the Rub. Tickets are on sale now via TicketWeb.

The Living Things and Nightmare of You, plus a special surprise guest, will appear on the OP Lounge second stage at New York's Webster Hall during Spin's 20th anniversary bash next Wednesday night (Sept. 28). Guest DJs Tommie Sunshine, Ultragrrrl (hey, that's me!), and the Husky Gentleman will be spinning sets throughout the night.

During the event, Spin will conduct a silent auction to benefit the MusiCares Hurrricane Relief Fund. Items include a customized Spin20 Schecter guitar (signed by the show's performers, pictured below); signed and numbered prints of the Spin20 poster (pictured above), designed by renowned artist Shepard Fairey; and other signed memorabilia from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Garbage, Interpol, Sting, Fountains of Wayne, and others, plus items from all the performers and DJs. All proceeds from the auction go directly to MusiCares. Spin, Webster Hall, Bowery Presents, and Shepard Fairey have all pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from Spin20 to MusiCares' fund.

FOR MORE WAYS TO DONATE TO HURRICANE KATRINA, CHECK OUT THE POSTING BELOW