The long running BBC Radio 4 program, Desert Island Discs, is quintessentially British and very enjoyable. Running off and on (mostly on) since 1942, and currently hosted by Kirsty Young, each show features a notable guest, or 'castaway', who's asked which eight recordings, one book, and one luxury item they would take to a deserted island. Everyone from Gloria Steinem, to Elton John, to Richard Attenborough, to Margaret Thatcher has appeared on the show over the years. It's a unique format, one that reveals layers of the guest's personality, personal history, and sense of humor quite differently than any other interview style does. We love finding some favorite celebrities' programs, all available in Apple's podcast app, iTunes, or the BBC archives, for a road trip or long commute. Each episode is a fascinating glimpse into the subject's psyche, and provides new favorite songs to download.
It's finally May! As the French say, "En mai fais ce qu'il te plaît" (In May, do whatever you like). Despite the lovely weather, we seem to be devouring a lot of media this week...
If you aren't quite feeling Spring in your area (or if the warm weather is bringing on too many allergies to go outside), we highly recommend the amazing Thomas Cromwell novel Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, and the gorgeous BBC/PBS Masterpiece miniseries depiction of the book and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies. If you prefer more contemporary British events, J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy is worth a read, and we'll be catching up on the the BBC/HBO miniseries based on the novel this weekend.
It is Paris Photo weekend in LA! Pre-booking is a must, but tickets are still available for this incredible photography exhibit at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood.
While most of the songs on this list aren't current, it shares alternate versions of songs we already know and love.
Last Spring, California Bookstore Day was created. This Saturday, it goes nationwide! The highest concentration of events will be in Northern California, but you can celebrate anywhere by supporting your local independent booksellers - we have plenty of reading suggestions.
We have been loving the SFIFF this year, and one of the biggest stars of it is the fabulous Iris Apfel.
Cheesy as it may be, we can't start the month of May without this song getting stuck in our heads!
