[Si] TV

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Long gone are the days of carefree summers spent permanently glued to my bathing suit at the neighbor's pool or on a Slip ‘N Slide at my best friend's house. It sucks being an adult and having to pay the bills, but the reality is even harsher during summertime. With the days getting shorter, signaling an end to my favorite season on earth, I thought I'd do a quick recap of this sad 29-year-old summer.

I'm fortunate to have an 18-year-old sister who is taking an extended summer leave because the education system in California is whack and San Francisco State University overbooked its incoming freshman, thereby forcing her to start college in the spring. I'm secretly ecstatic as I was getting depressed anticipating her move at the end of summer. Anyways, she brings out the kid in me and for fun we take bike rides from our parent's house in South San Gabriel to Cue Studios, a Japanese photo booth studio located in an Asian San Gabriel strip mall. Our mission: dressing up in funky clothing and taking funny pictures in these cute little booths that look more like mini music video sets. I just pray hipsters don't find out about this place and turn it into another played-out Cobra Snake craze.

Cue Studios
250 W Valley Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776
626-282-6548

P.S. There's this crazy jam-packed foot and body massage spa located next door where you can get an hour massage for $15. If you don't mind moaning and groaning in front of a bunch of pretzel-shaped people because the rubdown feels so good, go. You won't regret it. Ignore the masseuses squatting outside smoking cigarettes. They're harmless.

BGT Foot & Body Spa
416 W. Valley Blvd.
San Gabriel, CA 91776
626-282-2049

I've made it a point to start going out more during the week, since weekends are made for chillin' with my boo at his place in San Pedro and on my parent's front yard catching up on my magazine and newspaper reading.

When I do go out, it's for a reason. Case in point: Cirque Berzerk, the theatrical burlesque circus that set up tent in what used to be L.A.'s cornfields. My dream in life is to tour the world with a circus, reading tarot cards and painting henna, so "Beneath" was as close as I could get. We were greeted at the sawdust-filled park by friendly circus staff dressed in goth/boho-style throwbacks. Everyone seemed to be in character, which was a perfect break from the norm. We hit up the Absinthe table outside, where barely dressed bartenders poured ice water from a French cooler over sugar-cubed spoons that sat atop shots of the mythical hallucinogenic. I have a bottle at home and know the stuff sold in the U.S. ain't what I've only read about. The popcorn, on the other hand, was the bomb! The show itself was slow at first, but come Act 2, we were all hooked on the unbelievable displays of flexibility and gymnast-trained performers. It's been extended for another weekend run and I highly recommend a visit.

Cirque Berzerk: Beneath
Through August 2, 2008
Los Angeles State Historic Park
1245 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Be Smart. Take Metro to the Chinatown Gold Line stop.
www.cirqueberzerk.com

I was happy to see Prima J reppin' Rosemead (my barrio) at a Latina magazine Starbucks-sponsored event in Culver City. A lot of their familia were in the house and their tía and I had a bonding session about the benefits of networking. Latina's promotion manager Sandra Zuniga surprised the hell out of us when she announced that my sister was the iPod Nano raffle winner.

I attended my first WNBA game at the Staples Center and although I could've sworn the court shrank, it was cool to see a crowd made up almost entirely of women supporting their L.A. Sparks.

Big hugs to homegirl Monique for letting me in on a little secret: the best Indian restaurant in L.A. is located really close to my pad on Sunset Blvd. in what appears to be a liquor store front. This place is so gangsta, I can't even disclose the address. Let's just say you have to get buzzed in the rod iron door, but when you're finally inside it's like being let into a traditional Indian family's home. The samosas and mango lassi are to die for.

Jennifer Laskey's Wokano restaurant opening in Santa Monica reminded me of the need to stay home sometimes. If it weren't for Garth Trinidad locking down the sounds, my girl EQ and I would've been out. Instead, we drooled over the sexy-voiced KCRW DJ and hunted down the caterer for more sushi. Thanks for listening to my P.M.S.-induced sob session, Liz.