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I don’t think I need to oversell this one, really. But I can remind you, in case you haven’t been counting the days, like yours truly, for the DVD release of possibly the most intelligent (notice how I didn’t simplify it and say “best”) superhero pic of all time, The Dark Knight. Maybe it’s the fact that we live in a world that seems increasingly chaotic–recall one of Heath’s best lines: “You know the thing about chaos, Harvey? It’s fair…”– that draws me to this psychological thriller. Perhaps it’s because I’m trying to understand the balance of what is perceived as good and evil and grasp the fact that maybe, just maybe, they aren’t as clearly defined anymore. As Cuban actor Nestor Carbonell, who plays Gotham’s mayor, told me during a recent interview: “The Joker is just a human being with a dark past, like that psychopath you see in the news–except with make-up.” He’s right. Just the other day I read about a bus driver getting stabbed to death in Brooklyn because he wouldn’t give this guy a free bus transfer. If that’s not something one of The Joker’s thugs would do, I don’t know what is. One thing’s for sure, Heath’s posthumous Best Supporting Oscar will be extremely well deserved in February.R.I.P.

For couch potatoes like me, nothing’s more fun than spending the holidays in bed and watching my favorite Christmas movies on TV. Whether it’s seeing Macaulay Culkin slap his cheeks in front of the mirror and yell “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!” for the thousandth time, or getting sucked into a romantic comedy like While You Were Sleeping, Christmas-themed movies bring me back to my youth–a time when my idea of hard work was going to the corner store on an errand for my mom.

So, in the spirit of laziness this holiday season, I invited one of my favorite puertorriqueñas, actress Melonie Diaz, to share her 5 favorite Christmas flicks with Vivo por TiVo. I discovered that our homegirl (whose own movie, Nothing like the Holidays, opens nationwide December 12) has good taste and that I’m not alone in my love for the Mac.

Melonie Diaz’s All-Time Favorite Holiday Films

The Guilty Pleasure - Elf (2003)

“It’s unbelievably funny and sweet. I put it on every Christmas morning while my mom makes breakfast. My sister stares at me while I laugh at the same jokes. There’s something about a grown man in an Elf suit that tickles my stomach.”

The Classic - It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

“It’s a timeless film in which Jimmy Stuart’s performance is heartbreaking.”

The Nostalgic Pick - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

“This film reminds me of the innocence of being a child on Christmas, before the responsibility of being an adult.”

The Neo-Classic - Home Alone (1990)

“It’s reminiscent of my generation and makes me nostalgic for my mischievous days when I was as a kid. ”

The Frightful Pick - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

“I have to give props to Tim Burton for reminding me that the holidays can also be dark.”

What are some of your favorite holiday movies? Oh, and make sure you kick back, do absolutely nothing, and watch them on TV over the break–there’s nothing better!

-Lee

Velvet is a very tricky fabric. It can either look soft and chic or like something passed down from your grandmother…in other words, vintage, but not in a good way. But I’ve been digging around online for velvet that gives off the latter effect–for your sake as much as my own, ladies–and look what I’ve found. This ultra rich-looking Velvet École Jacket by J.Crew (on sale for $78, jcrew.com). I love it in the “sweet papaya” color–it works on every skin tone. J’adore!

-Melissa

What girl doesn’t love to get lip gloss? It’s just the best gift ever because you can never have too much, and you sometimes feel guilty spending over twenty bucks on one cause you know it’s just going to fall into your 50-gloss rotation. That’s why this holiday season I’m giving all my girls the gift of lip gloss. I’m picking out five of my favorites, tying them all together in a pretty ribbon and handing out the beautiful bundles with love. Some fun ones: Lancome Juicy Tubes ($18, lancome-usa.com), MAC Lipglass ($14, maccosmetics.com) and DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss ($20, sephora.com). Have fun smooching!

Friday’s concert was so amazing that I’m still in Brazil-mode. I think I even worked off a few lbs from all that samba-ing at the BAM (thanks Miranda for coming with!). I know those of you outside the NYC area weren’t able to experience it (and I caught some slack for it), so today I bring you a little (tangible) piece of Rio, courtesy of Verge Records, which, coincidentally, also helps expand music programs in underserved communities. A Filial is a five-member rap crew from Rio de Janeiro’s Santa Teresa ‘hood (you know the colorful steps in Snoop Dogg and Pharell’s “Beautiful” vid?). Seriously, when I visited Rio for the first time last month, I wanted to move into a little pink and purple house halfway up those steps.

Anyway, A Filial are totally awesome. Influenced by everything from Chicago house and musica popular brasileira to fifties-era samba and the Beastie Boys, the group’s U.S. debut is called $1,99 to represent the Brazilian equivalent of the American 99 cent store (ah, the nostalgia). “Our first tape was made using a Playstation, a karaoke set, a $10 mic, a toy that made music, and a used cassette,” founding MC Edu Lopes explains. That may be true, but their sound instantly transports you to the trendiest lounge in Ipanema.

Just for kicks (speaking of which, check out my hot white-and-neon-orange Converse sneakers from local designer Farm!) here’s a pic of me chilling in my fave spot in Rio. I dream of going back soon. Very soon.

Did you ever think you’d see the day when it was cool to say you liked Britney Spears again? I mean…it is cool to say that again, right? Whatever, I like her and the video for her new song, “Circus.” She looks amazing and she’s actually dancing with oomph again. Except, what’s with the random elephants? It’s a circus, yes, I get it, peanuts, top hats, etc. Mmm, now I want Cracker Jacks. I just put on Philosophy’s Caramel Apple Lip Shine ($12, sephora.com). Next best thing. Yummy.

For Thanksgiving, Jeremy, Dessa and I drove down to NJ! Jeremy always says I turn into a different person when I’m in or around Jersey—like Carla in Hi-Def. The further down I-95 we travel, and the clearer my favorite radio stations (shout out to KTU and Hot 97) sound the more excited, not to mention louder, I get, too! The second I’m around family, my “Que?” turns into a deaf viejita “Ehhh?” I’ve even been known to suddenly start talkin’ out my neck once we cross the Tappan Zee Bridge. Hopefully, I’m still recognizable to Dessa!

Jeremy and I have been together 7 or 8 years at this point so he knows to prepare himself for our visits home—it will be ridiculously loud, we’ll never have dinner on time and he’ll have to kiss more people in a weekend visit than he usually kisses in one month. Dessa, on the other hand, is a bit of a different story. We only go down about once a month, if that, so there can be big gaps between visits. She’s down with the kisses and the pastelitos always hold her over until the next meal but the noise level, well, that one we’re still working on.

Last time we went home we visited my 2 best friends. Both of their families along with their parents were there to greet us. So after a 3 hour drive Dessa walked into a condo filled with 7 Cubans, 2 Puerto Ricans and a Colombian. Poor thing was so startled she didn’t want to say hi to anyone, which is tough when everyone wanted to gobble her up with hugs and kisses. It took her a good half hour or so to get comfy and settle into the madness. I grew up with the madness so I never think anything of it and actually enjoy it now that I’m an official New Englander. I’ll have to train Jeremy how to get into Hi-Def mode so we can better prepare Dessa for our NJ visits. What do you think? Are your family visits home with the kiddies totally crazy?

There was plenty to celebrate during Wednesday night’s announcement of the 2009 Grammy nominations–except of course, for the snubbing of El Cangrí, Daddy Yankee–but nothing made me more psyched than Karina Pasian’s nod for Best Contemporary R&B album. The Dominican singer just turned 17, and her debut album, Karina, was released in August–and now she’s in the running for a Grammy against industry giants like Mary J. Blige and Ne-Yo! Given my own excitement, I couldn’t even imagine how she was feeling. So I decided to call her and find out:

Congratulations on your nomination!

Thank you so much. I’m really, really excited.

Where were you when you first heard the news?

Well, I was doing my homework and we were watching the nominations on TV. And we knew they weren’t going to announce every single category, but since I was pre-nominated for six of them my Dad had all my uncles over the house, and they all had drinks and stuff. I was like, ‘Dad, you could at least wait until we find out!’

When the show finished, they said the rest of the nominees would be listed online, so my sister checked and shouted “Karina’s nominated!” and I was like, “Oh my God, I’m nominated!” And I was like crying and screaming…the whole reaction was so amazing. Everyone in my house was cheering. We were throwing a party.

I bet you didn’t get back to your homework after that.

No, I really didn’t! [laughs]

You’re in pretty big company–Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo–how does it feel?

To me it’s just an honor–you know, knowing that there were other people that I was chosen over, basically. This is my first album and I’m only 17, and to get my first Grammy nomination is like a dream! I really feel like I’m living my dream right now.

Have you already started to think about who you’ll bring to the ceremony?
Yes, my entire family. I would really want to take them all.

I know it’s early, but have you thought about what you’ll wear?

I started thinking about that, too. Probably some designer like Versace, or Gucci [laughs]…I know I have some time to choose and check out what I’m going to wear. That’s gonna be fun.

What are you most proud of, in terms of what you’ve achieved with your debut album?

I’m just really proud of the fact that it’s reached a lot people. I get a lot of emails everyday, and comments on MySpace, from people who say that my songs have inspired them to sing or be more positive in life. I’m really just happy that I achieved that with this album, because that’s what I wanted to do.

Well you definitely achieved that and a whole lot more this year. Now if you had to make a resolution for 2009, what would it be?
Every time I make those I never keep them. But this is my senior year of high school, so it would probably have to do with that…graduating!

-Monica

I know it sucks for all those outside of the NYC area who can’t physically make it to the only event that matters tonight, but I just had to blog about this today because there might be a chance you could go. In which case, let nothing stop you.

The good folks at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) present Red Hot + Rio 2: The Next Generation of Samba Soul, an all-star concert event (we’re talking Bebel Gilberto, CéU, and José González here, among others) in recognition of World AIDS Day (which was actually December 1). Part of the proceeds will go to non-prof BrazilFoundation’s AIDS-related projects. The latter invests in sustainable and humanitarian causes throughout Brazil, while the Red Hot org, to date, has raised over 7 million dollars towards AIDS awareness/relief around the world. So there. You can party and change the world. Can you imagine a better way to spend your Friday night?

BAM will present two performances of Red Hot + Rio 2 at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Avenue) on December 4 & 5 at 8pm–so tonight is actually your last chance to go (as I will). Tickets, priced at $25, 45, and 65, can still be purchased by calling BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100 or online at BAM.org.

A bit about each of my fave artists:

CéU - The first international artist to be featured in Starbucks’ Hear Music CD series, CéU reached #1 on Billboard’s World Music chart with her self-titled CD. The São Paolo-based singer blends samba, folk, and soul music and scored a Latin Grammy nomination in 2006 for Best New Artist.

Bebel Gilberto (pictured above)- Born into Brazilian musical royalty, Gilberto is the daughter of singer Miucha Gilberto and renowned musician João Gilberto. Her soulful, restrained blend of Brazilian and international music has earned her multiple Grammy noms. Bebel (I think I may name my daughter that, btw) released her third solo album, Momento in ‘07.

José González - Born in Sweden of Argentinean parents, González makes music that is a combination of softness and passion, a folk style grounded in his early classical guitar training and darkened by his later forays into Sweden’s hard core metal scene. His second CD In Our Nature was released in 2007 as well.

Ever since the BlackBerry became more than just a tech gizmo–now it’s an essential accessory!–I realized that I’ve completely stopped wearing watches. Whenever someone asks me what time it is, I happen to have my Blackberry on hand, and that’s served me well. But in the name of nostalgia for my pre-Crackberry existence, I’ve decided it’s time (no pun intended) to start wearing a watch again–a cool one, of course!

I’m going back to an oldie but goodie with this oversized Golden Chest watch by Swatch ($200, swatch.com). It’s a classic, and it’ll look great paired with some bangles. What do you think? Do you wear watches anymore, or does your cell/PDA device give you the time of day instead?

-Melissa