I’m still on vacation, but just thought I’d check in and give an update on my trip so far. We saw her buying Indian spices in NY, this guy buying rye bread in LA, we bought way too much at Amoeba Records (see above), and, oh yeah, there was that super secret free Elvis Costello show I went to last night.

Well, not that “super secret,” since the concert was announced by Elvis about an hour before it started (while he was opening for The Police at the Hollywood Bowl), and word quickly spread. Yet it was pretty easy for us to stroll into the small (900 capacity) venue (El Rey Theater) and catch the epic set from Elvis, the Imposters, and Elvis’ bolo tie. Performing most everything from his latest album, Momofuku, Elvis and Co. also unleashed a slew of hits—”Everyday I Write the Book,” “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea,” etc.—along the way, and were joined by Jonathan Rice, plus some guitar player who we just referred to as “The Tallest Hippie.”

I’d write more, but I’m on vacation.