It’s day 14 of my not working on the script I’m supposed to be writing and for some reason even now that downtownster has 9 writers working on stories—I’ve been blessed with writing something about LA Fashion weak and yes I know how to spell-WEAK…Okay let me put this simply—I hold organizations in the same esteem that I hold big corporate America and smallpox. I particularly love when artist like Peter Gurnz come to LA from New York—to bring back 1930’s Hollywood to Downtown. Oh, and if you aren’t familiar with my story…I moved Downtown thirteen years ago to get away from all those giants of thought and culture in tinsel town. So thank you so much Peter for your effort—my words drip with sarcasm and disdain. Continue reading LA FASHION WEEK IS WEAK
Monthly Archives: March 2009
Hello Wine Lovers
Hello wine lovers, another night approaches of good wines. The last few days were filled with Irish beers; well just for a break we are trying Riesling Wines.
Germany and Alsace region style wines offer a unique profile of sweetness and acidity. Rieslings are cold climate wines grown on traditionally steep inclines of the Rhine River in Germany. Also grown in colder climates in the United States in such areas as Grand Traverse in Michigan and in Washington State along the Columbia Valley . This would be on the eastern side of the Cascade mountain ranges. The profile of flavor in the wine will range greatly from where the grapes are grown. Traditionally German Riesling grapes are grown around Mosel, Phaltz Saar Ruwr and Rhine regions. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers
Feeding Los Angeles Since 1917–Grand Central Market
I’m on my way to LA’s famed Grand Central Market. On Broadway, I come across the Guadalupe Wedding Chapel, right next to Goodwill. Beverly Hills Real Estate is next, followed by a worn down theater with an elaborate façade that screams “Film Here.” I drive around the block to the Hill Street Side, passing an apartment building displaying a certain urban feel and announcing itself Metro Inspired Rental Living. Angels Flight and then the Third Street tunnel are to my left, darkness swallowing the cars that enter.
I’m hungry. Continue reading Feeding Los Angeles Since 1917–Grand Central Market
Alternate Universe Art Walk
Last night’s art walk was a blur of one strange event after another, complete with an Andy Warhol look-a-like. The evening began like most art walk’s do. The energy was high; the hipsters came out in droves and the music kicked up.
By 7:20 I was tucked safely away in the cellar that is the Crocker Club, 453 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013. This place was a trip. You walk in the door, take a sharp right and head down the stairs. Immediately you’re hit with the ambiance, a moody low-lit vault, and separate cage-like rooms screaming sit down, relax, be cool. Continue reading Alternate Universe Art Walk
Race To Witch Mountain–GOOD
When I look back at my life, and as I have similarly heard so often from many of you, movies represent key moments and influence thoughts, feelings and, to a large degree, often shape who and what we become. And I don’t know of anyone in my circle of friends and acquaintances who wasn’t touched in some manner by the classic Disney films, “Escape to Witch Mountain” and “Return from Witch Mountain.” For me, even then, it was a joy to not only experience the thrill of watching alien kids Tia and Tony exercise their super powers and be adventurous and self-sufficient (not to mention the whole UFO, spaceship, planetary travel aspects), but to see legendary Hollywood stars like Bette Davis, Ray Milland, Eddie Albert, Donald Pleasance, Denver Pyle and Jack Soo starring in what many perceived as”kid” movies. This was, and still is, pure magic.
Sunshine Cleaning–GOOD
“Little Miss Sunshine”, SUNSHINE CLEANING. Don’t get confused by the two but be forewarned that the parallels between these two films start from the get-go; not the least of which are the dark blend of comedy, Alan Arkin, an adorable kid, a dysfunctional family, the same producing team that brought us “Little Miss Sunshine” and let’s face it, fun, charm and that irrepressible adorable factor thanks to Amy Adams and Emily Blunt.
HELLO WINE AND BEER LOVERS
Hello Beer and Wine lovers, Friday the 13th is not known for great things normally, here’s to changing a trend. Tonight at Ralphs from 5pm to 8pm we are offering an early Irish Beer tasting of Guinness Harp and Smithwicks. These are the few foremost beer’s Miller Brand offers around the famed Irish holiday. We are starting on Friday to catch the Irish in us all of us. With the March Madness at the Staples Center I thought it a great time to break out the beer along with corned beef sandwiches and good sour pickles! As an added bonus to the evening the Guinness Girls will be attending the event handing out trinkets and beads to get into the Irish spirit of the evening. Inoculating kegs of beer with green dye seems a bit too college fraternity for my taste so I opted for a nice classy tasting with cute ladies to lure the guys in for a sip of great beer. Continue reading HELLO WINE AND BEER LOVERS
Carl Ramsey and Viva Hoffmann
Show Brand New Work at the Art Walk
Bert Green Fine Art Gallery Presents Viva Hoffman and Carl Ramsey
Bound simply by their realistic painting styles, the two artists showing Thursday, March 12th at the Bert Green Fine Art Gallery provide two very different stories. Carl Ramsey, who has shown at this gallery before, fills his solo show with images of downtown Los Angeles life. Viva Hoffmann, most recognized for her days with Warhol, takes an exciting step away from her well-known landscapes to reveal a new body of stunning icons.
Ramsey’s previous work at the Bert Green Fine Art Gallery received such positive feedback that he was asked to create a new body of work for a solo show. The pieces shown this Thursday continue in the same vein of his previous paintings. “Carl lived in the neighborhood for many years and painted the neighborhood”, said Green. Continue reading Carl Ramsey and Viva Hoffmann
Show Brand New Work at the Art Walk
Jack Nadelle Photography Exhibition Art Walk Night!!!
Metropolis Books, Thursday, March 12th (700 PM), presents a Jack Nadelle Photography Exhibition.
For more than a decade, Investigator Photographer Jack Nadelle’s photographic and video work has helped LADA prosecutors tell crime stories in the courtroom. But the photographic art he creates in his spare time tells stories of vibrant people and places in downtown Los Angeles’ historic core district.
During the month of March, Nadelle’s photo exhibit titled “Los Angeles, A View to a City” is on display at Metropolis Books Los Angeles, 440 S. Main St., which is open Tuesdays – Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no charge for admission. Nadelle’s exhibit also will be a featured stop on the Downtown Art Walk on Thursday, March 12, from 6-10 p.m. The art tour, which provides a free shuttle bus, will include stops at the Museum of Contemporary Art and many downtown galleries. Continue reading Jack Nadelle Photography Exhibition Art Walk Night!!!
LOS ANGELES THEATER HOSTS DOWNTOWN PURIM PARTY
The last few years have brought a number of remarkable events to Downtown—I’ve been privileged to write about a few of them. A good many stories I have written have been cocooned in my semi fictional style allowing me to…well…embellish a bit here and there. But this one requires no such magic…
Now, I added blogging to my schedule of play, movie, and novel writing not because I was trying to find a way to spend the four hours left of the too little twenty-four hours in a day. Gee who needs sleep anyway? Exhaustion does indeed enhance the affect of alcohol. No. I started blogging because after thirteen-years of living in Downtown I noticed a community being born. Not to be confused with the billion dollar buildings going up, but people coming together, actually forming a vibrant Downtown community. And I think I’ll be mentioning this in future blogs so get used to it—it’s really something special and all too easy for us to take for granted. And tonight I took a moment to get a closer look at one of the most remarkable developments in this extraordinary birth process. Continue reading LOS ANGELES THEATER HOSTS DOWNTOWN PURIM PARTY