Monthly Archives: April 2009

Travel

The Rumble in Vegas

Leave a comment

Foreword by Stan Lerner: Reading Mark’s post I could not help but to think back to my first college trip to Las Vegas, which was so good I actually can’t remember it. Subsequently, Vegas became the place of some of my most illicit behavior and “Night Tribe” one of my best live shows. I hope Mark and friends keep going back because, like a fine bottle of wine, Vegas really does get better with age!

Nearly everyone in Los Angeles has had his or her Vegas experience. Every time we go back, each one of us tries desperately to live up to, or rather, relive that one experience that stands above the rest. Well, I just had mine last weekend, and part of me knows that reliving this one would be iniquitous.

I packed my bags Friday morning and left about three hours later than I wanted to. Twenty of my closest friends and I caravanned up the 15, stopped at the In-N-Out in Barstow, and checked in at The Venetian roughly four hours later. Continue reading The Rumble in Vegas →

Fashion

Kasey’s Closet

Leave a comment

As a new fashion writer for downtownster, I hope to bring our readers great fashion finds in the LA area and also from other cities I travel to. As someone who works in the fashion industry and as a longtime lover of fashion, I want to share all of the great products, brands and sales I find. I will post things as soon as I find out about them and as often as possible. Hope you enjoy!!! XX Continue reading Kasey’s Closet →

What's happening

Grilled at Bloblive – An Open Mic Night for Entrepreneurs

1 Comment

Erick Brownstein seemed to be wearing a bit tired, holding the mic in his right hand for the majority of the evening. An observant on-line viewer delivered as if on cue.

“Maybe Erick should change hands so his wrist can take a break.”

The comment draws a few chuckles from an already relaxed crowd.

Brownstein is the Los Angeles emcee for Bloblive, a program that facilitates a series of open mic nights for entrepreneurs. Perhaps the evening is a bit ironic as the event is hosted at the trendy Daily Grill off of 6th and Flower, situated amidst several large corporations.

Brownstein is interviewing an older gentleman seeking advice on some carpentry. Continue reading Grilled at Bloblive – An Open Mic Night for Entrepreneurs →

Arts & Culture

Nathan Cartwright and his Hive

2 Comments

It wasn’t easy spotting the place. The Hive is deceptively camouflaged, with its maroon canvas awnings and glass window storefront. It could be anything, I thought. A pizza place, a café closed for business, or an empty store. I hunted nervously for the address from where I stood across the street. 729. This was the right spot.

 It was Tuesday afternoon and I was standing at 7th and Spring, in search of the owner of the excited voice that greeted me on the phone yesterday when I called to book my interview and tour: Nathan Cartwright, the self proclaimed Bee Keeper, and founder of the infamous Hive Gallery.

 Nathan greeted me at the locked front of the gallery, and ushered me in. As he slid the gate open, I could almost hear a low buzz emanating from inside. Continue reading Nathan Cartwright and his Hive →

Politics

President Obama Fails To Deliver Abroad

2 Comments

Several people over the last few weeks have asked me to deliver on the downtownster promise to not just write about the City State of Downtown Los Angeles—my world of preference. But to weigh in on larger matters from the downtownster, sophisticated, urban perspective. Downtownster has a political section without a single post; the words to come will rectify the vacuous plight of our political section and no doubt raise a few brows. And since the idea is to look at the larger world around our little island why bother with LA’s own half a billion dollar budget shortfall—the President is abroad.

The President boarded Air Force One for London to attend the G-20 summit last week. The media celebrated as if the fact that President Obama is not President Bush was in itself the solution to all that troubles mankind. President Obama made it clear that his goal was to convince the other members of the G-20 to spend more on their own economies, in effect adopting the Obama Economic Doctrine of spending one’s way out of financial crisis.

Continue reading President Obama Fails To Deliver Abroad →

What's happening

Hello Wine Lovers

Leave a comment

While working in the wine sales side of the grocery industry once in a while a special training opportunity comes my way. This trip was to the Bealeiu Vineyards The BV house was amazing it’s a 1920’s bungalow style mansion 10,000 square feet of living space. It was built for George and his wife owners of BV. We had a wonderful tasting of Chalone wines and of BV wines as well. We were shown how the glass the wine is served in could change the entire experience of the wine. George Reidel once said to me that “ perception is everything!” Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers →

What's happening

Bottega Louie Very Grand Opening

1 Comment

           “Hey, do you want to come with me to the Bottega Louie party tonight?”

            “I’m down behind the OC curtain…Maybe.”

            “So, you’re being noncommittal?” I said this with some boss like disgust—to make the point that not going with me was not an option.

            “I’ll go.”

            “Be at my place at four-thirty.” I hung up on Shannon (downtownster senior writer).  My girlfriend had a late class at school that she could not, not attend and the thought of walking around the Grand Opening soirée being thrown at Bottega Louie without a chaperone was a akin to teasing a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo. Meaning, that I was reasonably confident that there would be attractive members of the opposite sex at this bash and I have a particularly strong appetite for troublemakers who like to tease me.

              At this juncture let me advise you to read my blog of last week simply titled Bottega Louie. I was effusive in my praise of this game changer of a restaurant. In short the trial I was blessed enough to attend could be summarized as such: the space is a masterpiece, the food is perfection, and the prices beyond reasonable. The party was really just a formality for me to attend—I knew what to expect.

            I spent the day suited up for the occasion in my black suit and classic brown tie—I call this my Capote look. I know that I have absolutely zero resemblance to Truman Capote, but I’m referring to the era, which people still dressed with some class, in the classical sense. Bottega Louie makes all who enter want to look good. And isn’t it time we all start to dress again? So with the trusty Shannon on my arm I checked in with the polite young man at the door and entered. Continue reading Bottega Louie Very Grand Opening →

What's happening

Homeboy Industries

Leave a comment

I’m walking up Alameda around four in the afternoon.  The traffic is already somewhat heavy during the rush hour, and the breeze is very pleasant.  I had just felt like taking a stroll, so I pass Union Station and Olvera Street, then the Post Office.  Philippe’s is on my left.  I pass the California Endowment Center, then Starlight Nails and Beauty Salon.  Across the street is Los Angeles Fleet Services, yellow taxicabs in constant motion in and around the building.  I’m nearing my destination, Homeboy Industries. Continue reading Homeboy Industries →

Good, Bad, and Ugly

Alien Trespass–Good

Leave a comment

 

Who out there hasn’t been entertained – or even a little scared – watching classic sci-fi films like “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, “War of the Worlds” or “It Came From Outer Space” – be it in the theater or years later when the films made their way to tv, often UHF?  I remember watching all of these films with my dad and being mesmerized by them, particularly the effects and how they were done – by hand – not CGI as today.  Viewing those films today (many of which were “A” films with big premieres and Oscar winners in the cast and not the “camp” so many today believe them to be), not only do you still see the hallmarks of creative filmmaking excellence but a different style of acting and technology.  Enter former “X-Files Executive Producer, R.W. Goodwin and the 21st Century and his desire to do an “authentic” 1950’s sci-fi flick.   With a philosophy to “seriously and in earnest make the best sci fi movie that we can make” and “the only condition is that we are living in 1957 and we have to stay within the style and the technology of what we have available at that time”, the result is the ridiculously fun ALIEN TRESPASS. Continue reading Alien Trespass–Good →

What's happening

Hello Wine Lovers

Leave a comment

Well it’s Saturday and I am ready for another wine tasting at Ralphs tonight 5pm to 8pm. Tonight, we’ll be tasting Sparkling wines of California. This is not the same as Champagne due to a law the United States recognizes with France since around 1975, or so, we can’t call sparkling wine Champagne unless it comes from Champagne France.  Now, many bottles can be labeled “Methode Champaniose meaning  it is fermented in bottle the same as a Champagne wine. Continue reading Hello Wine Lovers →